The Experiment of Dreams

Ben has suffered from aura headaches since he was a child and has made decent financial gains from being a guinea pig most of his adult life. When offered a substantial cash compensation to continue doing basically the same studies, but for a private investor, and all he has to do is travel the world and look at art, Ben jumps at the chance, as he has nothing to lose. Having lost his wife several years earlier, Ben drinks too much and finds the world has very little to offer him and eagerly takes the mysterious assignment. When Ben starts having weird dreams, reality and dreams merge and his mind and world crumble around him.

It’s rare these days to pick up a book and be able to call it a unique work of fiction. Author Brandon Zenner takes something as simple as sleep and wraps the complexity of the brain and body into this colloquially written thrill ride. There’s no major evil terror, no outlandish alien invasion, or uprising zombie apocalypse, yet Zenner is able to make his otherwise mundane characters come to life.

Ben is a character readers can easily relate to. With one in three people suffering from a sleep disorder, life can feel tiring, and having to go it alone can lead to a volatile life; one seen in Ben with his fixation on a painting and his need for the bottle. The actions of Michael and Iain, two war veterans tired of the demands of a rugged military lifestyle, provided another place for readers to sympathize with – they find a way out, only to fall back into a similar situation under Mr. Kalispell where commands and threats are a continued way of business.

As the story progresses the reader is taken continually off guard as the story repeatedly diverges into entirely new directions. Readers will never see the ending coming, which might result in mixed feelings but will definitely leave you wondering if a sequel will ever come about, as this story could easily continue and some readers might not feel enough closure ending here.

Overall, The Experiment of Dreams was a juxtaposition of genres that will beseech readers to finish the book in one sitting. The twists and turns of the plot will leave your head reeling and possibly questioning your own mental state for a moment. If you are looking for a tempestuous thriller, look no further as this book will surely fill the void.