Critique "Chimera"

“Chimera” is a story about a man, Harold, and his attempt to validate his dreams. Harold is in business with a company named Chimera that brokers dream capsules to customers. While the dreams that Chimera buys and sells are the literal nREM-sleep type of dream, it seems the dreams referred to in the story extend beyond the literal dream and into childhood dreams, etc. According to the story, Harold’s parents were emotionally detached, leading to Harold’s lack of self-direction in following his dreams and impulses as a child. Because of this detachment, Harold became an accountant and during his mid-life crisis, has decided to see what his dreams are really worth. I’d like to get more information on Harold’s relationship with his parents in order to see a bit more of how they influenced his upbringing and his adult life. I’d also like to see more about Harold’s practicality and efficiency and how that plays into his life on a more nuanced level, i.e. what is Harold’s life at home like? Does he live alone? Does he have friends?

This story features some great descriptions of Harold’s behavior as a ‘machine’ and completely empty in the mind while working. I am a fan of this line of philosophy/psychology and think it’s worth expanding on within the story or at least exploring in more depth. I am not sure what to make of the two pages of notes that follow the apparent ending of the story. I assume they are not intended to be read as part of the story, but I read them that way anyway and I think the concept could serve as an interesting experiment into dreams and unconsciousness.