Pandora's Star

By: Peter F. Hamilton

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 37 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Critics have compared the engrossing space operas of Peter F. Hamilton to the classic sagas of such SF giants as Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert. But Hamilton's best-selling fiction - powered by a fearless imagination and world-class storytelling skills - has also earned him comparison to Tolstoy and Dickens. Hugely ambitious, wildly entertaining, philosophically stimulating: the novels of Peter F. Hamilton will change the way you think about science fiction.

Now, with Pandora's Star, he begins a new multi-volume adventure, one that promises to be his most mind-blowing yet. The year is 2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars some 400 light-years in diameter, contains more than 600 worlds, interconnected by a web of transport "tunnels" known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: Over 1,000 light-years away, a star...vanishes. It does not go supernova. It does not collapse into a black hole. It simply disappears.

Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, a faster-than-light starship, the Second Chance, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat. In command is Wilson Kime, a five-time rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot whose glory days are centuries behind him. Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood, a cult that believes the human race is being manipulated by an alien entity they call the Starflyer.

Bradley Johansson, leader of the Guardians, warns of sabotage, fearing the Starflyer means to use the starship's mission for its own ends. Pursued by a Commonwealth special agent convinced the Guardians are crazy but dangerous, Johansson flees. But the danger is not averted. Aboard the Second Chance, Kime wonders if his crew has been infiltrated.

Soon enough, he will have other worries. A thousand light-years away, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery, the unleashing of which will threaten to destroy t...

©2004 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The depth and clarity of the future Hamilton envisions is as complex and involving as they come." ( Publishers Weekly Starred Review)

Epic

It is an impressive scifi epic, with multiple exceptional characters having adventures and interacting across multiple planets.

To me it was a bit dull though - there weren't any fresh big scifi ideas: the Commonwealth is basicly late 20th century internationalist liberalism writ large, with its benefits and flaws; humanity has barely changed despite spreading across the universe and having all sorts of powers available to itself; etc. There are no really big ideas like psychohistory in Foundation, or the spiritual ideas and feudalism of Dune. It is good as an epic story, but doesn't have the inspirational concepts of really good scifi.

Such an epic tale

I read this series over 10 years ago and loved it. I decided to try the audiobook for a reread and was not disappointed. Excellent narration that really helped bring the diverse cast to life.

A bit of an abrupt ending

Good overall but I'm realizing I'm a fan of books with complete stories. The ending just dumps you off and leaves things for the next book.

Amother great space opera from PFH

The scope, scale, characters, plot, apl make for an enjoyable listen. John Lee crushes it as usual

Very compelling story

The audio is all over the place and takes you out of the story, the reader has a compelling voice but the audio is off.

Great overall story.

The story is great but thank god for a skip button and damn it is some real pedo shit going down in the future.

wow! the last 3 hours of the book are breathtaking

Peter F. Hamilton weaves together an incredible story! the last 3 hours or so of the audiobook leave you spellbound and unable to put the book down. Wow!

Long and diffuse but stick with it

I almost gave up but the second half picks up and the final third is really gripping.

Have to resort to headphones to listen

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Intricate and engaging story. In terms of value, this is such a long book that "paying by the pound" is returned by the 30+ hour playing time.

Would you be willing to try another one of John Lee’s performances?

This book is almost impossible to listen to using speakers (car, Amazon Echo, entertainment system). The reader's volume changes so much across a sentence that it is either blasting at the start or inaudible at the end. This book (and any like it by the same performer) *really* needs to be "remastered" with dynamic range compression to boost the quiet speech and attenuate the louder speech. Dynamic range compression could fix this completely.

If the listener has any hearing loss, the book's performance is impossible to understand. I hear ok, but the only way I can listen to it is with good headphones. Impossible listening on room speakers of any kind.

Come back John Lee, wherever you are!

I don't normally put sci-fi on my list but I found this intriguing and I have enjoyed listening to John Lee read other audio books. This seems to be another John Lee sounding totally bored with what he is reading and the monotonous timbre of his voice is driving me nuts. Also, as others have mentioned, the sound volume seems to be up and down and up and down and up and down. I can see how the story could be a fascinating read but listening to it is kind of like water torture. Sorry Mr. Lee but it's a no go for me. I could easily see picking up a copy of the book and reading it. In fact I probably will. I'm finding this was a waste of a credit. I wish Audible would have am exchange program so I could trade it in for something else.