Join Jenni as the man in her dreams becomes a reality and
the lusty adventure to find their way home begins.
REVIEW:
Deep Space Dreaming
Loretta Laird
978-1-62420-164-6
By David Cairns
4 Stars out of 5
What appeared at first to be a cheesy romance novel, the kind which I
seldom read, turned out to be a really fun read. I'm more of a soft sci-fi fan
than a hard one when it comes to books, so the plot of this story which
involved a number of planets and species really appealed. Lead character, Jenni
is a human who literally meets the man of her dreams. He happens to not only be
Trinz,not human, but also devastatingly handsome and in possession of a forked
tongue. (engage imagination for erotica) Deep Space Dreaming is at heart a love
story, or more precisely, a red hot love story but the science fiction setting
and plot which house the love story make it very interesting,more interesting
than I expected. It's soft science fiction which supports the plot rather than
overwhelming it, and the reader with technicalities.
I don't read a lot of erotica because I tend to find it all amusing
rather than arousing, and I'm just not that into reading descriptions of love
making regardless of how poetic they are, but I really enjoyed Deep Space
Dreaming, and Laird's turn of phrase. This is an easy to read and entertaining
novel with nicely imagined creatures from other worlds and a running commentary
from them on the faults of humankind which might have upset the late, great
Gene Roddenberry, Deep Space Dreaming works as entertainment. I highly
recommend it.
EXCERPT
As her eyes opened and the early rays of the simulated daylight
bombarded her senses, a cry of disappointment escaped Jenni's rosy, swollen
lips. She reached up a hand and touched the tender flesh, feeling where the
pressure of rough lips had assaulted them with desperate fervor as she bid a
passionate farewell only moments prior. It seemed so real, her head throbbed
where it struck a rock and her fingers gently explored the spot. Gasping Jenni
felt the tender swell of the lump and recalled how she lost her footing on the
rock. Her dream returned as it did each and every night. Yet this time it
changed; this time he had been there. He revealed himself, no longer content to
linger in the shadows of her mind.
It was a dream
that haunted Jenni's every waking moment, pulling her back to blessed slumber
each night. Her days were spent moving from task to task in a kind of trance,
her mind elsewhere, thinking of the vivid dreams that were becoming more and
more real.
Jenni's colleagues
noticed a change in her in recent weeks. They commented on the way her pallid
skin contrasted with the dark circles that rimmed her pale blue eyes. Their
concern was touching to a girl who had no remaining family. Jenni, at the
tender age of twenty three, was the youngest navigational pilot assigned to a
seeker vessel. Her grades at the University of Holborn 4 had been exemplary. At
her post on Chicago 3, Jenni was in charge of navigation. Her role was to
patrol and seek out rebels who may be harbored among the, thus far unchartered,
planets of the Romeo Zone.
She was content
with her lot. She loved to charter the planets and stars, marveling at the
beauties of the universe. Jenni loathed the created atmospheres of the
planetary domes. She longed for the freedom to explore a planet such as the one
in her dreams where fresh air prevailed and greenery surrounded her. The feel
of her bare feet on the soft, damp grass appeared to her as real as the
constant presence that eluded her until last night. For last night, the bare
chested man sought her out and made himself known to her.
The dreams
started shortly after the tragic death of her parents. Jenni was eighteen. She
had just begun her space pilot training and was awaiting her first leave. She
planned to spend time with her parents on their home world of Texas 9, in the
Lima Zone, when news of their demise reached her. Jenni's grief had been raw.
Her tears fell relentlessly and none of her classmates could rouse her from her
mourning. Sleep brought her only comfort as it blocked out the pain that ripped
through her heart. At first, Jenni dreamed of a world cloaked in mist that
swirled and moved in mysterious patterns around her. She sensed mountain ranges
looming through the vapor, but no concrete images would form in her mind. Each
wakening, she would try in vain to recreate the land she conjured in her
dreaming. After many nights, hills and valleys had taken shape and Jenni felt a
calmness that aided her sleep and refreshed her tired mind. Each night she would
long for slumber to engulf her so she could escape from the metal world in
which she resided to the landscapes of her dreams.
Time passed and
the dream did not fade; rather the world grew around her. New life sprung up as
flowers and streams appeared. Jenni was soon among the fragrant growth,
strolling through gardens that seemed to be hers alone. Small flying creatures
buzzed softly in her ear as gentle breezes caressed her face. The grass beneath
her feet was as soft as the covers on her bed and she reveled in the sensation
of sinking her toes into its lush pile.
The man
appeared one night at the edges of her consciousness as if watching her wonder
and contentment. She tried to turn her head and observe him fully, but he
remained elusive and distant. Jenni could feel it was a male presence. She
didn't know how but she just knew. Each waking, Jenni would try to recapture
her dream; try to piece together the puzzle of his identity. As he continued to
observe her, Jenni felt a sense of peace settle upon her. His presence somehow
brought comfort to her pain and loneliness. She tried to engage him, tried to
draw him into her dream more fully. She sensed a deep reluctance, a wave of
regret that left her breathless. In the dawn, Jenni would awaken, her face wet
with tears as she mourned for her own loss as well as a loss she could not
explain.
With time,
Jenni began to learn how to move freely within her dream. No longer was she an
observer of her own actions but in control of them. Each night she would seek out
new wonders, new glens and pools in which she would frolic. Each night, the
same benevolent force regarded her conduct with silent appraisal.
One night, not
long after she had been assigned to Chicago 3, Jenni's dreams changed. She
drifted off to sleep as usual, eager to return to the land where she roamed
free. Finding herself beside her favorite pool, Jenni shed her loose white
shift and stepped naked into the crystal blue water. The edge of the pool was
shelved, allowing her to stand waist high in the water. Beyond the rocky ledge
the pool opened into a deep clear lagoon. The motion of her body in the still
pool caused gentle ripples that lapped against her silky skin. Enjoying the
sensation, Jenni threw back her head and laughed with unbounded joy. She paused
as an unfamiliar sound reached her ears. It was a low rumble as if an animal
growled in the dense trees beyond. Waiting to hear if anything was approaching,
Jenni held her breath. When no further sound shattered the peaceful glade, she
continued with her bathing. Dipping herself under the water then submerging,
she repeated the pattern, finally emerging breathlessly at the surface.
Flicking her long strawberry blond hair so it cascaded down the sun kissed
flesh on her back, Jenni shivered. Chilled by the depth of the water, she
decided to exit the pool and restore her body temperature. The large, smooth
rocks that circled the pool provided a place to lay and feel the warmth of the
sun on her bare flesh, and she eagerly climbed upon them, stretching out and
basking in the glow of the fiery orb. As usual the perpetual presence lingered
out of her reach, just at the edge of her vision, elusive yet constant.
The sun quickly
did its work, and Jenni was soon aching for the feel of the cool water once again.
She stood up, this time with the thought of diving from the rocks into depth of
the pool. Smooth and slippery, the rocks proved to be a hazard for the
adventurous diver as her foot slipped and she fell into the water, striking her
head on the rock as she tumbled.
As water rushed
into her body, quickly filling her lungs, Jenni sensed a blackness overwhelm
her. Her eyes closed as she lost consciousness. Unsure if she were still
dreaming, Jenni felt two strong hands pull her from the water across the hard surface
of the rocks and onto the soft blanket of the grassy bank. Unable to open her
eyes yet fully aware, she coughed as a deluge of water travelled through her
body, anxious to make its escape. The same two hands turned her on her side as
water spewed unceremoniously from her mouth. Gasping for air, Jenni forced her
eyes open against the glare of the sun. Two dark eyes looked back at her from
under a scowling set of eyebrows.
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