The Nightmare Within [Kindle Edition]

Glen Krisch (Author), Kealan Patrick Burke (Illustrator)

Book Description

Maury has the power to pull dreams into the waking world, giving the dreams corporeal form. These dream-people range from seemingly human figures, to monstrous beasts compelled by the most primal urges. Once exposed to the real world, the dreams evolve, adapting to their surroundings.

Maury is gathering dreams for display at Lucidity, the soon-to-open Museum of Dreams. From a boy named Kevin, he removes Mr. Freakshow, a nightmare feeding on the trauma of Kevin having recently witnessed his father's murder.

As Maury falls in love with a dream-woman named Joy, he realizes how wrong it is to enclose the dreams. During the Lucidity's Grand Opening, Mr. Freakshow escapes. To create a diversion, Mr. Freakshow frees the other dreams. The Nightmares, The Erotic Dreams, The Serenity Dreams--all of the dreams--invade the city.

Mr. Freakshow knows the rules that govern the dreams:
    A dream-person achieves immortality by killing its dreamer.
    If a dreamer dies for any other reason, the embodied dream disappears forever.

At first Maury seeks out Mr. Freakshow in order to stop him, only to realize there is only one way to accomplish this; he must find Kevin first, killing him before the nightmare has its way.

Kevin will do whatever it takes to be free of his nightmare, once and for all.
Maury will do whatever it takes to protect the love of his life.
Mr. Freakshow will do whatever it takes to realize his immortality.

Will Kevin survive his nightmare?

Editorial Reviews

Review

What the Critics are saying about the works of Glen Krisch

"Krisch writes with sheer force and raw power-a welcome entry to the horror ranks."
-- Scott Nicholson, best-selling author of The Red Church

"Every new book by Glen Krisch is a reason to celebrate. Seeming to come from out of nowhere, he writes with the kind of assured, lyrical style that makes other writers salivate. Count me as one of them. He knows what makes a story tick. He knows the value of character. And he knows how to scare you. And he does it all like someone who has been writing since before King was King. Mark my words: The future for Krisch is going to be a bright one, and I'm hard-pressed to think of anyone who so completely deserves it."
-- Kealan Patrick Burke, author of The Turtle Boy and Kin.

"Where Darkness Dwells is a wonderful story, rich with imagination, adventure, and lots of heart and soul. And yes, it's scary! There is great complexity in the people and the town that Glen Krisch creates. He doesn't give us cardboard paper dolls to represent good and evil. These are living, breathing characters. Most everyone has their faults and even the more villainous characters are in possession of a soft spot. But yikes! The villainous characters do some seriously heinous things."
-- Carole Lanham, author of The Whisper Jar

"Where Darkness Dwells, is fast paced with a lot of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages, wanting to find out what happens next. Even with such a large and varied group of characters as well as all the twists and turns I never felt that Glen lost focus as the story moved along quickly, and didn't lag for me at all."
-- Famous Monsters of Filmland

About the Author

I have written three novels: The Nightmare Within, Where Darkness Dwells, and Nothing Lasting. My short fiction has appeared in publications across three continents for the last decade. Dog Horn Publishing (U.K.) will publish my story collection debut in 2012.
I am also an editor for Morrigan Books. As a freelance editor, I have worked on books by Tim Lebbon and Lawrence Block, among others.
 
I enjoy speaking with other readers & writers. Feel free to drop by:
goodreads.com/author/show/4525598.Glen_Krisch
facebook.com/glen.krisch

 
or drop me an email at:
[e-mail]

Product Details

• File Size: 470 KB
• Print Length: 231 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1481250949
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Stray King Publishing (December 18, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004GNFTSA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,953 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Hold on tight January 20, 2011

By Caleb Blake

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is certainly a ride. The story sets things up by slapping you in the face with harsh back-story. The main characters are definitely carrying some baggage around and it makes them a little more interesting as the book progresses.

It's nice when horror offers not only good and evil, but also several shades between. The Nightmare Within offers you characters you can admire as well as characters you flinch from while not completely abandoning your sympathies.

Of course, when he wants to introduce evil into the story, the author has no trouble doing that either with the main villain being suitably evil. The only issue I had with the "nightmare" of the book was that a little too much of the story was told from its point of view. While its intentions were unknown and as its tormenting grew, it remained very creepy, but some of that effect was lost a little when its thought processes and needs/desires were revealed. I think it might have been a more chilling story if the other characters were left with the responsibility of determining and revealing its motives.

This is a story that packs a punch at the start, then builds an atmosphere of unease and creepiness right up until the point that all hell breaks loose. From there it's compelling reading right up to the rather "impactful" finale.

The premise was preposterous, but once disbelief is suspended, the internal logic of the story doesn't hold up too badly.

And lastly, I loved the artwork on the cover. It really is impressive.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Original Horror February 1, 2011

By lizardking

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

It seems to me that horror in itself is highly re-imagined or is usually turned into some sort of torture porn nowadays. What Krisch does in this book is give some hope to those of us that still believe in the horror genre. From the very beginning, you are thrown into the deep end of hell. Not one character is safe from anything in this book and Krisch doesn't hold back for the good guys. As the story develops, you can see that this can easily make it to the big screen. However, a movie will never be able to match what Krisch does for your imagination. I found myself not wanting to put the book down and I felt the characters were developed to the point that you could show concern for them because you can easily become enveloped in the story. Great read!!!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended January 10, 2011

By Benjamin

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

A great story. An unique topic, one Id never heard of before. Well written with no plot holes nor loose ends left at the end of the story. Writing style is simular to Greg F Gifune. Highly recommended.

More About the Author

Glen Krisch has written three novels: The Nightmare Within, Where Darkness Dwells, and Nothing Lasting. His short fiction has appeared in publications across three continents for the last decade. Dog Horn Publishing (U.K.) will publish his story collection debut in 2012.

He is also an editor for Morrigan Books. As a freelance editor, he has worked on books by Tim Lebbon and Lawrence Block, among others.

He enjoys speaking with other readers & writers. Feel free to drop by:


http://glenkrisch.wordpress.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4525598.Glen_Krisch
http://www.facebook.com/glen.krisch