What do you think?
Rate this book
John Thunstone #1
What Dreams May Come
Peripatetic researcher John Thunstone uncovers a horrifying and malevolent supernatural force at work in the peaceful English village of Claines
175 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
1 person is currently reading
222 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 28, 2008
John Thunstone, supernatural investigator, was a series character Wellman created for his stories in the old pulps such as Weird Tales. (The author's short fiction featuring Thunstone, and other paranormal investigators such as Judge Pursivant, was later collected in his 1981 anthology Lonely Vigils.) Here, Thunstone gets to be featured in his own novel (he also takes center stage in a 1985 sequel, The School of Darkness --which I haven't read, but would love to sometime!).
This is an imaginative, atmospheric, well-written supernatural adventure delivered with Wellman's usual flair; relatively short and written in a smooth-flowing, direct style, it's a quick, absorbing read that holds the attention. The author's literary vision is a wholesome one; Thunstone, like all his heroes, fights against occult forces of evil, and has the qualities it takes to be successful in that fight. His allies here are the local vicar, and a woman the locals call a "white witch;" Wellman makes it clear that she's not a witch at all in the Satanic sense, but what the Appalachian mountaineers would call a "witch mistress/master" --that is, a man or woman who is "master over" evil sorcery, equipped by training and talent to defeat and overcome it.
This is an imaginative, atmospheric, well-written supernatural adventure delivered with Wellman's usual flair; relatively short and written in a smooth-flowing, direct style, it's a quick, absorbing read that holds the attention. The author's literary vision is a wholesome one; Thunstone, like all his heroes, fights against occult forces of evil, and has the qualities it takes to be successful in that fight. His allies here are the local vicar, and a woman the locals call a "white witch;" Wellman makes it clear that she's not a witch at all in the Satanic sense, but what the Appalachian mountaineers would call a "witch mistress/master" --that is, a man or woman who is "master over" evil sorcery, equipped by training and talent to defeat and overcome it.
December 12, 2019
Още едно от градските фентъзита на Уелман, писано далеч преди жанрът да стане комерсиален и да се напълни с пародии.
Тук Силвър Джон не е главно действащо лице, а на сцената излиза Джон Тунстоун - археолог, антрополог и по съвместимост търсач на мистериозното. Действието се развива в малко английско градче, по-скоро махала, където датиращи от преди десет хилядолетия артефакти крият голяма тайна. Местните хора все още спазват определени езически ритуали, а местния баровец вярва, че може да събуди праисторическо божество. Тунстоун се появява точно в навечерието на най-големия езически празник, когато реалността и времето се размиват, особено в мрака. От него зависи дали ще спомогне или ще попречи на езическата лудост.
Поставена в Англия (почти в Уелс) книгата губи малко от южняшкия чар на предшестващите я авторови произведения за Сребърния Джон. Без напевността на онзи диалект, прозата стои леко дървена, но все пак е доста приятна за четене.
Тук Силвър Джон не е главно действащо лице, а на сцената излиза Джон Тунстоун - археолог, антрополог и по съвместимост търсач на мистериозното. Действието се развива в малко английско градче, по-скоро махала, където датиращи от преди десет хилядолетия артефакти крият голяма тайна. Местните хора все още спазват определени езически ритуали, а местния баровец вярва, че може да събуди праисторическо божество. Тунстоун се появява точно в навечерието на най-големия езически празник, когато реалността и времето се размиват, особено в мрака. От него зависи дали ще спомогне или ще попречи на езическата лудост.
Поставена в Англия (почти в Уелс) книгата губи малко от южняшкия чар на предшестващите я авторови произведения за Сребърния Джон. Без напевността на онзи диалект, прозата стои леко дървена, но все пак е доста приятна за четене.
January 24, 2012
The short review? Quite honestly, I hardly knew what to make of this novel, and still am not quite sure. It might be described as a quest, performed by a modern-day King Arthur or a very quiet, unassuming Indiana Jones. The narration is simple and direct. If the protagonist, John Thunstone, were not so likeable, there simply would not be a novel here. Or would there? There is a good bit of complexity well hidden in its very simple lines. So... the long review:
Perhaps the categorization of this book as a "novel" is at fault, for this is, simply put, a story. Wellman's forte is as a storyteller. His roots encompass Africa and Appalachia, but in this book, he takes a foray into England, as seen through the eyes of his protagonist, John Thunstone. Thunstone goes on a pilgrimage to Claines, England, in order to explore certain antiquities in search of answers. As both scholar and brawny he-man, he is well equipped to do so.
When this big, broad-shouldered hero goes out to vanquish evil, one feels quite confidently that he will do so. If Armageddon came, I would want him on my side. His effectiveness is not characterized by dashing bravado, but by quiet strength, honesty, and goodness.
He traverses an ancient, primitive land, to do battle with a special sword forged by Saint Dunstone -- a sword that senses and warns of evil. Through a bit of research, that saint may be identified as Saint Dunstan. Wellman's spelling of the name is probably not coincidental. The author perhaps wants us to see Thunstone as a modern-day Saint Dunstan. While I had sensed that Saint Dunstone was symbolic and significant to the psychology of the story, I thought this would be brought out in the text itself. Not so. The saint is merely hinted at, and it is left to the reader to know or determine any allusion that might exist.
Interesting, some insight came to me in a visual key that had nothing to do with the text of the story. There is a stained-glass window of Saint Dunstan [Wikipedia], portraying one of the most serene faces that I have ever seen. Serenity is an over-riding quality in Wellman's story, and in the character of Thunstone. Other allusions exist. John Thunstone's magic sword is reminiscent of King Arthur's sword. Foreshadowing suggests that Thunstone will be tasked with pulling the sword from a stone -- perhaps the dream rock, but he is challenged by a slightly different task of stone and weapon.
A quick search of King Arthur's sword expands the legend. There was, earlier, a Norse sword, "Gram" (meaning wrath). The name, Gram, appears in this book, doubly; not as a sword, but as a dual antagonist--a wealthy townsman and his spiritual doppelganger, a pagan god.
Although Thunstone does take part in some physical battles, it is not blood, sweat, or the hot flash of steel that characterizes the action of the story, but Thunstone's intellectual, spiritual, and anthropological search for the roots of humanity and the nature of God, time, life, and existence. For me, the buildup was much too long, the conclusion, somewhat wanting. Maybe, with more research, I could glean more from the story.
If my description makes the work seem too complex, never fear: it is simple beyond simplicity for the casual reader who has no background in the study of antiquities, or of the legend of King Arthur, or of Saints, or of Norse gods or pagan lore. Here is simply a brave and good modern (or post-modern?) man who goes out to confront, and if possible, vanquish, evil.
I don't think that this would appeal to readers of modern sci-fi per se, but might appeal to fantasy/folklore fans, anthropologists, truth seekers, and idealists. This novel fits into a larger trend of sci-fi/fantasy stories that seek to disintangle the myriad layers of human existence and start fresh, at the beginning. But careful... there is some Christian allegory involved, and it may be Humanism that is vanquished.
Perhaps the categorization of this book as a "novel" is at fault, for this is, simply put, a story. Wellman's forte is as a storyteller. His roots encompass Africa and Appalachia, but in this book, he takes a foray into England, as seen through the eyes of his protagonist, John Thunstone. Thunstone goes on a pilgrimage to Claines, England, in order to explore certain antiquities in search of answers. As both scholar and brawny he-man, he is well equipped to do so.
When this big, broad-shouldered hero goes out to vanquish evil, one feels quite confidently that he will do so. If Armageddon came, I would want him on my side. His effectiveness is not characterized by dashing bravado, but by quiet strength, honesty, and goodness.
He traverses an ancient, primitive land, to do battle with a special sword forged by Saint Dunstone -- a sword that senses and warns of evil. Through a bit of research, that saint may be identified as Saint Dunstan. Wellman's spelling of the name is probably not coincidental. The author perhaps wants us to see Thunstone as a modern-day Saint Dunstan. While I had sensed that Saint Dunstone was symbolic and significant to the psychology of the story, I thought this would be brought out in the text itself. Not so. The saint is merely hinted at, and it is left to the reader to know or determine any allusion that might exist.
Interesting, some insight came to me in a visual key that had nothing to do with the text of the story. There is a stained-glass window of Saint Dunstan [Wikipedia], portraying one of the most serene faces that I have ever seen. Serenity is an over-riding quality in Wellman's story, and in the character of Thunstone. Other allusions exist. John Thunstone's magic sword is reminiscent of King Arthur's sword. Foreshadowing suggests that Thunstone will be tasked with pulling the sword from a stone -- perhaps the dream rock, but he is challenged by a slightly different task of stone and weapon.
A quick search of King Arthur's sword expands the legend. There was, earlier, a Norse sword, "Gram" (meaning wrath). The name, Gram, appears in this book, doubly; not as a sword, but as a dual antagonist--a wealthy townsman and his spiritual doppelganger, a pagan god.
Although Thunstone does take part in some physical battles, it is not blood, sweat, or the hot flash of steel that characterizes the action of the story, but Thunstone's intellectual, spiritual, and anthropological search for the roots of humanity and the nature of God, time, life, and existence. For me, the buildup was much too long, the conclusion, somewhat wanting. Maybe, with more research, I could glean more from the story.
If my description makes the work seem too complex, never fear: it is simple beyond simplicity for the casual reader who has no background in the study of antiquities, or of the legend of King Arthur, or of Saints, or of Norse gods or pagan lore. Here is simply a brave and good modern (or post-modern?) man who goes out to confront, and if possible, vanquish, evil.
I don't think that this would appeal to readers of modern sci-fi per se, but might appeal to fantasy/folklore fans, anthropologists, truth seekers, and idealists. This novel fits into a larger trend of sci-fi/fantasy stories that seek to disintangle the myriad layers of human existence and start fresh, at the beginning. But careful... there is some Christian allegory involved, and it may be Humanism that is vanquished.
April 2, 2022
This was such a fun book! The characters were great and I loved the atmosphere. I don't think I've ever read about a character eating as much as John did in this story, which was fine as we all have to eat.
March 10, 2026
Manly wade Wellman is one of the many lesser known writers who started writing occult & cosmic horror pulp in the 1930thies magazines like Weird Tales, Astounding stories, etc. He kept writing until he passed away in 1986. This novel written in 1983 . It's a slow burn story about John Thunstone , an occult detective from the U.S, visiting a small village in England . The plot deals with English folklore , magickal time travel, witchcraft, etc.
I don't know a lot about this writer, besides reading/listening to a few of his earlier, more sensational short stories. But this novella has a different 'vibe ' to it . The prose and pacing is more restrained, the characters feel mature.
Note to self. Look for more novels by this writer.
I don't know a lot about this writer, besides reading/listening to a few of his earlier, more sensational short stories. But this novella has a different 'vibe ' to it . The prose and pacing is more restrained, the characters feel mature.
Note to self. Look for more novels by this writer.
February 18, 2013
Wellman is another of the greats from the pulp era of the 30's and 40's. I was not familiar with his work but caught a mention of him online, and lo and behold my library had quite a few selections of his titles. This book is based on one of his most popular characters, John Thunstone, whose stories began in Weird Tales in the mid to late 40's. This is a difficult book to categorize, maybe occult/horror? Although, don't go into it looking for gore, this is a creepy feeling, catch something out of the corner of your eye type horror.
Thunstone has traveled to Claines, England to investigate rumors surrounding two stone age relics, Old Thunder, a huge outline cut into a hillside and The Dream Stone, a weathered menhir that vaguely resembles a human form. During his visit he meets a cast of characters that includes Constance Bailey, a local girl who happens to be a "white witch" and Gram Ensley who, in the grand tradition of the American west, owns most of the town including the hillside of Old Thunder. Ensley has steadfastly refused investigation of Old Thunder by scientists and archeologists.
As soon as he arrives, Thunstone begins to have dreams/visions of his room disappearing and being transported(?) to a ancient time before the town was established.
This is not an action packed book or a hack and slash fest, it builds slowly with an underlying feeling of mystery/evil/wrongness. If you enjoy the pulp genre from back in the day, you will enjoy this book.
Thunstone has traveled to Claines, England to investigate rumors surrounding two stone age relics, Old Thunder, a huge outline cut into a hillside and The Dream Stone, a weathered menhir that vaguely resembles a human form. During his visit he meets a cast of characters that includes Constance Bailey, a local girl who happens to be a "white witch" and Gram Ensley who, in the grand tradition of the American west, owns most of the town including the hillside of Old Thunder. Ensley has steadfastly refused investigation of Old Thunder by scientists and archeologists.
As soon as he arrives, Thunstone begins to have dreams/visions of his room disappearing and being transported(?) to a ancient time before the town was established.
This is not an action packed book or a hack and slash fest, it builds slowly with an underlying feeling of mystery/evil/wrongness. If you enjoy the pulp genre from back in the day, you will enjoy this book.
November 5, 2018
Don't be deceived by the title: this modest supernatural thriller in the Wheatley/Doctor Who style has nothing to do with a movie where Robin Williams mopes his way through the afterlife.
This is one of the least objectionable and obnoxious occult detective novels I have read: free of the pseudo-Carnackiness I detest.
An English village; a local magnate who owns it; a chalk giant on the hill above; a weird megalith by the church cemetary which must be rolled over every July.
This is one of the least objectionable and obnoxious occult detective novels I have read: free of the pseudo-Carnackiness I detest.
An English village; a local magnate who owns it; a chalk giant on the hill above; a weird megalith by the church cemetary which must be rolled over every July.
July 14, 2018
Another mediocre book at the end of a prolific author's career.
The plot of this book is more coherent than that of School of Darkness, but ubermensch John Thunstone and some allies of good personage save the day without breaking too much of a sweat. The atmosphere of this book was much more compelling: a classic isolated small town with supernatural overtones and strange goings-on. His contacts with some academic friends puzzingly goes nowhere, but at least there's enough weirdness and action to make it worth getting to the end.
Again, not bad for a guy of 80, but this isnot a book I'd ever care to re-read.
The plot of this book is more coherent than that of School of Darkness, but ubermensch John Thunstone and some allies of good personage save the day without breaking too much of a sweat. The atmosphere of this book was much more compelling: a classic isolated small town with supernatural overtones and strange goings-on. His contacts with some academic friends puzzingly goes nowhere, but at least there's enough weirdness and action to make it worth getting to the end.
Again, not bad for a guy of 80, but this isnot a book I'd ever care to re-read.
Read
February 12, 2026review text for 495
December 23, 2014
Okay, first things first: I wanted to like this more than I did. I adore John Thunstone and I can't wait to read more of his adventures, but, while I liked a lot of the ideas and I honestly liked the pacing and the quiet village scenario, it was not as satisfying as it might have been. My main issue was the villain sort of being rather monumentally stupid (not an uncommon affliction to those of his ilk) and being defeated rather too easily. Honestly, it's like one of the mediocre episodes of "Doctor Who": charming and worth your time if you already love it, but not if you don't.
July 6, 2012
Just finished and it was delightful. A pitch perfect blend of bucolic England, supernatural action and adventure.
So excited to read this. Read three of his short stories now and read a bit about Wellman online. Seems like a writers writer. Professional, in it for the joy of storytelling, and in line with my tastes.
So excited to read this. Read three of his short stories now and read a bit about Wellman online. Seems like a writers writer. Professional, in it for the joy of storytelling, and in line with my tastes.
May 2, 2017
His science fiction has elements of fantasy and horror. I love his Silver John series! Who would have thought that such great science fiction could be set in the Appalachians?
April 17, 2017
Read this a long time ago. I liked it so much I may try to read it again soon.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews