The Black Monk Book

Not everybody would like this book because not everybody likes short stories, but that's only part of the "problem," if that's what it is. Twelve Stories and a Dream is exactly that, twelve stories and a final story that's related as a dream. The copy I read is in the public domain, and offered free by Amazon, and probably other sources as well.

Most of the stories are very minor; they open, state a problem, resolve it and end unceremoniously. The book was published in 1903, and that seemed to be Wells's style, at least at that time and with this book; he kept talking within the story until he felt that the story was done and that was that, story ended. Some of the stories are deeper than others, and at least one uses exceedingly politically-incorrect language, though it comes from the mouth of a somewhat low character who was inclined to use what is now considered an extremely offensive word. In spite of the somewhat uneven quality of the stories, I enjoyed them enough to keep reading.

But the jewel of the collection comes at the end, and makes the whole experience worthwhile. The final story, the "dream" mentioned in the book's title, is more properly named, "A Dream of Armageddon." I didn't like the way the story was framed, a stranger sharing a ride on a carriage who confides in the story's narrator that he has been having serial dreams. But once into the dream, the reader is immersed in a depth of rich description of an exotic, future place, and of a woman the stranger has come to love deeply. His sadness that it's only a dream is evident as he relates it, and the sadness becomes deeper as he reveals what amounts to a study in sad irony, of a romance that ends tragically. I loved this story, was profoundly impressed by it, and I consider it to be one of the best written of all of Wells's stories. However, I'm not sure that my copy of the book was complete. This story kept with the form of many of the other stories by ending suddenly, but here it was too sudden, and felt unfinished. It was the final sentence in my copy of the book that left me a little puzzled, and I'm certain I'm not spoiling anything by including it here, since it barely relates to the rest of the story:

"Nightmares," he cried; "nightmares indeed! My God! Great birds that fought and tore."

I have a vague idea of how it relates to the story, but I can't be certain that it's the actual last word.

To sum up, I think that this is a book worth reading if you like Wells's style, his way with words, and the depth of his imagination. And the last story in the collection should not be missed. I rate it 4 stars out of 5, and will probably go back and read it again.