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Dream Sequence, Lilith, cover artwork by Kurt Ozinga
cover design 2004 Kurt Ozinga

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Dream Sequence


and other tales from beyond

Steve Lazarowitz

 

When consciousness first found her, the moonlight seemed impossibly bright. Powerful gusts of wind continually shuffled all but invisible leaves. At the edge of vision, a wall of trees stretched leafy arms toward the heavens. Momentarily disoriented, she shifted her gaze, first to the dark clouds moving too rapidly through that luminous sky, then to those remarkably tall trees and finally to a small gray flash of movement off to her left.
        Shaking sleep from her eyes, she propped herself into a sitting position in order to get a better look at it. At first she could not find the cause of the disturbance. Then it moved again and she saw it. It seemed so ordinary next to the rest of the tableau, that she laughed. Startled, the creature sat up on its hind legs and froze in the manner of rabbits throughout history.
        "Well, hello there," she said. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."
        The rabbit, perhaps sensing her gentleness, began to shift about, though it still kept a wary eye on the stranger. A night bird, hidden within that impossible forest, added its unearthly call to the scene.
        "It can't answer you," rasped a voice from the shadows.
        At once the woman snatched up her blanket and held it before her, as if somehow it might have power to protect against a stranger in the night. The approaching rustle of footfalls through leaves chilled her. She held her breath, until the intruder was close enough to behold.
        It was tall, perhaps nine feet, with brownish skin not unlike the bark of a sycamore. Its legs resembled the boles of saplings, its arms, slender branches. Its eyes, only now illuminated, were brown and so very old. Its lips, a shade paler, were thin and cracked. The creature shook itself and she realized it wasn't only its approach that created the dry crackling that preceded it. She rose slowly and waited, not yet certain whether or not she was in danger.
        "Animals can no longer speak, since the Grand Dawteer has taken the magic." There was such a note of sadness in that all too ancient voice, that she took a step forward and reached out a tentative hand.
        "Who is the Grand Dawteer?
        "A Shadowlord. A creature made of dreams and darkness."
        Somehow, she could almost recall such a being. She wrapped herself in the blanket, the sudden chill caused by more than the wind.
        "I am the Elvar, guardian of the forests." He bowed low, displaying more flexibility than his hardened exterior would suggest he possessed.
        The woman bowed back. "My name is Marlayna."
        "I know who you are. I know why you have come. You will follow. There is time to eat and sleep. The trip, no doubt, has been taxing."
        "How did I get here?"
        "We will speak later when you are rested."
        "Where is this place?"
        "Do you not remember?"
        The area was familiar, as if long ago she had stood in this very spot, yet she could recall no such circumstance. When she didn't reply, Elvar turned and moved toward the forest. Marlayna followed. The trees seemed to mutter and sigh as she walked amongst them and, though she could not understand their meaning, she had no doubt they were communicating with each other. For a time she listened, as if she might suddenly remember the language they spoke. Like everything else, there was something almost familiar about it.

        The cave mouth appeared before them so suddenly, it seemed as if it had been evoked by magic. Elvar gestured for her to enter. Once inside, Marlayna gasped. She had been here before.
        The inside of the cave looked rather like a living room, complete with a large leather sofa, two chairs seemingly made of feathers and a table that was nothing more than a giant inverted tortoise shell. Intricate carvings decorated much of the rough hewn stone walls. She walked to the couch, sat and ran a hand gently over the table. For a few moments, she could almost recall. Only then did she realize Elvar had followed her inside and was watching.
        "Alyar died when the magic was stolen. Do you remember now?"
        Alyar was the creature that had once inhabited the shell. She could picture him clearly. He was gentle, friendly, soft spoken, engaging... her mind recoiled when she realized she was thinking about a reptile. Elvar saw her confusion and looked sad.
        "Where am I? What's happening to me?"
        "You are in the Lands Beyond. You have been here before, though not for many seasons. We have all missed you. Why did you abandon us?"
        "I didn't abandon you. I wanted to come back, but couldn't find the way." The memories were so close, their proximity was almost a physical pain. For a few seconds, she battled amnesia, then began to cry.
        Elvar watched for a time, until he could stand her sorrow no longer. Then he began to sing. The song was deep, melodic and timeless. It was a tune most humans would never hear, though it was available to all who sought it. It embraced her, caressed her, eased her breathing. She had almost never heard a sound like it. Her sobs diminished until they disappeared altogether. Marlayna drifted, until she fell into slumber.

        It was a sound that should have never been there. She struggled to remain asleep, but as it persisted, she found herself drawn toward consciousness. She sat up suddenly, momentarily disoriented. She turned to stare at the source of the disturbance. It took her a few moments to recognize the object. When she did, she moved automatically to silence it. She stared at the device for a bit longer before its name resolved in her mind. It was an alarm clock.
        El Tigre, the orange tabby she'd adopted for company, sat on the edge of the bed, gently licking the white tips of his paws. Marlayna absently scratched his head as she looked around her studio apartment, located just off the New York University campus in Manhattan. The room had not changed. Her clothes were still strewn unceremoniously about, a constant condition until her mother came to visit. The television was too small and too old, but most of the time she was too busy to care. The books that lined the single shelf by the front door were her most treasured possessions, but now, they did not comfort her. For something was once more missing from her life.
        She thought back to the odd dream. She really could almost remember being there. She looked at the alarm again and panicked when she realized the time. Marlayna jumped from bed, startling El Tigre into flight. She grabbed a pair of jeans she hoped she hadn't already worn, pulled on a sweater she could wear without a bra and slipped into sandals. By the time the door slammed behind her, the Lands Beyond had given way to a far more tangible reality.

        Washington Square Park, located in the middle of Greenwich Village, is where Marlayna often found herself when classes were over. She bypassed the dope peddlers, the students on roller blades, the Manhattanites walking dogs and the ever-present chess players who fought their wars in the park's southwest corner. Instead, her eyes sought the trees. She sat for a time, watching the occasional squirrel climb upwards, and wondered, not for the first time, whether it was aware the ability was in any way remarkable. Marlayna loved the trees, but knew they could never compare to the majestic towers that inhabited the Lands Beyond. The thought startled her and she remembered.
        She'd dreamt of a place she had once dreamt about and in that dream remembered. She was glad she was no longer in therapy. She didn't relish having to explain that to her analyst. In fact, she didn't relish the idea of therapy at all. She had tried it on and off for a few years, but it always made her feel as if something was wrong with her. After all, she wasn't insane. And it had never helped to fill the ever-present void in her soul. Nor had anything else.
        Marlayna was a business major. She attended school, worked to pay for what student aid didn't cover and when she was done, she studied. No wonder she was having odd dreams. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been on a date or even out with friends. When there was time, there was no money. When there was money, there was no time. Marlayna Kipperling was too busy to enjoy living.
        Even now, she'd spent too much time sitting in the park. When she realized, she rose and jogged the rest of the way home, just in time to shower and change for work. As she dressed, she briefly considered quitting school, waitressing, or both, but knew she never would. Her mother would never be able to handle it.
        She thought about her mother then, the one stabilizing point in a world of constant motion. It had been that way since her father died. Marlayna had been nine. She remembered her father more as a concept than an image. It had been the two of them after that and would always be that way. Because of her mother, Marlayna would stay in school and continue to carry food to the hungry denizens of the East Village, no matter the toll on herself.
        Work that day was a blur of people, food and snatches of conversation that never quite made sense. Since it was the Village, most of it wouldn't, even if she did stop to listen to an entire exchange.
        By the time she reached home that night, she was exhausted. El Tigre, waiting patiently by his food dish, regarded her with large sad eyes. Marlayna had forgotten to check his bowl when she'd stopped home to shower.
        "I'm sorry, little one." She reached into the cabinet and pulled two cans of cat food. El Tigre watched with undisguised interest. She held both cans out, as she did each night, and waited for her pet to choose his meal. As usual, he rubbed his face against one can immediately. She knew from experience, no matter how many times she switched hands, he would continued to pick the same can, as if he could read the label. He couldn't, of course, but it entertained her to believe otherwise.
        "Is it chicken and gravy tonight? Yes, I think that's what you want." She rose, opened the can and dumped its contents into the bowl. As soon as she placed it on the floor, El Tigre attacked it greedily. She watched, smiling. Without him, she would be lonely indeed.
        When she turned toward her bed, she noticed the light on the answering machine blinking. She stared at it. She really didn't want to know who it was, unless of course it was Gregory, the cute guy from her accounting class she'd given her number to days ago. She walked to the machine, prayed silently and pressed the button. When her mother's voice began, she sighed.
        "Hi honey, it's only me. Just wanted to check in on you. Call me when you get a chance. Bye now."
        It wasn't Gregory after all. She didn't realize how much she had hoped for that call, until she didn't get it. She sat on the bed and stared at the phone. She fought back tears, though she was aware it was somewhat more than a phone call that was missing from her life. She waited until she was calm again before she picked up the receiver and dialed.
        "Hello."
        "Hi, Mom. Did I wake you?"
        " No. I was watching a movie."
        "Anything good?"
        "I don't know. I came in the middle. It's some suspense thing. I'm glad you called. I shouldn't be watching it at this hour."
        Marlayna tried to think of something to say that wouldn't give away her depression, which pretty much eliminated school and work. It took her a few moments to think of something harmless. "I had the oddest dream last night. I dreamt I was in a place called the Lands Beyond. There was this tree man and this crazy forest. It was so real."
        There was a long silence on the other end.
        "Mom?"
        "I'm here."
        "What's the matter?"
        "You used to have dreams like that, just after your father died."
        "Dreams like what?"
        She could hear the pain in her mother's voice. "You called it the Lands Beyond back then too. You said it was a beautiful, magical place, full of talking animals and love and laughter. All the things that had gone out of your life after daddy died."
        "When did they stop?"
        "When you were ten. I had put you into therapy and based on the doctor's recommendation, you were placed on medication."
        Marlayna couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What kind of medication?"
        "It's called Desipramine. It was used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder in children."
        Marlayna gripped the phone tighter, but said nothing. After a few seconds her mother continued.
        "Try to understand. You weren't paying attention in school. You were lost in a dream world most of the time. I was worried about you. I didn't know what else to do. And I was so afraid to be alone." Marlayna could hear anguish in the voice she loved most and couldn't bring herself to be angry.
        "It's okay, Mom. I'm just surprised, that's all. How come you never told me?"
        "I wasn't certain I did the right thing. I'm still not sure. I didn't want you to hate me."
        "I could never hate you." That much was true, whatever had happened. "I'm sure you made the best choice at the time. How long was I on it?"
        "About a year. You started getting dizzy spells, when you first began to menstruate. The doctor recommended I take you off. You went through pretty bad withdrawal. It hurt me so, to watch you suffer." Her mother's voice was little more than a whisper.
        "Oh, Mom. It's okay. Really. I know you had only the best intentions."
        It took Marlayna another half an hour to calm her mother before she was finally able to hang up. By that time, she was exhausted. She barely stopped to remove her clothes before falling into bed, but she did not find sleep immediately. Instead she spent a long time trying to remember the lost year of her life.

When she woke, she stretched painfully. She was surprised to find herself on a couch. Elvar was waiting. "Did you sleep well?"
        Startled, she twisted into a sitting position, ignoring her muscle's protests. "What?"
        "You were very tired. Do you feel better now?"
        She shook her head. "I don't know. This is all so strange."
        "You didn't used to think so."
        "I don't know what to think. Why am I here?"
        "To bring magic back to the Lands Beyond."
        Marlayna stared at the tree man for a long time. "And how am I supposed to do that?"
        "If I knew, I'd have done it myself."
        Marlayna stood, slowly making her way around the room. "This isn't real. It's a dream."
        "How do you know? Perhaps this is reality and your waking world is the dream."
        "I can't afford to think that way."
        "We can't afford for you to believe otherwise. Don't you see? You are our only hope. If you desert us, if magic is not restored, we will fade from existence. That is why you've returned."
        Marlayna walked to the cave's entrance and looked out. By the light of day, the forest was both peaceful and beautiful. If it wasn't real, it should have been. "What must I do?"
        "You must cross the River of Time. No one has been able to, since the Grand Dawteer has stolen the magic."
        "How am I to then?
        "You'll find a way."
        Or the Lands Beyond would fade from existence. Vaguely she remembered crossing that fabled river before. She had been on a raft. At the fore, a slender, well muscled man guided the craft. She could see him clearly, the sun reflecting off his intelligent blue eyes. Marlayna drew a breath.
        "Is Keryl still around?"
        Elvar nodded. "The ferryman still lives, but refuses to make the trip."
        "He'll make it for me."
        

 

"Dream Sequence" Copyright © 2003. Steve Lazarowitz. Reprinted by permission of the author. All rights reserved by the author. Please do not copy without permission.

 

 

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Author Bio

Steve Lazarowitz

Steve Lazarowitz is a writer with a singular goal. He tries to make people think. His short fiction has been compared to The Twilight Zone, which very much appeals to him. "We live in a world of wonders, some of which are shrouded in shadow. My job is to remind people of that.."

His award winning short stories and innovative articles and essays have appeared in Jackhammer, Exodus, Planet Relish, The Wandering Troll, The Hood, Conflicting Spectrums, Dream Forge, Aphelion, Titan, Twilight Times and many other ezines.

More information on his writing can be found at his web site.

 

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To order this book:
Format: Trade Paperback
    Available at
Amazon;  Bamm.com;  Barnes & Noble;  Borders;  other Bookstores
List Price: $16.95 USD

 

  Reviews

Man may be but a pawn in the hands of Fate, but from time to time man manages to give Fate a well- aimed kick in the... never mind. Just a well-aimed kick. That's the theme of the new science-fiction, fantasy and horror anthology "Dream Sequence," by Steve Lazarowitz.

Lazarowitz is a well-known, prize-winning Internet fiction writer. In his first anthology, A Creative Edge, he whetted his readers appetites for the off-trail, the unusual and certainly the unexpected in story development.

He feeds this appetite generously in Dream Sequence. An introduction by another well-known Internet writer, SN Jonhannsen Pitt, warns readers, "If you have never read anything by Steve Lazarowitz, then it is safe to say, you should brace yourself. Get a seat belt and strap yourself in, before proceeding to the rest of this book. Perhaps you might consider taking a stiff drink as well."

These safety elements aren't required, of course. But when angels and devils jump into their race cars for a match that will decide the fate of human souls, as in "Brimstone and Nitro," a seat belt isn't a bad idea.

At a slower speed, but equally haunting, is the title story, "Dream Sequence." Its main character has to determine which world is real - the day-to-day one she seems to inhabit, or the dream-fantasy one where her sorrows and heartbreak change not only the weather but the entire world.

In "Alien College," aliens offer the chance to attend, free, their off-world college of superior knowledge. Although the tuition is free, the hidden costs could be a killer.

It's hard to select the most bizarre tale from this engrossing collection. But a reader would have to go far to find something more piquant to the imagination than "The Gift." After all, how many spare eyeballs can anyone use?

But the purpose here is not to prematurely open the jack-in-the-box plot twists that keep a reader scrolling as fast as possible down the pages of "Dream Sequence." The purpose is simply to state that for those who like a ride through a fictional fun house, where it's not easy to tell reality from illusion - even after the story is finished - "Dream Sequence" will offer a good read. And it will leave some intriguingly nagging questions in the reader's mind long after the book is finished.

Maybe Lazarowitz will answer some of them in his next book. But probably not - he'll just ask more, as he usually does.

Reviewed by Jean Goldstrom, founding editor of Anotherealm.
 



Science fiction, fantasy, and horror fans who spend any amount of time on the web should be well-versed in the chronicles of Steve Lazarowitz. Story by story and column after column he has paid his dues and made the climb from struggling writer to author. (Perhaps still struggling, but that is the nature of his chosen vocation.) Finally, that hard work has paid off, as the first of two short story collections hits the market.

At last, readers can fill up on Lazarowitz without jumping from site to site. Here it is, laid out before you: a smorgasbord of Steve. And, as befits a truly noteworthy buffet, there is a little bit of everything for you to sample. So, spread that napkin on your lap, keep an eye on the dessert table, and tuck in.

If you'd like to start out with something light, there are a few whimsical, teasing selections. "Brand Awareness" is a short-short that will bring a smile to your face or maybe a groan to your lips. If you can get through the playful "Alchemy 101" without once flashing on a mental image of Mickey Mouse in a wizard robe, you are a stronger person than me. But, if you prefer a bit more darkness in your humour, you will want to go straight to "Brimstone and Nitro." The afterlife may not be quite what some people are expecting...

Ready for some SF? Discover "The Fate of the Ambrose Colony" and you might want to reconsider signing up for that NASA mission. You might also want to take that money you've been stashing away for a time machine after you learn the fate of one "Time Diver." Like many of Lazarowitz' protagonists, Mr. Tanner is a testament to the fact that justice maybe a bit tardy, but it almost always arrives. On the same path of paying the piper, squirm at the horrifying truth in "Alien College," one of the most compelling offerings in Dream Sequence.

As our hero Michael admits, "there is no such thing as a free lunch."

Now that you're all warmed up, go straight for the horror. Take a moment during your reading of "Life and Death in the EDMC" to experience the nightmarish setting and the air of hopelessness. Again, justice will not be denied. Neither will a little thing like death, as you'll see in "Tales from Beyond." At the rate Lazarowitz is churning out fiction, you might wonder if that is a bit of autobiography, many years premature.

But don't leave before you try one of the fantasy selections. "The Challenge" even provides a touch of the risqué with its tale of magic and deception. And, in "The Devil's Dawn," treachery appears again -- more rough and testosterone-charged, but a blend of magic and deception all the same.

All that and there are still stories I didn't have time to trot out for you. Hard to believe all those pieces came from the mind of one man? You have just scratched the surface; Lazarowitz is a man of the genres and there is so much more to come.

Better start reading now if you entertain any hope of keeping up with this flexible and fruitful storyteller.

Copyright © Lisa DuMond, reviewer for The SF Site.
 



Those who have had the pleasure of meeting Steve Lazarowitz and his work already know what I'm going to say about Dream Sequence and other tales from beyond. The rest of you don't know what you've been missing.

This is one of two collections of Steve's work currently available in electronic bindings. The other one, A Creative Edge, contains a batch of his early work, including one Preditors & Editor's Poll winner and one nominee. The title tale has been picked for this year's Best of the Web Anthology by Eternity Ezine. The stories in Dream Sequence are some of his later work, and they have a slightly different flavor...

The title tale is a fantasy that gently questions whether the line we've drawn between sanity and madness may not be just a bit too arbitrary. In "Brimstone and Nitro," one of my personal favorites, the denizens of Heaven and Hell duel over who gets what part of earth by drag-racing muscle cars. "The Fate of Ambrose Colony" will give you a whole new viewpoint about gypsy moths and "The Gift," a story about friendship and sacrifice, manages to be both macabre and inspiring at the same time. In "Tales from Beyond," another favorite, he offers a kind of tribute to the late Rod Serling-and the ultimate obsessive-compulsive writer.

That kind of skewed vision, and the ability to handle it with the aplomb of a pretzel-maker tying knots, is what makes Steve such fun to read. Just when you're sure you know exactly what's going to happen, he spins you around and takes you into a completely different direction. And makes you like it. His characters tend to be the social outcasts, the misfits who have something about them that sets "normal" people's teeth on edge. Yet often it's those misfits who turn out to have a true sense of what's real and what isn't. There's also a touch of ironic humor in most of the stories, but one that never gets bitter or sarcastic.

If you like your SF and fantasy with a bit of a bite, then introduce yourself to Steve Lazarowitz--and prepare to be entertained.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Burton, publisher and editor of The Blue Iris Journal.
 



If your reading mania is science fiction and fantasy combined with a dab of horror, then you don't want to miss DREAM SEQUENCE, by Steve Lazarowitz, especially if you have a thing for bizarre endings.

DREAM SEQUENCE is an accumulation of 16 stories told by a gifted writer destined to rival the current masters of speculative fiction. His unique tales carried me to realms I never even imagined. For instance a university where students gained a free education on a world of sentient insects, a time and place that banned childbirth and held death lotteries to control Earth's population, and a future where unlimited access to the internet is not a fantasy, but the price of the service is out of this world. Believe me, this collection runs the gauntlet of extreme. Impossible, weird, unique, and even a little twisted.

I have to admit I found some stories I read more than once. Like, TIME DIVER, where the equivalent elapsed time negative 729.4 days caused only a moment of disorientation, but gave Jerry Tanner a second chance to recapture his lost love. THE GIFT, gives a new meaning to squeamish, when a man has his eyes surgically removed and plaqued to protect his friend. I found myself squirming before that second coat of varnish. But my favorite was BRIMSTONE AND NITRO, which takes place in a town called Destiny where auto races between angels and demons determine territorial jurisdiction of mankind.

Steve Lazarowitz writes from the raw gut and exposes you to your own emotional demons, daring you to deny the possibilities... What if?

Reviewed by Priscilla A. Maine, author of Journey of the Eagle and Angels Unaware.
 



"...There's both horror and SF in here and there is a good blend that should please everyone. Three of the stories are from ezines and thirteen are new to this edition.

From the title story, about trying to bring magic back to the land, to a magical duel in the Challenge, to the diary of a werewolf in A Wolf's Tale, and Alchemy 101 in which Pegeman the Alchemist has trouble finding virgin blood; here are a few of the magical entries.

The Fate of Ambrose Colony is a tale of space travel with a horror ending that shows that Steve may be a bit warped like that King fellow. Alien College is a first contact story with a gotcha ending. Webscape shows what can happen if you find a web-server with rates too low. It's hard to decide if Tales from Beyond, about a TV ghostwriter, or Worlds Apart, a SF tale about walls and what may be on the other side of them is the best story of the lot.

You will have to get this one for yourself. It's filled with a bunch of good stories and even a laugh or two as Lazarowitz shares his creations with all of us. I'm ready to see more, and soon.

Reviewed by Barry Hunter, publisher and editor of Baryon OnLine.
 



This is an anthology like no other. Normally I would stick to the review format with all of my reviews, but there are times that there are exceptions, this being one of them. To stay with the normal precedent would be a bit difficult since Dream Sequence and Other Tales From Beyond is an anthology with 20 stories within it and to touch base on every single one would be endless. I think whetting the appetites of readers with a few honourable mentions to some of the tales might be enough to have them hurrying to the publisher for a copy of their own.

With Dream Sequence and Other Tales From Beyond, be prepared to be swept away into the science fiction/fantasy realms with this anthology. Each story is a showcase in itself of wonder, substance, powerful writing and uniqueness. There are 20 tales delving into fantasy and science fiction like I have never encountered before.

A few examples of these stories which I found to some of the best within the book, one being the lead title itself, Dream Sequence. We read of Marlayna who isn't sure what her everyday life really is...fantasy or reality. Marlyana is the only one who can save the Land Beyond and it's a riveting and intriguing tale into the world beyond and the magic she possesses.

Another tale I truly enjoyed was Perchance to Dream. Robert's bordering on the edge of a breakdown from the sleep he is under too often. He is a saviour/protector to mankind, he feels his mind and his body is letting him down and fights for a rest. This is a passionate tale about a formidable man.

Brimstone and Nitro is one heck of an adrenaline rush as Angels and Demons (Heaven and Hell, Good vs. Evil), fight for their pieces of Earth. But they don't fight with guns, swords or weaponry, they drag race powerful cars to determine the winner. Archangel Raphael and Lilith were intriguing and draw a reader in. Besides the adrenaline rush, being partial to any mere mention of a '69 Ford Mustang myself, this tale is definitely one reason to read this anthology for this and the fact that Angels are portrayed a lot more fascinatingly than I have ever read before.

My absolute favourite though had to be The Gift. This tale is set in Sharon Springs and is about friendship, love and how far we would go to save another person. Mark Marino is psychic and sees things that happen long before they do. This is a creative and emotional tale that is inspiring and profound.

While I could go on and on about these stories in Dream Sequence and Other Tales From Beyond, all I can only hope to stress, is the hope that readers would take a chance on it and be captivated by Steve Lazarowitz's words and creativity for the unknown and the potential of different things. Each story offers its own uniqueness and brand of entertainment, and this author's words really take hold the reader. The reader may begin to question everything. Questions will come to mind, most beginning with "What if", and the mysteries and possibilities of it all, remain with the reader days later.

For cutting-edge science fiction and thought provoking words, Dream Sequence and Other Tales From Beyond is a book that fulfills all the above and much, much more.

Reviewed by Tracey for Fallen Angel reviews.
 



In Steve Lazarowitz's recently published collection of short stories he displays an ability to turn well-worn themes such as werewolf myths, dreams and ghost stories into refreshing variations. This is probably because he lacks the pretentiousness of more jaded authors needing to convey some notion of literary virtue. Particularly intriguing is the reversal of sleep deprivation in Perchance to Dream. His idea of aliens attacking humans in dream space has more to do with the Buddhist exhortation to know our own demons than the special effects of The Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. There is even a ghost story that harks back to the Rod Sterling TV series The Twilight Zone. Steve Lazarowitz has a clean, assured and lucid style that is readable and rewarding.

Reviewed by Jane Palmer

 

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