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Star Wars: Galaxy of Fear #4
The Nightmare Machine
Hologram Fun Park is a theme park visited by families from all across the galaxy. It's a place where Tash and Zak can safely hang out while Hoole continues his work. It's a place where daytime fun turns into nighttime terror. And as Zak and Tash will soon find out, nightmares can come true.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 31, 2022
Alright, back into the fold of the ripoff cycle. We got through a weaker Shivers so it's lucky we now have the most reliable of these series, Galaxy of Fear. The last one was the weakest so far but I had high hopes for this one. Did it live up to them? Generally, yes.
Previously on Galaxy of Fear, we found out that this scientist guy is planning out Project Starscream, and every adventure so far has been tied to it but they don't know what it is all about. Gog, the scientist is annoyed that these kids keep stopping him so now he's out for revenge. Uncle Hoole wants to look into this and has to go off on his own for a bit to do so, and dumps the kids, and the droid Deevee, off at Hologram Fun world. It's an amusement park where the name says it is.
At first it seems fun, but things start to get odd, as the attractions don't always work right. Especially the titular Nighmare Machine, which shows you holograms of your worst wears. And they find out those holograms may not be so fake after all.
This is easily the simplest one so far, not as many moving parts. It's still got the usual formula of going to a location where a mystery is afoot, but it's a simple one and it's more clear what the deal is, generally. The good news is that it's also by far the scariest one, as the nightmare idea makes this a real horror story.
It plays kind of like I Live In Your Basement, where it plays on the idea of not knowing what is real or fake. It's not nearly as dark as that one or anything like that, but it has some solid scary scenes. The third act is where things explode, as we get a lot of action and peril that is pretty exciting.
Zak is the focus here, Tash doesn't do as much. There's less character stuff in general but their bond gets shown further, with a strong bit at the end testing them and it is wild. It doesn't quite add up to much though, there';s no lesson or development or whatever, just some stuff testing them a bit and that';s it. The ending is rushed, after all that tension, we get a typical resolution for this series, and the wrap up is a bit too quick.
It starts out slow, for the first quarter I thought it wouldn't be that great. We have a few more fake outs here but once it gets cooking, it lights up. We get another guest with Lando, who plays a solid size role and has some fun bits that give us some good setup and payoff. He was a neat addition.
This ties into the story arc the most of these so far, with Gog being more desperate and there being more of an ominous cliffhanger. It's heating up so it feels important. So it is a bit mixed, starting slowing and not being as tight or character focused. The explanation for what is going on is clean enough but it's confusing how Gog set it all up. It's not the most logical story ever.
But getting past that, it's an especially fun one that goes by fast and has a lot of solid scares and fun stuff. Not a super high or tight one, but it is solid as it goes on and finally gives us some more fear that was promised. After the last one, this did at least use the premise better so it gets points for that.
Well, at some point this week I've got August's Pike book, not sure if Tuesday or some other day. Either way, the week will also give us Spinetinglers for one I've had my eye on fo0r a while, especially now that I have it physically. I just narrowed this down a lot for those for that follow me. See ya then lol.
Previously on Galaxy of Fear, we found out that this scientist guy is planning out Project Starscream, and every adventure so far has been tied to it but they don't know what it is all about. Gog, the scientist is annoyed that these kids keep stopping him so now he's out for revenge. Uncle Hoole wants to look into this and has to go off on his own for a bit to do so, and dumps the kids, and the droid Deevee, off at Hologram Fun world. It's an amusement park where the name says it is.
At first it seems fun, but things start to get odd, as the attractions don't always work right. Especially the titular Nighmare Machine, which shows you holograms of your worst wears. And they find out those holograms may not be so fake after all.
This is easily the simplest one so far, not as many moving parts. It's still got the usual formula of going to a location where a mystery is afoot, but it's a simple one and it's more clear what the deal is, generally. The good news is that it's also by far the scariest one, as the nightmare idea makes this a real horror story.
It plays kind of like I Live In Your Basement, where it plays on the idea of not knowing what is real or fake. It's not nearly as dark as that one or anything like that, but it has some solid scary scenes. The third act is where things explode, as we get a lot of action and peril that is pretty exciting.
Zak is the focus here, Tash doesn't do as much. There's less character stuff in general but their bond gets shown further, with a strong bit at the end testing them and it is wild. It doesn't quite add up to much though, there';s no lesson or development or whatever, just some stuff testing them a bit and that';s it. The ending is rushed, after all that tension, we get a typical resolution for this series, and the wrap up is a bit too quick.
It starts out slow, for the first quarter I thought it wouldn't be that great. We have a few more fake outs here but once it gets cooking, it lights up. We get another guest with Lando, who plays a solid size role and has some fun bits that give us some good setup and payoff. He was a neat addition.
This ties into the story arc the most of these so far, with Gog being more desperate and there being more of an ominous cliffhanger. It's heating up so it feels important. So it is a bit mixed, starting slowing and not being as tight or character focused. The explanation for what is going on is clean enough but it's confusing how Gog set it all up. It's not the most logical story ever.
But getting past that, it's an especially fun one that goes by fast and has a lot of solid scares and fun stuff. Not a super high or tight one, but it is solid as it goes on and finally gives us some more fear that was promised. After the last one, this did at least use the premise better so it gets points for that.
Well, at some point this week I've got August's Pike book, not sure if Tuesday or some other day. Either way, the week will also give us Spinetinglers for one I've had my eye on fo0r a while, especially now that I have it physically. I just narrowed this down a lot for those for that follow me. See ya then lol.
June 6, 2025
Star Wars: Legends: Galaxy of Fear 04 The Nightmare Machine by John Whitman
challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense
Fast-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.25 Stars
I'm not a "fan" of Horror books, but since the series is called Galaxy of Fear...I knew what I was getting into. Thankfully, this is a Junior Novel (or what most call, Middle Grade) it is fairly tame. I'm not going to have "nightmares", at least I hope not.
I love how the main characters of the novel are working out their own way through each task, and not always relying on "an adult". This self-reliance is good, especially IF a young person is reading this...it builds confidence and molds behavior responses, in their real lives.
There are still "adults" in the story, but the kids Tash and Zak, and they are fun to be with. Sometimes, in these MG books, I get SO frustrated with one (or both of the characters) because they do something SO stupid. Ugh. Obviously, they are doing their best, but sometimes "their best", just isn't good enough in real life (in high stake situations, where they are just not prepared to make these "life and death" decisions...as they shouldn't be put in them...at that age). The trauma of HAVING to make those decisions...can also lead to NEED therapy in life. I wonder...is there a "BetterHelp" in a galaxy, far, far away?
The bad guy and bad guys are evil, but also very understandable (at least for me). The situation that our heroes are put in...seemed very practical...and leads to great abuses. Yikes.
On to the next book in the series, Ghost of the Jedi.
challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense
Fast-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.25 Stars
I'm not a "fan" of Horror books, but since the series is called Galaxy of Fear...I knew what I was getting into. Thankfully, this is a Junior Novel (or what most call, Middle Grade) it is fairly tame. I'm not going to have "nightmares", at least I hope not.
I love how the main characters of the novel are working out their own way through each task, and not always relying on "an adult". This self-reliance is good, especially IF a young person is reading this...it builds confidence and molds behavior responses, in their real lives.
There are still "adults" in the story, but the kids Tash and Zak, and they are fun to be with. Sometimes, in these MG books, I get SO frustrated with one (or both of the characters) because they do something SO stupid. Ugh. Obviously, they are doing their best, but sometimes "their best", just isn't good enough in real life (in high stake situations, where they are just not prepared to make these "life and death" decisions...as they shouldn't be put in them...at that age). The trauma of HAVING to make those decisions...can also lead to NEED therapy in life. I wonder...is there a "BetterHelp" in a galaxy, far, far away?
The bad guy and bad guys are evil, but also very understandable (at least for me). The situation that our heroes are put in...seemed very practical...and leads to great abuses. Yikes.
On to the next book in the series, Ghost of the Jedi.
December 26, 2020
Wow, this was great! This is a series that continues to impress. The adventure here was the darkest of the run so far, and also my favorite. The sweet relationship between the siblings is enhanced here, and the Project Starscream storyline is advanced. I imagine this will last the whole series, but I’m not positive. It’ll be interesting to see how much longer they can keep the steam going.
Our Star Wars Guest Star here is Lando, one of my favorites, and he fits into this story perfectly. He seems so genuine to the story being told and not just shoe-horned in, which I could really say for all the guests so far. They do such a wonderful job of connecting this to the Star Wars universe, which I think is what keeps me so engaged.
This is a stellar series so far, and I cannot wait to keep going in this world.
4.5 stars
Our Star Wars Guest Star here is Lando, one of my favorites, and he fits into this story perfectly. He seems so genuine to the story being told and not just shoe-horned in, which I could really say for all the guests so far. They do such a wonderful job of connecting this to the Star Wars universe, which I think is what keeps me so engaged.
This is a stellar series so far, and I cannot wait to keep going in this world.
4.5 stars
January 18, 2021
Star Wars Legends Project #255
Background: The Nightmare Machine was written by John Whitman and published in May 1997. It is the fourth in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
The Nightmare Machine takes place 7 months after the Battle of Yavin, picking up shortly after the end of Planet Plague (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda, their adoptive Uncle Hoole, and their droid caretaker, DV-9. Lando Calrissian plays a significant role, along with the recurring villain of the series. Most of the story takes place on Hologram Fun World, a space station amusement park.
Summary: Having at last unmasked the mastermind behind Project Starscream, Uncle Hoole is anxious to find a safe place for Zak and Tash while he pursues some leads. That safe place is Hologram Fun World, a wonderland of illusion where anything is possible, and your wildest dreams can come true . . . or, perhaps, your worst nightmares.
Review: Oddly enough, I don't think we've ever seen a Star Wars amusement park. It's no surprise to learn that they exist, but we haven't followed characters who took the time to visit one before, what with all the war and everything that's usually going on. But what's a Goosebumps-inspired series without at least one story set in a creepy amusement park? I was also pretty happy when Lando showed up. He's a fun character, and a good fit for this series.
I think I'd have appreciated this one a lot more if I were a younger reader, less familiar with certain basic tropes of storytelling. It's incredibly obvious from the moment they walk into the park that this setting is creating an opportunity for our heroes to think a bunch of stuff that's happening is real when it really isn't, and it's immediately obvious when that shift actually happens . . . but we still have to wander on through several chapters of the characters having no idea, believing their enduring increasingly deadly and terrifying dangers, until they make the connection. It's not that it isn't competently done, it's just too obvious to be really effective. The climax works well, but I spent too much of the story waiting for the characters to catch up, and that's no fun.
Oh, and one final note: We finally learn the name of Hoole's arch-nemesis, the mega-evil, shape-shifting scientist who is behind the fiendish horrors of Project Starscream, and it is . . . Borborygmus Gog. I mean . . . Really? Seriously? That's . . . very, very bad. There are worse Star Wars names out there, but . . . this one is a contender.
B-
Background: The Nightmare Machine was written by John Whitman and published in May 1997. It is the fourth in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
The Nightmare Machine takes place 7 months after the Battle of Yavin, picking up shortly after the end of Planet Plague (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda, their adoptive Uncle Hoole, and their droid caretaker, DV-9. Lando Calrissian plays a significant role, along with the recurring villain of the series. Most of the story takes place on Hologram Fun World, a space station amusement park.
Summary: Having at last unmasked the mastermind behind Project Starscream, Uncle Hoole is anxious to find a safe place for Zak and Tash while he pursues some leads. That safe place is Hologram Fun World, a wonderland of illusion where anything is possible, and your wildest dreams can come true . . . or, perhaps, your worst nightmares.
Review: Oddly enough, I don't think we've ever seen a Star Wars amusement park. It's no surprise to learn that they exist, but we haven't followed characters who took the time to visit one before, what with all the war and everything that's usually going on. But what's a Goosebumps-inspired series without at least one story set in a creepy amusement park? I was also pretty happy when Lando showed up. He's a fun character, and a good fit for this series.
I think I'd have appreciated this one a lot more if I were a younger reader, less familiar with certain basic tropes of storytelling. It's incredibly obvious from the moment they walk into the park that this setting is creating an opportunity for our heroes to think a bunch of stuff that's happening is real when it really isn't, and it's immediately obvious when that shift actually happens . . . but we still have to wander on through several chapters of the characters having no idea, believing their enduring increasingly deadly and terrifying dangers, until they make the connection. It's not that it isn't competently done, it's just too obvious to be really effective. The climax works well, but I spent too much of the story waiting for the characters to catch up, and that's no fun.
Oh, and one final note: We finally learn the name of Hoole's arch-nemesis, the mega-evil, shape-shifting scientist who is behind the fiendish horrors of Project Starscream, and it is . . . Borborygmus Gog. I mean . . . Really? Seriously? That's . . . very, very bad. There are worse Star Wars names out there, but . . . this one is a contender.
B-
January 3, 2018
I mentioned the guest appearances of the big-name Star Wars characters in my last review, so I should probably note that the characters didn't not fit in their stories; they just seemed to be plugged in to entertain the fans. In The Nightmare Machine, Lando makes an appearance, and not only does his role suit his character, but Whitman also manages to capture his character well. I've noticed that in the other books where he makes an appearance, and it makes me wonder if Lando is just an easy character to write, or if the writers just enjoy writing his character. Either way, he feels more in place in this story than the other characters have in theirs.
The Nightmare Machine is set in an amusement park populated by lifelike holograms. Guests can experience flying, ride thrilling rides, or be menaced by rancors, all without running any physical risk at all. Strangely, their newest attraction is one that elicits fear in its riders, and the longer Zak and Tash stay at the park, the more unusual the attraction becomes.
The book is a little bit better than the last two, namely because Whitman doesn't rely on a deus ex machina here. He also focuses more on the characters and their feelings, and even incorporates a theme into the story. Since the story is about people's fears, we see a bit more what drives the Zak and Tash, and get more insight into where their characters may go from here.
Galaxy of Fear may not be the strongest series in the Expanded Universe, but what it does, it does pretty well. They tend to be more fun than the standard Star Wars fare, but since they're written for a younger audience, I'm not surprised. It's nice to see this book delve a bit more deeply into the characters, though.
The Nightmare Machine is set in an amusement park populated by lifelike holograms. Guests can experience flying, ride thrilling rides, or be menaced by rancors, all without running any physical risk at all. Strangely, their newest attraction is one that elicits fear in its riders, and the longer Zak and Tash stay at the park, the more unusual the attraction becomes.
The book is a little bit better than the last two, namely because Whitman doesn't rely on a deus ex machina here. He also focuses more on the characters and their feelings, and even incorporates a theme into the story. Since the story is about people's fears, we see a bit more what drives the Zak and Tash, and get more insight into where their characters may go from here.
Galaxy of Fear may not be the strongest series in the Expanded Universe, but what it does, it does pretty well. They tend to be more fun than the standard Star Wars fare, but since they're written for a younger audience, I'm not surprised. It's nice to see this book delve a bit more deeply into the characters, though.
September 17, 2025
More like 4* if it wasn't in the Star Wars Universe...
Well, this one was, from all 4 books, the best one so far, because it really had quite some gory horror aspects, and also the idea with a machine, that lets you live through your nightmares as a fun fair attraction, is a great great idea. Especially if you don't know if you're still in the machine or not....
it was very well done here. The amount of "Are they still in the machine? are they not?" were great. It was a nice guessing game. Tash and Zak are both AGAIN not the brightest in the shed, also it is ofc very white and black. I mean it's a childrens book, of course its like this. But im a bit eh about it.
Even tho the idea was great, it really just didn't fit into the Star Wars Universe. A fun park in SW while the Imperium is in full reign? Sounds a bit far fetched... but well...
At least the overall plot about Project Starscream continues. Also the cameo in this book was again VERY GREAT because it's one of my fav chars from the old trilogy :333
Well, this one was, from all 4 books, the best one so far, because it really had quite some gory horror aspects, and also the idea with a machine, that lets you live through your nightmares as a fun fair attraction, is a great great idea. Especially if you don't know if you're still in the machine or not....
it was very well done here. The amount of "Are they still in the machine? are they not?" were great. It was a nice guessing game. Tash and Zak are both AGAIN not the brightest in the shed, also it is ofc very white and black. I mean it's a childrens book, of course its like this. But im a bit eh about it.
Even tho the idea was great, it really just didn't fit into the Star Wars Universe. A fun park in SW while the Imperium is in full reign? Sounds a bit far fetched... but well...
At least the overall plot about Project Starscream continues. Also the cameo in this book was again VERY GREAT because it's one of my fav chars from the old trilogy :333
October 30, 2025
I think this book works if you read it in one sitting. Or maybe if you're in the target demographic. But, as an adult I saw the big twist coming the second I stopped reading and put a single thought into it, and knowing what was happening pulled 100% of the tension out of all of the book. Since half the book was only a dream, and they wake up from the Nightmare Machine twice, I could never assume they weren't still in the nightmare machine at all times. It felt like zero stakes from half way on.
Truly the scariest part of the book is that The Empire had a torture creature that could make you think you were in a literal hell filled with all your greatest fears, and that time moved so fast that you could suffer for DAYS in the span of only an hour. That's G-D terrifying and I'm surprised it never comes up again anywhere.
Truly the scariest part of the book is that The Empire had a torture creature that could make you think you were in a literal hell filled with all your greatest fears, and that time moved so fast that you could suffer for DAYS in the span of only an hour. That's G-D terrifying and I'm surprised it never comes up again anywhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2020
I found this for a couple of bucks at a used bookstore and bought it to read to my son. We haven’t read the previous book in the series, and there were a few, small references to the overall storyline. That being said it is a self-contained story and a pretty good one. The chapters were nice and short.
Overall the story is pretty spooky and that made for heightened j retest at some points. Lando Calrissian’s character is decent. I would definitely read another one of these, and most importantly my son said he liked it.
Overall the story is pretty spooky and that made for heightened j retest at some points. Lando Calrissian’s character is decent. I would definitely read another one of these, and most importantly my son said he liked it.
November 11, 2024
Massively derivative Star Wars take on the Goosebumps formula and an obvious cash-in trying to capitalise on the popularity of Goosebumps. It’s basically a haunted theme park story that someone has hastily had to convert into something resembling Star Wars and it doesn’t succeed. I’m sure there’s enough scary scenarios in the Star Wars mythos itself that they could’ve drawn from instead. Not worth your time, even if you’re morbidly curious as to how weird Star Wars novels can get.
May 16, 2024
This one really tried my patience - and I don't recall loving it as much as other instalments in the series. But I did like that Tash and Zak were visiting a place that had been offhandedly mentioned in book #2. These books were well planned, or at least planned better than some of their MG contemporaries. And Lando was a welcome cameo! He made sense in the context of things.
October 23, 2019
Okay So this book was legitimately scary and frightening. The tension is very good, the strange inconsistencies. You know before the people involved do and it is frightening. This book is really good.
July 1, 2020
About on par for the rest of this series to this point, but I kinda felt a little let down by the conclusion of the story. Maybe my hopes were too high, but oh well. Fun all the same! Also, short enough to read all in one sitting. That's always a plus!
November 30, 2020
The Arrandas try to do something fun, so of course horrific visions ensue. Oh, and Lando's dashing around, in both meanings of the word.
Whitman puts the uncertainty of what's real to good use, but perhaps overplays it a tad.
Whitman puts the uncertainty of what's real to good use, but perhaps overplays it a tad.
July 16, 2024
I hate those narratives where half of it's a dream because it's a waste of my time if the material isn't particularly scintillating, which is the case with this book. Really, the best part of this book is the title. "The Nightmare Machine" is so gloriously stupid.
August 15, 2017
HOLOGRAM FUN WORLD
lando is there
there are multiple vore scenes
it's bad
lando is there
there are multiple vore scenes
it's bad
August 10, 2021
Creepy adventures with fun cameos
October 28, 2021
That was a comparatively interesting addition to the Galaxy of Fear series. Even though the plot was rather predicable, it was still enjoyable to follow.
January 4, 2022
What a dud of an entry. It’s just too predictable and I couldn’t get invested because everything was so obvious.
May 9, 2025
Nice nod to the Jedi Prince series. I guess I should resign myself to a string of cameos.
December 13, 2025
scary space theme park holds up I think
Read
February 14, 2026I read this as a seventh grader. I enjoyed it then, can’t remember much about it now.
September 6, 2016
This is more of a 3.5-3.75 and, IMO, is one of the better books thus far in the subseries. It's tiring though to have every single chapter end in a "cliffhanger."
The prologue's description of meddling kids and a droid made me think of Scooby Doo.
Hoole sends Tash, Zak, and DV-9 to Hologram Fun World for a vacation but the three find more than they bargained for. The details of the theme park are great. There is a new addition called the Nightmare Machine, forcing the two siblings to face their greatest fears - even ones they weren't aware of.
They meet Lando, who wants to invest in ownership of the park. He brings up Taanab, but no information about that battle is provided. It's a shame that so little is known about it.
The prologue's description of meddling kids and a droid made me think of Scooby Doo.
Hoole sends Tash, Zak, and DV-9 to Hologram Fun World for a vacation but the three find more than they bargained for. The details of the theme park are great. There is a new addition called the Nightmare Machine, forcing the two siblings to face their greatest fears - even ones they weren't aware of.
They meet Lando, who wants to invest in ownership of the park. He brings up Taanab, but no information about that battle is provided. It's a shame that so little is known about it.
November 19, 2012
This was absolutely brilliant! When I found out that the nightmare machine was still on, I just thought, "Oh crap!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2017
Considering these were meant for 5th/6th grade reading level, it wasn't actually that bad of a book. Reminded me kind of like the Goosebumps book "One Day at Horrorland" though. It might have been more fun to read if it was aimed for an older audience and the length increased.
April 25, 2017
An improvement compared to the first three parts. Less cliffhangers and more twists.
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