Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton
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Book Reviews of Pandora's Star
Book Review: A Grand Tapestry
Summary: 5 Stars
"Pandora's Star," Peter F. Hamilton's sprawling 988-page opus (first volume of two)is a thrill. It's an episodic space opera cum techno thriller, in which the kicker is that people can be, and are, rejuvenated and can also store their memories electronically, in case something happens to them. So death is impermanent. The society the author conjures up is called "The Commonwealth," an organiztion of explored planets linked by wormholes.
The story, told in multiple povs, takes a while to get started, and along the way it delves into many familiar sci-fi themes, while managing to make every one of them fresh. It begins with a look at the first landing on Mars, segues into the tale of an astronomer who makes a starting discovery, morphs into a police procedural, follows with a "behind closed doors" glimpse into political decisionmaking, and then gives us a look at an X-Game version of hang gliding.
And that brings us all the way to page 126.
The story gains steam as an FTL starship--obsolete tech in this age of wormholes--is built (and this is where that astronomer's discovery comes in) in order to learn why the double star system known as the "Dyson Pair" has been shielded by some sort of force field. Is it meant to keep the natives of that system within, or to protect them from what lies without? As if that weren't enough, a terrorist group wants to prevent this excursion.
But even as this is going on, the author continues his journey through genres--a murder mystery is solved (yes, I know I explained that people can be rejuvenated here, but wait for it); a low-tech fantasy theme is introduced (a scene at an inn, a native boy who wants to join the explorer, and so forth) that at one point presents readers with a trek across a frozen planet (a la LeGuin), and there's even a priggish dad with an ickily cute family (complete with dog) on one of those impossibly utopian planets (think Kim Stanley Robinson with an edge). There's a helpful AI, and some alien critters, too. In fact, there are so many characters, so many concepts, that maybe you'll feel that this is the first sci-fi epic you've ever read that could have used an index. (Certainly a list of characters could have been provided.)
About 700 pages in, we finally meet the creeptastic villain(s) (eek! hive mind!), after which the tale cascades on swiftly on to the end of part I.
So pull up a chair, relax and enjoy. And be not afraid. While the 988th page is just the halfway point in the saga, part two, "Judas Unchained" is now available. (At 1008 pages and, oh wow! a list of characters.)
Book Review: A masterful and epic space opera
Summary: 5 Stars
I came across Pandora's Star and picked it up, a little deceived. It felt like a decent sized 500 or so paged sci fi with an interesting description on the back cover. So I took it home and it sat on my shelf for a while until I read from someone else's blog that they recommended as a top read. My interest was piqued and so I put it in my que.
I soon realized that the compact mass market was in fact a 988 page mass market. Not so mass market or compact. But I couldn't care less. After reading the prologue, the first 10 pages, I was completely and utterly drawn in to Hamilton's style of writing. He can tell a story. And I was not disappointed. Hamilton creates such a complex and believable world as you dance from planet to planet. Hamilton takes the time to develop the worlds we visit, to develop the characters and plots that push the story ever onward. The world he creates truly is epic in sheer size alone, and you never feel lost or the story isn't cheapened because of how much ground he is trying to cover.
The characters are just as rich as the worlds. Nigel and Ozzie, specifically Ozzie, are great characters, two that are introduced in the opening pages. Paula Myo has a complete and interesting backstory to how she became who she was. Adam Elvin is deftly developed. Of course the patriarchs of the Grand Families and the Intersolar Dynasties, though we don't see them too much, are present and have a demanding and powerful feel to them. Then there is the SI. Lets not forget some of the alien races in the Silfin and the Prime. The list goes on and on because you truly do feel as though you are taking part in the worlds that Hamilton created, feeling as though you are a part of the future almost 400 years from now, where space travel is as easy as going to the local railway.
I can see how some readers may not like Hamilton's style, simply because his writing is on an epic scale. You do have to put the story on the backburners as Hamilton takes the time and pages to develop a new aspect, or explain how something came to be what they were, such as the Prime. Which, of course, lends the feeling of just wanting the story to continue. There is certainly a lot of world building, which I thoroughly enjoy, but can be a turn off if you are more of an action based reader. Regardless, if you can push through the long 988 pages, I would recommend to everyone. This is certainly one of my favorite books, and possibly a new favorite author. A definite recommend for the book and the author.
5 stars.
Book Review: This is THE definitive Space Opera!
Summary: 5 Stars
I always had a hard time recommending Peter F. Hamilton's, "Nights Dawn" Trilogy - not because it was unreadable, but because it took about 200 pages to get into it - and that can be daunting for those who don't read 1000+ page books very often.
With "Pandora's Star" Peter F. Hamilton has clearly learnt his lesson here - this book is unputdownable right from the first page - and it just gets more and more gripping the deeper into the book you go! Because it is a whopping 1000+ pages, there was quite a few nights there where I did not manage to put it down until the sun was rising again - the story lines are so intensely compelling - all of them! It was deeply and intensely satisfying to read a book this compelling which wasn't your run of the mill 'action/thriller.' When its this good, nothing can beat the creativity of SF....
The book opens with man's first landing on Mars - and how it gets rather overshadowed by a new scientific development which completely revolutionised human life as we know it. From this auspicious beginning, Hamilton plunges us into the definitive space opera, complete with colourful charcters, human advances, society changes, exotic weaponary, weird aliens, a menacing unknown enemy, forbidden fruits, murder, terrorism, new alien landscapes... Its a dazzling kaleidscope of eveything Science Fiction - and completley readable.
Building on some elements from his separate and independent novels (which are not at all necessary to have been read to read this series - this is an independent novel in its self, not a part of 'other worlds' created by the author) Hamilton continues to build a fascinating and very human future worthy of ANY science fiction great. Although I have found all of Hamilton's books a very good read (he hasn't written a bad book yet) I would have to say his storytelling capabilities are maturing and he has come a long way from the Greg Mandell books in his ability to unfurl a complex story in the most compelling of ways.
This book is worth reading whether you are a first comer to Hamilton's work or already a fan of his stuff. It is without doubt in my mind, one of his best yet. Hamilton deserves have his name bandied around and recognised with the other great SF authors out there - and this book is conclusive proof! If you had been feeling, like me, that you haven't read a decent SF book in while, then you cannot afford to miss this one - it restores faith in the whole genre!
Book Review: Gripping Saga
Summary: 5 Stars
The first time I read any Hamilton was "The Reality Disfunction". I hated it. Never read any of the other trilogy books. However my boyfriend did and though he agreed with some of my issues surrounding the disfunction he also said the trilogy part 2 and three were better.
Naturally given my bad experience I was aprehensive about this book. My boyfriend bought it as we were on a holiday in Europe and it was one of the few English language books we could find at that time. He read it and loved it and told me to try it as it was better than the trilogy. So I did. Imagine my own surprise that I found this book near impossible to put down, gripping and one for the best SF books I have read in ages.
The story is complex, as was the disfunction. Hamilton seems to be hell bound on keeping the timeline intact in all subplots This can be highly confusing. I also think there are too many characters but apart from that it read well.
Essetially the story is about good and evil, isn't it always. But in this case the nuances between good and bad are shown. The reasoning behind things is well described and the people in the book in most cases are sympathetic but flawed, as real people are. For most of the book you are left guessing about the direction the book is going to take, though the mythical figure of starflyer is clearly a major part of the story, this major part is slowly becoming a central plot.
The chapter on Mars is hilarious. So easy to visualise and such a good concept to start off with. Some parts of the book read as a major Hollywood blockbuster, specifically when a whole panet is under attack and when there is a James Bond type scene in Venice. It is written in a fast pace and there is some overload in information, but big fun to read. Then there are the politics and the love stories. In those there are layers that only peek through but tell you a lot about the people involved.
There is much more in this book, real innovative fantasy ("Silfen paths") woven into a fabric of hard SF. You are constantly put on the wrong foot as to where the story is going and I love that. The story is never clear cut, even reading the last page out of curiosity will tell you nothing about where the book is going. The next book ("Judas Unchained") is possibly even better.
Book Review: Take your time
Summary: 5 Stars
The action takes place from 2380; humankind has expanded to hundreds of planets connected by wormholes and the Unisphere. Anyone who has money can live for hundreds of years thanks to rejuvenation treatment.
Everything is seemingly blooming and nice, but a secret brotherhood, The Guardians of Selfhood, keeps insisting that humankind is being manipulated by an invisible alien, whose ship was found on one now inhabited planet - the Far Away. The brotherhood is making preparations, smuggling weapons and weird pieces of equipment in order to face the alien. Of course, no sane people would listen to their blabber.
But things change when an ageing astronomy professor discovers the disappearance of two distant stars. A starship is sent to investigate and as they reach their target it sparks off a terrible war and it becomes evident that it was all engineered and manipulated by someone/something.
As is customary for Hamilton, the first half of the book is mostly taken up by the introduction of places and characters, and the action only really picks up in the second half of the boom. The characters are opened in-depth and chewing through all the descriptions is fully rewarded - so enjoy every word! Technologies are attractive - for instance, the rejuvenation treatment and e-functional OC tattoos covering the skin, which people can choose to have in different colours (mmm...).
Although there is a multitude of characters and places and a horde of descriptions - as is characteristic of Hamilton - it has to be said that this Commonwealth Saga is a lot more compact and fast-paced compared to the Night`s Dawn trilogy.
I have to admit that there is a space fight/flight that was so intense that I had to put the book down after reading - my hands shook so much. I had, perhaps got too involved in the story, but maybe this is a good indication of how engaging it is. In my opinion, if you pick up this book, your kids, husband and dogs will be unfed for about a week - well, depending on your reading pace. Anyways, the best thing Hamilton has written so far.