School of Light

Dreamland #2

by Jody Lynn Nye

A promising new student at the legendary School of Light, Juele sets out to master illusion, the highest form of art in the Dreamland, but when the Dreamland threatens to descend into chaos, Juele must draw on all her skills to uncover the reality within the fantasy in order to stop the evil before it is too late

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

408 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Jody Lynn Nye lists her main career activity as ‘spoiling cats.’ When not engaged upon this worthy occupation, she writes fantasy and science fiction books and short stories.

Before breaking away from gainful employment to write full time, Jody worked as a file clerk, book-keeper at a small publishing house, freelance journalist and photographer, accounting assistant and costume maker.

For four years, she was on the technical operations staff of a local Chicago television station, WFBN (WGBO), serving the last year as Technical Operations Manager. During her time at WFBN, she was part of the engineering team that built the station, acted as Technical Director during live sports broadcasts, and worked to produce in-house spots and public service announcements.

Over the last twenty-five or so years, Jody has taught in numerous writing workshops and participated on hundreds of panels covering the subjects of writing and being published at science-fiction conventions. She has also spoken in schools and libraries around the north and northwest suburbs. In 2007 she taught fantasy writing at Columbia College Chicago. She also runs the two-day writers workshop at DragonCon, and is a judge for the Writers of the Future contest, the largest speculative fiction contest in the world.

Jody lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, with her husband Bill Fawcett, a writer, game designer, military historian and book packager, and three feline overlords, Athena, Minx, and Marmalade.

Reviews

[Althea Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not an ambitious book. It aims for nothing more than to be a
light, entertaining fantasy, with some typical YA themes of going away to
school and dealing with cliques and peer pressure. A young woman is
admitted to an exclusive art school and tries way too hard to fit in with
a snobbish clique, etc, etc.
However, the structure of the fantasy is just poorly thought out. The
scenario that Nye's created here begs for discussion of many interesting
concepts and topics - which aren't even slightly addressed.
The idea is that the novel takes place in "Dreamland," a realm created by
seven (never-seen) Sleepers, and subject to the whims of their dreams.
Therefore, the appearances of things are mutable, and 'change'
periodically, in waves.
Thigs that are not addressed: why are some things mutable, and others
consistently stable? How do people recognize each other, when appearances
are constantly changing? (There is some internal inconsistency here,
becausee the characters describe each other using physical characteristics
[such as "the bearded student"] that individuals in such a situation
wouldn't.) In a world full of physical changes, is there any meaning to
'race' or is there some other sort of division between groups that might
arise, socially? (All the characters in the book seem to always be white).
If characters don't get born or die, per se, why do they have families?
What is the meaning of youth or age?
There also seems to be some inconsistency because references are made to
the Seven Sleepers, but when talking about a "Cult Movie Phenomenon" the
inhabitants of Dreamland are able to enjoy the story because it's in the
consciousnesses of "millions of people."
I also felt it was a failing of the book that at no point did I get a
"dreamlike feeling" from it. Things didn't ever really happen - or change
- the way they do in dreams; it just didn't FEEL like a Dreamland.

[Jac · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars really. I may have just grown out of this. Naive little country kid arrives at big city art school, where it turns out she is much younger than average but also, surprise! way more talented than everyone ever. Unfortunately, although the book later reveals that there are hundreds of students, she decides that only the Obvious Spoiled Brat Rich Kid Bully Clique is worth knowing and starts trying to emulate their Assholishness, only really saved by being adopted as a protege by a mostly-nice but super arrogant group of Famous Amazing Students, known as 'Them' (sic caps) (because of her talent, obvs). And then because nobody in this school, including Them, has the ability to deal with the Clique (sic), said Clique almost destroys the country before Our Heroine grows a fucking spine.

If the plot hadn't rested so entirely on high school level social incompetence, I might have quite liked it.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it strange to have a favorite book that isn't even first in it's own series? "School of Light" is just a sequel, frustratingly unknown and often out of print. It's a stand-alone taking place in Nye's Dreamworld (though the others are well worth the read, too), and it may very well be one of the (frustratingly) best kept secrets of fantasy lit.

Juele is an artist. She creates illusions - sights, smells, experiences. And she just happens to live in a Dreamworld, the place everyone goes in their sleep.

I find that this book perfectly encapsulates the bizarre, beautiful, and frustrating process of creating art (of any kind). But more than identifying with the process, "School of Light" gets the tiny gears of my imagination spinning. It is often my go-to inspiration when my creativity is in a slump.

[Cassie Linhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me at around 60%. I gave it a good shot because I wanted it to be good, but I got bored and confused. It was an interesting idea for a story, but there was terrible pacing. There wasn’t even a plot until almost 3/4 of the way through.
I am disappointed because I’ve loved other Jody Lynn Nye books I’ve read. I may give it another shot someday, but as of right now, it’s a dud for me.

[Azz Lunatic]

School of Light by Jody Lynn Nye (1999)

[Janin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of an art school based on the bending of light.

[Ron Judenberg]

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