What Dreams May Come

What Dreams May Come follows supernatural investigator John Thunstone as he explores mysterious occurrences in the English hamlet of Claines. During a visit to London, Thunstone learns of an ancient ritual connected to two pagan artifacts and decides to witness the ceremony firsthand. John Thunstone brings his expertise as an American scholar and paranormal investigator to the case, along with his signature silver-bladed cane forged by Saint Dunstan. The investigation leads him through encounters with local figures including Gram Ensley, the wealthy landowner of Chimney Pots manor, while strange visions of the past begin to surface. The novel sits within Wellman's broader series of John Thunstone stories, marking the character's first full-length book appearance after featuring in various pulp magazine short stories. The English setting and connection to ancient pagan rituals represent a departure from many of Thunstone's previous American-based investigations. The book explores themes of how past and present interweave, examining the lasting influence of ancient beliefs and customs on modern life. Through its supernatural elements, the story considers the boundaries between reality and vision, history and myth.

Most reader reviews indicate confusion between this lesser-known 1941 Wellman novel and the 1978 Richard Matheson novel of the same name (which became a Robin Williams film). Positive comments focus on Wellman's Southern folklore elements and supernatural mystery plot. Several readers note the book captures mountain atmospheres and local dialects. Reviews praise the fast pacing and occult research. Common criticisms mention dated racial attitudes and stereotypes from the 1940s era. Some readers found the plot resolution unsatisfying and character development minimal. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating "A solid supernatural detective story even if the ending falls flat" - Goodreads reviewer "Captures Appalachian culture but shows its age in ethnic portrayals" - Vintage Horror blog review "Don't confuse this with the Matheson book - different story entirely" - Multiple reviewers Note: Limited review data available as this book has been out of print for decades.

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🔮 The Thunstone series influenced the creation of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, a popular 1970s TV series about a reporter investigating supernatural phenomena 📚 Manly Wade Wellman won the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1975, largely due to his contributions to supernatural and folklore-based fiction 🗡️ The silver-bladed sword cane carried by protagonist John Thunstone was inspired by actual Victorian-era weapons that concealed blades within walking sticks 🌿 The village of Claines, where the story is set, is a real location in Worcestershire, England, with documented history dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086 🎭 The author spent significant time collecting folk songs and stories in the Appalachian Mountains, which influenced his approach to writing about rural folklore and supernatural traditions in both American and English settings