WRITER.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

288 pages

Graphic Novel, Science Fiction

Spoiler-Free section

This book is a little difficult to follow when first getting into it, but I felt like I had more of a grasp on what was going on as I went along.

Oberon Afolayan has a breakdown and drops out of college, after which he repeatedly has what he assumes must be hallucinations. Reluctant to consult with his doctor about his specific symptoms – a sentiment I understand due to the stigma my mental illness has – he at first tries to shake it off, especially when his doctor says if he does have hallucinations he needs to check into the ER. He decides to only explain the headache aspect of what he is going through, and his mental issues clearly have rattled him.

When he seems to hallucinate his MIA ex-boyfriend from high school, named Kon, he tries to call his doctor using his rings (which work similarly to a cell phone). Kon snatches the rings and is reluctantly allowed to explain. Oberon quickly learns that these visions are not in fact hallucinations, but instead are manifestations of his dreams, which he has brought into the real world.

Together, he and this facsimile of Kon work together to control his newfound powers, despite how infuriating Kon can be at times. Oberon has to ask himself what is more important – reality, or beautiful and fascinating (even dangerous) dreams?

The sci-fi world of Meridian, a remote planet from Earth, is where humankind has finally settled. In that world, it is not uncommon for people to be born with powers. These people are called Ghosts. The world is further fleshed out with futuristic technology and other worldbuilding. This includes to terminology “crag” meaning awesome or cool, “boobling” basically super-powered googling. Goats have supplanted dogs as “man’s best friend.” Money is something they apparently don’t worry about anymore.

The art in this book is gorgeous, and I find the surrealist look of some of the scenes to be very aesthetically pleasing. Random dreams of knights and puppets and amorphous things are depicted beautifully. They truly capture the essence of dreaming.

Spoiler time!

Oberon is a trans man on blockers, and at no point was this made a big deal of and was never a cause of persecution. How far humanity has come! He even got scars tattooed on his chest to resemble the scars from top surgery that earlier generations of trans men had to deal with. I found this to be sweet and refreshing.

The true showstopper, however, is the relationship between Oberon and Kon.

Oberon makes three rules for Kon:

• Don’t say “I was just thinking that”
• Stop the charming routine
• When he wants Kon to, he must disappear

It is clear after some time that these might not be enough for Oberon. After all, falling in love with someone fake is wrong, right? Being that obsessed that his ex keeps showing up in his dreams can’t be healthy. But Kon helps Oberon reunite with his worried friends and kisses him. It’s all complicated.

Ah, but then the twist… I was so happy when it turned out the real Kon was using his telepathic power mixed with Oberon’s to project himself into the real world while the actual Kon was in a coma. So Kon was not a manifestation of dreams the whole time, he was Oberon’s sentient and true ex-boyfriend.

I was curious if we would see the real Kon in the story since the whole time it is insinuated that he either died or joined a cult. I didn’t expect it turn out that way though.

“You’re not a memory. You’re not a dream. You’re not a monster. You’re a person.”

Oberon to Kon

And even though Oberon is mad at first because he felt like he had been tricked, I was happy when they made up. It truly felt a well-deserved happily even after.