The Dreamland Chronicles [Hardcover]

William Mark Simmons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2002

You've been to Disneyland... You've seen Westworld... You've read Dreampark... Now, in the 21st century, experience your wildest fantasies come true in Dreamland! Beyond rides, beyond robots and simulations, beyond illusions, lasers, and holograms, Dreamland takes you out of your body and into computer-generated "worlds" where anything you can imagine is possible! Ride the open prairie with Jessie James or Billy the Kid, in Frontierworld. Sprout gills and experience an undersea adventure in Oceanworld. Hunt Dinosaurs and meet the missing link in Primalworld. Play beach blanket bingo with Frankie and Annette in Surferworld. Fight a dragon and rescue a fair damsel from the Black Night in Fantasyworld, the oldest and most popular of the Dreamland Programs. You'll have the time of your life! If you survive... The Dreamland Chronicles an onmibus collection of William Mark Simmon's three Dreamland titles...In the Net of Dreams, When Dreams Collide, and in print for the first time, The Woman of His Dreams.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wm. Mark Simmons

William Mark Simmons spent his formative years in Independence, Missouri (Harry Truman's home town) and pursued a double major in Theatre and Mass communications, graduating from Central Missouri Sate University with a degree in the latter. He has taught Speech and Communications classes, Emergency First Aid certification courses, and Fencing. He has worked as an actor, director, musician, and entertainer, hosting his own shows in both Television and Radio while winning awards as a journalist and copywriter. Simmons currently manages a public radio station in Louisiana, hosts a classical music program, and is an adjunct faculty member of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He is the author of five novels; his first, In The Net of Dreams, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made the LOCUS "Best" list in 1991.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 956 pages
• Publisher: Meisha Merlin Publishing, Inc. (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892065592
• ISBN-13: 978-1892065599
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,387,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Before he turned his attention to Science Fiction, (William) Mark Simmons was winning awards for his writing, first as a newspaper journalist and later as a broadcast copywriter. His first book was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made the LOCUS Best List in 1991. When he isn't writing, Mark is in front of the camera or microphone having worked in television and now radio where his is the morning voice for Radio Kansas and can be heard throughout half of the Sunflower State.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And now for something completely different..., January 19, 2003

By 

violinagin (Middle of Nowhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dreamland Chronicles (Paperback)

At first I was daunted by the task of reading this brick that deforested half of Equador, but as soon as I started reading the book I could not put it down. I knew I would enjoy it from the moment I saw those first three quotes: two from Shakespeare - The Tempest and Hamlet - and one from Monty Python's flying circus: "And now for something completely different." This was my type of humor. And as for humor this is probably the best book to read for that. That is if you like puns. Wm. Simmons knows how to use the right amount of puns, and doesn't go overboard, though I am sure that is tempting. As I read I was drawn into the world of the game and of the story. Part of the reason I loved it was because of the characters who were believeable and lovable... and in some cases not so loveable. I wanted to know what would happen to them. I almost cried when... well, that would give some stuff away. The story was the best part. I lost myself in those books (though in the middle of math that might not be a good thing) and read them constantly. After I finished each book, it would seem like I was waking up from a dream, or another world. And then I fell right back into the dream in the next book. Wm. Simmons is a wonderful story teller, and those who read this book will not be disappointed if they are looking for a book that has a serious plot with lotsa laughs.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To read, perchance to dream...and laugh, December 5, 2002

By 

"[e-mail]" (Santa Barbara, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dreamland Chronicles (Paperback)

Wm. Mark Simmons, the fastest pun in the West, is back, and he's done it again! "Woman of His Dreams" crowns the Dreamland Chronicles trilogy after a long wait by his fans. I have loved and laughed through all of the adventures of Ripley and his cohorts, and this latest installment is the best yet. Simmons' trademarks are strong characters, thought-provoking philosophical twists of plot, lots of action, and truck-loads of wit. Even though familiar with his style, I still was not prepared for the finale. I found myself watery-eyed at the last page, and sad to see it end. This is a book I have given to friends and had them call me in the middle of, just to tell me it's the first time in years they've laughed out loud while reading a book. Simmons may or may not have screenplay experience, but his novels read like movies, extremely visual. Now...if only Spielberg would read them...

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WARNING:THIS BOOK IS TOO FUNNY FOR WORDS, September 5, 2003

By 

Donald Carnegie (Post Falls, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dreamland Chronicles (Paperback)

Well I just got done reading this book and must issue the following warning to those who read this.DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ARE: a)trying to go to sleep. This book will upset your sleep patterns and you will regret this.b)lacking any form of a sense of Humor. If you don't got it, you won't get it.c)under any way shape or form driving.It could kill you and that's not good.d)taking any medication or suffering from recent surgery in the abdominal area. Too much laghfter could split stiches or cause a reaction with medication. If your not suffering from any of the afor mentioned things then read on.
One prepare for many puns.Lots of puns. Some like to hide in wait and ambush you, while others stir themselves over a long period of time. Prepare for a massive assault on anything and everything. Nothing is safe from being used. Even Fed Ex gets hit at one point. Enjoy this book and have much fun for several hours/days/weeks or however long it takes to fininsh.