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Upon a Waking Dream
Open these pages and delve into new worlds where…
-A Flat Earther gets abducted by aliens
-A college dropout gets by with a little help from her imaginary friend
-A woman obsessed with her favorite actor creates a new universe just to meet him
-A magic pen bridges the gap between generations
-Thirteen isn’t an unlucky number…or is it?
Upon a Waking Dream contains twelve science fiction and fantasy tales from the mind of J. S. Bailey, ten of them never before published.
-A Flat Earther gets abducted by aliens
-A college dropout gets by with a little help from her imaginary friend
-A woman obsessed with her favorite actor creates a new universe just to meet him
-A magic pen bridges the gap between generations
-Thirteen isn’t an unlucky number…or is it?
Upon a Waking Dream contains twelve science fiction and fantasy tales from the mind of J. S. Bailey, ten of them never before published.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2023
11 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Bailey
25 books250 followersJ. S. Bailey enjoys writing speculative tales that keep readers on the edges of their seats. She has published eight novels and twenty-two short stories, with more on the way. Bailey is fond of long walks in the woods, British television, and lots of burritos. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
October 18, 2022
I’m a fan of Bailey’s short fiction. It isn’t always uniform and thus my fondness varies, but this book, my third read by the author, was absolutely – and quite uniformly – lovely.
Bailey tends to oscillate between speculative genres and the stories in this collection mostly all have a distinct science fiction angle – the author’s first love.
Not the hard science-heavy jargon-heavy sort of sci-fi but the conceptual whimsical fantasy-like kind. And it works. Very, very well.
The stories are original, charming, fun, humorous and just the right sort of whimsical. In other words, a pleasure to read.
There's even an afterword providing backstory to each of these tales, which is a feature I very much enjoy in short fiction collections.
Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Bailey tends to oscillate between speculative genres and the stories in this collection mostly all have a distinct science fiction angle – the author’s first love.
Not the hard science-heavy jargon-heavy sort of sci-fi but the conceptual whimsical fantasy-like kind. And it works. Very, very well.
The stories are original, charming, fun, humorous and just the right sort of whimsical. In other words, a pleasure to read.
There's even an afterword providing backstory to each of these tales, which is a feature I very much enjoy in short fiction collections.
Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
December 28, 2022
This collection of short stories was interesting and engaging. I love a book that I can devour one sitting, and this one fit the bill.
Bailey's creative mind takes us all over the universe, but humans and their varied experiences seem to be the focus of each story.
Some of these stories I really loved. Inheritance and The House with an Inside but No Outside are so cozy and bittersweet while others lean more philosophical, tongue in cheek, or even a little cheesy. However, Bailey always seems to avoid crossing over into cringey territory no matter how bizarre the stories get.
Overall, I found this collection to be a nice way to disconnect from reality and visit weird new worlds. My only complaint is that a few stories (Daily Log and Thirteen, for instance) felt more like snippets with no real substance. I don't feel like I got anything from reading those two in particular, but the rest of the stories were all strong and interesting in their own peculiar way.
I look forward to seeing what Bailey creates in the future.
In Letter from Glomsuet, Emilio, a Flat Earther who's been accidentally abducted by aliens, is writing to his former girlfriend Stacy to tell her about his new life and to apologize. I really loved the ironic ending of this piece
In The Man of Her Dreams, Chloe's idol, moviestarTom Suarez, has just died. She begins plotting to go back in time to seduce a young Tom Suarez. This story was an interesting exploration of "getting what you want."
In Jay, a dirty, mysterious stranger appears in town and helps solve a grisly mystery. This story is a reminder to be kinder to those around you.
In Daily Log from Outpost #602, Kwame and Porter have been assigned to a space outpost to listen for interstellar signals that never come-- until they do. This one...I could have done without.
In No Good Reason, Bill is a living punching bag for some reason. This is another one that I was on the fence about, but it was more engaging than the other super short pieces.
In How to Make Money Fast, Kyle plays along to retrieve lost property even though he's sure he's on a TV prank show. This was one of my least favorites, mostly because Kyle's actions didn't feel believable, and the ending was a little too sugary sweet for me.
In The Family Name, Edwin learns why there are so many boys and so few girls in a world that is obsessed with carrying on the family name. This is a brief but cutting commentary on the patriarchy.
In Larry, listening to her imaginary friend changes Molly's life. This one was simple but cute.
In Thirteen, Marsha has a disagreement with a stranger in the hotel bar about superstition. This was my least favorite story in the collection. It is very short, and it doesn't feel like a story as much as a strange snapshot.
In Inheritance, Gretchen's recently deceased grandmother leaves her a magical pen. This was one of my favorite pieces. Of all the stories, it gave me the biggest feels. I think all of us wish we could recieve a gift like this.
In The Last to Pass, Francis and Tanvi break down on a planet where the people have stopped aging. This story explores the repercussions of immortality.
In The House with an Inside but No Outside, Kenzie finds her grandmother's old friend and her grandaugther in a magical house in the woods. This was another favorite. It brought me straight back to childhood summers spent tromping in the woods playing make believe, and I'm here for it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Bailey's creative mind takes us all over the universe, but humans and their varied experiences seem to be the focus of each story.
Some of these stories I really loved. Inheritance and The House with an Inside but No Outside are so cozy and bittersweet while others lean more philosophical, tongue in cheek, or even a little cheesy. However, Bailey always seems to avoid crossing over into cringey territory no matter how bizarre the stories get.
Overall, I found this collection to be a nice way to disconnect from reality and visit weird new worlds. My only complaint is that a few stories (Daily Log and Thirteen, for instance) felt more like snippets with no real substance. I don't feel like I got anything from reading those two in particular, but the rest of the stories were all strong and interesting in their own peculiar way.
I look forward to seeing what Bailey creates in the future.
In Letter from Glomsuet, Emilio, a Flat Earther who's been accidentally abducted by aliens, is writing to his former girlfriend Stacy to tell her about his new life and to apologize. I really loved the ironic ending of this piece
In The Man of Her Dreams, Chloe's idol, moviestarTom Suarez, has just died. She begins plotting to go back in time to seduce a young Tom Suarez. This story was an interesting exploration of "getting what you want."
In Jay, a dirty, mysterious stranger appears in town and helps solve a grisly mystery. This story is a reminder to be kinder to those around you.
In Daily Log from Outpost #602, Kwame and Porter have been assigned to a space outpost to listen for interstellar signals that never come-- until they do. This one...I could have done without.
In No Good Reason, Bill is a living punching bag for some reason. This is another one that I was on the fence about, but it was more engaging than the other super short pieces.
In How to Make Money Fast, Kyle plays along to retrieve lost property even though he's sure he's on a TV prank show. This was one of my least favorites, mostly because Kyle's actions didn't feel believable, and the ending was a little too sugary sweet for me.
In The Family Name, Edwin learns why there are so many boys and so few girls in a world that is obsessed with carrying on the family name. This is a brief but cutting commentary on the patriarchy.
In Larry, listening to her imaginary friend changes Molly's life. This one was simple but cute.
In Thirteen, Marsha has a disagreement with a stranger in the hotel bar about superstition. This was my least favorite story in the collection. It is very short, and it doesn't feel like a story as much as a strange snapshot.
In Inheritance, Gretchen's recently deceased grandmother leaves her a magical pen. This was one of my favorite pieces. Of all the stories, it gave me the biggest feels. I think all of us wish we could recieve a gift like this.
In The Last to Pass, Francis and Tanvi break down on a planet where the people have stopped aging. This story explores the repercussions of immortality.
In The House with an Inside but No Outside, Kenzie finds her grandmother's old friend and her grandaugther in a magical house in the woods. This was another favorite. It brought me straight back to childhood summers spent tromping in the woods playing make believe, and I'm here for it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
December 10, 2023
Upon a Waking Dream is a book of 12 short stories, all in the sci-fi genre. the longest story is about a hour and a half long and the shortest is 5-7 minutes and they all range from aliens and outer space to technology and time travel so it’s so much fun to read through! some of the stories are a bit more serious touching on ideas of what humankind would be life if we solved the cure for death, to sillier stories like my favorite, the former flat earther who falls in love with an alien on another planet who believes her planet is flat and gaslights him into thinking Earth is fake lmao. i really enjoyed reading these stories and loved waiting for the other shoe to drop in each one. each story gave me a sort of The Twilight Zone vibe and i am so into that.
3.75/5 for me but thats just because of personal preferences, nothing to do with the quality of the writing.
3.75/5 for me but thats just because of personal preferences, nothing to do with the quality of the writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2023
I found this collection of short stories very interesting! I love how different each story is. My particular favorites were Daily Log from Outpost #602 (I wish it was longer!) and The House with and Inside but no Outside. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review this book.
March 2, 2023
Full review to come
I really enjoyed these short stories.
Merged review:
I absolutely loved this collection of short science fiction stories. They would make me sit and think, which is what I like most about these types of tellings. This book contained 12 short stories and each one had interesting concepts. There were even a couple I would have read as a novel.
1. Letter from Glomsuet - 4 stars
• This one was such a fun point of view. The idea of an abducted Flat Earther having to come to terms that he was indeed wrong and now writing a letter to his old Earth sweetheart, was just too funny IMHO. The end had me think ‘wtf?’ but also get a good chuckle in.
2. The Man of Her Dreams – 3.75 stars
• I like a good time travel story. The concept for this one was interesting, but its execution fell somewhat flat. I understood the message it was conveying but I guess I just wanted more from a celebrity type romance.
3. Jay - 4 stars
• A serial killer on the loose when a strange kind man appears in this town. This was fairly well done.
4. Daily Log from Outpost #602 - 4.25 stars
• This made me laugh out loud at the end. I was so tickled by the outcome of this story. I suppose I have a weird sense of humor.
5. No Good Reason - 3 stars
• What the heck? Seriously, what on earth? Haha. I just felt bad for the guy. In the notes, I like where the author drew inspiration for this.
6. How to Make Money Fast - 4 stars
• Both terrifying and well…awwwwwwwww. Let’s just say, family is important. You might think you’re on a game show…but then again, maybe you’re not.
7. The Family Name - 4 stars
• This was an excellent story. Really makes you think and genuinely think why our society has had this mentality.
8. Larry - 3.75 stars
• Cute story.
9. Thirteen - 3.5 stars
• This one was a fun debate.
10. Inheritance - 5 stars
• Oh, now this one was my absolute favorite. I cried. What an amazing concept. I’d love to have this kind of pen pal. So sweet.
11. The Last to Pass - 3.75 stars
• Spaceship breaks down and lands on a planet with a secret. It was a very interesting story and I think it could be extended into a full-length novel. I would have liked to know more of the planet and maybe more of some of the natives’ experiences with the issue at hand. So much potential with this one.
12. The House with an Inside but No Outside - 4 stars
• I love stories that have children with wild imaginations, but it is really their reality.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed these short stories.
Merged review:
I absolutely loved this collection of short science fiction stories. They would make me sit and think, which is what I like most about these types of tellings. This book contained 12 short stories and each one had interesting concepts. There were even a couple I would have read as a novel.
1. Letter from Glomsuet - 4 stars
• This one was such a fun point of view. The idea of an abducted Flat Earther having to come to terms that he was indeed wrong and now writing a letter to his old Earth sweetheart, was just too funny IMHO. The end had me think ‘wtf?’ but also get a good chuckle in.
2. The Man of Her Dreams – 3.75 stars
• I like a good time travel story. The concept for this one was interesting, but its execution fell somewhat flat. I understood the message it was conveying but I guess I just wanted more from a celebrity type romance.
3. Jay - 4 stars
• A serial killer on the loose when a strange kind man appears in this town. This was fairly well done.
4. Daily Log from Outpost #602 - 4.25 stars
• This made me laugh out loud at the end. I was so tickled by the outcome of this story. I suppose I have a weird sense of humor.
5. No Good Reason - 3 stars
• What the heck? Seriously, what on earth? Haha. I just felt bad for the guy. In the notes, I like where the author drew inspiration for this.
6. How to Make Money Fast - 4 stars
• Both terrifying and well…awwwwwwwww. Let’s just say, family is important. You might think you’re on a game show…but then again, maybe you’re not.
7. The Family Name - 4 stars
• This was an excellent story. Really makes you think and genuinely think why our society has had this mentality.
8. Larry - 3.75 stars
• Cute story.
9. Thirteen - 3.5 stars
• This one was a fun debate.
10. Inheritance - 5 stars
• Oh, now this one was my absolute favorite. I cried. What an amazing concept. I’d love to have this kind of pen pal. So sweet.
11. The Last to Pass - 3.75 stars
• Spaceship breaks down and lands on a planet with a secret. It was a very interesting story and I think it could be extended into a full-length novel. I would have liked to know more of the planet and maybe more of some of the natives’ experiences with the issue at hand. So much potential with this one.
12. The House with an Inside but No Outside - 4 stars
• I love stories that have children with wild imaginations, but it is really their reality.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2022
[ENG]
This is how you make great plot twists and write really ridiculous sci-fi/fantasy tales without being cringy. Overall, the stories have a good level both in plot and development, all were entertaining and have a final that makes my jaw drop, like super low.
The one critique I have is a few of the stories are much longer than they should be, sometimes I was a bit bored, so I was counting the pages that were left for the next chapter. But that grand finales made it completely worth it.
My favourite one was The Men of her Dreams, I really loved the protagonist, she's so real in her own way and I can really connect with her. Also loved the transformation of Tom Cruise... I mean, Tom "Suarez".
I super recommend this book to anyone with a little bit of free time, there will always be something special in there for you.
☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★
[ES]
Así es como haces grandes plot twists y escribes cuentos ridículos de fantasía/ciencia ficción sin dar vergüenza ajena. En general, las historias tienen un muy buen nivel tanto de trama como desarrollo, todas son entretenidas y los finales me dejaron boquiabierta, mucho.
La única crítica que tengo es que algunos de los cuentos son mas largos que lo que debían, a veces estaba un poco aburrida, así que me ponía a contar cuantas páginas me quedaban para el próximo capítulo. Pero los Grand Finales siempre hacían que valiese la pena.
Mi favorito es "The Man of Her Dreams", me encanto la protagonista, es tan real a su manera y sentí que pude conectar mucho con ella. También ame la transformación de Tom Cruise... digo Tom "Suárez".
Recomiendo totalmente este libro a cualquiera con un poco de tiempo libre, siempre podrás encontrar algo especial para ti.
I just reviewed Upon a Waking Dream by J. S. Bailey. #uponawakingdream #NetGalley
This is how you make great plot twists and write really ridiculous sci-fi/fantasy tales without being cringy. Overall, the stories have a good level both in plot and development, all were entertaining and have a final that makes my jaw drop, like super low.
The one critique I have is a few of the stories are much longer than they should be, sometimes I was a bit bored, so I was counting the pages that were left for the next chapter. But that grand finales made it completely worth it.
My favourite one was The Men of her Dreams, I really loved the protagonist, she's so real in her own way and I can really connect with her. Also loved the transformation of Tom Cruise... I mean, Tom "Suarez".
I super recommend this book to anyone with a little bit of free time, there will always be something special in there for you.
☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★
[ES]
Así es como haces grandes plot twists y escribes cuentos ridículos de fantasía/ciencia ficción sin dar vergüenza ajena. En general, las historias tienen un muy buen nivel tanto de trama como desarrollo, todas son entretenidas y los finales me dejaron boquiabierta, mucho.
La única crítica que tengo es que algunos de los cuentos son mas largos que lo que debían, a veces estaba un poco aburrida, así que me ponía a contar cuantas páginas me quedaban para el próximo capítulo. Pero los Grand Finales siempre hacían que valiese la pena.
Mi favorito es "The Man of Her Dreams", me encanto la protagonista, es tan real a su manera y sentí que pude conectar mucho con ella. También ame la transformación de Tom Cruise... digo Tom "Suárez".
Recomiendo totalmente este libro a cualquiera con un poco de tiempo libre, siempre podrás encontrar algo especial para ti.
I just reviewed Upon a Waking Dream by J. S. Bailey. #uponawakingdream #NetGalley
July 12, 2022
Upon a Waking Dream is a collection of short science fiction stories from author J.S. Bailey.
Do you like your Sci-fi with a side of strange?
If you were a fan of the Twilight zone, but always preferred the sci-fi episodes to the psychological horror episodes, then this collection of stories is perfect for your tastes.
I enjoyed this eclectic collection of short stories. There's a little of everything. Aliens, time travel, immortality, Fae.... Wait, I said this was sci-fi, right? It's a loose interpretation of sci-fi. Many of these stories would probably fit in well with some of Bailey's supernatural anthologies, though I felt like the stories in UAWD tend toward the lighter side, with happier and less ambiguous endings.
My favorite out of the entire collection was "A Man of Her Dreams." It's a time travel adventure that gives an interesting twist on the "I can change the bad boy" trope.
My second favorite was "The Last to Pass", which shows both the horrors of Immortality and the horrors of reversing it.
*I was the recipient of an early review copy. I received no compensation for this review other than the review copy. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion of the provided work.*
Do you like your Sci-fi with a side of strange?
If you were a fan of the Twilight zone, but always preferred the sci-fi episodes to the psychological horror episodes, then this collection of stories is perfect for your tastes.
I enjoyed this eclectic collection of short stories. There's a little of everything. Aliens, time travel, immortality, Fae.... Wait, I said this was sci-fi, right? It's a loose interpretation of sci-fi. Many of these stories would probably fit in well with some of Bailey's supernatural anthologies, though I felt like the stories in UAWD tend toward the lighter side, with happier and less ambiguous endings.
My favorite out of the entire collection was "A Man of Her Dreams." It's a time travel adventure that gives an interesting twist on the "I can change the bad boy" trope.
My second favorite was "The Last to Pass", which shows both the horrors of Immortality and the horrors of reversing it.
*I was the recipient of an early review copy. I received no compensation for this review other than the review copy. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion of the provided work.*
July 27, 2024
This is a collection of twelve futuristic sci-fi, speculative and fantasy stories, showcasing a range of styles and content, but all well-written and immersive.
My personal favourite stories, ‘Jay’ and ‘Inheritance’, featured a modern-day saint/prophet and a magic pen respectively and both managed to provoke strong emotional responses and deep thoughts, while remaining entertaining as light, quick reads too.
Others in the collection explore all sorts of fascinating ideas – a very unlucky man, an egg hunt with a twist, a world of boys with few girls, a world where aging has stopped, an imaginary friend and an invisible home. Every single one was a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Unusually for me, I was less fond of the lighter and more humorous stories – the Flat Earth correspondence, the hero worship, interstellar signals from a potentially fowl source and a dispute about the number of floors in a hotel. These all felt more like snippets of a wider story to me, and not as stand-alone satisfying as the rest of the collection.
There is a bit of something for every sci-fi fan or spec-fiction reader here and the whole book makes a great introduction to J.S. Bailey’s writing. I hadn’t read her work before, but certainly would in the future (any future!).
My personal favourite stories, ‘Jay’ and ‘Inheritance’, featured a modern-day saint/prophet and a magic pen respectively and both managed to provoke strong emotional responses and deep thoughts, while remaining entertaining as light, quick reads too.
Others in the collection explore all sorts of fascinating ideas – a very unlucky man, an egg hunt with a twist, a world of boys with few girls, a world where aging has stopped, an imaginary friend and an invisible home. Every single one was a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Unusually for me, I was less fond of the lighter and more humorous stories – the Flat Earth correspondence, the hero worship, interstellar signals from a potentially fowl source and a dispute about the number of floors in a hotel. These all felt more like snippets of a wider story to me, and not as stand-alone satisfying as the rest of the collection.
There is a bit of something for every sci-fi fan or spec-fiction reader here and the whole book makes a great introduction to J.S. Bailey’s writing. I hadn’t read her work before, but certainly would in the future (any future!).
October 17, 2022
I was sent a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book.
It is a collection of short science fiction stories. All of them could easily be an episode of The Twilight Zone or similar.
The short stories in this book were of varying lengths. I did wish that some of them could have been expanded on. I would definitely read a full of length novel of most of these. That’s the reason for the 4 star rating instead of 5. Although the whole point of this was to be lots of short stories.
These short stories include exploring new planets, aliens, magic pens, imaginary friends and other topics.
My favourite stories in this book were The Man of Her Dreams and Inheritance. The Family Name, Larry and Daily Log From Outpost #602 were also strong contenders.
A lot of these stories end when I would like them to continue, but each of them made me sit and think about it afterwards. They make you think about what could happen next, what if the world were really like that and also.. what just happened.
4/5
I really enjoyed this book.
It is a collection of short science fiction stories. All of them could easily be an episode of The Twilight Zone or similar.
The short stories in this book were of varying lengths. I did wish that some of them could have been expanded on. I would definitely read a full of length novel of most of these. That’s the reason for the 4 star rating instead of 5. Although the whole point of this was to be lots of short stories.
These short stories include exploring new planets, aliens, magic pens, imaginary friends and other topics.
My favourite stories in this book were The Man of Her Dreams and Inheritance. The Family Name, Larry and Daily Log From Outpost #602 were also strong contenders.
A lot of these stories end when I would like them to continue, but each of them made me sit and think about it afterwards. They make you think about what could happen next, what if the world were really like that and also.. what just happened.
4/5
February 26, 2023
I felt an immediate connection with this author as I read the forward. When they explained that Anne McCaffrey, Madeline L’Engle, and the deleted Star Wars EU had inspired these stories, I thought of how much I loved those stories as a young reader.
This collection feels a bit like episodes of The Twilight Zone, in a good way. Each short story builds up a premise. By the conclusion, the main character begins to doubt their understanding of reality or change their perspective. There isn’t always a “twist” per se, but each conclusion feels like the story took a turn that leaves readers considering its possibilities.
I’d consider using some of these short stories in my high school literature lessons. They make some connections to our modern culture that I think students would find interesting. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy through NetGalley.
This collection feels a bit like episodes of The Twilight Zone, in a good way. Each short story builds up a premise. By the conclusion, the main character begins to doubt their understanding of reality or change their perspective. There isn’t always a “twist” per se, but each conclusion feels like the story took a turn that leaves readers considering its possibilities.
I’d consider using some of these short stories in my high school literature lessons. They make some connections to our modern culture that I think students would find interesting. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy through NetGalley.
December 6, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this quirky collection of short stories.
I had never read anything written by J. S. Bailey before and I’m not the biggest fan of short stories, but I’m glad that this title caught my eye. This is a really fun collection of Sci-fi/Fantasy short stories of varying length and topic.
Some stories are short and have a simple premise, others longer and more emotion filled. Read about aliens, disappearing hotel floors, a house with an inside but no outside and more.
I highly recommend Upon A Waking Dream!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had never read anything written by J. S. Bailey before and I’m not the biggest fan of short stories, but I’m glad that this title caught my eye. This is a really fun collection of Sci-fi/Fantasy short stories of varying length and topic.
Some stories are short and have a simple premise, others longer and more emotion filled. Read about aliens, disappearing hotel floors, a house with an inside but no outside and more.
I highly recommend Upon A Waking Dream!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2023
This was a great short story collection! Definitely brought me back to my teenage years, reading classic sci-fi collections my dad would give me.
The stories cover a great range of topics and themes, so I think everyone can find a favourite. They also vary in length, and I really appreciated the short ones that leave you chuckling to yourself before you move on to the more lengthy ones. I'd struggle picking a favourite myself!
All in all, this was a fun, easy read. Don't skip the author's notes at the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback.
The stories cover a great range of topics and themes, so I think everyone can find a favourite. They also vary in length, and I really appreciated the short ones that leave you chuckling to yourself before you move on to the more lengthy ones. I'd struggle picking a favourite myself!
All in all, this was a fun, easy read. Don't skip the author's notes at the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback.
October 31, 2022
This is a fun collection of short stories. The whole thing is relatively short so it’s a good fast read.
Most of the stories felt more science fiction to me rather than fantasy but I still had a good time.
Some of the characters and worlds I would have liked to see expanded on more.
Overall I had a good time with this and would recommend others give it a chance too.
Might even help get someone out of a reading slump because it has a good variety of stories.
Most of the stories felt more science fiction to me rather than fantasy but I still had a good time.
Some of the characters and worlds I would have liked to see expanded on more.
Overall I had a good time with this and would recommend others give it a chance too.
Might even help get someone out of a reading slump because it has a good variety of stories.
June 13, 2023
"Upon a Waking Dream by J.S. Bailey is a delightful collection of 12 imaginative sci-fi tales that transport readers to captivating realms. The diverse themes and well-crafted storytelling make each story engaging and thought-provoking. This book is perfect for sci-fi enthusiasts seeking a quick and satisfying escape into the realms of the extraordinary, ideal for those short on time but craving a captivating read."
March 18, 2023
This book was an absolute delight and had a little bit of everything! Magic, Sci-Fi, Fantasy spread over 12 short stories with each having a very unique storyline. If you want a change of pace from something you might normally read, this book is for you!
Thank you NetGalley and the author/publisher for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley and the author/publisher for the ARC!
March 31, 2023
Upon A Waking Dream reads exactly how the title describes. This book is a series of short sci-fi/fantasy stories that were grounded in reality and each one was intricately woven to make the reader believe they are viewing someone’s dreams. It gives the feeling of stories that would be retold time and time again while sitting at a bonfire with your family.
January 23, 2023
Book won in a giveaway. Honest review to come!
February 13, 2023
3,5
Ringrazio NetGalley per la copia ARC che mi ha mandato in cambio di un'onesta recensione.
"Upon a Waking Dream" è una raccolta di 12 storie brevi per lo più fantasy e fantascientifiche.
Non è un libro lungo e si legge molto velocemente, perfetto per un pomeriggio noioso e per staccare la mente per qualche ora.
E' un libro scritto bene e anche il linguaggio in inglese non è difficile. Quasi tutte queste storie hanno dei passaggi velati di satira e divertimento, ma alcuni danno anche un insegnamento.
Nonostante alcune storie le ho trovate un pò tanto lunghe e mi hanno un pò annoiato, mentre altre erano talmente corte che sembravano non avere sostanza, è stata una lettura piacevole che mi ha porttao in mondi assai strani e bizzarri.
Che aspettate ad essere rapiti dagli alieni, a vivere una vita con il vostro attore preferito o ad avere un amico immaginario che stravolgerà la vostra vita?
🇬🇧: I thank NetGalley for the ARC copy he sent me in exchange for an honest review.
"Upon a Waking Dream" is a collection of 12 short stories mostly fantasy and science fiction.
It’s not a long book and it reads very quickly, perfect for a boring afternoon and to take your mind off for a few hours.
It’s a well-written book, and even the language in English is not difficult. Almost all of these stories have passages veiled with satire and fun, but some also give a teaching.
Despite some stories I found a bit long and I was a bit bored, while others were so short that they seemed to have no substance, it was a pleasant reading that brought me into very strange and bizarre worlds.
What are you waiting for to be kidnapped by aliens, to live a life with your favorite actor or to have an imaginary friend who will upset your life?
Ringrazio NetGalley per la copia ARC che mi ha mandato in cambio di un'onesta recensione.
"Upon a Waking Dream" è una raccolta di 12 storie brevi per lo più fantasy e fantascientifiche.
Non è un libro lungo e si legge molto velocemente, perfetto per un pomeriggio noioso e per staccare la mente per qualche ora.
E' un libro scritto bene e anche il linguaggio in inglese non è difficile. Quasi tutte queste storie hanno dei passaggi velati di satira e divertimento, ma alcuni danno anche un insegnamento.
Nonostante alcune storie le ho trovate un pò tanto lunghe e mi hanno un pò annoiato, mentre altre erano talmente corte che sembravano non avere sostanza, è stata una lettura piacevole che mi ha porttao in mondi assai strani e bizzarri.
Che aspettate ad essere rapiti dagli alieni, a vivere una vita con il vostro attore preferito o ad avere un amico immaginario che stravolgerà la vostra vita?
🇬🇧: I thank NetGalley for the ARC copy he sent me in exchange for an honest review.
"Upon a Waking Dream" is a collection of 12 short stories mostly fantasy and science fiction.
It’s not a long book and it reads very quickly, perfect for a boring afternoon and to take your mind off for a few hours.
It’s a well-written book, and even the language in English is not difficult. Almost all of these stories have passages veiled with satire and fun, but some also give a teaching.
Despite some stories I found a bit long and I was a bit bored, while others were so short that they seemed to have no substance, it was a pleasant reading that brought me into very strange and bizarre worlds.
What are you waiting for to be kidnapped by aliens, to live a life with your favorite actor or to have an imaginary friend who will upset your life?
July 10, 2024
I was thoroughly impressed by J.S. Bailey's collection of stories. Each piece showcases Bailey's remarkable talent for beautiful prose and captivating ideas. The collection exhibits impressive versatility by navigating various styles and subgenres, including science fiction, fantasy, and more. Bailey's writing is both eloquent and deeply evocative, often stirring profound emotions in the reader.
One standout story in Bailey's collection is 'Inheritance,' a poignant tale with a powerful narrative and emotionally rich content that left a lasting impression on me. The themes of legacy and loss were handled with such sensitivity and depth that they continue to resonate with me.
Bailey's collection is a captivating journey that draws the reader into vivid, immersive worlds. Each story is a unique experience, set in meticulously crafted settings with compelling character arcs. Whether exploring futuristic landscapes or fantastical realms, Bailey's storytelling consistently engages and, importantly, provokes thought.
This collection is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction or anyone who appreciates masterfully written stories. Bailey's skillful blend of genres and heartfelt storytelling ensures that each tale resonates long after turning the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
One standout story in Bailey's collection is 'Inheritance,' a poignant tale with a powerful narrative and emotionally rich content that left a lasting impression on me. The themes of legacy and loss were handled with such sensitivity and depth that they continue to resonate with me.
Bailey's collection is a captivating journey that draws the reader into vivid, immersive worlds. Each story is a unique experience, set in meticulously crafted settings with compelling character arcs. Whether exploring futuristic landscapes or fantastical realms, Bailey's storytelling consistently engages and, importantly, provokes thought.
This collection is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction or anyone who appreciates masterfully written stories. Bailey's skillful blend of genres and heartfelt storytelling ensures that each tale resonates long after turning the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
October 16, 2023
This is a collection of twelve futuristic sci-fi, speculative and fantasy stories, showcasing a range of styles and content, but all well-written and immersive.
My personal favourite stories, ‘Jay’ and ‘Inheritance’, featured a modern-day saint/prophet and a magic pen respectively and both managed to provoke strong emotional responses and deep thoughts, while remaining entertaining as light, quick reads too.
Others in the collection explore all sorts of fascinating ideas – a very unlucky man, an egg hunt with a twist, a world of boys with few girls, a world where aging has stopped, an imaginary friend and an invisible home. Every single one was a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Unusually for me, I was less fond of the lighter and more humorous stories – the Flat Earth correspondence, the hero worship, interstellar signals from a potentially fowl source and a dispute about the number of floors in a hotel. These all felt more like snippets of a wider story to me, and not as stand-alone satisfying as the rest of the collection.
There is a bit of something for every sci-fi fan or spec-fiction reader here and the whole book makes a great introduction to J.S. Bailey’s writing. I hadn’t read her work before, but certainly would in the future (any future!).
My personal favourite stories, ‘Jay’ and ‘Inheritance’, featured a modern-day saint/prophet and a magic pen respectively and both managed to provoke strong emotional responses and deep thoughts, while remaining entertaining as light, quick reads too.
Others in the collection explore all sorts of fascinating ideas – a very unlucky man, an egg hunt with a twist, a world of boys with few girls, a world where aging has stopped, an imaginary friend and an invisible home. Every single one was a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Unusually for me, I was less fond of the lighter and more humorous stories – the Flat Earth correspondence, the hero worship, interstellar signals from a potentially fowl source and a dispute about the number of floors in a hotel. These all felt more like snippets of a wider story to me, and not as stand-alone satisfying as the rest of the collection.
There is a bit of something for every sci-fi fan or spec-fiction reader here and the whole book makes a great introduction to J.S. Bailey’s writing. I hadn’t read her work before, but certainly would in the future (any future!).
March 4, 2023
📚 𝙐𝙥𝙤𝙣 𝘼 𝙒𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢
✍️ J.S. Bailey
💬 English
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was sent a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is my first short stories collection I had read in 2023. For this, I don't mind to go back to February and read this for the first time again.
I like the writing. Each story had their own unique idea. There were topics about aliens and flat-earth community, time-travel with some romance spices, imaginary friend, magic and many more. The main reason for 4 stars of mine was because I couldn't enjoy nor understand some of the stories. Those stories seemed like being there as filler with no meaning.
Nevertheless, I still could find the rest of the book enjoyable and page turner. My favourite were The House With An Inside but No Outside and In The Man of Her Dreams. The House With An Inside but No Outside was a heartwarming, magical and philosophical story. While In The Man of Her Dreams was more like a sci-fi, dramatic-lengthy love story. Both were good in their own way and left me nostalgic for no reason. I love that feeling tho.
Thank you NetGalley, J.S. Bailey and the publisher for the book.
✍️ J.S. Bailey
💬 English
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was sent a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is my first short stories collection I had read in 2023. For this, I don't mind to go back to February and read this for the first time again.
I like the writing. Each story had their own unique idea. There were topics about aliens and flat-earth community, time-travel with some romance spices, imaginary friend, magic and many more. The main reason for 4 stars of mine was because I couldn't enjoy nor understand some of the stories. Those stories seemed like being there as filler with no meaning.
Nevertheless, I still could find the rest of the book enjoyable and page turner. My favourite were The House With An Inside but No Outside and In The Man of Her Dreams. The House With An Inside but No Outside was a heartwarming, magical and philosophical story. While In The Man of Her Dreams was more like a sci-fi, dramatic-lengthy love story. Both were good in their own way and left me nostalgic for no reason. I love that feeling tho.
Thank you NetGalley, J.S. Bailey and the publisher for the book.
March 14, 2023
This is a book of sci-fi and fantasy short stories by J.S. Bailey, an author I was not familiar with. I always enjoy sci-fi, the story premises were interesting, and there were some clever bits, but I didn’t read anything worth shouting about. Inheritance and The Last to Pass were pretty good. Some of the other stories were OK but there were things that rubbed me the wrong way about them (one I thought the ending was kind of stupid, and a couple more the endings just didn’t make sense.) I also had trouble suspending disbelief, but not about any of the sci-fi or fantasy elements, but in terms of people behaving or reacting in what I thought were unrealistic ways (which in my opinion is worse.)
Overall, this was an OK read, but I definitely don’t feel inspired to seek out the author’s other works.
Representation: POC characters
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, this was an OK read, but I definitely don’t feel inspired to seek out the author’s other works.
Representation: POC characters
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2024
Wow. This book was phenomenal. I might be biased because I love books that have a number of stories in them, but this one was just so fun! Some of my favourites are “The Last To Pass,” “Larry,” “How To Make Money Fast,” and “The House With An Inside But No Outside.” All of these stories were more detailed and the author clearly had an amazing time writing them! These stories tackled ideas like immortality, an imaginary friend who saves your life, literal aliens, and magic. A lot of imagination went into this and I’ve never been more inspired than I am now. I’ve never been a fan of science fiction or fantasy stuff, yet this hit all the marks on my list. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to question their identity on this godforbid planet, escape their current problems in life, and/or read a series of lighthearted but sort of comedic and dramatic stories.
February 25, 2023
This was a charming set of short stories! They all had a bit of a whimsical tone to them, not quite out there in the science fiction realm, like with lasers and beams, but it was enough to dip your toes in. I found that some stories really stuck to me and I wanted more, but others fell short for me. When the stories fell short, I struggled to read through them.
Saying that, however, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the ones I read! I found The Man of Her Dreams to be pretty relatable, especially for my teenage self, which I think was my favorite story in the whole batch. I also liked how there was an afterword from the author, explaining why she wrote that particular story.
Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for the ARC! All views and opinions are my own.
Saying that, however, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the ones I read! I found The Man of Her Dreams to be pretty relatable, especially for my teenage self, which I think was my favorite story in the whole batch. I also liked how there was an afterword from the author, explaining why she wrote that particular story.
Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for the ARC! All views and opinions are my own.
October 6, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this Book and for the opportunity to review it giving my honest opinion on it.
Upon a Waking Dream it’s a collection of short stories with amazing, beautiful, fantastic, emotional aspects differentiating each other. This sci-fi short stories envolve around aliens technology, space time travel. Bringing us the concept of the humanity with perspectives on the cure to give humans eternal life. Love between human and aliens etc.
This was a very easy as fast-paced pace read, I recommend it to anyone interested in an introduction to J.S. Bailey's writing it was my first time :)
Upon a Waking Dream it’s a collection of short stories with amazing, beautiful, fantastic, emotional aspects differentiating each other. This sci-fi short stories envolve around aliens technology, space time travel. Bringing us the concept of the humanity with perspectives on the cure to give humans eternal life. Love between human and aliens etc.
This was a very easy as fast-paced pace read, I recommend it to anyone interested in an introduction to J.S. Bailey's writing it was my first time :)
Read
February 3, 2023This is an imaginative collection of short stories. There's a lot of variety here and I liked the overall concept as well as the way the author was able to mix genre. The stories themselves are an interesting blend of sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction genres.
I think there's a lot of interesting ideas here, but my overall reaction is a little underwhelmed. The stories typically have an intriguing start, but some end very abruptly, or become too long, leading to an unsatisfying conclusion.
I received a digital early copy of the book from a StoryGraph giveaway.
I think there's a lot of interesting ideas here, but my overall reaction is a little underwhelmed. The stories typically have an intriguing start, but some end very abruptly, or become too long, leading to an unsatisfying conclusion.
I received a digital early copy of the book from a StoryGraph giveaway.
February 28, 2023
Some things are better kept short but sweet. This anthology of short stories did exactly that!
A fantasy lover looking for a brief escape from being heavily emotionally invested in a five-part novel should read these short stories.
I gave this 4/5 because there was no clear theme to this collection and a few of the stories stuck out like a sore thumb.
All in all a fun read and like you are putting your hand in a jar of candy, not sure what you will get each time.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley.
A fantasy lover looking for a brief escape from being heavily emotionally invested in a five-part novel should read these short stories.
I gave this 4/5 because there was no clear theme to this collection and a few of the stories stuck out like a sore thumb.
All in all a fun read and like you are putting your hand in a jar of candy, not sure what you will get each time.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley.
March 13, 2023
Okay, I have mixed feelings about this book. The theme is interesting, plots imaginative. It started well as I really liked the first story. So intriguing and engrossing, however it ends rather abruptly. And it's the same for all the stories. The incomplete/abrupt/unsatisfying ending. Some stories are interesting, some not so interesting. There's too much telling, when it comes to writing style. So overall, it was an okay read, I'd say. The stories I enjoyed reading were: Letter from Glomsuet My favourite), The Man of Her Dreams, Jay, No Good Reason, Thirteen.
July 19, 2024
I loved this collection of stories, brining out the conspiracy part of my brain/heart.
The prompts were interesting and really detailed with each breakdown. Some of the ideas that were discussed were:
-A Flat Earther gets abducted by aliens
-A college dropout gets by with a little help from her imaginary friend
-A woman obsessed with her favorite actor creates a new universe just to meet him
-A magic pen bridges the gap between generations
This is a wonderful collection of stories that can easily be a favorite.
The prompts were interesting and really detailed with each breakdown. Some of the ideas that were discussed were:
-A Flat Earther gets abducted by aliens
-A college dropout gets by with a little help from her imaginary friend
-A woman obsessed with her favorite actor creates a new universe just to meet him
-A magic pen bridges the gap between generations
This is a wonderful collection of stories that can easily be a favorite.
May 14, 2023
Thank you Netgalley, J.S. Bailey, and publishers for gifting me a copy of Upon a Waking Dream in return for my honest review.
3.5/5 stars
This is a collection of 12 short sci-fi stories. From Aliens to time travelers there is something for everyone. I enjoyed reading these stories, obviously liking some more than others. While these are all wonderfully written and I would recommend them to others who want short stories, this really isn't a book I would pick up and read a second time.
3.5/5 stars
This is a collection of 12 short sci-fi stories. From Aliens to time travelers there is something for everyone. I enjoyed reading these stories, obviously liking some more than others. While these are all wonderfully written and I would recommend them to others who want short stories, this really isn't a book I would pick up and read a second time.
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