What Dreams May Come (Wellman novel) explained

What Dreams May Come
Author:Manly Wade Wellman
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Fantasy, Weird Fiction
Publisher:Doubleday
Release Date:January 1983
Media Type:Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages:175
Isbn:0-385-18253-8
Dewey:813/.54 19
Congress:PS3545.E52858 W48 1983
Oclc:9555403
Preceded By:Lonely Vigils
Followed By:The School of Darkness

What Dreams May Come is a fantasy novel by American author Manly Wade Wellman. It is the second of three books featuring supernatural investigator John Thunstone. The book derives its title from a line in Hamlet's famous "To be, or not to be..." soliloquy.

Background

The character of John Thunstone had previously appeared in a series of short stories by Wellman. Originally published in popular pulp magazines of the day, several of them were collected and reprinted in an anthology, Lonely Vigils. Wellman decided to follow the anthology with the character's first book-length adventure. In his introduction to the novel Wellman mistakenly states that, while many of the locations he mentions have real-life counterparts, Claines is an entirely fictional locale, and such a place has never existed in England. However, a small community named Claines exists, north of Worcester.

Plot summary

While visiting London, John Thunstone hears strange stories concerning the nearby hamlet of Claines, a pair of ancient pagan artifacts, and the annual ritual that accompanies them. As the date of the ritual is only a few days away Thunstone decides to travel to Claines and witness the ritual for himself. While there he experiences strange visions of the distant past and gradually realizes their significance to the present.

Characters