Dreamwalker: a book review

Dreamwalker
Written by Gerald Sims
Available at Amazon

Reviewed by Kaye
...
Before reading Dreamwalker, I had read very little fantasy; therefore the genre has been unfamiliar territory for me. A foreign land. I don't understand the customs nor comprehend the language. However, author Gerald Sims invited me in and brought me along to his world of dreamwalkers. A world where words are personified and become an integral part of the weaponry in strategic battles. A world where a madman may be wiser than the elite. A world of dreamwalkers and sensors and guardmasters and cravenmen and unicorns and dragons and rebellious royal offspring.

As I ventured into this world, I was captivated by the personification of words. I love words and believe they matter - probably more than we realize. Because of my fascination with them, I was delighted to see words given such an important role in this fantasy world and to see them personified in such a manner as to illustrate the great power that they carry.

I began to appreciate the way things were explained in this fantasy world - things that we don't seem to be able to understand here in our rational realm. Things like the function of dreams and the transitions between sleep and wakefulness. Who knows how these things work anyway? But how cool to imagine some of what might be.

I relished the "little-known facts" - tidbits about human nature - and about other species as well.
"Pull up a chair and engage in polite conversation. Stoke the fireplace and browse some long-forgotten tome plucked from a dusty shelf. But above all, deny anything was wrong. Deny that his dream had anything to say."
...
"Don't you know that apathy is the highest form of arrogance? For years your apathetic little heart sat inside its haughty little self and said, 'I see nothing out there worthy of my effort or devotion.' " I thoroughly enjoyed the thinly-veiled allusions to the religious world and the arrogance that comes with lofty position...
"One man remained - the priest. Not just any priest. He was the High Priest of the Luminescence from Clastair. He wore a mitred hat with tassels at the forehead and temples. The elevation of his nose bespoke his self-adoration. The favorite line of the Clastairian priesthood was: We are replicas of the High One, and as such are worthy of the highest salute." There was also humor. Little bits of humor peeking out from their hiding places - particularly when introducing Duffenwittle and the whole question of madness. Oh, the word plays.
"Define madness? I'd rather design a container for the universal solvent!" In this world where words have such power, so do beliefs - again much as they do in my "real" world.
"Truth is the only offensive weapon against deception, but there is also a defensive weapon called disbelief."
...
"Disbelieve. You must disbelieve."
"Something turned over in his mind. A lie fell away. He had believed in his enemies' power, and therefore they had power. He had given it to them." What a good read.

Having known this writer for more than 40 years I was already aware that he was a brilliant and creative man. I have listened to his sermons and enjoyed plays that he wrote. I have witnessed demonstrations of his inventions and played word games with him. Oh, yes, brilliant he was. But still I am impressed with the way he created an entire world and fabricated concepts and rules and words and languages to bring that world to life. Amazing. Simply amazing.

Buy Dreamwalker at Amazon in paperback or for your Kindle.