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The Memory of Lost Dreams
Raylan Hawke couldn’t believe what he saw: a ruined underground city with shattered skyscrapers in front of him. So, what had caused this to happen? By chance, he stumbled upon a mysterious machine called REQUIEM, which whisked him away to a dystopian world ruled by advanced technology and engulfed in unyielding fear. And escape seemed impossible.
This updated edition is a rerelease of the story (post-2024). Last revision: August 15, 2025.
This updated edition is a rerelease of the story (post-2024). Last revision: August 15, 2025.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 13, 2017
If it comes back,
was it ever lost?
When it comes to dystopian novels, the chances are that I'm going to enjoy it amply.
Malik Soules has been sent accidentally to an unknown another world by a machine named Requiem. He soon finds that this world is not as good as he pondered. There are things to be fixed and there's too much of tragedies and politics around him. How he deals with this world is for you to figure out.
The author was successful in stirring those emotions in me that I hardly thought existed. Showing a panoramic picture of a world that was sometimes amusing and other times poignant and evocative, I had no options but to go with the author's imagination.
Its theme will remind you pretty much of Inception and Matrix. But in its own way, this book has definitely done justice to the sci-fi arena. This was amazingly nice and enjoyable.
The narrator has his own limitations of knowledge, so you keep on turning the pages and get to know what happens next only when the author allows you, not before that. Till then, you are on your own which I must highlight that it was a great move on the author's part. His tactics and strategies in presenting entertainment before the reader with great precision is what has impressed me.
The flow of the events seemed to have a pretty fantastic pace. As much as I loved the protagonist, I was thrilled with the plot too. Storyline kept me expecting for some adventures and that I got.
All in all, it was a real gem. Excellently written. The author has a gift to illustrate vividly. Couldn't have asked for a better sci-fi novel.
The Memory of Lost Dreams will be interesting to those with the sci-fi taste buds
February 2, 2016
The author creates a multiple worlds that allows the reader to lose himself/herself. The main character traverses his new surroundings with an endearing naivete that compels the reader to follow the journey through to the end.
Malik Soules is the protagonist and we follow him away from his familiar home into a supposed utopia. Malik quickly finds out that this new place is no utopia, in fact it’s a nightmarish dystopia, from which he cannot seem to wake. He’s trapped with no obvious means of escape and must find his way.
Davon Custis, vividly illustrates the characters and world in which they exist. The book is well written and the story moves along at a quick pace. It’s a nice read and enjoyable for those looking for a new story in this genre.
Malik Soules is the protagonist and we follow him away from his familiar home into a supposed utopia. Malik quickly finds out that this new place is no utopia, in fact it’s a nightmarish dystopia, from which he cannot seem to wake. He’s trapped with no obvious means of escape and must find his way.
Davon Custis, vividly illustrates the characters and world in which they exist. The book is well written and the story moves along at a quick pace. It’s a nice read and enjoyable for those looking for a new story in this genre.
April 29, 2016
The Memory of Lost Dreams by David Curtis is well placed in the Dystopian genre. Wanted for treason Malik has no choice but to flee his homeland, where his only crime had been to challenge poor leadership the people so blindly followed. A cave seems to offer salvation, the darkness all-consuming until a glimmer of light beckons him. But the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be a beacon to the dead, or a tribute to it. Within the confines of a ruined city lies REQUIEM, and the start of his nightmares. Trapped in a strange new world it seems if Malik wishes to escape he has no choice but obey the terrifying request of Jean-Pierre, the figure who claims to be his only salvation from this domain. The world he find himself in is one of oppression. Curfews, brutal enforcement of the law, and severe penalties for even the most minor misconduct. All this oppression was bound to spur a resistance movement, but with two opposing forces, who will Malik align himself with? The one who can save him, or the one who wishes to save them all?
David Curtis’ descriptive style easy conjures fantastic and graphic images of the world, some beautifully stunning, others dark and haunting. This style brilliant for holding the reader’s intention and is also able to create the needed emotional responses, awe, fear, relief, etc. The plot itself in places reminds me of a hybrid combination of Inception and The Matrix, whilst being completely separate and unique to the plots of those well-known films. The Memory of Lost Dream’s focus stays with Malik, thus we gain insight into events through his interactions, be them with objects or people, as such our own assumptions as to the events are formed by the things he discovers and learns. There is certainly enough intrigue as to what is occurring to keep the pages turning, and through the plot we come to gain a wider understanding of all that is at stake. I felt this was done in a particularly good manner, the reader is led to make their own decisions with the facts being presented. At one point I had a number of theories as to the truth behind Malik’s plight, the plot so involved that it kept my imagination engaged as I considered the various possibilities of all which occurred. David Curtis manages to take something which is a very real threat, the loss of privacy in the name of protection, and show exactly how such a thing can be manipulated and corrupted for the benefit of others. The world he describes could very easily come to pass, perhaps that is one of the things most chilling about this book.
If I was to summarise my thoughts on this book in a single sentence it would have to be: A beautifully written, immersive, Dystopian fantasy.
David Curtis’ descriptive style easy conjures fantastic and graphic images of the world, some beautifully stunning, others dark and haunting. This style brilliant for holding the reader’s intention and is also able to create the needed emotional responses, awe, fear, relief, etc. The plot itself in places reminds me of a hybrid combination of Inception and The Matrix, whilst being completely separate and unique to the plots of those well-known films. The Memory of Lost Dream’s focus stays with Malik, thus we gain insight into events through his interactions, be them with objects or people, as such our own assumptions as to the events are formed by the things he discovers and learns. There is certainly enough intrigue as to what is occurring to keep the pages turning, and through the plot we come to gain a wider understanding of all that is at stake. I felt this was done in a particularly good manner, the reader is led to make their own decisions with the facts being presented. At one point I had a number of theories as to the truth behind Malik’s plight, the plot so involved that it kept my imagination engaged as I considered the various possibilities of all which occurred. David Curtis manages to take something which is a very real threat, the loss of privacy in the name of protection, and show exactly how such a thing can be manipulated and corrupted for the benefit of others. The world he describes could very easily come to pass, perhaps that is one of the things most chilling about this book.
If I was to summarise my thoughts on this book in a single sentence it would have to be: A beautifully written, immersive, Dystopian fantasy.
April 24, 2016
This is essentially a sci-fi book about a young man Malik Soules, who discovers a machine called Requiem which by accident sends him to a world from where there is no escape, a nightmarish world where technology is king, and the people are governed by machines. The story is about how Malik deals with this. Lots of action here and the author portrays the lead character sympathetically so that the reader can identify with him. The author has a vivid imagination and makes the reader feel as if he’s actually there himself. An excellent book that kept me reading right until the end.
February 24, 2016
The Memory of lost dreams, is very well narrated book.
I liked the story, this is more of Sci-Fi and political kinda Book.
I liked how beautifully the scenes were described,although sometimes too lengthy description distract the mood of mystery.
If you have good imagination, you can imagine it as a movie going on in-front of you.
I liked the story, this is more of Sci-Fi and political kinda Book.
I liked how beautifully the scenes were described,although sometimes too lengthy description distract the mood of mystery.
If you have good imagination, you can imagine it as a movie going on in-front of you.
May 7, 2018
I normally love books that push the boundaries of their genre or even cross over into several, but I spent most of this book in a huge state of confusion. It starts out being dystopia, we move to utopia, then back to dystopia, then we're time traveling, then it settles into coming of age.
I think perhaps what had me so confused is that it's revealed at about 15-25% into the book that nothing is real. Malik is in a simulation experiencing other people's memories. Once that was revealed, later scenes that should be blood pumping and excited while I fear for the narrators life and the lives of other characters just became "Well, it's not real anyway, so no one is in danger".
I wasn't sure if I was meant to be fearing for the lives of the memories of dead people as Malik was experiencing them or I was supposed to be reading it and shaking my head about the horrors of the past. Knowing it was all a simulation sort of took away any of the tension that was meant to be building.
At the end, dsytopia, utopia, whatever direction the book choose to go in, this book on the whole is a coming of age story. I'm not quite sure how the author could change or carry off the big reveal that everything is a simulation to change how I experienced the book. On one hand, revealing it at 15-20% took the excitement out, but revealing at the very end would almost seem like an easy way out and ruin all the hard work that was put into this book. I've been scratching my head since I finished this book trying to figure out where that revelation could be put that I would have been rooting for everyone. I still don't know
I think perhaps what had me so confused is that it's revealed at about 15-25% into the book that nothing is real. Malik is in a simulation experiencing other people's memories. Once that was revealed, later scenes that should be blood pumping and excited while I fear for the narrators life and the lives of other characters just became "Well, it's not real anyway, so no one is in danger".
I wasn't sure if I was meant to be fearing for the lives of the memories of dead people as Malik was experiencing them or I was supposed to be reading it and shaking my head about the horrors of the past. Knowing it was all a simulation sort of took away any of the tension that was meant to be building.
At the end, dsytopia, utopia, whatever direction the book choose to go in, this book on the whole is a coming of age story. I'm not quite sure how the author could change or carry off the big reveal that everything is a simulation to change how I experienced the book. On one hand, revealing it at 15-20% took the excitement out, but revealing at the very end would almost seem like an easy way out and ruin all the hard work that was put into this book. I've been scratching my head since I finished this book trying to figure out where that revelation could be put that I would have been rooting for everyone. I still don't know
May 13, 2019
Take a dive into virtual reality and the human heart in Davon Custis’ The Memory of Lost Dreams. This dystopian novel rockets us into the action and mystery as Malik Soules explores a mysterious virtual world. Custis has great description and voice and I really enjoyed the tone of discovery Lost Dreams offered. If you love dystopian lit, definitely check this one out!
April 14, 2018
1.5 stars
**I received a free PDF copy from the author through the Goodreads group Making Connections in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and 100% honest.**
I thought this had a very promising premise, and it had a lot of potential to be a really amazing book, just by reading the premise, but sadly, it did not live up to the expectations I had put for it.
The edition that I had read was in severe need for more edits and proofreads. There were so many errors throughout along with a good handful or two of typos, that made it distracting to read at times. Now, I do want to say, that the author had been sending me revised editions as I was reading, and just scanning them, they did progressively get better, however, the above issues were still prominent in them.
Regarding the book's content:
There was little to no character development. The only information we get about the characters is through descriptions of their facial expressions, and that's basically all. There wasn't any dimension or substance to any of the characters.
The storyline was nonetheless confusing more than it wasn't confusing. There were a lot of times as I was reading when I had to stop and try to process what was going on as I was becoming too confused to continue on at the time being. Some parts of it were flat-out just annoying like the overly long excerpt from the book. That was unnecessary.
I didn't like the writing at all. There were some parts/narratives that were written horribly and then the next one was written great. Suddenly, it would switch back to the horrible writing then great, there was just no consistency whatsoever to the writing.
I was hoping that the ending would at least satisfy me, but that didn't even happen. I was so uncontent with the ending, not to mention that it lacked any closure whatsoever.
Overall, I wasn't a fan, which is unfortunate because the premise held so much promise and potential for me.
**I received a free PDF copy from the author through the Goodreads group Making Connections in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and 100% honest.**
I thought this had a very promising premise, and it had a lot of potential to be a really amazing book, just by reading the premise, but sadly, it did not live up to the expectations I had put for it.
The edition that I had read was in severe need for more edits and proofreads. There were so many errors throughout along with a good handful or two of typos, that made it distracting to read at times. Now, I do want to say, that the author had been sending me revised editions as I was reading, and just scanning them, they did progressively get better, however, the above issues were still prominent in them.
Regarding the book's content:
There was little to no character development. The only information we get about the characters is through descriptions of their facial expressions, and that's basically all. There wasn't any dimension or substance to any of the characters.
The storyline was nonetheless confusing more than it wasn't confusing. There were a lot of times as I was reading when I had to stop and try to process what was going on as I was becoming too confused to continue on at the time being. Some parts of it were flat-out just annoying like the overly long excerpt from the book. That was unnecessary.
I didn't like the writing at all. There were some parts/narratives that were written horribly and then the next one was written great. Suddenly, it would switch back to the horrible writing then great, there was just no consistency whatsoever to the writing.
I was hoping that the ending would at least satisfy me, but that didn't even happen. I was so uncontent with the ending, not to mention that it lacked any closure whatsoever.
Overall, I wasn't a fan, which is unfortunate because the premise held so much promise and potential for me.
April 2, 2016
A tribal teenager’s tour into a virtual world leads him to get trapped in the dream world created by an ambitious lunatic, with the intention of harnessing the power of people’s dreams, and turning their memories and hidden desires into a genuine virtual experience.
Written in an interesting manner, the book proceeds at a fluid pace. The visual imagery painted with words make the bushy vines, caves, rocks, and the ruins of an ancient deserted town come alive in the initial chapters. I felt that the scope of the story becomes a bit too broad when the plot expands to incorporate the dynamics of world politics, which is further projected into the future. However, my observation may be treated as coming from a person, who is not much into this genre.
Overall I think this imaginative book will make an interesting read for science fiction fans.
Written in an interesting manner, the book proceeds at a fluid pace. The visual imagery painted with words make the bushy vines, caves, rocks, and the ruins of an ancient deserted town come alive in the initial chapters. I felt that the scope of the story becomes a bit too broad when the plot expands to incorporate the dynamics of world politics, which is further projected into the future. However, my observation may be treated as coming from a person, who is not much into this genre.
Overall I think this imaginative book will make an interesting read for science fiction fans.
March 18, 2016
So pretty much
Malik finds himself in a sticky situation,he's on an unfamiliar planet with advance technology.
Throughout the book the reader will be welcomed with many unusual events which helps
develop characters roles and set up for an excellent ending. It's a light read and worth a look
if your interested in dystopian fiction
Malik finds himself in a sticky situation,he's on an unfamiliar planet with advance technology.
Throughout the book the reader will be welcomed with many unusual events which helps
develop characters roles and set up for an excellent ending. It's a light read and worth a look
if your interested in dystopian fiction
February 1, 2016
Oh Awesome. The cover is so interesting that it cough my intention. to read it. The book is interesting as like as it's cover. The writer got a high quality of thinking and expressing his expression. I appreciate it. Everybody should read this book who are finding something interesting.Thanks.
June 25, 2018
Time Travel - Or Is It?
"And if the blood of the Resistance is spilled tomorrow on those battlefields, we shall not have died in vain – that our efforts will be remembered by all those who shall live once again in the blessings of liberty, and they will honor us for what had been done in their history: that we've already decided freedom is something worth dying for, and our future generations will experience it again . . .”
Malik Soules had always been fascinated by the Ancients and their amazing cities and technology, so much so he had learned their ancient language. Then aged seventeen, he stood up against the incompetent chief of his village and lost, so he was forced to flee. He found a mysterious cavern within which were the ruins of an ancient city. Malik explored and in the library he discovered a piece of technology that seems to contain the body of his missing friend. Using the technology Malik was apparently propelled back into the past, to the city of Imperia a place that lives in fear of the Republic of Themis...
‘So it's actually him . . . well at least, this must be his Memory of him.’
What I Really Liked:
- This is political commentary clad in sci-fi clothing. It is a novel from the same stable as Orwell’s 1984 holding up a fictional exaggeration of society to show us the faults and flaws. I am sure I was not the only person to know the meaning of ‘Themis’ and to find the irony of that being presented as the enemy. This is a very brave book from that perspective and kudos to the author for tackling it.
- The technological concept. Not to move too far into spoiler territory the almost metaphysical idea of REQUIEM (again a very well considered and apposite name) is little short of brilliant and the way we weave in and out of different realities has shades of The Matrix.
- The characters. Malik is a kind of everyman, his personality never really comes over until the final pages, but then he is the vehicle through which the reader is taken through the Republic of Amerika. Zara is a complex individual who is much more than simply a freedom fighter. Jean-Pierre Maxwell a tormented - and tormenting - genius...
‘Even stranger, he got the feeling that he arrived to know unfamiliar new words without actually learning them, by which that in itself seemed almost impossible.’
What I Struggled With:
- This book is really, really badly written/edited. I offer a pretty typical example above. At times the writing is so poor it is impossible to work out what the author wanted to convey. This manifests not only in word choice and in the structure of sentences, but in the structure of the story itself.
- The way the story is told dives in and out of Malik’s head. One moment we share his thoughts and the next we are seeing the expression on his face. We get little foreshadowing comments like ‘(Unbeknownst, Zara told him a half-truth)’ - not my parentheses - which gives the impression of a narrator speaking to us from outside the story.
- There are elements of the story that appear and are never mentioned again, leaving a whole cluster of loose ends which are not resolved, many of which seem not to have been that important in the first place. It gives the impression of the author grabbing for a deus ex machina to fill a gap but neither underpinning it nor carrying it through to any conclusion.
Overall:
I admired the conceptual basis for this book and that it explored those ideas courageously, but I was sometimes utterly defeated by the delivery.
Star Rating: 2.5
Who Would Enjoy this Book:
If you enjoy books that explore the possibilities of VR worlds, political or metaphysical sci-fi, there is something in this book for you.
"And if the blood of the Resistance is spilled tomorrow on those battlefields, we shall not have died in vain – that our efforts will be remembered by all those who shall live once again in the blessings of liberty, and they will honor us for what had been done in their history: that we've already decided freedom is something worth dying for, and our future generations will experience it again . . .”
Malik Soules had always been fascinated by the Ancients and their amazing cities and technology, so much so he had learned their ancient language. Then aged seventeen, he stood up against the incompetent chief of his village and lost, so he was forced to flee. He found a mysterious cavern within which were the ruins of an ancient city. Malik explored and in the library he discovered a piece of technology that seems to contain the body of his missing friend. Using the technology Malik was apparently propelled back into the past, to the city of Imperia a place that lives in fear of the Republic of Themis...
‘So it's actually him . . . well at least, this must be his Memory of him.’
What I Really Liked:
- This is political commentary clad in sci-fi clothing. It is a novel from the same stable as Orwell’s 1984 holding up a fictional exaggeration of society to show us the faults and flaws. I am sure I was not the only person to know the meaning of ‘Themis’ and to find the irony of that being presented as the enemy. This is a very brave book from that perspective and kudos to the author for tackling it.
- The technological concept. Not to move too far into spoiler territory the almost metaphysical idea of REQUIEM (again a very well considered and apposite name) is little short of brilliant and the way we weave in and out of different realities has shades of The Matrix.
- The characters. Malik is a kind of everyman, his personality never really comes over until the final pages, but then he is the vehicle through which the reader is taken through the Republic of Amerika. Zara is a complex individual who is much more than simply a freedom fighter. Jean-Pierre Maxwell a tormented - and tormenting - genius...
‘Even stranger, he got the feeling that he arrived to know unfamiliar new words without actually learning them, by which that in itself seemed almost impossible.’
What I Struggled With:
- This book is really, really badly written/edited. I offer a pretty typical example above. At times the writing is so poor it is impossible to work out what the author wanted to convey. This manifests not only in word choice and in the structure of sentences, but in the structure of the story itself.
- The way the story is told dives in and out of Malik’s head. One moment we share his thoughts and the next we are seeing the expression on his face. We get little foreshadowing comments like ‘(Unbeknownst, Zara told him a half-truth)’ - not my parentheses - which gives the impression of a narrator speaking to us from outside the story.
- There are elements of the story that appear and are never mentioned again, leaving a whole cluster of loose ends which are not resolved, many of which seem not to have been that important in the first place. It gives the impression of the author grabbing for a deus ex machina to fill a gap but neither underpinning it nor carrying it through to any conclusion.
Overall:
I admired the conceptual basis for this book and that it explored those ideas courageously, but I was sometimes utterly defeated by the delivery.
Star Rating: 2.5
Who Would Enjoy this Book:
If you enjoy books that explore the possibilities of VR worlds, political or metaphysical sci-fi, there is something in this book for you.
January 26, 2019
Actual rating: 2.5/5
Blurb: A dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic future. A young man, Malik, flees his village, stumbles upon a ruined city from the past and discovers REQUIEM and he is transported to another world. I mean it's cool, this world is actually the past (or is it? I'm not spoiling it for those who are curious and want to read it). A Chief Overlord has imposed a dystopian culture on society and most seem to just accept it, but there is a hero amongst them and will stop at nothing to help the world and Malik is caught in the middle.
Despite this not being a first edition and not truly an ARC (Published in 2015 first), it was in need of some HEAVY editing. There were so many grammatical errors and they were enough that you were like 'did anyone read through this beforehand? Did a seal edit this and its flippers caused some of these errors?'
A lot of people complained about character development and I could see why but I do have to say something in defense of the Author at this point; his story wasn't about the characters. It was about society, it was about the power of government and what is plausible if people let others take power and never step in. Not every story we read is about the characters, but, the others were right to a point, Malik (our main character) did not seem to grow and at one point in the book when one would think he would have matured he doesn't. Not to mention he and the others are so flat, that with the fact that the rest of the writing is subpar, means that unfortunately this novel was a huge NO for me at the end of the day despite me really wanting to like the story.
I hope he does more editing, frankly, it needs to be rewritten but if he does and really works at it, I could see it being a pretty damn good novel, for now? I'm gonna go detox.
Great ideas, definitely a creative mind to come up with them but poorly executed.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I think we can all say my review was definitely honest.
Blurb: A dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic future. A young man, Malik, flees his village, stumbles upon a ruined city from the past and discovers REQUIEM and he is transported to another world. I mean it's cool, this world is actually the past (or is it? I'm not spoiling it for those who are curious and want to read it). A Chief Overlord has imposed a dystopian culture on society and most seem to just accept it, but there is a hero amongst them and will stop at nothing to help the world and Malik is caught in the middle.
Despite this not being a first edition and not truly an ARC (Published in 2015 first), it was in need of some HEAVY editing. There were so many grammatical errors and they were enough that you were like 'did anyone read through this beforehand? Did a seal edit this and its flippers caused some of these errors?'
A lot of people complained about character development and I could see why but I do have to say something in defense of the Author at this point; his story wasn't about the characters. It was about society, it was about the power of government and what is plausible if people let others take power and never step in. Not every story we read is about the characters, but, the others were right to a point, Malik (our main character) did not seem to grow and at one point in the book when one would think he would have matured he doesn't. Not to mention he and the others are so flat, that with the fact that the rest of the writing is subpar, means that unfortunately this novel was a huge NO for me at the end of the day despite me really wanting to like the story.
I hope he does more editing, frankly, it needs to be rewritten but if he does and really works at it, I could see it being a pretty damn good novel, for now? I'm gonna go detox.
Great ideas, definitely a creative mind to come up with them but poorly executed.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I think we can all say my review was definitely honest.
June 19, 2018
This dystopian/ sci-fi novel centers around a teenage Malik Soules that stumbles upon a machine that forces him into several vantage points, several pasts, and through a multitude of experiences and emotions of a different world that make him hopeful to correct his.
Pros: Custis has a great imagination that immerses the reader into a futuristic cityscape that at first you salivate over, contemplating the negatives to this concrete paradise. Soon enough though, failed politics and greedy residents seep into the descriptions. Because of the machine, REQUIEM, the reader is able to follow Malik on his journey through different imaginations and recountings, and its told in a way that the reader only learns the knowledge when Malik does. So, you find yourself raising an eyebrow in confusion when he does, and nodding in agreement when he finds out information. That's something I really favor when I'm reading.
Cons: The prose is a bit confusing. The 3rd person narrator has opinions of its own, but its not coming from a character. And Malik comes from a dictator-led village from the ruins of a once great city, but speaks very formally and antiquated throughout the book. Where'd his education come from? He doesn't think or react in the way I'd think a teenager who was cast out for quite a while would act. At times a lot of the dialogue is stilted and unnatural, and this is with every character. Without the add-on of who's speaking, the reader can't tell the difference from one person to the other based on just the dialogue. Some of the descriptions are beautiful and envy-worthy, while some hold too many frilly adjectives that seem unnecessary.
All in all, this book had ideas and concepts that were impressive, and entertains the reader while on Malik's journey of discovery.
Pros: Custis has a great imagination that immerses the reader into a futuristic cityscape that at first you salivate over, contemplating the negatives to this concrete paradise. Soon enough though, failed politics and greedy residents seep into the descriptions. Because of the machine, REQUIEM, the reader is able to follow Malik on his journey through different imaginations and recountings, and its told in a way that the reader only learns the knowledge when Malik does. So, you find yourself raising an eyebrow in confusion when he does, and nodding in agreement when he finds out information. That's something I really favor when I'm reading.
Cons: The prose is a bit confusing. The 3rd person narrator has opinions of its own, but its not coming from a character. And Malik comes from a dictator-led village from the ruins of a once great city, but speaks very formally and antiquated throughout the book. Where'd his education come from? He doesn't think or react in the way I'd think a teenager who was cast out for quite a while would act. At times a lot of the dialogue is stilted and unnatural, and this is with every character. Without the add-on of who's speaking, the reader can't tell the difference from one person to the other based on just the dialogue. Some of the descriptions are beautiful and envy-worthy, while some hold too many frilly adjectives that seem unnecessary.
All in all, this book had ideas and concepts that were impressive, and entertains the reader while on Malik's journey of discovery.
March 31, 2017
'The Memory of Lost Dreams' by Davon Custis is time travel, dystopian YA novel. Malik, the main character, lives in a village in the distant future, where nobody has any idea of the apocalypse that destroyed the former great nations of Amerika and Themisia. Malik himself inadvertently stumbles on the past when he discovers the ruins of Imperia, the capital city of Amerika, and, in the crumbling edifice of the once-glorious public library, comes across a strange computer portal called 'Requiem'. Entering it, he is transported mentally to the past and finds himself in the middle of Imperia as the city and its overly-policed population teeter on the brink of destruction. He finds himself targeted by the authorities, gets embroiled with the revolutionaries, and must find a way to avoid being permanently trapped in the Requiem mind machine.
The author has a vivid imagination and a talent for story-telling. You get drawn into what is happening, and there are some excellent parallels drawn to the growing authoritarianism around the world. This could have been a really good book, but the writing is uneven - it is very good in some parts and lackadaisical to bad in others. The author needs to work on his dialogues and weed out everything cheesy and sentimental. You want to evoke emotion, not tell the reader what emotion they should feel.
Otherwise, a very intriguing story.
The author has a vivid imagination and a talent for story-telling. You get drawn into what is happening, and there are some excellent parallels drawn to the growing authoritarianism around the world. This could have been a really good book, but the writing is uneven - it is very good in some parts and lackadaisical to bad in others. The author needs to work on his dialogues and weed out everything cheesy and sentimental. You want to evoke emotion, not tell the reader what emotion they should feel.
Otherwise, a very intriguing story.
August 10, 2025
The Memory of Lost Dreams is a totally engrossing dystopian thriller where the main character Raylan Hawke is trapped in an alternate universe and where he is torn between right and wrong and has to make tough decisions that will change the world forever.
What impresses the most is the laid back approach of story telling rarely seen in a thriller. The author describes the characters and the world in which they are part of with utmost vividness and the story is well complemented with some nice twists that keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Its so easy to follow Raylan's journey and one can easily feels the emotions that he is feeling whether it is confusion, anguish and then ultimate happiness.
Overall it is an intriguing read though the length of the book could have been reduced for a more optimal experience.
What impresses the most is the laid back approach of story telling rarely seen in a thriller. The author describes the characters and the world in which they are part of with utmost vividness and the story is well complemented with some nice twists that keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Its so easy to follow Raylan's journey and one can easily feels the emotions that he is feeling whether it is confusion, anguish and then ultimate happiness.
Overall it is an intriguing read though the length of the book could have been reduced for a more optimal experience.
May 26, 2018
The Memory of Lost Dreams by Davon Custis
I have to say Custis has a wonderfully unique way of writing. And his take on a dystopian world is fascinating. With the “Requiem” machine it turns a story that you think is going one way into a whole new and refreshing way. Showing us what our world could turn into in the distant future and more.
I like how this story is told from one man’s point of view on a world and virtual worlds that is under a government regime. Trapped by Requiem to do a task the machine can’t and he morally can’t do.
And what happens when that target saves you with consequences? No Spoilers ;)
Emotions ran high in some chapters. Each world was made spectacularly I gotta admit I liked this book.
A must read for those who like dystopian tales.
I have to say Custis has a wonderfully unique way of writing. And his take on a dystopian world is fascinating. With the “Requiem” machine it turns a story that you think is going one way into a whole new and refreshing way. Showing us what our world could turn into in the distant future and more.
I like how this story is told from one man’s point of view on a world and virtual worlds that is under a government regime. Trapped by Requiem to do a task the machine can’t and he morally can’t do.
And what happens when that target saves you with consequences? No Spoilers ;)
Emotions ran high in some chapters. Each world was made spectacularly I gotta admit I liked this book.
A must read for those who like dystopian tales.
June 8, 2018
I received a free PDF file of this book for an honest review.
The idea of this story was very interesting, but I don’t think it was done right. I DNF it halfway through and I never not finish a book. I just couldn’t get into it. The characters were dull and found my self skimming through the pages because I was so bored. I was also confused and had to stop and reread what I just read. Even though I didn’t like it, someone out there will love it.
The idea of this story was very interesting, but I don’t think it was done right. I DNF it halfway through and I never not finish a book. I just couldn’t get into it. The characters were dull and found my self skimming through the pages because I was so bored. I was also confused and had to stop and reread what I just read. Even though I didn’t like it, someone out there will love it.
July 28, 2016
I recently read "The Memory of Lost Dreams" by Davon M. Curtis, and I found the book to be a crescendo that left me thinking much more of it at the end than I did in the beginning. I found myself very confused about what was going on through the early chapters, and perhaps I should give the author the benefit of the doubt. This is a dream world, and dreams are often confusing and irrational, so perhaps that's what Mr. Curtis was shooting for.
The first third of the book basically follows a single character through a series of baffling scenes that makes sense once the setting was fully explained. As characters were introduced, I kept thinking, "Now here's a cool character that will add some dimension to the story," but almost as soon as they enter, they exit the book for good. The book ends up only having a few key characters, and I almost found the protagonist the least interesting of them all. Jean-Pierre and Zara are mysterious figures that I thoroughly enjoyed. The author's treatment of them is vivid, and even the appearance of the villain put a smile on my face, just because of his colorful nature.
One of the most clever parts of the book is how a newcomer to a dystopic future America reads a section out of a history book that he finds in the library. The manner in which the author uses a historical chapter to explain how the US degraded to its future position was engaging, intelligent, and well-written.
In the end, what I thought would be a two-star effort finally grew to something that would deserve at least four stars... if a good editor had been involved. I do give the author props fore using a good spell-checker, but such a tool will only get you so far when it comes to words that are very similarly spelled. For example, I'm pretty sure the author intended "scraped" where he used "scrapped": "...it scrapped the ground like a nail on a chalkboard" and "His knees scrapped and buckled down...". As another example, "breath" and "breathe" are two different parts of speech, and it is apparent when the wrong one is used incorrectly, as in, "The room's temperature fogged his breathe" or "The tone of his voice transitioned into a breathe of seriousness."
Sadly, there are editing snafus which lessen the impact of the work. There are many problems with tense, verb conjugation, and incomplete sentences even. On the bright side, I have seen posted that the author is constantly working to improve his work, and I applaud him for the effort. Since I know that he is working to improve his writing skill, I'm interested in seeing his growth as the series continues for that reason alone... well, and to find out what happens to Malik and Zara.
The first third of the book basically follows a single character through a series of baffling scenes that makes sense once the setting was fully explained. As characters were introduced, I kept thinking, "Now here's a cool character that will add some dimension to the story," but almost as soon as they enter, they exit the book for good. The book ends up only having a few key characters, and I almost found the protagonist the least interesting of them all. Jean-Pierre and Zara are mysterious figures that I thoroughly enjoyed. The author's treatment of them is vivid, and even the appearance of the villain put a smile on my face, just because of his colorful nature.
One of the most clever parts of the book is how a newcomer to a dystopic future America reads a section out of a history book that he finds in the library. The manner in which the author uses a historical chapter to explain how the US degraded to its future position was engaging, intelligent, and well-written.
In the end, what I thought would be a two-star effort finally grew to something that would deserve at least four stars... if a good editor had been involved. I do give the author props fore using a good spell-checker, but such a tool will only get you so far when it comes to words that are very similarly spelled. For example, I'm pretty sure the author intended "scraped" where he used "scrapped": "...it scrapped the ground like a nail on a chalkboard" and "His knees scrapped and buckled down...". As another example, "breath" and "breathe" are two different parts of speech, and it is apparent when the wrong one is used incorrectly, as in, "The room's temperature fogged his breathe" or "The tone of his voice transitioned into a breathe of seriousness."
Sadly, there are editing snafus which lessen the impact of the work. There are many problems with tense, verb conjugation, and incomplete sentences even. On the bright side, I have seen posted that the author is constantly working to improve his work, and I applaud him for the effort. Since I know that he is working to improve his writing skill, I'm interested in seeing his growth as the series continues for that reason alone... well, and to find out what happens to Malik and Zara.
September 26, 2016
Chief Kindred had told the public Malik Soules (17) was a traitor.
5/16/2755, Asher Twine (Malik’s BMF/protector) & Malik were discussing various things &
the REQUIEM (computer) had sent him to Imperia (city).
Upon arrival, Malik met Mr. Timothy O‟Reilly (old man, Citizen # 456230-05B, Class-D Resident,
3/11/2755, The Imperial Tribune headlines: 2746, Amerika Won: The Themisian War (2746–2755 A.D) is over.
Malik had started reading Quinn O’Brien’s A History of the Nation book which pretty much covered the history of everything in a nutshell.
4/2/2776, Later Malik (citizen 342846-03X) was arrested for the violation of the Class-A Curfew. Under the National Code, sub-paragraph fifteen of the Civilized Act.
The other inmate Anthony Quincy informed him they are being held at Smith Penitentiary (Imperia).
He also accused them of being a member of the Zara‟s Resistance.
Terrorism, a Class-A felony. Death by firing squad; immediately!
Anthony & Malik were ready to face the firing squad & low behold who should appear Army Commando Zara.
He saved the 2 from sudden death.
Zara later told Malik about the history, different types of government & the wars that went on around the world.
The Chief Lord & the 21st. High Council reside in the Grand People‟s Hall. The Royal
Guard’s watch over them.
Where will Malik’s life go from here?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written historical fiction Dystopian/Sci-Fi book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Dystopian/Sci-Fi movie, animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. It wasn’t 1984, which I use this as a standard, but I liked it so I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
5/16/2755, Asher Twine (Malik’s BMF/protector) & Malik were discussing various things &
the REQUIEM (computer) had sent him to Imperia (city).
Upon arrival, Malik met Mr. Timothy O‟Reilly (old man, Citizen # 456230-05B, Class-D Resident,
3/11/2755, The Imperial Tribune headlines: 2746, Amerika Won: The Themisian War (2746–2755 A.D) is over.
Malik had started reading Quinn O’Brien’s A History of the Nation book which pretty much covered the history of everything in a nutshell.
4/2/2776, Later Malik (citizen 342846-03X) was arrested for the violation of the Class-A Curfew. Under the National Code, sub-paragraph fifteen of the Civilized Act.
The other inmate Anthony Quincy informed him they are being held at Smith Penitentiary (Imperia).
He also accused them of being a member of the Zara‟s Resistance.
Terrorism, a Class-A felony. Death by firing squad; immediately!
Anthony & Malik were ready to face the firing squad & low behold who should appear Army Commando Zara.
He saved the 2 from sudden death.
Zara later told Malik about the history, different types of government & the wars that went on around the world.
The Chief Lord & the 21st. High Council reside in the Grand People‟s Hall. The Royal
Guard’s watch over them.
Where will Malik’s life go from here?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written historical fiction Dystopian/Sci-Fi book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Dystopian/Sci-Fi movie, animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. It wasn’t 1984, which I use this as a standard, but I liked it so I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
September 11, 2016
Davon Custis, author of the Sci-Fi novel: The Memory of Lost Dreams, mailed me a free copy of this title so I could read and provide a fair review. My honest opinion is that this is a three-star effort.
The hero of the story is Malik Soules, a seventeen year old boy who after inciting a failed rebellion in his village is driven into exile by the village chief, Kindred. Now wandering alone, Malik discovers a ruined city called Imperia where much of the novel's story will take place. As Malik, overtaken by curiosity, is walking about the city, he comes across a library and enters it. While in there, Malik is beguiled into entering a techno-cylinder, and voila, his journey into fantasyland and time-travel begins.
Davon Custis's writing strengths lie in his ability to describe things, gadgets, people and buildings, creating a living world that readers can immerse themselves in and become a part of. Some scenes in this novel do come off as pretty brilliant.
The Memory of Lost Dreams's biggest weakness, however, is its reliance on too much backstory. Malik himself is largely clueless about what is going on and relies on being told by others, or reading texts. I ended up getting disappointed with him because he has so little of his own to contribute and doesn't do anything much to influence the story's outcomes. The true hero of the story, in my opinion, is Zara, whose actions defy and frustrate the evil order government for years, and towards the end of the novel, it is Zara's actions that save Malik from being lost forever in the dream world.
That said, however, Davon Custis shows he is a writer with a bright future and his ability to imagine fantasy worlds that live and breathe will take him a long way. For now, though, he needs to polish his act a little more.
The hero of the story is Malik Soules, a seventeen year old boy who after inciting a failed rebellion in his village is driven into exile by the village chief, Kindred. Now wandering alone, Malik discovers a ruined city called Imperia where much of the novel's story will take place. As Malik, overtaken by curiosity, is walking about the city, he comes across a library and enters it. While in there, Malik is beguiled into entering a techno-cylinder, and voila, his journey into fantasyland and time-travel begins.
Davon Custis's writing strengths lie in his ability to describe things, gadgets, people and buildings, creating a living world that readers can immerse themselves in and become a part of. Some scenes in this novel do come off as pretty brilliant.
The Memory of Lost Dreams's biggest weakness, however, is its reliance on too much backstory. Malik himself is largely clueless about what is going on and relies on being told by others, or reading texts. I ended up getting disappointed with him because he has so little of his own to contribute and doesn't do anything much to influence the story's outcomes. The true hero of the story, in my opinion, is Zara, whose actions defy and frustrate the evil order government for years, and towards the end of the novel, it is Zara's actions that save Malik from being lost forever in the dream world.
That said, however, Davon Custis shows he is a writer with a bright future and his ability to imagine fantasy worlds that live and breathe will take him a long way. For now, though, he needs to polish his act a little more.
March 6, 2017
Memory of Lost Time I will never get back. . .
I hate leaving bad reviews, but just really needed to say something after reading this. First of all, the bad grammar throughout the story is cringeworthy. I would have stopped reading but I have never started a book without finishing it, so I forced my way thru.
To confuse matters, just when I had accepted the bad narrative - a new chapter comes along with a different narrative... And suddenly the writing is actually good? It's almost like someone else stepped in and wrote a chapter. Then it switches back to the original narrative, making me wonder if it was intentionally written badly?
Anyways... The plot has potential, but falls short. None of the characters have any substance, and putting up with stuff like this . . .
"They couldn't have walked into a trap. Well didn't they? Malik quivered his lips loose, being curious by Jean-Pierre's strange statement."
. . . all through the book only to find an ending that is lacking any satisfaction or closure and didn't make any sense.
I hate leaving bad reviews, but just really needed to say something after reading this. First of all, the bad grammar throughout the story is cringeworthy. I would have stopped reading but I have never started a book without finishing it, so I forced my way thru.
To confuse matters, just when I had accepted the bad narrative - a new chapter comes along with a different narrative... And suddenly the writing is actually good? It's almost like someone else stepped in and wrote a chapter. Then it switches back to the original narrative, making me wonder if it was intentionally written badly?
Anyways... The plot has potential, but falls short. None of the characters have any substance, and putting up with stuff like this . . .
"They couldn't have walked into a trap. Well didn't they? Malik quivered his lips loose, being curious by Jean-Pierre's strange statement."
. . . all through the book only to find an ending that is lacking any satisfaction or closure and didn't make any sense.
January 11, 2017
This book reminded me of the Pendragon series because of the dystopian theme. This would be a good teen novel. You travel with Malik in a world of the past through this machine/system called Requiem. Some parts were confusing to me at first but once you kept reading things started making sense. This a good book and definitely keeps you wanting to read more. I would suggest shortening some of the history book pages, it felt super long.
Blurb:
Malik Soules has never seen such an amazing sight.
There lay the city of Imperia: gutted, destroyed, cracked with broken windows, every skyscraper went slanted within this deep underground cavern.
What happened to this place so long ago?
He accidentally stumbles upon a machine called REQUIEM. By mistake, it sends him into a strange new world: where futuristic technology rules and sheer terror fills the hearts of ordinary citizens.
He can't seem to escape this nightmarish dream!
Blurb:
Malik Soules has never seen such an amazing sight.
There lay the city of Imperia: gutted, destroyed, cracked with broken windows, every skyscraper went slanted within this deep underground cavern.
What happened to this place so long ago?
He accidentally stumbles upon a machine called REQUIEM. By mistake, it sends him into a strange new world: where futuristic technology rules and sheer terror fills the hearts of ordinary citizens.
He can't seem to escape this nightmarish dream!
October 7, 2016
A young man finds a machine that transports him into a virtual / dream world.
I enjoyed this book, even though it confused me a bit, and as I read it I couldn’t stop thinking of a Philip K. Dick version of the Matrix. The characters and the central premise of subliminal mind / dream control were unusual but believable. My few (very) minor gripes were in a few places the writing could have been tighter and the mixture of real people / virtual world could have been better developed.
Overall an entertaining read that will probably be enjoyed by Sci-Fi enthusiasts, especially those into dark dystopian worlds.
Please note I read the August 2016 version of this book, so my review / opinion may differ from others here.
I enjoyed this book, even though it confused me a bit, and as I read it I couldn’t stop thinking of a Philip K. Dick version of the Matrix. The characters and the central premise of subliminal mind / dream control were unusual but believable. My few (very) minor gripes were in a few places the writing could have been tighter and the mixture of real people / virtual world could have been better developed.
Overall an entertaining read that will probably be enjoyed by Sci-Fi enthusiasts, especially those into dark dystopian worlds.
Please note I read the August 2016 version of this book, so my review / opinion may differ from others here.
September 15, 2016
This dystopian fantasy follows the adventures of a boy called Malik as he encounters a machine that sends him to a crazy place escape from which seems to be very hard. The story keeps you on the edge of the seat and characters are so vivid. This is a good read for the readers of dystopian fantasy.
Want to read
February 1, 2016This was a gift for my husband and he truly enjoyed it, commenting it was a thorough and fascinating view and perspective, that went beyond other types of books like this. Thought provoking.
May 7, 2018
I originally reviewed this book on April 28, 2016. The author has since then revamped the book, and doubled its length, answering questions I had in the original review, but these additions probably generated even more questions. And my star rating remains the same as two years ago: three stars.
My expectations and taste in books overall has changed in the past two years, as well. Now that I have given this book a second read, and read the newer version, I have to say this: the writing style could be improved. It still reads like that of a less-than-polished author. The story and concept is great, but I think this author needs a copywriter to re-write this in a stellar fashion. Actually, a developmental editor may also be needed, since there are some kinks in the story that still continue, or have newly arisen because of the lengthened plot. And, some I missed or didn't notice the first time around, that are still in this story.
During several moments during this story, when it takes place on Imperia, I was thinking, "Why should I care--this is a fake, virtual reality world." Nothing is real in Imperia, the world created by a computer called Requiem drawing upon the memories of deceased souls (hence the title). It's also kind of weird that such a virtual reality would also include other planets and outer space warfare using starships, all of which would also be fake. It's like telling someone about your dream and expecting them to be very upset or ecstatic based upon what happens in your dream, and to feel the pain of being there. This story explains, however, exactly where Malik's physical body is during the virtual reality, and explains how he doesn't face starvation or dehydration, so that helped.
But let's get to the premise that everyone in this virtual world matters, and their "lives" are important, just because they exist in someone's mind. Then the story turns to its dystopia / science fiction roots.
There is a lot more detail this time around on Malik's village at the beginning of the novel, but this still needs to be more fleshed out. I asked in the first review what had happened to the world at the time, and this still wasn't answered. If it's post-apocalypse, that still doesn't explain why people have reverted to a pre-colonial life of hunting and fishing without trying to recapture the industrial age.
For the first time, I wondered how the ruins of a huge, lost once-modern-age city could fit in within an enormous cave, or how the city ended up there in the first place. If it's really been thousands of years since the ruins of our modern age, I'm not sure that's enough time for tectonic plates to shift and topple ruins into an underground sanctuary.
Another inconsistency was how the hero, Zara was able to live an alternate life in a way that Malik knows intimately. (no spoilers here!) Wouldn't Zara be too busy leading the revolution?
This makes me think of movies such as The Matrix or Inception, where it's hard to know what's real and what isn't. However, I'm not sure that anything that happens in Malik's dream would have any real-life consequences to anyone in Malik's world.
Maybe it would be easier to put Malik squarely into a real world and make Imperia real, and then use Requiem to direct a clone of himself to achieve incredible heroics in order to liberate his own people? Maybe at the beginning of the book, not as a citizen on a post-apocalyptic Earth, but rather as a real living being on a very real world called Imperia, he's bombarded by this fake brainwashing, and then discovers the truth, then uses Requiem to find Zara and then assist the Revolution?
I watched a Doctor Who a few months ago. It was a very interesting concept that spanned three episodes and this book reminded me of Doctor Who. The shows are, "Extremis," "The Pyramid at the End of the World," and "The Lie of the Land."
I did like the two other main characters; the villain Jean-Pierre and the dashing hero Zara, just not sure about the changing identity for the latter.
My expectations and taste in books overall has changed in the past two years, as well. Now that I have given this book a second read, and read the newer version, I have to say this: the writing style could be improved. It still reads like that of a less-than-polished author. The story and concept is great, but I think this author needs a copywriter to re-write this in a stellar fashion. Actually, a developmental editor may also be needed, since there are some kinks in the story that still continue, or have newly arisen because of the lengthened plot. And, some I missed or didn't notice the first time around, that are still in this story.
During several moments during this story, when it takes place on Imperia, I was thinking, "Why should I care--this is a fake, virtual reality world." Nothing is real in Imperia, the world created by a computer called Requiem drawing upon the memories of deceased souls (hence the title). It's also kind of weird that such a virtual reality would also include other planets and outer space warfare using starships, all of which would also be fake. It's like telling someone about your dream and expecting them to be very upset or ecstatic based upon what happens in your dream, and to feel the pain of being there. This story explains, however, exactly where Malik's physical body is during the virtual reality, and explains how he doesn't face starvation or dehydration, so that helped.
But let's get to the premise that everyone in this virtual world matters, and their "lives" are important, just because they exist in someone's mind. Then the story turns to its dystopia / science fiction roots.
There is a lot more detail this time around on Malik's village at the beginning of the novel, but this still needs to be more fleshed out. I asked in the first review what had happened to the world at the time, and this still wasn't answered. If it's post-apocalypse, that still doesn't explain why people have reverted to a pre-colonial life of hunting and fishing without trying to recapture the industrial age.
For the first time, I wondered how the ruins of a huge, lost once-modern-age city could fit in within an enormous cave, or how the city ended up there in the first place. If it's really been thousands of years since the ruins of our modern age, I'm not sure that's enough time for tectonic plates to shift and topple ruins into an underground sanctuary.
Another inconsistency was how the hero, Zara was able to live an alternate life in a way that Malik knows intimately. (no spoilers here!) Wouldn't Zara be too busy leading the revolution?
This makes me think of movies such as The Matrix or Inception, where it's hard to know what's real and what isn't. However, I'm not sure that anything that happens in Malik's dream would have any real-life consequences to anyone in Malik's world.
Maybe it would be easier to put Malik squarely into a real world and make Imperia real, and then use Requiem to direct a clone of himself to achieve incredible heroics in order to liberate his own people? Maybe at the beginning of the book, not as a citizen on a post-apocalyptic Earth, but rather as a real living being on a very real world called Imperia, he's bombarded by this fake brainwashing, and then discovers the truth, then uses Requiem to find Zara and then assist the Revolution?
I watched a Doctor Who a few months ago. It was a very interesting concept that spanned three episodes and this book reminded me of Doctor Who. The shows are, "Extremis," "The Pyramid at the End of the World," and "The Lie of the Land."
I did like the two other main characters; the villain Jean-Pierre and the dashing hero Zara, just not sure about the changing identity for the latter.
May 15, 2025
Joseph Minart’s The Memory of Lost Dreams is a striking two-part dystopian epic that blends philosophical reflection, political commentary, and futuristic world-building into a narrative brimming with urgency and heart. Set in a fractured future world where remnants of a fallen society whisper secrets of the past, the story follows eighteen-year-old Reylan Hawke—a tribal outcast thrust into a journey far beyond his understanding after uncovering ancient ruins beneath his homeland.
The novel opens with an evocative prologue that draws readers into the cavernous underworld of Imperia, a collapsed metropolis filled with forgotten technologies and haunting reminders of a bygone civilization. Reylan, fleeing unjust persecution by his village’s chief, stumbles upon REQUIEM—a mysterious machine that transports him into a fully operational version of the very city buried beneath the earth. What begins as a quest for truth becomes a plunge into layers of memory, history, and political oppression.
Minart’s prose is cinematic, layered with lush visual details and emotional undertones. His ability to oscillate between dystopian decay and gleaming futurism is particularly impressive. The world he builds is one in which America has rebranded itself as the “People’s Republic of America,” an empire run by a ruthless Order Government. In this future, Europe has fallen, the moon is colonized, and identity is tightly controlled. Reylan—an unregistered outsider—is swept into a world of enforced conformity, brutal military control, and whispered resistance. “You don’t know anything about them?” an old drunkard asks Reylan, baffled by his ignorance of the government’s reach. It’s one of many moments where Minart uses dialogue to underscore the menace of omnipresent power.
The novel’s structure is ambitious. Part One establishes Reylan’s discovery of the ruins and the REQUIEM machine, while Part Two expands the political landscape, introducing figures like the masked revolutionary Aurelen, who steals the spotlight with his daring acts of rebellion. The serialized chapters mirror episodic television, each contributing to the world’s texture while moving Reylan—and the reader—deeper into questions of who controls history and who survives it.
Reylan is a compelling protagonist—curious, reflective, and driven not by revenge but by the pursuit of understanding. His friendship with the late Auron Theonord is heartbreaking and deeply symbolic, embodying the cost of knowledge and the price of truth. The library scene, in which Reylan mourns his friend’s skeleton while exploring the origins of a forgotten civilization, is among the book’s most emotionally resonant.
Though lengthy, the pacing is sustained by high-stakes encounters, from violent raids by the City Enforcers to chilling propaganda broadcasts. Scenes involving Sergeant Blake’s authoritarian brutality, the militarized arrests of immigrants, and Reylan’s confused integration into this harsh world all serve to critique unchecked power and surveillance. The tone at times echoes Orwell and Bradbury, yet Minart’s voice remains his own—earnest, layered, and richly visual.
Fans of speculative fiction, political dystopias, and coming-of-age tales will find much to savor in The Memory of Lost Dreams. Readers drawn to the existential depth of The Giver, the world-shaping dynamics of The Hunger Games, or the layered philosophical reflections of Cloud Atlas will find similar satisfaction here.
Minart’s novel isn’t just about lost dreams—it’s about remembering them, reclaiming them, and daring to reshape them. And in a world where forgetting is enforced, Reylan’s refusal to surrender memory may be the most revolutionary act of all.
A must-read for fans of dystopian fiction that values world-building and deep questions of identity, power, and legacy.
The novel opens with an evocative prologue that draws readers into the cavernous underworld of Imperia, a collapsed metropolis filled with forgotten technologies and haunting reminders of a bygone civilization. Reylan, fleeing unjust persecution by his village’s chief, stumbles upon REQUIEM—a mysterious machine that transports him into a fully operational version of the very city buried beneath the earth. What begins as a quest for truth becomes a plunge into layers of memory, history, and political oppression.
Minart’s prose is cinematic, layered with lush visual details and emotional undertones. His ability to oscillate between dystopian decay and gleaming futurism is particularly impressive. The world he builds is one in which America has rebranded itself as the “People’s Republic of America,” an empire run by a ruthless Order Government. In this future, Europe has fallen, the moon is colonized, and identity is tightly controlled. Reylan—an unregistered outsider—is swept into a world of enforced conformity, brutal military control, and whispered resistance. “You don’t know anything about them?” an old drunkard asks Reylan, baffled by his ignorance of the government’s reach. It’s one of many moments where Minart uses dialogue to underscore the menace of omnipresent power.
The novel’s structure is ambitious. Part One establishes Reylan’s discovery of the ruins and the REQUIEM machine, while Part Two expands the political landscape, introducing figures like the masked revolutionary Aurelen, who steals the spotlight with his daring acts of rebellion. The serialized chapters mirror episodic television, each contributing to the world’s texture while moving Reylan—and the reader—deeper into questions of who controls history and who survives it.
Reylan is a compelling protagonist—curious, reflective, and driven not by revenge but by the pursuit of understanding. His friendship with the late Auron Theonord is heartbreaking and deeply symbolic, embodying the cost of knowledge and the price of truth. The library scene, in which Reylan mourns his friend’s skeleton while exploring the origins of a forgotten civilization, is among the book’s most emotionally resonant.
Though lengthy, the pacing is sustained by high-stakes encounters, from violent raids by the City Enforcers to chilling propaganda broadcasts. Scenes involving Sergeant Blake’s authoritarian brutality, the militarized arrests of immigrants, and Reylan’s confused integration into this harsh world all serve to critique unchecked power and surveillance. The tone at times echoes Orwell and Bradbury, yet Minart’s voice remains his own—earnest, layered, and richly visual.
Fans of speculative fiction, political dystopias, and coming-of-age tales will find much to savor in The Memory of Lost Dreams. Readers drawn to the existential depth of The Giver, the world-shaping dynamics of The Hunger Games, or the layered philosophical reflections of Cloud Atlas will find similar satisfaction here.
Minart’s novel isn’t just about lost dreams—it’s about remembering them, reclaiming them, and daring to reshape them. And in a world where forgetting is enforced, Reylan’s refusal to surrender memory may be the most revolutionary act of all.
A must-read for fans of dystopian fiction that values world-building and deep questions of identity, power, and legacy.
December 20, 2024
The Memory of Lost Dreams.
By Davon M. Custis
This ambitious novel contains both Science Fiction and Social / Political elements.
The Memory of Lost Dreams is a big novel at 955 pages that is organized into two sections. The first section is Part One, and the second is Part Two.
Part One is the introduction to the story, and Part Two is the actual story.
The main character, Reylan Hawke, is a young man who has just been cast out of his village after opposing the village Chief.
As Reylan wanders around the countryside, he discovers an old city outside his village and begins to explore it.
He finds the old city fascinating and begins to look around. Although many of the buildings are old and in rough shape, it is clear to Reylan that this city contains more advanced technology than he has seen before.
Reylan spots a large building with an Imperia Metropolitan Public Library sign above the main doors. He walks over and discovers that it is a library. He enters and finds a room with a large cylindrical object that springs to life when he touches it. A large panel opens; Reylan climbs inside and puts on a helmet. The machine begins to make noise, and Reylan passes out.
When Reylan regains consciousness, he is outside the machine in an unfamiliar urban environment that seems more modern than the place he was just in.
I like the way the author has painted this scene. The reader sees that the characters can easily shift from one time period to another.
Part two is where the main story events take place.
A war between the Americans and the Themisians, a European collection of countries, has lasted for eighteen years. The Order, a political party that has taken control of America, announces the Themisians' surrender. Soon after the talks between the Order and the Lunar Colony broke down, America was again involved in a war. The Americans are governed by an authoritarian leader known as the Chief Lord, who is escalating the war.
A resistance force that opposes the Chief Lord actively engages in acts of war to remove him.
Reylan is brought into the resistance by Aurelen, the resistance leader when Aurelen rescues him from jail.
I preferred Part Two of the author's book the most.
The author has a lot of imagination and some very twisty plots.
This story is very relatable to what is happening in the world today.
By Davon M. Custis
This ambitious novel contains both Science Fiction and Social / Political elements.
The Memory of Lost Dreams is a big novel at 955 pages that is organized into two sections. The first section is Part One, and the second is Part Two.
Part One is the introduction to the story, and Part Two is the actual story.
The main character, Reylan Hawke, is a young man who has just been cast out of his village after opposing the village Chief.
As Reylan wanders around the countryside, he discovers an old city outside his village and begins to explore it.
He finds the old city fascinating and begins to look around. Although many of the buildings are old and in rough shape, it is clear to Reylan that this city contains more advanced technology than he has seen before.
Reylan spots a large building with an Imperia Metropolitan Public Library sign above the main doors. He walks over and discovers that it is a library. He enters and finds a room with a large cylindrical object that springs to life when he touches it. A large panel opens; Reylan climbs inside and puts on a helmet. The machine begins to make noise, and Reylan passes out.
When Reylan regains consciousness, he is outside the machine in an unfamiliar urban environment that seems more modern than the place he was just in.
I like the way the author has painted this scene. The reader sees that the characters can easily shift from one time period to another.
Part two is where the main story events take place.
A war between the Americans and the Themisians, a European collection of countries, has lasted for eighteen years. The Order, a political party that has taken control of America, announces the Themisians' surrender. Soon after the talks between the Order and the Lunar Colony broke down, America was again involved in a war. The Americans are governed by an authoritarian leader known as the Chief Lord, who is escalating the war.
A resistance force that opposes the Chief Lord actively engages in acts of war to remove him.
Reylan is brought into the resistance by Aurelen, the resistance leader when Aurelen rescues him from jail.
I preferred Part Two of the author's book the most.
The author has a lot of imagination and some very twisty plots.
This story is very relatable to what is happening in the world today.
April 24, 2025
Some stories don't just unfold they unravel, pulling you into a world where reality is a fragile construct, and the past is both a refuge and a trap. The Memory of Lost Dreams is one such tale, weaving a narrative that is as much about the human psyche as it is about the dystopian world it portrays.
At the heart of the story is Raylan, a young man who stumbles upon REQUIEM, a mysterious machine that transports him to Imperia a city of ruins and remnants, where technology has not just advanced but consumed. This isn't just a journey through a decaying metropolis; it's a descent into the corridors of memory, where each turn reveals a fragment of a dream long forgotten.
The authors craft a world that is hauntingly familiar yet eerily alien. Imperia is depicted with a vividness that blurs the line between the tangible and the surreal. Skyscrapers stand as hollow sentinels, and the air is thick with the weight of unspoken histories. It's a setting that doesn't just serve as a backdrop but becomes a character in its own right, a silent witness to the collapse of dreams and the erosion of reality.
What sets this novel apart is its exploration of the interplay between memory and identity. As Raylan navigates this fractured world, he confronts not just external challenges but the internal turmoil of lost dreams and fragmented recollections. The narrative delves into the question: What happens when our memories, the very anchors of our identity, become unreliable?
However, the novel isn't without its imperfections. Some readers have noted grammatical inconsistencies and moments where the prose could benefit from refinement. Yet, these flaws don't overshadow the story's ambition and the depth of its themes. It’s readable even if at times it requires a reread of a sentence here and there.
The Memory of Lost Dreams is a thought-provoking journey through a world where the boundaries between dream and reality are constantly shifting. It's a narrative that challenges readers to reflect on the nature of memory, the fragility of identity, and the cost of forgetting. For those willing to navigate its labyrinthine passages and looking for a different type or story.
At the heart of the story is Raylan, a young man who stumbles upon REQUIEM, a mysterious machine that transports him to Imperia a city of ruins and remnants, where technology has not just advanced but consumed. This isn't just a journey through a decaying metropolis; it's a descent into the corridors of memory, where each turn reveals a fragment of a dream long forgotten.
The authors craft a world that is hauntingly familiar yet eerily alien. Imperia is depicted with a vividness that blurs the line between the tangible and the surreal. Skyscrapers stand as hollow sentinels, and the air is thick with the weight of unspoken histories. It's a setting that doesn't just serve as a backdrop but becomes a character in its own right, a silent witness to the collapse of dreams and the erosion of reality.
What sets this novel apart is its exploration of the interplay between memory and identity. As Raylan navigates this fractured world, he confronts not just external challenges but the internal turmoil of lost dreams and fragmented recollections. The narrative delves into the question: What happens when our memories, the very anchors of our identity, become unreliable?
However, the novel isn't without its imperfections. Some readers have noted grammatical inconsistencies and moments where the prose could benefit from refinement. Yet, these flaws don't overshadow the story's ambition and the depth of its themes. It’s readable even if at times it requires a reread of a sentence here and there.
The Memory of Lost Dreams is a thought-provoking journey through a world where the boundaries between dream and reality are constantly shifting. It's a narrative that challenges readers to reflect on the nature of memory, the fragility of identity, and the cost of forgetting. For those willing to navigate its labyrinthine passages and looking for a different type or story.
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