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{{Short description|Novel by Roger Zelazny}}
{{other uses}}
{{other uses}}

{{Italic title}}
{{infobox book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
{{infobox book | <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
| name = The Dream Master
| name = The Dream Master
| title_orig =
| title_orig =
| translator =
| translator =
| image = [[File:TheDreamMaster(1stEd).jpg|200px]]
| image = TheDreamMaster(1stEd).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Cover of first edition (paperback)
| caption = Cover of first edition (paperback)
| author = [[Roger Zelazny]]
| author = [[Roger Zelazny]]
Line 13: Line 15:
| language = English
| language = English
| series =
| series =
| genre = [[Science fiction novel]]
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| publisher = [[Ace Books]]
| publisher = [[Ace Books]]
| release_date = 1966
| release_date = 1966
| english_release_date =
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] & [[Paperback]])
| media_type = Print (hardback & paperback)
| pages = 155 pp
| pages = 155
| isbn = NA <!-- First edition published prior to adoption of ISBN standard -->
| preceded_by =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| followed_by =
}}
}}


'''''The Dream Master''''' (1966), originally published as a [[novella]] titled '''''He Who Shapes''''', is a science-fiction novel by [[Roger Zelazny]]. Zelazny's originally intended title for it was '''''The Ides of Octember'''''.<ref>http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/triffid/trimmings/volume2/08_The_Lesser_Spotted_Roger_Zelazny.htm{{Dead Link|date=September 2013}}</ref> The novella won a [[Nebula Award]] in 1965.
'''''The Dream Master''''' (1966), based on the novella ''"He Who Shapes"''', is a science fiction novel by American writer [[Roger Zelazny]]. Zelazny's originally intended title for was '''''The Ides of Octember'''''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120401212238/http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/triffid/trimmings/volume2/08_The_Lesser_Spotted_Roger_Zelazny.htm The Lesser Spotted Science Fiction Writer - Part 7: Roger Zelazny]</ref> It won the 1965 [[Nebula Award for Best Novella]] (which it shared with ''[[The Saliva Tree]]'' by [[Brian W. Aldiss]] in a tie).<ref>{{cite book |last=Knight |first=Damon |author-link= |date=1966 |title=Nebula Award Stories |location=New York City, NY |publisher=Pocket Books |page=65 }}</ref>


==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==
''The Dream Master'' is set in a future where the forces of [[overpopulation]] and technology have created a world where humanity suffocates psychologically beneath its own mass while abiding in relative physical comfort. This is a world ripe for [[psychotherapy|psychotherapeutic]] innovations, such as the "neuroparticipant therapy" in which the protagonist, Charles Render, specializes. In neuroparticipation, the patient is hooked into a gigantic simulation controlled directly by the analyst's mind; the analyst then works with the patient to construct dreams—nightmares, wish-fulfillment, etc.--that afford insight into the underlying neuroses of the patient, and in some cases the possibility of direct intervention. (For example, a man submerging himself in a fantasy world sees it utterly destroyed at Render's hands, and is thus "cured" of his obsession with it.)
In the future, [[Human overpopulation|overpopulation]] and technological advances have created a world where humanity suffocates psychologically beneath its own mass while abiding in relative physical comfort. This is a world ripe for [[psychotherapy|psychotherapeutic]] innovations, such as the "neuroparticipant therapy" in which the [[protagonist]], Charles Render, is considered foremost in the field.


Patients connect to a [[virtual reality]]-style simulation controlled directly by the analyst's mind; the analyst then works with the patient to construct [[dream]]s, [[nightmare]]s which afford insight into the underlying [[neuros[[es of the patient, and in some cases the possibility of direct intervention. As an example, one man mentally immersed in a fantasy world sees it destroyed at Render's hands, and is thus cured of his obsession with it.
⚫
Render, the leader in his field, takes on a patient with an unusual problem. Eileen Shallot aspires to become a neuroparticipant therapist herself, but is somewhat hampered by congenital [[blindness]]. Not having experienced visual sensation in the same way as her patients, she would be unable to convincingly construct visual dreams for them; indeed, in a case of eye-envy, her own neurotic desire to see through the eyes of her patients might prevent her from treating them effectively. However, she explains to Render, if a practicing neuroparticipant therapist is willing to work with her, he can expose her to the full range of visual stimuli in a controlled environment, free of her own attachments to the issue, and enable her to pursue her career.


⚫
Render takes on a patient with an unusual problem. Eileen Shallot aspires to become a neuroparticipant therapist herself, but is hampered by congenital blindness. She would be unable to convincingly construct visual dreams for them; indeed, in a case of eye-envy, her own neurotic desire to see through the eyes of her patients might prevent her from treating them effectively. As she explains to Render, if a practicing neuroparticipant therapist is willing to work with her, he can expose her to the full range of visual stimuli in a controlled environment, free of her own attachments to the issue, and enable her to pursue her career.
⚫
Despite his better sense and the advice of colleagues, Render agrees to go along with the treatment. But as they progress, Eileen's hunger for visual stimulation continues to grow, and she begins to assert her will against Render's, subsuming him into her own dreams.

⚫
Despite his better sense and the advice of colleagues, Render agrees to go along with the treatment. As they progress, Eileen's hunger for visual stimulation continues to grow, and she begins to assert her will against Render's, subsuming him into her own dreams.


==Other media==
==Other media==
⚫
In 1981 Zelazny wrote a film outline based on ''The Dream Master'', which was purchased by 20th Century Fox and later developed into the film ''[[Dreamscape (1984 film)|Dreamscape]]''. Because he wrote the outline but neither the treatment nor script, his name did not appear in the credits. Assertions that he had his name removed from the credits are unfounded.<ref>"...And Call Me Roger": The Literary Life of Roger Zelazny, Part 4, by Christopher S. Kovacs. In: ''The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 4: Last Exit to Babylon'', NESFA Press, 2009.</ref>

The plot of ''The Dream Master'' inspired [[Gary Numan]]'s song "I Am Render" (from Numan's 1983 album ''[[Warriors (Gary Numan album)|Warriors]]'').


==See also==
⚫
In 1981 Zelazny wrote a film outline based on ''The Dream Master'' that 20th Century Fox purchased and later developed into the film ''[[Dreamscape (1984 film)|Dreamscape]]''. Because he wrote the outline and neither the treatment or script, his name did not appear in the credits. Assertions that he had his name removed from the credits are unfounded.<ref>"...And Call Me Roger": The Literary Life of Roger Zelazny, Part 4, by Christopher S. Kovacs. In: ''The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 4: Last Exit to Babylon'', NESFA Press, 2009.</ref>
*"[[Dreams Are Sacred]]", a short story by [[Peter Phillips (author)|Peter Phillips]].


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dream Master, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dream Master, The}}
[[Category:1966 novels]]
[[Category:1966 American novels]]
[[Category:Novels by Roger Zelazny]]
[[Category:Novels by Roger Zelazny]]
[[Category:American science fiction novels]]
[[Category:American science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Books with cover art by Frank Kelly Freas]]
[[Category:Books with cover art by Frank Kelly Freas]]
[[Category:Brain–computer interfacing in fiction]]
[[Category:Fiction about brain–computer interface]]
[[Category:Telepresence]]
[[Category:Telepresence]]
[[Category:Nebula Award for Best Novella winning works]]
[[Category:Nebula Award for Best Novella-winning works]]
[[Category:Ace Books books]]
[[Category:Overpopulation fiction]]
[[Category:Psychotherapy in fiction]]
[[Category:Novels about dreams]]

Latest revision as of 15:25, 6 September 2024

For other uses, see The Dream Master (disambiguation).
The Dream Master
Cover of first edition (paperback)
AuthorRoger Zelazny
Cover artistFrank Kelly Freas
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherAce Books
Publication date
1966
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages155

The Dream Master (1966), based on the novella "He Who Shapes"', is a science fiction novel by American writer Roger Zelazny. Zelazny's originally intended title for was The Ides of Octember.[1] It won the 1965 Nebula Award for Best Novella (which it shared with The Saliva Tree by Brian W. Aldiss in a tie).[2]

Plot summary

[edit]

In the future, overpopulation and technological advances have created a world where humanity suffocates psychologically beneath its own mass while abiding in relative physical comfort. This is a world ripe for psychotherapeutic innovations, such as the "neuroparticipant therapy" in which the protagonist, Charles Render, is considered foremost in the field.

Patients connect to a virtual reality-style simulation controlled directly by the analyst's mind; the analyst then works with the patient to construct dreams, nightmares which afford insight into the underlying [[neuros[[es of the patient, and in some cases the possibility of direct intervention. As an example, one man mentally immersed in a fantasy world sees it destroyed at Render's hands, and is thus cured of his obsession with it.

Render takes on a patient with an unusual problem. Eileen Shallot aspires to become a neuroparticipant therapist herself, but is hampered by congenital blindness. She would be unable to convincingly construct visual dreams for them; indeed, in a case of eye-envy, her own neurotic desire to see through the eyes of her patients might prevent her from treating them effectively. As she explains to Render, if a practicing neuroparticipant therapist is willing to work with her, he can expose her to the full range of visual stimuli in a controlled environment, free of her own attachments to the issue, and enable her to pursue her career.

Despite his better sense and the advice of colleagues, Render agrees to go along with the treatment. As they progress, Eileen's hunger for visual stimulation continues to grow, and she begins to assert her will against Render's, subsuming him into her own dreams.

Other media

[edit]

In 1981 Zelazny wrote a film outline based on The Dream Master, which was purchased by 20th Century Fox and later developed into the film Dreamscape. Because he wrote the outline but neither the treatment nor script, his name did not appear in the credits. Assertions that he had his name removed from the credits are unfounded.[3]

The plot of The Dream Master inspired Gary Numan's song "I Am Render" (from Numan's 1983 album Warriors).

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Lesser Spotted Science Fiction Writer - Part 7: Roger Zelazny
  2. ^ Knight, Damon (1966). Nebula Award Stories. New York City, NY: Pocket Books. p. 65.
  3. ^ "...And Call Me Roger": The Literary Life of Roger Zelazny, Part 4, by Christopher S. Kovacs. In: The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, Volume 4: Last Exit to Babylon, NESFA Press, 2009.
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