The Science of Sleep

"For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause."

- "Hamlet" (William Shakespeare, 1599-1602)

"What Dreams May Come" (1978) met with lukewarm response. Richard Matheson's fans were quite disappointed, as this wasn't another scary story. The film version, directed by Vincent Ward, deviated from the novel. But it did better. Some said it was Robin Williams, who played Chris Nielsen, a middle-aged man who would go through an extraordinary journey. The spellbinding imagery was the other reason. (Nicholas Brooks, Joel Hynek, Kevin Mack, and Stuart Robertson won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.) But it was the book that would be talked about.

Unchartered territory

Matheson, who was from Allendale, New Jersey, knew how to scare people regardless of the situation. A box from a mysterious sender, who promised a young couple lots of money if they would open it. A long drive in the desert, which would have been uneventful if not for a cold drink. A vengeful husband who wanted to teach his unfaithful wife and her lover a lesson by going to Transylvania on a holiday. But it was "I Am Legend" (1954), his third novel, that catapulted him into stardom. It was about Robert Neville, a scientist struggling to survive in Los Angeles. He was the only survivor of a pandemic, where victims have symptoms resembling vampirism. They wanted the last man on Earth to join them. They kept a vigil on his house every night, making sounds with their mouths. He became desperate and lonely. He thought of staying out after dusk. It was science becoming myth. The book was adapted four times.

Matheson's also wrote numerous television episodes of "The Twilight Zone" (1959-1964). He could've rested on his laurels, but writers have lots of creative juices to squeeze off. So he decided to venture into another genre.

The place to be

"What Dreams May Come" was about Chris and Ann, his wife, who were injured in a car accident. She survived, but he didn't. Chris met Albert, his cousin, who acted as his guide. They went to Summerland, which was the place that the deceased wished and desired. It had no bounds, and those who lived there were contented doing leisure activities. Chris thought he could stayed there forever. But he had nightmares, always ending with Ann's death. She did.

Ann couldn't lived without her husband, despite their two children who were there for her. She ended up in her own version of hell, which was their home twisted by her negative thoughts. Chris asked for Albert's help, but taking Ann out of that state would be dangerous.

Matheson insisted that the book wasn't religious in nature. Some wondered if it was a logical depiction of Hinduism. There were allusions to Dante's "The Divine Comedy" (1308-1321). But the afterlife would appeal to readers, which was like a playground. Reincarnation was possible, but nobody wanted to leave.