pygmymetal's review against another edition
5.0
OMG soooo good. And when a certain character appears, I sqweed. Love love LOVE this author.
mirasp's review against another edition
4.0
So good! Loved it! It gets one star below 5 bc of the slow middle, but it is so worth getting trough them.
bulwerka's review against another edition
5.0
Though this is labeled as a Commonwealth novel, the majority of it really involves the Void and events on the planet Bienvenido. There wasn't a ton involving the Commonwealth, since technology does not work inside the Void. The book involves a lot of politics, mystery, and very little overall action. As with a lot of Hamilton books, it's a bit of a slow burn. All that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't overly enjoy the first Void trilogy and Edeard's story, but Abyss Beyond Dreams actually made me interested in the mystery of the Void. By the end of the book, I was ready to read the second, as yet released, book. Highly recommend this one!
gullevek's review against another edition
3.0
Let's say it as it is. Big disappointment all the way. The third books series that plays in the Commonwealth Universe this is also the by far weakest and most boring one.
Simply put, it just plays in the Void universe. All of it. There is outside/inside interesting development going on. There is actually no development going on at all. It feels like reading the same "Void Trilogy" Edeard stories just with a different character. Nothing interesting at all.
While it is still written very well and it is still a page turner, it was just not enjoyful at all. This is not a Hamilton book as I was expecting it.
The ending is a nice cliff hanger, but the most shocking thing for me was "So what, don't really care how it goes on".
Simply put, it just plays in the Void universe. All of it. There is outside/inside interesting development going on. There is actually no development going on at all. It feels like reading the same "Void Trilogy" Edeard stories just with a different character. Nothing interesting at all.
While it is still written very well and it is still a page turner, it was just not enjoyful at all. This is not a Hamilton book as I was expecting it.
The ending is a nice cliff hanger, but the most shocking thing for me was "So what, don't really care how it goes on".
peter_xxx's review against another edition
4.0
A new story featuring Nigel and the void. or half a story actually since this is one of Hamilton's 700 page stories that only tells half of a story. Since this is a story that takes place in the void the tech level for most of the book is at an industrial revolution level. Which is a bit of letdown because Hamilton is so good when it comes to high tech sf.
one of the themes is the nature and origin of the void. another theme is how a corrupt and static government is bad for the economy and that personal freedom is best for the economy.
in good Hamilton tradition the characters are competent and likable.
one of the themes is the nature and origin of the void. another theme is how a corrupt and static government is bad for the economy and that personal freedom is best for the economy.
in good Hamilton tradition the characters are competent and likable.
pct196's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent... Can't wait for the next part of the series...
brents's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the horror elements. Loved time spent with the legacy characters and the tech and sci fi elements. Didn't care for the political revolution plot whatsoever for either its own sake or especially for its place in the larger plot.
rustman's review against another edition
2.0
This book started out great, then it got boring really quick. It went from trying to solve the void and it’s mysteries to politics on a boring world. I kept reading thinking surely it will pick up again. Not! This wanted to be an H.G Wells 1984 but on a different world. It doesn’t work. I couldn’t finish it.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
4.0
Another great Peter F. Hamilton book with lots of mystery, terror, and science fiction. The introduction is a little long and felt like a scifi horror movie like Alien. But after that, Hamilton really go into the stuff I like. If you decided to read this, I would start with Pandora's Star and work you way to this one. It will help you understand the universe this is set in.