Space is not the only void..
The Reality Dysfunction (Night's Dawn Trilogy)
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Amazon Review
The term "space opera" has evolved over the decades. Originally it meant "hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn, spaceship yarn" (Wilson Tucker), but since then it has come to be (slightly) less pejorative, encompassing any sci-fi action story on an interplanetary or interstellar scale. The Reality Dysfunction rests firmly in the space- opera camp with its intense starship combat, roguish space captains and raw frontier planets, but Peter Hamilton keeps the formula fresh and up-to-date with an infusion of "modern" science fiction technology. His universe is digitally and nanotechnologically savvy, which opens up plenty of possibilities for new perils and plot twists.
It is the late 26th century and humanity's thriving culture spans 200 planets. The usual squabbles and disagreements continue, but generally everyone gets along and lives well as humanity's outward expansion continues apace. On newly colonized Lalonde, though, a strange force emerges from the jungle, lobotomizing people and turning them into super-powered soldiers. At the same time, the story of Joshua Calvert emerges. He's the young captain of a trading ship, who innocently travels to Lalonde and becomes embroiled in the mysteries there. Both threads have plenty of action and exotic scenery. Peter Hamilton's descriptive prose, particularly in action sequences, is breathtaking (and scientifically accurate), creating a dramatic backdrop for a story where the stakes keep getting higher, the villains keep growing more evil and the heroes keep surviving--but only just. Space-opera fans will enjoy this deftly written and engaging novel. Those who feel they don't like the genre might give this example a try to see just how unhacky, ungrinding, sweet-smelling, and robust it can be. --Brooks Peck
Book Description
In AD 2600 the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature’s boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems. And throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace. A true golden age is within our grasp. But now something has gone catastrophically wrong. On a primitive colony planet a renegade criminal’s chance encounter with an utterly alien entity unleashes the most primal of all our fears. An extinct race which inhabited the galaxy aeons ago called it “The Reality Dysfunction”. It is the nightmare which has prowled beside us since the beginning of history. ‘Absolute vintage science-fiction. Hamilton puts British sci-fi back into interstellar overdrive’ The Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Portly Bill
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Was this really over 1200 pages long!?! ... and only two similar sized books to go. This may be science fictions answer to Lord of the rings. It is that good ... really.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
...So anyhow, 4/5. This is thrilling stuff, once you manage to get into it, which will take a while. The central horrific concept (which unlike some reviewers I won't spoil just now) is fantastically daring, the Adamist/Edenist conflict well thought out and realised, and the characters, while not perhaps as complex as those of Banks etc, are more than believable and suitably alluring/terrifying/comic even. The one complaint I feel is fairly valid is the ending- while the book as a nice conclusion for certain elements of the plot, it does feel (as does LOTR) more like the first part of a book rather than a distinct part of a trilogy. So, once I've finished the whole trilogy, I've no doubt that Night's Dawn as a whole will be worth 5, but I feel 4/5 for the first third of a book is still pretty special.
And for the prudes complaining about the (for me, both realistic and imaginative) sex scenes, don't be such an Adamist.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By ToddyGee
Format:Paperback
Just finished this. And was glad to finally do so. As has been said, the concept is strong, and the plot is constructed well (for which I've given 3 stars). However, the characterisation is unbelievably weak - instead of concentrating on and developing strong core characters Hamilton conjures up hundreds of cardboard cutouts who offer very little. By the time I was half way through the book whenever a new character was introduced I invariably bypassed the next page and a half or so where their backgrounds were described, as they would soon be dead or forgotten. I also quickly learnt to bypass the endless, endless sexual references (which together must amount to about 50 pages); the erotic equivalent to a young teenager's dreams. Shockingly bad. I also found the writing misogynistic (I doubt many female readers would be impressed with Hamilton's prose and characterisation). The dialogue is dire; full of gung-ho cliches, and Hamilton seems unsure of the nationalities/accents of his characters: they'll 'sound' invariably English one minute, then spout terrible Americanisms. And I challenge anyone not to laugh out loud when they reach the part where the plot is based on the 'English' plamet of Norfolk. Very funny.
However. I bought the sequels two days ago, because I really do want to know how the story develops. Whether I'll actually read them is another matter. I might skip through them like I did with much of this book.
So bottom line: Good ideas, strong plot(lines), effectively descriptive, but very weak characterisation, awful dialogue. Look past the latter negatives and you'll probably enjoy this.
However. I bought the sequels two days ago, because I really do want to know how the story develops. Whether I'll actually read them is another matter. I might skip through them like I did with much of this book.
So bottom line: Good ideas, strong plot(lines), effectively descriptive, but very weak characterisation, awful dialogue. Look past the latter negatives and you'll probably enjoy this.
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alex
I stumbled across Peter f hamiltons works by accident. Boy am I glad that I did!! A space story that has everything you require from science fiction novels!! Read more
Published 1 day ago by Ewizzy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lost for words
In my youth I read lots of scifi (Asimov, Herbert, Heinlen, Arthur C Clark etc), but on reflection it is showing its age. Read more
Published 1 month ago by David Grainger
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome
This is a great book, the stories, characters are all top rate. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Sci-Fi read.
Published 1 month ago by Dene Metcalfe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five star space opera
The modern master of the space opera. Incredible scope, fully developed charachters, multiple story strands that perfectly complement. Masterful executioj
Published 2 months ago by T. Thoroddsson
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredible and epic tale that is a joy to read.
The reality dysfunction is without a doubt the most well written and thought out story I have ever had the pleasure of reading to date. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. M. Gedeon
2.0 out of 5 stars
Tedious but strangely compelling
I enjoyed The Great North Road but this trilogy is rather tedious - as another has noted - long drawn out. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Hotwellian
2.0 out of 5 stars
No Story
No story or theme.
Long winded.
It used a lot of technical language without explanation.
I do not know if I will read any more of this authors books.
Long winded.
It used a lot of technical language without explanation.
I do not know if I will read any more of this authors books.
Published 3 months ago by Anthony Marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read
I loved this book, this was the first peter f hamilton book I came across and is still my favourite, horror sci-fi a great mix always has been, from the midwich cuckoos to alien. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andrew Carr
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Space Opera of Highs and Lows
After reading the author's excellent Great North Road I was keen to try this well-reviewed saga, one of my first space operas. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Alan Stock
1.0 out of 5 stars
Are we supposed to take the supernatural seriously? Really?
I quite enjoyed the first two thirds of this very long book, but then it lost me completely when it at last became clear that the author was not going to provide a decent... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Hind
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