Customer Reviews

Silent Empire 01 Dreamer

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It was a plane of existence that only the Silent could reach - a plane that allowed them to talk to, to reach other Silent Ones, no matter how far away, whether they were across the sea or across the galaxy. Aliens taught mankind about the Dream and soon they too are using it. It kept empires together. It allowed for interplanetary trade and helped corporations to function. Slipspace may allow ships to move about at faster-than-light travel, but the Dream allowed people to communicate and allowed civilization to exist.
So the Silent were important to have, but it was also important to keep them under control. So when a boy is found to be a super-Silent at the same time the Dream is starting to break apart, fear starts to overwhelm reason. Governments will kill to have him. They're even willing to go to war for him.
Somebody better do something fast, before the Dream is lost and civilization is lost with it!

Dreamer, by Steven Harper

Players in my games and acquainted with my RPG characters know that dreams are a theme I enjoy. Dreamer is unusual in that it is a melding of space opera and these themes and many of the ideas that I employ in my games are coincidentally mirrored here. All sentient minds are connected to a plane of existence called the Dream, and a few individuals can access this plane for communication, and sometimes more.

The plot revolves around twin axes...the story of a young powerful dream sought by various sides, and a blight on the Dream itself. Interesting characterization and intriguing characters add to the unusual locales, both in and out of the Dream. In our time of tumult about such things, I was pleasantly surprised at the tenderness of a same-sex relationship as depicted in the book.

There are problems with pacing, its clearly the first book in a series, and some of the action of the book feels padded, and the ending clearly is ready to ramp up to sequels. These structural difficulties, while noticeable, do not greatly impact the enjoyment of the novel. The ideas, worlds and milieu carry the novel successfully.

Recommended.

A VERY complex but easy to follow fantacy/mystery.
The author is brilliant. His characters well developed and the enviornment well depicted.

This book first caught my attention in the new books section of my school library. Now, unfortunately, I have never managed to come across anything really interesting there, but as it was final few days at the school, I decided to give it one last shot. For some reason, despite the fact that I kept trying to ignore this book, my hand kept getting caught on it, and I finally picked it up. I found this to be the best thing I have ever done.

The story starts off in the middle of an escape, a technique that already wrenches the reader headon into the book. As the book progresses, the full picture is painted for the reader, as characters and ideas unfold. The quest for Sejal, the powerful silent who has supernatural "telepathic" skills (forgive the word usage) is a valuable asset to all sides of the government, and must be found.

What I find is the most admirable is the vast ideas and concepts Harper creates: A world of communication, a network of those known as Silent, as well as a fantastical future governed by genetics. And rather than force-feeding the information, which is oftentimes a deadly flaw in most Sci-Fi writers, Harper exposes us to the worlds he has created without attempt to overexplain things. Rather, information naturally glides by, and everything ends up...well..making sense! Furthermore, I found the main character of the books as an ethnic gay protagonist astonishing and very inspiring. It is rare to find such books, and it opened up doorways for me. Harper portrays the relationship between Ben and Kendi superbly, sculpting it as a natural part of the novel rather than a strange out-of-place thing. This, I find the most admirable, and I recomend this book to anyone who is fascinated by the connections people make with others, as well as the breath of fresh air that science fiction a step away from the tradition offers. I can't wait to read his following titles!

"Dreamer" by Steven Harper marks the beginning of a new science fiction series. The start is very promising and one can only hope that the interesting story elements have a chance to grow and mature into a truly memorable series.
There are several unique things in "Dreamer" first among them is the lead character Kendi, a deep and caring telepath of Aboriginal descent. So many main characters who dominate most of science fiction/fantasy novels are basic wasp that it is refreshing to see a minority character used to such good effect

Hard core SF fans will enjoy the intriguing notion of universe where interplanetary society is held together by the telepathic skills of genetically engendered individuals, called silent. Unfortunately most parts of the galaxy silent are slaves.
Dreamer is not without it's problems however first is the often stilted dialogue. Several times the story is told through journal entries of young Sejal however I found this to be distracting from the story line. The more significant issue is the fact that the initial plot line is resolved halfway through the book leaving the main characters with little or nothing to do. A secondary plot about the dream world being ripped apart by tortured children just doesn't grab the attention the way the search for Sejal did.
It is fortunate that Mr. Harper's second book of the series "Nightmare" resolves this works structural difficulties.
All in all a good book worth seeking out.

Through contact with an alien species, humans gain knowledge of the Dream, a plane of existence where beings can communicate over vast spaces. Those beings capable of entering the Dream are called the Silent, due to their tendency toward silence during adolescence. On the planet Rust, a young man named Sejal has developed the power to enter the Dream without aid, and to possess and control others. Kendi, one of the Children of Irfan, is the first to notice this disturbance in the Dream, and he leads the group, including his estranged boyfriend, determined to find Sejal before anyone else does. There are also huge disturbances in the Dream which are destroying whole worlds of sentients. Could Sejal be the reason? And what will the Children of Irfan, or any of the other groups vying for control of Sejal, do if he is? "Dreamer" is a fascinating novel that draws the reader deeper and deeper into the story until its final pages. While the story and characters are a bit flat at the beginning, it all develops into a compelling read that is soon impossible to set aside. This book was a finalist for the Spectrum Awards, which honors science fiction depicting positive queer characters.

I look for books by walking up and the isles until I find a book title that catches my interest. And so is the case with Dreamer: Silent Empire. What is it that caught my interest? The idea that humans can communicate over thousands of light-years of space through a interstellar gateway called the Dream. It is a place that only the Silent can walk. The Silent being a members of any race that have this ability, who at times are genetically engineered. So as it ends up the entire known galaxy is dependent upon this form of communication. Which causes problems for the Silent themselves. To be Silent on certain planets is to be a slave.
Enter the Children Of Irfan, an organization of Silent who free(if need be) and train the Silent in how to use their abilities. And they know something no one else does. There is a Silent out there who can posses Silent and Non-Silent against their will. A feet that should be impossible. All the clues as to this Silent's whereabouts bring them to a planet called Rust where a government, not to dissimilar to any third world country,enslaves any Silent for it own use. Can they find this Silent before any one else does? And when they do, what happens if this Silent proves to be to dangerous?
Over all a good read.

This is an awsome book although at some parts it is a little weird (talks about prostitoution he he) but i really recomend this book anyway. It can be hard to follow if u dont pay attention but overall it kicks [behind].

I am only half-way thru this book and it is great. the author has so much to say about racism in my opinion and has put it into a rich storyline. The characters are real and believable at every turn in the plot and the discription of all the parts of the story..people,places,things are all so detailed that i can picture all so clearly..very nice. I myself see "the dream" as sort of a metaphor for the "internet" and the disturbances on the dream as scary images like the ones i've seen on some PC video games! I apreciate that the people often have good sides and bad sides depending on the complex level of them mananging their fear which makes the story espically vivid. The book has a great mix of male and female players as well as different sexualities and racial types that would make this a great book for science fiction readers as well as young adult readers in general,I understand this will be followed by another and I am looking forward to it already as I finish this book. I am interested very much in this world Rust and its political and social story because of its complexities

It is so rare that a book just grabs me and refuses to let go. I started "DREAMER" yesterday, and could not sleep until I finished it at 3 am! Steven Harper certainly knows how to tell an engaging tale and keep the reader's interest from start to finish.

Harper has created a new science fiction universe which shows incredible imagination and skill in world builing. His 'Silent Empire' is superb, both in it's concept and execution--a universe where Dreamers of numerous species communicate on a plane of existence entered by their thoughts. They can 'possess' the bodies of Silent slaves thousands of light years away, and are crucial in the running of the various galactic empires.

The plot revolves around two major points: a Silent being of great strength that has been recently sensed within the Dream, one who can possess the non-Silent as well; and there is also a great change taking place in the Dream, where the Silent are losing control, and a great storm of change is coming.

Told with great care and filled with fascinating characters, this is one of the best books I have read in a very long time.