What Dreams May Come: A Novel

This novel is the most vivid, complex, and surprisingly convincing depiction of afterlife I have ever encountered in a work of fiction. Nothing else I have seen on the subject, in literature or in film, comes close--certainly not the 1998 film. Before I read the novel, I had no idea that a story about Heaven and Hell could have such a profound effect on me.In the metaphysics of the film and the book, dying involves shedding your physical body and entering a mental environment shaped by thoughts. Your fate in such an environment is largely self-imposed. That much of the movie intrigued me, the first time I saw it. The problem was the schmaltz. I mean real schmaltz, piled on in large mounds, in place of strong narrative.It's hard for me to convey just how very different the novel is. Of course there are major differences in the plot. One such difference is the ending. (Even Roger Ebert, who heaped high praise on the film, was disappointed by the ending.) Another is the beginning, where the film adds Chris's children to the list of characters who die and go to Heaven. In doing this, the movie (1) makes the early scenes so depressing they become surreal (2) needlessly clutters the story with extra characters (3) introduces a silly and confusing subplot about Chris's attempts to find his children, who are in disguise.In the book, Chris's children are adults, not youngsters, and they're minor characters who never die in the course of the story. The details of Chris's life on Earth differ so greatly between the book and the film that it's like reading about a completely different person. Even though I saw the movie first, the image of Robin Williams completely vanished from my mind as I read, because he was so unlike the character described in the book.The entire feel of the book is different, telling a touching love story that uses real characterization, not cheap manipulation, to move the audience. And Matheson's vision of the afterlife truly comes alive on the page. The Hell scenes are actually terrifying, reminding us, as the movie does not, why Matheson is primarily famous as a horror writer.I won't overlook the movie's gorgeous visual effects, which earned the film a well-deserved Academy Award. They just aren't put to good purpose. The movie's vision of the afterlife as like being inside giant paintings fails to evoke a sense of reality. The book, in contrast, bases its afterlife imagery (vividly brought to life by Matheson's skillful prose) much more on Earth-like scenery. This approach ironically leads to far more exotic ideas, such as architects who build things using their minds, and a library containing history books more objective than those on Earth.One of Matheson's unique qualities as a fantasy writer has always been his almost scientific approach to the supernatural. Here, Matheson makes Heaven and Hell seem like a scientific, natural process, and one of the joys of the book is discerning all the intricate "rules" of how everything works. (That's another area where the movie falls short.) What needs to be kept in mind, however, is that Matheson doesn't do this just for entertainment purposes. In the novel's introduction, he tells his readers that the characters are the only fictional component of the novel, and that almost everything else is based on research. The book even includes a lengthy bibliography. Thus, the afterlife that Matheson describes isn't some fantasy world he concocted from his own head, but something he believes to be an accurate description of reality.Some people may wonder, at this point, about Matheson's religious background. He was raised a Christian Scientist, but gradually developed what he calls his own religion, taking elements from many sources. One of the book's main influences, I believe, is eighteenth-century Christian mystic Emanuel Swedenborg.From what I've seen, people react negatively to this book based on how far it departs from their personal beliefs. Christians complain about the absence of Jesus, while those who don't believe in any afterlife consider the story too nonsensical to accept. Most readers, it seems, are put off by the New Age terminology and concepts scattered throughout the book.These reactions are puzzling, if you stop to think about it. Books about elves, fairies, dragons, and wizards remain popular even though nobody believes in any of those things. Why should people be bothered by a fiction book portraying a Heaven and Hell that conflicts with what they believe? The book is perfectly enjoyable whether or not you accept Matheson's metaphysics.Of course, I personally do think Matheson provides insight into the subject--though I admit I'm a little wary of his acceptance of paranormal phenomena. But it amazes me how so many people refuse to even touch the book, thinking that any story with such a plot must automatically be hokey. In most cases, they'd be right. "What Dreams May Come" is a big exception. It suggests the endless possibilities in a subject that normally is dead weight for fiction. And it really makes you think.

“We are part of a plan, never doubt that. A plan to bring each one of us to the highest level of which we are capable. The way will be dark at times but it leads, assuredly, to light” (p. 265)In this gripping story of undying love and devotion, Chris Nielsen’s life is cut short by an untimely car crash, separating him from his beloved wife, Ann. As Chris learns the true nature of survival after death, he also realizes that Heaven itself isn’t complete without Ann. Will these two soul-mates manage to reunite against seemingly impossible odds? This frame tale comes to us in the form of a manuscript communicated by the narrator's deceased brother, providing his personal account of the great beyond.While I can’t claim to have read extensively on the subject, this vibrant novel is a surprisingly convincing depiction of the afterlife. And Richard Matheson's vision of the hereafter truly comes alive on every page.In the metaphysics of What Dreams May Come, death involves the shedding of one’s physical body and entering a cerebral environment shaped entirely by thought. One’s fate in such an environment is largely self-imposed. Everyone makes their own existence in the afterlife, and only those who’ve improved themselves and become better individuals can move on to an even higher realm. With expert prose and a style that is welcoming to a broad audience, Matheson employs Earth-like scenery as the basis for the imagery of the afterlife, which helps pave the way for some resplendent concepts, including ethereal architects who use only their minds to create buildings and landscapes, and a library housing historical books far more objective than anything on Earth. The depiction of Summerland (one of the heavenly planes and the story’s central setting) is so reassuring and familiar, complete with dogs and comfortable clothing.Matheson applies a rather scientific approach to the supernatural—a method that failed to serve his previous novel, Hell House, but works astonishingly well here—making Heaven and Hell seem like a wholly logical and natural process. One of the pleasures of this touching masterpiece is fathoming all the complex "laws" governing life and death. The lengthy bibliography at the end of the book underscores the extensive research Matheson conducted, taking elements from many religions to bring together what he perceives to be an accurate depiction of reality. The legendary author makes numerous unpretentious statements on such existential topics as the meaning of life and morality, contending that compassion and empathy are evolutionary traits of the ascending soul—whose purpose exists as a unique and subjective truth that is transcendent of life itself.What Dreams May Come urges readers to carefully reflect on their lives and the people in their respective lives whom they love and, perhaps, take for granted. If Matheson’s version of the afterlife proves correct, then death is not to be feared and there is tremendous hope for us all. Ultimately, though, it's each of us that holds ourselves back. Readers of all walks of life, regardless of their beliefs, can find enjoyment and inspiration from this tale, this thought-provoking journey into the human experience as both physical and spiritual beings.

Have read this book many times. First time was q8 and in my 50s now. It has always been one of favorite stories. The movie doesn't even compare!!!

Ya no se escriben cosas así. Este autor está injustamente en segundo plano; libros como este son necesarios.

Excelente libro. Una historia que te envuelve y deja pensando en como vemos la vida y lo que pasa después. Me encanto.

Je me suis tellement attachée à ce livre, quand je l'ai fini j'ai ressenti un vide. J'aimerai trouver un livre similaire afin de rester dans la même ambiance.

Beautiful. In so many ways. Hopeful. Touching. Moving. The writer, expresses themselves very convincingly. The book draws you in. It demands your attention and it occupies your thoughts even when you are not reading it.