Wake Up and Dream

In an alternate 1940s Hollywood, "feelies" - a technology that transmits actors' emotions directly to audiences - has revolutionized entertainment. Clark Gable, now a struggling private investigator, navigates this transformed landscape where traditional cinema has become obsolete. The story combines elements of film noir and alternate history as Gable investigates a conspiracy involving the feelie industry. His case leads him through a transformed Los Angeles where the impact of World War II and this new entertainment technology have reshaped American society. Set against the backdrop of wartime America, the narrative explores the intersection of entertainment, politics, and social control. The story merges classic detective fiction with science fiction elements in a noir-influenced alternate timeline. The novel examines themes of authenticity, mass media manipulation, and the relationship between entertainment and reality. Through its reimagining of a Hollywood icon, it raises questions about the nature of performance and emotional truth in an artificially mediated world.

Readers note the noir atmosphere and alternate history elements but find the pacing slow, especially in the first half. The Hollywood setting and incorporation of "feelies" (dream-recording technology) create an immersive world. Liked: - Character development of protagonist Clark Gable - Historical details and research - Film industry atmosphere - Unique blend of noir and science fiction elements Disliked: - Slow start and uneven pacing - Plot becomes convoluted in later chapters - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Dream sequences can be difficult to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (22 ratings) Reader G.L. Palmer noted: "The alternate 1940s Hollywood feels authentic, but the story takes too long to find its footing." LibraryThing reviewer Mark S. commented: "The noir elements work better than the science fiction aspects. The dream technology concept needed more development."

The Big Time by Fritz Leiber A noir-influenced story about entertainment performers caught in a reality-altering war that shifts through alternate timelines and questions the nature of authentic experience.

Man in the Dark by Paul Auster A parallel reality tale merges film noir elements with an alternate America where cinema and entertainment shape political consciousness.

The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon An alternate history detective story follows a noir-style investigation in a transformed America where cultural and political shifts create a unique entertainment landscape.

Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem A hardboiled detective navigates a technologically altered California where consciousness-altering entertainment controls society.

The Kind Folk by Ramsey Campbell A story about performers and entertainers who discover hidden truths about reality manipulation in an alternate Britain where media shapes consciousness.

🎬 Clark Gable actually worked as a theater usher and oil field worker before his Hollywood breakthrough, making his reimagining as a detective an interesting parallel to his real-life humble beginnings. 🧠 The concept of "feelies" in the book echoes Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" (1932), which also featured immersive entertainment called "feelies" where audiences could experience sensations. 🎭 The 1940s noir period depicted in the novel coincides with the actual Golden Age of Film Noir (1940-1959), when dark crime dramas and moral ambiguity dominated Hollywood. 📽️ The first attempts at creating "experiential cinema" date back to the 1950s with "Smell-O-Vision" and "AromaRama," which tried to add scents to movies to enhance viewer immersion. 🏆 Ian R. MacLeod won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for his novel "Song of Time" and the World Fantasy Award for "The Summer Isles," establishing his expertise in blending historical and speculative elements.