Signs & Wonders

"Signs & Wonders" by J. D. Beresford is a novel written in the early 20th century. It delves into the realms of speculative fiction, exploring profound philosophical themes through a narrative that blurs the boundaries between dreams and reality. The opening chapters introduce various characters and their interactions against a backdrop that seems to invite readers to ponder the nature and mysteries of existence. At the start of the novel, the protagonist experiences a dream that transports him to a parallel world, where he contemplates the elements of humanity and the contrasts between the familiar and the fantastical. This dream serves as a launching point for deeper philosophical reflections on existence, consciousness, and societal constructs, as the narrative unfolds with imaginative dialogue among characters representing a range of perspectives. As the story progresses, it hints at an exploration of the tension between individual desires and collective societal expectations, setting the tone for the themes of inquiry and self-discovery prevalent throughout the work. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Davys Beresford was an English writer, now remembered mainly for his early science fiction and some short stories of the horror story and ghost story genres. Beresford was a great admirer of H. G. Wells, and wrote the first critical study of Wells in 1915. His Wellsian novel The Hampdenshire Wonder (1911) was a major influence for the author Olaf Stapledon. His other science-fiction novels include The Riddle of the Tower, about a dystopian, hive-like society.