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Gateway to Reality
His world isn't real. But his dreams are.
Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.
Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn't real. A harrowing truth presents itself--the real world lies in his dreams, not when he's wide awake.
The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes's parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.
Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.
But now he has feelings for the real Emily.
If you enjoy a mind-twisting romp through unimaginable dimensions, pulled by a quest for lost love, start reading Gateway to Reality today.
Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.
Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn't real. A harrowing truth presents itself--the real world lies in his dreams, not when he's wide awake.
The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes's parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.
Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.
But now he has feelings for the real Emily.
If you enjoy a mind-twisting romp through unimaginable dimensions, pulled by a quest for lost love, start reading Gateway to Reality today.
244 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2013
267 people want to read
About the author
Becca J. Campbell
16 books285 followersBecca writes New Adult (college age) fiction that's typically Urban Fantasy but often ranges anywhere from Science Fiction to Thrillers. Her writing typically involves a bit of the fantastical with an emphasis on relationships. She is addicted to thinking up cool, super-human abilities and the tragic downsides that go along with them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 1, 2017
The author provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.
Becca J. Campbell’s well-written novel Gateway to Reality is truly original. The author explores reality versus dreams. Wes Teague is waiting tables like so many talented artists. Everything changes for him after a life altering dream. Wes’ ‘dreamlike’ state immediately draws the reader into his world. It is an original story of discovery, personal and emotional growth. The author brilliantly shows the reader Wes’ new world through his eyes. Wes’ character is strong, resilient, determined and comfortable in his own skin. His pure spirit craves honesty, truth and knowledge. He is a positive force. Wes’ openness to his self-discovery is refreshing. The secondary characters add depth and insight as well. To say that Gateway to Reality by Becca J. Campbell is page-turner is an understatement.
Becca J. Campbell’s well-written novel Gateway to Reality is truly original. The author explores reality versus dreams. Wes Teague is waiting tables like so many talented artists. Everything changes for him after a life altering dream. Wes’ ‘dreamlike’ state immediately draws the reader into his world. It is an original story of discovery, personal and emotional growth. The author brilliantly shows the reader Wes’ new world through his eyes. Wes’ character is strong, resilient, determined and comfortable in his own skin. His pure spirit craves honesty, truth and knowledge. He is a positive force. Wes’ openness to his self-discovery is refreshing. The secondary characters add depth and insight as well. To say that Gateway to Reality by Becca J. Campbell is page-turner is an understatement.
March 31, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Speculative Fiction
Reading Level: New Adult (references works written to appeal to ages 18 – 23)
Recommended for: People who enjoy a mind-trip of a story
Trigger Warnings: Violence and destruction, assault on a woman
My Thoughts: The idea behind this book really appeals to me. I frequently have very vivid dreams, dreams that feel more real to me than reality. I recall one when I realized I was starting to wake up where I actually grabbed onto another person in the dream and begged them to help me stay in the dream world! So, the idea of the sort of dream world that Wes experiences... it appealed to me.
This book is often really trippy. That fact that so much of it reminded me of some of the crazy-vivid dreams I've had in the past freaked me out at times. But I really enjoyed it overall. I was a little bothered by the fact that there was no resolution to the Brune/Destructives issue, but it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the story—and I remind myself that not everything in life is neatly resolved, either.
If you like a story that will seriously twist your mind, you will enjoy Gateway to Reality. There is really no easy way to explain it; you simply have to experience it. So do so today!
Blog Tour and Blog Stops: I have several blog posts associated with this book. Each will be linked here (on sites where formatting allowed; if you are not reading this on one of those sites, please visit my blog, Now is Gone, a link to which is in my profiles on all sites).
Cover Reveal: I posted a cover reveal for this book on January 22, 2013
Blog Blitz: I hosted Becca J. Campbell for a Blog Blitz on March 26, 2013
Scavenger Hunt Schedule: I posted up the schedule for the Scavenger Hunt on March 30, 2013
Scavenger Hunt: My stop on the Scavenger Hunt will be April 12, 2013, which will also feature this review and the Rafflecopter form for the giveaway (also on the Blog Blitz post)
Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review, and am taking part in the blog tour. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.
Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn't real. A harrowing truth presents itself—the real world lies in his dreams, not when he's wide awake.
The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes's parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.
Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.
But now he has feelings for the real Emily.
April 24, 2013
I'd been on the look out for some fiction that examined reality for some time. I happened upon Becca J. Campbell's book GATEWAY TO REALITY quite by accident and now I'm so very glad I did. It's a difficult task for a writer to embark on explaining the inexplicable. Everybody has their suspicions about reality and yet much of the time the boundaries of our existence are stubbornly set-- in other words, people enjoy the question, but might not desire the answer.
Campbell has given her version of a twisted reality and it's awe inspiring. First, everyday life is a dream, a place called the Logisverse. Second, a dreamlike place called the EXISTENCE is the true reality. The main character has great difficulty accepting this premise because something crucial in his mind is broken, allowing him to remember everything from the EXISTENCE when he awakens in the everyday world (Logisverse).
To reveal much more about life within EXISTENCE would diminish some of the charm of GATEWAY TO REALITY. Campbell takes complex material and turns it into a riveting romantic fantasy. The story doesn't try to make any sweeping gestures toward what it means to be human, nor does it pause to elucidate on why all people's Logiverse contains the same laws-- and maybe that's sufficient. If the illogical in dreams cannot be explained in a logical world, then perhaps the logic of dreams cannot be explained in an illogical world.
Campbell is a first rate writer and I cannot wait for the next books in the series. Highly recommended.
Campbell has given her version of a twisted reality and it's awe inspiring. First, everyday life is a dream, a place called the Logisverse. Second, a dreamlike place called the EXISTENCE is the true reality. The main character has great difficulty accepting this premise because something crucial in his mind is broken, allowing him to remember everything from the EXISTENCE when he awakens in the everyday world (Logisverse).
To reveal much more about life within EXISTENCE would diminish some of the charm of GATEWAY TO REALITY. Campbell takes complex material and turns it into a riveting romantic fantasy. The story doesn't try to make any sweeping gestures toward what it means to be human, nor does it pause to elucidate on why all people's Logiverse contains the same laws-- and maybe that's sufficient. If the illogical in dreams cannot be explained in a logical world, then perhaps the logic of dreams cannot be explained in an illogical world.
Campbell is a first rate writer and I cannot wait for the next books in the series. Highly recommended.
July 29, 2013
This was supposed to be posted during the blogger book fair but the Internets didn't play nice.
What is the Blogger book fair?
It's two weeks every year that I get to make myself go crazy with contest, reviews, blog posts, and have the ability to meet hundreds of new authors all in one week.
A slight hiccup in Internet ability delayed the last three of my reviews, but I promise they'll be posted quickly. I've done what I could and given them stars/reviews on GoodReads, but there was no way I was tapping out a 500 word (or so review) on a tablet. It's incredibly frustrating to tap things when you can type at 90 words a minute.
Click Above Image to buy on Amazon.
Is this review 5? I've lost count, but I've been enjoying reading, so that's not a bad thing at all.
This is also a rather appropriate book to review today as I'm also reviewing Along the Watchtower by David Litwack, and both deal with dream worlds.
What escape from reality will lie beneath the pages of this book?
It turns out - this was a fantastic dream world to visit.
About the Book
Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.
Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn't real. A harrowing truth presents itself--the real world lies in his dreams, not when he's wide awake.
The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes's parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.
Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.
But now he has feelings for the real Emily. (From Goodreads)
This book was the first time since the matrix that I was convinced of another reality existing in the dream state.
It's also the first book in a really long time that kept me asking "What's going to happen next???" This clearly resulted in "I'll stop reading after this chapter...or the next one...or the next..."
You get the idea.
I also have to point out the great cover. It left much to my imagination, but allowed me to meditate on in like abstract art in a gallery. It is interesting, relevant, and a beautiful fit for the cover. It also ties in very well with the title "Gateway to Reality" which only left my brain with that many more unanswered questions before reading the book.
All of them get answered of course, and with such a great cover and title, my expectations were high. I mentioned it reminded me of the matrix, and it turned out to be just as good as the movies.
Wes isn't Neo or anything, and the book is in many ways very different from The Matrix, but Campbell's ability to draw the reader into a very complex world was astounding. The character development, and attachment I felt even two chapters into this book was unbelievable. Wes, Emily, Andy and the other minor characters were all unique, and fundamentally human. The could be my friends, my family, and my acquaintances very easily.
The Virtual Logicity, Logiverse, or LV was superbly constructed, and the blurry lines between waking and dreaming were even more adept at tuning me into the book. Is this the real world, or am I dreaming?
I've had that feeling too - the same one Wes does when the world doesn't quite look real. It doesn't happen very often, and usually it's when I wake up in a strange or unfamiliar place. The sun beams in the window seem different somehow, and the sounds of reality more distant.
I loved that this book reminded me of the power of the human mind, and played with my senses all the way along.
Which world are we in, which is the 'real' world. Which one do I WANT to be real?
If you love fantasy, read this book. If you're looking for something to conjure up ideas and let your imagination fly - read this book.
About the Author
Click on Picture to visit Becca J. Campbell's website, and delight in more of her writing.
An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca J. Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity.
Becca's journey into writing began as many of her other creative endeavors do - by daring herself to try something new. The question "what if I wrote a novel?" and some hastily scribbled notes on a church handout were the inspirations that jump-started her first book. Since then, she has written half a dozen additional novels and several shorter works. (From GoodReads.)
You can find out more about her on her website here, or follow her on twitter here and facebook here.
What is the Blogger book fair?
It's two weeks every year that I get to make myself go crazy with contest, reviews, blog posts, and have the ability to meet hundreds of new authors all in one week.
A slight hiccup in Internet ability delayed the last three of my reviews, but I promise they'll be posted quickly. I've done what I could and given them stars/reviews on GoodReads, but there was no way I was tapping out a 500 word (or so review) on a tablet. It's incredibly frustrating to tap things when you can type at 90 words a minute.
Click Above Image to buy on Amazon.Is this review 5? I've lost count, but I've been enjoying reading, so that's not a bad thing at all.
This is also a rather appropriate book to review today as I'm also reviewing Along the Watchtower by David Litwack, and both deal with dream worlds.
What escape from reality will lie beneath the pages of this book?
It turns out - this was a fantastic dream world to visit.
About the Book
Talented artists shouldn’t be waiting tables, scraping by, and living mediocre lives. But that’s exactly what art school graduate Wes Teague is doing.
Then he wakes from a bizarre dream, haunted by the sense that his life isn't real. A harrowing truth presents itself--the real world lies in his dreams, not when he's wide awake.
The dream world he enters each night is rich and vibrant. Chicago appears the same on the surface, but chaos runs rampant as gravity, physics, and other laws of nature become fluid, changing unexpectedly. There, Wes's parents, brother, and sister are strangers. His girlfriend Emily doesn’t recognize him. Wes longs to return, to unlearn the truth about his dual reality.
Wes would sacrifice almost anything to get back to blissful ignorance in a false world.
But now he has feelings for the real Emily. (From Goodreads)
This book was the first time since the matrix that I was convinced of another reality existing in the dream state.
It's also the first book in a really long time that kept me asking "What's going to happen next???" This clearly resulted in "I'll stop reading after this chapter...or the next one...or the next..."
You get the idea.
I also have to point out the great cover. It left much to my imagination, but allowed me to meditate on in like abstract art in a gallery. It is interesting, relevant, and a beautiful fit for the cover. It also ties in very well with the title "Gateway to Reality" which only left my brain with that many more unanswered questions before reading the book.
All of them get answered of course, and with such a great cover and title, my expectations were high. I mentioned it reminded me of the matrix, and it turned out to be just as good as the movies.
Wes isn't Neo or anything, and the book is in many ways very different from The Matrix, but Campbell's ability to draw the reader into a very complex world was astounding. The character development, and attachment I felt even two chapters into this book was unbelievable. Wes, Emily, Andy and the other minor characters were all unique, and fundamentally human. The could be my friends, my family, and my acquaintances very easily.
The Virtual Logicity, Logiverse, or LV was superbly constructed, and the blurry lines between waking and dreaming were even more adept at tuning me into the book. Is this the real world, or am I dreaming?
I've had that feeling too - the same one Wes does when the world doesn't quite look real. It doesn't happen very often, and usually it's when I wake up in a strange or unfamiliar place. The sun beams in the window seem different somehow, and the sounds of reality more distant.
I loved that this book reminded me of the power of the human mind, and played with my senses all the way along.
Which world are we in, which is the 'real' world. Which one do I WANT to be real?
If you love fantasy, read this book. If you're looking for something to conjure up ideas and let your imagination fly - read this book.
About the Author
Click on Picture to visit Becca J. Campbell's website, and delight in more of her writing.An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca J. Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity.
Becca's journey into writing began as many of her other creative endeavors do - by daring herself to try something new. The question "what if I wrote a novel?" and some hastily scribbled notes on a church handout were the inspirations that jump-started her first book. Since then, she has written half a dozen additional novels and several shorter works. (From GoodReads.)
You can find out more about her on her website here, or follow her on twitter here and facebook here.
January 6, 2022
Something is off-kilter in Wes Teague's world.
Wes feels like life has an unreal or dream-like quality whereas his dreams are so much clearer (even with their acid-trip chaos). As the truth unfolds, he discovers that his dream world is actually real and what he's thought of as reality is an extremely addictive "construct" of his artist’s imagination. Friends in the real world or "The Existence" people Wes's dream world or "Logiverse" (LV, for short) in both similar and widely divergent roles. His best friend, Andy, is also his best friend in his dream world of Chicago. However, the girl he only longs for from the sidelines in “The Existence” is his long-time girlfriend in the LV. Wes is an artist in the LV; a CREATIVE (or world builder) in “The Existence.” These created worlds - private imaginary spaces - are open to anyone that can find them (all you have to know is the name of the world). Wes and Andy (who has an especially lively world - Andy's Awesome Zone!), travel between locations in “The Existence” by means of portals and dodge black holes that suck people into non-existence along the way. Other inhabitants have their ways and means of travel. Desired girlfriend, Emily, travels in a puff of green smoke.
Author Becca Campbell has created an amazing multi-faceted world herself, and you don’t have to exude green smoke to get there. With interesting characters, mystery, and most definitely some romance, I can honestly recommend Gateway to Reality to other readers. On another note, this book reminded me of the 1970s fantasy series by Roger Zelazny - the Amber Chronicles. The last of those novels was published in the early 90s (I believe) so I was delighted with the elements that made me think about those great stories. Other fans of that series may also enjoy this updated, contemporary tale.
August 14, 2013
This was such a fascinating concept, and so brilliantly told. Becca J Campbell is more than an author, she is an artist. She painted the worlds so clearly, the images so vivid and real. I didn't quite connect with Wes or Emily, but I think that just boils down to personalities. The characters were still very well written and their story was still very engaging.
Spoilers ahead!
I love how Wes is spending the entire story discovering so much about himself and truly growing. You can see the evolution of his character clearly and consistently. Being faced with the choice to live in the LV and pursue things with the Emily he has a history with (in a world full of personal connections, where his family actually exists), and the choice of accepting this illogical world to pursue a life--and Emily--there was very well played out. He didn't spend too much time being angsty over the decision or too much time in denial, which I definitely appreciate in an alternate universe story. I kept waiting for him to wake up and discover the Existence was the dream and to have all his problems figured out through this crazy dream, and it was really refreshing that this didn't happen.
Sometimes the most illogical part about us can be our hearts, and I was glad to see Wes follow his.
Spoilers ahead!
I love how Wes is spending the entire story discovering so much about himself and truly growing. You can see the evolution of his character clearly and consistently. Being faced with the choice to live in the LV and pursue things with the Emily he has a history with (in a world full of personal connections, where his family actually exists), and the choice of accepting this illogical world to pursue a life--and Emily--there was very well played out. He didn't spend too much time being angsty over the decision or too much time in denial, which I definitely appreciate in an alternate universe story. I kept waiting for him to wake up and discover the Existence was the dream and to have all his problems figured out through this crazy dream, and it was really refreshing that this didn't happen.
Sometimes the most illogical part about us can be our hearts, and I was glad to see Wes follow his.
March 25, 2013
Becca J Campbell's newest novel, Gateway to Reality, is a science fiction story that turns our perception of what is real and what is fantasy on its head. In the book, Wes discovers that our world is not real. In fact, it is a creation of our minds as an escape from the real Existence, where nothing makes sense and logic doesn’t exist. But the worlds are more connected than we think…
I loved Gateway to Reality. If you’ve read the Circle books by Ted Dekker, they are similar in that when a character is asleep in our world, he awakes in the other. But beyond that, this is a new a original story that will take you to another world, root you there with lovable characters, and drive you forward with an intriguing and mysterious storyline. Fans of Becca J Campbell’s other works such as Foreign Identity and the Sub-Normal Series will love her latest. Not only does she demonstrate once again that she is a master of science fiction, but she eloquently weaves a love story into the mix and wraps it together with a message of staying true to what is real and not being bound to a fantasy.
I would definitely recommend Gateway to Reality and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I loved Gateway to Reality. If you’ve read the Circle books by Ted Dekker, they are similar in that when a character is asleep in our world, he awakes in the other. But beyond that, this is a new a original story that will take you to another world, root you there with lovable characters, and drive you forward with an intriguing and mysterious storyline. Fans of Becca J Campbell’s other works such as Foreign Identity and the Sub-Normal Series will love her latest. Not only does she demonstrate once again that she is a master of science fiction, but she eloquently weaves a love story into the mix and wraps it together with a message of staying true to what is real and not being bound to a fantasy.
I would definitely recommend Gateway to Reality and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
April 9, 2013
Gateway to Reality is an amazing read. There is so much here that makes you think twice about the world we live in.
Becca J. Campbell's world building is especially remarkable. The craziness of the "real world" is close to what we would associate as a dream and our main character quickly discovers that unexpected things happen quite often and the people in the Existence have to be ready for anything at any moment.
The main character is easy to relate with. He's just figuring out that everything he knows is flip-flopped.
The story is full of twists and turns and keeps you interested. I read this book very quickly because I had a hard time putting it down!
The science fiction aspect is awesome. There is a little mystery and romance. There is action and adventure. The book is very well-rounded, I'd say.
This book will challenge your mind and I can't wait to see more from the series. I give it 5 stars and recommend this book to people who like psychologically challenging science fiction.
Becca J. Campbell's world building is especially remarkable. The craziness of the "real world" is close to what we would associate as a dream and our main character quickly discovers that unexpected things happen quite often and the people in the Existence have to be ready for anything at any moment.
The main character is easy to relate with. He's just figuring out that everything he knows is flip-flopped.
The story is full of twists and turns and keeps you interested. I read this book very quickly because I had a hard time putting it down!
The science fiction aspect is awesome. There is a little mystery and romance. There is action and adventure. The book is very well-rounded, I'd say.
This book will challenge your mind and I can't wait to see more from the series. I give it 5 stars and recommend this book to people who like psychologically challenging science fiction.
August 10, 2013
In my mind, this is a 3.5 review, but I'm rounding up to 4 due to it being such a great concept and for delivering such a solid ending. The beginning was, for me, somewhat rocky, but in hindsight I attribute that to Becca's daunting task of setting up a vastly interconnected dynamic of parallel worlds, real and virtual selves, and each with its own governing set of rules. After pushing through to the fifth chapter the story really hit its stride. The characters, who seemed heavily comic at first, quickly gelled into complex characters with intricately interconnected motivations and hangups. The whole dynamic of Becca's Logiverse vs Existence is equally complex and intriguing. Other people have given sketches as to the plot, so I will not do so here, but I will say the book delivers some solid punches and at least one great plot twist I did not see coming. A worthy read, with all the promise of an author whose craft, I am sure, will grow stronger with subsequent publications. A definite recommendation for hard core scifi fans out there.
July 30, 2013
Rating: Just Right, 4 stars!
Recommendation: It is a good read, worth your time!
The main character, Wes Teague, must face a major dilemma; remain living in a dream or accept his true reality. At the height of the conflict is the beautiful Emily. In his dreams, she is his girlfriend but in reality she doesn’t recognize him. Author, Becca Campbell, leads you straight into conflicting realities where Wes must make a choice that will change everything.
The first chapter was interesting but took a little effort to get involved. Beyond the second chapter, the speed increased and I could not stop reading until I knew what choices Wes would make and what the consequences would be. At moments, I found myself skimming through details explaining the logistics. Romance between the main characters was strained in both realities. Otherwise, the story continued to keep my attention as it built an intriguing world within a chaotic reality.
I am definitely in the FAN ZONE! I will be ready for the next book in this series.
Jana
anovelreality.blogspot.com
Recommendation: It is a good read, worth your time!
The main character, Wes Teague, must face a major dilemma; remain living in a dream or accept his true reality. At the height of the conflict is the beautiful Emily. In his dreams, she is his girlfriend but in reality she doesn’t recognize him. Author, Becca Campbell, leads you straight into conflicting realities where Wes must make a choice that will change everything.
The first chapter was interesting but took a little effort to get involved. Beyond the second chapter, the speed increased and I could not stop reading until I knew what choices Wes would make and what the consequences would be. At moments, I found myself skimming through details explaining the logistics. Romance between the main characters was strained in both realities. Otherwise, the story continued to keep my attention as it built an intriguing world within a chaotic reality.
I am definitely in the FAN ZONE! I will be ready for the next book in this series.
Jana
anovelreality.blogspot.com
August 2, 2013
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Oof. Another book with a promising story line that was ruined by ineffective execution.
In a Matrix-type situation, Wes slowly discovers that what he thought was reality is, in fact, a figment of his imagination and that the "real" reality defies logic and physics and is, in fact, a figment of everyone's imagination.
This could have become a very twisty-turny story with everyone questioning which reality is real. Instead, it turned into a plodding, bizarro world "Chasing Amy" kind of plot. I would have been happier to hang out with Wes's party-boy friend than listen to him moan after a woman for 300+ pages.
There were also a lot of little sub-plots that were thrown out there, then forgotten. His sister disappearing into the Bean sculpture, for example. It seemed important at the time, then it just sort of went away. I kept waiting for an explanation, and it never happened.
Overall, I found this a frustrating read and was hard-put to finish it. Two stars, and that's being generous.
Oof. Another book with a promising story line that was ruined by ineffective execution.
In a Matrix-type situation, Wes slowly discovers that what he thought was reality is, in fact, a figment of his imagination and that the "real" reality defies logic and physics and is, in fact, a figment of everyone's imagination.
This could have become a very twisty-turny story with everyone questioning which reality is real. Instead, it turned into a plodding, bizarro world "Chasing Amy" kind of plot. I would have been happier to hang out with Wes's party-boy friend than listen to him moan after a woman for 300+ pages.
There were also a lot of little sub-plots that were thrown out there, then forgotten. His sister disappearing into the Bean sculpture, for example. It seemed important at the time, then it just sort of went away. I kept waiting for an explanation, and it never happened.
Overall, I found this a frustrating read and was hard-put to finish it. Two stars, and that's being generous.
March 16, 2013
Wes stumbles onto a revelation about his reality. He exists in two worlds and uncovers which one is real. With that discovery, he searches for which world ultimately gives him purpose and a home. It's not an easy choice. In one, he has won Emily and lost her, but still holds the key to rekindling their relationship. In the other, there is no tether to Emily. In fact, she's downright hostile to his overtures.
Which Emily will he woo? Which life can he wrest control of and retain his identity?
Gateway to Reality asks big questions of one's purpose, place and search for love. It's a probing romance cloaked in science fiction trappings.
Once again, Becca Campbell twists and molds multiple genres to concoct a piece that is a true original.
The author supplied me with an advance copy in exchange for a fair review.
Which Emily will he woo? Which life can he wrest control of and retain his identity?
Gateway to Reality asks big questions of one's purpose, place and search for love. It's a probing romance cloaked in science fiction trappings.
Once again, Becca Campbell twists and molds multiple genres to concoct a piece that is a true original.
The author supplied me with an advance copy in exchange for a fair review.
March 26, 2013
GATEWAY TO REALITY is a great blend of sci-fi, urban fantasy, and romance. The story opens with a "What the heck...?" moment and quickly immerses the reader in Wes's plight to figure out where he is. The reader isn't left guessing for long. But while there are shades of The Matrix and Inception that sci-fi fans will love, the real fun begins when Wes finds Emily and realizes he might just have a shot at winning her back.
Adult romance stories are not really my thing, but I was impressed by the way Becca Campbell told their story while easily keeping my interest. And the freaky-weird places Wes follows Emily to are amazing, translating as well on the page as they would in a movie. My favorite scene is in the cafe, when the situation starts to fall apart...
If you haven't read anything by this accomplished author, do so!
Adult romance stories are not really my thing, but I was impressed by the way Becca Campbell told their story while easily keeping my interest. And the freaky-weird places Wes follows Emily to are amazing, translating as well on the page as they would in a movie. My favorite scene is in the cafe, when the situation starts to fall apart...
If you haven't read anything by this accomplished author, do so!
March 26, 2013
Wow! She's done it again. Gateway to Reality is a fantastic novel that completely takes you into its arms. Blending bits and pieces of fantasy, science fiction, and a kind of beauty all its own, Wes's revelations and even your own will take you for an intriguing ride along desires, needs, and decisions. Her worlds are filled with freedom for both the characters and readers - only the rules have shifted, dragging the carpet out from under you in an exciting way. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes...well, anything!
I was provided an advanced reader's copy for an honest review.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy for an honest review.
August 1, 2013
I found the book fascinating, I have a great interest in the mind and how it works and this book definitley took a good look at how the mind can do many different things and how easily it can be broken, and how addiction comes in all forms. I had meant to reply about another book, but I am defintley glad that I replied on the thread for this book. Will definitley reccommend to all I can. Can't wait for the sequel. Thanks for the chance to read. I also put this on my personal blog at http://jldock.blogspot.com/
August 12, 2017
Gateway to Reality is story that really makes you ponder life as we know it. Of course within 5 pages I see my name in a book and got excited about that. The book is well written and full of surprises. The characters are fun and exciting. I truly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of Beccas books.
I was given a copy with no expectations.
Well done Becca
I was given a copy with no expectations.
Well done Becca
January 11, 2020
Fun and disturbing! Campbell's "Gateway" takes the reader into the weird, disorienting realm of dreams. What's real? What isn't? Where's the line between your life and your fantasies? And is that line solid...or can you maybe blur it a little?
If you like for the author to play with your mind a little, this book's for you.
If you like for the author to play with your mind a little, this book's for you.
August 2, 2013
I was provided a copy of this book through Goodreads’ READ IT AND REAP program in exchange for my fair and honest review. I thank the author for this opportunity.
I really struggled with how to “rate” this read. In the end, I decided on 3-1/2 stars.
At the outset, I note that there were some (though not all that many) editing or grammatical errors and so, they were not accounted for in this review.
As to the negative aspects of the story, there were a few. First, I found Wes annoying. He whined and complained about how he might be fired for being late to work (“Who does he think he is?” Wes wonders of his boss). Then, Wes whines some more (“I need my space”), wanting to put distance between himself and Emily (his love interest), only to whine and complain even more (!) when he could not be near Emily in the “other” world. Second, I thought it odd that Wes was confused between the world where he was “awake” (the Virtual Logicity,” a world of logic, rules and order which, the reader learns, people crave) and the world of his dreams (otherwise known as the “Existence,” where chaos reigns). Even so, he accepted without question, debate or discussion, that the “dream” world was the “real” world. Also, the connection between Wes and Emily seemed real enough, I guess, but Wes’s quick turnaround to make that possible did not seem genuine. Finally, it seemed odd that when Wes went to visit his family in the Virtual Logicity (after not having seen them for some time), everyone seemed to have something better to do—sister Wendy had somewhere she needed to be, Dad was too busy to rush to see his son and Mom ran off—to play Bunco. . . .
Now, for the good points. Really, there is only one I will note—because it is so worthy of note and because it is so significant. That is, the author’s imagination and how she used it successfully to create a full alternate world. In Wes’s dream world—as in the dream world for many of us (I would venture to guess)—the rules of physics and so forth do not apply. So, for example, the buildings “swayed and danced as lithely as kelp at the bottom of the sea, pushed and pulled by some invisible current.” It is a world wherein a sculpture of a shuttlecock in a park is picked up and played with by giants; there is no death—you either exist or you do not; people create worlds out of their own imagination—worlds like Aquarius—where a person might swim with ocean life and without the need to breathe; a place where people eat for the joy of it and not for the need of it. But the one existence that I most appreciated was one that Emily had created. What made it so special was the clouds in the sky. Their shapes “morphed and changed slowly. Instead of . . . random puffing and shrinking forms, their movements were more intentional, as if by design. A cat. An elephant,” and eventually, a cat riding on an elephant’s back. Then there was in the clouds, a man in a top hat who bowed, "his coattails fluttering," while “his counterpart, a woman in a billowing dress," curtsied. They joined hands and danced. Imagine finding shapes in the clouds like that! The idea was very creative! I also enjoyed Wes skydiving with his Dad’s counterpart in the Existence—without parachutes. Because the ground wasn’t “fixed,” it just kept moving away as the skydivers drew closer. Thus, the skydivers could just keep falling forever. When Wes suggested that there really had been no need for the designer of the place to have put in a ground, he was informed that if the ground was not below somewhere, they would not be falling—they’d simply be flying! Well done!
Wes learns that, because people sometimes crave the known and certain, they are drawn to the Virtual Logicity to relax—almost like one might be drawn to a glass of wine in order to relax. So, visiting the place is like a vacation, but staying there is like an addiction. Truly, the “waking” and “dream” worlds were completely turned around, yet the author made it all work.
I really struggled with how to “rate” this read. In the end, I decided on 3-1/2 stars.
At the outset, I note that there were some (though not all that many) editing or grammatical errors and so, they were not accounted for in this review.
As to the negative aspects of the story, there were a few. First, I found Wes annoying. He whined and complained about how he might be fired for being late to work (“Who does he think he is?” Wes wonders of his boss). Then, Wes whines some more (“I need my space”), wanting to put distance between himself and Emily (his love interest), only to whine and complain even more (!) when he could not be near Emily in the “other” world. Second, I thought it odd that Wes was confused between the world where he was “awake” (the Virtual Logicity,” a world of logic, rules and order which, the reader learns, people crave) and the world of his dreams (otherwise known as the “Existence,” where chaos reigns). Even so, he accepted without question, debate or discussion, that the “dream” world was the “real” world. Also, the connection between Wes and Emily seemed real enough, I guess, but Wes’s quick turnaround to make that possible did not seem genuine. Finally, it seemed odd that when Wes went to visit his family in the Virtual Logicity (after not having seen them for some time), everyone seemed to have something better to do—sister Wendy had somewhere she needed to be, Dad was too busy to rush to see his son and Mom ran off—to play Bunco. . . .
Now, for the good points. Really, there is only one I will note—because it is so worthy of note and because it is so significant. That is, the author’s imagination and how she used it successfully to create a full alternate world. In Wes’s dream world—as in the dream world for many of us (I would venture to guess)—the rules of physics and so forth do not apply. So, for example, the buildings “swayed and danced as lithely as kelp at the bottom of the sea, pushed and pulled by some invisible current.” It is a world wherein a sculpture of a shuttlecock in a park is picked up and played with by giants; there is no death—you either exist or you do not; people create worlds out of their own imagination—worlds like Aquarius—where a person might swim with ocean life and without the need to breathe; a place where people eat for the joy of it and not for the need of it. But the one existence that I most appreciated was one that Emily had created. What made it so special was the clouds in the sky. Their shapes “morphed and changed slowly. Instead of . . . random puffing and shrinking forms, their movements were more intentional, as if by design. A cat. An elephant,” and eventually, a cat riding on an elephant’s back. Then there was in the clouds, a man in a top hat who bowed, "his coattails fluttering," while “his counterpart, a woman in a billowing dress," curtsied. They joined hands and danced. Imagine finding shapes in the clouds like that! The idea was very creative! I also enjoyed Wes skydiving with his Dad’s counterpart in the Existence—without parachutes. Because the ground wasn’t “fixed,” it just kept moving away as the skydivers drew closer. Thus, the skydivers could just keep falling forever. When Wes suggested that there really had been no need for the designer of the place to have put in a ground, he was informed that if the ground was not below somewhere, they would not be falling—they’d simply be flying! Well done!
Wes learns that, because people sometimes crave the known and certain, they are drawn to the Virtual Logicity to relax—almost like one might be drawn to a glass of wine in order to relax. So, visiting the place is like a vacation, but staying there is like an addiction. Truly, the “waking” and “dream” worlds were completely turned around, yet the author made it all work.
March 11, 2018
Read more: http://www.sarcasmandlemons.com/2013/...
I was excited about this book because it was about Chicago, art, and the lines between reality and fantasy. What I got out of it is so much more. Campbell has created a detailed and thoroughly illogical world where people disappear suddenly, a thought can create another human, and nothing is as it seems, set right next to our own world. I won't spoil the surprise, but the connection between these two worlds was very clever and brought up a lot of interesting philosophical questions about the usefulness and the dangers of fantasy. Don't worry; it wasn't a thought exercise. This book also gives you an endearing hero, a very unusual romance, and an exciting plot that kept me going til the end.
plot . 4/5
There were parts I felt were missing. Why does Wes stop worrying about Wendy, who seemed to have disappeared in one of the worlds? Why does Emily snap and let him in? I felt those things could have been addressed more. However, I was otherwise fascinated with the story and the descriptions of the other world, world-building, the weird gravity and swaying skyscrapers. The tension Wes has over which world he belongs to is a great inner conflict. This isn't good and evil; it's the struggle of the human soul. But there's also the possibility for evil--who messed with Wes' mind and memories? It's part mystery, part romance, part fantasy adventure. It starts a little slow but once you get into it, you're stuck.
concept . 5/5
Very cool. The idea of living in one world when you dream and going to the other while awake isn't new, but the idea that you could choose which one to occupy is really clever and fascinating. What makes it even better is Wes' ambivalence over which world to stay in and over which world is real, his own.
characters . 4/5
It was hard for all the characters to get equal weight. I didn't expect to become readerly besties with all of them, but there were some that seemed to come in at odd times when they hadn't been important for many chapters, or to disappear at odd times when they had. Wendy is very central in the beginning and Wes seems to forget about her. I still feel that I don't know much about her. I also feel that something was missing for me in Emily's character to understand why she finally opened up to Wes. Wes himself is delightful. He's kind of an idiot sometimes, but you enjoy him for it and feel sorry for him, because you know you'd be an idiot in his shoes. He was fun to read about, although his lovesickness did really annoy me sometimes.
style . 4/5
Campbell's style is clean and clear-cut, but she doesn't skimp on the description. That's important in a novel where many of the pieces are going to be unfamiliar to your readers. I did find myself skimming a few descriptions of Chicago things that I already recognized, but I was hooked by her descriptions of worlds in the other-world. They were so Dr. Seuss-y weird and eerie and chaotic and beautiful, and Campbell described them so perfectly that I felt lost in the atmosphere. I think outside of these descriptions is where the style was more 'meh' for me.
mechanics . 4/5
It was well polished, although it could have used some pruning of extra phrases.
take home message
A unique urban fantasy that takes the idea of reality and turns it on its head.
I was excited about this book because it was about Chicago, art, and the lines between reality and fantasy. What I got out of it is so much more. Campbell has created a detailed and thoroughly illogical world where people disappear suddenly, a thought can create another human, and nothing is as it seems, set right next to our own world. I won't spoil the surprise, but the connection between these two worlds was very clever and brought up a lot of interesting philosophical questions about the usefulness and the dangers of fantasy. Don't worry; it wasn't a thought exercise. This book also gives you an endearing hero, a very unusual romance, and an exciting plot that kept me going til the end.
plot . 4/5
There were parts I felt were missing. Why does Wes stop worrying about Wendy, who seemed to have disappeared in one of the worlds? Why does Emily snap and let him in? I felt those things could have been addressed more. However, I was otherwise fascinated with the story and the descriptions of the other world, world-building, the weird gravity and swaying skyscrapers. The tension Wes has over which world he belongs to is a great inner conflict. This isn't good and evil; it's the struggle of the human soul. But there's also the possibility for evil--who messed with Wes' mind and memories? It's part mystery, part romance, part fantasy adventure. It starts a little slow but once you get into it, you're stuck.
concept . 5/5
Very cool. The idea of living in one world when you dream and going to the other while awake isn't new, but the idea that you could choose which one to occupy is really clever and fascinating. What makes it even better is Wes' ambivalence over which world to stay in and over which world is real, his own.
characters . 4/5
It was hard for all the characters to get equal weight. I didn't expect to become readerly besties with all of them, but there were some that seemed to come in at odd times when they hadn't been important for many chapters, or to disappear at odd times when they had. Wendy is very central in the beginning and Wes seems to forget about her. I still feel that I don't know much about her. I also feel that something was missing for me in Emily's character to understand why she finally opened up to Wes. Wes himself is delightful. He's kind of an idiot sometimes, but you enjoy him for it and feel sorry for him, because you know you'd be an idiot in his shoes. He was fun to read about, although his lovesickness did really annoy me sometimes.
style . 4/5
Campbell's style is clean and clear-cut, but she doesn't skimp on the description. That's important in a novel where many of the pieces are going to be unfamiliar to your readers. I did find myself skimming a few descriptions of Chicago things that I already recognized, but I was hooked by her descriptions of worlds in the other-world. They were so Dr. Seuss-y weird and eerie and chaotic and beautiful, and Campbell described them so perfectly that I felt lost in the atmosphere. I think outside of these descriptions is where the style was more 'meh' for me.
mechanics . 4/5
It was well polished, although it could have used some pruning of extra phrases.
take home message
A unique urban fantasy that takes the idea of reality and turns it on its head.
April 26, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I have mixed feelings on this book. Structurally and technically, I think it's solid, and I really like the premise. The setting is inventive and original. Parts of it felt remniscent of Rudy Rucker's White Light, a book I quite enjoyed. But where the book ended up going was ultimately not where I wished it would go, and so I ended up with a frustrating reading experience.
To explain: the protagonist, Wes, wakes up one morning to find that the "normal" world that we live in is just a vacation spot, and the "real" world is the Existence, a chaotic plane where people have nearly limitless power to create -- or destroy. Wes finds out his girlfriend, his parents, and his entire life is a lie.
And then he just sort of rolls with it. What I found vexing about Gateway to Reality is that there was a ton of juicy potential in the setting that just didn't get explored. Everyone in the Existence is deeply invested in just accepting things as they are and not asking questions -- perhaps realistic and useful as parable, but really frustrating for me as a reader. How did the Existence come into being? Who's in charge? How does society operate without any notion of family or government, especially when people can create infinite worlds, and other life-forms, at will? How does culture develop in a chaotic vacuum without family units or traditions? The answer from the characters seems to be "who cares? I can create my own disco!"
The protagonist, Wes, is far more invested in finding the Existence-world analog of his imaginary girlfriend. Which is fine -- it roots the story in human emotions, and here, the author seems on solid footing. My personal problem with it is that Wes comes off like a creeper. He stalks his would-be girlfriend Emily, repeatedly pesters her after she repeatedly asks him to leave her alone, goes behind her back to her friends to track her down, then creates a replica apartment "for her" and is shocked and dismayed when she reacts badly. Apparently no one can create mace in this universe. Eventually, Emily gives in to his relentless advances and their romance blossoms, but as a reader, I found it really did not click for me.
Better still is when it's revealed (or at least heavily implied) that Emily is Wes' "creator" -- a notion with some pretty staggering psychological (not to mention Freudian) implications, but again, the main character just says "oh, didn't see that coming" and doesn't seem fazed in the slightest. Isn't that kind of like dating your mom? Wouldn't that cause some ontological shock? Apparently not.
I didn't dislike Gateway to Reality, and since it's apparently the first in a series, perhaps further installments will examine the setting a little more. I'm giving it three stars because I liked it, but didn't love it. The lack of answers and detail about the setting kept it from being a four-star book for me... but that's a personal preference, and you may feel differently!
I have mixed feelings on this book. Structurally and technically, I think it's solid, and I really like the premise. The setting is inventive and original. Parts of it felt remniscent of Rudy Rucker's White Light, a book I quite enjoyed. But where the book ended up going was ultimately not where I wished it would go, and so I ended up with a frustrating reading experience.
To explain: the protagonist, Wes, wakes up one morning to find that the "normal" world that we live in is just a vacation spot, and the "real" world is the Existence, a chaotic plane where people have nearly limitless power to create -- or destroy. Wes finds out his girlfriend, his parents, and his entire life is a lie.
And then he just sort of rolls with it. What I found vexing about Gateway to Reality is that there was a ton of juicy potential in the setting that just didn't get explored. Everyone in the Existence is deeply invested in just accepting things as they are and not asking questions -- perhaps realistic and useful as parable, but really frustrating for me as a reader. How did the Existence come into being? Who's in charge? How does society operate without any notion of family or government, especially when people can create infinite worlds, and other life-forms, at will? How does culture develop in a chaotic vacuum without family units or traditions? The answer from the characters seems to be "who cares? I can create my own disco!"
The protagonist, Wes, is far more invested in finding the Existence-world analog of his imaginary girlfriend. Which is fine -- it roots the story in human emotions, and here, the author seems on solid footing. My personal problem with it is that Wes comes off like a creeper. He stalks his would-be girlfriend Emily, repeatedly pesters her after she repeatedly asks him to leave her alone, goes behind her back to her friends to track her down, then creates a replica apartment "for her" and is shocked and dismayed when she reacts badly. Apparently no one can create mace in this universe. Eventually, Emily gives in to his relentless advances and their romance blossoms, but as a reader, I found it really did not click for me.
Better still is when it's revealed (or at least heavily implied) that Emily is Wes' "creator" -- a notion with some pretty staggering psychological (not to mention Freudian) implications, but again, the main character just says "oh, didn't see that coming" and doesn't seem fazed in the slightest. Isn't that kind of like dating your mom? Wouldn't that cause some ontological shock? Apparently not.
I didn't dislike Gateway to Reality, and since it's apparently the first in a series, perhaps further installments will examine the setting a little more. I'm giving it three stars because I liked it, but didn't love it. The lack of answers and detail about the setting kept it from being a four-star book for me... but that's a personal preference, and you may feel differently!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2015
(Book provided by the author through ReadIt & Reap 172 in the Shut Up & Read group, in exchange for an honest review.)
The concept of blurred boundaries, of realities that aren't what they seem, is something that I've always found quite fascinating. So, of course, I couldn't let this one pass me by. "Gateway to Reality" left me with mixed feelings, though, and it's not easy for me to give it a proper rating.
The story kept me wanting to read more, and delve deeper into the mystery of what's supposed to be the "real world": not the one we know, but one called the Existence, in people simply... exist, and where everything is possible, from building items to rooms to whole pocket-worlds, and more. It gave me a few things to ponder, starting with the necessity of having an "escape world" to go to, and how such a world can turn out to be addictive and dangerous in its own way. Besides, it also questions the human nature itself: would we be truly happy in a place where we can do and be absolutely whatever we want, or do we actually need limits for our own good? Existence and Logiverse clearly represented two extreme visions (total freedom vs. a world defined by rules), and both had their pros and cons. The fact that some people went back time and again to the LV opened a vast array of issues of its own.
The downside for me, however, was that in turn, I found the characters less compelling and defined. Wes seems to accept everything at face value, or almost, when I thought he'd be in more denial at first, or would try and find out more, in more drastic ways than he did. The book had a potential of really blurring reality and virtual existence, but it didn't quite do the trick. Maybe I was expecting a twist or two at some point, too. A few elements, too, felt like they weren't exploited. The black holes sucking people in, for instance (although there's one moment, at the end, where a clue might be provided—but that one was planned, whereas the others seemd random occurrences). Why was Wes so concerned about Emily and not about Wendy, whom he saw vanishing in such a hole (after all, in both cases, those characters weren't the ones he knew in what he believed at first to be his real world)? In fact, too many (all?) characters accept things as they are, and don't question what should be a huge question mark hanging above everyone's heads.
I guess my problem, indeed, is that I would've wanted more of those subplots to be tackled here, instead of Wes chasing after Emily the way he did. Their story might have been more enjoyable if it had developed in the second installment (since this looks like a series). I kept hoping for more, that never came. This said, I enjoyed the book nevertheless, for its world and all its yet-to-come possibilities.
The concept of blurred boundaries, of realities that aren't what they seem, is something that I've always found quite fascinating. So, of course, I couldn't let this one pass me by. "Gateway to Reality" left me with mixed feelings, though, and it's not easy for me to give it a proper rating.
The story kept me wanting to read more, and delve deeper into the mystery of what's supposed to be the "real world": not the one we know, but one called the Existence, in people simply... exist, and where everything is possible, from building items to rooms to whole pocket-worlds, and more. It gave me a few things to ponder, starting with the necessity of having an "escape world" to go to, and how such a world can turn out to be addictive and dangerous in its own way. Besides, it also questions the human nature itself: would we be truly happy in a place where we can do and be absolutely whatever we want, or do we actually need limits for our own good? Existence and Logiverse clearly represented two extreme visions (total freedom vs. a world defined by rules), and both had their pros and cons. The fact that some people went back time and again to the LV opened a vast array of issues of its own.
The downside for me, however, was that in turn, I found the characters less compelling and defined. Wes seems to accept everything at face value, or almost, when I thought he'd be in more denial at first, or would try and find out more, in more drastic ways than he did. The book had a potential of really blurring reality and virtual existence, but it didn't quite do the trick. Maybe I was expecting a twist or two at some point, too. A few elements, too, felt like they weren't exploited. The black holes sucking people in, for instance (although there's one moment, at the end, where a clue might be provided—but that one was planned, whereas the others seemd random occurrences). Why was Wes so concerned about Emily and not about Wendy, whom he saw vanishing in such a hole (after all, in both cases, those characters weren't the ones he knew in what he believed at first to be his real world)? In fact, too many (all?) characters accept things as they are, and don't question what should be a huge question mark hanging above everyone's heads.
I guess my problem, indeed, is that I would've wanted more of those subplots to be tackled here, instead of Wes chasing after Emily the way he did. Their story might have been more enjoyable if it had developed in the second installment (since this looks like a series). I kept hoping for more, that never came. This said, I enjoyed the book nevertheless, for its world and all its yet-to-come possibilities.
April 4, 2013
Becca J. Campbell's novel, Gateway to Reality, engendered high expectations after the release of her first novel, Foreign Identity, last year. I am pleased to say that Campbell's second effort has more than lived up to her first, and Gateway to Reality is a pleasing blend of science-fiction excitement and convicting personal drama that makes it a highly satisfying read.
When Wes, the protagonist, starts having strangely vivid dreams, his life takes a turn he never expected and he begins discovering things about the universe and his earthly body that he never thought he would. Confronted with an alternate dimension in which "Existence" is the only law, Wes must work to discover to which world he truly belongs, and which version of himself he an learn to live with. To compare this story to The Matrix might be apt in that Campbell has created an alternate reality for her characters in which they know the truth of their existence--namely that they are part of an unconscious construct called the Logiverse, where they believe that true reality is just a dream. But to do this would ignore the bigger questions that are being asked in the novel. Questions such as, what does it mean to exist, and given the choice, would people really choose to be a part of a world where there were no laws, no rules, and absolutely no logic to anything?
As a struggling artist in the Logiverse and a world-making Creative in the Existance, Wes represents both sides of the coin--he is given the opportunity to create freely, with unlimited prowess and materials at his disposal. But the lure of the Logiverse is always present, the limitations actually appealing to his sense of normalcy, and creating a true moral dilemma that draws in the reader and forces them to play a short game of "Would You Rather" with themselves.
In addition to the questions of life, the universe, and everything that Campbell brings to the novel, there is, of course, the realistically complicated relationship between man and woman. When flitting in and out of different perceived worlds, the hero and heroine of the novel keep finding and losing each other in different ways, and readers are never quite sure whether they will make it work, or whether, indeed, it would be desirable for them to end up together. The romantic relationship encompasses all the complicated ins and outs of interaction between the genders, with Campbell's signature poignancy and genuine feeling.
Genre novels are often dismissed as literary fluff, rarely given the consideration they are due. But as Becca J. Campbell proves once again in Gateway to Reality, genre fiction can confront our ideals and incite us to consider the larger world we are a part of, while telling an engrossing, fantastic tale to boot! In short, read this novel immediately and enjoy it thoroughly!
When Wes, the protagonist, starts having strangely vivid dreams, his life takes a turn he never expected and he begins discovering things about the universe and his earthly body that he never thought he would. Confronted with an alternate dimension in which "Existence" is the only law, Wes must work to discover to which world he truly belongs, and which version of himself he an learn to live with. To compare this story to The Matrix might be apt in that Campbell has created an alternate reality for her characters in which they know the truth of their existence--namely that they are part of an unconscious construct called the Logiverse, where they believe that true reality is just a dream. But to do this would ignore the bigger questions that are being asked in the novel. Questions such as, what does it mean to exist, and given the choice, would people really choose to be a part of a world where there were no laws, no rules, and absolutely no logic to anything?
As a struggling artist in the Logiverse and a world-making Creative in the Existance, Wes represents both sides of the coin--he is given the opportunity to create freely, with unlimited prowess and materials at his disposal. But the lure of the Logiverse is always present, the limitations actually appealing to his sense of normalcy, and creating a true moral dilemma that draws in the reader and forces them to play a short game of "Would You Rather" with themselves.
In addition to the questions of life, the universe, and everything that Campbell brings to the novel, there is, of course, the realistically complicated relationship between man and woman. When flitting in and out of different perceived worlds, the hero and heroine of the novel keep finding and losing each other in different ways, and readers are never quite sure whether they will make it work, or whether, indeed, it would be desirable for them to end up together. The romantic relationship encompasses all the complicated ins and outs of interaction between the genders, with Campbell's signature poignancy and genuine feeling.
Genre novels are often dismissed as literary fluff, rarely given the consideration they are due. But as Becca J. Campbell proves once again in Gateway to Reality, genre fiction can confront our ideals and incite us to consider the larger world we are a part of, while telling an engrossing, fantastic tale to boot! In short, read this novel immediately and enjoy it thoroughly!
July 30, 2013
The author kindly provided a free copy in return for an honest review.
This book's interesting premise is that our everyday reality is not as real as it seems: a truth that the book's hero, Wes, stumbles upon in the very first page. There was potential here for a truly great book but this is not it. This is not a "Matrix" rip-off or in any way lacking in originality but, as a novel, it just didn't work for me.
The world created by the author was designed, deliberately, to make no sense. But the problem with it is that it makes no sense. People pop pointlessly into and out of existence, their lives seem to have no meaning, even to themselves, and their anarchic society has no purpose. Why does it exist? Who keeps it from falling apart? The creatives create and the destroyers destroy and that's about it. Whenever these questions look like they might bubble to the surface, the characters' response seems to be: "interesting question, let's party." The whole universe felt like a college frat house frozen forever at 2 a.m. on a Sunday morning.
I had no sympathy for Wes, who has two character traits that just baked my noodle. First, he has not an ounce of curiosity or genuine introspection. On making a discovery that should have led him to question his very sanity, he just shrugs his shoulders and rolls with it. "Everything I've learned in my 22 years of life is completely wrong. Let's party." Second, I guess this is meant to be a love story as it chronicles Wes's pursuit of Emily, the love of his life. But, to me at least, Wes is just a stalker. He has no respect for Emily's wishes, he won't take no for an answer, he uses her friends to spy on her, he hacks her personal information and turns up again and again where he's not wanted. If I'd been the object of his affection I'd have been calling the equivalent of 911 and looking for a court order. Also, without giving the game away, the more we know about Wes and Emily, the more icky the idea of their having a relationship becomes. It's just not right!
Lastly, to the extent Wes's situation is meant to be a mystery, there are no clues for the reader to either pick up on or look back at in admiration for the author's cleverness. We are just told what the answer is towards the end of the book by a character who may or may not be credible.
I really feel bad about writing this review and, to be honest, I'd rather have written no review at all. It's a wonderful thing to create something out of your own head for other people to read - and a lot of work. I get no pleasure from raining on the author's parade. That said, my honest opinion is that this is an imaginative idea that needed far more work before it was allowed to see the light of day.
This book's interesting premise is that our everyday reality is not as real as it seems: a truth that the book's hero, Wes, stumbles upon in the very first page. There was potential here for a truly great book but this is not it. This is not a "Matrix" rip-off or in any way lacking in originality but, as a novel, it just didn't work for me.
The world created by the author was designed, deliberately, to make no sense. But the problem with it is that it makes no sense. People pop pointlessly into and out of existence, their lives seem to have no meaning, even to themselves, and their anarchic society has no purpose. Why does it exist? Who keeps it from falling apart? The creatives create and the destroyers destroy and that's about it. Whenever these questions look like they might bubble to the surface, the characters' response seems to be: "interesting question, let's party." The whole universe felt like a college frat house frozen forever at 2 a.m. on a Sunday morning.
I had no sympathy for Wes, who has two character traits that just baked my noodle. First, he has not an ounce of curiosity or genuine introspection. On making a discovery that should have led him to question his very sanity, he just shrugs his shoulders and rolls with it. "Everything I've learned in my 22 years of life is completely wrong. Let's party." Second, I guess this is meant to be a love story as it chronicles Wes's pursuit of Emily, the love of his life. But, to me at least, Wes is just a stalker. He has no respect for Emily's wishes, he won't take no for an answer, he uses her friends to spy on her, he hacks her personal information and turns up again and again where he's not wanted. If I'd been the object of his affection I'd have been calling the equivalent of 911 and looking for a court order. Also, without giving the game away, the more we know about Wes and Emily, the more icky the idea of their having a relationship becomes. It's just not right!
Lastly, to the extent Wes's situation is meant to be a mystery, there are no clues for the reader to either pick up on or look back at in admiration for the author's cleverness. We are just told what the answer is towards the end of the book by a character who may or may not be credible.
I really feel bad about writing this review and, to be honest, I'd rather have written no review at all. It's a wonderful thing to create something out of your own head for other people to read - and a lot of work. I get no pleasure from raining on the author's parade. That said, my honest opinion is that this is an imaginative idea that needed far more work before it was allowed to see the light of day.
August 11, 2013
Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst.
Gateway to Reality is book one in the Reality Series and is a Sci-fi Fantasy written by Becca J. Campbell. I read this as a R2R with Shut Up & Read . As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
3 Realistic Stars!
Can Reality Be False and A False Be Real? Can Your Dreams Be The Reality and the Reality Be Your Dreams?
The Review:
I can honestly say I have never read another book like this one before. I was a little confused in the beginning but the author does a great job in explaining what “Reality” is versus the “Existence” and all in between. I was really impressed with the creativity and imagination that went into building both worlds as one was bright and vibrant if not scary and one was dull and almost lifeless in comparison.
The characters were interesting, the story line was intense and the plot had a lot of potential. I loved the thought of creating worlds out of your own imagination where rules and logic didn't really apply. Some of them were incredibly beautiful and fantastical. The author did a fabulous job with descriptions and pulling you in through well crafted prose. I felt like at either turn, the real world versus the dream world could have been real or false but I ultimately didn’t understand the why’s of it all. I wish that had been explained more.
The only real letdown for me was, I saw all this possibility for a fantastic sci-fi read with the two complete opposite worlds with glaring similarities to have a heavier story line, but it all centered around Wes repeatedly ignoring all this wonder, taking it at face value, to chase after Emily. It just left me feeling there could have been “more” to the story. Wes as a character didn’t really impress me all that much and because he’s the hero of the story, it took some of the enjoyment from it. He blatantly ignored what was happening around him. The story line with his sister, fizzled out and left me wondering where that was even headed. I liked Emily though I didn’t understand her instant turn around when it came to Wes. But I did like them when they were together and the romance was sweet.
The Wrap Up:
This book was well written, beautifully crafted, creative and unique! I was certainly impressed with this author's writing and though it was my first book by her, it won't be my last. I was just looking for something a little more plot heavy in this read and perhaps there will be in the second book as it seems this is a series.
Gateway to Reality is book one in the Reality Series and is a Sci-fi Fantasy written by Becca J. Campbell. I read this as a R2R with Shut Up & Read . As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
3 Realistic Stars!
Can Reality Be False and A False Be Real? Can Your Dreams Be The Reality and the Reality Be Your Dreams?
The Review:
I can honestly say I have never read another book like this one before. I was a little confused in the beginning but the author does a great job in explaining what “Reality” is versus the “Existence” and all in between. I was really impressed with the creativity and imagination that went into building both worlds as one was bright and vibrant if not scary and one was dull and almost lifeless in comparison.
The characters were interesting, the story line was intense and the plot had a lot of potential. I loved the thought of creating worlds out of your own imagination where rules and logic didn't really apply. Some of them were incredibly beautiful and fantastical. The author did a fabulous job with descriptions and pulling you in through well crafted prose. I felt like at either turn, the real world versus the dream world could have been real or false but I ultimately didn’t understand the why’s of it all. I wish that had been explained more.
The only real letdown for me was, I saw all this possibility for a fantastic sci-fi read with the two complete opposite worlds with glaring similarities to have a heavier story line, but it all centered around Wes repeatedly ignoring all this wonder, taking it at face value, to chase after Emily. It just left me feeling there could have been “more” to the story. Wes as a character didn’t really impress me all that much and because he’s the hero of the story, it took some of the enjoyment from it. He blatantly ignored what was happening around him. The story line with his sister, fizzled out and left me wondering where that was even headed. I liked Emily though I didn’t understand her instant turn around when it came to Wes. But I did like them when they were together and the romance was sweet.
The Wrap Up:
This book was well written, beautifully crafted, creative and unique! I was certainly impressed with this author's writing and though it was my first book by her, it won't be my last. I was just looking for something a little more plot heavy in this read and perhaps there will be in the second book as it seems this is a series.
August 2, 2021
First off, I won this book through a First Reads giveaway.
So where to begin, the worlds in this book are the best part. I really enjoyed the anything goes nature of the Existence (the characters' real world) and the characters abilities to create there own worlds within. The author does a great job building the various worlds and helping you picture everything going on. In addition to the Existence there is the LV, which is a dream world for the characters but best described as our world.
Unfortunately, I felt lost throughout the beginning of the book and had trouble believing that the more dream like Existence was actually the real world. I kept looking for a twist about the realities that never came. The main character Wes simply accepts everything at face value and never questions the validity of the situation he is in. Additionally the first half of the book, while interesting, is devoted to describing the Existence, leaving Wes without a purpose. It isn't until the second half of the book that Wes seems to attempt to figure out why he can't remember his past. But this is quickly sidetracked, until the end of the book, while he chases after the girl in the Existence he easily dismissed in the LV.
While the plot of the book is interesting, I felt there was a lot that could be done and explored. I would have liked to see Wes struggle with accepting that the Existence is the real world and also more jumping between the two realities. The setup seems to be there, but it is never used.
On a side note, what happened to the Existence version of Wes's sister? At the beginning of the book he seems determined to find her or what happened to her, but again he is sidetracked chasing a girl. The whole black hole thing could have been a very interesting side plot. The fact that some characters seemed intrigued by them in the beginning made me think there might be more to them.
As a whole the book is a good read, but more developments and character struggles in the plot would have made it great.
*** Spoiler ***
The fact that Emily is Wes's mom and they form a romantic relationship is really strange. When Wes first finds out that Emily created him it was weird , but I quickly got over it since, you know, it is the Existence. However, after Wes makes this connection himself and states that Emily is his mom and continues to move forward with the relationship ... that made it a little too close of a connection. Also, if Wes's mom from the LV created Emily in the Existence, doesn't that kind of make Emily also his sister?
So where to begin, the worlds in this book are the best part. I really enjoyed the anything goes nature of the Existence (the characters' real world) and the characters abilities to create there own worlds within. The author does a great job building the various worlds and helping you picture everything going on. In addition to the Existence there is the LV, which is a dream world for the characters but best described as our world.
Unfortunately, I felt lost throughout the beginning of the book and had trouble believing that the more dream like Existence was actually the real world. I kept looking for a twist about the realities that never came. The main character Wes simply accepts everything at face value and never questions the validity of the situation he is in. Additionally the first half of the book, while interesting, is devoted to describing the Existence, leaving Wes without a purpose. It isn't until the second half of the book that Wes seems to attempt to figure out why he can't remember his past. But this is quickly sidetracked, until the end of the book, while he chases after the girl in the Existence he easily dismissed in the LV.
While the plot of the book is interesting, I felt there was a lot that could be done and explored. I would have liked to see Wes struggle with accepting that the Existence is the real world and also more jumping between the two realities. The setup seems to be there, but it is never used.
On a side note, what happened to the Existence version of Wes's sister? At the beginning of the book he seems determined to find her or what happened to her, but again he is sidetracked chasing a girl. The whole black hole thing could have been a very interesting side plot. The fact that some characters seemed intrigued by them in the beginning made me think there might be more to them.
As a whole the book is a good read, but more developments and character struggles in the plot would have made it great.
*** Spoiler ***
The fact that Emily is Wes's mom and they form a romantic relationship is really strange. When Wes first finds out that Emily created him it was weird , but I quickly got over it since, you know, it is the Existence. However, after Wes makes this connection himself and states that Emily is his mom and continues to move forward with the relationship ... that made it a little too close of a connection. Also, if Wes's mom from the LV created Emily in the Existence, doesn't that kind of make Emily also his sister?
March 23, 2017
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book from the author (via the Shut Up & Read / Read It & Reap group) in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Have you ever had a dream so good you didn't want to wake up? Well, what if the reverse was true? What if your dream world was actually the real world, and your "real life" was just a dream place that you escaped to? Would your friends and family be the same in the reality, and if not, how would you deal with that? And what happens when you become addicted to your dream world? That is the premise of this book.
In the beginning, I had a hard time warming up to this book, partially because the main character (Wes) was a little immature and whiny from the get-go. However, as the story progressed, it became more interesting.
Wes and Emily are Creatives in The Existence -- they have the ability to build and design new worlds of their own -- places that can be of great beauty, places of peace and solitude, as well as places that are both social and functional, such as Millennium Park and Sea Clearly (a restaurant and bar, where many Creatives get together).
However, there are also dark places where bad things can occur, and life in The Existence is not without risk -- you can get sucked into a black hole and you will cease to exist. In addition, there are people who are hell-bent on causing mayhem (The Destroyers).
This story is mostly about Wes and Emily and how the characters begin to discover the connections between both their realities and their dream worlds, as well as why they are so drawn and bound to one another. Both characters are flawed in their realities and their dream worlds, but they both discover how to learn and grow, and how opening up to one another impacts all of their worlds.
Other interesting characters include Wes's fun-loving friend Andy, the mysterious Zephaniah (The Interpreter), as well as the Destroyer, Brune ("don't call me Bill").
There were a few minor editing errors, but otherwise this was a pretty good read. I hope the next book in this series explores some of breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout the book, as well as the reasons behind the anger and rebellion of The Destroyers.
Synopsis:
Have you ever had a dream so good you didn't want to wake up? Well, what if the reverse was true? What if your dream world was actually the real world, and your "real life" was just a dream place that you escaped to? Would your friends and family be the same in the reality, and if not, how would you deal with that? And what happens when you become addicted to your dream world? That is the premise of this book.
In the beginning, I had a hard time warming up to this book, partially because the main character (Wes) was a little immature and whiny from the get-go. However, as the story progressed, it became more interesting.
Wes and Emily are Creatives in The Existence -- they have the ability to build and design new worlds of their own -- places that can be of great beauty, places of peace and solitude, as well as places that are both social and functional, such as Millennium Park and Sea Clearly (a restaurant and bar, where many Creatives get together).
However, there are also dark places where bad things can occur, and life in The Existence is not without risk -- you can get sucked into a black hole and you will cease to exist. In addition, there are people who are hell-bent on causing mayhem (The Destroyers).
This story is mostly about Wes and Emily and how the characters begin to discover the connections between both their realities and their dream worlds, as well as why they are so drawn and bound to one another. Both characters are flawed in their realities and their dream worlds, but they both discover how to learn and grow, and how opening up to one another impacts all of their worlds.
Other interesting characters include Wes's fun-loving friend Andy, the mysterious Zephaniah (The Interpreter), as well as the Destroyer, Brune ("don't call me Bill").
There were a few minor editing errors, but otherwise this was a pretty good read. I hope the next book in this series explores some of breadcrumbs that were scattered throughout the book, as well as the reasons behind the anger and rebellion of The Destroyers.
June 21, 2013
The "Bean" sculpture in Millennial Park has just been waiting for someone to use it as a jumping off point to another reality. (Now why didn't I think of that?) In Gateway to Reality, Becca Campbell has done a good job with the concept that it is a portal to another reality -- the "real" reality -- in which things do not follow the rules of physics, but of the imagination. I was drawn into the story largely by this small part of the setting, as Millennial Park is one of my favorite places to visit on trips to Chicago. Would someone who hasn't seen the Bean be drawn by this hook as much? I don't know. There are other structures in the book that I was able to visualize though I haven't seen them.
One of the book's strongest points is the way that the main character works from one universe to the other and back again to establish a genuine, caring relationship in one reality. This reality is chaotic and dangerous, and yet full of so many wonderful possibilities. Along his journey, he learns how to tap into this world's potential. I was also touched by one character's love for the sea and sea life and how that showed up in various ways.
So far, I've read three works by Ms. Campbell, and I think this is my favorite. She is an engaging writer with much potential. She also puts original spins on plot devices that are common to many science fiction and fantasy works. Thus, she brings creativity to the genre.
So, why didn't I give this book more than three stars, you ask? I'm not sure exactly what it was but there was just a soupcon of something that seemed off to me. Perhaps, it was some unevenness in the writing quality. I was doing a lot of other reading and writing when I read it, so, maybe, I read this work too quickly and didn't quite give it its full due. I intend to go back and read it more slowly.
Even if I didn't give it a five star rating, I think fans of Campbell's urban niche in the sci-fi/fantasy genre will find the book well worth reading. I also look forward to seeing how Ms. Campbell's writing develops in the future.
One of the book's strongest points is the way that the main character works from one universe to the other and back again to establish a genuine, caring relationship in one reality. This reality is chaotic and dangerous, and yet full of so many wonderful possibilities. Along his journey, he learns how to tap into this world's potential. I was also touched by one character's love for the sea and sea life and how that showed up in various ways.
So far, I've read three works by Ms. Campbell, and I think this is my favorite. She is an engaging writer with much potential. She also puts original spins on plot devices that are common to many science fiction and fantasy works. Thus, she brings creativity to the genre.
So, why didn't I give this book more than three stars, you ask? I'm not sure exactly what it was but there was just a soupcon of something that seemed off to me. Perhaps, it was some unevenness in the writing quality. I was doing a lot of other reading and writing when I read it, so, maybe, I read this work too quickly and didn't quite give it its full due. I intend to go back and read it more slowly.
Even if I didn't give it a five star rating, I think fans of Campbell's urban niche in the sci-fi/fantasy genre will find the book well worth reading. I also look forward to seeing how Ms. Campbell's writing develops in the future.
September 20, 2016
I became a fan of author Becca J. Campbell when she approached me to read her Empath series which i absolutely adored. I was intrigued and asked if i could review her other books as well. I very happily suprized by her other novels.
As I already noted, one of author Becca J. Campbell's strengths is world-building, and this talent is on full display in "Gateway to Reality". Switching between the "normal" world (or Logiverse as it is called here) and a world where "normal" does not apply (the Existence), Campbell has plenty of opportunity to explore diverse landscapes and mind-bending ideas. Wes has stumbled into a "reality" that is made up of multiple worlds built by each person's own mind; a reality where people are created - and destroyed - in the blink of an eye. While the idea of the "normal" world being just a dream is not a new concept. Campbell takes it in an original direction that is not as bleak as those movies. "Gateway to Reality" includes twists and turns aplenty as Wes tries to reconcile the two worlds he is living in, and what his relationship is to his (maybe) girlfriend Emily in both. Alternate realities are a rich plot to mine, so it's great to see so much thought and detail put into the effort.
The characters of Wes and Emily were easy to like, especially as they started getting closer in the Existence. Wes had some very nice family moments in the Logiverse with his brother Bill and his parents that showed the loving relationships he had built in his mind. But when Wes started digging deeper into the workings of the Existence and tried to discover why his mind wasn't working quite the way it should in either world, an interesting twist came to light that added new dimensions to his relationship with Emily and his "family." Pacing was light and quick, leading me to finish this story in a matter of hours, and there were some intriguing questions left unanswered in regards to links between the characters and some of the weirdness in the Existence (especially in regards to black holes). Here's hoping a follow-up to this tale is already in the works.
4 stars
July 31, 2013
The Gateway to reality is a fairly interesting sci fi/fantasy read, I don't think I've ever read anything completely like it before. We have the true reality which is like a dream world where there is no logic and no rules and then we have a fake version of reality which is like our universe, poor Wes finds himself thrown into life in the 'real world' where his girlfriend and family don't know him and a mysterious man who seems to have answers seems to be watching him.
Although this story wasn't quite my cup of tea it does raise some interesting points about the human condition. Campbell seems to suggest that we need rules and logic to stay sane, and when allowed to do anything they want when they want people need to escape somewhere with a set schedule, where they have to go to work and pay the bills. The reader also gets to see how people in this world deal with grief and see how events people aren't necessarily aware of may affect the subconscious. However I was a little bit disappointed when the author didn't explore some of these issues further, it felt like the book was a bit too short as it had the potential to really explore the human psyche.
I like how the author really fleshed out the character of Emily, she could have ended up as the standard love interest who ignores the main character while staring wistfully off into the distance, but she was actually made quite realistic. Emily acted how you'd expect someone to act when a man they barely know comes up to them for the first couple of times, though she did become trusting a bit too quickly for my liking (especially considering her past)but the book was only short so any more time spent with Emily completely rejecting Wes would have made the plot drag a bit.
This is not a book I'd personally want to reread but I think it would be a great read for somebody who enjoys reading about alternate realities, universes completely different to our own or has a lot of appreciation for the creative process (due to the way things get done in the 'real world').
Although this story wasn't quite my cup of tea it does raise some interesting points about the human condition. Campbell seems to suggest that we need rules and logic to stay sane, and when allowed to do anything they want when they want people need to escape somewhere with a set schedule, where they have to go to work and pay the bills. The reader also gets to see how people in this world deal with grief and see how events people aren't necessarily aware of may affect the subconscious. However I was a little bit disappointed when the author didn't explore some of these issues further, it felt like the book was a bit too short as it had the potential to really explore the human psyche.
I like how the author really fleshed out the character of Emily, she could have ended up as the standard love interest who ignores the main character while staring wistfully off into the distance, but she was actually made quite realistic. Emily acted how you'd expect someone to act when a man they barely know comes up to them for the first couple of times, though she did become trusting a bit too quickly for my liking (especially considering her past)but the book was only short so any more time spent with Emily completely rejecting Wes would have made the plot drag a bit.
This is not a book I'd personally want to reread but I think it would be a great read for somebody who enjoys reading about alternate realities, universes completely different to our own or has a lot of appreciation for the creative process (due to the way things get done in the 'real world').
August 11, 2013
I received this book through the author via goodreads for a honest review.
As I was reading this story I found it to have the potential to be wonderful and there are areas I adored but some that are confusing. I am not sure if the confusion is purposeful and will be explained as the series goes on or not.
Wes,poor poor Wes, is lost. He wakes up one day feeling off and that his world is off kelter. That is because it is. What Wes does know is that he feels he isn't understood by his family, and is stifled by his girlfriend Emily. He feels that he is happy as long as he can paint. Well he begins to miss Emily but not only that he finds his dreams bring him to a alternate reality except it isn't a alternate reality it is the real one and the reality he is in when he isn't sleeping is fake. This area is the most confusing part for it isn't constantly interwoven in and just I think could use better description. so the real reality is chaotic and has no order and you don't belong to family there. You are created. The fake reality also known as virtual logisty is where you go for a break from the the real world. Although Wes is now using it so he can get to know Emily and get to have a relationship with her in the real world and not the fake world. Confusing? Yep.
Emily in the real world is very stubborn and does not wish to get hurt again. She slowly lets Wes in but it is a very slow process. Her and Wes have issues to work out and they do it together. Come to find out they are both Virtual Logisty addicts. Wes recent and Emily in the past. Emily will no longer leave the real world or what is said to be the real world. Wes breaks through her barriers and they fall in love in the real world and not just the fake world. In between there is some really great descriptive writing about the worlds that are created in the real world that are both public and private.
The story is interesting and you root for Wes and Emily throughout it. Although there is confusion the overall theme of love and acceptance of not only oneself but of others is seen.
As I was reading this story I found it to have the potential to be wonderful and there are areas I adored but some that are confusing. I am not sure if the confusion is purposeful and will be explained as the series goes on or not.
Wes,poor poor Wes, is lost. He wakes up one day feeling off and that his world is off kelter. That is because it is. What Wes does know is that he feels he isn't understood by his family, and is stifled by his girlfriend Emily. He feels that he is happy as long as he can paint. Well he begins to miss Emily but not only that he finds his dreams bring him to a alternate reality except it isn't a alternate reality it is the real one and the reality he is in when he isn't sleeping is fake. This area is the most confusing part for it isn't constantly interwoven in and just I think could use better description. so the real reality is chaotic and has no order and you don't belong to family there. You are created. The fake reality also known as virtual logisty is where you go for a break from the the real world. Although Wes is now using it so he can get to know Emily and get to have a relationship with her in the real world and not the fake world. Confusing? Yep.
Emily in the real world is very stubborn and does not wish to get hurt again. She slowly lets Wes in but it is a very slow process. Her and Wes have issues to work out and they do it together. Come to find out they are both Virtual Logisty addicts. Wes recent and Emily in the past. Emily will no longer leave the real world or what is said to be the real world. Wes breaks through her barriers and they fall in love in the real world and not just the fake world. In between there is some really great descriptive writing about the worlds that are created in the real world that are both public and private.
The story is interesting and you root for Wes and Emily throughout it. Although there is confusion the overall theme of love and acceptance of not only oneself but of others is seen.
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