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Dreamland Chronicles #2
When Dreams Collide
A world like no other…
“A high-tech heroic fantasy full of adventure, puns, and damn good reading. Well thought out.” Pulsar
The award-winning Dreamland Chronicles are now in ebook!
When Dreams Collide is William Mark Simmons’ gripping sequel in Dreamland, the place where your wildest dreams – and nightmares – come true…
Dreamland takes you out of your body and into computer-generated worlds where anything you can imagine is possible. People become avatars, battle dragons and wield swords, spells and their wits.
In this thrilling second instalment, Robert Ripley thought he had things all wrapped up.
But soon, he is feared dead along with seventy-one passengers and crew members in the crash of a Russian Aeroflot jetliner.
Meanwhile, the psychotic Artificial Ego and the Superego of Dreamland have escaped…
Their plan: to kill six billion innocents.
When Dreams Collide is an enthralling blend of science fiction and fantasy, humour and break-neck action.
Praise for William Mark Simmons:
“Frequently fun…” Publishers Weekly
“In the Net of Dreams comes about as close as possible to translating the sheer experience of fantasy gaming into novel form.” Dragon
“…Simmons’ ability to mingle side-splitting humor with layers of depth makes him one of the most exciting new sf/f novelists to appear in years.” Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
“When Dreams Collide manages […] enough wacky hilarity to satisfy a Terry Pratchett fan” Mercedes Lackey, writer
“In the Net of Dreams by Wm. Mark Simmons is not the first fantasy novel to mix cyberspace and role-playing games, but is one of the best, and a highly impressive first novel.” Carolyn Cushman, LOCUS
“Simmons is a good storyteller who takes his work seriously, but isn’t afraid to have fun and to give his readers a good time.” Ledger Book Reviewer
“A nonstop romp through a complex and captivating world! Highly recommended!” K D Wentworth
“The second book is even more outrageous, and fun, than the first.” Algis Budrys, writer
“Recommended to those who enjoy gaming, computer programmers, and those who just like amusing fantasy.” M. R. Hildebrand
William Mark Simmons spent his formative years in Independence, Missouri, and pursued a double major in Theatre and Mass communications. He has worked as an actor, director, musician, and entertainer, hosting his own shows in both Television and Radio while winning awards as a journalist and copywriter. He is the author of seven novels; his first, In The Net of Dreams, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made the Locus “Best” list in 1991.
Venture Press is a science fiction and fantasy imprint of Endeavour Press, the UK’s leading independent digital publisher. We are committed to the discovery and rediscovery of immensely talented authors in the SFF genre, and continue to push boundaries in search of great literature. Join us as we venture across universes and unknown landscapes – past, present and future.
“A high-tech heroic fantasy full of adventure, puns, and damn good reading. Well thought out.” Pulsar
The award-winning Dreamland Chronicles are now in ebook!
When Dreams Collide is William Mark Simmons’ gripping sequel in Dreamland, the place where your wildest dreams – and nightmares – come true…
Dreamland takes you out of your body and into computer-generated worlds where anything you can imagine is possible. People become avatars, battle dragons and wield swords, spells and their wits.
In this thrilling second instalment, Robert Ripley thought he had things all wrapped up.
But soon, he is feared dead along with seventy-one passengers and crew members in the crash of a Russian Aeroflot jetliner.
Meanwhile, the psychotic Artificial Ego and the Superego of Dreamland have escaped…
Their plan: to kill six billion innocents.
When Dreams Collide is an enthralling blend of science fiction and fantasy, humour and break-neck action.
Praise for William Mark Simmons:
“Frequently fun…” Publishers Weekly
“In the Net of Dreams comes about as close as possible to translating the sheer experience of fantasy gaming into novel form.” Dragon
“…Simmons’ ability to mingle side-splitting humor with layers of depth makes him one of the most exciting new sf/f novelists to appear in years.” Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
“When Dreams Collide manages […] enough wacky hilarity to satisfy a Terry Pratchett fan” Mercedes Lackey, writer
“In the Net of Dreams by Wm. Mark Simmons is not the first fantasy novel to mix cyberspace and role-playing games, but is one of the best, and a highly impressive first novel.” Carolyn Cushman, LOCUS
“Simmons is a good storyteller who takes his work seriously, but isn’t afraid to have fun and to give his readers a good time.” Ledger Book Reviewer
“A nonstop romp through a complex and captivating world! Highly recommended!” K D Wentworth
“The second book is even more outrageous, and fun, than the first.” Algis Budrys, writer
“Recommended to those who enjoy gaming, computer programmers, and those who just like amusing fantasy.” M. R. Hildebrand
William Mark Simmons spent his formative years in Independence, Missouri, and pursued a double major in Theatre and Mass communications. He has worked as an actor, director, musician, and entertainer, hosting his own shows in both Television and Radio while winning awards as a journalist and copywriter. He is the author of seven novels; his first, In The Net of Dreams, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made the Locus “Best” list in 1991.
Venture Press is a science fiction and fantasy imprint of Endeavour Press, the UK’s leading independent digital publisher. We are committed to the discovery and rediscovery of immensely talented authors in the SFF genre, and continue to push boundaries in search of great literature. Join us as we venture across universes and unknown landscapes – past, present and future.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 1992
10 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Wm. Mark Simmons
13 books47 followersWilliam (Wm.) Mark Simmons was born in 1953 and spent his formative years in Independence, Missouri, the hometown of President Harry S. Truman and fantasy author Jim Butcher.
He has had a varied career as an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, musician, and entertainer.
His first novel, In the Net of Dreams, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made Locus Magazine’s “Best List” in 1991. To date he has published seven novels and one novella in the United States with translations in Russia and the Czech Republic. His unique blend of humor and plots that unfold "like an origami sculpture designed by M.C. Escher" have won him the title of “master of twisted humorous fantasy and horror.”
Mark currently resides in the town of Hutchinson, Kansas, not far from the world famous Cosmosphere Space Museum. For the last 13 years of his 40-plus years as a broadcaster and a journalist, he was the Music Director for Radio Kansas and heard as the network’s morning Classical host throughout nearly half of the Sunflower State up until his retirement in 2018. His eighth novel, "A Witch in Time," was released in April of 2019. He currently serves as Game Warden for the nature preserve that is his back yard, wrangles cats, and is working on two new novels in his now copious free time.
(source: http://www.sff.net/people/wm.mark.sim...)
He has had a varied career as an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, musician, and entertainer.
His first novel, In the Net of Dreams, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made Locus Magazine’s “Best List” in 1991. To date he has published seven novels and one novella in the United States with translations in Russia and the Czech Republic. His unique blend of humor and plots that unfold "like an origami sculpture designed by M.C. Escher" have won him the title of “master of twisted humorous fantasy and horror.”
Mark currently resides in the town of Hutchinson, Kansas, not far from the world famous Cosmosphere Space Museum. For the last 13 years of his 40-plus years as a broadcaster and a journalist, he was the Music Director for Radio Kansas and heard as the network’s morning Classical host throughout nearly half of the Sunflower State up until his retirement in 2018. His eighth novel, "A Witch in Time," was released in April of 2019. He currently serves as Game Warden for the nature preserve that is his back yard, wrangles cats, and is working on two new novels in his now copious free time.
(source: http://www.sff.net/people/wm.mark.sim...)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 23, 2022
3,5
Nápad je fakt zajímavý, ale chvílemi je to trochu zmateně napsané. Věřím, fakt věřím, že v angličtině je to lepší xd.
Vzhledem k tomu, že se v celé sérii řeší téma programování, tak musím fakt dávat pozor na to, co čtu, abych pak nebyla úplně vedle, ale je to fajn.
Ten konec mě úplně zmátl, takže jsem si to párkrát musela přečíst dokola, abych pobrala co se stalo a řeknu už jen jedno - jdu si sehnat třetí díl <3
Nápad je fakt zajímavý, ale chvílemi je to trochu zmateně napsané. Věřím, fakt věřím, že v angličtině je to lepší xd.
Vzhledem k tomu, že se v celé sérii řeší téma programování, tak musím fakt dávat pozor na to, co čtu, abych pak nebyla úplně vedle, ale je to fajn.
Ten konec mě úplně zmátl, takže jsem si to párkrát musela přečíst dokola, abych pobrala co se stalo a řeknu už jen jedno - jdu si sehnat třetí díl <3
October 2, 2017
Plot was a bit more confusing this time around, but still super funny and impossible to predict what will happen next.
December 8, 2019
Enjoyed this, but not as much as the first. Think I might have to get the third, which was written several years later.
June 17, 2016
When Dreams Collide starts with an intriguing idea - if consciousness can be loaded into a virtual environment what happens if an artificial construct is downloaded into a human body. I liked the description. Unfortunately, not much time is spent on that idea and the blurb is the best part. Readers instead spend their time wading through a fantasy environment that caters to male adolescents both in the quantity of buxom beings who crave male attention and the numerous bad puns that are made manifest.
When Dreams Collide struggles too much, trying to be too many things at once. The result is a hodge pudge less appealing than badly made haggis. It isn't a comic romp. It isn't a classic adventure or even a successful parody of one. It isn't thrilling science fiction where we genuinely feel threatened by the artificial entity that escaped the game. We are told that when people die in the game, they die in life - but it all feels artificial. It is impossible to empathize with the characters. The "real spirits" have no more vitality than the artificial ones. The biggest, most impossible to ignore weakness though was the complete absence of structured plot.
I held out hope that the novel would improve, but by 75% in, I realized my hopes were unlikely to be fulfilled.
Unfortunately, I can't recommend When Dreams Collide to either science fiction or fantasy fans. But if you are a middle-aged gamer looking to relive adolescent glories, you might enjoy it. (To be honest if you are under 45 you won't get at least 2/3rds of the jokes)
2/5
I received a copy of When Dreams Collide from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
When Dreams Collide struggles too much, trying to be too many things at once. The result is a hodge pudge less appealing than badly made haggis. It isn't a comic romp. It isn't a classic adventure or even a successful parody of one. It isn't thrilling science fiction where we genuinely feel threatened by the artificial entity that escaped the game. We are told that when people die in the game, they die in life - but it all feels artificial. It is impossible to empathize with the characters. The "real spirits" have no more vitality than the artificial ones. The biggest, most impossible to ignore weakness though was the complete absence of structured plot.
I held out hope that the novel would improve, but by 75% in, I realized my hopes were unlikely to be fulfilled.
Unfortunately, I can't recommend When Dreams Collide to either science fiction or fantasy fans. But if you are a middle-aged gamer looking to relive adolescent glories, you might enjoy it. (To be honest if you are under 45 you won't get at least 2/3rds of the jokes)
2/5
I received a copy of When Dreams Collide from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
June 25, 2016
Here's something for sci-fi/fantasy readers to celebrate: the new release by Endeavor Press of William Mark Simmons' epic virtual reality Dreamlands series on its twenty-fifth anniversary. In the author's foreword, Simmons admits that he has done a little tweaking to bring the story up to date, but that he has left "just about everything in its 'retro' state."
I say, don't mess with success. While the first book, In the Net of Dreams, works as a stand-alone, you'd be cheating yourself if you stopped there. When Dreams Collide, the second book, is just as wildly funny and imaginative as you would expect, and delves deeper into the immersive gaming technology which allows players to leave their bodies behind and enter into a world of their choosing, filled with live players and virtually undetectable AI characters. Puns and pop culture references abound, moral issues arise, and Dreamland actions begin to have real world consequences.
Grab your vanilla Dr. Pepper, slip into your tank and explore Fantasyworld with Robert Remington Ripley III and his alter-ego: Riplakish of Dyrinwall. (Best read following the first book of the series.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I say, don't mess with success. While the first book, In the Net of Dreams, works as a stand-alone, you'd be cheating yourself if you stopped there. When Dreams Collide, the second book, is just as wildly funny and imaginative as you would expect, and delves deeper into the immersive gaming technology which allows players to leave their bodies behind and enter into a world of their choosing, filled with live players and virtually undetectable AI characters. Puns and pop culture references abound, moral issues arise, and Dreamland actions begin to have real world consequences.
Grab your vanilla Dr. Pepper, slip into your tank and explore Fantasyworld with Robert Remington Ripley III and his alter-ego: Riplakish of Dyrinwall. (Best read following the first book of the series.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2016
I enjoyed reading this, the only thing that I didn't like was that it was book 2 in a series and I hadn't read the first one before this so it was a little confusing. Overall I did enjoy what I read, I liked the characters and the premise of the book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews