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Dreams Within Dreams
A world with no stars... no sun... no moon... no Earth. Only "the Dream"... Winston Harper is a sky trucker down on his luck. Years of numbing his past trauma has whittled away his reputation. Blacklisted and back to the wall, Winston's only hope of survival is a no-questions-asked contract offering pay high enough to make him forget his own name. What could possibly go wrong? When the client changes the deal and imperial security crashes the party, he's on the run caught between the empire and a rebellion. Hauling ten containers of contraband cargo, and guided by a mysterious femme fatale who holds all the cards, death may be the better way out... Set in a post-apocalyptic future where the lines between technology and biology have become blurred, humanity survives on the remains of the solar system scattered about in a sky of endless twilight, ruled by an alien entity. Follow Winston Harper as he becomes entangled in the struggle against the cosmic empire and potentially, the secrets of humanity's lost past... and perhaps its future?
202 pages, Paperback
Published February 11, 2023
5 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
M.D. Boncher
9 books8 followersAs an author, artist and musician, M. D. Boncher has lead, a “Writer’s Life”. He has held several careers in many different industries from hospitality to trucking, giving him a wide breadth of experience with the human condition to draw on for his work. He has a passion for history, philosophy, and his Christian faith. His hobbies include such nerdy things as Tabletop RPGs, videogames, camping, gardening and (now) hunting, but most of it is spent in artistic creations. When not creating he’s either reading or watching a movie from his extensive curated collection of sci-fi, fantasy, comics, horror, action, comedies, classics literature or film, detective fiction or pulp.
An expatriated native Wisconsinite, he relocated during the pandemic and now lives deep in the mountains of West Virginia with his wife, three very fluffy cats and small flock of feisty but naïve chickens.
An expatriated native Wisconsinite, he relocated during the pandemic and now lives deep in the mountains of West Virginia with his wife, three very fluffy cats and small flock of feisty but naïve chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 28, 2024
If Onslaught resembles a sci-fi/action movie from the 90s, Dreams Within Dreams might recall The Fifth Element and 2002 TV series Firefly. Add interesting characters, a solid plot line, and just the right amount of comedy, and you have an instant winner of modern indie pulp.
What this short and enjoyable novelette also does is prove that you can have a simple, straightforward story without flat-like-pancakes characters and wooden dialogue. In fact, characters like our protagonist, Winston, display a level of humanity and depth that might be subtle on the surface yet very engaging as their adventures progress.
Same with the plot. Boncher will take us for a rollercoaster ride but he is wise enough to avoid tired-out stereotypical tropes that oversaturate the current market. His writing approach is what I admire most: don’t write solely having in mind the reaction of your readers but write what makes sense within the story you are telling.
PLOT:
Winston lives in what is referred to as ‘The Dream’, a reality that resulted from King Xiao destroying the world as we know it. In this new world Winston works for a freight company, moving goods and parcels by way of his space tug the Sierra Madre, and with the aid of a mechanical humanoid named Billy Joe.
After being offered a gig that would earn him more money than he’s ever dreamed of, Winston finds himself caught in the midst of the illegal trafficking of weapons of mass destruction for a dangerous cartel. By the time he finds out what his cargo holds, he’s in too deep! Throw in the mix two undercover officers onboard, Mr. Tollman and Ms. Iverson (aka Holly), and Winston’s plan for a big payday quickly becomes the worst ride of his life!
CHARACTERS:
Character development is important whether we’re talking about a very complex storyline or a very simple one. Simple characters should not be BORING characters. And in this short novel we see that formula applied to characters like Winston or even his mechanical co-pilot Billy Joe or even the attractive yet mysterious Holly.
Winston on the surface seems to be a very practical down -to-business type of guy. “Get the job done and get paid” is his mantra. But underneath that seemingly pragmatic persona, Winston hides demons that keep haunting him in his sleep. So much so that he finds himself almost addicted to this virtual reality rig he hooks himself up to whenever he can, to escape a harsh reality. Readers will learn more about Winston as things progress and Holly will soon become a determining factor in Winston’s life. But not in the way you would expect whenever a stunningly attractive woman is involved.
A NOTE FROM THE REVIEWER:
The author states that “the idea came to me after watching a whole bunch of old Flash Gordon serials and was like, yeah, that can be done.” The issue is that not everything that works in TV or comic books will necessarily work in novel format.
I’m particularly referring to how Book 1 ends with a cliffhanger and really makes you feel like nothing got done, or accomplished, or fulfilled despite characters and plot becoming more and more engaging. I think every novel , even in a serialized format , should make the reader feel like things moved from point A to point B and certain goals were reached or accomplished. Here, the end feels truncated and unless you don’t buy Volume 2 you are left with a partial story, literally. My opinion is that the author should have published the entire story including Book 1, 2, and 3 as one single book because, honestly, Book 1 feels somewhat unfulfilling in the end and it felt like someone turning off your TV just when things are getting intense. Is that really how we want to feel after spending money to purchase a book?
CONCLUSIONS:
Obviously this will get a follow-up review of Book 2, Lucid Reality.
If anything I hope the quality enjoyed in the first book will continue and then we will go on and cover Book 3, The Waking Nightmare.
I highly encourage you to get all 3 books together since the author ‘s approach mentioned earlier might leave some of you disappointed, or dissatisfied perhaps, by only reading Book 1 by itself!
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2 thoughts on “Dreams Within Dreams – a Review”
Sarah
September 24, 2024 at 8:17 AM
I concur with this review! I really like how Boncher balances so many elements in a short space and makes it seem easy!
Reply
THE INFAMOUS REVIEWER
September 24, 2024 at 1:50 PM
Thank you Sarah for leaving a comment, and you were absolutely right about this author!
🦀
What this short and enjoyable novelette also does is prove that you can have a simple, straightforward story without flat-like-pancakes characters and wooden dialogue. In fact, characters like our protagonist, Winston, display a level of humanity and depth that might be subtle on the surface yet very engaging as their adventures progress.
Same with the plot. Boncher will take us for a rollercoaster ride but he is wise enough to avoid tired-out stereotypical tropes that oversaturate the current market. His writing approach is what I admire most: don’t write solely having in mind the reaction of your readers but write what makes sense within the story you are telling.
PLOT:
Winston lives in what is referred to as ‘The Dream’, a reality that resulted from King Xiao destroying the world as we know it. In this new world Winston works for a freight company, moving goods and parcels by way of his space tug the Sierra Madre, and with the aid of a mechanical humanoid named Billy Joe.
After being offered a gig that would earn him more money than he’s ever dreamed of, Winston finds himself caught in the midst of the illegal trafficking of weapons of mass destruction for a dangerous cartel. By the time he finds out what his cargo holds, he’s in too deep! Throw in the mix two undercover officers onboard, Mr. Tollman and Ms. Iverson (aka Holly), and Winston’s plan for a big payday quickly becomes the worst ride of his life!
CHARACTERS:
Character development is important whether we’re talking about a very complex storyline or a very simple one. Simple characters should not be BORING characters. And in this short novel we see that formula applied to characters like Winston or even his mechanical co-pilot Billy Joe or even the attractive yet mysterious Holly.
Winston on the surface seems to be a very practical down -to-business type of guy. “Get the job done and get paid” is his mantra. But underneath that seemingly pragmatic persona, Winston hides demons that keep haunting him in his sleep. So much so that he finds himself almost addicted to this virtual reality rig he hooks himself up to whenever he can, to escape a harsh reality. Readers will learn more about Winston as things progress and Holly will soon become a determining factor in Winston’s life. But not in the way you would expect whenever a stunningly attractive woman is involved.
A NOTE FROM THE REVIEWER:
The author states that “the idea came to me after watching a whole bunch of old Flash Gordon serials and was like, yeah, that can be done.” The issue is that not everything that works in TV or comic books will necessarily work in novel format.
I’m particularly referring to how Book 1 ends with a cliffhanger and really makes you feel like nothing got done, or accomplished, or fulfilled despite characters and plot becoming more and more engaging. I think every novel , even in a serialized format , should make the reader feel like things moved from point A to point B and certain goals were reached or accomplished. Here, the end feels truncated and unless you don’t buy Volume 2 you are left with a partial story, literally. My opinion is that the author should have published the entire story including Book 1, 2, and 3 as one single book because, honestly, Book 1 feels somewhat unfulfilling in the end and it felt like someone turning off your TV just when things are getting intense. Is that really how we want to feel after spending money to purchase a book?
CONCLUSIONS:
Obviously this will get a follow-up review of Book 2, Lucid Reality.
If anything I hope the quality enjoyed in the first book will continue and then we will go on and cover Book 3, The Waking Nightmare.
I highly encourage you to get all 3 books together since the author ‘s approach mentioned earlier might leave some of you disappointed, or dissatisfied perhaps, by only reading Book 1 by itself!
FacebookTwitterPush to KindlePinterestRedditTumblrLinkedInWhatsAppShare
Post navigation
Previous Post
Crown of Blood by D.L. & J.C. Chaput
Next Post
Paradox 1: Escaping Fate by Henry Brown
2 thoughts on “Dreams Within Dreams – a Review”
Sarah
September 24, 2024 at 8:17 AM
I concur with this review! I really like how Boncher balances so many elements in a short space and makes it seem easy!
Reply
THE INFAMOUS REVIEWER
September 24, 2024 at 1:50 PM
Thank you Sarah for leaving a comment, and you were absolutely right about this author!
🦀
June 13, 2023
I would give this a strong 3.5/5.
This was a quick & fun read!
If you like futuristic/ dystopian science fiction set in deep space, this is for you! The characters were witty, funny & a little dangerous and they kept me turning the pages. This book made me laugh, it pulled at my heart & it made me want to read more books like this.
I was lucky enough to meet the author at my local Renaissance Faire & after having a nice discussion he offered to provide me this book for free as well as an ARC of the follow up book, Lucid Reality, which I will be leaving a review on very soon!
This was a quick & fun read!
If you like futuristic/ dystopian science fiction set in deep space, this is for you! The characters were witty, funny & a little dangerous and they kept me turning the pages. This book made me laugh, it pulled at my heart & it made me want to read more books like this.
I was lucky enough to meet the author at my local Renaissance Faire & after having a nice discussion he offered to provide me this book for free as well as an ARC of the follow up book, Lucid Reality, which I will be leaving a review on very soon!
June 18, 2023
Apart from the prequel short story, "Cold Pursuit of a Hot Case," this was my first foray into M. D. Boncher's fiction.
The author describes the world of this series as: "'Flash Gordon' meets 'Smokey and the Bandit' meets 'The Matrix' meets 'Talespin.'" That fits. Though in my mind, it's "a lot of Firefly meets a little Matrix and a touch of Dune."
I give this entry point to the series a (low) 4 stars. It was in 3-star territory for me for most of the book, but eked out a fourth star with a redemptive conclusion. Which was more like a pause point in the ongoing series. (Note that I rate the second installment 5 stars—review imminent!)
I'm more of a fantasy than a sci-fi reader, so this book was an adjustment for me at first. It's also more graphic in its violence and mature in its more-than-innuendo than I usually read.
Even with those obstacles as a reader, I'm truly impressed by the originality of the sci-fi setting Boncher has concocted. Though dense in its techno-babble, the characters and overall vibe have a distinctly blue-collar, Southern U.S.–East Asian fusion character.
Again, if you like Firefly, you'll probably find this book worth the read, as I did: it's got a similar mix of American space western with East Asian aesthetic touches, the focus on an antihero with an unlikely crew existing on the fringes of organized space, use of fictional profanity, an ultimately optimistic story in a dystopian universe, and comedy punctuated by brutal gore and suggestive dialogue.
One aspect that interfered with the reading experience early on, especially in earlier portions of the book before the story really took off, was a weakness in the editing department. There were quite a few miscellaneous errors, including a chronic problem with missing commas that led to many sentences having a run-on feel. (Happily, the second book in the series doesn't suffer from the same problem!)
The characters are memorable; the plot is fast and engaging. Unfamiliar (but inventive) words and phrases may overwhelm a bit at first, depending on your reading repertoire, but you'll get the gist and the exact meanings of many terms gradually become clearer. The narrative style (like much of the dialogue) is blunt but with the occasional clever turn of phrase or especially imaginative description that demands a momentary pause of appreciation.
If this sort of scifi story is your cup of tea, absolutely take this series out for a spin!
The author describes the world of this series as: "'Flash Gordon' meets 'Smokey and the Bandit' meets 'The Matrix' meets 'Talespin.'" That fits. Though in my mind, it's "a lot of Firefly meets a little Matrix and a touch of Dune."
I give this entry point to the series a (low) 4 stars. It was in 3-star territory for me for most of the book, but eked out a fourth star with a redemptive conclusion. Which was more like a pause point in the ongoing series. (Note that I rate the second installment 5 stars—review imminent!)
I'm more of a fantasy than a sci-fi reader, so this book was an adjustment for me at first. It's also more graphic in its violence and mature in its more-than-innuendo than I usually read.
Even with those obstacles as a reader, I'm truly impressed by the originality of the sci-fi setting Boncher has concocted. Though dense in its techno-babble, the characters and overall vibe have a distinctly blue-collar, Southern U.S.–East Asian fusion character.
Again, if you like Firefly, you'll probably find this book worth the read, as I did: it's got a similar mix of American space western with East Asian aesthetic touches, the focus on an antihero with an unlikely crew existing on the fringes of organized space, use of fictional profanity, an ultimately optimistic story in a dystopian universe, and comedy punctuated by brutal gore and suggestive dialogue.
One aspect that interfered with the reading experience early on, especially in earlier portions of the book before the story really took off, was a weakness in the editing department. There were quite a few miscellaneous errors, including a chronic problem with missing commas that led to many sentences having a run-on feel. (Happily, the second book in the series doesn't suffer from the same problem!)
The characters are memorable; the plot is fast and engaging. Unfamiliar (but inventive) words and phrases may overwhelm a bit at first, depending on your reading repertoire, but you'll get the gist and the exact meanings of many terms gradually become clearer. The narrative style (like much of the dialogue) is blunt but with the occasional clever turn of phrase or especially imaginative description that demands a momentary pause of appreciation.
If this sort of scifi story is your cup of tea, absolutely take this series out for a spin!
June 23, 2023
This is a non-stop roller-coaster of action and intrigue, set in fantastical universe where the Solar System has apparently been broken into floating bits that can still support life and commerce, all under the rule of the god-like Emperor Xiao. The protagonist, Winston, is a long-haul space trucker who is addicted to spending much of his down time immersed in virtual reality, living a digital life with his deceased wife and family while his trusty artificial sidekick, Billy Joe, helps keep things in order
When Winston reluctantly takes a job that pays far more than the usual rate, he knows it's going to be shady and probably dangerous. Thus, he isn't too surprised when the job goes south almost immediately upon picking up the mysterious cargo and his customer, Holly Iverson. Holly's various nano-enhancements make her a living pin-up girl with the personality to match, and she uses both her wiles and her weapons to keep Winston embroiled in a plot against the Emperor. He must also contend with the unstable nature of the fabric of reality itself, while discovering his own hidden depths of determination and resourcefulness.
Containing hearty dollops of 40's style pulp action and creative cyberpunk tropes, Dreams Within Dreams is a wildly imaginative adventure. This first installment is fast-paced, with vivid world-building, solid characterizations and snappy dialogue. Like an old film serial, it ends on something of a cliff hanger, so be prepared to step right into the next episode. I believe fans of John C. Wright's mind-bending space operas in particular will surely enjoy this new series. Happily recommended!
When Winston reluctantly takes a job that pays far more than the usual rate, he knows it's going to be shady and probably dangerous. Thus, he isn't too surprised when the job goes south almost immediately upon picking up the mysterious cargo and his customer, Holly Iverson. Holly's various nano-enhancements make her a living pin-up girl with the personality to match, and she uses both her wiles and her weapons to keep Winston embroiled in a plot against the Emperor. He must also contend with the unstable nature of the fabric of reality itself, while discovering his own hidden depths of determination and resourcefulness.
Containing hearty dollops of 40's style pulp action and creative cyberpunk tropes, Dreams Within Dreams is a wildly imaginative adventure. This first installment is fast-paced, with vivid world-building, solid characterizations and snappy dialogue. Like an old film serial, it ends on something of a cliff hanger, so be prepared to step right into the next episode. I believe fans of John C. Wright's mind-bending space operas in particular will surely enjoy this new series. Happily recommended!
February 14, 2023
This is a great book! Full of fun characters, who you can relate to even with it being in a futuristic setting. I don't typically read Sci-fi books, but this one makes me want to see where the characters are going to go.Well worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews