House of Dreams

The Mongolian Wizard #4

by Michael Swanwick

The fourth in Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Michael Swanwick's "Mongolian Wizard" series of tales set in an alternate fin de siècle Europe shot through with magic, mystery, and intrigue.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Alternate History, Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction

32 pages, ebook

First published November 27, 2013

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this free online Tor.com short story. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:

“House of Dreams” is the fourth story in the ongoing saga of Franz-Karl Ritter, a Prussian military man now working for Britain’s intelligence agency in an alternate version of early 20th century Europe. Ritter and his wolf Freki, with whom Ritter can mind-meld as needed, are sent to Austro-German-Bavarian territory on a spying mission.

This story begins with an odd scene in which Ritter is being questioned about his mission by a vagrant. It shortly is disclosed that Ritter has been captured and is being interrogated by two alienists who are using “dream therapy” to extract information and attempt to turn Ritter’s sympathies. They repeatedly immerse him in dream situations where Ritter is tempted to disclose his instructions and his local contact, or otherwise break down. Freki is loose and in hiding nearby, but Ritter is afraid to call on him for help in this situation.

Although all of the stories in this Tor.com series have their bleak aspects, “House of Dreams” struck me as the most somber one yet, as Ritter has an increasingly difficult time protecting his mind and his mission from these two ruthlessly invasive doctors, who can use both illusion and mind control against him. These experiences do, however, humanize the normally impassive Ritter. While the story ends on an interesting and somewhat humorous note, I did wish that more had been explained about Ritter’s mission.

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ritter finds himself questioned by a vagrant if he has killed anyone? That was an odd beginning but we soon find out that Ritter has been captured whilst he was on a mission with Freki but Freki is hiding somewhere. His captors, Borsuk and Dr. Nergüi use dreams to extract information and to brainwash people.

Borsuk and Dr. Nergüi try to break Ritter several times and want to know who Ritter's partner is. Ritter doesn't disclose that information but connects with Freki and Freki comes to Ritter's rescue.

I loved this story and it was the darkest and the chilliest of them so far all in my opinion. Sir Toby wasn't really there in the story but Ritter was sent a mission by Sir Toby. That ending though.

5 stars

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

A spying mission in enemy territory! Ritter’s Indomitable Teutonic Will (ITW™)! Freki the Cute Little Wolf Doggie (CLWD™)! Waiting for…Godot! HA! Let's dance.



P.S. officers who double as Prussian gentlemen simply do not give in to despair, just so you know. You're welcome.

The stories in this series are Slightly Very Entertaining (SVE™). The stories in this series are Super Extra Short (SES™). The stories in this series are Super Extra Free (SEF™). This particular story is SUPER EXTRA HERE (SEH™). So read it and stuff.

· Story #1: The Mongolian Wizard ★★★★
· Story #2: The Fire Gown ★★★★
· Story #3: Day of the Kraken ★★★★
· Story #5: The Night of the Salamander ★★★★
· Story #6: The Pyramid of Krakow ★★★★
· Story #7: The Phantom in the Maze ★★★★
· Story #8: Murder in the Spook House ★★★★
· Story #9: The New Prometheus ★★★
· Story #10: Halcyon Afternoon ★★★
· Story #11: Dragons of Paris ★★★★★

[Carlex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

Good stories, pity they are so short.

[Boulder Boulderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weakest of the Mongolian Wizard series so far; relies on standard psychological tricky that we've all seen repeatedly before, and then a humorous reference at the end. That said, still an intriguing story that tells just enough to make you want to know more.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.tor.com/2013/11/27/house-...
Eh. Partial story? Ends on a cliffhanger. On to the next....

Better story on reread: 3.5 stars.

[Stephen Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another installment in a short story series that can be found on Tor.com. Swanwick has created an interesting world in an interesting time period.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ritter is captured by agents of the Mongolian Wizard, who attempt to brwinwash the soldier into giving them classified information.

A slight hint of 'Jason Bourne' spycraft in this tense short story.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. The cover was the best thing about this one.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it. Very dark and bleak. These stories only seem to get better.

[Chanel Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inception - fantasy edition.

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly bleak, compared to the previous three tales. I liked spending some more time with Ritter and Freki, for sure. Looking forward to more, and hopefully, for a full length novel.

[MiA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the best story of the Mongolian Wizard series so far.

"A guilty conscience, even in repose, knows no rest."

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Dreams by Michael Swanwick is the fourth short story in The Mongolian Wizard series continuing the epic tale of an alternate fin de siècle Europe shot through with magic, mystery, and intrigue.

“We have already determined that you are in the pay of the British Secret Service. Your presence here in civilian clothing is by itself enough to justify your execution as a foreign spy.”

With a touch of asperity, Ritter said, “I am a German citizen in Austro-German-Bavarian territory. It is my right to be in my own country.”

The man shook his head in gentle reprimand. “The land you were born into ceased to exist weeks ago. Legally, you are a nationalist partisan in the westernmost provinces of the Mongolian Empire.”

We find Kapitänleutnant Franz-Karl Ritter, former officer in the Werewolf Corps, captured on a spy mission behind enemy lines. Two alienists are submitting him to something they call Dream Therapy where they try to infiltrate his mind to pilfer it for useful information. His wolf companion Freki is hiding somewhere close but out of sight and Ritter needs to bide his time.

You can read this story (and all the other from this series) for free on the Tor.com site https://www.tor.com/2013/11/27/house-...

Themes: winter in Germany, mind control, glamour workers, this was the bleakest one yet.

3.8 Stars

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun spy/solider behind enemy lines that is being interrogated story. Some really cool thoughts into illusion/telepath magic interrogator without being gross.

I also love that the end is used to propel the series forward and set them up feel less episodic and a little more tightly woven.

So far loving this collection of short stories.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little bit of an improvement over some of the previous Mongolian Wizard stories, introducing some actual stakes and expanding a bit of the world. There's some expanded characterization and the story is pretty good.

[Randall Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the highest rated and apparently most popular of the series, but I don't know that I liked it as much as any of the first three. Still good however. Perhaps 3.5 stars rounded to 4. It could be just that I was tired while reading it.

[Thia Reads A Lot]

4*

Ritter has been captured behind the front lines and two alienists are trying to make him talk using illusion magic. He escapes with Freki's help before finally meeting his contact, the wizard Godot.

[Tien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story can be found online, here

[Per · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.tor.com/2013/11/27/house-...

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Pedro Marroquín · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy buena historia super corta (16 paginas) sobre como un par de ilusionistas se meten en la cabeza del protagonista cuando está en una misión. C+

[Steven Ng · Rating 2 out of 5]

wolf bro to the rescue

[John Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Swanwick continues to cement
his position as one of the premier world builders
in modern SF.
Here he presents a different early 20th Century
where sorcery rules.
And the main threat looming over
Europe is the Mongolian Wizard
driving the word towards war.
Though sinister plots the Wizard
drives Europe towards chaos.
Magical plots and sacrifices
are the tools of the anarchist in this 1900's.
Set against them is Franz-Karl Ritter
a Prussian Lt. attached to his new commander
the British sorcerer and spy master Sir Toby.
Facing threats both magical and
mundane and using his own trade craft
and magical ability
as well as the wolf he is bonded to
Franz fights to keep the World from War.

[M Sabet · Rating 3 out of 5]

این یکی‌ش باز قابل تحمل‌تر بود. هرچند روایتش گاف داشت، ولی تا یک چهارم پایانی داستان خوب بود. درگیری ذهنی قهرمان داستان با کسانی که میخواستن وارد خاطراتش بشن و ازش حرف بکشن، هسته‌ی ماجرایی خوبی بود. اجراش هم خوب بود تقریباً. منتهی مطابق معمول آخرش تف‌مالی شد. خیلی ساده و سردستی برگزار شد. حالا نجات قهرمان از شرایط بحران رو هم اگه بذاریم کنار(که خیلی آبکی بود)، دیگه شناختن رابطش در خاک دشمن خعلی دوغکی بود. به شما یه اسم مستعار میدن، میگن باید فلون‌جا با این آدم ملاقات کنی. داستان هم قراره جاسوسی باشه مثلاً. اون آدم هم رابط شماست که اطلاعات مهمی داره و الخ. از اول تا آخر هم شما تلاش کردی، هویت این آدم رو لو ندی. خب طبیعتاً این آدم، شمایل تابلویی نداره که از ۲ کیلومتری معلوم باشه. منتهی قهرمان داستان ما تا می‌بیندش از چهره‌ش تشخیص میده که طرف آدم دشمن نیست، پس همونیه که من دنبالشم. به همین راحتی، به همین دوغی

اگرم تا این‌جا ادامه دادم، چون حیفم میاد وقتی تا این‌جاشو خوندم، نخونم آخر این همه زلم زیمبو، چی کار میخواد بکنه جناب سوان‌ویک. وگرنه که، همون اولیشونم نمی‌ارزید. حالا تا کی قراره ادامه پیدا کنه، الله اعلم

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ritter finds himself captured and being interrogated by two alienists that can use illusions and mind altering to control people. They achieve this in their Sanitorium by way of dreams, hence the title. The story takes place in the present but through dreams we are taken to the past and future. Ritter eventually has help from Freki and continues on his journey to his appointed rendez-vous.

The story was a bit confusing at first but came around in the end. I think some of the others in this series were a bit of a better read.

[Alex Sarll]

As a rule, in any game with different types of magic, illusionism will be the one nobody ever wants to choose because it seems a bit rubbish compared to demonology or elementalism or what-have-you. Here's a story explaining why, in practice, that might be a long way from the truth.

[Jessalyn King · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the bit of "are we still dreaming" in here... like Inception.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope there will be more in this series. This is the 4th. It's a rich magical steampunk world at war with an intriguing protagonist.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit harrowing of a story focused squarely on Ritter captured by a pair of alienists. Payoff ending is a bit dumb though.