This article analyzes Oʻtkir Hoshimovʼs novel “Lives Lived in a Dream” from political -historical and literary-aesthetic perspectives. The research illuminates the impact of the Soviet -Afghan War, the political crisis of the perestroika period, and the collapse of the USSR on hu man life as reflected in the workʼs literary characters. The complex relationship between the totalitarian regime and the individual is revealed through the novelʼs characters: Rustam Shomatov, Commissar Soat Gʻaniyev, Rustamʼs father, and Qurbonoy xola. T he article interprets the character of Rustam as an innocent victim of the war, and through his fate, it analyzes the senselessness of the Soviet-Afghan War, the psychological trauma it inflicted, and its tragic aftermath. The character of Commissar Gʻaniyev is presented as an embodiment of the individual shaped by Soviet ideology, revealing the influence of the political system on human consciousness. Additionally, the policy of repression, the “Cotton Case,” and the tragic destinies of ordinary people in society are examined through the novelʼs artistic interpretation. The research utilizes literary theory and scholarly sources on the Soviet -Afghan War and the collapse of the USSR, analyzing the novelʼs artistic interpretation in harmony with its historical context. Ultimately, the article substantiates that “Lives Lived in a Dream” is a significant literary work that not only portrays the tragedy of war but also illuminates the fate of the individual and the spiritual crisis of society under a totalitarian system. Afghan War, collapse of the USSR, perestroika, repression, politics and the individual, senselessness of war, totalitarian system, Uzbek literature.