This book is called Night Mare. It is written by Piers Anthony. In this book,
the nextwave of barbarian warriors invade a place called Xanth ravaging and
destroying as they advanced. But a Mare named Imbrium has her own problems. She
has started to mishandle her job of delivering bad dreams. Now the Night
Stallion dismissed her, exiling her to the day world. Piers Anthony is the pen
name of Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob. He was born on August 6th, 1934 in
Oxford England. He has written over 100 novels in the genres of science fiction,
fantasy, horror, and martial arts. Some of his other books include, Split
Infinity and Changing the Lady. In Xanth, deserving people receive nightmares.
They are delivered by “Night Mares” from the gourd. The gourd resembles a
Mundane squash with a hole on the surface. If one peeps into the hole, they
become entranced into the gourd. Their body stays outside, but their soul goes
into the land of the gourd. The only way to be released, is if someone blocks
the victims’ view of the peephole. Inside the gourd there are several
sections, the graveyard, the city of Brassies and all kinds of spooky stuff.
When you go into the gourd and then leave, when you look at the peephole again
it takes you right back to the place you left. Inside the gourd is where
nightmares are made. Nightmares are each constructed for each individual who is
to receive it. People must have nightmares. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t
have any consciences. Nightmares make you a better person. The Night Stallion is
in charge of the gourd. He assigns the nightmares to the “Night Mares” who
deliver the bad dreams all over Xanth and sometimes Mundania. Night Mares are
solid black and are immortal. They phase out in the darkness and travel all
night delivering nightmares. You can tell that one has been there by the hoof
prints they leave behind. The most famous Night Mare is Mare Imbrium. She had
always had a secret desire to see a rainbow. Since Night Mares can not be out in
the day, she had never seen one. After she received half a soul, which ruined
her, she no longer had the right attitude to deliver her nightmares with the
malice in which they were to be delivered. So the Night Stallion fired her and
sent her to day duty. Day Mares deliver day dreams. They also have been known to
show up in Mundania. After she became a Day Mare, Mare Imbrium was told by the
Night Stallion to deliver a message “beware the horseman”. This started an
adventure that consisted of saving the whole of Xanth. I hated this book because
it is a science fiction book and it was so boring to read. Although it kept me
going for a couple of chapters, it got really hard to read after about the
fourth chapter. Night Mare is written by Piers Anthony. I didn’t like the book
very much because it is a science fiction. It was about Night Mares that bring
bad dreams to people that deserve them.