4.0
The Abyss Beyond Dreams
ByPublisher Description
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
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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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe Abyss Beyond Dreams Reviews
4.0
“This is one heavy book and a bit on the more difficult side. It was also a bit slow at times. I found the ideas presented and the worldbuilding really good. But I didn‘t know that it‘s part of a larger universe at the time I was reading it (The Commonwealth Saga, which includes more book series). This is probably the reason why I had some probems getting into the world. But it was enough to make me interested in the other books and maybe after a re-read later, I might have an easier time with this one.”
“I really enjoyed the first 200 or so pages of The Abyss Beyond Dreams, but as soon as Slvasta comes into the picture, the story reeeeeaaaaally drags. There is simply way too much politics in Slvasta's storyline and my other issue with him is that he is not a very likeable character. Slvasta is mostly reactive to events in the story and comes across as being a useful tool for smarter people among the revolutionaries instead of being a force that pushes the narrative forward.
That being said, the best parts of the book are all the parts with Nigel and Kysandra. They're both very well-written and Nigel is such a larger-than-life character that it's hard not to love him. The Fallers bring an element of sci-fi horror that I love and their effect on humans borders on body horror which I reeeaally enjoyed.
Again, I have to stress that The Abyss Beyond Dreams is NOT a standalone novel. There are many subtle and not-so-subtle references to the Void trilogy and the Pandora's Star/Judas Unchained duology. So if you have not read those books, please read them first and then, come read this book. Peter F Hamilton does some clever plotting to make this story fit into the larger Commonwealth timeline, but it works. I'm glad I finished it even though the politics in Slvasta's story was driving me a bit nuts.
The ending of this book teases an extremely interesting story in A Night Without Stars so I am definitely excited to jump into the next and final installment of the Commonwealth saga!”
About Peter F. Hamilton
Peter F. Hamilton is the author of numerous novels, including Great North Road, The Evolutionary Void, The Temporal Void, The Dreaming Void, Judas Unchained, Pandora’s Star, Misspent Youth, Fallen Dragon, and the acclaimed epic Night’s Dawn trilogy (The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist, and The Naked God). He lives with his family in England.
Other books by Peter F. Hamilton
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