Omnibus of: Wine of the Dreamers (1951) + The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything (1962 / strongly recommended by me) + Ballroom of the Skies (1952.)

Wine of the Dreamers by John D. MacDonald. Magazine version in Startling Stories May 1950, the first hardcover was 1951, and first paperback edition was 1953. One of 4 Science Fiction books by this famous author of mysteries and thrillers, best known for his Travis McGee series.

The Watchers were pale creature living in a remote, sealed world. Their game, their religion, their release - is to dream, and those dreams carry across a galaxy to lodge in the minds of men, on Earth. When Earthmen laid plans to travel beyond their planet, the Watchers stepped in - for escape from Earth was the dream that must be destroyed…