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jmoses's review
5.0
This was an excellent book. While it essentially tells two separate stories, they're both excellent, and stitched up together nicely.
The story within the Void *strongly* reminds me of the Beka Cooper stories by Pierce, while the story set in the Commonwealth is excellent scifi on its own, and a great continuation (prequel?) of the Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained novels.
I'm looking forward to the other two novels in the trilogy.
The story within the Void *strongly* reminds me of the Beka Cooper stories by Pierce, while the story set in the Commonwealth is excellent scifi on its own, and a great continuation (prequel?) of the Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained novels.
I'm looking forward to the other two novels in the trilogy.
pajjakid's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
forrest_brendon's review
3.0
I was thoroughly confused the whole book but I enjoyed the world building of a far flung human race.
hank's review
4.0
Hamilton has become one of my favorite authors which he needs to be since his books are all impressively long. Somehow I never seem to lose interest across the many pages. Each character is engaging in different ways. I like the fact he has a few of the same characters from Judas Unchained but the Bernellis seem sort of forced into the story, perhaps the next books will develop their role better but the story didn't need them. Other than that I love this brand of space opera.
friskygeek's review
2.0
Could’ve been so much more. Some great sci-fi concepts and the added fantasy element is great. My biggest complain about this book is its treatment of its female characters. All of them are written as bimbos that don’t have any brains and can only use their bodies and sexy to do anything and be worth anything. Its interesting, for a society based in the year 3200 it sure acts as if its in the dark ages. Another thing that is just cringeworthy: everyone is horny. All. The. Time. I mean come on. Id hate to be Peter’s F Hamilton’s partner. The dude must be fucking horny all the time.
Anyways. Im not gonna be continuing with this series or any other book by this horny author. What a shame.
Anyways. Im not gonna be continuing with this series or any other book by this horny author. What a shame.
suzemo's review
3.0
So, there's epic fantasy. Those giant doorstopper tomes that I generally don't enjoy reading (ignore my GRRM "problem"), this is like "epic space opera"
Traditional old multi-galactic(?) spanning stories, a millionty characters, a whole lot of action and plotting and space ships.
Unfortunately, this is the first of a trilogy, and not a "three book = trilogy" trilogy, so much as a "2000+ page book chopped into three parts" trilogy. Which is to say, it's one story, and not something you can just stop (unless you really don't want to waste your time).
In this book (and jeebus, there are a lot of characters, "factions," and other things going on), essentially there is a giant Void which hangs out. The Skylords are in charge of the joint and every once in a while it goes through an "expansion" phase and gobbles up all of the star systems/planets around it. Inigo, some guy, dreamt about the world (or at least a person on the world) at the center of the void, which started the "living dreamers" who which to all go to the ultra awesome planet. But if they do, the Void expands, and no one really wants to die (except, apparently the Dreaming faction). In this book, there is a Second Dreamer (after Inigo went missing) is discovered and different factions are trying to find him/her, and/or help the Dreamer faction, and/or stop the dreamer faction. Lots of politics and stuff going on. And Sex. Because.
Overall, not a lot of info dumping, not a lot of wasted time. There's plenty of plot to shake a stick at. My understanding is that this is a continuation of the Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained duology, but doesn't strictly require you to read the "prequels" (thankfully, because i haven't, and after hearing what a book club said about it, I don't want to).
Pluses? Crazy good world building> Excellent worldbuilding. There's a lot going on, and there area lot of characters and viewpoints to keep track of, which can be annoying, but there's A LOT to digest, which is always nice.
The downside? I don't really like his writing. I don't like the way people are portrayed, particularly women. This is is clearly some white dude writing white dude sci-fi/space opera. I find that off putting (which is why I don't read a lot of white dude fiction any more, when I'm in for some serious reading). I am not excited about his gratuitous sex (by definition adding nothing to the story), and it adds to the portrayals of women I have issues with, but it could be worse. And it's not that he doesn't have female characters or that some of them aren't strong, but they're all sexualized in a way the men aren't, and there are a lot of micro-issues that just add up (sayeth this female reader). But I did buy the trilogy, and it's narrated by John Lee, so I will finish it.
And as much as I love sci-fi (I do), I find the fantasy elements of the story more interesting (the story of Edeard, the character who is the subject of Inigo's dreams).
It's not a total waste of time, but not as good as it could be.
Traditional old multi-galactic(?) spanning stories, a millionty characters, a whole lot of action and plotting and space ships.
Unfortunately, this is the first of a trilogy, and not a "three book = trilogy" trilogy, so much as a "2000+ page book chopped into three parts" trilogy. Which is to say, it's one story, and not something you can just stop (unless you really don't want to waste your time).
In this book (and jeebus, there are a lot of characters, "factions," and other things going on), essentially there is a giant Void which hangs out. The Skylords are in charge of the joint and every once in a while it goes through an "expansion" phase and gobbles up all of the star systems/planets around it. Inigo, some guy, dreamt about the world (or at least a person on the world) at the center of the void, which started the "living dreamers" who which to all go to the ultra awesome planet. But if they do, the Void expands, and no one really wants to die (except, apparently the Dreaming faction). In this book, there is a Second Dreamer (after Inigo went missing) is discovered and different factions are trying to find him/her, and/or help the Dreamer faction, and/or stop the dreamer faction. Lots of politics and stuff going on. And Sex. Because.
Overall, not a lot of info dumping, not a lot of wasted time. There's plenty of plot to shake a stick at. My understanding is that this is a continuation of the Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained duology, but doesn't strictly require you to read the "prequels" (thankfully, because i haven't, and after hearing what a book club said about it, I don't want to).
Pluses? Crazy good world building> Excellent worldbuilding. There's a lot going on, and there area lot of characters and viewpoints to keep track of, which can be annoying, but there's A LOT to digest, which is always nice.
The downside? I don't really like his writing. I don't like the way people are portrayed, particularly women. This is is clearly some white dude writing white dude sci-fi/space opera. I find that off putting (which is why I don't read a lot of white dude fiction any more, when I'm in for some serious reading). I am not excited about his gratuitous sex (by definition adding nothing to the story), and it adds to the portrayals of women I have issues with, but it could be worse. And it's not that he doesn't have female characters or that some of them aren't strong, but they're all sexualized in a way the men aren't, and there are a lot of micro-issues that just add up (sayeth this female reader). But I did buy the trilogy, and it's narrated by John Lee, so I will finish it.
And as much as I love sci-fi (I do), I find the fantasy elements of the story more interesting (the story of Edeard, the character who is the subject of Inigo's dreams).
It's not a total waste of time, but not as good as it could be.
algorowara's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
manzabar's review
3.0
In this book, Hamilton weaves multiple story lines around each other. By the end of the book it becomes apparent how those story lines will eventually merge together (though they don't merge together in this book).
The biggest stumbling block to this book getting 4 stars is how those story lines are woven around each other. In that, one paragraph will be from one story line and the next without any transition will switch to a completely different one.
The biggest stumbling block to this book getting 4 stars is how those story lines are woven around each other. In that, one paragraph will be from one story line and the next without any transition will switch to a completely different one.