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The Silent Empire #1
Dreamer
It is through first contact with an alien species that humanity learns of the Dream. It is a plane of mental existence where people are able to communicate with one another by their thoughts alone — over distances of thousands of light-years. To ensure that future generations will have this ability, human genetic engineering produces newborns capable of finding and navigating the Dream.
They became known as the Silent.
Rust is just one planet among many in the Empire of Human Unity. It’s nothing special, nothing unusual . . . except for the fact that it is home to an unknown boy who may be the most powerful Silent ever born — a Silent with the ability to possess the bodies of others against their will. This mysterious child may be causing tremors within the Dream itself.
For now, only the Children of Irfan know about him. A monastic-like order of the Silent, the Children protect their members even as they barter their services with the governments and corporations that control known space. But power like that cannot be hidden, and soon every Silent in the universe will know about the boy — and every government will be willing to go to war to control him.
And if the Children of Irfan cannot find him first, the Dream itself may be shattered ...
They became known as the Silent.
Rust is just one planet among many in the Empire of Human Unity. It’s nothing special, nothing unusual . . . except for the fact that it is home to an unknown boy who may be the most powerful Silent ever born — a Silent with the ability to possess the bodies of others against their will. This mysterious child may be causing tremors within the Dream itself.
For now, only the Children of Irfan know about him. A monastic-like order of the Silent, the Children protect their members even as they barter their services with the governments and corporations that control known space. But power like that cannot be hidden, and soon every Silent in the universe will know about the boy — and every government will be willing to go to war to control him.
And if the Children of Irfan cannot find him first, the Dream itself may be shattered ...
360 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
16 people are currently reading
941 people want to read
About the author
Steven Harper
53 books119 followersA pseudonym of Steven Piziks
Steven Harper Piziks was born with a name that no one can reliably spell or pronounce, so he often writes under the pen name Steven Harper. He lives in Michigan with his family. When not at the keyboard, he plays the folk harp, fiddles with video games, and pretends he doesn’t talk to the household cats. In the past, he’s held jobs as a reporter, theater producer, secretary, and substitute teacher. He maintains that the most interesting thing about him is that he writes books.
Steven is the creator of The Silent Empire series, the Clockwork Empire steampunk series, and the Books of Blood and Iron series for Roc Books. All four Silent Empire novels were finalists for the Spectrum Award, a first!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 10, 2017
This review is not for this particular book (which can be read independently of the other three; actually, every one of them is a finished story in itself) - but for the whole series which is such a perfect example for entertainment-literature being great. When thinking about these books, I always have the feeling of something colourful: despite the fact that the Children of Irfan were brown robed, that houses on Bellerophon are made to look like part of the nature (in this case: tree tops) and that the PostScript is again and again describes as a rather old, run down ship. But the story is sparkling with ideas and characters.
The books aren't a deep disquisition on any particular topics, but there are so many topics touched, just as a part of the world-building: The always present question of slavery and family, which is an inherent part of every book. Religion (best represented by Lucia in 'Offspring' and a little bit by Ben, in the same book); xenophobia best represented by the Empire of Human Unity; sexual orientation; politics (whether one takes Salman Reza or the Empress); utilitarianism.
There is nothing ground-breaking in these books (compared, e.g., to 'The Left Hand of Darkness' in it's time) - except if you think that the fact that the two main protagonists are male and a couple to be groundbreaking, which I refuse to see this way, because it's one of the ideas behind the book, that this is absolutely normal, as it should be. They are also not fluffy books with a happy end - if your heart does not bleed for Ara you are heartless. But they leave you with this fluffy warm feeling of a wonderful, easy read. Even when reading them a second time, knowing what would happen (and every book has a strong plot with side-plots and all the other things that make up a good entertainment-book), reading for the pure sake of characters and little details.
One of the things I particularly like (and that might not come as a surprise knowing my own writing), is Harper's notion of family. It starts with Ara and Ben and encompasses Kendi, a process you can see developing in 'Nightmare', and then, with time, all the others - till at the end of 'Offspring' there is something like a big, crazy, wonderful patchwork thing, whether, if you'd can't go only for genetics and where you can't even say that a child has exactly two parents.
Next to the thrilling story, the characters did capture me from the very beginning. Even the minor characters, as say the Empress or Katsu, Sejal's sister, in 'Dreamer', are multi-faceted and deeply believable. Whatever they do, is well-founded in their characters and is the way this very character will react. When Vidya makes the classic (for a villain in movies, though she is not a villain) mistake of telling too much, this simple act is so much Vidya, that I as the reader know that she could not have done it differently. Even though others would have.
Non of the characters is without faults, all are, while trying to save the world, fighting against themselves. All grow. All live.
So if you like science fiction and ever come around these books, take a look. You'll have some wonderful evenings reading them - they will also work when read in a different order than the original ones or as single novels, even though one might lose one or other details or insider. Though don't make the mistake to read them during a seminar, or like me you might end with just four hours of sleep every night, because after spending a wonderful evening talking to people and having fun with them, you'll be running danger ending up reading 'just another ten pages' again and again in a seminar center's bed.
The books aren't a deep disquisition on any particular topics, but there are so many topics touched, just as a part of the world-building: The always present question of slavery and family, which is an inherent part of every book. Religion (best represented by Lucia in 'Offspring' and a little bit by Ben, in the same book); xenophobia best represented by the Empire of Human Unity; sexual orientation; politics (whether one takes Salman Reza or the Empress); utilitarianism.
There is nothing ground-breaking in these books (compared, e.g., to 'The Left Hand of Darkness' in it's time) - except if you think that the fact that the two main protagonists are male and a couple to be groundbreaking, which I refuse to see this way, because it's one of the ideas behind the book, that this is absolutely normal, as it should be. They are also not fluffy books with a happy end - if your heart does not bleed for Ara you are heartless. But they leave you with this fluffy warm feeling of a wonderful, easy read. Even when reading them a second time, knowing what would happen (and every book has a strong plot with side-plots and all the other things that make up a good entertainment-book), reading for the pure sake of characters and little details.
One of the things I particularly like (and that might not come as a surprise knowing my own writing), is Harper's notion of family. It starts with Ara and Ben and encompasses Kendi, a process you can see developing in 'Nightmare', and then, with time, all the others - till at the end of 'Offspring' there is something like a big, crazy, wonderful patchwork thing, whether, if you'd can't go only for genetics and where you can't even say that a child has exactly two parents.
Next to the thrilling story, the characters did capture me from the very beginning. Even the minor characters, as say the Empress or Katsu, Sejal's sister, in 'Dreamer', are multi-faceted and deeply believable. Whatever they do, is well-founded in their characters and is the way this very character will react. When Vidya makes the classic (for a villain in movies, though she is not a villain) mistake of telling too much, this simple act is so much Vidya, that I as the reader know that she could not have done it differently. Even though others would have.
Non of the characters is without faults, all are, while trying to save the world, fighting against themselves. All grow. All live.
So if you like science fiction and ever come around these books, take a look. You'll have some wonderful evenings reading them - they will also work when read in a different order than the original ones or as single novels, even though one might lose one or other details or insider. Though don't make the mistake to read them during a seminar, or like me you might end with just four hours of sleep every night, because after spending a wonderful evening talking to people and having fun with them, you'll be running danger ending up reading 'just another ten pages' again and again in a seminar center's bed.
June 12, 2010
The prologue showed a world in chaos after civil wars and battles for leadership between planets. It showed a couple's attempt at survival in a world where there was little food or water. And...in a world where money meant the difference between life and death, they had none. It was a strong piece of writing and I quickly grew attached to the characters and setting.
When chapter one started with different characters and an obviously different time period, I was utterly disappointed. I wanted to know what became of the couple and wasn't particularly interested in the new characters. But I read on and with time the new characters grew on me and I eventually gave up trying to work out where the couple fit in to the story and just went with the flow.
Kendi is a brother in a religious order called Children of Irfan (no, it's not a religious story). Sejal is a rebellious teenager living on planet Rust. Their paths cross when something strange starts happening in the Dream – a place where certain people can meet and communicate, no matter where they are located, even if they are light years apart. A darkness is ascending into the usual tranquil Dream and a black hole is swallowing the minds of the people who can go there. This leaves them emotionless which in some cases turns violent, forcing some people to take their own lives or the lives of others.
It seems that Sejal is the key, he is a powerful Silent (person who enters the Dream), but has no idea about any of it until Kendi takes him under his wing and starts training him. But the Children of Irfan were not the only ones looking for Sejal. He is being sort by many. All have an agenda of their own. All want to use him to achieve their goal. Sejal is unsure who he can trust and flees. Meanwhile the chaos caused in the dream is affecting many worlds and is becoming increasingly dangerous.
It's an interesting story, with a different look on Australian Dreamtime. My only issue with this particular area of the story was that it felt vague and unsure – hesitant, may be the better word. In fact, I had read a huge chunk of the book before I realised Kendi was an Australian aboriginal. I have since researched the author and found that he is not an Australian and doesn't live in Australia, so I suspect this is the reason for the vagueness.
This small point aside, Dreamer is a book that will make the reader confront issues such as sexuality and death. There are some graphic scenes concerning suicide too. And, of course, the couple at the beginning of the story were there for a reason.
Dreamer is the first book of the Silent Empire Series. I have the second book and look forward to finding out where it will take me.
Recommended.
When chapter one started with different characters and an obviously different time period, I was utterly disappointed. I wanted to know what became of the couple and wasn't particularly interested in the new characters. But I read on and with time the new characters grew on me and I eventually gave up trying to work out where the couple fit in to the story and just went with the flow.
Kendi is a brother in a religious order called Children of Irfan (no, it's not a religious story). Sejal is a rebellious teenager living on planet Rust. Their paths cross when something strange starts happening in the Dream – a place where certain people can meet and communicate, no matter where they are located, even if they are light years apart. A darkness is ascending into the usual tranquil Dream and a black hole is swallowing the minds of the people who can go there. This leaves them emotionless which in some cases turns violent, forcing some people to take their own lives or the lives of others.
It seems that Sejal is the key, he is a powerful Silent (person who enters the Dream), but has no idea about any of it until Kendi takes him under his wing and starts training him. But the Children of Irfan were not the only ones looking for Sejal. He is being sort by many. All have an agenda of their own. All want to use him to achieve their goal. Sejal is unsure who he can trust and flees. Meanwhile the chaos caused in the dream is affecting many worlds and is becoming increasingly dangerous.
It's an interesting story, with a different look on Australian Dreamtime. My only issue with this particular area of the story was that it felt vague and unsure – hesitant, may be the better word. In fact, I had read a huge chunk of the book before I realised Kendi was an Australian aboriginal. I have since researched the author and found that he is not an Australian and doesn't live in Australia, so I suspect this is the reason for the vagueness.
This small point aside, Dreamer is a book that will make the reader confront issues such as sexuality and death. There are some graphic scenes concerning suicide too. And, of course, the couple at the beginning of the story were there for a reason.
Dreamer is the first book of the Silent Empire Series. I have the second book and look forward to finding out where it will take me.
Recommended.
March 9, 2016
I should have known that this book will turn out to be a massive pile of steaming horseshit as soon I saw that the great plateau of mental existence which connects the inhabitants of various star systems, is called THE DREAM. That instantly demonstrated the level of originality and creative inspiration we could expect from the author, a certain dude called Steven Harper.
According to wikipedia, Steven Harper is actually a pseudonym of American author Steven Piziks, who is exclusively using this more macho-sounding name to write "Science Fiction books with LGBT themes". Blissful in my ignorance, I did not even know that such books exist as a separate niche, but hey, we should never underestimate the ability of the machine of political correctness to impose its crap on every aspect of our daily lives, including SF. I would like to stress that I have absolutely nothing against LGBT people, or LGBT characters in literature or games or movies or anything, but the idea that someone is going to write space novels with the sole purpose to put some gay guys in them, is just pure idiotism, and the total opposite of what equality and inclusion should be.
However Mr. Harper's PC agenda in this novel was not limited just to the characters of two former lovers whose sexuality had absolutely no impact on the story, oh no, one of them was also conveniently Australian Aboriginal, the main family of super-psychics (including Kwisatz Haderach-like teenager) were Indian, and every other positive and capable character in the book happened to be a woman. In the true spirit of diversity, of course, the remaining roles of evil rich people, spies, traitors, and incompetent soldiers, were distributed among males with western sounding names. Now that's a well-balanced universe worth reading more about.
Anyway, PC rubbish aside, there was very little to like about this novel. The idea of psychic internet that spreads throughout the entire galaxy was something that more skillful writer could use to tell a decent story, but in Harper's version it ended up being very much simplified and totally underdeveloped. There were so many plot holes, random coincidences, illogical and ridiculous moments, that I just can't waste my time (and hurt my brain) trying to remember them all. But probably the best hilariocity moment ever was when the good guys get their hands on the incredibly powerful Kwisatz-like kid, take him to one of their planets, and just leave him there in some kind of public high school, without any guards or protection. This despite the fact that their main enemy, a nasty Nazi-style planetary confederation, is about to start a FUCKING GALACTIC WAR unless they send the kid back to them. But what could possibly go wrong in such situation?! Hint: the kid is no longer in high school by the time the next chapter starts. So yeah, this was so bad and so stupid that I didn't even lol, I just shrugged and moved on, the sooner the better, towards the end of this horrendous, worthless crap.
According to wikipedia, Steven Harper is actually a pseudonym of American author Steven Piziks, who is exclusively using this more macho-sounding name to write "Science Fiction books with LGBT themes". Blissful in my ignorance, I did not even know that such books exist as a separate niche, but hey, we should never underestimate the ability of the machine of political correctness to impose its crap on every aspect of our daily lives, including SF. I would like to stress that I have absolutely nothing against LGBT people, or LGBT characters in literature or games or movies or anything, but the idea that someone is going to write space novels with the sole purpose to put some gay guys in them, is just pure idiotism, and the total opposite of what equality and inclusion should be.
However Mr. Harper's PC agenda in this novel was not limited just to the characters of two former lovers whose sexuality had absolutely no impact on the story, oh no, one of them was also conveniently Australian Aboriginal, the main family of super-psychics (including Kwisatz Haderach-like teenager) were Indian, and every other positive and capable character in the book happened to be a woman. In the true spirit of diversity, of course, the remaining roles of evil rich people, spies, traitors, and incompetent soldiers, were distributed among males with western sounding names. Now that's a well-balanced universe worth reading more about.
Anyway, PC rubbish aside, there was very little to like about this novel. The idea of psychic internet that spreads throughout the entire galaxy was something that more skillful writer could use to tell a decent story, but in Harper's version it ended up being very much simplified and totally underdeveloped. There were so many plot holes, random coincidences, illogical and ridiculous moments, that I just can't waste my time (and hurt my brain) trying to remember them all. But probably the best hilariocity moment ever was when the good guys get their hands on the incredibly powerful Kwisatz-like kid, take him to one of their planets, and just leave him there in some kind of public high school, without any guards or protection. This despite the fact that their main enemy, a nasty Nazi-style planetary confederation, is about to start a FUCKING GALACTIC WAR unless they send the kid back to them. But what could possibly go wrong in such situation?! Hint: the kid is no longer in high school by the time the next chapter starts. So yeah, this was so bad and so stupid that I didn't even lol, I just shrugged and moved on, the sooner the better, towards the end of this horrendous, worthless crap.
March 4, 2024
Not as good for me as a whole as Nightmare was, but it was captivating and fast paced for the most part.
Despite the fact I consider this a positive grade on a book I liked for the most part, I still wish a few events had gone differently.
Despite the fact I consider this a positive grade on a book I liked for the most part, I still wish a few events had gone differently.
September 2, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I was not expecting to love it this much because I hadn't seen many enthusiastic positive reviews. In fact, I owned this book for about a year before listening to it. Now I'm so happy to have discovered a new-to-me series and author. I won't do this book the justice it deserves with my review, but I can definitely talk excitedly about it for a bit.
This is a sci-fi novel on an epic scale, with very high stakes. Some of the plot elements are familiar, although a lot of it feels original to me. From the summary I guessed Kendi was the main character, but he's just one of several point-of-view characters. It's very much an ensemble cast, and several of the PoV characters are different from those I have usually encountered in fiction, which is always refreshing.
The prologue is quite a gripping scene. I definitely wanted to find out exactly what happened to those characters; the rest of their story does get told, but it's pretty far into the book. It was a little jarring to switch to a spaceship, with a totally different group of characters, right after that prologue. It took me a little while to figure out how they tied in with the prologue at all. I was also expecting the m/m romance to be central to the story; while it's definitely important, it's just one of many things happening. So this book very much took me by surprise in a number of ways, which I liked a lot.
Sejal's journal entries and his plotline were similar to a lot of YA novels. I don't mean that as a criticism, though, as it was done very well. I liked him and was definitely cheering for him. This book didn't feel like a YA novel overall, because of all the different PoVs. Also, Sejal has a number of very real flaws, as do all the important characters. I liked Harenn right away because she was so blunt and rude. I think her plotline would've felt melodramatic if she had been sweet-natured. Overall, this is a really well-crafted book, with small details planted often in order to set up large and satisfying payoffs.
The audiobook narrator, P.J. Ochlan, is exceptionally talented. The characters are of different ages, nationalities, etc., and the narrator had totally distinct voices for all of them. If I had only heard Sejal's journal entries, for example, I would have thought this was an actual teenage narrator, and Kendi's Australian accent seemed great to me (although I'm American so I don't know for sure). I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this performer is absolutely top-notch.
This is a sci-fi novel on an epic scale, with very high stakes. Some of the plot elements are familiar, although a lot of it feels original to me. From the summary I guessed Kendi was the main character, but he's just one of several point-of-view characters. It's very much an ensemble cast, and several of the PoV characters are different from those I have usually encountered in fiction, which is always refreshing.
The prologue is quite a gripping scene. I definitely wanted to find out exactly what happened to those characters; the rest of their story does get told, but it's pretty far into the book. It was a little jarring to switch to a spaceship, with a totally different group of characters, right after that prologue. It took me a little while to figure out how they tied in with the prologue at all. I was also expecting the m/m romance to be central to the story; while it's definitely important, it's just one of many things happening. So this book very much took me by surprise in a number of ways, which I liked a lot.
Sejal's journal entries and his plotline were similar to a lot of YA novels. I don't mean that as a criticism, though, as it was done very well. I liked him and was definitely cheering for him. This book didn't feel like a YA novel overall, because of all the different PoVs. Also, Sejal has a number of very real flaws, as do all the important characters. I liked Harenn right away because she was so blunt and rude. I think her plotline would've felt melodramatic if she had been sweet-natured. Overall, this is a really well-crafted book, with small details planted often in order to set up large and satisfying payoffs.
The audiobook narrator, P.J. Ochlan, is exceptionally talented. The characters are of different ages, nationalities, etc., and the narrator had totally distinct voices for all of them. If I had only heard Sejal's journal entries, for example, I would have thought this was an actual teenage narrator, and Kendi's Australian accent seemed great to me (although I'm American so I don't know for sure). I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this performer is absolutely top-notch.
October 23, 2016
Okay, this is more of a 4.5 stars. I can't really explain why I can't give it 5 stars, except maybe that I don't think I'm ever going to re-read it entirely. I'll re-read my favorite parts for sure, though. There certainly were enough of them.
People (of any race - not only the human one) being able to create their own spectacular dream spaces, meeting others from all across the universe and talking to them, because the dream's language is universal is a fascinating concept. And a complicated one. I can totally see how they, if those people were a minority on a planet, would be hunted down, enslaved and experimented on. It's so realistic and grounds a science fiction story like this in uncomfortable reality. That's exactly what humans would do (can't judge the aliens for obvious reasons).
And yet the Silent are able to fully relax in the Dream. They love it. It's like home to them. They've never been afraid it, until now.
I really like the characters. Lots of colorful personalities in a diverse cast. People with different motives (revenge, love for their family, romantic love, money, a save place, surviving) work together or clash and it's never boring to see them interact.
There were only a few minor things that bugged me, like for example one Silent saying turning into a stone or leaf isn't good for spying, since they lack the ability to hear, when he turns into exactly that to spy on a conversation later.
It's the only outright inconsistency I can remember, though. My other quibbles have more to do with what I thought were some underreactions to things happening by some characters.
When I got this book, I thought I'd probably read it and treat it as a stand alone, but now I want to know what will happen to these characters, so I guess I'm stuck. There was luckily no cliffhanger, so I technically could stop here, but enough open story threads and likeable characters make me want to continue.
People (of any race - not only the human one) being able to create their own spectacular dream spaces, meeting others from all across the universe and talking to them, because the dream's language is universal is a fascinating concept. And a complicated one. I can totally see how they, if those people were a minority on a planet, would be hunted down, enslaved and experimented on. It's so realistic and grounds a science fiction story like this in uncomfortable reality. That's exactly what humans would do (can't judge the aliens for obvious reasons).
And yet the Silent are able to fully relax in the Dream. They love it. It's like home to them. They've never been afraid it, until now.
I really like the characters. Lots of colorful personalities in a diverse cast. People with different motives (revenge, love for their family, romantic love, money, a save place, surviving) work together or clash and it's never boring to see them interact.
There were only a few minor things that bugged me, like for example one Silent saying turning into a stone or leaf isn't good for spying, since they lack the ability to hear, when he turns into exactly that to spy on a conversation later.
It's the only outright inconsistency I can remember, though. My other quibbles have more to do with what I thought were some underreactions to things happening by some characters.
When I got this book, I thought I'd probably read it and treat it as a stand alone, but now I want to know what will happen to these characters, so I guess I'm stuck. There was luckily no cliffhanger, so I technically could stop here, but enough open story threads and likeable characters make me want to continue.
December 11, 2024
Loved it.
It was different, unique actually. The characters where not something I thought I'd enjoy, not at first, but they blossomed (best word to describe it even though I dislike that word). The book quickly become one of those stories I couldn't wait to start reading just so I could find out what happened next.
The story was really a different perspective on how space, the future, the unknown expanse may be like. It wasn't your typical sci-fi, in fact, though it takes place in an advanced world, it felt more real than most sci-fi.
The writing style, my first book by Steven Harper, was one of those stories where it was just enough information to create the world and people around it, but not so ridged that I felt like it was overly painted. My version of this world felt like my own, it was what I envisioned, my imagination was able to explore and create ... to me, that makes a book so much more personal and alive.
Finally, when I finished, I did not hesitate to order the next book. I want to see where this universe goes and what is ahead for those characters that feel like a part of me.
It was different, unique actually. The characters where not something I thought I'd enjoy, not at first, but they blossomed (best word to describe it even though I dislike that word). The book quickly become one of those stories I couldn't wait to start reading just so I could find out what happened next.
The story was really a different perspective on how space, the future, the unknown expanse may be like. It wasn't your typical sci-fi, in fact, though it takes place in an advanced world, it felt more real than most sci-fi.
The writing style, my first book by Steven Harper, was one of those stories where it was just enough information to create the world and people around it, but not so ridged that I felt like it was overly painted. My version of this world felt like my own, it was what I envisioned, my imagination was able to explore and create ... to me, that makes a book so much more personal and alive.
Finally, when I finished, I did not hesitate to order the next book. I want to see where this universe goes and what is ahead for those characters that feel like a part of me.
September 2, 2022
This was a great sci-fi story with a diverse cast of characters that felt real! The audio narration was great and the narrator did many voice accents very well.
The Dream was an interesting construct. There is danger, a sense of urgency, and sadness within this story but also hope for the future even though things are left unsettled. There is brutality and very little humour but I was enthralled.
I will definitely carry on with the series.
The Dream was an interesting construct. There is danger, a sense of urgency, and sadness within this story but also hope for the future even though things are left unsettled. There is brutality and very little humour but I was enthralled.
I will definitely carry on with the series.
August 11, 2014
In trances states the Silent can enter the Dream, a malleable mental world in which distance and form are entirely subjective. While this concept (the author's idea, I mean) seems to have been taken from the Aboriginal Dreaming, its function in the textual universe is largely practical: it enables communication between the various planets which would otherwise slow to days or weeks instead of being instantaneous (albeit expensive). The gift is largely genetic and the number of Silent is limited despite attempts to (often forcibly) breed more, so they are a hot commodity. When a rumor starts about a super-strong Silent with the power to control the minds of others, every government is after him.
At the same time, it seems that something is going wrong with the Dream itself. It is becoming dangerous and unpredictable.
Both ideas and plot are interesting and complex, but confused and ultimately not satisfying, as I find is more often the case when fiction writers try to address ethical or philosophical questions.
At the same time, it seems that something is going wrong with the Dream itself. It is becoming dangerous and unpredictable.
Both ideas and plot are interesting and complex, but confused and ultimately not satisfying, as I find is more often the case when fiction writers try to address ethical or philosophical questions.
July 5, 2015
I loved this book for many things - gay protagonist, an unusual romance, a naughty teenager, the feeling of security it gave me throughout the reading
However, I also felt as if watching some Holywood blockbuster - so much emphasis on family values. It made it feel less real, less potent, more of a one-of-many book.
However, I also felt as if watching some Holywood blockbuster - so much emphasis on family values. It made it feel less real, less potent, more of a one-of-many book.
March 30, 2012
Better than I expected. Lots of depressing things happen, it's very dark in its particulars, but the overall tone is upbeat. The ending is a surprising alteration of the universe the author has gone to a lot of trouble to set up - not something you expect for the first book in a series.
April 8, 2018
My original review of the novel
P.J. Ochlan managed to make a story that I liked while reading it into one of my favorite bedtime stories.
P.J. Ochlan managed to make a story that I liked while reading it into one of my favorite bedtime stories.
November 20, 2021
Interesting read
The concept of people who can walk through dreams as a form of communication was different. Then we learn that actions in the Dream can bleed over into the waking world in a terrifying way.
Kendi, Sejal and some others were key to finding and stopping a major threat to all life. In some ways it's a rags to riches scenario with Sejal. He didn't become rich so much as rise up out of the shackles of poverty.
What I didn't like was he lack of an editor. Words were missing from sentences, which sometimes left me with no idea what was being conveyed. There was also at least one instance where a word was repeated. This sort of thing takes away from the story. If you don't mind the grammar issues you should enjoy it.
The concept of people who can walk through dreams as a form of communication was different. Then we learn that actions in the Dream can bleed over into the waking world in a terrifying way.
Kendi, Sejal and some others were key to finding and stopping a major threat to all life. In some ways it's a rags to riches scenario with Sejal. He didn't become rich so much as rise up out of the shackles of poverty.
What I didn't like was he lack of an editor. Words were missing from sentences, which sometimes left me with no idea what was being conveyed. There was also at least one instance where a word was repeated. This sort of thing takes away from the story. If you don't mind the grammar issues you should enjoy it.
May 30, 2018
A Silent is someone who can go to a mental plane, called the Dream, where they can communicate by thought over thousands of light-years. It’s the author’s answer to faster than light communication, and his universe is built on this technology. But something is tearing apart the Dream, threatening civilization as it has developed. It’s a great concept and is excellently played out in this fast-paced novel. The book ropes you in quickly and holds you captive until the exciting climax. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
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Come visit my blog for the full review…
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March 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. The concept is really interesting and easy to follow, and I overall really enjoyed the story. I probably won't read the rest of the series though because apparently Sejal is hardly in them? Sejal was by far my favorite character with the most interesting storyline and backstory.
Am I the only one thinking Kendi and Sejal were gonna get together? I feel like the author was setting it up as well as setting up Ben to move on to someone else, then at the changed their mind end resolved things with Kendi and Ben, who is probably the most boring snooze character of them all :/
Am I the only one thinking Kendi and Sejal were gonna get together? I feel like the author was setting it up as well as setting up Ben to move on to someone else, then at the changed their mind end resolved things with Kendi and Ben, who is probably the most boring snooze character of them all :/
May 19, 2025
This book was a little slow. It was a solid idea, but I feel like something about it felt like it wasn't completely fleshed out. Something about the world building or the idea of the Dream just felt a little hollow and I can't put my finger on why exactly.
When I was reading I mostly enjoyed what was happening, but it was never a book I really wanted to pick back up.
It was a fine story, and like I said when I was reading it I was enjoying it. There were definitely times when I really understood and felt for the characters as well. I feel like some of them were really strongly written and relatable, but definitely not all of them.
When I was reading I mostly enjoyed what was happening, but it was never a book I really wanted to pick back up.
It was a fine story, and like I said when I was reading it I was enjoying it. There were definitely times when I really understood and felt for the characters as well. I feel like some of them were really strongly written and relatable, but definitely not all of them.
August 11, 2018
A good read. Interesting universe and fairly well developed.
June 6, 2020
Is it 4.5 or 5? I'm not sure. It was a bit of a slow start but it kept me engaged throughout and that last 30% or so was nerve wracking
May 12, 2021
Why was this book the first in the series when ? I really wish I'd read #2 before #1.
February 1, 2023
Nice to see some casual lgbt rep in sci fi - shame the writing and story are both pretty poor.
August 7, 2019
The Kindle version of this book had a lot of grammar errors, punctuation and words missing from sentences. Who ever edited this book did a terrible job.
October 16, 2014
In the far flung future, the universe hinges on the Dream - a shared consciousness that allows governments and corporations to communicate in real time, ensuring political and commercial cogs keep turning smoothly.
Dreamer
kicks off just as a spanner is thrown into the works: an impossibly powerful Silent—one of those who can reach the Dream—has been discovered, and everyone's racing to get their hands on him first.
I loooooooved this book, guys. It's a slow burn to start, but it's all worth it for the grip and kick of the down-hill run nearing the end. I was up 'til four am finishing it, most of those wee hours spent with one hand over my mouth making dying bat noises.
The queer relationship is secondary, but super lovely: Kendi, one of our main characters, is in love with Ben, the non-Silent son of Kendi's yoda, Ara. The universe itself seems to be post-homophobia which is a balm for my very soul. Lucky thing, really, because the other matters of representation definitely weren't.
Let me just start this off with:
Pro-tip: if you're going to try to represent a people or culture other than your own, your first stop should be talking to or reading resources written by members of that culture. This isn't rocket science. Steven Harper — male, white, american author that he is — not only does not get a cookie for this, he gets a lump of dung shaped like a cookie with green-ant frosting.
Kendi's indigenous Australian heritage made me grin from ear to ear at first, because let's face it: an indigenous Australian, queer protagonist in an epic sci-fi novel? Sign me the fuck up.
Unfortunately, it took me all of five minutes googling to gather Harper probably put even less effort than I did into researching indigenous Australian culture.
Harper claims to have "read some books", but given a lot of the wording in Dreamer harkens to the fuckery that is Marlo Morgan's Mutant Message Downunder, Harper could probably have found more reliable resources by shitting in a hole and scrying for inspiration. I left a lot of Kendi's musings on his own people with a really sour taste in my mouth, and I'm not even indigenous Australian myself.
In spite of this, I still really liked the story. Just, for the love of god, anyone going into this thinking they're getting an accurate portrayal of indigenous Australian culture, please know that this is the literary equivalent of Jonny Depp in The Lone Ranger.
Eat your dung cookie, Harper - you brought this on yourself.
One cultural representation fail aside, the rest of the cast is actually refreshingly diverse. We even have a main character sex-worker, though the poverty/slavery themes make the representation fairly archaic.
All in all, I'd still recommend the shit out of this book. Stories rarely grab me as thoroughly as this one did. I heart it a lot.
PS: Because this one had a few moments - triggers for: coercion, mind-control, slavery, depression, self harm and suicide. All themes are handled competently and I myself got through the whole thing without being twigged, but there were a few oh shit moments. Love yourselves!
I loooooooved this book, guys. It's a slow burn to start, but it's all worth it for the grip and kick of the down-hill run nearing the end. I was up 'til four am finishing it, most of those wee hours spent with one hand over my mouth making dying bat noises.
The queer relationship is secondary, but super lovely: Kendi, one of our main characters, is in love with Ben, the non-Silent son of Kendi's yoda, Ara. The universe itself seems to be post-homophobia which is a balm for my very soul. Lucky thing, really, because the other matters of representation definitely weren't.
Let me just start this off with:
Pro-tip: if you're going to try to represent a people or culture other than your own, your first stop should be talking to or reading resources written by members of that culture. This isn't rocket science. Steven Harper — male, white, american author that he is — not only does not get a cookie for this, he gets a lump of dung shaped like a cookie with green-ant frosting.
Kendi's indigenous Australian heritage made me grin from ear to ear at first, because let's face it: an indigenous Australian, queer protagonist in an epic sci-fi novel? Sign me the fuck up.
Unfortunately, it took me all of five minutes googling to gather Harper probably put even less effort than I did into researching indigenous Australian culture.
Harper claims to have "read some books", but given a lot of the wording in Dreamer harkens to the fuckery that is Marlo Morgan's Mutant Message Downunder, Harper could probably have found more reliable resources by shitting in a hole and scrying for inspiration. I left a lot of Kendi's musings on his own people with a really sour taste in my mouth, and I'm not even indigenous Australian myself.
In spite of this, I still really liked the story. Just, for the love of god, anyone going into this thinking they're getting an accurate portrayal of indigenous Australian culture, please know that this is the literary equivalent of Jonny Depp in The Lone Ranger.
Eat your dung cookie, Harper - you brought this on yourself.
One cultural representation fail aside, the rest of the cast is actually refreshingly diverse. We even have a main character sex-worker, though the poverty/slavery themes make the representation fairly archaic.
All in all, I'd still recommend the shit out of this book. Stories rarely grab me as thoroughly as this one did. I heart it a lot.
PS: Because this one had a few moments - triggers for: coercion, mind-control, slavery, depression, self harm and suicide. All themes are handled competently and I myself got through the whole thing without being twigged, but there were a few oh shit moments. Love yourselves!
June 29, 2017
2.5* An engaging Sci-Fi story with OK characters, OK plot, OK setting. I keep remembering it even weeks after reading it. Thus I'll round it up to 3*.
Some things I liked , others, I found to be just silly/painful .
Someone mentioned, and I agree, that this was PC book. I happen to like PC in my books, love it, but it is my belief that PC should never be forced or overshadow the actual story. In this book, I think that PC was sometimes the first priority
All in all, I'll probably read the sequel, but it is not a book that I would recommend offhand.
Some things I liked , others, I found to be just silly/painful .
Someone mentioned, and I agree, that this was PC book. I happen to like PC in my books, love it, but it is my belief that PC should never be forced or overshadow the actual story. In this book, I think that PC was sometimes the first priority
All in all, I'll probably read the sequel, but it is not a book that I would recommend offhand.
September 7, 2017
This is an odd book. I liked the characters and the general arc of the plot, but there were a lot of little details that bothered me. Slavery is everywhere in this book, including among the good guys, so it was hard to root for them or accept that their government should win. Nah, man, y'all should all be overthrown, none of y'all are ruling responsibly.
The Audible narration is clear. And easy to follow. But also very stilted. Which kept dragging me. Out off the story. Much like. This paragraph.
The Audible narration is clear. And easy to follow. But also very stilted. Which kept dragging me. Out off the story. Much like. This paragraph.
February 1, 2016
I knew on the very first page that I would not like this book. The writing style is outdated, the characters feel like characters instead of people, and the dialogue is unconvincing. I soldiered on through the first half hoping it would redeem itself, but things only get worse: we're given numerous information dumps about the history of the Dream, the Unity's takeover of multiple planets, and characters' pasts, but none of it rings true-- it is all telling instead of showing.
In addition to space travel and colonization of planets, the testing and genetic engineering of "Silent" individuals demonstrates a future culture that is clearly technologically advanced. However, computers (which seem to be straight out of the mid-1990s) malfunction constantly, and no one finds it strange. Like, "We can splice your DNA, but we can't get the hatch on your ship to open when you press the button. So sorry!" I just don't buy it.
Also, a good deal of POV shifting takes place, making the narrative disjointed and hard to connect with. I found myself wishing someone would just kill Sejal to end the universe-spanning drama that was being created by his existence.
In addition to space travel and colonization of planets, the testing and genetic engineering of "Silent" individuals demonstrates a future culture that is clearly technologically advanced. However, computers (which seem to be straight out of the mid-1990s) malfunction constantly, and no one finds it strange. Like, "We can splice your DNA, but we can't get the hatch on your ship to open when you press the button. So sorry!" I just don't buy it.
Also, a good deal of POV shifting takes place, making the narrative disjointed and hard to connect with. I found myself wishing someone would just kill Sejal to end the universe-spanning drama that was being created by his existence.
July 9, 2008
Interesting premise (that there is a psychic "dream" that some people can reach and communicate through), interesting characters, fun plot: what more could you ask for in a novel? Well, what you get is characters who seem real, who have a life and history beyond what's portrayed in the book. In particular, the secondary characters are well-developed; even better, there are several women among them who are strong, interesting characters in their own right. There's a bit of (m/m) romance, but not so much that it detracts from the plot. And the plot itself will have you on the edge of your seat during the climactic scenes.
January 26, 2010
The premise is that our minds create a landscape that some people can enter. The "Dream" is the answer to instantaneous communication between governments as well as individuals, as once you have entered the Dream, you create your surroundings and that can include talking to others in the Dream no matter where in the universe they're physically located. Naturally those capable of entering the Dream, the "Silent," are identified, exploited, and enslaved by some, and the object of great hope for others. The plot was a real page turner in spots, and the characters were likeable and interesting.
October 8, 2014
I liked the premise, but wasn't so crazy about the execution.
And I thought the moral 'message' was a bit off. So that part was frustrating.
And I thought the moral 'message' was a bit off. So that part was frustrating.
January 22, 2014
A rich read for sci lovers
it could use more proofreading and copyediting to tighten up the writing more and fix the typos and spelling errors, but overall a very good, compelling story that kept me invested in the diverse landscapes and characters, and the action surrounding them. an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys sci-fi with a dash of "fantasy" mixed in.
it could use more proofreading and copyediting to tighten up the writing more and fix the typos and spelling errors, but overall a very good, compelling story that kept me invested in the diverse landscapes and characters, and the action surrounding them. an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys sci-fi with a dash of "fantasy" mixed in.
October 18, 2012
A very nice concept (an alternate plane of mental activity that links all sentient beings, with those able to reach the plane called "Silents") but only a so-so kind of delivery. It was good enough to keep me reading but not enough to make me rush down to the LL to get another by the same author.
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