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The Abyss Beyond Dreams
Bestselling science fiction master Peter F. Hamilton delivers the first of a two-book saga set in his popular Commonwealth universe. Distinguished by deft plotting, a teeming cast of characters, dazzling scientific speculation, and imagination that brings the truly alien to life, The Abyss Beyond Dreams reveals Hamilton as a storyteller of astonishing ingenuity and power.
The year is 3326. Nigel Sheldon, one of the founders of the Commonwealth, receives a visit from the Raiel—self-appointed guardians of the Void, the enigmatic construct at the core of the galaxy that threatens the existence of all that lives. The Raiel convince Nigel to participate in a desperate scheme to infiltrate the Void.
Once inside, Nigel discovers that humans are not the only life-forms to have been sucked into the Void, where the laws of physics are subtly different and mental powers indistinguishable from magic are commonplace. The humans trapped there are afflicted by an alien species of biological mimics—the Fallers—that are intelligent but merciless killers.
Yet these same aliens may hold the key to destroying the threat of the Void forever—if Nigel can uncover their secrets. As the Fallers’ relentless attacks continue, and the fragile human society splinters into civil war, Nigel must uncover the secrets of the Fallers—before he is killed by the very people he has come to save.
Praise for The Abyss Beyond Dreams
“The work of an author at the top of his game.”—Science Fiction and Fantasy World
“Incredibly robust and exciting and rousing, sharing flavors of Jack Vance, John Wright, China Miéville, Orson Scott Card, and A. E. van Vogt . . . Hamilton’s deployment of lots of grand super-science is utterly deft and convincing.”—Locus
“Solidy engrossing fare . . . The characters, always Hamilton’s strength, remain as distinctive as ever.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Everything one wants in sf—great characters, mind bending stuff, adventure, politics, romance, revolution . . . just superb.”—Fantasy Book Critic
“Hamilton does a particular kind of planetary politics and space opera very well, and this is a perfect example of it. . . . [The Abyss Beyond Dreams is] a satisfying and well-oiled story, with potential for more epic adventure to come.”—Booklist
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Reviews
I’ve been reading through all of this author’s works this year, including all of the Commonwealth series. His works are usually enthralling, with complex plotting and sprawling arrays of characters. Here, it seemed a bit off the mark. It’s hard to believe, but it seemed too hurried, with less character development and plot development, which led to unconvincing characters and a hard-to-accept story. While I have found his books literally hard to put down, that was not the case with this one. I didn’t really care about the characters, nor did I find their motivations convincing. And with a story that was set in a revolutionary, essentially pre-industrial environment, Hamilton’s usual skill in depicting complex physics and technology were not around to at least distract from the skimpy story. A disappointing blip.
By DJinLA1
Great addition to the series.
By Sounds angry
Great stuff. Commonwealth and Void were fantastic. Salvation builds on the Great North Road, and exceeds. A brilliant writer with an incredible imagination, with an easy humorous prose swathing across incredibly complex scientific knowledge of the day and applied conjecture into the seemingly impossible technologies that require the suspension of disbelief. But Peter F is a master of the Space Opera, and a genius story teller, all while keeping the language simple, and of course the dramatic tension maintains tenacity throughout the reading (no slips into a hundred pages of muddling anywhere. Well paced. And long, because it’s a great story long that needs this length to fully complete satisfaction. Ibid Great stuff.
By Pavlexander
As always....except that I'm always left wanting more.
By Momento Anima
This author fills the gap in my heart by the early departure of the gifted Iain M Banks. Hard sci fi lives on...
By StarshipAI