What Dreams May Come: A Novel

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A classic novel of love after death, from one our greatest fantasy writers. The premise is deceptively simple: Chris Neilson has died in a car accident, but his life-force--his spirit--is still conscious of this plane of reality. And he is still too in love with his wife, Ann, to completely let go. She in turn does not want to go on living without him, as each regards the other as their soul mate. What Chris will do to get back with Ann after she dies makes for one of the most unusual love stories ever told. Even though the story can be enjoyed as pure fantasy, what makes What Dreams May Come unique is how the author spent years researching the subject of life after death. (An exhaustive bibliography is included to verify this.) And while Matheson admits that the characters are of course fictional, he also states that "With few exceptions, every other detail is derived exclusively from research." Whether, after reading this novel, one believes in life after death is of course a matter of opinion. At least you'll entertain the possibility that, even though we may not live forever, true love can be eternal. --Stanley Wiater

Book Description

The New York Times bestselling novel that inspired the Oscar-winning movie! What happens to us after we die? Chris Nielsen had no idea, until an unexpected accident cut his life short, separating him from his beloved wife, Annie. Now Chris must discover the true nature of life after death. But even Heaven is not complete without Annie, and when tragedy threatens to divide them forever, Chris risks his very soul to save Annie from an eternity of despair. Richard Matheson's powerful tale of life-and love-after death was the basis for the lavish 1998 film starring Robin Williams.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting premise, LONG, drawn-out Story.......2007-10-03

After reading I am Legend and really liking the author's style, I picked up this book. Some thought I am Legend was too short. I thought it was perfect for if it were any longer it might take on the form of this superfluous story.

What Dreams May Come should have been edited down because the story was decent.

Decent read, however pompous........2007-09-16

I really wanted to like this book. To be honest, I enjoyed the descriptive text and the (limited) story. However, the author's pompous entry saying that this is all 'fact' and only the characters are fictional turned me wayyy off. As another reviewer said 'just because you have a bibliography does not make it fact'. I am a Richard Matheson fan - loved I am Legend and enjoyed Hell House. His depictions of hell/heaven in this novel are very realistic, and moving. Unfortnately, his character development lacks. I didnt really care a whole lot what happened with Ann or chris, nor could I stand the 2 pages of tear-jerky 'thank you'.

Nearly one third of the book is new age rhetoric with little to do with a real story. The actual plot (beyond the preaching) was extraordinarily thin. The idea was excellent, however its delivery was ham-fisted.

I would have given it a poorer rating, however, I did finish it - and did not throw it across the room. I had to skim over much of the ending, much to my chagrin.

This Book Changed my Life.......2007-08-07

After reading this book, I started buying some of the books that were referenced in the back few pages. I found those to be very interesting and have since changed the way I feel about life, death, and life after death. This book changed my life for the better, it is a MUST read!

Good work, but a big bibliography does not make it real.......2007-07-21

I share the regard that most readers have for Richard Matheson as a first rate writer from his books and stories(for me also his contribution to the Twilight Zone).

My main exception to this one is his preface that states that it is not really a work of fiction (apart from using fictitious characters for demonstration purposes) but an exposition of facts in literary form. To support this he supplies a large bibliography in the back. But this bibliography is a collection of works of a most unscientific nature written by supposed mediums, alleged experts in the supernatural and paranormal, and a few celebrated savants (or should I say frauds) like Edgar Cayce. In my line of work, there is a expression "Garbage In, Garbage Out". As fantasy or science fiction this is not an issue. The assertion that this book is a tale built on facts is simply unsupportable. The author apparently sincerely believes in his sources (this is noted in an anthology of Matheson in a forward written by someone who met Matheson who discussed similar material with him as a revelation of precious but generally unrecognized truths). But on the whole these works have no more truth in them than writings taken on faith in established religions. If it is a faith being presented then say so, so that I will know that further argument is only for the sport. Otherwise, please do not represent mere unorthodoxy as fact, like a sort of C.S. Lewis for new age spirituality.

I will also take exception to simple minded karmic logic like "since you committed suicide with sleeping pills you must suffer from a sleep disorder in your new life". What makes us think that our consciousness is such a great and eternal element of enormous significance in the cosmos anyway? What makes us think our ideas of good and evil are embedded in the fabric of creation and enforced by a great clearing house of souls off somewhere that cannot be detected or observed? This is just a conventional and even childlike view of heaven, hell and judgment leavened with reincarnation.

As a work of fiction it is a bit dry, as it really is an exposition of its bibliography inside a nominal tale as stated by the author I have no doubt that it can have a deep impact on receptive persons suffering grief from the loss of loved one. Under the detail (which I found interesting and I appreciate his work in summarizing that large bibliography for me) I think I detect a deeply felt tribute to a beloved (and living) wife.

So much better than the film it's scary.......2007-05-07

This novel is the most vivid, complex, and surprisingly convincing depiction of afterlife I have ever encountered in a work of fiction. Nothing else I have seen on the subject, in literature or in film, comes close--certainly not the 1998 film. Before I read the novel, I had no idea that a story about Heaven and Hell could have such a profound effect on me.

In the metaphysics of the film and the book, dying involves shedding your physical body and entering a mental environment shaped by thoughts. Your fate in such an environment is largely self-imposed. That much of the movie intrigued me, the first time I saw it. The problem was the schmaltz. I mean real schmaltz, piled on in large mounds, in place of strong narrative.

It's hard for me to convey just how very different the novel is. Of course there are major differences in the plot. One such difference is the ending. (Even Roger Ebert, who heaped high praise on the film, was disappointed by the ending.) Another is the beginning, where the film adds Chris's children to the list of characters who die and go to Heaven. In doing this, the movie (1) makes the early scenes so depressing they become surreal (2) needlessly clutters the story with extra characters (3) introduces a silly and confusing subplot about Chris's attempts to find his children, who are in disguise.

In the book, Chris's children are adults, not youngsters, and they're minor characters who never die in the course of the story. The details of Chris's life on Earth differ so greatly between the book and the film that it's like reading about a completely different person. Even though I saw the movie first, the image of Robin Williams completely vanished from my mind as I read, because he was so unlike the character described in the book.

The entire feel of the book is different, telling a touching love story that uses real characterization, not cheap manipulation, to move the audience. And Matheson's vision of the afterlife truly comes alive on the page. The Hell scenes are actually terrifying, reminding us, as the movie does not, why Matheson is primarily famous as a horror writer.

I won't overlook the movie's gorgeous visual effects, which earned the film a well-deserved Academy Award. They just aren't put to good purpose. The movie's vision of the afterlife as like being inside giant paintings fails to evoke a sense of reality. The book, in contrast, bases its afterlife imagery (vividly brought to life by Matheson's skillful prose) much more on Earth-like scenery. This approach ironically leads to far more exotic ideas, such as architects who build things using their minds, and a library containing history books more objective than those on Earth.

One of Matheson's unique qualities as a fantasy writer has always been his almost scientific approach to the supernatural. Here, Matheson makes Heaven and Hell seem like a scientific, natural process, and one of the joys of the book is discerning all the intricate "rules" of how everything works. (That's another area where the movie falls short.) What needs to be kept in mind, however, is that Matheson doesn't do this just for entertainment purposes. In the novel's introduction, he tells his readers that the characters are the only fictional component of the novel, and that almost everything else is based on research. The book even includes a lengthy bibliography. Thus, the afterlife that Matheson describes isn't some fantasy world he concocted from his own head, but something he believes to be an accurate description of reality.

Some people may wonder, at this point, about Matheson's religious background. He was raised a Christian Scientist, but gradually developed what he calls his own religion, taking elements from many sources. One of the book's main influences, I believe, is eighteenth-century Christian mystic Emanuel Swedenborg.

From what I've seen, people react negatively to this book based on how far it departs from their personal beliefs. Christians complain about the absence of Jesus, while those who don't believe in any afterlife consider the story too nonsensical to accept. Most readers, it seems, are put off by the New Age terminology and concepts scattered throughout the book.

These reactions are puzzling, if you stop to think about it. Books about elves, fairies, dragons, and wizards remain popular even though nobody believes in any of those things. Why should people be bothered by a fiction book portraying a Heaven and Hell that conflicts with what they believe? The book is perfectly enjoyable whether or not you accept Matheson's metaphysics.

Of course, I personally do think Matheson provides insight into the subject--though I admit I'm a little wary of his acceptance of paranormal phenomena. But it amazes me how so many people refuse to even touch the book, thinking that any story with such a plot must automatically be hokey. In most cases, they'd be right. "What Dreams May Come" is a big exception. It suggests the endless possibilities in a subject that normally is dead weight for fiction. And it really makes you think.

Average customer rating:

what a waste of time
What Dreams May Come
Not to much to say.
Dreams on hold......
Does anyone know how to write a short story anymore?

What Dreams May Come
Sherrilyn Kenyon , Robin D. Owens , and Rebecca York
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Anthologies | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: B000E97X2K

Book Description

An all-new paranormal romance anthology headlined by a New York Times bestselling author.

This is an exquisite trio of stories by three beloved authors skilled at making the most impossible dreams come true. All new, original novellas of fantastic romance by:

New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon.
A bare-chested hunk on the cover of a paperback romance literally comes to life to fulfill a lonely woman's fantasies in Knightly Dreams.

Award-winning author Robin D. Owens
With other-worldly assistance, two unlucky lovers are given one more chance to prove that romance is possible in Road of Adventure.

USA Today bestselling author Rebecca York
A woman's life depends on the psychic visions of her ex-lover which could reunite them--or plunge them into danger--in Shattered Dreams.

Customer Reviews:

what a waste of time.......2006-06-23

When I saw the three authors on the cover of this book, I was quite excited. But, OMG, this is one of the worst books I have ever read. Sherrilyn Kenyon's story started off really well then descended into a few pages of ranting about authors who have to write or end up on antidepressants???!!!!???? The other two stories were so below average. Thank goodness for authors like Charlaine Harris, JR Ward and Emma Holly who can write well crafted and fascinating stories.

What Dreams May Come.......2006-03-15

I find this book reminds me of early romance novels where to heroines find their "knight in shinning armor". The conflict is more about creating a relationship while outside influences are coming between the couples. It is a nice easy read for those days when you just want to just have a quiet evening of relaxation.

Not to much to say. .......2006-02-04

Read this collection of short stories, if you want a quick and easy read. Don't expect much and you will not be disappointed. And besides I only purchased it to read the Sherrily Kenyon short story, so I was not THAT disappointed.

Dreams on hold.............2005-09-16

I was surprised to see three great writers deliver such boring material. I would like to say something nice but this book was a bomb. If it helps at all the cover was hot.

Does anyone know how to write a short story anymore?.......2005-09-13

I like all of these authors' works. I would even say that Kenyon and Owens are on my "must buy" list when their new books come out. However, I was disappointed to spend this much money on this little content. Minimal plots, and in Owens' case, rehashing of previous ideas (from her "Heart" series -- Fam cats)led to, at best, an OK read, and at worst, just plain confusing or boring reading. I suggest borrowing the book from a friend or library and save your money for the authors' next novels. I will admit that I may be a harsher critic than most; I'm a fast reader and I've read so many books (romance, horror, fantasy, science fiction, nonfiction, etc.)over the years that my tolerance toward an average to below-average read has flagged recently.

What Dreams May Come (Doubleday Science Fiction)

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What Dreams May Come (Doubleday Science Fiction)
Manly Wade Wellman
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0385182538

Lady and the Lion/What Dreams May Come/Glass Shoe (Once Upon a Time Series)

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Lady and the Lion/What Dreams May Come/Glass Shoe (Once Upon a Time Series)
Kay Hooper
Manufacturer: Loveswept
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000O9GNLW

Product Description

the classic loveswept trilogy from the incredible pen of kay hooper!from the loveswept line comes ls#360-the glass shoe/ls#390-what dreams may come/ls#426- the lady and the lion.

Mas Alla De Los Suenos/ What Dreams May Come (Solaris Fictcion)

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Mas Alla De Los Suenos/ What Dreams May Come (Solaris Fictcion)
Richard Matheson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

An excellent book

Pursue Your Dreams: Come What May
Andayi Mushenye
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0595379796

Book Description

Pursue Your Dreams: Come What May, is an inspirational true story about the struggles that author Andayi Mushenye underwent to travel and settle in America and pursue his dreams. The extraordinary capacity to get up and move forward after stumbling is a remarkable trait necessary for success. In spite of formidable challenges, he never fails to look at the future with great optimism. Early in his life, he learns the virtue of self responsibility by getting the wind knocked out of him and his father passes away. Shortly afterwards, Mushenye undergoes a circumcision rite without being anesthetized in order to be initiated into adulthood. He then flunks out of high school but with the encouragement of a widowed single mother, repeats high school in his native Kenya and does well enough to become untrained secondary school teacher, earning thirty dollars per month. Armed with his new salary, he embarks on the road to America and lands in Detroit to study at Eastern Michigan University¿with no idea what America is like, how his education will be paid for or where he is going to live. Having come straight from the village, the challenges of American technology and way of life jolt him into a series of culture shocks, but he plows on. Through failures, tragedy, addiction, loss, and other setbacks, he still manages to find success. Pursue Your Dreams: Come What May is a candid, inspirational, courageous and another humorous Coming to America story that will teach you about another culture and still demonstrate that you too can pursue your dreams and succeed¿all it takes is you.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent book.......2006-08-13

I had an opportunity to pick this book after a friend recommended it. All I say is that I got all that is worth and more. It is a book that you will want to read everyday because you can open any page and get the inspiration you want. After finishing this book, I realized how much I didnt know about myself. I rediscovered myself and had never felt like that before. I will buy a few copies and dish them out for friends and relatives.
The writer is serious and funny at the sametime. He takes you though the hoops of his life and you can really appreciate how the same can be applied to any of the situation any one of us may be experiencing. This is a real motivational book. I highly recommend it.

Somewhere in Time & What Dreams May Come

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Somewhere in Time & What Dreams May Come
Richard Matheson
Manufacturer: Dream Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MVVNWQ

Somewhere in Time/What Dreams May Come: Two Novels of Love and Fantasy

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!
This book will open your eyes and heart to deeper truth.
Life-altering!
A book that challenged my thoughts of mind and soul.
Perhaps THE most read book in MY library.

Somewhere in Time/What Dreams May Come: Two Novels of Love and Fantasy
Richard Matheson
Manufacturer: Dream Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2007-02-05

Somewhere in Time is a timeless love story by unconventional means. It really takes you back to another time. I can't say enough about What Dreams May Come. This book changed the way I look at Life and Death. A truly moving experience. I have read them both twice. They will remain favorites of mine.

This book will open your eyes and heart to deeper truth........1998-12-12

This book has no equal. "What Dreams May Come" will consume you, and take you to a place that you have ONLY "dreamed" of. It touches so many issues that many find so dear to their souls (love, compassion, God, and the power of the spirit). If you read one book this year, make this the one. You will never think the same way about death. A person who is beyond hope because of some dreaded disease or in major depression should "read" and "re-read" this book. You will never look at life or death the same way again. Just like Jewel's song says "Only kindness matters". The movie is also good, but the book has more detailing. Take a look into your soul and find a new piece of mind and a new perspective of yourself! Make every day count towards a new goal and make your life what 'you' want it to be.

Life-altering!.......1998-09-24

I read this book for the first time 21 years ago. I was 14 and I was enthralled. It changed my teenage fear of death into hope and beauty. I, too, read it in a rainy afternoon at the library and when I went to buy it, I could not. A movie? Awesome! A re-release of the book?! Incredible! I recommend to ANYONE who has even the slightest interest in life after death to READ THIS BOOK!

A book that challenged my thoughts of mind and soul........1998-09-19

20 years ago when this book was first out in print a friend recommended it. It changed my way of thought forever. It intreged me to search and study this and similar avenues of soul searching. The author changed my life and for this I will always be so very greatful

Perhaps THE most read book in MY library........1998-09-08

I have gone so far as to highlight passages and paragraphs that are of significance to me in my life. I have an almost biblical reverence for this book and find it hard to believe that it is NOT true, the introduction by Richard Matheson, captured my imagination, the book captured my soul. I have recomended and urged all my friends who have lost a loved one to read this book and many have expressed to me a deep appreciation, which I can take no credit for. For me, this book has answered so many questions and eased so many of my worries. If the movie can convey half as much as the book did, I predict a bigger box office success than Ghost. (Which by the was I was convinced Richard Matheson wrote!)

Average customer rating:

WHAT DREAMS MAY COME

Manufacturer: Swan Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GXQ15O

Average customer rating:

What Dreams May Come
Unknown
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: DVD
ASIN: B000VZJ7TY

Book Description

Bangkok--a city of heady contradictions--inspires Lara McClintoch's sense of adventure and her impressive sleuthing skills when a fellow antiques dealer disappears without a trace.

Customer Reviews:

That's The Way The Relic Crumbles.......2007-04-21

Once again, another try at finding a new author to fill the gap left by writers who I've read so many times I can quote sections from memory. This book left me a bit disappointed because I expected an archeological mystery and got, instead a suspense tale with a few artifacts sprinkled in. There's nothing wrong with Lyn Hamilton's book but it wasn't what I wanted to read (think Agatha Christie with a large dose of Elizabeth Peters).

The story is really a missing person tale with antique dealer Lara McClintoch off to Thailand to meet the parents of her daughter's fiancé, Chat Chaiwong, and try to find William Beauchamp, another dealer who ran away to Thailand and has since disappeared, leaving a destitute wife and child. What Lara doesn't anticipate is that Beauchamp's tale and the Chaiwong's are inextricably (and often fatally) intertwined. In the background of the main story arc Hamilton narrates the tale of one of the darker periods of Thai history, where betrayal and murder were a constant of the political environment. The plot and the history reflect each other, perhaps a bit too much, in retrospect.

I find that Hamilton's writing is a bit too calm for my taste, but that she does weave a complex tale with plenty of twists and turns. The protagonists are all likeable, but this isn't really a 'cosy.' In fact, the underlying story is grim and dark enough that it never gets lost in the witty repartee. I'm going to give this three stars, not out of pique, but out of the suspicion that the writer can do much better and I need to leave room if my opinion improves. I do intend to read a few more of Hamilton's stories, so stay tuned.

Thoroughly Fun to read!.......2006-03-10

I picked this up in a hostel with limited reading material (something I do a lot) and was expecting this to be average-fare formula fiction.

But it is so good!

I really enjoyed reading the book, it wasn't a masterpiece or anything but it kept me hooked, I thought Lara was a very well developed and believeable character who I really liked. The other characters were also interesting and realistic - this book was very well written.

The only downside was the beginning of each chapter - there was a continuing story about an older Thailand - this would have worked well if it had linked more closely with the modern tale, I felt instead that these sections were disjointed and irrelevant - not as interesting as the main body of text.

Thoroughly enjoyable book, and if I happen to see any other of the books in the series, I would definitely pick it up for an easy and fun read.

Exotic setting and mystery.......2003-07-31

Lara McClintoch and her ex-husband Clive Swain are in business together. Why she went into business with her ex-husband, she's not sure, but they get along better as business partners than marriage partners. They own an antique shop called McClintoch and Swain.

Lara goes abroad to do the buying. This time, while abroad, she is going to Bangkok, Thailand to visit Jennifer, Rob's daughter, who is there with her boyfriend Chat Chaiwong. Rob, a policeman, is Lara's significant other.

Clive asks Lara to look into the disappearance of William Beauchamp. He left his wife, Natalie, and disabled daughter some time ago fleeing to Thailand. He opened an antique shop there. Now, he hasn't been heard from or seen for months. Lara finally agrees and meets with Natalie to get any pertinent information. He sent her some amulets which Lara takes with her. They might help with her inquiries.

The many characters she encounters in Thailand, and the many escapades she and Jennifer experience, are very believable and add to the intrique. I think Lyn did a great job at creating the Chaiwong family -- showing their wealth and thus various attitudes throughout the book. She always brings some history into the books as well. This history adds to the story.

Most of the books in this series have exotic settings. I know that Lyn does a lot of research and it shows in the great descriptions and knowledge of the areas. It makes me feel like I've been there after reading the book.

Lara is a great character. She is very well developed and her actions are quite believable. She doesn't do really stupid, dangerous things like some characters. Most her dealings are something a regular person might do.

If you like exotic settings, history and mysteries, you'll like her books. I recommend them!

strong amateur sleuth.......2003-04-12

Thailand is an exotic place and when William Beauchamp goes there on a buying trip, he sends his wife Natalie a fax saying he is not coming back. Unable to keep the business going and care for her severely handicapped daughter, Natalie sells the store and lives off the profits. Two years later her resources are nearly depleted and Will has gone missing, not seen at his home or store in Bangkok for months. She needs to know if he is alive so she can get a good divorce settlement or dead so she can collect on his insurance.

Lara McClintoch, the owner of an antiques store in Toronto, Canada, is going to Thailand on a buying trip and agrees to look into the matter for Natalie. She learns that Will was working on a book about a vicious killing that happened to an American in the 1950's but no trace of his computer or manuscript is found. She starts asking questions about Will and the missing manuscript that stirs up some people who want certain skeletons (literally) to stay buried.

Lyn Hamilton has written an amateur sleuth tale that shows why visitors are fascinated by Thai culture. The protagonist is like Sherlock Holmes on the hunt and when she picks up the scent she stays with it even if it means making people uncomfortable. THE THAI AMULET is a fascinating tale about greed, treachery, betrayal and murder, and readers won't rest until they find out what happened to Will and why.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on August 12, 2007. The length of the article is 688 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Thais snap up amulets; Believe coin-shaped talismans have magical powers.(Faith)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 12, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: b7

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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