The Dreaming Void

Void Trilogy, Book 1

By: Peter F. Hamilton

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 22 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

AD 3580. The Intersolar Commonwealth has spread through the galaxy to over a thousand star systems. It is a culture of rich diversity with a place for everyone. A powerful navy protects it from any hostile species that may lurk among the stars. For Commonwealth citizens, even death has been overcome.

At the center of the galaxy is the Void, a strange, artificial universe created by aliens billions of years ago, shrouded by an event horizon more deadly than any natural black hole. In order to function, it is gradually consuming the mass of the galaxy. Watched over by its ancient enemies, the Raiel, the Void's expansion is barely contained.

Inigo dreams of the sweet life within the Void and shares his visions with billions of avid believers. When he mysteriously disappears, Inigo's followers decide to embark on a pilgrimage into the Void to live the life of their messiah's dreams - a pilgrimage that the Raiel claim will trigger a catastrophic expansion of the Void.

Aaron is a man whose only memory is his own name. He doesn't know who he used to be or what he is. All he does know is that his job is to find the missing messiah and stop the pilgrimage. He's not sure how to do that, but whoever he works for has provided some pretty formidable weaponry that ought to help.

Meanwhile, inside the Void, a youth called Edeard is coming to terms with his unusually strong telepathic powers. A junior constable in Makkathran, he starts to challenge the corruption and decay that have poisoned the city. He is determined that his fellow citizens should know hope again. What Edeard doesn't realize is just how far his message of hope is reaching.

Into the Void? Listen to more in the Void Trilogy.

©2007 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Broad in scope and panoramic in detail." ( Library Journal)
"A real spellbinder from a master storyteller." ( Kirkus)

must read book 1 first and then 3 after this one

you have to read the first book for this to make any sense at all, there is no point to make a detailed review because if you read book 1 you know what you are getting into - think about this as if its a book that was split into 3 parts and sold separately, you have to get all 3 for it to be complete so go do that and be happy

Water Walker!

great story and great continuation from the previous books. I love being surprised every time a previous book character was reintroduced. Can't wait to listen to. book 2!

Amazing

If you're a fan of space opera you have to have this in your collection.

The start of Hamilton's best series

I simply love this whole series, this is my fourth time going through it, an all time record for me.

A great start to a new series

I haven't read any books by this author since the Commonwealth saga. It was great to pick up this book and find all of the characters are still available though not all are in the story.

The author starts out the series very well with multiple storylines. each one of the storylines eventually does intertwine with the other storylines. It also calls back to the Commonwealth saga or series which is great for those of us who read it. with all the intervening books since that book the author has written I haven't missed anything. In other words I read the Commonwealth saga and now I'm reading the dreaming void. I don't have to read every single book in between to know what's going on. The author does an excellent job keeping the continuity flowing! It's great that an author can do this without issue. Though they may say they have plenty of editors helping them!

In the book we follow multiple storylines and each one could be in and of itself its own story. In other words none of the storylines are fluff! All of the storylines tie into one another if not in this book, but in the next book they will. Honestly, I'll let you know when I read the next book!

Great story, finally believable futuristic sci fi

Unlike many sci fi authors, Hamilton successfully keeps the story in the time period. Many authors have a difficult time coming up with new technologies to fit the time period, or confidently introducing time-line appropriate pop culture references. They lean on what is familiar, such as making all the characters conveniently nostalgic for the same era the author grew up in, or they just show insufficient appreciation of scale by using updated versions of current technology that is already being replaced or advanced beyond the author's expectation by the time the series is completed.

Hamilton solves this dual problem first by causally introducing artists and pop culture references that aren't familiar to the reader, but in a context that makes it obvious what he's talking about. It shows that he's confident enough in the intelligence of his readers that we won't need an explanation for every unfamiliar pop culture reference.

The technology problem is solved by his completely abandoning current technology and putting obvious effort into researching the scale required, as well as the potential shortcomings, and then explaining it in a way that is believable.

Jumps all over & hard to keep track.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Tomany characters & it jumps between to many short stories. I'ts hard to rember all the names, who did what & all the plots.

Would you recommend The Dreaming Void to your friends? Why or why not?

Perhaps

Which character – as performed by John Lee – was your favorite?

no

Was The Dreaming Void worth the listening time?

Not shure

Any additional comments?

no

Hard to keep up with characters

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

No. I think there are too many characters to keep up with.

What three words best describe John Lee’s performance?

I admire anyone who can switch voices back and forth. Good job John!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Certainly

Any additional comments?

This experience for me proves that sci-fi is better watched on tv or movie format, not written. I don't think I will finish.

Not Pandora's Star

I really enjoyed the Pandora's Star trilogy. Sadly, The Dreaming Void reads like fan fiction. The characters refer reverentially to characters and events from the Pandora's Star trilogy. This is nauseating and lazy. I found the new advanced culture and the characters that inhabit it difficult to relate with. What does it mean that you give up your body and get uploaded into a computer? Why do people who live for centuries act every bit as petty as people today? Do they not have any personal growth, or anything that looks like wisdom (or even maturity)? The gratuitous sex also is sillier and more distracting than in the first trilogy.

Horrible Editing

You'll be right with a characters storyline then in the next sentence you're literally on another planet with someone new or another character. PFH is awesome! Lee is astounding! Whoever edited this did a horrible job.