Subject
Dreams -- Fiction Books
Best books
Francesco Colonna
Hypnerotomachia: The Strife of Loue in a Dreame
"Hypnerotomachia: The Strife of Loue in a Dreame" by Francesco Colonna is a book first published in 1499. The protagonist Poliphilo pursues his beloved Polia through a dreamlike landscape filled with classical architecture and mythology, eventually reaching the Fountain of Venus. Written in bizarre Latinate Italian and featuring 168 exquisite woodcut illustrations, this mysterious allegorical romance is celebrated as one of the most beautiful early printed books ever created, showcasing refined typography and Renaissance aesthetics.
Jack London
Before Adam
"Before Adam" by Jack London is a fictional novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores themes of evolution and ancestral memory through the lens of a unique narrator who experiences vivid dreams of a prehistoric existence. The protagonist, referred to as Big-Tooth, recounts his childhood among primitive ancestors, facing fears and adventures that take place in the wild during the Mid-Pleistocene epoch. The opening of the novel introduces us to Big-Tooth, a child who grapples with nightmarish dreams filled with a profound sense of terror and longing for connection. He is different from his peers, as his dreams are populated by beings from a distant past, and he feels a strong disassociation between his waking life and his dream world. Through his memories, we meet other characters, such as his friend Lop-Ear and the ominous figure Red-Eye, whose violent presence contrasts with the camaraderie of the horde. Big-Tooth's narrative delves into his experiences of fear, discovery of nature, and the instinctual behaviors that define his existence, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the primitive struggles of humanity.
Sigmund Freud
Delusion and Dream : an Interpretation in the Light of Psychoanalysis of Gradiva
"Delusion and Dream: an Interpretation in the Light of Psychoanalysis of…" by Sigmund Freud is an essay written in 1907 that applies psychoanalysis to Wilhelm Jensen's novel Gradiva. Freud examines how a young archaeologist, Norbert Hanold, unconsciously transforms his repressed childhood love into an obsession with a woman depicted in an ancient Roman bas-relief. Through delusion and dreams set in Pompeii, Hanold eventually confronts reality when his forgotten sweetheart cleverly guides him back to sanity, demonstrating what Freud called "cure by love."
Émile Zola
The Dream
"The Dream" by Émile Zola is a novel published in 1888. This tale follows Angélique, an orphan raised by embroiderers, who becomes enchanted by legends of saints and martyrs. She dreams of being rescued by a handsome prince, just as virgin saints are rewarded in heaven. When she falls for Félicien, a nobleman from an illustrious family, her fairy-tale romance faces a powerful obstacle: his father, a monseigneur with his own painful past, who forbids their union.
H. P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft
The silver key
"The Silver Key" by H. P. Lovecraft is a fantasy short story written in 1926. At thirty, Randolph Carter realizes he has lost his ability to dream as he once did, finding that scientific thinking has eroded his access to the fantastic dream-cities of his youth. When his dead grandfather reveals the location of a mysterious silver key, Carter embarks on a journey to his childhood home, hoping to unlock the gates of dreams once more.
H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
The dream: A novel
"The Dream: A novel by H. G. Wells" is a novel published in 1924. In the year 4000 AD, a biologist named Sarnac experiences a vivid dream in which he lives the complete life of Harry Mortimer Smith, an Englishman born in the 1890s. Through this dream, Wells contrasts a utopian future with the "Age of Confusion" of Victorian and Edwardian England, exploring themes of class, family dysfunction, love, jealousy, and war through one ordinary man's tumultuous journey.
H. P. (Helena Petrovna) Blavatsky
Nightmare Tales
"Nightmare Tales" by H. P. Blavatsky is a collection of supernatural stories written in the early 20th century. The opening segment, titled “A Bewitched Life,” immerses us in a blend of eerie aesthetics and metaphysical introspection. It revolves around an unnamed narrator who experiences a series of unsettling visions and reflects on his past, heavily shaped by questions of existence and the nature of the unseen world. The beginning of the narrative introduces us to a sickly protagonist confined to his bed in a small German town, where a familiar voice urges him to focus on an intriguing story from the past. This entices him to observe a mystical scene across the street that transforms into a Swiss châlet and reveals an old man writing with a quill. As the story unfolds, the old man begins to recount his own tumultuous life experiences, rooted in skepticism regarding spiritual phenomena, including clairvoyance and reincarnation. From this frame, we are made aware of a psychological and philosophical journey, exploring deep inner conflicts and questioning established beliefs about life, death, and a potential afterlife.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
An Old Woman's Tale (From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")
"An Old Woman's Tale" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story that falls within the genre of fictional narrative, likely written in the early to mid-19th century, a period characterized by Romanticism and an interest in exploring psychological depth through storytelling. The tale revolves around the recollections of a narrator about an elderly woman from their childhood, who spins intricate stories steeped in memory and imagination, addressing themes of nostalgia, community, and the passage of time. The story follows a young couple, David and Esther, who experience a peculiar slumber alongside their village, stirring vast memories and a gathering of their ancestors and community members from the past. As they sit together in a grove, they notice a myriad of familiar yet strange figures appearing in their village, engaged in various activities, dressed in old-fashioned attire. Each character is imbued with a sense of history and connection to the past, juxtaposing David and Esther’s present as they slowly grasp the surreal nature of their experience. The narrative culminates with David's determination to unearth a mystery suggested by their dream, reflecting the theme of exploration and the intertwining of past and present.
James Branch Cabell
The Cream of the Jest: A comedy of evasions
"The Cream of the Jest: A Comedy of Evasions" by James Branch Cabell is a philosophical novel published in 1917. Writer Felix Kennaston discovers a mysterious broken disk in his garden, which becomes a sigil that unlocks vivid dreams of Ettare, an idealized woman he encounters across different historical periods. As he pursues beauty and meaning through these nocturnal visions, the line between dream and reality blurs. The novel explores humanity's eternal longing for an unattainable ideal, culminating in revelations about the sigil's true nature and what it represents.
William Campbell Gault
I'll See You in My Dreams
"I'll See You in My Dreams" by William Campbell Gault is a novel that blends elements of science fiction and psychological exploration. Written in the early 1950s, the story delves into the themes of desire, infidelity, and the complexities of personal relationships. The narrative is centered around Ted Truesdale, a man grappling with his mundane life alongside his loving but conventional wife, Ann, and the allure of a beautiful blonde neighbor. The plot unfolds as Ted finds himself increasingly preoccupied with dreams of the blonde, complicating his feelings towards Ann. His interactions with a talking squirrel, Hamilton, introduce a fantastical element, as Hamilton represents a deity who aims to resurrect the god of Lust in a contemporary form. Ted's escapades lead him through a journey of self-discovery, exploring the depths of his desires and the consequences of his actions. Ultimately, the story challenges the nature of love, fidelity, and the battle between fantasy and reality, culminating in a poignant resolution where both Ted and Ann seek to rekindle their connection amidst the chaos of their inner and outer lives.
Stephen Marlowe
Fugue
"Fugue" by Stephen Marlowe is a science fiction novelet likely written in the early 1950s. Set aboard a space ark that has been traveling through interstellar space for millennia, the story explores the complex societal dynamics between mutants and non-mutants within a self-contained environment. The narrative delves into themes of rebellion, identity, and the quest for deeper understanding in a static civilization facing internal strife. The protagonist, Ker-jon, is a bio-technician who grapples with recurrent dreams that disturb his sense of normalcy, suggesting an underlying conflict about his identity and the societal oppression around him. As Ker-jon becomes embroiled in a revolutionary plot led by the mutants to overthrow their rulers—known as the Mutant-makers—he faces betrayals, misunderstandings, and the realization that the revolution may lead to merely swapping one form of tyranny for another. The climax of the story centers on Ker-jon's internal struggle, culminating in a violent confrontation. Ultimately, through chaos and unexpected alliances, the characters navigate the complexities of power dynamics and aim to establish a new order based on cooperation and shared knowledge, paving the way for a hopeful future as they discover the true nature of their journey through space and the meaning of unity.
George O. (George Oliver) Smith
The Catspaw
"The Catspaw" by George O. Smith is a science fiction novel written in the late 1940s. The story begins with the protagonist, Thomas Barden, who experiences recurring dreams that integrate an alien sentience communicating vital knowledge about space travel and technology into his consciousness. As he grapples with the challenges of proving his newfound understanding of a science critical to his world's advancement, the narrative explores themes of discovery, skepticism, and the race against time. The opening of the novel introduces Thomas Barden in a state of chaotic sleep, haunted by dreams that feel both strange and significant. He eventually learns that these dreams convey knowledge of advanced scientific principles from an alien race, which he recognizes could be mankind's ticket to interstellar travel. As weeks pass, Barden diligently works to conceptualize this newfound science amidst doubt and disbelief from societal and scientific institutions. This tension sets the stage for his struggle to validate his discoveries and protect humanity from an impending threat posed by the ambitious factions of the extraterrestrial world that initially shared their knowledge with him.
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