Dreaming the End of War – Benjamin Alire Saenz

Dreaming the End of War. By Benjamin Alire Saenz.  Port Townsend, Washington: Copper Canyon Press, 2006. First Edition. First printing, stated. Paperback. Very good.

This gripping suite of twelve dreams, infused with the conflict along the border of Mexico and the United States, traces humanity’s addiction to violence and killing–from boys stepping on ants to men shooting animals, men shooting women, men shooting enemies. The dreams begin in a desert landscape where poverty and wealth grate against each other and the ever-present war becomes “as invisible as the desert sands we trample on.” The dreams, however, move toward a greater peace, with Sáenz providing an unforgettable reading experience.