Dreamfall (Cat book 3) by Joan D. Vinge (book review).
It’s interesting to follow a book series developed over years and see the page count rise. With ‘Dreamfall’, there is an increase in page count, but how much text is on the page? Over the decades, many publishers have had the perception that purchasers pay based on the size of the book rather than the content quality. Larger paperbacks occupy more shelf space in bookshops, concealing thinner tomes, necessitating their visibility. Despite not being as large as many others, this book provides a sense of scale, making it noticeable on the shelf.
Cat has returned, no longer a telepath, but now a delegate and representative of the xenoarchaeology team on Tau, a city of Hydrans, of which he is a half-breed. During a brief visit to their city, he becomes involved with a nurse who is stealing a baby, mistakenly believing it to be her mother. Unlike in previous books where he has no identity bracelet, this time Cat has a little better protection with one, or so he thinks.
As the story develops, it really is about the nurse Miya and the baby Joby, whom it appears nobody on the human side actually wants. ‘Baby’ is an operative word, as he might well be at least 3 years old. Despite this, Cat finds herself compelled to pursue them.
Strangely, ‘Dreamfall’, the third book in the trilogy, introduces teleportation into the storyline for the first time. Some Hydrans can do it, but it does seem more like a wildcard introduction into the stories than something established earlier.
You would think that after all this time, corporate security would be better equipped to teleport away when they stop a Hydran gathering.
I must exercise caution when interpreting the plot, as much of it towards the end contains spoilers. Although I found the centre part a bit of a slog, the final hundred pages seemed to whiz by when you don’t have to worry so much about inter-species politics. In this book, you gain a deeper understanding of Hydrans, and despite the absence of explicit mention, the environment appears to enhance their abilities. Even Cat recovers some of his telepathy without the need for drugs. Although the Hydran hatred is present, this planet is different from the previous two that Cat has had his adventures on.
Joan Vinge writes stories with a depth that draws you in. She also puts her characters through the wringer as they reach their objectives, although I’m not sure if Cat really knew what he was going to do until the end. You can probably read each book separately, but if you want them from a date perspective, start with the first one.
GF Willmetts
June 2024
(pub: Warner Books, 1996. 450 page paperback. Price: varies. TOR has reprinted this book in 2004: ISBN: 978-0-76530-342-4)
