History Main / DreamSpying

* Happens in ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' where Shinzon uses a physic to, basically, [[MindRape rape]] Troi while she's asleep. Of course this comes back to haunt him when she uses this link to locate his cloaked ship.

* Not exactly spying, but the Warden and Alistair in ''DragonAge: Origins'' can sometimes glimpse the size and movements of the Darkspawn horde in their dreams.

* The job description of Extractors in ''Film/{{Inception}}''. While they're asleep, they are able infiltrate other people's dreams and then manipulate them to think about whatever secret they're trying to steal. The secret will then show up somewhere in the dream, where the Extractor can study it and remember it when he wakes up.

* The job description of Extractors in ''Film/{{Inception}}''. They infiltrate other peoples dream and then manipulate them to think about their greatest secrets. The secret will then show up somewhere in the dream where the extractor can study it and remember it when he wakes up.

* ''HarryPotter'', most frequently in [[HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix the fifth book]]. Harry's connection to Lord Voldemort allows him to "see" what the Dark Lord is up to, but it sometimes goes both ways. It is twisted when [[spoiler:Voldemort plants a false dream to trick Harry into rushing into battle at the Department of Mysteries]].

* ''{{Dreamscape}}'' is about the government setting up a program to train psychics to do this intentionally on behalf of the government, as well as occasionally engage in the odd dream-assassination or two.

* The job description of Extractors in ''{{Inception}}''. They infiltrate other peoples dream and then manipulate them to think about their greatest secrets. The secret will then show up somewhere in the dream where the extractor can study it and remember it when he wakes up.

* Happens fairly frequently in the Tawny Man trilogy, as a side effect of Fitz having the Skill. Prince Dutiful also seems to have experienced this, and since Nettle's primary Skill-ability is control over dreams, it's likely that it's happened to her as well.
* Jane Studdock in Creator/CSLewis's ''TheHideousStrength'' discovers she has this ability. It also turns out that one of the bad guys, Prof. Frost, is capable of spying on her dreams.

* Happens in ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'' where Shinzon uses a physic to, basically, [[MindRape rape]] Troy while she's asleep. Of course this comes back to haunt him when she uses this link to locate his cloaked ship.

* Happens in ''StarTrekEnterprise'' with Trip and T'Pol having some sort of weird link. While she is meditating and Trip is day-dreaming they both meet up in a white blank space. Neither of them consciously wanted to be in each other's thoughts but were due to Vulcan psychic links ([[hottip:Brief explanation:When Vulcans mate a psychic bond is formed. Vulcans are touch-base telepaths. So when they had sex earlier it formed a permanent psychic bond. It was a major plot point in one of the last episodes-- in addition to sharing erotic daydreams, he also gains various mental immunities from her. Not a bad deal actually.]]).

Protagonists beware: If the eavesdropped is aware of the spying, they may use that knowledge to set a trap.

Typically ends in a CatapultNightmare. Compare DreamingOfThingsToCome (the vision hasn't happened yet), DreamingOfTimesGoneBy (the vision is long gone), and PsychicDreamsForEveryone (which is a general rule that fictional dreams tend to be prophetic). Note that this is not about people

* Jane Studdock in CSLewis's ''TheHideousStrength'' discovers she has this ability. It also turns out that one of the bad guys, Prof. Frost, is capable of spying on her dreams.

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* Happens in ''StarTrekNemesis'' where Shinzon uses a physic to, basically, [[MindRape rape]] Troy while she's asleep. Of course this comes back to haunt him when she uses this link to locate his cloaked ship.

* This is Cobb & co.'s original job in ''{{Inception}}''

* In the early chapters of ''ThePiloFamilyCircus,'' Jamie ends up being stalked in his dreams by the [[MonsterClown Clown Division]], who are trying to figure out where he lives. Much to his horror, they succeed. It's also revealed that this is an ability on loan from the FortuneTeller, as Gonko is heard to mutter, "Goddamn, this Dream-Stalking is a con job. How many bags did that skag charge us for this?"

* In ''[[ShadowsOfTheApt Blood of the Mantis]'', Acheous uses this to find the box.

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* Happens a few times in ''{{Sandman}}'' and the spin-off ''{{Lucifer}}''

* Happens almost once a chapter in ''PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''-- Percy eavesdrops on villains' conversations pretty much every time he dreams (which is a lot), although the aversion of AsYouKnow means the information he gathers is rather cryptic. Played with in the third book, when [[spoiler: one villain reveals she let Percy listen in on the conversation specifically to kill his morale.]]
* ''[[TheLordOfTheRings The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.

DreamSpying occurs when a character dreams of something that is currently happening somewhere else. For example, the hero passes out and dreams he's in the war room of an enemy and getting details on their plot.

Mostly seen in fantasy or supernatural stories, and may be explained with a PsychicLink. This is useful for giving the protagonist information he wouldn't have access to any other way. The dreaming character rarely has control over the power, and is often forced to watch scenes he doesn't want to. May invoke ExactEavesdropping, although the less understood, the more challenging for the hero. Time constraints are often strict; even if you can rely on the dream spy to find out what the enemy is up to, you will often have to wait for it. Can also shade into TalkingInYourDreams.

Protagonists beware: If the eavesdropped is aware of the spying, he may use that knowledge to set a trap.

* In the early chapters of ''ThePilotFamilyCircus,'' Jamie ends up being stalked in his dreams by the [[MonsterClown Clown Division]], who are trying to figure out where he lives. Much to his horror, they succeed. It's also revealed that this is an ability on loan from the FortuneTeller, as Gonko is heard to mutter, "Goddamn, this Dream-Stalking is a con job. How many bags did that skag charge us for this?"

* Happens in ''StarTrekEnterprise'' with Trip and T'Pol having some sort of weird link. While she is meditating and Trip is day-dreaming they both meet up in a white blank space. Neither of them consciously wanted to be in each other's thoughts but they were in love at the time, I don't remember if that little plot-point ever got explained.
** When Vulcans mate a psychic bond is formed. Vulcans are touch-base telepaths. So when they had sex earlier it formed a permanent psychic bond. It was a major plot point in one of the last episodes, in addition to sharing erotic daydreams, he also gains various mental immunities from her. Not a bad deal actually.

* Happens in ''StarTrekEnterprise'' with Trip and T'Pal having some sort of weird link. While she is meditating and Trip is day-dreaming they both meet up in a white blank space. Neither of them consciously wanted to be in each other's thoughts but they were in love at the time, I don't remember if that little plot-point ever got explained.

Mostly seen in fantasy or supernatural stories, and may be explained with a PsychicLink. This is useful for giving the protagonist information he wouldn't have access to any other way. The dreaming character rarely has control over the power, and is often forced to watch scenes he doesn't want to. May invoke ExactEavesdropping, although the less understood, the more challenging for the hero. Time constraints are often strict; even if you can rely on the dream spy to find out what the enemy is up to, you will often have to wait for it.

Protagonists beware: If the eavesdropped is aware of the spying, he may use that knowledge to set a trap.

* Jane Studdock in ''TheHideousStrength'' discovers she has this ability. It also turns out that one of the bad guys, Prof. Frost, is capable of spying on her dreams.

Mostly seen in fantasy or supernatural stories, and may be explained with a PsychicLink. This is useful for giving the protagonist information he wouldn't have access to any other way. The dreaming character rarely has control over the power, and is often forced to watch scenes he doesn't want to. May invoke ExactEavesdropping, although the less understood, the more challenging for the hero.

Typically ends in a CatapultNightmare. Compare DreamingOfThingsToCome (the vision hasn't happened yet) and PsychicDreamsForEveryone (which is a general rule that fictional dreams tend to be prophetic). Note that this is not about people

DreamSpying occurs when a character dreams of something that is currently happening somewhere else.

Mostly seen in fantasy or supernatural stories. This is useful for giving the protagonist information he wouldn't have access to any other way-- for example, the details of an enemy plot, or the deadline of a love interest's arranged marriage. The dreaming character rarely has control over the power, and is often forced to watch scenes he doesn't want to. May invoke ExactEavesdropping, although the less understood, the more challenging for the hero.

Typically ends in a CatapultNightmare. Compare DreamingOfThingsToCome (the vision hasn't happened yet) and PsychicDreamsForEveryone (which is a general rule that fictional dreams tend to be prophetic).

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]
* This is pretty much the whole idea of ''{{Paprika}}'', except the goal is usually to absolve psychological issues rather than unearth information.

* Not exactly spying, but the Warden and Alistair in ''DragonAge: Origins'' can sometimes glimpse the size and movements of the Darkspawn horde in their dreams.

* In TheBlackCompany, one character gets temporarily dislodged from his body (the enemy wizard was being an asshole) and upon returning discovers, that he can do astral travel whenever asleep. This becomes a major plot point.

* ''{{Inception}}''.