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)

needs chatter transitions

initially, difficult to follow storylines without apparent transitions from one set of characters to another would have been much better if chatter changed were included.

Great Sci-fi writing

Any additional comments?

Three stars actually feels a bit harsh considering how vast and imaginative this book is, but seeing as half of it is just descriptions instead of actual plot, I can't really give it any more. I'm actually still a bit blown away how good the sci-fi elements are since it's set in the 36th century and everything feels plausible for that kind of future. Quite a few of the elements are obviously borrowed from other sci-fi works, but considering how much there is and how well it fits into the world that's built up, I can't help but be impressed.

On the topic of the world building, that's what a large portion of the book is dedicated to. I'm sure some people love that kind writing, but I honestly struggled to not only keep all that info in my head but also to keep engaged when an hour long passage essentially has five minutes worth of plot. The dream sequences were the exception in that aspect since we actually get a pretty entertaining mini-story that's not ridiculously bogged down with fine detail. The book is basically multiple sub-plots that combine into a story, with none really being a strong backbone to tie back to. It both works in some aspects and really fails in others, though. The biggest drawback of that approach is that you never really connect with any of the numerous characters, which there are plenty of. It does work in that you get a decent picture of the events unfolding from multiple, varied perspectives.

I realised about halfway through that there's a lot of references to previous events that happened in previous books which I didn't know about since I thought this was the start of a new series. I suspect people who read those previous books will catch on faster to a lot of the technology and have a better picture of how the world is structured. As for someone like me who didn't read those previous books, I did find it a bit daunting to keep up with all the characters, subplots, factions and technologies. I think I was also left a bit disappointed with the main plot line considering how good that dream subplot was.

It's quite a long book, so I'd definitely only recommend it to hardcore sci-fi fans. On top of that, I'd also recommend one read the previous books set in the universe before picking up this series. I wouldn't say it's essential, but I'm sure it will help a lot in the enjoyment aspect. I do somehow feel invested in the world now to carry on the series to its conclusion, although I'll definitely need a break before diving into it again.

Excellent book, excellent narration.

I'm pretty new to audible, this is my 6th so far. I have read Peter Hammilton complete Commonwealth series in in book form, and had saved the books with plans for a re-read in the future. I enjoy his Commonwealth universe, the depth and breadth of his imagined technology complete with enough plausable science to prevent outright dismissal.
I'm not a big fan of the whole waterwalker storyline though, and during my initial read I found myself practically speed reading in order to get back to the commonwealth storylines. In audible, the dreams were made bearable by sheer skill of the narrator keeping me interested.

The narrator John Lee blew my mind, taking on a unique tone, drawl, accent, staccato and pronounciation for every character. The book literally came alive for me as Lee introduced alternate depth & meanings with his intuitive pauses and annunciation. I am just now realizing I need to start paying attention to narrators every bit as much as author.

Overwhelming!

Would you listen to The Dreaming Void again? Why?

Dang. He doesn't just focus on one technology. This is a rich imagining of all the evolutionary advances I pray humanity makes. This universe contains a complete spectrum of technologies, histories, xenobiologies, and societies. A visionary painting of our future.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

John Lee's versatile voicing pulled me in and made it easy to follow each character in the rich tapestry.

An excellent extension of humanity

In an almost Dr. Who style, Hamilton extends the evolution of human kind to the point where they are no longer human. The book is excellent in its imagination, scope and technological expanse. In his style he develops in several plot lines and brings them together in a beautifully knotted world. His eventual references to the Common Wealth series is tasteful, and is a well done way to show the change in scope of the two series. The narrator is a pleasant voice and does an excellent job of conveying the story. The abrupt ending of the book, as well, smacks of a Dr. Who plot line, leaving the reader/listener with mental blue-balls.. but that is just a testament to how enticing the story is!

You always get your money's Worth!

I first thought that Peter Hamilton built vast, complicated, and incredibly detailed, universes for his stories, and then introduced you to multiple main characters in those universes... But I have come to realize that's not exactly accurate. Peter Hamilton's style, and "Gift", is introducing you to several complex and disparate personalities at the start of a new series, in such a way that you grow to feel you "know" them. As you follow the character's lives, you come to know about each one's small part of the universe through them. As the story progresses, the small parts of the universe begin to merge as the characters lives begin to intersect, and you steadily build up a larger, and more detailed, image of the universe as a whole.

The Universe Hamilton builds feels as if it has real depth because you've seen all of the wildly different aspects of it through the characters... from slums, to backward worlds, to the mansions and "Toys" and Hobbies of the Mega-Rich, to alien cultures that in no way think as humans do, to downloaded personalities that live even more extravagant lives in the machine world (shaping the lives of others in the new universe they've created there) even while shaping events in the physical world... and on and on and on...

The old saw about an author "weaving a story" is so overused that it's often nothing more than a cliche... But Hamilton really does "weave his stories". You can't help seeing the entire story being built up this way as each individual thread crosses another.

I've seen it said that Hamilton's books "start off a little slow" (inevitably followed by, "but the action begins to build and then doesn't slack off!") , but when you already expect to learn about several new characters at the start of each series, it no longer seems "Slow to start". You realize that the action builds because you learn more about the lives of each character, become interested in those lives, and begin to care what happens to each one (You'll always have a favorite you like to follow more than others, as well as one you don't like following). Can action be "intense" if you don't care about those being affected by it?

The technology you see being used is described to the point where you easily see it in your mind's eye, but not so descriptive as to be tedious. The wildly impossible seems possible, or even common-place. Clothing laced with an energy field that seems to leave wisps of energy curling behind, like wisps of smoke, as a character walks... You can SEE that type of thing in your mind. The universe is so detailed that you even realize you know the current clothing style being worn in parts of it (I don't even know the current styles most of the time in real life ;)

...I have come to just assume that each of Hamilton's books that I buy will suck me in and lead me through his latest universe, constantly causing my imagination to work overtime, and often doing so for well over 20 hours per book! That's what I call "always getting my money's worth"!

Good book and performance

I enjoyed this book. The sporadic story line was slightly discombobulating. Although, I really liked the dream sequences. The narrator wasn't overly compelling, but he did a decent job.

ear candy

fun story about over coming odds and populous belief. very enjoyable. great narrator

Erect Your Thoughts in the Void

Just finished the first book in the Void series by Peter F. Hamilton and I couldn't get enough of "The Dreaming Void." I've read the Commonwealth a few years back and I absolutely loved it. The Void takes place about a thousand years after the Commonwealth saga and its just as good.

Wishing that I had more Audible credits to read the next book in the trilogy, but I have to admit that Hamilton is an outstanding writer when it comes to science fiction and space opera.

There is something about his style of writing that makes you get lost in the vast universe and makes your thoughts erect up to the point at climaxing. Toward the end of the book, you are begging to go again because his combination of the two genres interacts together with the complex storytelling and interesting characters.

Some of the main characters are back from Commonwealth. At the end of "The Dreaming Void", you are left with an uncertainly on what is going to happen next, but that is the reason of a trilogy. It's not necessary to read Pandora's Star or Judas Unchained, but those two books are almost like to prequel to the Void.

A snowball of Entertainment

I started listening to this book just to get out of my normal rut of old school fantasy novels. Sci-Fi usually is never my thing. The book started a bit slow for my taste though the character description and development were good. The book started to move in it's events in a snowball effect, each event having a greater impact than the last. They also started becoming more frequent. Before I new it, I was engrossed into the book, almost unable to turn it off.

The way John Lee narrates this enticing book adds great effects to the compelling nature of the book. I will most definitely be purchasing the second book of the series and I applaud the job John Lee did to bring this book to life.