sidetracked's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up the Void trilogy once again as a refresher for the new books that came out in the series. It is surprisingly much more entertaining than the first time I read it with nice characters (a few of the original cast are returning to a slightly different world than the one we left behind in Judas Unchained.
Humanity has expanded beyond its wildest imagination, spanning more than 500 light years. Circumnavigation of the galaxy has taken place and humans have achieved post-physical level. The human race has split into different factions and religion is antagonizing humans yet again. Humanity has come full circle.
In the center of the galaxy there is nothing but the Void. The arch-enemy of the Raiel and the potential bane of the entire galaxy. Now, humanity through its largest religious movement in history- the Living Dream - is preparing to venture into the Void to live the dreams of its founder: Inigo.
Peter Hamilton masterfully weaves the Void dreams full of sword and sorcery into the incredible Commonwealth universe of the 35th century and creates new characters that you care about, new lifestyles and plots.
A spectacle to read and highly entertaining, especially if you enjoyed Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained, which are a must read before starting the Void trilogy.
Humanity has expanded beyond its wildest imagination, spanning more than 500 light years. Circumnavigation of the galaxy has taken place and humans have achieved post-physical level. The human race has split into different factions and religion is antagonizing humans yet again. Humanity has come full circle.
In the center of the galaxy there is nothing but the Void. The arch-enemy of the Raiel and the potential bane of the entire galaxy. Now, humanity through its largest religious movement in history- the Living Dream - is preparing to venture into the Void to live the dreams of its founder: Inigo.
Peter Hamilton masterfully weaves the Void dreams full of sword and sorcery into the incredible Commonwealth universe of the 35th century and creates new characters that you care about, new lifestyles and plots.
A spectacle to read and highly entertaining, especially if you enjoyed Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained, which are a must read before starting the Void trilogy.
1millioncats's review
The plot and world building is great, the characters are flat and one note, and Hamilton needs to learn to wrote better porn if he's going to be this frequent at it for "plot reasons". The main partner(s) is completely fine with drugging and lying to the PoV character and only after serious thought did I even realize that's what had happened.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
ahammel87's review
4.0
No ending, therefore no rating. I'll rate the three of them when I finish the series.
jeffaudio's review
3.0
I didn't learn until after finishing this book that while it's the first in the series, it's not the first book in the timeline. I found keeping track of all the characters and what they wanted to be difficult perhaps partially because they weren't that interesting. I enjoyed the world building though so I will probably go back and check out the Commonwealth Saga before reading the next book.
ericb237's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I feel like there wasn't a huge amount of things that happened in this book but I quite enjoyed it as a build up for the other 2 books. Inigo's dreams were interesting.
mdiffer's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ghostmuppet's review against another edition
4.0
This started off fairly slow and confusing, but i got attached to most of the main characters in the series.
Looking forward to where this will go.
Looking forward to where this will go.
_pickle_'s review
4.0
Hamilton writes an a very relaxed way. He creates these fantastic plots and worlds and characters are sometimes totally engrossing. I devoured this in a matter of days.
gavreads's review against another edition
I don’t know where to start. Really. Peter F. Hamilton has a packed a universe into a 600 pages and I’m surprised that the books aren’t spontaneously exploding on the shelves.
There is a Void in space that is more deadly than a black hole. There are humans who think that the Void is a Nirvana due to the dreams of Inigo who has shown billions the life inside the Void.
The Dreaming Void centres on those supporting a Pilgrimage to the Void and those who don’t. Hamilton grounds the story through a pair of characters, one each side of the Void, whilst agents of the factions search for the missing Inigo and the mysterious Second Dreamer.
What amazes me is how Hamilton keeps all the characters in play, just when you’re getting used to one and falling into their rhythm he swaps to someone else. This makes for a challenging read but as you progress you can see all the pieces being moved into place. And the story ends with the board set for whatever comes next and a revelation that asks more questions than it answers.
Throughout the story it also makes references to and brings back characters from an earlier two-part story which happened a thousand years ago and is retold in Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained. As I’ve not yet read them I didn’t feel there was any obvious gaps though I have the feeling that I’ll have a few revelations once I have.
The Dreaming Void is set in an amazing imaging of the future of the human race. It’s complex and challenging but has huge moments of satisfaction throughout. If you like your science fiction to explore what it is to be human with all our potential and our weaknesses and enjoys seeing new worlds and technology you’ll love Part One of The Void Trilogy. If you like your narratives to follow a more linear path this maybe a little too in-depth to be satisfactory.
I personally am now integrated into the worlds of the Commonwealth and can’t wait to see what happens next.
There is a Void in space that is more deadly than a black hole. There are humans who think that the Void is a Nirvana due to the dreams of Inigo who has shown billions the life inside the Void.
The Dreaming Void centres on those supporting a Pilgrimage to the Void and those who don’t. Hamilton grounds the story through a pair of characters, one each side of the Void, whilst agents of the factions search for the missing Inigo and the mysterious Second Dreamer.
What amazes me is how Hamilton keeps all the characters in play, just when you’re getting used to one and falling into their rhythm he swaps to someone else. This makes for a challenging read but as you progress you can see all the pieces being moved into place. And the story ends with the board set for whatever comes next and a revelation that asks more questions than it answers.
Throughout the story it also makes references to and brings back characters from an earlier two-part story which happened a thousand years ago and is retold in Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained. As I’ve not yet read them I didn’t feel there was any obvious gaps though I have the feeling that I’ll have a few revelations once I have.
The Dreaming Void is set in an amazing imaging of the future of the human race. It’s complex and challenging but has huge moments of satisfaction throughout. If you like your science fiction to explore what it is to be human with all our potential and our weaknesses and enjoys seeing new worlds and technology you’ll love Part One of The Void Trilogy. If you like your narratives to follow a more linear path this maybe a little too in-depth to be satisfactory.
I personally am now integrated into the worlds of the Commonwealth and can’t wait to see what happens next.
majkia's review against another edition
5.0
It is the far future and humankind have spread across the stars, and met a host of alien species. Wars are over, and things are going pretty well. Except for this massive thing sitting in the middle of the Galaxy. At first it is thought to be a black hole devouring the Galaxy, but then it becomes clear it is something else entirely.
Then one man, an astrophysicist who is studying it, begins to dream. Through the existing tech that connects the worlds, his dream is broadcast across the stars and people begin to believe that within the Void humans live and are happy and prosper. This spawns a religion around the Dreamer, Inigo.
But after several centuries, the Dreamer disappears. Has he died? Or has he simply pulled out of society and hidden himself somewhere.
Then, suddenly, there is a second Dreamer. This sparks the Living Dream, the religion spawned around the first Dreamer, to suddenly awaken from its slumber and call for a pilgrimage into the Void. ; But many scientists, and all the alien species, rise up in alarm, afraid such a thing will cause the Void to speed up and begin, once again, to destroy worlds and civilizations as it chews its way through the Galaxy. The pilgrimage must be stopped!
Hamilton does a great job at creating a Galactic civilization, Religion, and people who are complex and intriguing. The societies are various, with different worlds having quite different problems and opportunities, not to mention goals. Some people, the wealthy of course, live for centuries, and have augmented bodies and minds, and a mental connection to the mass of humanity through the vast gaianet that lets thoughts and dreams spread across worlds and peoples.
I’m excited to read the next outing. Oh, and Fifty Shades doesn’t hold a candle to the future folks and their versions of sex and erotica.