The Dream Master will officially launch on August 1. I, Wangyu, am immensely grateful for the robust support from all the bibliophiles. Without your unwavering encouragement and urging, The Dream Master might never have seen the light of day.
As a child, like millions of Chinese children, my favourite novel was ‘Journey to the West.’ This book can be hailed as the first long fantasy novel of ancient China, chronicling the adventures of Master Tang and his disciples on their pilgrimage to the Western Paradise, overcoming eighty-one tribulations… The vivid and enthralling tales were simply irresistible.
Back then, I would go to bed early at night just to read the book using a flashlight underneath the covers. I was not concerned about whether Master Tang managed to procure the scriptures; I was instead captivated by Sun Wukong’s thrilling journey of vanquishing demons in ‘Journey to the West.’
Maybe it was the experiences of my youth, or perhaps ‘Journey to the West’ had already planted a seed in my subconscious. Ever since I started writing, I’ve often thought that if I ever got the chance to write in a similar genre, I must create a unique rendition of the Journey to the West.
‘The Dream Master’ is indeed an unconventional take on ‘Journey to the West.’ The entire storyline encompasses some familiar scenes from ‘Journey to the West,’ along with some additional tales and plots set against the same backdrop, and perhaps even some demons and ghosts not found in the original work.
Of course, the most intriguing character is our protagonist, Shen Luo, tormented by the dreamland. Are those bizarre yet fascinating dreams reality or illusion? Have all the things experienced in the dream truly occurred?
Since the dawn of mankind, dreams have existed. This ancient physiological phenomenon was often considered a foreboding sign related to the future in the distant past; the comforting, terrifying, sweet, and chaotic dreams once left many ancient people perplexed and uneasy.
Beginning with Zhuang Zhou’s dream of becoming a butterfly, the ancient Chinese have always held dreams in high regard. Dreams have been a prevalent theme in a huge number of poems, and many ancient anecdotal novels, such as the famous Four Dreams of Linchuan.
‘The Dream Master’ is a fantasy novel interweaving the story of the Journey to the West and tales from the dreamland. I believe that this unique innovation and concept will refresh and pique the interest of our readers.
(Do remember to vote with your monthly tickets and recommendation tickets tomorrow ^^)