Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Judas Unchained
Book Review: Story as Freight Train
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's call this review my review for both books in this series, this being the latter part of a tale begun in "Pandora's Star." Let me first make something clear. You will probably not like the first two chapters or so in either book. In book one the beginnings feel slow, and plodding even. But it's necessary, Hamilton needs that time to spin his universe, and the people in it, into something we can all relate to... somethine we can all see. Book two's beginning retreads over some old ground from book one... but it's a different point of view. Get past those first few chapters in either book, and you're there for the duration.
The story centers on, but is not limited AT ALL to a galactic government's fight against a 'cult' known as the Guardians of Selfhood, and later against the alien known as MorningLightMountain and his hive mind-like 'immotiles' and 'motiles.' The Guardians are fighting against what they call "The Starflyer," an entity that remains cloudy until far into book two. In the story you have Investigator Paula Myo, who is working on tracking the Guardians. Nigel Sheldon, to whom humanity feels it owes it's place in the stars as it is. Ozzie, the guy who made a practical spacefaring society with Nigel possible, is a brilliant character who goes off on one of the most enjoyable journeys of them all. Also prevalent are Wilson Kime (pilot and later commander), Justine Bernelli (senator), Bradley Johansson (Guardians of Selfhood founder), Renne Kempasa (Investigator), Mellanie Rescorai (reporter), and Adam Elvin (guardian), The SI (Sentient Intelligence, basically a self sustaining AI that likes to watch humans and occasionally help out)... and I've not even scratched the surface for you there.
Basically, I'll say it's hard to give a succinct review of a tale that I cannot imagine being told in less pages than it was. But I can give you strong points.
1. World building.
I've never been a fan of it, but Hamilton uses it with a style, practicality, and touch of the poetic that I've never encountered before. Do you NEED to know everything he tells you? No. But it does make it all seem so much more real. Which leads to...
2. Understandable.
For all the high technological concepts being on display, Hamilton gives us great practical descriptions that link us right in that zone with him. We can see how it works.
3. STORY
Much too often Sci-fi gets carried away with a broad story or too much technology... a good story can get easily lost in all of the things that Hamilton uses in his books here. But the story is never secondary to the technology he writes of. The story is always the first priority. And whether it's the description of the COMPLETE up to date evolution of an alien species into a fully technologically independant terror of the galaxy, or how people watch TV in 400 years... the STORY is always told brilliantly. Flowingly.
So as my title suggests, this story is a freight train, it takes a bit to keep going, and when it stops at the end of book one and you go and pick up book two, it does take it a moment to get itself up to speed again. But once it's up to speed, nothing stops it until IT wants to stop itself.
Book Review: The opposing view to Arthur C. Clarke's short story "Superiority"
Summary: 3 Stars
Before you read this review, consider my prior review of James Hamilton's superb "Pandora's Star" to which I awarded five stars. "Pandora's Star" blew me away with its deft juggling of numerous plots and sub-plots, and creation of a universe consisting of near-immortality, stable wormholes, hundreds of human populated planets, the "Silfen Paths," the released "Primes," and numerous other relatively sophisticated sci-fi concepts. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way -- not even close -- about the ponderous "Judas Unchained," though I still think its worthy of 3 stars since Hamilton is such a talented writer in the space opera genre.
First, I have to say that it took me about 100 pages to get back into this universe since Hamilton decided to begin the book with sub-plots even in the face of alien invasion and potential human extinction. Second, well over 100 tedious pages towards the end are devoted to a bizarre futuristic "Road Warriors" sequence, where the Navy and Guardians in vehicles (Toyotas and Volvos no less!) are chasing down the Starflyer and its entourage. Third, even though I wanted the book to end already, I thought that the concluding chapter felt sought of like Hamilton was trying to meet a deadline, and to conclude everything on an optimistic note.
Along the way, I was puzzled over the following [spoilers!!!]:
1. While Hamilton thankfully provided a "Dramatis Personae," why not also give us a glossary with locations, technology, space ships, etc. ala Tolkien or Robert Jordan? I found the jumping around of locations was especially confusing.
2. Hamilton should read Arthur C. Clarke's "Superiority." In that short story, an alien race, way behind humans in military space technology, nevertheless win the war, because while the aliens kept making multitudes of small mobile spaceships, the human leaders insisted on developing increasingly elaborate weapons. Clarke's point seemingly was that you can't always rely on developing futuristic technology -- there's no substitute for brute manpower. You might say that "Judas Unchained" is the anti-"Superiority."
3. Why in the world would Ozzie, or anyone else, think that restoring the Barrier around Alpha Prime would solve anything? The Barrier was opened once, and it could be easily opened again, especially with all those Primes on the loose. Remember, MorningLightMountain's technological know-how continues to grow, especially with humans around who all have implanted memory chips (all that has to happen is an advanced weapons human scientist falls into the hands of the Primes). Wasn't it the Starflyer who figured out how to shut the barrier down? So tell me why Ozzie thinks that this won't happen again sooner rather than later?
4. If a train or a truck, protected by a force-field, is carrying your enemy, why not bomb the track or road in front of it? Or, for that matter, bury some bombs in the ground (i.e. powerful land mines) where the train or truck is headed, wait until it passes over, then KABOOM!! (The force field can't cover the entire bottom because the wheels are in contact with the ground).
5. Why exactly couldn't a wormhole be opened near Far Away, and a serious weapon be used on The Institute and/or the Marie Celeste? What was all that nonsense about the weather and "The Planet's Revenge?" What exactly did Wilson accomplish when he reached the top of that tall mountain on Far Away in the hyperglider? Did he have some sort of special equipment that Oscar and Anna also must have had? None of this really made any sense to me.
6. What did we learn about the SI in "Judas Unchained?" How about Tochee or the Barsoomians, or the aliens who built the High Angel? O.K. I guess Hamilton isn't obligated to explain everything.
7. When Bradley finally gets near the Starflyer, did Hamilton really have to so closely rip off the scene where Captain Janeway and co. infiltrated the Borg, from Star Trek Voyager?
8. Does the gorgeous, intelligent, talented, SI-protected Mellanie have to fall in love with every man she sleeps with? I guess this isn't so important, I just want to know.
In conclusion: "Pandora's Star" was excellent; "Judas Unchained" not nearly as good. But, if you're like me, you really need to see how everything from the first book turns out.
Book Review: There aren't enough superlatives to describe the range of this book
Summary: 5 Stars
This is simply a peerless work of science fiction. There are so many brilliant concepts about our potential future in this book that I think it best to leave the book to speak for itself.
Author of How to Manage Your Destructive Impulses with Cyber-Kinetics
Book Review: This is a fantastic read
Summary: 5 Stars
I finally got around to getting a copy of Judas Unchained. Having very much enjoyed the first book I am surprised I waited this long to grab the second.
I will not go into the story it is very important to let it develope without having any knowledge of how it plays out and would be unfair to anyone that has not read it. So I will just keep it short by fully recommending this book. However don't read it without reading the first one Pandora's Star. You will be very pleased by getting both they are a great read if you like fully blown universe. Hamilton has a way with his characters that makes them endearing and real.
Peter F. Hamilton unlike many authors I have read only gets better and better in his writing, each book is better then the last.
Book Review: This is for both books - better than Night's Dawn
Summary: 4 Stars
You need to read both books together. It really is one book split into two volumes. Unlike Night's Dawn you do get to an ending (not THE ending, it is clear that this series can go on if desired). Others have filled in the major points - so here are some issues not adequately addressed in the reviews IMHO. The BIG one is the life-extending tech. Basically, barring very bad luck, you can't die permanently. Bodies are rejuvenated when they get old. If you manage to get killed, a new body is grown for you in about a year and your memory backups are downloaded. Good as new! How you can back up a person on a flash drive is not really explained in detail. Nor is the fact you could make endless copies of yourself. Unlike a conventional clone, they would be you with your memories! This is never exploited or even commented on. Peter Hamilton, in all his works, seems fascinated with society being run by large companies, "Dynasties", and "Grand Families" as superior to inefficient governments. If the heads of these organizations NEVER DIE, human society would undergo massive upheaval. Can you imagine knowing you could never work your way to the top because the top was never going anyplace?
How many people would still want to have kids if they were never going to die themselves? Surely not as many as now. Also religion is barely mentioned. Surely not having to ever meet God in person would change the world's religions!
The odd mix of tech is interesting. Gasoline and diesel powered cars are still common on less-developed worlds. One would thing the fuel cell would finally have made it 400 years from now! Trains are the major method of inter-stellar transport. There are atomic, diesel, and steam trains running around the galaxy via wormholes. Also not made clear is the expense of inter-stellar train tickets. In some cases it seems easier to commute to work across hundreds of light years than to make it a few miles across a crowded city.
Finally, why oh why would ANYONE not want to utterly wipe out MorningLightMountain? It only wants to kill all other life forms. I can't imagine you could find 3 people in the whole Galaxy that wouldn't push the button with a smile on their face.