Dreams & Dust is a unique book and an important contribution to the evolving new historiography of South Africa. It is an overview of the 58 (mostly) short-lived republics that have existed in South Africa since 1795 and an equally-fascinating 20 fictional ones (Bapetikosweti, Fook, Wakanda etc). This comprehensive, meticulously-researched book stretches to 611 pages, and includes 85 seldom-seen historical maps and many extraordinary images. It is a must for any bookshelf for people interested in the uncovered aspects of South Africas rich and tumultuous past while the section of the fictional states and the concluding chapters take on an aspirational, forward-looking view.