The Dream Thief

Book Description

In the remote hills of northern England lives a powerful clan with a centuries-old secret. They are the drákon, shape-shifters who possess the ability to Turn—changing from human to smoke to dragon. And from the very stones of the earth, they hear hypnotic songs of beauty and wonder. But there is one stone they fear....

Buried deep within the bowels of the Carpathian Mountains lies the legendary dreaming diamond known as Draumr, the only gem with the power to enslave the drákon. Since childhood, Lady Amalia Langford, daughter of the clan’s Alpha, has heard its haunting ballad but kept it secret, along with another rare Gift....

Lia can hear the future, much in the way she hears the call of Draumr. And in that future, she realizes that the diamond—along with the fate of the drákon—rests in the hands of a human man, one who straddles two worlds.

Ruthlessly clever, Zane has risen through London’s criminal underworld to become its ruler. Once a street urchin saved by Lia’s mother, Zane is also privy to the secrets of the clan—and is the only human they trust to bring them Draumr. But he does nothing selflessly.

Zane’s hunt for the gem takes him to Hungary, where he is shocked to encounter a bold, beautiful young noblewoman: Lia. She has broken every rule of the drákon to join him, driven by the urgent song of Draumr—and her visions of Zane. In one future, he is her ally. In another, her overlord. In both, he is her lover. Now, to protect her tribe, Lia must tie her fate to Zane’s, to the one man capable of stealing her future—and destroying her heart....

Customer Reviews:

Not as engaging as The Smoke Thief..........2007-10-04

I really enjoyed The Smoke Thief; the characters were well-fleshed out, the conflict and plot arc were well done, and the action was exciting. Unfortunately, The Dream Thief doesn't measure up quite as well.

The Dream Thief, in contrast to the first book, has sketchily drawn characters, and the execution of the plot arc, which could have been fascinating and exciting -- especially given the grown-up Zane and Lia's dream-premonitions -- is very thin.

The middle section of The Dream Thief consists mainly of these two traveling to find Draumr -- all of which forcibly reminded me of the meanderings of Harry Potter, Ron Weaseley, and Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; that is to say, none of it was very interesting because nothing much of import happens. We don't learn anything very deep about either Zane or Lia -- what makes them tick, how have they become the characters they now are -- and events just roll along. When Lia finally Turns, what should be an exhilarating moment is given short shrift and quickly becomes an event that is easily accepted then done. We also barely see Lia's parents, Rue and Christoff. As these 2 had a large role in shaping both Zane and Lia, the essential absence of them seems rather glaring.

The last part of the book reaches a climax, but it comes and goes so quickly, it's almost a "blink and you miss it" event. We're introduced to other drakon and Draumr but don't learn much about them either, what they've done and how they've lived during the separation of the drakon. The section reads more like a "Hi, 'Bye, Later" series of blip-verts. Considering how much appeared to be riding on Draumr, which then led to the other drakon, this was a huge disappointment on top of everything else.

Overall, my take on this second book is that it's more an outline of a story than a full novel. You see the framework of what could have been an amazing story, but it's still bare bones rather than a full-course meal. I hope the next book will follow the model of The Smoke Thief.

The Thief and the Dragon.......2007-09-20

This is the second in a series by Shana Abé about the clan that live in remote northern England - the clan has a secret, that they possess the ability to Turn into smoke or dragons. Unfortunately not all of the clan can Turn, Lady Amalia Langford, daughter of the hero and heroine of the first book in this series (The Smoke Thief), isn't able to. However Amalia, or Lia, is keeping some secrets - although she can't Turn she seems to be having dreams about the future and they involve Zane, a human and a master thief.

Zane and Lia find themselves travelling to the Carpathian mountains in search of a special diamond, known as Draumr, which has the power to enslave her kind, the Drákon. They soon find themselves in company with others of Amalia's kind - who may not be peaceful toward them. Zane's position as one of the few humans to know about the Drákon tribe means that his life may well be forfeit and Lia's window into the future shows her that things will not be good. For Zane, finding the diamond will bring him riches, but Lia knows that if Zane has it her future will not be good.

This book is a very easy read, even if the first book in the series hasn't been read. Amalia and Zane are both great characters with Zane particularly an amalgamation of the events of his difficult childhood and his own mental strength and resourcefulness. The romance side of this book takes a back seat against the actions, including travelling by coach into central Europe, meeting other dragons and finding the diamond, and in some ways the romance isn't very well fleshed out, but it's an enjoyable read and an interesting twist on the dragon legends.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox 2007

No spark or human emotions.......2007-08-21

I bought this as it's a sequal to the first book, the Smoke Theif, which I really enjoyed. I was hesitant to read the Smoke theif, as I had attempted to read her Mermaid book and put it down after about 50 pages, but the premise was new and intriguing so I gave it a chance. Having liked the first book, I was really excited to see how she developed this new idea in the sequal. Suffice it to say, I was really, really disappointed. What made me put down The Last Mermaid was the complete lack of a connection with the characters. They were so lacking in emotion as to be almost imhuman and I couldn't find anything to like about them, let alone keep me reading. This book had the same problem. The author has a habit of writing in a vague, disconnected style that makes it hard to connect to the story and the characters. This book felt really heavy in style compared with the first one and it just seemed like it was one unhappy circumstance after the next. The two main characters don't seem to trust or even really like one another much, the love scenes were a bit too rough and anger filled for my taste and there really wasn't much of a romance between them. As for the Drakon, I was hoping the two groups would be reunited and we'd get a bigger glimpse into their world. Instead, we find the last remaining survivor is completely evil. Plus, it just seemed strange to me that the drakon would keep around these stones that literally turns them into mindless zombies. I kept waiting for something heroic for the hero to do or something great from the heroine, but I was disapointed on all accounts. I was also hoping for some interaction with characters from the previous book, but there wasn't any. In fact, there's a part where you think the main characters are going to be aided by her drakon family, but nothing happens. It was very strange and left you hanging. All in all, this one was a disappointment and I'm not holding out much hope for the 3rd one. I would read the Smoke Theif though, as that one was worth the read.

Pretty good.......2007-07-25

This book was not as good as the first, but was still good. I am anxious to see what happens next!

Bravo!.......2007-07-20

Oh, MUCH better than the first! Very entertaining, and oh does she have a way with words. For instance, "...the skyline begin to illuminate, yellow flames that gradually connected into pictures through the dusk, outlining buildings and steeples and streets, the indigo emptiness of parks checkerboarding the glow..." and "Firelight licked up his stockings in whispers and crackles and threw hot gold off the silver buckles of his shoes."

Oh me oh my, I can't wait for the next. Only 4 stars cause the very last page was a bit corny love talk. :)

Average customer rating:

I didn't even finish it.
Left me cold...
comment on wimpy
Worth Persevering
Balogh at her best: intrigue, angst and romance!

Thief of Dreams
Mary Balogh
Manufacturer: Jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0515122742

Book Description

A dashing stranger arrives at Cass's twenty-first birthday ball with ill-intentions to sweep her away. At once, he is both her worst nightmare--and her dream come true...

* Mary Balogh has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award
* Balogh is one of the romance genre's most popular and bestselling authors

Customer Reviews:

I didn't even finish it........2007-04-03

First, this is NOT A REGENCY ROMANCE. No regency hero ever wore high heels.=+) Second, Nigel is an unsympathetic hero-he totally manipulates Cassandra. Third, she is so naive its annoying, b/c she doesn't know that she is. Fourth, it just dragged on and on and on....get the picture? Fifth, her family were overbearing and stupid. Sixth, don't waste your time.

Left me cold..........2005-04-04

This book opens on the birthday of our heroine, Cassandra Havelock. She has just turned 21, and has come into three things: the title of Countess of Worthing; the unentailed estate that goes with the title, Kedleston; and freedom from mourning for her father. Her resolution to put off marriage until she has familiarized herself with her new role is sorely tempted by the sudden arrival of a dashing stranger in the form of Nigel Wetherby, Viscount Wroxley.

I was let down by this book; I've really enjoyed Mary Balogh's other works (particularly those in the Slightly series). Nigel's dark secret seemed a tortured plot device, and I never grew to feel sympathy for him. Perhaps I might have if I'd known his secret earlier. Furthermore, his poor treatment of Cassandra did nothing to endear him to me, and accordingly, her emotional attachment to him felt unbelievable. The high points of this novel were the romances between the secondary characters.

All in all, I would not recommend this book to others.

comment on wimpy.......2004-12-06

I have not yet read this book so cannot give it any stars with any degree of accuracy, but want to comment on the folks who thought the hero was wimpy. In the Georgian period the masculine ideal did not include bulging muscles and overt displays of athleticism. For the best example of this read Georgette Heyer, in particular, "These Old Shades". The hero of that book minces around in high heeled shoes - red heels no less. Give this type of hero a chance. They can be wonderful.

Worth Persevering.......2003-05-09

I bought this book, started reading it, and then put it down. I was rather turned off by the first couple of chapters. However, recently, desparate for something to read, I picked this up to finish it. It was worth it.

Balogh develops the relationship between her hero & heroine in a compelling manner. Contrary to another opinion expressed here, I don't think Nigel is at all "wimpy."

Keep an open mind as you read the initial chapters. It's worth the effort.

Balogh at her best: intrigue, angst and romance!.......2001-04-02

It's Cassandra's twenty-first birthday, and she's blissfully happy. Having inherited the Earldom of Worthing in her own right (she's the countess), she's looking forward to the freedom of managing her own property without interference from her relatives - all of whom she loves, but who persist in treating her as a child.

But an unexpected guest arrives: Nigel, Viscount Wroxley, who claims to have been a friend of Cassandra's late father. Nigel charms Cassandra, much to the disgust of her relatives, and she finds herself very much drawn to this handsome, charming and very attentive man. So when he asks her to marry him, she has little hesitation in saying yes.

Balogh lets her readers know early on that Nigel has at least one ulterior motive for coming to Kedleston and for wanting to marry Cassadra. I guessed relatively early what these motives might have been, but I was very unsure, certainly with regard to the second, of whether I was correct. Balogh plays her cards very close to her chest in this book, leaving the readers, as well as Cassandra, guessing as to whether Nigel is really a villain in need of reforming, or a very badly-misunderstood good guy.

Balogh very cleverly doesn't allow her characters to sink into uncommunicative misunderstanding in this book; although Cassandra is furious when she finds out part of the truth about Nigel, she doesn't lock herself into her room and stay there. Instead, she decides that she will not be afraid of him, and as a result we get some wonderful scenes in which her love for him - and his for her - battles with her dislike of what he did.

There are also a couple of delightful secondary romances in this book, something I always like.

Oh, and as for the reader from San Diego who didn't like Nigel as a romantic hero, isn't it a bit shallow to expect all heroes to be tall, dashing, well-built and devastatingly handsome? As it happens, Balogh, does write about heroes and heroines who do not fit the usual mould - but on the other hand, read the book carefully. Nigel *is* tall. He has dark hair. He is handsome. And, although he is slender, his valet comments at one point that he needs to fill out still, after his experiences.

Product Description

A wonderful anthology of erotic paranormal romances!djinn's wish by shiloh walker,paying-up by mary wine and cowboy and the thief by lora leigh!5 stars for these three writers and their incredible talents!

Average customer rating:

One of my favorite
The Secres of Jroon Dream Theif
dreamthief

Dream Thief (Secrets of Droon, 17)
Tony Abbott
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439420784

Book Description

Eric is tossing and turning in his sleep! And his wild dream can only mean one thing - he is being called back to the land of Droon. But when Eric, Julie, and Neal step off the rainbow stairs, they find that something is very wrong in their magical world. Someone has been stealing people's dreams! And the kingdom of Droon is getting awfully tired of it. So now it's up to our friends to stop this dream thief, before he becomes a serious nightmare...

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorite.......2004-05-22

This book is really good because when Eric, Julie and Neil went to Droon, there was a Dream Thief. This thief (whose name I won't tell you) wanted to take over all of Droon just for a nice oven to bake his pies that turn you into a goblin.

The Secres of Jroon Dream Theif.......2003-05-03

I like Dream Theif because it is wild, magical, and fun. It also has grate magical words in it. I would never not like Dream Theif. I never could say that there was a part I didn't like. My favorite part personly was when Neal said that once he woke up with a penut butter sandwich. The reason I read this book is because I liked the creative pictures and words on the back.C.H.

dreamthief.......2003-01-29

I think eric and Keech will have to save droon fromt the dream thief. It is droon only hope that it lies in these two hero who must face a terrible quest.

Average customer rating:

Gave me tingles in church again ;)
Not bad at all ;)
~~~~~Just Buy It~~~~~
More grammatical errors than storyline
*****Enchanting and Spellbinding*****

Gods or Monsters
Shalex Beckwith
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1425982344

Book Description

He was the oldest and the responsibility of the family was passed down to him when he was but 18 as his father had grown too weak. Caught up in his family's quest for the Seven Sun's and his loyalty to the people in his life, he learned quickly how expendable certain things and people were to his cause, including Samantha. Thirteen years old, ready to spread her wings, she was welcomed into a family she never knew existed. She learned first to respect Richard as her older cousin with only her best intentions at heart; however, as she grew older she began to find out just how deep the family secrets ran. The Tetragrammaton was more than it seemed, and Richard was more than he seemed. After that night of first betrayal, everything has been different and continues to change. You never know what will happen next. even when you think you do.

Customer Reviews:

Gave me tingles in church again ;).......2007-07-11

My priest was recanting during mass a couple of months ago, about how the great divide in the church isn't Catholic versus Protestant or Baptist, etc but the great divide is those who truly believe in the Supernatural and those who don't. This book had me feeling the tingles on my arms again at mass last week. You might think this book has nothing to do with the church, but for me, it's got me believing again. Can you imagine all the things possile if you truly believed like the characters in this book do ;)

I've found Shalex Beckwith, the only thing I've found by her is Gods or Monsters a neat title considering her family, the Clan, who are descendants from the Drakon race, may be good or may be evil, and one young woman's journey to find out the truth, to find the lost Gospel of Light. They have "mental" abilities or powers that they are born with, but without practice won't mature. Blending into modern society, those that remember, those that teach their children, those that practice can do what they believe in. Some can throw a person across the room, or located another Drakon with their mind, even talk to each other with their minds, melt snow with the heat of their hand or foot, for example.

It makes an interesting background for the twists in this love story. They even attend mass! The twist is they also have a rituals passed down through generations to match each one of the Seven Sacraments! They have to attend confession and have the soul cleansed! There are great examples between the church and witchcraft (but not witchcraft) and were all the misunderstandings probably came from. The church might say this is someone trying to paganize religion, but hey I'm Catholic and I celebrate Jesus' birth as well as Santa Claus with my children, does that make me a pagan all of a sudden? NO it doesn't and neither do I think these characters are pagan either. They simply acknowledge what their ancestors did, such as you might participate in Thanksgiving dinner, Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, while keeping faithful to the church. Maybe if the Church welcomed differences instead of being so quick as to reject them as heretics, maybe so many people wouldn't have dried up!

Though this author is fresh out of the duck pond, mind you. There may be an error here or there, but I quite enjoyed the actual story. I hope the author does a revision, because a story like this that can potentially link "the supernatural" part of the church that people have forgotten, back, is potentially life changing! This book has really made me think...

Not bad at all ;).......2007-06-11

Well I don't know anything about the Merovingian people or the law of attraction, but this was a pretty good book.

I enjoyed reading about the main character, Samantha, who seems to have as many conflicts growing into adulthood as I did, though her's are of a more magikal nature ;) I like that this is written from Samantha's point of view. I have not read a book like this before, and it was neat to be in her shoe's. To feel her heart break as she had to choose between devotion to her family and the one true love of her life. It was refreshing to relize that not everybody has the answers or that you don't have to have the answers, just be true to you. By the end of the story, I was left hoping, begging almost for Samantha to be able to just be true to herself and !&*^% everyone else.

~~~~~Just Buy It~~~~~.......2007-05-23

Anyone interested in the Merovingian Kings, the Dragon Bloodlines, or the Gospel of Judas will appreciate this heritage story told as a paranormal drama. It is also written in first person feminine... so if you are a guy, you may not be able to handle it ;) The thoughts of the main character flucuated between first person as the character and as the narrator, I personally like this style of writing. It reminds me of Quinten Tarantino.

The grammer's not terrible but you do notice an error here or there. If you are not troubled by it, you will love this book!!!

More grammatical errors than storyline.......2007-05-13

While this is a fairly good story line, I can't get past all the grammatical errors in this book. The person that edited this story should be fired. I think I am up to almost 15 pages where there is at least one very noticeable error on a page, if not more. One or two I can understand but this many is just a joke.

*****Enchanting and Spellbinding*****.......2007-04-29

Shalex Beckwith truly commits herself to this enthralling fantasy of the Dragon bloodlines whose family origins date back to the time of Jesus -mind you not Jesus himself ' Talents are passed down through bloodline and strengthened through practice as children are taught from puberty, and in rare cases birth, to manifest the energy from within oneself into the extraordinary powers that each family member possesses. Two of the family bloodlines are out of the picture at this time, with the other three families: the Clan 'Red', the Council 'Blue', and the Class 'Gold', running against each other and time as they search for lost artifacts from what seems to have once been a unified culture in the past. Taught in secrecy, these people have blended into society and continue to honor and defend his or her family quests with or without consequence. It would seem that once you are an accepted member, not just of the family, but have initiated into what once was and still is... that you are in for life.

Abadazad: The Dream Thief - Book #2 (Abadazad)

Average customer rating:

AWESOME
The snarky, evil looking, purple top hatted, six armed guy on the cover didn't scare me off

Abadazad: The Dream Thief - Book #2 (Abadazad)
J. M. Dematteis
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1423100646

Book Description

Kate needs all the help she can get when she encounters the Lanky Man. Hes mean and heartless, and he wants to steal childrens dreams. Everyone seems to be againstherwhich only makes her more determined to find her brother. And Matt is getting closerisnt he?

Customer Reviews:

AWESOME.......2006-06-27

People out there who have read the first book of the abadazad series, i hope you agree with me saying that these books are totally amazing and awesome! Anyone who is looking for a good read, i assure you, this is it!!! : )

The snarky, evil looking, purple top hatted, six armed guy on the cover didn't scare me off.......2006-06-06

This book came to my attention (along with the first in the series) bwo my elder brother.

"Remember him?" he asked.

I looked down and saw the cover of The Dream Thief, which features a rather snarky, evil looking purple top hatted, goatee-ed, red-eyed, red beak nosed, yellow teethed, six armed, Fagin type nasty male type figure.

"Ummmm....no...." (It was only the truth. I know no one who wears a purple top hat.)

Then I noticed the Author. Oh! I don't know him as J.M., but by another name. I met him eons ago in India. Since then, we've each headed different paths, and his has been really interesting. I remember him as having a most engaging grin, and dark hair. He's still got the grin, and has acquired a 11 or 12 year old daughter, Kate. Elder Brother tells me that this series, which started as comic books, originated because he wanted to do something that young Kate could read. Hence Abadazad was born. I wish everyone I haven't seen in thirty years could come up with such a great concept.

Enough about the background. The book is grand. Great format, going between the old "original" books, Kate's enchanted diary and the world of Abadazad. Street wise Kate, with more cynicism than any child should have to have, finds herself off to another world to find her lost little brother. Vibrant colors, great characterizations and the promise of sequels. What could be bad?

I finished the first book and began to read The Dream Thief almost immediately. The books aren't long, so it didn't take too much time from the pile of books I have already going. This book is grand, even better than the first. Great format continues, and continues to delight me. Makes me itch to read the "original" stories. Heh.

And how many graphic novels do you read, where you find yourself thinking you want to make a note for a quote to use later in life? There is a real core of teaching in this book-- not heavy handed morality or beat your face in with it spirituality, but honest observations that can be great guideposts for anyone, child or adult, in their journey through life. I love the names of the different characters and "species" that populate the story, and the way that books play such an important part. The guidance of Uncle Waterlogged and Pfoughh the Wubbtale, the companionship of Wix...the idea of finding your own personal magic...

I'm hooked. Can you tell?

Average customer rating:

Entertaining, not Impressive.
Sweet dreams with early Lawhead sci-fi
X files from the future's standpoint.
Science Fiction with a New Spin
The center of every man's existence is a dream - Chesterton

Dream Thief
Stephen Lawhead
Manufacturer: Lion UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0856488380

Book Description

Sleep scientist Dr. Spence Reston is having trouble sleeping. His experiments are giving him dreams that haunt his waking hours, and he has long periods for which he has no memory. Is he losing his mind? Or is there another altogether more frightening explanation? Thus begins a battle for the future of the universe, in which the fate of humankind hangs on the fragile sanity of one man. Original and accomplished, bursting with suspense and intrigue, Dream Thief is science fiction on a grand scale.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining, not Impressive........2006-05-23

If you are looking for easy-reading entertainment with a sci-fi flair, look no farther.
However, on a literary level I felt this novel to be sub-par. The character sketches and development are weak, and descriptions in general are shallow and repetitive. (How many times must we hear about "clear blue eyes," "bouncy locks," and people sitting "in meditation like the classic guru?" How many times does Reston almost "faint from exhaustion," then "barely muster the strength to go on" in the same chapter?)
Perhaps this was written before the days of a trusty editor for Lawhead, but I was unimpressed. I suggest finding other sci-fi novels such as "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.
(For those of you who are drawn to Lawhead for his epics, Ender's game is the beginning of an.. 8(or so?)-volumed one, I believe.)

Sweet dreams with early Lawhead sci-fi .......2004-08-17

Stephen Lawhead's best works are the historical fantasy of his Pendragon Cycle and his Song of Albion trilogy. "Dream Thief" is one of his earlier works, with shadows of the brilliance that would emerge in those later writings. But unlike his later fantasies, "Dream Thief" is a science fiction story. While researching dreams on the space station Gotham, the protagonist Spencer Reston discovers that someone is trying to control his mind through his dreams. A fairly exciting plot develops, as the villain Ortu (an alien) and the sinister side-kick Hocking (in his pneumatic wheelchair) begin carrying out their plans for control of the world. Along with his lovely lady friend Ari, and his two fellow scientists Adjani and Gita, it is up to Spence to prevent their evil plans from succeeding. The main threat comes from a "tanti", a consciousness-altering device capable of broadcasting to the whole world and inducing dreams and manipulating minds. In the process of resisting the "Dream Thief" who is masterminding the plot, Spencer travels to Mars where he discovers remnants of Martian civilization and meets the Martian guardian Kyr. Amidst the action and excitement, Lawhead integrates an interesting premise by suggesting that the revered gods of Indian folklore and Hindu legends were in fact such Martians (p451-2).

In many respects this is stereotypical science fiction, with lots of rocket ships, alien spacecraft, Martians and an extended visit to Mars. The plot is not always as convincing and suspenseful as readers of later Lawhead might expect. But there are certainly flashes of Lawhead's later brilliance, emotion and creativity. Typical for Lawhead, there are also Christian overtones throughout, such the presence and involvement of a Divine Being, and a sacramental meal called the Essila much like the Lord's Supper (p408-414). Judging by the high standards of his later work, "Dream Thief" is an inferior work. But for readers looking for an interesting and thought-provoking science fiction story with lots of adventure and some subtle theology, this is still a good read. Sweet dreams! - GODLY GADFLY

X files from the future's standpoint........2003-12-07

Mankind is on the verge of a Martian terraforming project a few hundred years from the present day. In a state-of-the-art satellite station Gotham (orbiting Earth) scientists prepare and research while special teams are regularly dispatched to Mars to establish the framework for a permanent colony. A Gotham-employed sleep researcher, Dr. Reston is plagued by a series of increasingly bizarre nightmares that give him uncomfortable premonitions about something sinister pending on Mars.
As a non-scientist, I was still able to appreciate with fascination what seems to be a very credible and realistic account of the future world in this universe. The logistics of a working space station and how humans adapt to it, the early stages of a terraforming project -- these are explained well enough to create a plausible backdrop for the story, but not detailed to death for more casual audiences like me. The looming mystery on Mars that culminates with a first encounter with an ancient Martian race is the real story as far as I'm concerned. The focus of Dream Thief is nicely character-driven.
Stephen Lawhead does a surprising departure from space about midway and takes us to an even more alien environment (for most of us Westerners): India. Seen through the eyes of a santized, educated man of the 23rd (?) Century, India is even more exotic and disturbing. Lawhead may be borrowing from some pretty standard SF mythos at this point in the novel as he ties in space visitors with certain aspects of humanity's religious and cultural heritage (Gee, where have I heard that before..?), but his interpretation of how that worked out from the aliens' standpoint is unique. He deserves credit for an original twist on that modern day Science Fiction convention.
Readers of Lawhead's Arthurian and fantasy series books will be very happy with his change to Sci Fi. His style is intact. New readers will just enjoy the good tale. And as in his other books, the Christian message is very subtle (ie, not "preachy"). In fact, the implications of the spiritual revelations from the Martian could just as easily be New Age as Christian, as no mention of Jesus is actually made (and believe me, I was watching for it). Whether or not that is a plus is up for you to decide, but I was a tad disappointed in Stephen for that.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

Science Fiction with a New Spin.......2003-06-30

Who would have thought that a combination of science fiction christianity would ever exist in a book. Grant it, Star Trek and Star Wars have themes which touch on religion. However, neither bases the story on Chrsitianity. The Dream Thief addresses the question of religion's existance on other planets.

It is true that we know life does not exist on Mars. It is also unlikely that any life form is capable of producing the technology that exists in this book. However, if you suspend this disbelief, the book is enjoyable. The story includes a dream experiment which leads to the discovery of life on Mars, and the lead character's (Spence) discovery of his faith in God through his subsequent exploration of the Martian Christianity. Another sub-plot also demonstrates Spence falling in love which adds another sunstantial layer to the story.

All of these themes make a theme that is truly enjoyable. Even though I am not a fan of fiction, I enjoyed this book.

The center of every man's existence is a dream - Chesterton.......2002-04-02

Dr. Spencer Restron (his friends call him Spence) is a dream research scientist on the space station GM, also called Gotham. He's waited all of his life to be able to take the chance to be in his position. But now, every night he has terrible dreams, dreams he can't remember but he wakes up feeling exhausted and tired. He has this nagging suspicion that something is about to happen, something terrible. Little does he know that whatever he is experiencing has something to do with the mysterious creature called.. the Dream Thief. The Dream Thief has taken a special interest in Spence for some reason... some terrible reason which could mean the end of freedom for all civilization. Even with friends like Ari, Adjani, Packer, Kalkinov, and more, Spence knows it will be a miracle for them to find out the Dream Thief's plan and to stop him. Spence's views will be changed entirely on the subject of God as he journeys to save mankind.

I have always loved reading "The Dragon King Trilogy" written by Stephen R. Lawhead so for my birthday, I decided to get "Dream Thief". And I've had a totally enjoyable time reading it! It has everything, exciting adventure, alien settings, lots of suspense, character development, well thought out plot, romance, and a great reference to God. I must say that one of the best things about the book are the amazing characters whom I just loved! There's Spence, Ari, Adjani, Gita, Kyr, Packer, Kalkinov, and plenty more. I can't tell you much more about the book, it would ruin the book. You're just kept in suspense till the very end! My suggestion to you is if you're looking for a good Christian science fiction book, get "Dream Thief". Best for teen and adults.

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Dust off this overlooked gem

Beautifully written, fully-realized characters

Just a beautiful book. A most underappreciated author
Thief of Dreams: A Novel
John Yount
Manufacturer: Southern Methodist University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0870743759

Customer Reviews:

Dust off this overlooked gem.......2000-10-20

Considering all the ordinary books that reach such a wide audience, I don't understand how this could receive so little notice. John Yount has created a small masterpiece. At the outset Madeline Talley is returning to her parents' farm in North Carolina with her 13-year-old son, having left her inconsiderate, drinking and womanizing husband. "Home" is not comfortable. Her parents don't understand what is wrong with Madeline's marriage and her son misses his father. This is 1948, when women are expected to stand by their men. The point-of-view shifts among all three family members and although Madeline is the most sympathetic, the Talley males are equally believable and multi-dimensional. Ultimately a crisis brings them together and makes them reconsider their lives as a family. This slim volume is a page-turner, a character study and a period piece, all in one. It ends too soon and sticks in your mind.

Beautifully written, fully-realized characters.......1999-08-25

John Yount is one of our truly underappreciated writers. He's able here to inhabit each of the three characters: Edward Tally, the estranged father and husband; Madeline, his wife and James, their young son who watches the bonds of the family fray to the point it seems they can never be repaired. Each one of these people is real, flawed, human and redeemable.

Just a beautiful book. A most underappreciated author.......1996-02-13

I'm glad to see this book, and others by Yount, are stillavailable through Amazon. It's so hard to find them in thestores. This is a great book. Few writers have the ability to so fully develop characters.

Average customer rating:

Like a Thief's Dream
Danny Lyon
Manufacturer: powerHouse Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1576873617

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The Dream Thief: A Novel
Herb Durgin
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

College should be about living your dreams, not reliving your nightmares. A curse looms over an old New England college. It is a form of nightmare so invasive and so corrupting that it robs students of their security, their will, and-for some-their lives. What frightens young, depressed Alycia Bancroft isn't the hellish landscape of her dreams. It isn't the steady descent into madness or the painful memories her nightmares revisit. It isn't the mysterious stranger lurking outside her window. What terrifies her is the thought that she alone may hold the answers to surviving this sinister force.

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