The Dreaming Void (The Void Trilogy, Book 1)
by Peter F. Hamilton
List Price:
Our Price: $9.49
You Save: $17.51 (65%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.10 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Peter F. HamiltonEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-03-25
ISBN: 0345496531
Number of pages: 640
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of The Dreaming Void (The Void Trilogy, Book 1)
Book Review: An excellent start to the trilogy
Summary: 5 Stars
The Commonwealth Universe, a place where humanity has prospered, evolved and expanded throughout the galaxy. As the Commonwealth has grown, colony ships have set out to found new human worlds far from the current occupied space, and the galaxy has been circumnavigated. Many new alien species have been encountered and the Void, an artificial universe at the centre of the galaxy protected by a deadly event horizon, has been discovered.
This is the setting for Peter F Hamilton's eagerly awaited new novel, The Dreaming Void, which is the first in the Void Trilogy. After the events in the Commonwealth Saga, where humanity were fighting for existence against the invading Prime aliens while trying to uncover mutiny from within from the deadly Starflyer alien, the human race has prospered and is now one of the most technologically advanced species in the galaxy.
A human has now started to dream of the existence within the Void and the paradise within. He shares these dreams in the Gaiafield for all to experience them. The Living Dream movement is born and its followers grow in number until it becomes the majority party in the planets parliament. When Inigo, the first dreamer, disappears from public life, the movement carries on much the way it has in the past, although many start growing restless and impatient for the pilgrimage to begin. However, a new chief cleric, Ethan, is elected and answers the hopes of millions by announcing the construction of starships to pilgrimage into the Void.
The Dreaming Void follows two main story plots - the implications following the announcement of the pilgrimage and the dreams experienced by Inigo that focus on Edeard, a youth living within the Void.
Peter once again delivers a hugely enjoyable story with plenty of action, adventure and surprises. Setting the story in the 36th century with the technology available gives such a large canvas to work on and he uses it to his advantage on so many different levels. The characters that we meet are alive on the pages, although some are more developed than others, especially when new characters are introduced late on in the story. This by no means detracts from the story, but as the first part of a trilogy it is to be expected that the growth of some characters will really take hold in the next instalment, if not the third.
Edeard is by far the most developed character, and with almost half the book telling his story it is to be expected. From meeting him as a young teenager in the Eggshaper's Guild through to his time as a junior constable in Makkathran, Edeard grows in many ways and Peter shows just how accomplished he is at creating believable, in depth characters. The same could be said for Aaron, although by having a character with no memory it is easy enough to mould our own view of him, whether that is right or wrong, we will surely find out before the end of the trilogy.
Peter's six month planning really does show this time around and the story and universe feels much tighter because of it. With clear ideas how he wants to take the story forward, he manages to drag you into his imagination and take you on a ride you won't forget. There are plenty of hints hidden within the pages and many will be guessing at various aspects of the story until the next instalment.
As the first part of the trilogy, this book does everything it needs to do - the characters are introduced and the stage set for the next part. With a cliff-hanger at the end of the book, many will be counting those months until the release of The Temporal Void, but the revelation that comes to light will encourage others to re-read it.
What may surprise some is the page count. Although many would be expecting a huge brick sized door-stopper, this is a much tighter book and more enjoyable because of it. Many people feel Judas Unchained (949 HB pages) was overlong, but this is a fine return to form and just what was needed. A fine example of space opera with all the right ingredients - a typical PFH novel.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Suspense that Will Have You on the Edge of Your Seat
The Darkness (Vampire Huntress Legends)by L. A. Banks
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 2008-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.67
Price in other shops:
The Dreaming Void (The Void Trilogy, Book 1)by Peter F. Hamilton
Del Rey; Published: 2008-03-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
Bloodline: A Repairman Jack Novelby F. Paul Wilson
Forge Books; Published: 2007-09-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.51
Price in other shops:
The Host: A Novelby Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2008-05-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops:
The Judas Strain: A Novelby James Rollins
William Morrow; Published: 2007-07-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.90
Price in other shops:
Ghostwalkby Rebecca Stott
Spiegel & Grau; Published: 2007-05-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.78
Price in other shops:
The Dead Fathers Clubby Matt Haig
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2007-12-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops:
Spook Countryby William Gibson
Putnam Adult; Published: 2007-08-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.98
Price in other shops:
The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6)by Kim Harrison
Eos; Published: 2008-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.47
Price in other shops:
Mister B. Goneby Clive Barker
HarperCollins; Published: 2007-10-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.49
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Consider Phlebasby Iain M. Banks
Orbit; Published: 2008-03-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.24
Price in other shops:
Anathemby Neal Stephenson
William Morrow; Published: 2008-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.67
Price in other shops:
Galactic Northby Alastair Reynolds
Ace; Published: 2008-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.32
Price in other shops:
Relentless (The Lost Fleet, Book 5)by Jack Campbell
Ace; Published: 2009-04-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.33
Price in other shops:
House of Sunsby Alastair Reynolds
Ace Hardcover; Published: 2009-06-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.35
Price in other shops:
Pandora's Starby Peter F. Hamilton
Del Rey; Published: 2005-01-25; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.39
Price in other shops:
The Prefectby Alastair Reynolds
Ace Hardcover; Published: 2008-06-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.41
Price in other shops:
Matterby Iain M. Banks
Orbit; Published: 2009-02-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.20
Price in other shops:
Judas Unchainedby Peter F. Hamilton
Del Rey; Published: 2007-03-27; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
The Temporal Void (Void Trilogy)by Peter F. Hamilton
Del Rey; Published: 2009-03-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.65
Price in other shops: