What do you think?
Rate this book
Dreamweaver
An intricately woven and brilliantly conceived YA novel deal with the confrontation between gentle, nature-loving psychics of the planet Arboth and the technically superior invaders from Earth en route to colonize Arboth.
Exodus 27 is about to take off for Arbroth, an unspoiled planet seven light-years away. Thousands of Earth colonists are asleep in its cryogenic chambers. Suddenly Troy, a young crewman, sounds the alarm. There's an alien girl with tangerine eyes aboard the spaceship. On Arbroth, Eth, a young dream-weaver, awakens from an odd dream about a blue-eyed boy and a silvery wheel hurtling through space. The women of the Dream-Weavers Guild who run Arbroth by "correcting" people's auras enlist Eth's help. Will the technologically superior knowledge of Troy and the psychic powers of Eth be able to divert the spaceship to Malroth, Arbroth's twin planet? The bond that forms between Troy and Eth may be the only chance to save Arbroth and themselves.
Exodus 27 is about to take off for Arbroth, an unspoiled planet seven light-years away. Thousands of Earth colonists are asleep in its cryogenic chambers. Suddenly Troy, a young crewman, sounds the alarm. There's an alien girl with tangerine eyes aboard the spaceship. On Arbroth, Eth, a young dream-weaver, awakens from an odd dream about a blue-eyed boy and a silvery wheel hurtling through space. The women of the Dream-Weavers Guild who run Arbroth by "correcting" people's auras enlist Eth's help. Will the technologically superior knowledge of Troy and the psychic powers of Eth be able to divert the spaceship to Malroth, Arbroth's twin planet? The bond that forms between Troy and Eth may be the only chance to save Arbroth and themselves.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 1996
3 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Louise Lawrence
39 books57 followersElizabeth Holden, better known by her pen name Louise Lawrence, is an English science fiction author, acclaimed during the 1970s and 1980s.
Lawrence was born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, in 1943. She became fascinated with Wales at a young age, and has set many of her novels there. She left school early on to become an assistant librarian. She married and had the first of her three children in 1963. Her departure from the library, she recalls, gave her the potential to turn toward writing: "Deprived of book-filled surroundings, I was bound to write my own."
Lawrence was born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, in 1943. She became fascinated with Wales at a young age, and has set many of her novels there. She left school early on to become an assistant librarian. She married and had the first of her three children in 1963. Her departure from the library, she recalls, gave her the potential to turn toward writing: "Deprived of book-filled surroundings, I was bound to write my own."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 17, 2022
Dreamweaver by Louise Lawrence
(First Published in 1996)
At the start of this book, the author introduces us to circumstances which may at first seem like an overly-worn science fiction trope. Wealthy people from an ecologically ruined but high-tech Earth boarding a starship heading for the seemingly primitive planet Arbroth, the colonists selfishly intending to grab the abundant land and impose their will on the native population. Lawrence quickly nips the cliché in the bud, since before and after the ship embarks on its voyage, seventeen-year-old Troy has visions of a beautiful young alien girl who appears to be trying to tell him something. Troy feels uneasy about the thoughtless and greedy attitude of most of the would-be colonists, and reassurances from his parents do not convince him that all will be well once they arrive.
On Arbroth, a girl named Eth is training as a dream-weaver, and has experienced visions of Troy and the spaceship he is traveling on. Others of the dream-weavers guild who are more experienced and wiser than she is realize what this could mean for their planet, and resolve to prevent the future they fear becoming a reality. However, the telepathic link between Eth and Troy quickly develops into a romantic attachment which complicates matters for Troy, for Eth, and for those who would use Eth’s unique powers to thwart the invaders.
This book is fascinating in the way it balances and blends the hard science fiction storyline aboard the starship, with the fantasy narrative of events which take place on Arbroth.
From the content, it is obvious that Lawrence had specific messages in mind when she wrote Dreamweaver. There is a strong feminist element running through the story (although there are also strong male characters), along with concepts such as the subjugation of the desires of the individual in pursuit of more lofty goals, and the importance of environmental protection. The adult reader may feel that these themes are occasionally expressed a little too directly, but this writing technique is probably appropriate for the target audience (which is usually listed as age 14 and up).
The ending is somewhat unexpected, and some may say unsatisfying. But it does reinforce the themes already mentioned, and avoids the story descending into cliché and melodrama.
The YA science fiction written between the 1960s and 1990s seems to be in some ways more sophisticated and meaningful in comparison to most books of this genre published today. I thoroughly enjoyed Dreamweaver, although I have to say that I found Moonwind to be more poignant and meaningful from my own personal perspective.
(First Published in 1996)
At the start of this book, the author introduces us to circumstances which may at first seem like an overly-worn science fiction trope. Wealthy people from an ecologically ruined but high-tech Earth boarding a starship heading for the seemingly primitive planet Arbroth, the colonists selfishly intending to grab the abundant land and impose their will on the native population. Lawrence quickly nips the cliché in the bud, since before and after the ship embarks on its voyage, seventeen-year-old Troy has visions of a beautiful young alien girl who appears to be trying to tell him something. Troy feels uneasy about the thoughtless and greedy attitude of most of the would-be colonists, and reassurances from his parents do not convince him that all will be well once they arrive.
On Arbroth, a girl named Eth is training as a dream-weaver, and has experienced visions of Troy and the spaceship he is traveling on. Others of the dream-weavers guild who are more experienced and wiser than she is realize what this could mean for their planet, and resolve to prevent the future they fear becoming a reality. However, the telepathic link between Eth and Troy quickly develops into a romantic attachment which complicates matters for Troy, for Eth, and for those who would use Eth’s unique powers to thwart the invaders.
This book is fascinating in the way it balances and blends the hard science fiction storyline aboard the starship, with the fantasy narrative of events which take place on Arbroth.
From the content, it is obvious that Lawrence had specific messages in mind when she wrote Dreamweaver. There is a strong feminist element running through the story (although there are also strong male characters), along with concepts such as the subjugation of the desires of the individual in pursuit of more lofty goals, and the importance of environmental protection. The adult reader may feel that these themes are occasionally expressed a little too directly, but this writing technique is probably appropriate for the target audience (which is usually listed as age 14 and up).
The ending is somewhat unexpected, and some may say unsatisfying. But it does reinforce the themes already mentioned, and avoids the story descending into cliché and melodrama.
The YA science fiction written between the 1960s and 1990s seems to be in some ways more sophisticated and meaningful in comparison to most books of this genre published today. I thoroughly enjoyed Dreamweaver, although I have to say that I found Moonwind to be more poignant and meaningful from my own personal perspective.
May 26, 2020
Instead of a pandemic, humans have managed to destroy Earth through careless stewardship. 3,000 colonists are setting sail for a new planet upon which to settle and potentially abuse. Troy, a 17 year old crewman, wishes things could be otherwise. He somehow manages to establish a psychic bond with a young girl on that distant planet. Eth is studying to be a dream-weaver, one of a society of women who are a combination of doctor, psychiatrist, and judge. As her training progresses, she is severely injured by her sadistic brother. Her psychic self is flung across space to reunite with Troy. Obviously, Eth's people do not want to live in bondage to Troy's people so it's up to them to figure out how to solve the problem. My favorite character was Cable who was utterly devoted to Eth. It has been a long time since I have read one of this author's books. My favorite was "Children of the Dust".
June 25, 2017
I would have liked this a lot more when I was about 13. But now, well, the complexities of the world-building were such that I had trouble grasping them well enough to be able to sink into the story, but the themes were simple and handled with extra earnestness. I'm not warning you off if you want to read it, but don't have high hopes.
September 16, 2012
I first read this book in secondary school for an English reading programme. I thought it was brilliant then. It effectively introduced me to the science fiction genre.
On impulse I took it up to reread today. It still enchants, but now I find Eth's behaviour unbelievably childish and selfish. Even if she is only 17. She throws a temper tantrum every time something gets in the way of her relationship with Troy. She accuses people around her like Cable and Nemony of being in league with Vashlian to keep them apart. Can she really be so dumb as to not realise what the aliens will do to her planet when they land? She's seen their auras and know how dangerous and violent they are. She has an example in her own house, in the form of her brother. Even Troy has told her explicitly how destructive they are. Yet she's willing to aid and abet them in the despoiling of her own home? Just because she likes Troy?
This goes on right up to the second last chapter, then suddenly POOF! She suddenly sees the bigger picture. She receives her life's calling to go to Malroth. And suddenly it's her home, because she accidentally dreamwalked there as a child when she was homesick. Even though she hated it at first. She doesn't know a thing about what it's like to live there - the extreme cold comes as a shock later. But it's home because her family members were exiled there. Family whom she assumes hates her because she was partly the cause of their exile. Where's the sense in that?
The plot was interesting, but a bit forced. Like the bit at the end where Eth suddenly decides to go to Malroth, because the plot needs her to be there to find out what happened to the spaceship. There's hardly any build up to it. She just jumps up and says "Let's go to Malroth!" for no particular reason.
And the ending? Eth suddenly can put aside her love for Troy just like that. After whining and harping on it for the whole book, she suddenly says, "Hey no. We don't belong together." Troy's ability to put their love aside is more believable. He even lied abt his feelings for her to save the people of Arbroth. But she wanted to betray her own people because of him, so why the sudden change?
And the Guttenham children? At the beginning, it was Ivan's plan to enslave the natives of Arbroth to serve them. Suddenly, after 7 years of cryogenic slumber, he makes a complete turnaround and says it won't work? Hannah suddenly drops her snobbishness and becomes so friendly? They're spoiled rich kids who were complaining abt a lack of domestic robots. Now they're willing to work hard and consider themselves as equals with the crew. Not blaming them and threatening to sue. Not whining and crying about the hard life they will have to face. No, they're all gung-ho and let's-do-it. Did they undergo a personality change while in their cryogenic berths?
Overall, the whole book falls short.
On impulse I took it up to reread today. It still enchants, but now I find Eth's behaviour unbelievably childish and selfish. Even if she is only 17. She throws a temper tantrum every time something gets in the way of her relationship with Troy. She accuses people around her like Cable and Nemony of being in league with Vashlian to keep them apart. Can she really be so dumb as to not realise what the aliens will do to her planet when they land? She's seen their auras and know how dangerous and violent they are. She has an example in her own house, in the form of her brother. Even Troy has told her explicitly how destructive they are. Yet she's willing to aid and abet them in the despoiling of her own home? Just because she likes Troy?
This goes on right up to the second last chapter, then suddenly POOF! She suddenly sees the bigger picture. She receives her life's calling to go to Malroth. And suddenly it's her home, because she accidentally dreamwalked there as a child when she was homesick. Even though she hated it at first. She doesn't know a thing about what it's like to live there - the extreme cold comes as a shock later. But it's home because her family members were exiled there. Family whom she assumes hates her because she was partly the cause of their exile. Where's the sense in that?
The plot was interesting, but a bit forced. Like the bit at the end where Eth suddenly decides to go to Malroth, because the plot needs her to be there to find out what happened to the spaceship. There's hardly any build up to it. She just jumps up and says "Let's go to Malroth!" for no particular reason.
And the ending? Eth suddenly can put aside her love for Troy just like that. After whining and harping on it for the whole book, she suddenly says, "Hey no. We don't belong together." Troy's ability to put their love aside is more believable. He even lied abt his feelings for her to save the people of Arbroth. But she wanted to betray her own people because of him, so why the sudden change?
And the Guttenham children? At the beginning, it was Ivan's plan to enslave the natives of Arbroth to serve them. Suddenly, after 7 years of cryogenic slumber, he makes a complete turnaround and says it won't work? Hannah suddenly drops her snobbishness and becomes so friendly? They're spoiled rich kids who were complaining abt a lack of domestic robots. Now they're willing to work hard and consider themselves as equals with the crew. Not blaming them and threatening to sue. Not whining and crying about the hard life they will have to face. No, they're all gung-ho and let's-do-it. Did they undergo a personality change while in their cryogenic berths?
Overall, the whole book falls short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2016
Dream Weaver by louise Lawrence is a fantastic work of sci-fi literature. The story itself revolves around an young man leaving the decaying earth in search of a fresh untainted planet and the young girl being and one of the natives on this planet. Overall this book was very interesting and provoke many thoughts like”if we were in this situation how would we chose to colonize this planet? Would we term the native into our slave like our for fathers did before us or would we try to reach a mutual agreement to benefit both races?”
September 4, 2009
She had me all the way up until about the last third. Then suddenly Lawrence defaulted to "girls mess everything up by falling in love" and the book fell apart. Still, I'd say a good book to illustrate othering very clearly. Just not a great one.
March 21, 2010
The first book I ever read by this author...I was enthralled. Her books are full of ethical dilemmas with no easy answer. They give us pause to question not only things on a global and universal scale, but also the things within ourselves.
July 20, 2013
Lawrence's books are always thought-provoking and this was interesting for its exploration of gender and violence as well as questions of forgiveness and redemption.
August 19, 2015
My favorite book in the world.
May 26, 2012
I LOVED This book!!! It is on my favrites list! This is the only bok to ever make me cry!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews