White Book of the Dream World

Name: White Book of the Dream World
ISBN: 9787516652572

任为Apr 2023

2.8

Word count: 756K words
Chapters: 20
ISBN: 9787516652572

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Summary

In the future, humanity and AI are locked in endless war. After the Cold War, on Pluto, humanity secretly draws on residual intelligence and a new worldview of its own creation to carry out a plan to re-enact human history, hoping to find answers in the past. In the first phase of the simulated world (the history of China's Shang and Zhou dynasties), all simulated characters (AI beings) are instilled with the consciousness of Shang and Zhou figures and that of the new worldview—one body, two minds, many souls, many schemes—as if the Shang-Zhou and new-world eras overlap. Within the simulated world, intrigue, war, human nature, love, oppression, and resistance abound; everything seems to foreshadow that the era of human civilization will one day break through its fate…

Editor's review

Dreamworld White Book is an ambitious science fiction novel in its worldbuilding. Author Ren Wei sets the story against the Cold War that follows a long confrontation between humanity and AI, having residual intelligence and a self-created worldview jointly re-enact the history of China's Shang and Zhou dynasties on Pluto, thereby unfolding a simulated world of "one body, two minds, many souls, many schemes." The book's appeal lies not in mere historical reproduction but in placing intrigue, war, human nature, love, and the struggle between oppression and resistance within a dual-consciousness structure, letting readers follow both the historical simulation and a reflection on civilization. The narrative is information-dense, and the worldbuilding requires patience to enter; but once the reader keeps pace with the premise, the overlay of Shang-Zhou background and futuristic science fiction delivers sustained intellectual pleasure. It suits readers willing to read slowly and to look for conceptual discussion within genre fiction, and also makes a good discussion text for science fiction reading groups.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of genre fiction who enjoy crossovers between science fiction and historical settings
Readers willing to read slowly through complex worldbuilding and enjoy conceptual simulation
Readers interested in the relationship between AI and humanity and the fate of civilization
Organizers and members of science fiction reading groups looking for discussion texts

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer light, fast-paced, single-thread narratives
Those entirely unfamiliar with Shang-Zhou history who are unwilling to do background reading
Readers expecting pure historical fiction or pure hard science fiction

Reading tips

Start with the opening worldbuilding section; clarify the relationship between the simulated world and the Pluto project before entering the main plot.
Prepare a brief chart of characters and factions to help distinguish character motivations under dual consciousness.
Slow down when reading Shang-Zhou background passages and note correspondences between the historical line and the new worldview.
After finishing, write a short judgment of your own on whether simulation can answer humanity's questions.

版权信息
上册
楔子
第一章枯夜
第二章悖乱
第三章推遇
第四章盟诅
第五章魅世
第六章杀节
第七章瘟君
下册
第八章归志
第九章牵诱
第十章篡畔
第十一章诳天
第十二章业果
第十三章幽冥
第十四章陌念
第十五章梦巢
后记

FAQ

Can I read this book without a foundation in Shang-Zhou history?

Yes. The simulated world draws on Shang-Zhou figures and background, but the focus is on intrigue and human conflict under dual consciousness, not strict historical research. A general impression of the Shang-Zhou period is enough to enter; key figures can be looked up as needed without affecting comprehension of the main plot.

Is the science fiction premise hard to get into?

The worldbuilding is dense, and the opening requires patience. The core is the historical simulation project on Pluto and the "one body, two minds" formed when simulated characters are instilled with the consciousness of Shang-Zhou figures and that of the new worldview. Accept this premise first; there is no need to scrutinize every technical detail—following the characters' situations will make for a smoother read.

Is it suitable as a book for reading group discussion?

Yes. The book touches on confrontation between AI and humanity, historical simulation, the fate of civilization, and oppression and resistance, easily prompting differing positions. Suggested approach: set a main question for the group—"Can simulated history provide answers for reality?"—then develop discussion around specific character choices.

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About the author

任为 Author · China

Ren Wei is a Chinese author whose publicly available information is currently quite limited; details such as birth and death years, place of origin, and educational background have not been clearly recorded and await further verification. Judging from the holdings in the database, only one work appears under Ren Wei's name, namely The White Book of Dreaming Worlds (Mengshi Baishu), which is categorized as premium fiction. Based on the available information, Ren Wei's writing tends toward fiction, and the title of this representative work carries a clear imaginative and narrative flavor, possibly touching on themes such as dreams and the ways of the world; however, owing to insufficient material, the specific plot, character setup, and stylistic features cannot be discussed in detail. For an author with only a small number of works, a single work often concentrates the author's expressive focus and narrative interests, allowing readers to gain a sense of their writing orientation. Until more reliable material emerges, a cautious attitude should be maintained regarding Ren Wei's life experience and the full scope of their creative output, without excessive speculation, relying solely on facts verifiable within the database.