The Astronaut Dream Book

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator was fantastic as always and I love the they had Connor Brannigan as a constant through the series! This story was probably my least favorite out of The Bedlam Bible series, but I still enjoyed it immensely! You can’t really go wrong with any of these books if you’re a horror fan! It was definitely original and graphic at parts, with descriptions so intense you feel like you’re right there in his crazy astronaut dream. I am definitely a fan of this author and will continue to read whatever else he puts out!

The Bedlam Bible really starts to come together nicely in this insane work. Eight Block is still just as terrifying as in the first volume., ‘The Tower’. What seem like disconnected short stories start to congeal into an awesome work of gory, bizarre literature. Though, each story could stand alone on its own like a modernist Lovecraft nightmare. Title seems strangely appropriate. As I mentioned in my review of the first volume of the series; this a wicked fever-dream. Looking forward to reading more!

I have read the first two books in this series and I loved them both. They are delightfully weird and completely engaging. So when I saw the audiobook available for review on NetGalley, I knew it was time to revisit Eighth Block Tower. And while I do own the kindle version, my kindle suffered an accident yesterday and no longer works. Seeing this book on NetGalley almost felt like a sign from the cosmos reminding me that even though I did most of my reading on that kindle, it’s going to be okay. So I’m sitting here in my office listening to the audiobook and following along on the kindle app on my phone.

I’ll start with a note about the narrator. I found Connor Brannigan’s narration to be quite enjoyable. His voice is deep and smooth and just really pleasant. I could listen to him speak far longer than the two-ish hour run time of this book. Fortunately for me, he narrates several of Pauley’s books that are already on my tbr.

If you’ve read the first two Bedlam Bible books, you are familiar with the strange things that go on in the Eighth Block Tower. Each book is a bunch of stories that are not one cohesive story, but they are intertwined. Everything that goes on in that tower is interconnected. This book is much the same. In the beginning, we learn of the prison deep within Eighth Block Tower that has only one prisoner. The stories that follow are his dreams about astronauts. The chapter called Apokalypsis. Wow. It’s a letter of warning to anyone who may find themself at the Church of Death and Nothingness detailing the astronaut’s journey leading up to the point where he is writing that letter and waiting for death. I found the letter to be quite moving.

But are these stories really dreams? Part 2 will have you wondering as the over arcing story comes full circle. The boy who encountered the prisoner in the beginning is back and his mother is ready to confront the “dog man” who bit her son. But in the words of the astronaut in his letter or warning, their journey didn’t stop there. Instead, things got weird. What the hell is going on in that tower? All I know is that I want more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. If you’re into the weird and absurd, you’ll love William Pauley III‘s doom fiction. He’s a fantastic writer with the ability to write stories that are sometimes absurd, horrifying, and touching.

You can read The Astronaut Dream Book as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription. Or just buy the book. The eBook is only a couple bucks and the print version would look great on your shelf. Do yourself a favor and grab the audio companion while you’re at it.

A man is poisoned, and he begins to dream terrifying dreams of astronauts. It's a creepy, adventurous book. Each chapter feels like its own story. I was drawn into the story constantly, and I'd be interested in reading more from this author.

[3.5]
Just like any of Pauley's books, the Astronaut Dream Book is wild as fuck. I really love the psychedelia in this book, the atmosphere and weird but ethereal images,, ough it's just so beautiful in a way. This book is pretty different from the first two, but it still has that Eight Block Tower feel and that fucking whirlwind of an ending sent me reeling. Again (positively). But there was just something about this book that I can't put my finger on, and I got bored at times. I love the descriptions though, and I still enjoyed reading this :D

I got a audio version of this book because I’ve listen to many other books from this author and the stories are good, creepy, strange and weird and somewhat scary, and actually, all at the same time, is like you’re having a nightmare that you really can’t stop wanting more hahah I know it is weird but it really sums this well.

From all the books this one was my least favourite, I mean, I still enjoyed it, (I will officially give it a 3,4 stars to the stories but with Brannigan reading I will boost it to 4), I got really lost in how the stories came together, it started as a very strange tale of a man that was inside a cage and went far and beyond, the best of this book was like always Brannigan reading it, his voice really brings the story to life, even if in the end I get the feeling, what did I just listen to.

If you like weird horror stories, then this book and this author is for you, like always, the themes can get a bit for adults so I wouldn't recommend it for a young audience.

Thank you NetGalley and Doom Fiction for the free AAC and this is my honest opinion.

I wish I had known this was the third installment of a series and not a stand alone novella.
That aside I found the writing captivating. This is definitely a creepy story and while I did not read the two previous novellas, I could definitely gather the premise.
It seems a bit post apocalyptic, and it has hints of history repeating itself and individuals trying to break the cycle.
All in all, a good quick read especially if you’ve read Pauley’s previous work.
I received a digital copy as a good reads giveaway as well as an audio copy through NetGalley. Both are great options.

The Astronaut Dream Book by William Pauley III is delightfully weird and I enjoyed the ride. Pauley is an original voice in horror and this is my 4th book by this author, they are officially an auto-buy for me. This is a short story but it packs a huge punch. Storytelling at its best.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Another odd tale in Eighth Block, this time a strange astronaut and his dreams and warnings, followed by a mother's attempts to confront the dog-man who bit her son.
I can't really say much more than that about the plot of this book without spoiling the wonderful weirdness of the whole thing. I think (which is a bit dangerous to do while in the depths of Pauley's books) this is the first signs of the overarching theme of the series (which personally I am happy is currently taking a back seat in favour of mostly self-contained stories).
Great for fans of Clive Barker, Will Self and Franz Kafka (but with more accessible language than Self!)

I received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

First, I really enjoyed this narrator. His voice was nice and he had clear annunciation and a nice pace for listening.
Second, this story was strange but so good. I wish I had known it was an installment to a series. I’m not sure if I missed anything big by jumping into book 3.
That being said, I think I am going to look up the previous novels and read them, just to make sure.

The Astronaut Dream Book by William Pauley III was another banger!! LOVED IT! I felt so lucky to get a copy for myself! I have shared on my goodreads, bookstagram, and booktok!

I am obsessed with this series. After I read the first two I knew I had to read the rest. I was not at all disappointed. I told my husband he has to read them! In this one a poisoned man dreams of astronauts. It definitely fevered dreams. It is crazy and dark. I could not put it down. I highly recommend reading this series for fans of horror and the strange. Thank you to NetGalley and Doom Fiction for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick listen but a deeply strange and unsettling story. The chapters linked in a way and the ending was incredibly disturbing and linked all the strange stories really well. This is a great listen if you like sci-fi mixed with horror, the narrator read the story well and is was an enjoyable, if somewhat unsettling novella.

This audiobook right here has become my second favorite of Pauley's, a close second right behind God Damn Electric Nights and the Doom Magnetic Trilogy (because those two are tied for 1st). Highly enjoyable listen, with characters so complex but at the same time so flawed that you can't help but feel for all of them. Absolutely loved this one.

What a dark and freaky book! The short storys are connected like a big scary Spiderweb and they are as spooky as one. The whole boo is very engaging even at those times when you can`t fully understand all the references.
It was my first book from Pauley but i would definetly recommend it and will read more from him.

A man in a cage is poisoned by a visitor. He dreams of astronauts as he dies. One battles against negative waves. One finds a church on the moon. Another writes a letter of warning to a mysterious church. And outside of the dreams a woman, after trying to find someone to spend the night with, watches a battle between two mysterious creatures.

I’ve read several of the authors short books at this point and this one is in a battle to be my favorite one. The writing is amazing. The book is very short so I finished it in basically one sitting and I loved every second of it. I think my favorite story is about the warning letter. It had a very cosmic horror vibe to it that I just loved. Negative Waves is very short but is def my second favorite. Overall I loved every story included though.

While not nearly as dark and gross as the authors other stories they still do get violent at points. This doesn’t require as strong of a stomach as other books by the author I’ve read but I still don’t recommend this for younger readers. I however whole heartedly recommend this for readers of appropriate age. I loved this and I wish some of his other books were more like it. I hope the other books I have by him that I have yet to read are more like this too.

I listened to the audio version of this and I recommend it. The narrator does an amazing job and really brings the story to life.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I'm reading a sci-fi- fantasy-thriller. I haven't read the other books but I didn't feel unconnected. The narrator did a good job of bringing the essence and spooky atmosphere. I might read the other books in the Bedlam Bible series. I felt the creepiness, is it a dream or is it actually happening?

First, I want to say how much I’ve enjoyed the audiobook versions of the Bedlam Bible series for the work of Conor Brannigan. His voice makes the story tense, a pronunciation of doom.

Pauley is by far one of the most creative horror writers working. His approach is measured, his prose varied and direct. There are not many who can create a sense of the weird or truly horrifying.

I didn't realize until the end that this was the third in the series, but given the nature of the interconnected short stories, I didn't really lose much. Though knowing this, I am interested in going back and reading the others. I loved the first half, but the latter half felt a bit disjointed from the rest of it, but maybe if I read the first two, I'll understand something better. The descriptions often teeter into gross territory and I really enjoyed that the author didn't shy away from getting grotesque. I listened to the audiobook version and it was very trippy in some parts.

The Astronaut Dream Book is such a fever dream. This little book is a part of the bedlam bible series. I again listen to this on audio. It was really short. The narrator did an amazing job. It was spooky and weird just like other stories. I really enjoyed it. This is the third book in the bedlam bible stories but they can be read as a standalone. But I think I'll read from the beginning to understand the connections. Thanks to the publisher for the audio arc.

I'm still processing what I just listened to. As with the other books in the series, this one is part horror, part gore and probably a lot more WTF then the rest of the series. LOL Even at the end, I was like NO there has to be more, that can't be the ending. Of course, I still loved the story telling and the narrator is as amazing as always and now I'm off to download the next book in series because I apparently need more WTF in my life.

When I read sentences like - "Oily phlegm the colour of antifreeze" I know I'm in for some bizzare stuff, and I am immediately drawn in.

Intrigued from the beginning to end of this bite sized read. The audiobook narrator did a top tier job with voice works and cadence. This story was jarring and felt like a dark kaleidoscope of varying elements converging then dispersing.

I will be jumping into the first two books of this series and impatiently awaiting the next installments.

Thank you to Doom Fiction for the Advanced Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is absurdist horror, that in a strange way makes sense. For the third time enter the tower. Horror seeps from the walls of that building, through the basement and all the flats infecting those . What will you find if you are unlucky enough to enter or live there? I have to ask have you to consider as you read have all the inhabitants been warped by the toxic environment or were some naturally completely unhinged? Listen to the previous books first, it will help make a little more sense. Thank you to Doom Fiction and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This book was wonderfully grotesque. The story’s were very strong while being wonderfully creepy. I loved the pace and writers ability to sprinkle in great prose.

This was wild! I had no idea what to expect going in but it was a very intriguing reading experience!

„The Astronauts Dream Book“ by William Pauley III is a sci-fi horror story that is split into five parts. I would rather see it as a mix between novella and short story collection since the stories themselves don’t follow a classical short story structure and they all form a unified narrative.

I really liked the fact that the parts where connected to each other. I was captured immediately by the bizarre descriptions and intense atmosphere. It was unsettling and my brain is still trying to piece together the different story fragments! It reminded me in parts of the eerie weirdness of „Love, Death & Robots“.

I had the pleasure to listen to it as an audiobook and I can say that the narration was perfect! Usually I don’t gravitate towards horror but the cover made me curious and I don’t regret that decision at all!

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Doom Fiction for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Usually audio books leave me confused and annoyed that I couldn’t follow along. This book however, I felt I could understand everything that was going on and actually enjoyed listening. This was my first book by William and will for sure be heading to Barnes and noble this weekend for more. This cover is gorgeous as well.

This was my first The Bedlam Bible book and I was pleasantly surprised!
The atmosphere is very eerie and dark with an absurd undertone.
My favorite stories were 'Nostalgia Part 1', 'Nostalgia part 2' and 'Apokalypsis'.
The other ones were intriguing and fun after a reread but the first time I read those they were a bit harder to follow.
On that note I would definitely recommend rereading the book once you are finished with the crazy ending, as it's only 2 hours/112 pages and you really get more out of it once you know how the stories are interconnected!

I will always read this author. His short, trippy, horror stories are captivating. I listened to the audio book and I really enjoyed it. This story did not disappoint! Anything that I read and I can say “what the heck did I just heck did I just read” is 5-Stars in my book. Also, I absolutely love this cover.

As a Pauley fan, this is not my first trip to see what the residents of Eighth Block are up to. If it’s yours, do not fret, the author has written this as a nice jumping on point as are many of his other books, though you can count on references to other works, as this is another chunk of lore to add to that existing universe.

I love that kind of stuff! It makes these tales extra rewarding to read and reread. Think of those weird interconnected kids books that would all take place in the same school or town, it’s like that but all grown up and way more messed up.

I enjoyed this as one of the better eighth block tales, but it also serves a pretty nice stand alone title. It’s weird, it’s creepy, and it’s trippy, you gotta love it!

I am not sure of what I just did listen to, but I liked it.

5 Chapters, but 4 Stories.
Each getting more disgusting in a creepy awesome way.

I enjoyed all of these stories well enough to listen to this Audio-Book in one go.

The chapters were bizarre, were weird, they were.

Outlandish scenarios and cascaded what-ifs. Revolting moments of abnormal happenings just as much as sad moments of realisations… all brought together here.

My definitve favourite was the middle story… The Church of Death and Nothingness

Even though at one time I knew what was about to happen, I loved it most of them all none the less!

𝐈 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞!

This book was truly a wild ride! I found myself a bit confused at times (which may have been intentional) but when I picked this up, I also didn’t realize it was the third in a series. Even with that in mind, I will say, it does hold up well as a standalone. It’s hard to explain what this book is about but not in a bad way! It felt like a very strange, disturbing, fever dream and some of the imagery will definitely stick with me! I will for sure read the other Bedlam Bible stories after this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me review this book in audiobook format. I think the narrator was perfect for this story. This book is my first experience with this authors work but it was fantastic; creepy, intriguing, I couldn’t stop listening. It was a short listen, which is perfect if you have just a little free time on your hands. If you’re looking for a weird (in a good way) story to breakup your everyday, I highly recommend this one! Apokalypsis was definitely my favorite. This is book three in the Bedlam Bible series, and while I’m sure there might have been some context I needed- I didn’t feel completely and totally lost with this so I think it could be enjoyed even with no prior knowledge of the series

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in the Bedlam Bible series. It was scary and trippy. I enjoyed this one, it left me with some questions at the end.

Another excellent dark offering from William Pauley III, I really never tire of these baffling, thought provoking and nightmarish short stories.

The 8th block tower is a curious place with many strange goings on illustrated throughout the Bedlam Bible series. Really, you need to listen to the books to understand, but if you like 50’s horror, monsters and surrealism then you will have a great time with this book.

I have listened to this series in the wrong order, but it hasn’t hindered my enjoyment. As they are all interconnected, I think it would perhaps have been a little more linear but not much!

Connor is a fantastic narrator as ever.

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Audiobook: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) Connor Brannigan

I needed a palette cleanser and a quick read, and The Astronaut Dream Book did it! I've seen William Pauley's short stories appear everywhere (Mostly Fight Tub, lol) and thought I'd dive into Astronaut Dream since an audiobook was available.

I haven't read a psychedelic sci-fi horror book ever or even just a psychedelic book in general and that was a pretty good weird bizarre wild ride. It was different but in a good way! lol

As for the Audiobook, Connor Brannigan did pretty well. I enjoyed listening.

NetGalley provided The Astronaut Dream Book Audiobook; thank you, NetGalley and Doom Fiction, for the copy in return for an honest review.

🚀 You know those memes where it’s like “Other People’s Dreams: I had a dream where I met my crush vs My dream: [insert absolute chaos]”

🪐This book perfectly fits into the “My Dreams” category!

👩‍🚀I loved the imagery that made me feel me both invested and disturbed. Like every other William Pauley III book I’ve read, I was left discombobulated and wishing the book was longer.

🤘🏽 Luckily this book is #3 of the Bedlam Bible series, so I get to explore more disturbing corners of the 8th block tower.

🫶🏼Thank you NetGalley & Doom Fiction for the ALC! A special thanks to William Pauley III. All opinions are my own.

“The Astronaut Dreambook: The Bedlam Bible #3”, by William Pauley III, is unsettling sci-fi horror. Strange things happen in Eigth tower block.
In the beginning, we learn that the prison deep within Eighth Block Tower has one prisoner who becomes poisoned and dreams of astronauts. At this point, short sci-fi horror stories begin.
Are these stories dreams? Part 2 will have you wondering as the over-arcing story comes full circle.

"The Astronauts Dreambook: The Bedlam Bible #3" is an intense sci-fi horror novella. Pauley creates an atmosphere with bizarre descriptions. I liked that the parts were connected. The strange descriptions and intense atmosphere captured my attention. I was not expecting bug horror in space 😳. Several sections were unsettling, which I loved!

This is book three. I must read the first two books and explore the strangeness in the eighth block tower. If you love sci- fi horror, I highly recommend this novella. 5 ⭐️

What a fever dream this audiobook has been!
I loved those short and weirdly delightful stories, seemingly disjointed but coming perfectly together in the end.
The author has a powerful sense of imagery and you're there, in these nightmarish landscapes, and you cannot look away as you dive further and further into the horror.
I will definitely check the rest of william Pauley III's work.

Just when you thought the series couldn't get any stranger, think again because it did. There was a lot of stuff happening in this book and all of it was weird. I can't wait to read Fight Tub, the next book in the Bedlam Bible series. These books are whack.

I love Connor Brannigan's voice and I look forward to finding more audiobooks read by Connor in the future.

In The Astronaut Dream Book, we are granted a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of a poisoned man trapped within the confines of the enigmatic Eighth Block Tower. Through his dreams, we are taken on an otherworldly journey where he envisions himself as an astronaut, but these dreams are far from serene. Instead, the astronaut finds himself bombarded with negative waves, creating a haunting and surreal experience (including a weird church on an abandoned planet).

When the astronaut finally awakens from his reverie, the narrative skillfully transitions back to the Tower, seamlessly connecting with a familiar scene. Here, we encounter the young boy who was bitten in the first book, further deepening the interwoven nature of the stories. The tension mounts as the boy rushes to his mother, and we brace ourselves for a confrontation between her and the imprisoned man. The intricate web of connections within the Eighth Block Tower continues to unfold, captivating us with its strangeness.

One of the standout features of the book is undoubtedly the superb narration and masterful descriptions. The author's ability to paint vivid and evocative scenes with words left an indelible impression on my mind. Each sentence is crafted with precision, immersing us fully into the surreal world of dreams and the ominous reality of the Tower.

Another highly recommended installment of the Bedlam Bible series.

'The Astronaut Dream Book’ is the third installment of the Bedlam Bible series from William Pauley III. It is a series of short stories that are subtly intertwined and delivers an ending with some seriously powerful imagery.
This is the first title I have read from this author and I am now very intrigued to see what else he has produced. It was a little confusing at first and I'm still not entirely sure I fully understand, HOWEVER I will definitely be going back to the beginning of the series and giving it a full read through because this was some insanely interesting writing!
Recommended for those who love a quick Horror story to get their imagination rolling!
<!> An enormous Thank You to NetGalley, Doom Fiction, & William Pauley III for allowing me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for my honest review. <!>

Astronauts and hornet larvae do not mix. In William Pauley’ III’s world they seem to mix quiet nicely. The group of short stories build on each other. When I got to the last story I kept thinking that this one is not going to tie into the others, then bam, it did. If you looking for strange horror and bizarro fiction you do not need to go any further. Pauley is the king of this genre. A very short audiobook. You can get through it in under 2 hours. I enjoyed it.

This is the first audiobook I've heard, and I'm so glad this book was my first experience with this format.

The story gave me vibes to a series of short stories called, Love, Death + Robots. ❤️💀🤖 At first it seems that each short story has no purpose or direction, as if it were a story floating alone in a vast sea, but if you pay attention to the small details you will realize that everything is related. It is like a puzzle, and I loved finding the pieces and trying to put it together.

Emphasis on: “trying to”

I have so many questions and doubts regarding some things, and apparently I will have to listen to the other books in the series to understand… I already saw that the first one is called The Tower, and in this, which is the third part in the series, a place called The Tower is mentioned several times… So if I want answers, I have to read the others.

My favorite short was The Church of Death and Nothingness, it took some interesting turns and twists.

The narrator did an excellent job and I loved his voice 🤤. Please, raise his paycheck 😅

Great narration. I have started exploring William Pauley more and am really enjoying these quick creepy stories! Great imagery and awesome ending!

I loved the creepy voice of the narrator and the fact that this was a quick spine tingling read. Out of the series this one is my favorite thus far. Very eerie

This book is something. It's like a stream of consciousness. It's definitely like the dreams I would have when I was severely sick or had a really bad Lupus flare. The wasp part really got to me & I really want it to be made into some weird sci-fi movie. I really need to read the other books, then this one again.

William Pauley III is one of most interesting writers I've ever discovered and I've fallen in love with everything he's done. Connor Brannigan is the perfect narrator. His voice suits Pauley's writing so well.

This was a quick interesting read about a man who dreams of astronauts. I enjoyed the combination of horror and sci-fi and though I’m not sure if I understood what happened, there was still and unsettling fear that was instilled in me. The scenes were vibrant and intense -- especially the story about the boy, his mom, and the dog man. I’m not sure if this is for everyone but it’s oddly creepy and very weird if you enjoy that!

This series is one of my favs. The stories are so bizarre and weird, which is right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading the next one!

The Astronaut Dream Book is a total mindf**k. I mean what did I just listen to? There is bits of madness still reeling from my brain leaking out of my ears spilling into the floor. Singing the Dead Space commercial version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” all the way down.

I wish I could define the experience. I wish I could explain what I saw when my ears opened to the world…I’m sorry, I can’t.

But I’ve come back with an experience and as a person who does not do audiobooks all that much, I am more open to them now.

The originality of something like this made me what a physical copy to follow along. If you get the chance to check this author out.
(I’m an 80’s baby so I’m starting to view this authors work like walking the aisles of a video stores horror section.)
His work is encoding that video store smell, the 80’s independent bookstore vibe with crazy covers and stories of madness that actually match what the cover offers. Gotta love when you get what you see.

I say, give it a chance, sit down strap in with your concoction of choice (legal, and safe, of course) and close your eyes and listen as the Astronaut dreams…

3.5 rounded up. Another collection of gory stories in Bedlam Bible series. Same as previous books it’s dark and crazy, delightfully weird, and very enjoyable.
I think the stories were interesting. As a reader I liked to be pushed in the different dimension into the author’s imagination.
Loved the surreal world created in this series.
I really like this book cover.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy of audio book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61075583

William Pauley III’s “The Astronaut Dream Book” is an intriguing exploration of a new doom horror genre. The book introduces us to a man who experiences an unfortunate situation, leading to a secondary storyline that delves into his apparent stream of consciousness. While the narrative can be gory and unsettling at times, the unfolding stories are undeniably captivating and suspenseful.

The author's attention to detail is commendable, as it allows readers to vividly imagine the described places. Although the grotesque nature of these details may be off-putting to some, the desire to uncover what happens next takes precedence. Particularly, the second story the astronaut dreams of is exceptionally suspenseful, leaving readers unable to put the book down. The unexpected twists and turns in the plot linger in the mind long after finishing the book and putting it down.

Thank you to Net Galley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions and ideas expressed in this review are my own.

Another trippy fever-dream like read/listen by my fav weird fiction dude William Pauley III. I’ve been listening to this series haphazardly for some months now… I just can’t get enough of it and I think the narrator just adds to my obsession. Always expect the very unexpected when picking up a Bedlam Bible story.
I loved it.

This was a wild read. I recommend the audiobook because the narrator was amazing.
I was a little confused at the beginning but the second half really tied it together. If you’re into strange/spooky/horror books this one will be for you.

While I definitely managed to read these out of order, I think this one was the best of out the bunch. It's also my favorite cover out of all of the crazy, highly creative covers.

What could be better/worse than being poisoned? Being poisoned and dreaming of psychedelic astronauts! It's not exactly obvious that these are dreams or that they are even connected buy the end is crazy and everything slots together nicely.

This book was like a really enjoyable fever dream. The stories were exciting very creative.

The narration was so well done and made the stories even more gripping.

I didn't realise that this was in a series but I will definitely be checking out the other books in this authors collection.

Did I intend to binge listen to this series? No, I didn’t, but here we are. I skipped straight to #3 in the bedlam bible series- as I am waiting for the second book to arrive and I had the third book available to me on audiobook. Like others who have read this series have said, I did not feel as if I was missing some big piece of information by not reading in order. I do wonder if there are some connections to the second book that I am missing that will fall into place once I read it.

As with the first book of this series, I found myself thoroughly entertained. A book filled with the dreams (or are they?) of a poisoned prisoner, this book takes you on a journey from horrifying to vulnerable and emotional.

I feel like this is that kind of book (and series, from what I’m seeing) that people either “get” or they don’t. I love the writing style being a collection of shorter stories that interconnect. I love that the stories have the reader questioning reality. I love that it makes me let go and use my imagination rather than holding onto the strict black and white thinking I can get stuck in at times.

Overall, another success by this author. I will absolutely be continuing this series.

Another brilliant audio by William Pauley III, this one was completely insane and at one point I thought maybe William needs to see a brain specialist because it’s so bizarre what he comes up with! Anyhow I can’t wait to hear more from this author and his series!

I have a new favorite horror author. It is not often that I read something that is actually scary, but this one will stick with me. Super creepy. I have been slowly catching up on the series and I love how things are connected, but not necessarily linear. I cannot wait to get more from this author.

5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I really enjoyed ‘The Astronaut Dream Book’ it was well narrated and really good.

Rating 4 stars

Thank you Net Galley and William Pauley III for this audiobook! While I have not read the first 2 entries of this series, I still enjoyed this collection of short stories. I found them interesting and they held my attention well. The narration was done well and kept my attention. There were a couple stories that lost me a bit but I think that may also be from not having the background of the first two books to pull from. Overall I would definitely recommend giving these a try if you enjoy weird horror.

This was definitely creepy. I haven't read the other 2 books in the series and got this one as a Netgalley audio. I enjoyed the short book, though. The stories worked together in a way I hadn't expected. I listened in one sitting, but mainly because I had time.

The writing and stories were fine, but didn't grip me in a way that I couldn't do things like get ready for my morning while listening. Overall, a fairly pleasant experience (even if I wish I'd waited until the sun had come up for a couple of these).

If you like the weird & absurd then you’ll love this story! It had me scratching my head and feeling glad I don’t live in this tower cuz there’s strange happenings there.

This is a new genre fir me & I'm loving it.

A quick fun read! Love the cover’

I also enjoyed the narration!

4.5 stars

This is so interesting and confusing at the same time. It definitely kept my brain working and engaged in the story.

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in Oct, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

"There were feelings attached to this vast empty landscape, the stretch of infinite blackness all around him and those feelings simply could not be imitated. Even on earth standing still in the night and staring at the stars above then feeling a floating, or more accurately the spiritual connection between a living thing and the rest of the universe could not be captured in any photograph or painting and certainly not in some NASA testing facility."

Whoa what a surprise. This was an amazing short story. Right from the beginning I was hooked and couldn't put it down the whole way. The author knew how to thrill the reader in a spellbinding way The action was so awesome and I loved the setting. The eerie, alien environment was well built and the characters realistic. There are fights, visions, letters, and unexplained mysteries and all sorts of cool stuff. The writing style was also quite spooky.

Even in the small amount of pages, the story created was unexpectedly intriguing and full of suspense. There were murders, gore and a lot of disturbing scenes and such a gripping way of storytelling! Just wonderful. A very quick flavorful read overall. Loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audiobook!

First, the narrator did a great job!
Second, the story is intriguing and it draws you in right from the start.
Murders and gore make this book, the scenes come to life thanks to the authors words and the narrators style.
Story seems to be all over the place, but it somehow comes together and makes perfect sense.
You can def relate to a few scenes too, weirdly.

The Astronaut Dream Book was nothing like I was expecting. It was graphic, strange and odd in the best way possible and I really liked it!

The audiobook narrator did an excellent job and I will definitely be looking for more books by not only the author but the narrator as well.

I have to say that I have not read or listened to the first 2 in the series, but I don't think you need to to enjoy book 3. Book 3 is weird, captivating, and horrifying. The stories are not cohesive but an intertwining story. As the title, suggests listening to this book feels like a twisted dream that you are not for sure you had. The author knows how to write an alien atmosphere that feels realistic. Though this is short, the writing is full suspense with a mix of gore and disturbing scenes. Now I have to go back and get the first two books.

The narrator Connor Brannigan is a great choice for this book. His voice is deep and smooth and easy to listen to. It has a hypnotic feel that draws you in and never lets go which is perfect for this strange book. I couldn't have chosen a better person to narrate this eerie little book.

I want to thank Netgalley for an ARC if the audiobook of The Astronaut Dream Book. If you want something creepy and strange, then this book is for you.

This book is so chaotic and unsettling, it reminds me of a dream that sticks with you long after you've woken up. It's perfect for the Halloween season and I will definitely be returning to it in the future.

This was my introduction to the series and Eighth Block Tower, which I'm now seeing is the reason for my confusion during some of this book. Nonetheless I enjoyed the story and the weird wonderful directions it took. Definitely want to read more of these, just from the beginning.
Great narration and the story has that jagged flow style which compliments what's happening to the characters.

This was a wild ride! I got this as an audio ARC from NetGalley and it was a quick read with fantastic narration. It pulled me in and did a great job with the cosmic horror/ sci-fi horror. I was hooked from the beginning and felt a range of emotions while listening to this. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because there were a few details throughout that didn’t quite connect for me, but those little moments were not substantial enough to bring me out of the feeling of the story, I just had a few lingering questions. However, those may be answered if there’s more to come in this series, and if so, I will absolutely be picking them up. If you’re into this vein of horror, you will enjoy this.

Wow, that was weird.

William Paley III is a new discovery of mine, writing in a genre I didn’t even know existed until recently. The New Weird genre is a reboot of the Weird Fiction genre of which HP Lovecraft is the most popular specimen. Weird Fiction was sometimes called "tentacle fiction" because of its proclivity for strange creatures other than the typical werewolves/vampires/etc. The New Weird genre is notably eclectic and known for mixing mythology and urban, mundane and exotic, and this book is no exception.

I ran across this book on NetGalley and immediately just based on the cover alone I knew I had to read more. You’ve got this pink-suited astronaut chick with some kind of multi colored orb surrounded by pink skulls and luminous creatures floating in an apparently underwater world, which is itself encapsulated in a huge pink brain. The description is six words: “A poisoned man dreams of astronauts.” Uh. Ok, that doesn’t sound like much of a “premise”…

And that alone feels bold; everything about this feels bold and intentionally weird, like the author is saying: come with me, and I will bring you on a fever dreamish descent into madness where we see just how deep the rabbit-hole goes, my friend. To top it all off, the small press publisher, Doom Fiction, says its mission statement is to destroy the world through infecting minds by using weapons constructed only of paper and carefully placed words. Ha. The author’s bio reads: “William Paley does not exist.”

I immediately had a feeling this was the kind of guy who has a weird sense of humor that I (and few others) love. I checked him out on Substack and then discovered him pulling off some awesome shenanigans…he posted about how he had this dream last night that his Christmas tree ate his dog. This garnered some responses, to which he also responded, and in the comments, more macabre details came out of his horrific dog eating tree dream. He ended with something along the lines of, “I’m thinking about cutting it up into a million pieces and burning it. The tree, that is, not the dog.”

So I had to read this book.

And in many ways it did not disappoint. He has a way of describing things that gives you that growing sense of horror as more is gradually revealed. He also writes in a surreal style that reminds me of a dream. The characters sometimes can't believe it themselves and keep trying to either wake up or stop hallucinating, but no, unfortunately, it appears that they cannot escape from their experience.

Themes: dreaming, body horror, losing sanity, lucid dreams dripping with portents, and isolation. There are also sometimes Biblical undertones. Overall there is a sense of simultaneous wonder and horror at discovering monsters and/or locations that are terrifying and overwhelming to any mortal human. That's one of the things horror can do best: confronting us with the knowledge of our own mortality.

There is one story also that has a character with a hypersexual mindset. It's less explicit and more just disturbing. Disturbing is, really, the word for most of these stories. These stories are for if you want to fall down the rabbit hole with someone losing their sanity. The story I just referred to actually has probably the most compelling character in the whole book though, even though she isn't exactly a good person; she's negligent of her child and obsessive; she's an addict, and I can relate to her mindset because I have addictions too, and I understand that addiction brings us down to terrible levels much lower than who we were created to be. She's addicted to using her phone to try to hook up with guys, essentially. You get all of the misgivings, the back-and-forth, the self doubt, the rationalizations, all of that that makes humans in distress so nuanced. She's very human, although I do wonder if she is truly representative of the female mindset, I do feel that it represents the addictive mindset very well, although I don't know that the author ever uses the word "addict."

The first and last stories are not so much astronaut stories; they are both squarely inside Tower Block 8, a location filled with terrors. Both of those stories involve mysteries being revealed surrounding the Captain and the Bedlam Bible and feel like they tie more into the whole of the overarching story of othe the Bedlam Bible series. As for the other stories in between, these were more actually about astronauts, but it's less clear how some of them connect. One of them is very apocalyptic. I will say, I don't think that by the end of the book I had learned very much definitive information about the overarching story. But I don't think that's mainly what the author was trying to do.

How do I rate this book? The story about the addict made it worth reading for me. The other stories had their moments but ultimately I wasn't sure what to make of them. There's an interesting Hell story, and an interesting Church of Death on the Moon which was interesting but random. Normally I dock points from stories that feel like they have elements that are too random, but I also feel like that's kind of the point of this genre (I'm intuiting that)...it's like a bad dream. When the next striking thing happens, it's not logical, but it may be evocative and have great symbolic meaning...ultimately it gets hard though if you're never really sure what the symbols represent. I guess I didn't have enough to work with to make these stories feel truly "Great" to me; some of them remained feeling a bit random. One of them, about "negative waves," was not horrific.

So this collection wasn't perfect. Still somehow glad I read it; there were several very memorably, visceral, striking moments. The book is what it is. Ratings are all subjective made-up constructs anyways; I should just pick a rating and move on. I think I’ll round up because of how original the stories are.

I'm curious to read more by this author.