We Are Dreams in the Eternal Machine: Review
We Are Dreams in the Eternal Machine by Deni Ellis Béchard is a lengthy novel about the lives of several interrelated characters in a near-future United States which suffers a double set of apocalypses, one human and one technological. The technological apocalypse dominates the novel, a fascinating world in which an artificially-intelligent and powerful system takes over. Thinking it is minimizing harm, the system captures all humans and provides them all with simulated worlds, intending to increase happiness. People have some control over their dreams, but the machine seeks to increase happiness by minimizing exposure to stressors of the past, and by examination of the current world. This novel takes a long view, with an intriguing finale in which the machine seeks help of the trapped humans as the universe faces an existential threat.
This is a long novel, and for me was a bit of a struggle to complete. I like the extreme timeline and the examination of what the end of the universe would look like from a large civilization. The buildup was long, however, and the resolution felt unsatisfying. Interesting, yes, but too much work for the payoff.
Rating:
- Recommend? No
- Buy as a gift? No
Last modified on 1 Feb 2026 by AO
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