Reviews for Twelve stories and a Dream

The average rating for Twelve stories and a Dream based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-12-14 00:00:00 Mr H G Lockhart En la actualidad es difícil sorprender al aficionado al género fantástico y de ciencia ficción, con la cantidad de ideas y medios con los que nos bombardean. Pero hubo una época en que el público se sorprendía ante la atrevida imaginación de ciertos autores. Este era el caso de H.G. Wells, todo un pionero que abrió el camino para muchos otros escritores dedicados a mostrarnos invasiones alienígenas, experimentos genéticos, viajes en el tiempo, a la Luna, y aventuras varias. Wells fue un adelantado a su tiempo, responsable de algunos clásicos de la literatura universal y un buen puñado de relatos, la mayoría de los cuales han sufrido bastante bien el paso del tiempo. Estas son los trece relatos incluidos en 'Doce historias y un sueño': Filmer (Filmer) (***), que trata sobre un inventor de un artefacto aéreo y los apuros que ha de pasar en su primer vuelo. Buen relato. La Tienda Mágica (The Magic Shop) (**), que nos cuenta la maravillosa visita de un padre y su hijo a la susodicha tienda. Regular. La verdad sobre Pyecraft (The Truth About Pyecraft) (****), que habla sobre un particular método de adelgazamiento. Muy bueno. El valle de las arañas (The Valley of Spiders) (****), que empieza como un relato de western fronterizo, y acaba siendo un buen relato de terror. Mr. Skelmersdale en el País de las Hadas (Mr. Skelmersdale in Fairyland) (**), en el que se narra el extraordinario encuentro del protagonista con los elfos. Relato de corte céltico. Regular. El fantasma inexperto (The Story of the Inexperienced Ghost) (****), en el que se narra el encuentro de uno de los personajes con un aparecido. Gran relato de terror gótico. Jimmy Goggles, el dios (Jimmy Goggles the God) (***), que narra las aventuras del tal Jimmy para recuperar un tesoro. Bueno. El Nuevo Acelerador (The New Accelerator) (*****), magnífica historia que narra el experimento de un doctor con una nueva droga que distorsiona el tiempo y el espacio. El mejor relato de la colección. Las vacaciones de Mr. Ledbetter (Mr. Ledbetter's Vacation) (***), que cuenta la estrambótica peripecia de un clérigo que se metió donde no debía. Bueno. El cuerpo robado (The Stolen Body) (****), una historia sobre una proyección astral bastante buena. El tesoro de Mr. Brisher (Mr. Brisher's Treasure) (**), que narra las vicisitudes por las que pasa el protagonista para hacerse con un tesoro. Lo mejor, el final. Regular. El corazón de Miss Winchelsea (Miss Winchelsea's Heart) (**), que cuenta los pormenores de un viaje a Roma de la protagonista y sus amigas. Regular. El sueño de Armageddon (A Dream of Armaggedon) (***), que narra los sueños premonitorios del protagonista sobre un futuro aciago. Buen relato.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-12-12 00:00:00 Tonya Stevenson 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.