Pekhov Alexey – Master of Dreams

In this beautiful world, people live in prosperity and harmony, and everyone they meet is friendly and kind. The issue of life extension has been resolved, and for the most deserving members of society, almost immortality is achievable. Moreover, these individuals are not politicians or oligarchs, but rather outstanding scientists, architects, and doctors.

Well-being is closely related to the ability to control dreams. They can be used for treatment, predicting the future, and inspiring new discoveries. Dreamers with these unique abilities are one of the pillars of well-being. However, dreams can also be harmful since we are defenseless while experiencing them. People who possess the appropriate abilities can force the subconscious to carry out the orders of others, drain vital forces, and even cause death. Additionally, the owners of these abilities tend to be very selfish and only care about their own benefit at the expense of others. The more people with these abilities, the unhealthier society becomes. In theory, it seems possible to bring the majority of these individuals under control in a single country, but the reality is far more complicated. The main character, who returns after a long absence and immediately finds himself in a whirlwind of events, discovers this truth.

An alternative future in which transport problems have been successfully solved, biotechnology is highly developed, and people around are as open and friendly as possible. But as the plot progresses, it becomes clear that heavenly life has not arrived throughout the entire planet, but only in one “city-state,” which was called Polis. Moreover, the general surroundings directly point to Greece. Just not the modern one, but the one that has not lost its ancient greatness and has become one of the leading states. After all, it was here that the institution of dream lords seemed to originate and develop. Who consider the ancient Greek gods to be their patrons and are even called by appropriate names.

In general, dream masters cannot be considered omnipotent magicians. They cannot throw fireballs in the real world and in general can influence reality only indirectly - through other people. Moreover, the use of their abilities is subject to a strict set of rules that they cannot change. This includes the need to enter the world of dreams from only one place (for deimos), and the need to use another person’s personal belongings to interfere with his dreams. But at the same time, an ordinary person is completely helpless before influencing his subconscious. And although the dream master can heal mental trauma, which ordinary psychologists are not capable of, he is at the same time capable of introducing almost any order into the subconscious, even suicide, and then nothing will help the victim except another dream master.

The real world is depicted as a prosperous place with expressways and unique architecture designed to meet the needs of residents without sacrificing beauty. The society is healthy and people are friendly to one another. Money is not a noticeable factor since the average level of well-being is very high.

However, in dream worlds, everything is different. Thoughts and desires are materialized and the subconscious can create amazing and phantasmagoric worlds that can be both disgusting and dangerous. The protagonist, a dream master, helps people whose sick minds create real nightmares. Unlike an ordinary person, a dream master can remain in someone else's dream forever. Thus, while the real world seems prosperous, the dream world is in constant confrontation, and good does not always triumph. As the story progresses, new facts are revealed, and the world seems to be on the verge of change.

The line between good and evil is clear. Dream lords who use their abilities to satisfy their own desires and harm ordinary people are considered evil. They can be easily distinguished from normal dream masters because they have a limited set of abilities that leave a mark on their character. The main character is a nightmare creator who fears his own kind and does not want to be controlled by his abilities. He is a law-abiding citizen in the real world but acquires real power in the dream world. He has a fully-formed personality and has real friends among the dream masters, but due to his abilities, he does not communicate with ordinary people much. He has a dark past and has been in voluntary seclusion for ten years. The reasons behind his decision to fight against his own essence are not revealed in the story.

In this book, the author places great importance on the details that help create a complete image of the world. The architecture and infrastructure of the future city are described in detail, where ancient Greek motifs meet modern innovations and imaginative designs. Meanwhile, the protagonist resides in a typical small town in his inherited house, which was built a long time ago by his teacher. It is from this house that the protagonist has the ability to influence dreams, and it is where he returns every time.

Definitely recommended for reading, especially since the first book of the series is just beginning. The author left many mysteries that remain to be solved in the following books. Moreover, one thing is clear - a utopian and prosperous world may well turn out to be a dystopia.