Book Review of DREAMS INC.: The Novelettes of T. E. Mark - Vol II

DREAMS INC.: The Novelettes of T. E. Mark - Vol II

T. E. Mark penned an excellent compilation of sci-fi fantasy tales with intriguing twists and turns that easily fascinates readers from the first page to the last. The author tells a series of engaging stories from revolutionary AI to manufactured dream worlds in an incredibly realistic way.

DREAMS INC. is a collection of five novelettes that explores a potential future and the consequences any singular technology could have on people and society as a whole. The stories are also firmly rooted in the present, providing a glimpse into current world issues. So, even though the stories are set in the future, the characters share humanities hopes and dreams of today, giving each of them a realistic feel.

The book description provides the reader with quite a captivating sneak peek: 

"-In a world where dreams are administered artificially by Dreams Inc, and no one sleeps, people are losing interest in reality – opting instead for their manufactured dream worlds.

-A woman unleashes a demon when she follows the recommendation of her sentient machine companion by installing a revolutionary AI programming language. A profound story with a dark and refined grittiness to it.

-Bobby Bright is 17. He's remote, a gifted design student and a puzzle to everyone. When Annabeth Bachman, a passionate young therapist, uncovers what Bobby's been working on, her world, his and ours will change forever.

-A neuronthologist is tasked with extracting the memories of a 17-year-old resistance fighter who can hyper-accelerate – move through solid matter when he's caught inside a Pentagon general's house stealing a top-secret war plan.

-Pinnacle is the future. A future where art and music are unlawful. An austere future where people only see in black and white. And in this tragic future, Douglas and Oulette Fischer have gone on the run to protect their daughter who sings, draws and sees colors."

Despite the shortness of the narratives, they are creative and provide plenty of background information. Although the tales are sprinkled with thought-provoking moments, they are also dynamic with plenty of action; the suspense will keep the reader on the edge of their seats. Each story is unique and independent, and do not feel like a variation on the same theme.

This was an enthralling read that had me absorbed from the beginning to the end. The stories flowed from one scene to another with ease, and the author shows an extraordinary talent for storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page-turner that will take the reader on quite an incredible ride. I highly recommend DREAMS INC. and give it a much-deserved five stars!

by A. Piper Burgi

Piper is the author of several non-fiction books, and recently added three historical fiction novels to her ever-expanding collection of published writings, In the Shadow of Her Majesty , The Country Girl Empress. and A Life in the Shadow of the Crown. When she isn't busy typing away on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Goodreads.

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