alex_t's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jordiejam's review against another edition
5.0
Very enjoyable, a satisfying ending I think. A shame there's no next in this particular narrative.
Enjoyed the different characters, and most of all Hamilton's interpretation of what a future might be like for humanity.
Enjoyed the different characters, and most of all Hamilton's interpretation of what a future might be like for humanity.
cappallo's review against another edition
2.0
This book would have been twice as good if it were half as long.
hucklebuck411's review against another edition
4.0
This second book in the Commonwealth Saga reveals that the Starflyer alien entity from the ancient crashed ship, named the Mary Celeste and found on the planet Faraway, actually exists. It is this hidden-in-the-shadows enemy that has infiltrated the Commonwealth's galactic society for centuries and through its controlled human agents, has brought about the mutually destructive war between the released Dyson Alpha Prime species and the Commonwealth. Old Commonwealth enemies must now come together in the fight to stop the Starflyer from returning to its refurbished spacecraft on Faraway and escape to continue its own deadly quest to conquer known inhabited space.
While sometimes slow in parts, this huge book, with an almost overwhelming cast of characters, was able to keep my interest until the spectacular, action-packed conclusion. Peter F. Hamilton has created a very imaginative and descriptively detailed version of a far-off multi-planet spacefaring society in which interactions between enhanced humans and other alien species is a given. Part detective story, part Sci-Fi action-packed thriller, and with just a hint of fantasy, the Commonwealth saga is well worth the read for those who enjoy well-written space opera fare.
While sometimes slow in parts, this huge book, with an almost overwhelming cast of characters, was able to keep my interest until the spectacular, action-packed conclusion. Peter F. Hamilton has created a very imaginative and descriptively detailed version of a far-off multi-planet spacefaring society in which interactions between enhanced humans and other alien species is a given. Part detective story, part Sci-Fi action-packed thriller, and with just a hint of fantasy, the Commonwealth saga is well worth the read for those who enjoy well-written space opera fare.
monbie's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
bulwerka's review against another edition
5.0
Peter F. Hamilton is one of the best world builders in the SciFi genre, and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve read a lot of good worlds out there, but few are as compelling as the Commonwealth (I’ve got the Nights Dawn Trilogy on my bookshelf ready to go, and I’m told it’s even better). Judas Unchained is the sequel to the first Commonwealth book Pandora’s Star and continues the excellent story.
Earth’s colonies have united into a loose Commonwealth of the Stars, and they are under attack from a powerful alien bent on genocide. At the same time, it becomes apparent that there are forces inside the Commonwealth which are trying to tear it down. It becomes a race against time to prevent both from happening.
Hamilton continues the excellent character development that he started in the first book, especially as the motives of a lot of characters start to change. The vast majority of characters in the book keeps it from becoming boring, as well.
I’ve noticed this is a trend in epic narratives, as a way to keep the plot moving in a lot of areas. More importantly, however, I think that it keeps the reader engaged with the story without becoming bogged down in it. Hamilton does this excellently, and I was engrossed in the story throughout.
Hamilton has written this world so well, that it is a highly believable and visual world. I could see every world and every person vividly in my mind’s eye. This is an accomplishment, as it’s rare that I can remember characters I have pictured so well. It is a credit to how well the book is written.
Between Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained, you are looking at a saga that spans roughly 2000 pages. As such, a lot of the action becomes drawn out and elongated, but just at the point where this becomes frustrating Hamilton does a good job of spicing up the action.
The conclusion of this epic builds at this slow pace in such a way that the reader is kept in a tightly wound net of suspense, and Hamilton finishes with an explosive flourish that is exciting and satisfying, if not totally believable.
Obviously there is a heavy commitment of time involved in reading these books, but you will be completely satisfied if you do. Peter F. Hamilton is one of the great SciFi writers of our time, and is an absolute must-read.
(Check out this review and others at SciFi Readers)
Earth’s colonies have united into a loose Commonwealth of the Stars, and they are under attack from a powerful alien bent on genocide. At the same time, it becomes apparent that there are forces inside the Commonwealth which are trying to tear it down. It becomes a race against time to prevent both from happening.
Hamilton continues the excellent character development that he started in the first book, especially as the motives of a lot of characters start to change. The vast majority of characters in the book keeps it from becoming boring, as well.
I’ve noticed this is a trend in epic narratives, as a way to keep the plot moving in a lot of areas. More importantly, however, I think that it keeps the reader engaged with the story without becoming bogged down in it. Hamilton does this excellently, and I was engrossed in the story throughout.
Hamilton has written this world so well, that it is a highly believable and visual world. I could see every world and every person vividly in my mind’s eye. This is an accomplishment, as it’s rare that I can remember characters I have pictured so well. It is a credit to how well the book is written.
Between Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained, you are looking at a saga that spans roughly 2000 pages. As such, a lot of the action becomes drawn out and elongated, but just at the point where this becomes frustrating Hamilton does a good job of spicing up the action.
The conclusion of this epic builds at this slow pace in such a way that the reader is kept in a tightly wound net of suspense, and Hamilton finishes with an explosive flourish that is exciting and satisfying, if not totally believable.
Obviously there is a heavy commitment of time involved in reading these books, but you will be completely satisfied if you do. Peter F. Hamilton is one of the great SciFi writers of our time, and is an absolute must-read.
(Check out this review and others at SciFi Readers)
clambering's review against another edition
3.0
Pandora's Star and this book should really be considered as a single story - neither is complete without the other. The first is a good introduction to the universe and what humans are up to, lets you get familiar with the characters, and sets up the stage for the Judas Unchained.
This book essentially ties up all of the stories of the characters which were followed in the first. Despite being with the characters for 2400 pages, I am rather disappointed to say that I couldn't really empathise with any of them. The story, which was, I think, a genuinely interesting one is somewhat marred by the lack of a true sense of character development. The large number of different interlinking storylines certainly made for an interesting ride, and Hamilton's attempt to tell a story from many different perspectives is commendable, but I found that even in parts of the book at which I should be feeling some sort of emotion, there was none. One thing that I did appreciate was the number of female characters which played important roles in the story, and their portrayal as independent entities, not just some attachment to the male characters was pleasantly surprising.
The universe in which the story is set is certainly an interesting one, and while I enjoyed it there are parts that I feel could have been dealt with better. The different planets of the Commonwealth provide a good platform for exploring what humans would do should they suddenly become able to colonise planets. The problems, however, again come in the shallowness of the world. Although upon first encounter planets are described in some detail, apart from a few cases the environment has little to do with the events which occur there. In a similar sense, the technology is left relatively unexplored, with only an ambient sense of some sort of high-tech developments. The development of ships is marginally more interesting as it plays a somewhat pivotal role in the story, but even that is lacking in detail. Perhaps in these cases detail is not actually a necessity however. It seems that progression of the story is prioritised over other aspects.
The story itself is long and winding, and one wonders whether the end result is worth the length. It is probably not a good idea to judge the books based solely on the ending, but after so much I feel like it could have been a little more satisfying.
This book essentially ties up all of the stories of the characters which were followed in the first. Despite being with the characters for 2400 pages, I am rather disappointed to say that I couldn't really empathise with any of them. The story, which was, I think, a genuinely interesting one is somewhat marred by the lack of a true sense of character development. The large number of different interlinking storylines certainly made for an interesting ride, and Hamilton's attempt to tell a story from many different perspectives is commendable, but I found that even in parts of the book at which I should be feeling some sort of emotion, there was none. One thing that I did appreciate was the number of female characters which played important roles in the story, and their portrayal as independent entities, not just some attachment to the male characters was pleasantly surprising.
The universe in which the story is set is certainly an interesting one, and while I enjoyed it there are parts that I feel could have been dealt with better. The different planets of the Commonwealth provide a good platform for exploring what humans would do should they suddenly become able to colonise planets. The problems, however, again come in the shallowness of the world. Although upon first encounter planets are described in some detail, apart from a few cases the environment has little to do with the events which occur there. In a similar sense, the technology is left relatively unexplored, with only an ambient sense of some sort of high-tech developments. The development of ships is marginally more interesting as it plays a somewhat pivotal role in the story, but even that is lacking in detail. Perhaps in these cases detail is not actually a necessity however. It seems that progression of the story is prioritised over other aspects.
The story itself is long and winding, and one wonders whether the end result is worth the length. It is probably not a good idea to judge the books based solely on the ending, but after so much I feel like it could have been a little more satisfying.