madmadder's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nlord's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
peapod_boston's review against another edition
3.0
My history with Zelazny revolves mostly around Amber, "Lord of Light", and a few others, so I've been picking up various short paperbacks when I find them used.
"The Dream Master" is a slim little novel about a therapist who works through people's dreams. He is recruited by a blind psychiatrist to teach her how to do the same--and at the same time experience true sight. Slow, psychological, slightly indulgent and hallucinatory, "The Dream Master" is not Zelazny's strongest work. But if you are looking to watch him work his magic with words (rather than action or character), you won't be disappointed.
"The Dream Master" is a slim little novel about a therapist who works through people's dreams. He is recruited by a blind psychiatrist to teach her how to do the same--and at the same time experience true sight. Slow, psychological, slightly indulgent and hallucinatory, "The Dream Master" is not Zelazny's strongest work. But if you are looking to watch him work his magic with words (rather than action or character), you won't be disappointed.
smiorganbaldhead's review against another edition
3.0
This book is trippy and confusing, but explores some interesting psychological ideas. The consequences of ubiquitous automation reminded me of Gordon R. Dickson’s Necromancer. The manipulation of dreams seems like a likely influence on Inception. Overall I enjoyed the book, but I’m still not sure what happened at the end.
mateaaah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
shawcrit's review against another edition
3.0
Although I quite enjoyed the first half, (in my humble opinion) the story would have benefited from either, a) being cut down to a short story or b) being further developed so as to better address the role of the female characters. As it stands, although there are a lot of interesting aspects, I was disappointed that the women were so underdeveloped and were treated (described and developed) like supporting characters despite having such essential roles. Particularly in the case of Jill, who is so one-dimensional, even more so that Render's annoying son. Zelazny suggests that Jill's interaction with Eileen somehow provokes the concluding events, but this relationship or Jill's influence is left unexplained. Also, so much of this novel is over-written; Zelazny needed a good editor to keep his pretentious name-dropping in check. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
neartaking's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
clarinick's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jgwc54e5's review against another edition
3.0
A novel from 1966 set in a future with genetically engineered talking seeing eye dogs, driverless cars and automated freeways; and as a treatment for various psychiatric disorders, neuroparticipation where the analyst creates dreams and explores them with the patient. Render is a leading practitioner and agrees to treat a blind woman who is also a trained psychiatrist and wants to become a neuropractitioner. The writing is suitably dreamlike, I’m not sure I always knew what was dream and what was real. References to mythology, poetry and Freud throughout. An enjoyable read but not one I fully understood(but I’m not sure you’re meant to).
codeeater's review against another edition
3.0
This story leaves me very confused. It's not that I totally disliked it, but I'm also not sure that I could follow till the end what was going on. It probably would help to discuss it with other readers.