FALLTHRU THE MENTAT WARRIOR Author:Paul H. Deal Staring upward, Martin saw rough-hewn wooden planks—planks that had somehow replaced the ceiling tiles of his hospital room. Not sure of his senses—he had recently undergone chemotherapy—he decided he was dreaming, but found his rustic surroundings and robust new health so charming he decided to go along with the dream. He quic... more »kly met Jason, a boy about twelve years old, and forming an alliance with him, began to explore their mutual, hyperrealistic dream. Hardly had they begun when they met six more people, all awakened from serious illness but now in perfect health. While discussing how they had arrived where they were—maybe they were dead and in heaven, or were still dreaming, or aliens had abducted them—a man, dressed in unusual costume and with an air of authority, joined them. He told them they had been salvaged to serve as warriors in Faland, a kingdom on a planet far from Earth. Each learned a skill. Martin was chosen to be a Mentat, leader of them all, and was set with his companions on a quest to unlock the secret of Faland. In so doing, they forged ties that bound them forever to one another, and found a future beyond dream.« less