A Dream of Waking Life

By: E. S. Fein

Narrated by: Betty BAT

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Take the plunge down the rabbit hole of insanity and wonder in this fast-paced, nonstop psychological thriller that will leave you questioning the very nature of reality and beyond. Part thriller, part romance, part existential horror, A Dream of Waking Life delves into lucid dreaming, psychedelics, existential ontology, video games, the nature of love, the nature of reality, and more.

When Matthew Willish wakes up on a cold steel floor unsure of how he got there, he begins desperately searching for answers. What Matthew doesn't realize, however, is that this is only the beginning of a journey that will ultimately send him searching other worlds for the answer to numerous profound questions, the most pressing being: is he living in reality or in a dream? Or is he just an insane man who desperately needs help?

A Dream of Waking Life is a philosophical and psychological thriller that tells the story of one man's journey through space, time, and mind to not only discover his true identity but also the love of his life—a woman who keeps slipping through his fingers and into another reality. A thought-provoking meditation on the thin line between what is real and what is not, A Dream of Waking Life will leave readers questioning how far they would go to understand the nature of their own existence and how much they would sacrifice for love.

©2022 Eric Fein (P)2023 Eric Fein

Critic reviews

"This is the kind of story I wish I could read more. I've been chasing the high of a well thought out mind bender since I first saw Donnie Darko. E. S. Fein really nails it...Buckle up and open your mind. You're about to go for a reality bending ride."—Author Derek Lukachko

This is for PKD lovers

I loved this novel and yes till chapter twenty I could feel the frustration and confusion of Matt. I just hoped that I would get some clarity but it was meant to be like this. I loved the ending more because it made a subtle point that either we could waste our eternal existence in search for a concept in our head or we could learn to honour, whatever is in front of us despite it being a dream or reality. This novel at times reminded me of "Ubik" by PKD. There was this phrase in it- "I am alive and you are dead"

The voice actress did a great job with narration too! She narrated everything with feeling.