What do you think?
Rate this book
Dream War
Decades ago, the CIA developed the technology to enter our dreams and extract information. It was just a matter of time before they took things a little too far...
DREAM WAR
1980. Hector Lopez joins a CIA enterprise capable of entering dreams and extracting information. Lopez saves hundreds of hostages' lives by dream-linking to terrorists and foiling their plans. When the Red Brigades, an Italian terrorist group, kidnaps a US General, Lopez and his team execute every technique available for extracting information--including one that links our world to a dimension never meant to be discovered.
Present Day. The Sogno di Guerra--a Red Brigades sect--plans the slaughter of millions. And they've the help of Luzveyn Dred, the entity ruling the dimension the CIA inadvertently opened a portal to--the Spatium Quartus.
Aided by an aging expatriate, a recovering alcoholic, and a mysterious girl, Lopez must overcome memories of past failures and defeat evil--in this world as well as in a dimension of nightmares.
Science Fiction
Secondary Thriller
Word approximately 85,500 words
Page approximately 352 pages
DREAM WAR
1980. Hector Lopez joins a CIA enterprise capable of entering dreams and extracting information. Lopez saves hundreds of hostages' lives by dream-linking to terrorists and foiling their plans. When the Red Brigades, an Italian terrorist group, kidnaps a US General, Lopez and his team execute every technique available for extracting information--including one that links our world to a dimension never meant to be discovered.
Present Day. The Sogno di Guerra--a Red Brigades sect--plans the slaughter of millions. And they've the help of Luzveyn Dred, the entity ruling the dimension the CIA inadvertently opened a portal to--the Spatium Quartus.
Aided by an aging expatriate, a recovering alcoholic, and a mysterious girl, Lopez must overcome memories of past failures and defeat evil--in this world as well as in a dimension of nightmares.
Science Fiction
Secondary Thriller
Word approximately 85,500 words
Page approximately 352 pages
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2010
22 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Prosapio
4 books58 followersStephen Prosapio received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from DePaul University in Chicago. After reporting for one of the nation’s largest fantasy football websites, footballguys.com, Stephen wrote his first novel, Dream War. Competing against 2,676 other novels, it won a Top Five Finalist award in Gather.com’s 2007 First Chapters contest. Dream War was released as an eBook in July of 2010. Articles about him and his writing have been featured in the San Diego Union Tribune, The North County Times, Today’s Local News, San Diego Magazine and the DePaul University Alumni magazine.
Stephen’s second novel Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum is a paranormal suspense novel about a paranormal researcher—who is himself possessed—forced to team with a rival TV ghost hunting show investigating a 19th century asylum. He uncovers as many dangerous secrets as he does spirits.
Stephen works as an executive recruiter and resides in Oceanside, California. He is currently crafting a sequel to Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum that chronicles the Xavier Paranormal Investigators next case.
Stephen’s second novel Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum is a paranormal suspense novel about a paranormal researcher—who is himself possessed—forced to team with a rival TV ghost hunting show investigating a 19th century asylum. He uncovers as many dangerous secrets as he does spirits.
Stephen works as an executive recruiter and resides in Oceanside, California. He is currently crafting a sequel to Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum that chronicles the Xavier Paranormal Investigators next case.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 17, 2010
Dream War begins by introducing us to Hector Lopez, a marine passed over for promotion but invited to take part in a secretive program that enters into the covert metaphysical realm. The government has learned to infiltrate dreams and it wants to use it's new toy as a weapon. But their visions of glory are quickly deflated when the program implodes before their very eyes- but not before Lopez learns of a fantastical world existing right along with ours!
Years later Lopez masquerades as a burnt out detective while secretly waging a lonely war against ultimate evil embodied in Luzveyn Dred, an evil creature that will stop at nothing to break out of the prison some may call hell. But soon Lopez won't have to fight alone anymore, for in rapid succession a young couple, a little girl and some fierce allies join his side. They must keep the little girl safe because she is key to Luzveyn Dred's master plan of overtaking the world!
Wow- what a ride! I love fantasy/speculative fiction but Dream War is much more than that. Part Urban Fantasy, Spy/Psychological Thriller, mixed with fantastical Apocalyptic Fiction of biblical proportions - literally!- and a smidge of Da Vinci Code this book weaves a tale that enthralls and keeps the pages turning.
When I started Dream War I wasn't quite sure where the author was leading us with action and new characters seemingly unconnected. But I found myself rapidly drawn in with the fascinating, very real, historical tidbits woven into his world of demons and dream magic. The characters felt fleshed out and I loved how the author connected us instantly with them by having them touch on common everyday things that surround us- from U2 on our Ipods to light reflectors embedded on the roads! (The subtlety of it added a dimension to them that we don't always get from a new author.)
The evil of a parallel universe wants into our world and it's using our dreams to infiltrate.
Luzveyn Dred, the very embodiment of every evil thing to cross our hearts and minds has already planted parts of his world inside of us, so whatever you do- stay awake!
All around a darn entertaining read! Prosapio needs print published now- the masses need to get this!
4.5 out of 5 from me!
Years later Lopez masquerades as a burnt out detective while secretly waging a lonely war against ultimate evil embodied in Luzveyn Dred, an evil creature that will stop at nothing to break out of the prison some may call hell. But soon Lopez won't have to fight alone anymore, for in rapid succession a young couple, a little girl and some fierce allies join his side. They must keep the little girl safe because she is key to Luzveyn Dred's master plan of overtaking the world!
Wow- what a ride! I love fantasy/speculative fiction but Dream War is much more than that. Part Urban Fantasy, Spy/Psychological Thriller, mixed with fantastical Apocalyptic Fiction of biblical proportions - literally!- and a smidge of Da Vinci Code this book weaves a tale that enthralls and keeps the pages turning.
When I started Dream War I wasn't quite sure where the author was leading us with action and new characters seemingly unconnected. But I found myself rapidly drawn in with the fascinating, very real, historical tidbits woven into his world of demons and dream magic. The characters felt fleshed out and I loved how the author connected us instantly with them by having them touch on common everyday things that surround us- from U2 on our Ipods to light reflectors embedded on the roads! (The subtlety of it added a dimension to them that we don't always get from a new author.)
The evil of a parallel universe wants into our world and it's using our dreams to infiltrate.
Luzveyn Dred, the very embodiment of every evil thing to cross our hearts and minds has already planted parts of his world inside of us, so whatever you do- stay awake!
All around a darn entertaining read! Prosapio needs print published now- the masses need to get this!
4.5 out of 5 from me!
July 28, 2011
With this being my 2nd Kindle book and for $2.99, I wasn't sure how good or bad Dream War was going to be. As it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised. Dream War starts out in the 1980's where the CIA is rumored to be developing experimental technology capable of entering people's dreams and extracting information from them. Enter Lt. Hector Lopez, a marine soon to be turned into the CIA's newest recruit to lead their dream link technology. At first, the intentions of the dream link branch of the CIA, known as the Oneirology Institute of America are to help defend and protect the innocent via dream linking and for a while it goes quite well. Lt. Lopez saves the lives of hundreds of hostages by dream linking into the minds of terrorists and foiling their plans. However, things begin to go awry when a U.S. general is kidnapped by an Italian terrorist group known as the Red Brigades. During one of these dream-link operations into the minds of one of the higher-ups of the Red Brigades, a mysterious portal opens and a entity known as Luzveyn Dred appears and offers Lopez the chance to join him with the promises of rich rewards. Lopez declines and the future of mankind slowly spirals down from there. Unintentionally, Lopez and his team have inadvertently opened up a portal to a dimension with horrific consequences that no one could have foreseen. After the first few years of the missions, Luzveyn Dred begins to appear more and more in the dreams of Lopez and his fellow agents. As team members start dropping like flies after dream-linking missions, Lopez begins to sense something is wrong but what?
Fast forward to the present day, as a off-shoot of the Red Brigades known as Sogno di Guerra plans to murder millions. However, the Sogno di Guerra aren't your regular terrorist group bent on slaughtering innocents. They claim to be the on-earth army of the entity/ruler (Luzveyn Dred) of the Spatium Quartus - a dimension that the CIA/OIA opened up a portal to over two decades ago via dream-linking.
Along with a retired Hector Lopez, a recovering alcoholic and his mysterious step daughter... Lopez must now overcome his past failures and demons and battle evil not only in the real world, but against Luzveyn Dred in the Spatium Quartus before it's too late for humanity.
Overall, this book was a nice surprise and talk about a bargain! It reminded me of a lot of different ideas from past movies and the Bible. You have your elements of The Matrix, Inception, and the biblical wars between heaven and hell all weaved into what turns out to be a pretty good novel. With the battles between Luzveyn Dred and Lopez and his team, they bear a very obvious resemblance to those of heaven and hell in the bible. Even if you're a self-proclaimed atheist, the religious aspect of Dream War doesn't detract from the story. I'll say I definitely enjoyed this book from Stephen Prosapio. As an author, it seems like he's on the right path and I look forward to reading some of his future stuff. As for the ending, it's not a cliffhanger but a definite tease that the battle with Luzveyn Dred just might not be over yet. If the next possible book is anything like Dream War, I certainly will be picking up a copy.
-Travis S.
(copied from my Amazon.com review)
Fast forward to the present day, as a off-shoot of the Red Brigades known as Sogno di Guerra plans to murder millions. However, the Sogno di Guerra aren't your regular terrorist group bent on slaughtering innocents. They claim to be the on-earth army of the entity/ruler (Luzveyn Dred) of the Spatium Quartus - a dimension that the CIA/OIA opened up a portal to over two decades ago via dream-linking.
Along with a retired Hector Lopez, a recovering alcoholic and his mysterious step daughter... Lopez must now overcome his past failures and demons and battle evil not only in the real world, but against Luzveyn Dred in the Spatium Quartus before it's too late for humanity.
Overall, this book was a nice surprise and talk about a bargain! It reminded me of a lot of different ideas from past movies and the Bible. You have your elements of The Matrix, Inception, and the biblical wars between heaven and hell all weaved into what turns out to be a pretty good novel. With the battles between Luzveyn Dred and Lopez and his team, they bear a very obvious resemblance to those of heaven and hell in the bible. Even if you're a self-proclaimed atheist, the religious aspect of Dream War doesn't detract from the story. I'll say I definitely enjoyed this book from Stephen Prosapio. As an author, it seems like he's on the right path and I look forward to reading some of his future stuff. As for the ending, it's not a cliffhanger but a definite tease that the battle with Luzveyn Dred just might not be over yet. If the next possible book is anything like Dream War, I certainly will be picking up a copy.
-Travis S.
(copied from my Amazon.com review)
August 27, 2010
I met Stephen Prosapio in a gather.com writing contest and loved his entry, Dream War. But I always wondered how the different pieces would end up fitting together… a helicopter rescue, secrets stolen from dreams by CIA spies, a man and a woman vacationing in Italy, and bubbles of nightmares falling from the sky… Well, now I know, and the result was well worth waiting for.
Long after the CIA have dropped their dream science program, Lopez continues to fight the creatures of the night. Meanwhile Drew and Nadia find a curious medallion in their luggage. And scientists check the seismic monitors on Vesuvius. Add in a fascinating priest and repeated calls to save the little girl, and you have the setting for a wild and curious ride.
The author weaves a clever web. Fascinating science combines with the fluidity of dreams. Foreshadowing, though sometimes frustrating, conveys very well that dream-like falling into the well of despair. Prayer and study might help. Prophesy and history might offer a key. And a little girl might lead them.
Tension builds as the enemy closes in and his powers grow strong. If you’ve ever had nightmares, be sure they’re here, and be sure you need to fight them, or fight the beasts. With interwoven faith, mythology, history and pure imagination, this story’s an adventure that’s going to haunt my dreams. It’s cleverly plotted, intriguingly told, well-polished apart from the odd chip here and there, and a really fun read.
Long after the CIA have dropped their dream science program, Lopez continues to fight the creatures of the night. Meanwhile Drew and Nadia find a curious medallion in their luggage. And scientists check the seismic monitors on Vesuvius. Add in a fascinating priest and repeated calls to save the little girl, and you have the setting for a wild and curious ride.
The author weaves a clever web. Fascinating science combines with the fluidity of dreams. Foreshadowing, though sometimes frustrating, conveys very well that dream-like falling into the well of despair. Prayer and study might help. Prophesy and history might offer a key. And a little girl might lead them.
Tension builds as the enemy closes in and his powers grow strong. If you’ve ever had nightmares, be sure they’re here, and be sure you need to fight them, or fight the beasts. With interwoven faith, mythology, history and pure imagination, this story’s an adventure that’s going to haunt my dreams. It’s cleverly plotted, intriguingly told, well-polished apart from the odd chip here and there, and a really fun read.
April 29, 2011
Crackling read!
April 20, 2011
Stephen Prosapio's writing has a way of pulling you in and keeping you guessing at the same time. His style is a unique blend of modern day thriller with yesterday's feel.
When the CIA pulls US Marine Lt. Hector Lopez from a mission to rescue the hostages and puts him to work at the Oneirology Institute of America, the OIA. The OIA is designed to be a training place for a new technology called Dream Linking.
Stephen Prosapio uses historical hijackings in 1981 to dramatize the plot and to bring you into the mind of Hector, thus giving it the realistic feel it needed to keep you reading.
With well defined characters and a lot of historical references, the novel is given a fast pace and many twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. When he finally weaves the whole thing together, you will sit there and say, WOW! It leaves you wanting more and even a little sad that the story is finished.
Although there are a lot of historical references, they are used as more than just a backdrop. They almost become the story within and made me google a few things to see if I was remembering the events as they actually occurred. That in and of itself is a feat and shows just how real this novel felt. Though it is listed as a science fiction novel, this book also belongs in the political thriller genre as well. Once you read it, you will understand why I say this.
Thank you Stephen Prosapio for the wonderful story and I look forward to more in the future.
When the CIA pulls US Marine Lt. Hector Lopez from a mission to rescue the hostages and puts him to work at the Oneirology Institute of America, the OIA. The OIA is designed to be a training place for a new technology called Dream Linking.
Stephen Prosapio uses historical hijackings in 1981 to dramatize the plot and to bring you into the mind of Hector, thus giving it the realistic feel it needed to keep you reading.
With well defined characters and a lot of historical references, the novel is given a fast pace and many twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. When he finally weaves the whole thing together, you will sit there and say, WOW! It leaves you wanting more and even a little sad that the story is finished.
Although there are a lot of historical references, they are used as more than just a backdrop. They almost become the story within and made me google a few things to see if I was remembering the events as they actually occurred. That in and of itself is a feat and shows just how real this novel felt. Though it is listed as a science fiction novel, this book also belongs in the political thriller genre as well. Once you read it, you will understand why I say this.
Thank you Stephen Prosapio for the wonderful story and I look forward to more in the future.
April 1, 2013
"Dream War" is a science fiction thriller that verges on the probable as it explores the use of futuristic technology to circumvent potential terrorist attacks. A part of the CIA's counter-intelligence plan is to form a group that uses NOCTURN, an altered acronym for Night-Oriented Connection to Uncover and Retrieve Information, to track the brain waves of terrorists during REM sleep and counter their malicious intent. In the 1980's Hector Lopez, a former marine is enlisted as a Special Agent to test the Nocturn system and become a dream spy. The plot begins to thicken when members of his team suddenly and mysteriously die after a dimension called the "Spatium Quartus (SQ)" opens and an evil presence called Luzveyn Dred tries to coerce them into his service. The novel then sweeps forward to the Present Day. The evil in SQ has grown stronger over the years and only the resistance armed with medallions that protect them can thwart his plan to annihilate millions as he merges his dimension with earth. An older Hector Lopez, haunted by past failures must vanquish the menace which seems unstoppable and enlists the aid of a scientist's daughter,recovering alchoholic, his girlfriend Nadia and her young daughter. The story grows in intensity as the action heats up and the characters face not only their own demons but their worst nightmares; a good book for science fiction enthusiasts.
October 9, 2013
I loved the introduction to Dream War! Oneirology: The Scientific study of dreams... The explanation and historical references hooked me straight away. The main character Lieutenant Hector Lopez came across as vulnerable, but grew stronger as the story unfolded, especially when we reached the present day.He had an attractive quality where I visualized him straight away. The story was so well written and descriptive that random images continued to leap from the page.
For me 'Dream War' was packed full of Science,Thriller and Fantasy.
The concept of a Government secret project 'Dream Linking' was brilliant. A project that sends Hector and his team on a roller-coaster ride. They unintentionally open a portal to another world where the consequences put the future of mankind at risk, causing the deaths of Lopez's team as the other world starts to intercept their dreams and events start to become more surreal. With the introduction of more characters, places, events, twists and turns, I thought I would get lost. But Stephen Prosapio's writing style has a way of keeping you captivated.
Overall 'Dream War' although complex, in my opinion is a definite page turner.
For me 'Dream War' was packed full of Science,Thriller and Fantasy.
The concept of a Government secret project 'Dream Linking' was brilliant. A project that sends Hector and his team on a roller-coaster ride. They unintentionally open a portal to another world where the consequences put the future of mankind at risk, causing the deaths of Lopez's team as the other world starts to intercept their dreams and events start to become more surreal. With the introduction of more characters, places, events, twists and turns, I thought I would get lost. But Stephen Prosapio's writing style has a way of keeping you captivated.
Overall 'Dream War' although complex, in my opinion is a definite page turner.
August 19, 2012
I enjoyed this book as it was a new take on the good vs evil, heaven vs hell story.
The main character is a Hector Lopez who in the 1980's joined a special CIA team experimenting in entering peoples dreams and extracting information from them. Everything goes wrong for the team when an Italian terrorist group the Red Brigade, kidnaps a US General.
While targeting members of the red brigade for information Lopez finds the he is not alone within their dreams that something else is there from a dimension never meant to be discovered, the Spatium Quartus.
Now forward to present day and we find our hero waging a one man war against the formidable creature that inhabits this dimension, not realizing that the fate of the world rest on the outcome.
The main character is a Hector Lopez who in the 1980's joined a special CIA team experimenting in entering peoples dreams and extracting information from them. Everything goes wrong for the team when an Italian terrorist group the Red Brigade, kidnaps a US General.
While targeting members of the red brigade for information Lopez finds the he is not alone within their dreams that something else is there from a dimension never meant to be discovered, the Spatium Quartus.
Now forward to present day and we find our hero waging a one man war against the formidable creature that inhabits this dimension, not realizing that the fate of the world rest on the outcome.
April 17, 2011
A difficult book to rate or comment on. I'm not even sure in which genre it belongs. It didn't hold my attention all that well as I read (and finished) two other books while reading it.
I think what went wrong for me was when the author started bringing monsters into the story. He seemed to want to turn it into a horror story, but that didn't work for me at all. I developed very little affinity for the characters and I still can't figure out what was so important about the little girl.
I think what went wrong for me was when the author started bringing monsters into the story. He seemed to want to turn it into a horror story, but that didn't work for me at all. I developed very little affinity for the characters and I still can't figure out what was so important about the little girl.
June 21, 2011
If you are in search of a different book, this one is definately worth checking out! I was thoroughly in doubt whether Prosapio managed to put the whole story toghether towards the end, but he did that brilliantly! This is Sci-Fi mixed with known elements and actual political events, and it makes the story very credible. Maybe you should think twice about what to wish for in your dreams...?
May 17, 2012
I was never one for conspiracy theories, but this book grabbed and kept ahold of me the whole time!
June 9, 2012
This book was amazing - I wanted more - I was waiting at the end for another book - it was that good
Want to read
January 22, 2013Kindle freebie, 1/22/13
January 2, 2014
Finished reading this yesterday and really enjoyed it. Great cast of characters and a fascinating plot to go along with it. Definitely a book I would read again.
May 24, 2012
very scary book!
June 28, 2017
Decent read but despite ramping things up to a climax I want overly concerned about the fate of our heroes.
March 21, 2023
Story is not unique. Not bad.
April 24, 2025
Different, but good.
June 2, 2012
The book took off as a cold war CIA with some sci fi elements. We have developed the technology to go into bad guys minds while they sleep, and plant things. I loved the concept of it.
Then the took took a left turn, that I am still not entirely sure I like. The dream channel is not only being used by us, but by another sinister user. Something like a demon, who wants to cross over into our world. He can only complete this by causing pain and suffering in our world and planting little parts of himself here.
The build up on the story was fine, but something in the last quarter of the book just seemed to drag. I almost didn't finish it, not that the writing wasn't good... The conclusion had just been telegraphed enough that it seemed like I could fast forward to the end.
The descriptions are detailed without being overly verbose. The writing was good, I bought into the characters. I just think it drug on a bit too long for me.
Then the took took a left turn, that I am still not entirely sure I like. The dream channel is not only being used by us, but by another sinister user. Something like a demon, who wants to cross over into our world. He can only complete this by causing pain and suffering in our world and planting little parts of himself here.
The build up on the story was fine, but something in the last quarter of the book just seemed to drag. I almost didn't finish it, not that the writing wasn't good... The conclusion had just been telegraphed enough that it seemed like I could fast forward to the end.
The descriptions are detailed without being overly verbose. The writing was good, I bought into the characters. I just think it drug on a bit too long for me.
May 5, 2012
So much left unanswered. It started slowly but got exciting in the middle with a lot going on at one time. I still felt there were a lot of empty holes and something didn't feel quite right about the story. The first 30% of the book drags but it does pick up but the end just drops off and you're left thinking "All that, and that's it?"
Want to read
May 20, 2012Reading on my tablet. Don't know why I am having such a hard time reading this book. It is the second one I have tried to read on my tablet, but I read on my Kindle all the time. Maybe I need to put it back and try again later. I started it on May 20 and it NEVER takes me that long to read a book.
August 27, 2011
Started out interesting then unexpectedly became preachy. I can usually abide a little of that but this was too much. I didn't bother finishing it.
October 28, 2013
dnf. just couldn't find the motivation to pick this up again!
July 12, 2012
Overall an enjoyable read, but maybe 1/3 of a book too long.
June 20, 2012
This was interesting but I didn't really buy the premise. The language was a bit strong for my taste and I would never want to see this in a movie.
August 27, 2012
Was thinking this book was similar in genre to "Inception" (the movie), but once it involved the supernatural, I lost interest. Predictable good vs evil spirits.
August 17, 2013
Really confused me as to if this was science fiction or religious!
Read
December 7, 2013False
March 2, 2011
pretty lame
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews