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Urban Gothic
Burned out and drugged up, Alec LeGuerrier spends his days faking it, barely eking out an existence while living in a haze of confusion and medicated mellowness. That is, until he stops a gang of nightmarish oddities from killing a strange young woman with indigo eyes.
Dragged into the lands of the dreaming, he must come to terms with his brutal past and his grim imagined future in a land his body knows is real, but his mind refuses to acknowledge.
Dragged into the lands of the dreaming, he must come to terms with his brutal past and his grim imagined future in a land his body knows is real, but his mind refuses to acknowledge.
146 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 4, 2020
Urban Gothic by Stephen M. Coghlan is the dark, mythic novel I've been searching for.
Do you remember back in English class where they said don't use words in the sentence to describe the sentence? Well, I'm gonna break that rule. This book FELT gothic. It gave me goth vibes in so many ways, and somehow Urban Gothic fit the book just right.
The writing is tremendous. I felt whisked away and enchanted, unable to pull myself from the beautiful writing in this book. It felt like artwork, which I can't always say for reading (yeah, yeah... I know... writing is an art... hush now).
Our lead Alec works in a hospital as a cleaner (but used to be a Medical Technician - what a down grade. That majorly sucks). His past trauma weighs down on him and makes it impossible for him to truly experience his life and dreams. We open on his walking about, and suddenly he sees a woman and three men. It's not looking good for the lady, so he kills those three wicked attackers, and then tries to save our lady Veleda. She's quite mystical and fantastical, making Alec's life forever changed. He chooses to go on quite the adventure with her, and disappear into a world of gothic insanity.
The dreamscape and the other realm with different people (and their kooky abilities) was so cool. It's one of those unique imaginative ideas that you've probably dreamed about and wanted to write about, but never did. It gave me those dreamy vibes and made me just so impressed. The story really pulled me in, and I am totally enchanted by Stephen's writing and ideas. Like, I can't express it enough. The descriptions alone gave me wonderful and intense images in my head. I love this! It's so cool! The story is so good at whisking the reader away.
But that's just me - me and my nostalgic love of gothic reading. It gave me dark Alice in Wonderland vibes, mixed with Donnie Darko and Rocky Horror-esque niche-ness.
There's also a fair amount of action throughout the pages. I loved the mix of dramatic story telling and thrills packed tight in this story. It's just enough to pull you along but also keep you intrigued.
Ah, I love this.
Five out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Stephen M. Coghlan, in exchange of an honest review.
Do you remember back in English class where they said don't use words in the sentence to describe the sentence? Well, I'm gonna break that rule. This book FELT gothic. It gave me goth vibes in so many ways, and somehow Urban Gothic fit the book just right.
The writing is tremendous. I felt whisked away and enchanted, unable to pull myself from the beautiful writing in this book. It felt like artwork, which I can't always say for reading (yeah, yeah... I know... writing is an art... hush now).
Our lead Alec works in a hospital as a cleaner (but used to be a Medical Technician - what a down grade. That majorly sucks). His past trauma weighs down on him and makes it impossible for him to truly experience his life and dreams. We open on his walking about, and suddenly he sees a woman and three men. It's not looking good for the lady, so he kills those three wicked attackers, and then tries to save our lady Veleda. She's quite mystical and fantastical, making Alec's life forever changed. He chooses to go on quite the adventure with her, and disappear into a world of gothic insanity.
The dreamscape and the other realm with different people (and their kooky abilities) was so cool. It's one of those unique imaginative ideas that you've probably dreamed about and wanted to write about, but never did. It gave me those dreamy vibes and made me just so impressed. The story really pulled me in, and I am totally enchanted by Stephen's writing and ideas. Like, I can't express it enough. The descriptions alone gave me wonderful and intense images in my head. I love this! It's so cool! The story is so good at whisking the reader away.
But that's just me - me and my nostalgic love of gothic reading. It gave me dark Alice in Wonderland vibes, mixed with Donnie Darko and Rocky Horror-esque niche-ness.
There's also a fair amount of action throughout the pages. I loved the mix of dramatic story telling and thrills packed tight in this story. It's just enough to pull you along but also keep you intrigued.
Ah, I love this.
Five out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Stephen M. Coghlan, in exchange of an honest review.
May 15, 2019
I received an ecopy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Urban Gothic by Stephen M. Coghlan is my first dreampunk book. If you're unfamiliar with the genre, it deals with dreams that can have the power to influence reality - think Inception or Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Now that I've finished this, I can definitely say that I'd love to try more of that sub-genre in the future. In this story, Alec LeGuerrier is a burned out veteran dealing with PTSD who is constantly dealing with his inner demons. He's so heavily drugged and sedated that he's cut off from his own dreams. After saving a woman named Veleda from nightmarish monsters and he learns that she's from the Dreamscape - and when he finds himself in this strange new dimension he'll have to come to terms with himself and his past. I particularly enjoyed just how tight this novella is in terms of characters, plot, and visuals, everything is needed to make it successful. It's a short quick read, but I loved getting to know his fully formed cast and exploring the possibilities of the the Dreamscape with them. By the way, the visuals are practically cinematic in scope and I have to admit that I'd like to see an adaptation of this fast-paced thriller. Finally, I'm going to have to keep an eye on this author and more dreampunk.
Thanks again for the opportunity, Mr. Coghlan!
Urban Gothic by Stephen M. Coghlan is my first dreampunk book. If you're unfamiliar with the genre, it deals with dreams that can have the power to influence reality - think Inception or Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Now that I've finished this, I can definitely say that I'd love to try more of that sub-genre in the future. In this story, Alec LeGuerrier is a burned out veteran dealing with PTSD who is constantly dealing with his inner demons. He's so heavily drugged and sedated that he's cut off from his own dreams. After saving a woman named Veleda from nightmarish monsters and he learns that she's from the Dreamscape - and when he finds himself in this strange new dimension he'll have to come to terms with himself and his past. I particularly enjoyed just how tight this novella is in terms of characters, plot, and visuals, everything is needed to make it successful. It's a short quick read, but I loved getting to know his fully formed cast and exploring the possibilities of the the Dreamscape with them. By the way, the visuals are practically cinematic in scope and I have to admit that I'd like to see an adaptation of this fast-paced thriller. Finally, I'm going to have to keep an eye on this author and more dreampunk.
Thanks again for the opportunity, Mr. Coghlan!
March 26, 2019
After reading Stephen Coghlan’s short Story, the Last Ride of the Inferno Train I was definitely eager to read more of his writing. When Kyanite Press announced the release of his “Dreampunk” novella, Urban Gothic, I added that immediately to my read list. Being a veteran myself, his story about a veteran suffering from PTSD, living a sedated, half-existence, immediately drew me in. I lost my cousin Patrick, to suicide a few years ago due to his poorly treated PTSD. It saddens me that his daughter will never know the fun person I grew up with. I suffer from PTSD as well. Not related to combat, but due to other issues from my military service (sexual assault, domestic abuse). I feel a deep empathy for our combat veterans of all theaters of war. I interned in college for the Vietnam Veterans of American and saw the toll unresolved mental health issues can take on a person’s life. While our society is becoming more and more aware of the criticality of this issue, I am glad to see it becoming more and more mainstream and not just brushed under the rug.
An ex-Army medic, Coghlan’s character is living a court-ordered, drugged half-life as part of his probation after beating a mugger to death in a fit of rage. He is so sedated that he is completely cut off from his dreams. He works the night shift at the local hospital, mopping floors. He does his best to forget the horrors of watching his buddies die in combat.
Then one evening as he’s walking to work, singing a song to himself to drown out the sounds of the city. He turns down an alley to see three creatures attacking a young woman. These creatures have the appearance of crazed clowns (like something out of Stephen King’s IT, or the cult classic Killer Clowns from Outer Space). Part of him wants to turn away, keep walking. But something inside of him snaps and he kills her attackers and brings her to the hospital.
When he carries her to the hospital and then brings her into a room, he realizes no one notices or sees him, no matter how much he tries to get their attention in the ER. It is as if they are invisible. He steals a gurney and supplies and treats her himself. When she awakes, she explains that she is not of this realm. She is Veleda, from the “Dreamscape.” As long as he remains attached to her, they cannot be seen. She urges him to leave her before he becomes to attached. Alec decides to leave the “Banality,” Veleda’s term for the real world and journey into the Dreamscape to help her.
Here is where I will diverge, as I had never heard of the term Dreampunk, which is what Stephen’s novella is categorized. But as I read it, I realized I knew what it was.
Dreampunk
While I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the definitions I read off the internet, I can see now after reading his novel that yes, this genre has been around for a very long time. Perhaps not clearly given a title/name (because now of course everything has to have a title), but it has been a driving force in literature for as long as humans can, well, dream. Dreampunk can take on many iterations and themes, but reading Coghlan’s story, the underlying theme is belief. The protagonist in his story needs to believe in the dreamscape and let go of the Banality, the real world which holds nothing but pain and suffering. If he cannot do so, he cannot win the ultimate battle. Not only for the future of the Dreamscape, but for the future of mankind’s dreams and his own self.
To better explain this theme, I felt it appropriate to delve into a few examples from both classic and modern literature that tie in well to what Coghlan touches on in this novella. Though not inclusive these give a good cross-section.
One of my favorite examples (and possibly most well-read) would be Louis Carrol’s much beloved Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Both examples of where a young girl slips either down the rabbit hole or through a mirror into a surreal world where nothing is as it seems. While Louis Carrol’s world defies logic, being just a little girl, she accepts and makes her way through this bizarre world with much more ease than an adult would. In Alice in Wonderland, she is merely in a quest to return home by the proper time. In Through the Looking Glass, with its nod to the game of Chess, Alice is on a mission to become crowned queen.
The next best example would be Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie, where three children, Peter, John and Wendy are flown away to Neverland by Peter Pan and his fairy companion, Tinkerbell. In this land, children never grow up.
Stepping into the US, and into controversy, is the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. Leaving aside the underlying political and racial issues with the story, on the surface it is about a naïve, young farm girl who is spirited away from her home of Kansas by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. She fights her way through witches and other fantastical creatures to find her way back to Kansas.
Forward into the future (and a favorite from my childhood, though it doesn’t seem to be wearing well with time) is the Neverending Story. Bullied, motherless school-boy Bastien often loses himself in the world of books. One day he steals a magical book about the land of Fantasia that is being eroded by an evil called the Nothing. While reading the adventure of the warrior Atreyu, questing to save the world from destruction, he finds that he is somehow responsible for its ultimate fate, if he has the courage to keep reading.
Moving forward into the late 1990’s with one of my favorites, The Matrix. This movie crosses many genres, scifi, dystopian, a little bit of horror. But It does fall into dreamscape, as Neo Anderson wakes up with the help of Morpheus and Trinity, to realize that the machines have taken over the world and the computer simulated life he was living was completely fictitious. Will he regret taking the red pill?
I mention all of these because the underlying theme once more is belief. Alice, a young child, very easily believes that if she tries hard enough, in the first story, she can find her way home. In the second she believes she can make her way across the imaginary Wonderland chessboard and move from a pawn to a queen. In Peter Pan, it is about the belief in one’s self and capabilities and dealing with the realities of growing up. While living in Neverland with no rules forever sounds appealing, the children realize this is not where they belong. In the end of the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy always had the power to go home, she just had to believe. In the Neverending story, Bastien struggles to believe that he could be important enough to change the story, to save the world. Meanwhile Neo has to learn to believe that he is the one, he has to move within the Matrix and bend the rules to his will.
Coghlan’s character, Alec struggles with some aspect of each of these beliefs. Unlike Alice, who slips into the alternate reality with her ease and innocence, accepting with grace her bizarre encounters along the way, Alec cannot. Not only is he an adult, who has cast off his child-like acceptance of the world of dreams, he has known true horror. Battered and traumatized by his experiences in the military, he is medicated to the point that he doesn’t dream anymore. When he first passes into the Dreamscape, he becomes physically ill. Throughout the story (and Stephen does some great foreshadowing) you get a sense that there is some other reason why Veleda, his guide, came to him. But his inability to remember how to dream hinders him as the move through the Dreamscape. This touches not only on the themes of the Matrix where he must ultimately let go of the boundaries and rules he once knew in the “Banality,” but like Neo, Dorothy, and even Bastien, he must believe the power lies within him to do so.
*I really loved Coghlan’s scene from the Library of Dreams. This would be a surreal scene to see as a movie in an IMAX theater.
Characters and Dream Archetypes
I am desperately trying to avoid too many spoilers in this review, but it’s going to happen. One of the things that I felt that Coghlan does well in such a short novella is that he shows us some unique characters. Now I don’t know if he did this intentionally, but he definitely played well on Jung’s dream archetypes in this story. I will explain below.
Dream Archetypes
While science has proven that almost everyone dreams (except for some with extreme sleep disorders), not all remember their dreams. Of those that do, most share stories of strange dreams, inspiring dreams and frightening dreams. When you look at literature, across almost every genre, there is a fascination with dreams, both in fiction in non-fiction. We as humans want to know what our brains are trying to tell us as we sleep. The Quran, one of the most famous religious doctrines of all time was written based on the Prophet Muhammad’s “night visions” or dreams. In the Bible, there are multiple instances of dreams foretelling the future. Giuseppi Tartini’s Il Trillo Del Diavolo (The Devil’s Trill) was purportedly inspired by a dream he had of the Devil playing the violin for him. One of my personal favorites is Stephen King’s the Stand, where everyone dreams of either Mother Abigail or the Dark Man and come together.
*A side note, I loved Nadine’s constant insistence, “Don’t dream!” and then her confession later in her goodbye letter to Larry.
Meanwhile, I think we have all had this conversation around the watercooler/lunch table at work:
“Wow, I had the strangest dream last night!”
Dreams are so prevalent in literature, it has become cliché to start a novel with a dream sequence. It is one of the biggest tips you get from literary agents and publishing houses. Why? It’s been done—a lot.
Coghlan’s book is based on the world of dreams, but his protagonist can’t dream anymore due to his heavily medicated state. And really why would he want to? His dreams are filled with nightmares of horror and death. But moving into the Dreamscape, a world of imagination, he must confront his deepest psychological impulses and his true self to survive and save the Dreamscape from an evil King that has taken control and is bringing destruction to the world of dreams.
Here is where we get into the dream archetypes and who Alec meets along the way. I included this link I found that has a great and simple explanation of Jung’s four archetypes. I will break them down further in the context of Coghlan’s story, but please feel free to investigate further. All of the characters he meets are crucial to his journey through the land of the surreal, as they are all reflections and aspects of his own psyche. The things he both desires and pushes away from himself.
https://appliedjung.com/dream-archety...
The Self
This is the center of ourselves, our psyche
The Shadow
Our deep darker drives and desires. These we tend to suppress, yet we are innately fascinated by them. Freud might have called this our Id.
The Anima/Animus
The reflection of the female image/soul in the male, or the male image/soul in a female. Can manifest as almost a superhero or god-like form. Jung theorized that this starts as a child as we project ourselves onto our parent of the opposite sex.
The Persona
How we present ourselves to the world. Usually in direct opposition to the shadow, and sometimes even to the self. It depends on how much shame or pride we feel in ourselves.
From here, these four archetypes can manifest as the more traditional cultural archetypes. These are the standard archetypes we find throughout literature cultures (virgin/whore, hero/villain, maiden/crone, etc)
https://www.hccfl.edu/media/724354/ar...
In Coghlan’s world of the Dreamscape, every human living in the Banality, like Alec, is a “Creator.” Their avatars or “Doppelgangers” live out fantasies, dreams, hopes and of course, nightmares in the Dreamscape.
In the Dreamscape are characters that are native to the realm, like Veleda, Alec’s guide. She identifies herself as “A Seer. A seeker of truth and a teller of lies. A princess and a peon.” Her family once ruled the Dreamscape until the evil King took over. Now they are imprisoned and she has reached out to Alec for help. She becomes both Alec’s guide and charge as they move through their quest. Coghlan’s description of Veleda and her place in Alec’s psyche as he struggles to find himself fits smoothly with the definition of his anima, or the or the pure Platonic female reflection of his psyche that he has repressed both through his normal life and his military service. You can read in more detail about the anima/animus below.
https://appliedjung.com/the-archetype...
Veleda represents his desire to seek the truth about himself, a truth he has pushed away even before the assistance of medication. Coghlan does a good job of alluding to the fact that Veleda has ulterior motives to bringing him to the Dreamscape. That if she had to, she might even betray him. He accepts her reasons for the betrayal, as they are part of his inability to let go of the Banality and move forward. His interactions with his anima help him to grow as a character and find ways to get back to his dreams he has forgotten.
Another interesting mesh of Alec’s anima, shadow and persona emerges in the form of M’lanth. M’lanth is a Shadow-Knight, native to the Dreamscape like Velda, and protector of the Doppelgangers that dwell in the surreal. M’lanth is a feminine reflection of Alec’s deep desires of being a warrior. His dream of joining the army and fighting for justice, good and hope. She protects the Doppelgangers so that their Creators can live good lives. She feels their pain when their Creator is hurt or suffering in the Banality. What makes her his shadow, is that she also represents his darker desire to seek revenge, snuff out suffering. A side of himself that society forces him to repress. M’lanth seeks revenge on those through torturous nightmares when the Doppelgangers and Creators she cares for are hurt by evil. She represents the vigilante, the Batman, that dwells in all of us. The shadow in the night that seeks out justice for those who are wronged. While they start off at odds, M’lanth and Alec come to a mutual respect by the apex of the story. She also represents the Persona he would like to present to the world, the Knight fighting for good and triumphing over evil. When he emerges from the Library of dreams in his glowing emerald armor, we are seeing this Persona shine through.
Next we encounter the Doppelganger of Alec’s Army friend Fredrick. Fredrick is yet another mesh up of archetypes. Fredrick’s character is living a double life in the dreamscape as his creator is stuck in a perpetual coma, wrecked and burned body beyond repair. Dwelling in the world of dreams, he is healthy and strong. What we also learn is the hidden love between Fredrick and Alec that was never spoken. Fredrick takes on a representation of Alec’s anima, in the sense that he appears over and over as almost the damsel in distress sub-archetype for Alec to rescue. But in a sense, he is also Alec’s Persona, in touch with the Dreamscape, and has fully let go of the Banality. He also drives Alec to push past what they experienced so that they may hopefully have some sort of future together here in the Dreamscape, away from the oppression of cultural norms and expectations. This is a nod to Alec’s Shadow. Now the term Shadow has negative connotations, but really it is just a reflection of the desires we suppress, sometimes to fit into society. Coghlan uses this dream archetype in a great but subtle way to show the toll the lack of acceptance society has toward homosexuality can take on people and relationships.
Now we get to the true Shadow, the evil King. Coghlan uses great foreshadowing all along, so it is no surprise to find that the evil King is no other than Alec’s Doppelganger. Severed from Alec, he has taken on every dark aspect of Alec’s experiences and nightmares. Bent on taking over the Dreamscape and controlling the human world of dreams he will let nothing stand in his way. His plan was to lure Alec to the Dreamscape so they could merge together and he would have ultimate power.
As the Emerald Knight and the Black-clad King square off in this ultimate battle, the fate of human dreams hanging in the balance the question is not just who will win, but how. In a nod yet again to the Matrix, we get back to beliefs. Though Alec has relearned how to dream, and clad himself in the armor of his Persona, can he bend the rules of the Dreamscape to defeat his ultimate Shadow archetype? Though I have tossed a few spoilers out there, I will leave this last one for the reader.
Coghlan’s “Dreampunk” was a fantastic, quick read. Writing that allows me to not only escape, but yet think at the same time is a true pleasure. My one beef with it, as with some other novellas I have read, was its brevity. There was enough material here for a full-length novel, if not two. Some of the transitions between scenes ended up being sacrificed for word count. I would have loved to read more. Coghlan definitely has the talent and capability to pull it off with rich surreal descriptions and intriguing characters. I look forward to his next venture into the “Dreampunk” genre.
An ex-Army medic, Coghlan’s character is living a court-ordered, drugged half-life as part of his probation after beating a mugger to death in a fit of rage. He is so sedated that he is completely cut off from his dreams. He works the night shift at the local hospital, mopping floors. He does his best to forget the horrors of watching his buddies die in combat.
Then one evening as he’s walking to work, singing a song to himself to drown out the sounds of the city. He turns down an alley to see three creatures attacking a young woman. These creatures have the appearance of crazed clowns (like something out of Stephen King’s IT, or the cult classic Killer Clowns from Outer Space). Part of him wants to turn away, keep walking. But something inside of him snaps and he kills her attackers and brings her to the hospital.
When he carries her to the hospital and then brings her into a room, he realizes no one notices or sees him, no matter how much he tries to get their attention in the ER. It is as if they are invisible. He steals a gurney and supplies and treats her himself. When she awakes, she explains that she is not of this realm. She is Veleda, from the “Dreamscape.” As long as he remains attached to her, they cannot be seen. She urges him to leave her before he becomes to attached. Alec decides to leave the “Banality,” Veleda’s term for the real world and journey into the Dreamscape to help her.
Here is where I will diverge, as I had never heard of the term Dreampunk, which is what Stephen’s novella is categorized. But as I read it, I realized I knew what it was.
Dreampunk
While I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the definitions I read off the internet, I can see now after reading his novel that yes, this genre has been around for a very long time. Perhaps not clearly given a title/name (because now of course everything has to have a title), but it has been a driving force in literature for as long as humans can, well, dream. Dreampunk can take on many iterations and themes, but reading Coghlan’s story, the underlying theme is belief. The protagonist in his story needs to believe in the dreamscape and let go of the Banality, the real world which holds nothing but pain and suffering. If he cannot do so, he cannot win the ultimate battle. Not only for the future of the Dreamscape, but for the future of mankind’s dreams and his own self.
To better explain this theme, I felt it appropriate to delve into a few examples from both classic and modern literature that tie in well to what Coghlan touches on in this novella. Though not inclusive these give a good cross-section.
One of my favorite examples (and possibly most well-read) would be Louis Carrol’s much beloved Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Both examples of where a young girl slips either down the rabbit hole or through a mirror into a surreal world where nothing is as it seems. While Louis Carrol’s world defies logic, being just a little girl, she accepts and makes her way through this bizarre world with much more ease than an adult would. In Alice in Wonderland, she is merely in a quest to return home by the proper time. In Through the Looking Glass, with its nod to the game of Chess, Alice is on a mission to become crowned queen.
The next best example would be Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie, where three children, Peter, John and Wendy are flown away to Neverland by Peter Pan and his fairy companion, Tinkerbell. In this land, children never grow up.
Stepping into the US, and into controversy, is the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. Leaving aside the underlying political and racial issues with the story, on the surface it is about a naïve, young farm girl who is spirited away from her home of Kansas by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. She fights her way through witches and other fantastical creatures to find her way back to Kansas.
Forward into the future (and a favorite from my childhood, though it doesn’t seem to be wearing well with time) is the Neverending Story. Bullied, motherless school-boy Bastien often loses himself in the world of books. One day he steals a magical book about the land of Fantasia that is being eroded by an evil called the Nothing. While reading the adventure of the warrior Atreyu, questing to save the world from destruction, he finds that he is somehow responsible for its ultimate fate, if he has the courage to keep reading.
Moving forward into the late 1990’s with one of my favorites, The Matrix. This movie crosses many genres, scifi, dystopian, a little bit of horror. But It does fall into dreamscape, as Neo Anderson wakes up with the help of Morpheus and Trinity, to realize that the machines have taken over the world and the computer simulated life he was living was completely fictitious. Will he regret taking the red pill?
I mention all of these because the underlying theme once more is belief. Alice, a young child, very easily believes that if she tries hard enough, in the first story, she can find her way home. In the second she believes she can make her way across the imaginary Wonderland chessboard and move from a pawn to a queen. In Peter Pan, it is about the belief in one’s self and capabilities and dealing with the realities of growing up. While living in Neverland with no rules forever sounds appealing, the children realize this is not where they belong. In the end of the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy always had the power to go home, she just had to believe. In the Neverending story, Bastien struggles to believe that he could be important enough to change the story, to save the world. Meanwhile Neo has to learn to believe that he is the one, he has to move within the Matrix and bend the rules to his will.
Coghlan’s character, Alec struggles with some aspect of each of these beliefs. Unlike Alice, who slips into the alternate reality with her ease and innocence, accepting with grace her bizarre encounters along the way, Alec cannot. Not only is he an adult, who has cast off his child-like acceptance of the world of dreams, he has known true horror. Battered and traumatized by his experiences in the military, he is medicated to the point that he doesn’t dream anymore. When he first passes into the Dreamscape, he becomes physically ill. Throughout the story (and Stephen does some great foreshadowing) you get a sense that there is some other reason why Veleda, his guide, came to him. But his inability to remember how to dream hinders him as the move through the Dreamscape. This touches not only on the themes of the Matrix where he must ultimately let go of the boundaries and rules he once knew in the “Banality,” but like Neo, Dorothy, and even Bastien, he must believe the power lies within him to do so.
*I really loved Coghlan’s scene from the Library of Dreams. This would be a surreal scene to see as a movie in an IMAX theater.
Characters and Dream Archetypes
I am desperately trying to avoid too many spoilers in this review, but it’s going to happen. One of the things that I felt that Coghlan does well in such a short novella is that he shows us some unique characters. Now I don’t know if he did this intentionally, but he definitely played well on Jung’s dream archetypes in this story. I will explain below.
Dream Archetypes
While science has proven that almost everyone dreams (except for some with extreme sleep disorders), not all remember their dreams. Of those that do, most share stories of strange dreams, inspiring dreams and frightening dreams. When you look at literature, across almost every genre, there is a fascination with dreams, both in fiction in non-fiction. We as humans want to know what our brains are trying to tell us as we sleep. The Quran, one of the most famous religious doctrines of all time was written based on the Prophet Muhammad’s “night visions” or dreams. In the Bible, there are multiple instances of dreams foretelling the future. Giuseppi Tartini’s Il Trillo Del Diavolo (The Devil’s Trill) was purportedly inspired by a dream he had of the Devil playing the violin for him. One of my personal favorites is Stephen King’s the Stand, where everyone dreams of either Mother Abigail or the Dark Man and come together.
*A side note, I loved Nadine’s constant insistence, “Don’t dream!” and then her confession later in her goodbye letter to Larry.
Meanwhile, I think we have all had this conversation around the watercooler/lunch table at work:
“Wow, I had the strangest dream last night!”
Dreams are so prevalent in literature, it has become cliché to start a novel with a dream sequence. It is one of the biggest tips you get from literary agents and publishing houses. Why? It’s been done—a lot.
Coghlan’s book is based on the world of dreams, but his protagonist can’t dream anymore due to his heavily medicated state. And really why would he want to? His dreams are filled with nightmares of horror and death. But moving into the Dreamscape, a world of imagination, he must confront his deepest psychological impulses and his true self to survive and save the Dreamscape from an evil King that has taken control and is bringing destruction to the world of dreams.
Here is where we get into the dream archetypes and who Alec meets along the way. I included this link I found that has a great and simple explanation of Jung’s four archetypes. I will break them down further in the context of Coghlan’s story, but please feel free to investigate further. All of the characters he meets are crucial to his journey through the land of the surreal, as they are all reflections and aspects of his own psyche. The things he both desires and pushes away from himself.
https://appliedjung.com/dream-archety...
The Self
This is the center of ourselves, our psyche
The Shadow
Our deep darker drives and desires. These we tend to suppress, yet we are innately fascinated by them. Freud might have called this our Id.
The Anima/Animus
The reflection of the female image/soul in the male, or the male image/soul in a female. Can manifest as almost a superhero or god-like form. Jung theorized that this starts as a child as we project ourselves onto our parent of the opposite sex.
The Persona
How we present ourselves to the world. Usually in direct opposition to the shadow, and sometimes even to the self. It depends on how much shame or pride we feel in ourselves.
From here, these four archetypes can manifest as the more traditional cultural archetypes. These are the standard archetypes we find throughout literature cultures (virgin/whore, hero/villain, maiden/crone, etc)
https://www.hccfl.edu/media/724354/ar...
In Coghlan’s world of the Dreamscape, every human living in the Banality, like Alec, is a “Creator.” Their avatars or “Doppelgangers” live out fantasies, dreams, hopes and of course, nightmares in the Dreamscape.
In the Dreamscape are characters that are native to the realm, like Veleda, Alec’s guide. She identifies herself as “A Seer. A seeker of truth and a teller of lies. A princess and a peon.” Her family once ruled the Dreamscape until the evil King took over. Now they are imprisoned and she has reached out to Alec for help. She becomes both Alec’s guide and charge as they move through their quest. Coghlan’s description of Veleda and her place in Alec’s psyche as he struggles to find himself fits smoothly with the definition of his anima, or the or the pure Platonic female reflection of his psyche that he has repressed both through his normal life and his military service. You can read in more detail about the anima/animus below.
https://appliedjung.com/the-archetype...
Veleda represents his desire to seek the truth about himself, a truth he has pushed away even before the assistance of medication. Coghlan does a good job of alluding to the fact that Veleda has ulterior motives to bringing him to the Dreamscape. That if she had to, she might even betray him. He accepts her reasons for the betrayal, as they are part of his inability to let go of the Banality and move forward. His interactions with his anima help him to grow as a character and find ways to get back to his dreams he has forgotten.
Another interesting mesh of Alec’s anima, shadow and persona emerges in the form of M’lanth. M’lanth is a Shadow-Knight, native to the Dreamscape like Velda, and protector of the Doppelgangers that dwell in the surreal. M’lanth is a feminine reflection of Alec’s deep desires of being a warrior. His dream of joining the army and fighting for justice, good and hope. She protects the Doppelgangers so that their Creators can live good lives. She feels their pain when their Creator is hurt or suffering in the Banality. What makes her his shadow, is that she also represents his darker desire to seek revenge, snuff out suffering. A side of himself that society forces him to repress. M’lanth seeks revenge on those through torturous nightmares when the Doppelgangers and Creators she cares for are hurt by evil. She represents the vigilante, the Batman, that dwells in all of us. The shadow in the night that seeks out justice for those who are wronged. While they start off at odds, M’lanth and Alec come to a mutual respect by the apex of the story. She also represents the Persona he would like to present to the world, the Knight fighting for good and triumphing over evil. When he emerges from the Library of dreams in his glowing emerald armor, we are seeing this Persona shine through.
Next we encounter the Doppelganger of Alec’s Army friend Fredrick. Fredrick is yet another mesh up of archetypes. Fredrick’s character is living a double life in the dreamscape as his creator is stuck in a perpetual coma, wrecked and burned body beyond repair. Dwelling in the world of dreams, he is healthy and strong. What we also learn is the hidden love between Fredrick and Alec that was never spoken. Fredrick takes on a representation of Alec’s anima, in the sense that he appears over and over as almost the damsel in distress sub-archetype for Alec to rescue. But in a sense, he is also Alec’s Persona, in touch with the Dreamscape, and has fully let go of the Banality. He also drives Alec to push past what they experienced so that they may hopefully have some sort of future together here in the Dreamscape, away from the oppression of cultural norms and expectations. This is a nod to Alec’s Shadow. Now the term Shadow has negative connotations, but really it is just a reflection of the desires we suppress, sometimes to fit into society. Coghlan uses this dream archetype in a great but subtle way to show the toll the lack of acceptance society has toward homosexuality can take on people and relationships.
Now we get to the true Shadow, the evil King. Coghlan uses great foreshadowing all along, so it is no surprise to find that the evil King is no other than Alec’s Doppelganger. Severed from Alec, he has taken on every dark aspect of Alec’s experiences and nightmares. Bent on taking over the Dreamscape and controlling the human world of dreams he will let nothing stand in his way. His plan was to lure Alec to the Dreamscape so they could merge together and he would have ultimate power.
As the Emerald Knight and the Black-clad King square off in this ultimate battle, the fate of human dreams hanging in the balance the question is not just who will win, but how. In a nod yet again to the Matrix, we get back to beliefs. Though Alec has relearned how to dream, and clad himself in the armor of his Persona, can he bend the rules of the Dreamscape to defeat his ultimate Shadow archetype? Though I have tossed a few spoilers out there, I will leave this last one for the reader.
Coghlan’s “Dreampunk” was a fantastic, quick read. Writing that allows me to not only escape, but yet think at the same time is a true pleasure. My one beef with it, as with some other novellas I have read, was its brevity. There was enough material here for a full-length novel, if not two. Some of the transitions between scenes ended up being sacrificed for word count. I would have loved to read more. Coghlan definitely has the talent and capability to pull it off with rich surreal descriptions and intriguing characters. I look forward to his next venture into the “Dreampunk” genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
Let’s start with a definition. Some may not be familiar with the term ‘dreampunk’. The thing is, it’s quite a broad genre, and the chances are that you are familiar with something that falls within it. For example, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman graphic novels would certainly be part of the genre. As a basic definition though, it can be viewed as a literary subgenre that, while at times similar to other ‘punk’ genres (such as cyber and steam), includes dream logic as an integral part of its workings.
Now, onto the book itself. Being a novella, it was a fairly quick read. This was aided by Stephen’s writing style. I would say that his work – or those examples that I’ve read – tends to be very tidy insofar as nothing feels wasted. There’s no filler, and everything serves to help push the story along. And it’s certainly an intriguing story, at that. We’re immediately thrown into a narrative that quickly and effectively introduces us to Alec and how he views his place in the world, and then dives headlong into the beginnings of the dream focus. It all feels very rapid fire, but in a way that keeps you moving rather than confuses.
That’s important because, when we learn things about the world of Urban Gothic, we do so quickly. Without the clarity and focus, it would be easy to get lost in the concepts presented. And that would be a real shame, because it’s one concept in particular that drew me into the story the most: the idea of dreams as living things. If you’ve ever written stories, you may find yourself feeling guilt over killing off a character or wrecking their lives. Readers too get this, with plenty of messages sent to authors bemoaning how they’ve treated a character each and every year. Urban Gothic does a great job of presenting this connection to fictional characters as a tangible thing, where fiction becomes something more solid. It’s wonderful to read, because it really makes you think about how much attachment we have to other worlds. Even outside this though, the world building is fun, and the story feels all the more fleshed out because of it.
Alec is a decent lead for this story too. Not perfect, not even close in fact, but with enough sense of good intentions built in to make him likable. The supporting cast are also good, with Veleda being the one that gets the most page time. She helps drive the plot forward in terms of introducing Alec to his surroundings and potential purpose, and remains interesting throughout. Frederick too was important in helping Alec find what he needed to be a hero, and while I would have liked a little more page time for him, his role shouldn’t be understated .
The one issue that you may find here is that, as is often the case with a good novella, you may feel that the story would have also worked as a full length novel. As such, there’s the potential that you’re left wanting there to be more to read. The thing is, I do feel that it works absolutely fine in this shorter form. In a way it’s fitting, as dreams themselves can sometimes feel far shorter than we want them to be. So, I’m going to give this one a solid 4.5 out of 5.
Now, onto the book itself. Being a novella, it was a fairly quick read. This was aided by Stephen’s writing style. I would say that his work – or those examples that I’ve read – tends to be very tidy insofar as nothing feels wasted. There’s no filler, and everything serves to help push the story along. And it’s certainly an intriguing story, at that. We’re immediately thrown into a narrative that quickly and effectively introduces us to Alec and how he views his place in the world, and then dives headlong into the beginnings of the dream focus. It all feels very rapid fire, but in a way that keeps you moving rather than confuses.
That’s important because, when we learn things about the world of Urban Gothic, we do so quickly. Without the clarity and focus, it would be easy to get lost in the concepts presented. And that would be a real shame, because it’s one concept in particular that drew me into the story the most: the idea of dreams as living things. If you’ve ever written stories, you may find yourself feeling guilt over killing off a character or wrecking their lives. Readers too get this, with plenty of messages sent to authors bemoaning how they’ve treated a character each and every year. Urban Gothic does a great job of presenting this connection to fictional characters as a tangible thing, where fiction becomes something more solid. It’s wonderful to read, because it really makes you think about how much attachment we have to other worlds. Even outside this though, the world building is fun, and the story feels all the more fleshed out because of it.
Alec is a decent lead for this story too. Not perfect, not even close in fact, but with enough sense of good intentions built in to make him likable. The supporting cast are also good, with Veleda being the one that gets the most page time. She helps drive the plot forward in terms of introducing Alec to his surroundings and potential purpose, and remains interesting throughout. Frederick too was important in helping Alec find what he needed to be a hero, and while I would have liked a little more page time for him, his role shouldn’t be understated .
The one issue that you may find here is that, as is often the case with a good novella, you may feel that the story would have also worked as a full length novel. As such, there’s the potential that you’re left wanting there to be more to read. The thing is, I do feel that it works absolutely fine in this shorter form. In a way it’s fitting, as dreams themselves can sometimes feel far shorter than we want them to be. So, I’m going to give this one a solid 4.5 out of 5.
February 12, 2020
‘The door closed with finality.’
Urban Gothic intrigued me from the outset with that terse and bleak opening line; not until much later in the story did I realize just how brilliant and symbolic that darkly ironic sentence is.
War veteran, Alec LeGuerrier spends his life trying to be invisible – he works night-shifts as a hospital cleaner, spaced out on prescribed drugs the authorities are forcing him to take to keep his more violent PTSD symptoms under control and suppress his survivor guilt nightmares.
Everything changes, however, the night his combat reflexes kick in and he saves a badly injured, violet-eyed woman from three grotesque killers in a dark alley. The woman – who introduces herself as, ‘Veleda… a Seer, a seeker of truth, and a teller of lies’ – entices Alec into her world, known as ‘the dreamscape’, where he finds himself right in the middle of a war that threatens both worlds and discovers he is all too visible to everyone, friend and foe alike.
The author’s mind must be a weird & wonderful place because the scope of his imagination is breath-taking. I love the way he brings the ‘dreamscape’ to glorious life, making the fantastic seem real and tangible – the sky is full of flying beasts and machines; the air feels ‘too thick to swallow’, and one can ‘taste’ the colour of baking bread. I love his attention to detail, so that even the way the portal between the two worlds was first created in the alley makes fabulously bizarre sense, as does the reason why ferocious sandstorms occur in the 'dreamscape'.
Stephen M. Coghlan is a master at creating a variety of strong characters with real hopes, fears, emotions and flaws that make them feel credible and sympathetic – even ‘The Scourge’, the ruthless and feared antagonist, has valid reason for his hatred and murderous intent. Alec made the greatest impression on me, though; I desperately wanted him to somehow come to terms with his past whilst helping his new friends and thereby find some kind of relief from his PTSD symptoms.
There’s so much I’d like to enthuse about but can’t because of possible spoilers. I will just say that I think the story’s ending is perfect. I did guess a small aspect of it (the clues are there) but, for the most part, I didn’t see it coming!
I love this emotion-tugging, swift-paced, all action story & I thoroughly recommend it.
Urban Gothic intrigued me from the outset with that terse and bleak opening line; not until much later in the story did I realize just how brilliant and symbolic that darkly ironic sentence is.
War veteran, Alec LeGuerrier spends his life trying to be invisible – he works night-shifts as a hospital cleaner, spaced out on prescribed drugs the authorities are forcing him to take to keep his more violent PTSD symptoms under control and suppress his survivor guilt nightmares.
Everything changes, however, the night his combat reflexes kick in and he saves a badly injured, violet-eyed woman from three grotesque killers in a dark alley. The woman – who introduces herself as, ‘Veleda… a Seer, a seeker of truth, and a teller of lies’ – entices Alec into her world, known as ‘the dreamscape’, where he finds himself right in the middle of a war that threatens both worlds and discovers he is all too visible to everyone, friend and foe alike.
The author’s mind must be a weird & wonderful place because the scope of his imagination is breath-taking. I love the way he brings the ‘dreamscape’ to glorious life, making the fantastic seem real and tangible – the sky is full of flying beasts and machines; the air feels ‘too thick to swallow’, and one can ‘taste’ the colour of baking bread. I love his attention to detail, so that even the way the portal between the two worlds was first created in the alley makes fabulously bizarre sense, as does the reason why ferocious sandstorms occur in the 'dreamscape'.
Stephen M. Coghlan is a master at creating a variety of strong characters with real hopes, fears, emotions and flaws that make them feel credible and sympathetic – even ‘The Scourge’, the ruthless and feared antagonist, has valid reason for his hatred and murderous intent. Alec made the greatest impression on me, though; I desperately wanted him to somehow come to terms with his past whilst helping his new friends and thereby find some kind of relief from his PTSD symptoms.
There’s so much I’d like to enthuse about but can’t because of possible spoilers. I will just say that I think the story’s ending is perfect. I did guess a small aspect of it (the clues are there) but, for the most part, I didn’t see it coming!
I love this emotion-tugging, swift-paced, all action story & I thoroughly recommend it.
February 28, 2019
I’ll be honest with you, what first caught my attention with Urban Gothic was the incredible cover. I mean, look at that incredible cover by the talented Sophia LeRoux. It's no wonder it caught my attention and because of that, before I even read the blurb, I wanted to read this story. In fact, I totally forgot to read the back cover blurb before I read the story. I read it afterwards. I had no idea what story I was about to read, let alone what genre it was.
From the first line, this story drew me in. I was intrigued by Alec as Stephen painted a picture of his world that was wrought with pain and blood. A world that made me feel for Alec, that made me want to see something better for him.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I love strong character-driven stories. Stephen’s story is exactly that. A beautiful, heartfelt strongly character-driven story in the most wonderfully magical and fantastical world of dreams that he created. I couldn’t get enough as I raced through this story in a single sitting. I even let my coffee grow cold because I didn’t want to put the story down.
Each character he created was unique and real. It was clear the care he put into developing not just the world, but each of the characters – human or otherwise – that the reader encounters in the story. Their interactions drove the plot forward to what I think most will agree is a satisfying conclusion.
Let’s not neglect to mention the dreamscape that is as real as the characters the dwell within. Stephen’s talent for creating a vivid dream world and fantastic imagery will not go unnoticed by any reader. It’s the finishing touch, icing on an incredible story that will capture your imagination and make you think twice about those errant daydreams you create.
As for me, Stephen already knows my one critique of his story and he knew the controversy it could cause to those who live north of the 49th parallel. Be warned, my fellow Canadians, that Alec LeGuerrier is from Montréal and that means he is a Habs fan, but even if you’re a Leafs fan, I can guarantee that you will find yourself cheering for Alec anyway.
From the first line, this story drew me in. I was intrigued by Alec as Stephen painted a picture of his world that was wrought with pain and blood. A world that made me feel for Alec, that made me want to see something better for him.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I love strong character-driven stories. Stephen’s story is exactly that. A beautiful, heartfelt strongly character-driven story in the most wonderfully magical and fantastical world of dreams that he created. I couldn’t get enough as I raced through this story in a single sitting. I even let my coffee grow cold because I didn’t want to put the story down.
Each character he created was unique and real. It was clear the care he put into developing not just the world, but each of the characters – human or otherwise – that the reader encounters in the story. Their interactions drove the plot forward to what I think most will agree is a satisfying conclusion.
Let’s not neglect to mention the dreamscape that is as real as the characters the dwell within. Stephen’s talent for creating a vivid dream world and fantastic imagery will not go unnoticed by any reader. It’s the finishing touch, icing on an incredible story that will capture your imagination and make you think twice about those errant daydreams you create.
As for me, Stephen already knows my one critique of his story and he knew the controversy it could cause to those who live north of the 49th parallel. Be warned, my fellow Canadians, that Alec LeGuerrier is from Montréal and that means he is a Habs fan, but even if you’re a Leafs fan, I can guarantee that you will find yourself cheering for Alec anyway.
January 28, 2020
Totally brilliant. Heartbreaking. Dark. I’m a true fan of this author now.
May 15, 2019
Urban Gothic.
Not my favorite title, and I don’t see the connection to the story, but that doesn’t exactly matter, because the story contained inside is fantastical and wonderful and poignant. It cuts to the soul, for its themes slice through the psychological and the broken and the wounded.
Suppose everyone had a doppelganger. Suppose the world itself had a doppelganger. What would such an alternative dreamscape, complete with imagined and unimagined people, be like? How would its psychological connection, through our dreams, affect our world?
Urban Gothic sets out to explore that world, a world of strange forests, heroic warriors, strange doppelgangers, and fundamentally, a world that lives and dies on love.
Alec, the main character, is a broken human searching for meaning. When he’s thrust into a dreamscape, he must recognize his own broken past and move past it to realize what he must do to not only save himself, but his new (and a few old) friends.
Sounds like a fantasy epic, right?
Wrong.
Stephen Coghlan tells this story in very few words, but every word matters. Every word leads toward the inexorable conclusion. While half of the conclusion I could predict after about forty or so pages, the very end threw me off, yet made me enjoy the story even more.
Well done, Stephen, and its time for the scores.
Writing: 5.5/10. This will be the only low score. While I enjoyed the writing, unfortunately for such a short piece there were more than just a few typos throughout. I didn’t discuss this flaw above because I don’t think it should detract from people engaging with Urban Gothic, but it is worth mentioning as part of our metrics. I’m also pretty sure I found a use of the word “guiltily” as an adverb to describe how someone said something, which I did not enjoy.
Characters: 9.5/10. In such a short narrative, Coghlan presents a multitude of characters, each with their own backstories and motivations. While Alec is the center point, the other characters feel alive, as if they’re living their own tale, too.
Plot: 9.5/10. Urban Gothic only loses half a point here because I managed to predict one half of the ending! Otherwise, well done. The themes connect with the conflict moving the characters forward, and the exploration of PTSD, drug addiction, and brokenness through dreams is a wonderful break from most fantasy.
Setting: 9/10. You can’t really get much better than a dreamscape complete with strange trees, doppelgangers, and a forest that allows you to go wherever you please. (Very indicative of Narnia, by the way). In some ways, I envisioned an Inception-like world, but infinitely more fantastical than that.
Overall: 8.375/10. So close to the potential rounding up to 5 stars! Clean up the typos and you’re on your way to five stars from the Two Doctors Review! Great job, Stephen.
Not my favorite title, and I don’t see the connection to the story, but that doesn’t exactly matter, because the story contained inside is fantastical and wonderful and poignant. It cuts to the soul, for its themes slice through the psychological and the broken and the wounded.
Suppose everyone had a doppelganger. Suppose the world itself had a doppelganger. What would such an alternative dreamscape, complete with imagined and unimagined people, be like? How would its psychological connection, through our dreams, affect our world?
Urban Gothic sets out to explore that world, a world of strange forests, heroic warriors, strange doppelgangers, and fundamentally, a world that lives and dies on love.
Alec, the main character, is a broken human searching for meaning. When he’s thrust into a dreamscape, he must recognize his own broken past and move past it to realize what he must do to not only save himself, but his new (and a few old) friends.
Sounds like a fantasy epic, right?
Wrong.
Stephen Coghlan tells this story in very few words, but every word matters. Every word leads toward the inexorable conclusion. While half of the conclusion I could predict after about forty or so pages, the very end threw me off, yet made me enjoy the story even more.
Well done, Stephen, and its time for the scores.
Writing: 5.5/10. This will be the only low score. While I enjoyed the writing, unfortunately for such a short piece there were more than just a few typos throughout. I didn’t discuss this flaw above because I don’t think it should detract from people engaging with Urban Gothic, but it is worth mentioning as part of our metrics. I’m also pretty sure I found a use of the word “guiltily” as an adverb to describe how someone said something, which I did not enjoy.
Characters: 9.5/10. In such a short narrative, Coghlan presents a multitude of characters, each with their own backstories and motivations. While Alec is the center point, the other characters feel alive, as if they’re living their own tale, too.
Plot: 9.5/10. Urban Gothic only loses half a point here because I managed to predict one half of the ending! Otherwise, well done. The themes connect with the conflict moving the characters forward, and the exploration of PTSD, drug addiction, and brokenness through dreams is a wonderful break from most fantasy.
Setting: 9/10. You can’t really get much better than a dreamscape complete with strange trees, doppelgangers, and a forest that allows you to go wherever you please. (Very indicative of Narnia, by the way). In some ways, I envisioned an Inception-like world, but infinitely more fantastical than that.
Overall: 8.375/10. So close to the potential rounding up to 5 stars! Clean up the typos and you’re on your way to five stars from the Two Doctors Review! Great job, Stephen.
March 9, 2019
Raw emotion is laid bare for all to see in this fast-moving dreampunk thriller. Author Coghlan wastes no time in introducing an existential threat to both the dreamscape and the waking world, featuring point-of-view character Alec LeGuerrier as the perfect lens through which to observe this alternate reality. A combat veteran, walking wounded whose rage his court-ordered medications barely keeps in check, will fight to save his newfound friends from the dreamscape's murderous, tyrannical ruler--a man bearing a face Alec can't help but recognize. "Kindness and civility is just my mask," indeed. Real and relevant and rallying for any and all battling their way forward during these trying times.
June 9, 2025
Liked the story, loved the world. This book hit me right where “What Dreams May Come” and “The Five People You Meet In Heaven” hit me, only more fantastically and with much more action. This is one of those stories I wish someone would make into a movie or a video game—some vivid medium to capture Stephen Coghlan’s tapestry of light and shadow.
March 10, 2019
Welcome to the magical Dreamscape
Alex LeGruerrier lives on the edges of society, unable to cope with the memories of his war-torn years and losing his comrades. A chance encounter pits him against three assailants who are attacking a lone female who is seriously injured. Taking responsibility and interest for the first time since his return gives him purpose.
The woman, Veleda, leads him into the dimension of the dreamscape, a place where all dreams and nightmares are alive and thriving. He finds himself as part of a rebellion to a self-appointed despot who hopes to rule the dreamscape and destroy the creators – namely the humans who dream.
Alex must use all his skills as a healer and a warrior while learning the magic of this fantastical world to help Veleda and her people.
The author has set a masterful tale of wonder, danger and the impossible in this run away story. His world building creates an environment that is similar to the Rabbit’s Hole that Alice might have fallen down. There is enough action and suspense to keep everyone on edge and the band must fight impossible odds.
Highly recommended.
Alex LeGruerrier lives on the edges of society, unable to cope with the memories of his war-torn years and losing his comrades. A chance encounter pits him against three assailants who are attacking a lone female who is seriously injured. Taking responsibility and interest for the first time since his return gives him purpose.
The woman, Veleda, leads him into the dimension of the dreamscape, a place where all dreams and nightmares are alive and thriving. He finds himself as part of a rebellion to a self-appointed despot who hopes to rule the dreamscape and destroy the creators – namely the humans who dream.
Alex must use all his skills as a healer and a warrior while learning the magic of this fantastical world to help Veleda and her people.
The author has set a masterful tale of wonder, danger and the impossible in this run away story. His world building creates an environment that is similar to the Rabbit’s Hole that Alice might have fallen down. There is enough action and suspense to keep everyone on edge and the band must fight impossible odds.
Highly recommended.
February 17, 2019
What actually happens when we dream? We can only remember bits and pieces here and there, leaving the vast depths of the dreamworld completely unknown to our waking minds. We know it's important somehow, but we don't know why.
Urban Gothic is a deep dive into the unconscious dreamworld of Alec LeGuerrier, an archetypal warrior battling his inner demons for the fate of his soul. In the mundane world, he's a veteran struggling with PTSD, chemically subdued and cut off from his own dreams. But in that other place, he can be so much more.
If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman (especially Neverwhere and The Sandman) or other modern #dreampunk writers like Jeb Sherrill and Yelena Calavera, then you should definitely check this one out. It's a quick read with a heavy heart, in the best possible way.
Urban Gothic is a deep dive into the unconscious dreamworld of Alec LeGuerrier, an archetypal warrior battling his inner demons for the fate of his soul. In the mundane world, he's a veteran struggling with PTSD, chemically subdued and cut off from his own dreams. But in that other place, he can be so much more.
If you're a fan of Neil Gaiman (especially Neverwhere and The Sandman) or other modern #dreampunk writers like Jeb Sherrill and Yelena Calavera, then you should definitely check this one out. It's a quick read with a heavy heart, in the best possible way.
March 16, 2020
Full review on gloriamneelywriter.com
A fantasy style story with a valiant prince and a damsel in distress, the layered themes of this book will have you reconsidering everything you see in this magical world and the struggles of soldiers no longer at war.
An enjoyable fantastical story with a lot of layers.
A fantasy style story with a valiant prince and a damsel in distress, the layered themes of this book will have you reconsidering everything you see in this magical world and the struggles of soldiers no longer at war.
An enjoyable fantastical story with a lot of layers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews