Customer Reviews

Dreamside

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Four young college students form an experimental group working in controlling dreams through the use of "lucid dreaming". They grow to be very close; two are lovers, one is universally despised by the other three, but all four are inextricably linked through their common "Dreamside" adventures. At a crucial point in their research, the project leader (a professor of paranormal studies)dies, leaving the students to try to further their research on their own. Unfortunately, they don't exercise restraint and they abandon themselves to the seductive charms of "Dreamside". All it took was one act of violence to cause "Dreamside" to collide with waking reality. Years later the four are stalked by nightmares and terror born of the horror they created "Dreamside". A terror that demands to be dealt with.

It was enjoyable to finally read Joyce's debut novel. Other reviewers have said that it isn't a horror novel -- that it is just sci-fi. I feel that it contains elements of both, seamlessly merged by Joyce's writing skill (and he does possess prodigious writing skill!). Everything that happens seems possible and subtley creepy. This is not a book to read right before sleeping! Also, the ending didn't disappoint me as it has others. I found it to be logical, yet open to imagination. I could see the possibility of a sequel as well. I highly recommend this journey into the darkness of the mind.

Over a decade ago, four college students (Lee Peterson, Ella Innes, Brad Cousins, and Honora Brennan) were part of an experiment into "lucid dreaming". The experiment was considered safe as what harm could come from controlling one's dreams. However, on the DREAMSIDE of existence, the quartet began to intermingle and destroy their conscious lives. All four fled in terror from DREAMSIDE and more so from each other in an attempt to obtain peace of mind and regain a piece of reality.

Now, as adults the dreams have returned as frightening nightmares. Desperate, the four seek each other out in a hope that together they can find a solution to the ever-growing darkness of the DREAMSIDE that threatens to destroy each one of them. Unable to be together because of the geometric potency of their combined dreaming, the foursome cannot separate if they are to find hope of escaping this nightmare.

DREAMSIDE is the American release of the debut novel of award winning author Graham Joyce (see THE TOOTH FAIRY and DARK SISTER). The story line is exciting and filled with increasing terror that works because the characters seem real as they struggle to cope with needing each other to survive even as they know that being together intensifies their individual and group fears. Although, a superb novel that showcases Mr. Joyce's talent, the climax seems abrupt and left questions unanswered. Still, this is classic science fiction along the lines of the Outer Limits and Flatliners.

Harriet Klausner

Certainly the idea of crossing the borderline between dreams and reality, only to face disastrous consequences, is not a new one, but Graham Joyce's rendering of this idea isn't stale. His account of Ella, Lee, Brad, and Honora's experiences with lucid dreaming and the havoc these experiments unleash in their lives is a fascinating and engrossing fast-paced read. While Joyce doesn't completely wrap up all of the loose ends, he doesn't really need to. He gives the story the kind of closure and incident like this would have in real life: it isn't necessary to understand everything that happens as long as the terror finally stops.

This was my first Graham Joyce experience, and because of this book, probably my last. I gave it two stars only because it was a very light and quick read so you don't have to waste hours on a book that leaves you quite unsatisfied. First of all, I thought it was a great concept, but the actual storyline seemed painfully unoriginal. My biggest gripe with the book was that Joyce spends about 95% of the book building up to a suspenseful climax and when he actually gets to the climactic scene, he takes about a page and then the book is over. You're left with the "Did I just read all of that book for that ending?" feeling. If you come across this book in your basement (not likely since its new) and you want a quick afternoon read, this is an ok choice, but it's not worth money and certainly not worth any high expectations.

Misunderstood. That's the word I use for the other reviewers that said they were unsatisfied with the outcome of the book. Graham Joyce is a fantstic writer in the same mold as 'Jonathan Carroll', and delivers books that let you interact with the story, in that you are given the opertunity to translate what has been unfolded in front of you. This book is about 4 university friends, whose world is changed due to their ability to interact with their dreams. With this ability, they experiment with love, relationships, and eventually their own mortality. When 13 years later nightmares from the past re awaken their experiences, they must come back together and confront each other, by going back to the one place they have tried desparatly to leave behind. The book is short, but thats good, it gets to the point. You won't be disapointed by 'Dreamside', you will also never think of dreams in the same way again.

Ella, Lee, Honora and Brad are college students in the UK who participated in a seemingly harmless experiment whih asks the question: are dreamers aware that they are dreaming as they dream? As the experiments continue and the participants become more daring, they discover how to actually choose a "Dreamside" meeting place and "meet" there as a group. However, as in all these science-runs-amuck stories, the experiments are abandoned due to a horrendous side effect--nightmares in real time and the inability of the dreamer to consciously know whether he/she has actually awakened or has dreampt he/she has awakened. One dreamer in particular is effected so thoroughly that her life is ruined, changed forever. Twelve years later, the since separated foursome are still pulled together by the reoccurance of Dreamside's side effects and must band together to stop the snowballing consequences that threaten to destroy them all. Sounds good, huh? Well. . .
Read the first half of this book---it does not disappoint--the present day unwanted reoccurance of the dreams, the details of the college time experiments, and the decision of two of the dreamers to band together to correct the problem---fantastic! Dream reading ---- But, the ending--[heck], IT PUT ME TO SLEEP--so, make up you own. Anything is better than the author's less than perfect three snores and a beer can climax and conclusion. Better yet, [see] Dreamscape or Flatliners on DVD or VHS.

Graham Joyce is a wildly uneven writer. Requiem and Tooth Fairy are excellent, some of the best recent dark fantasy. Indigo, on the other hand, is just plain awful and Stormwatcher manages to be only marginally better. Dark Sister, although not as strong as his best two novels, is certainly engaging and a good, suspenseful read. Darkside is not nearly as good as Dark Sister but manages to keep the reader's interest through the ending. Joyce's weaker points, however, are his endings and that's certainly the case here. After a good run the book entirely breaks down in a bunch of sound and fury which I found, unlike other readers, signified nothing. This is the Jerry Bruckheimer theory applied to writing -- when in doubt, blow everything up!

This first novel by Joyce is a well-written, character novel with just the right mixture of suspense and intellectualism. The characters were fully developed and very real...there were times when I started to believe I was part of the whole dreaming experiment. The novel pulled me in completely...so much so that I read it in one day. I enjoyed Joyce's spare style. He writes concisely with just enough flourish of detail to keep the pace changing in a satisfying way. The only part I was a bit disappointed with was the ending. I thought it came too quickly and I was left somewhat confused. I wasn't sure the meaning of the final event...why was Dreamside trying to claim them? And why was Dreamside satisfied with just one of them? Why not try for all? I am not sure I needed a complete explaination, but something that I could grab onto and play around with in my head. Despite it's minor flaw, the novel was an exciting and rewarding read.

Four college students partake in a lucid dream research project. They learn how to control and manipulate their dreams and eventually are able to meet up with each other on `Dreamside'. With their egos becoming god-like, a terrible tragedy takes place in their dream world. They soon discover that the nightmares are seeping into their waking lives and with unspoken agreement, the four split and stop the dreaming experiment. Twelve years later they are finding themselves drawn back into `Dreamside' and have to reunite in order to stop the nightmares from killing them all.

This was the second Graham Joyce book I've read, the first being `Tooth Fairy'. After reading the prologue, I knew it was going to be a good book. It reminded me of `Flatliners' or `Jacob's Ladder' in that you're never sure if what they are seeing is in their minds or is actually happening.

The book is sectioned off into three parts - the present where they are discovering that the nightmares are returning, the past where the nightmare begins, and the present again where they are trying to defeat the nightmares. Parts 1 and 2 were truly fantastic. I read them in one sitting. Part 3 I started and then weeks later finally finished. It just wasn't able to retain its pull. The ending seemed more like he was describing a movie and the visuals just didn't translate well into text.

Overall, though, I really liked the book. Dreamside wasn't scary in the same way that the Tooth Fairy was, which was super creepy!!!, but the writing was beautiful, the story interesting, and character's intriguing. Definitely another winner for Joyce.

For fans of Graham Joyce's enigmatic writings, this is a welcome U.S. release. Although written almost 10 years ago while he lived in the Greek isles, this is the first opportunity Joyce's U.S fans have gotten to read this work that revolves around controlling your dreams. It does show a few "first writer" rough edges but they are so few and far between I shouldn't even mention them.

Joyce almost appeared to pop out as an accomplished novelist right from the get-go. This work, written in 1991, shows Joyce at his existential best (although it's definitely character-driven like his other works Tooth Fairy and Requiem, not at all obtuse)!

Definitely pick this up, it gives you a great feel for Graham Joyce's beginnings as a writer.