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)

The best Science Fiction Work I've Read

Any additional comments?

This is my introduction to Mr. Hamilton, and I couldn't be happier with the book and his writing. He accomplishes a fine balance between exposition and pace, exposing the information needed to understand the world of the story but not getting lost in endless detail. You won't understand everything within the world the first time it is discussed, but don't worry, your understanding will build each time it is discussed. Just let yourself become part of the story, and you'll understand everything in time.

The narrator has an excellent voice and does accents very well, but doesn't have a broad range of voices to differentiate characters. Since Mr. Hamilton doesn't waste time with "he said," "she said," after every comment, many times I found myself unsure who was speaking. A wider range of voices would have helped.

I highly recommend The Dreaming Void, and I am now downloading book 2.

Tale of the Waterwalker

Would you listen to The Dreaming Void again? Why?

I may at some point but I am more interested in finishing the entire Void Trilogy. It is absolutely addictive. This book sets up the tale of the Waterwalker for the rest of the series, mostly background information that sets up the chess pieces for the inevitable resolution and additional world building.

What did you like best about this story?

These are long books, with a lot of detail and numerous characters. Yet they do not feel like they contain extraneous information and move forward very quickly. I just finished the Commonwealth Series and these books are an extension of that universe. It may be hard for many readers to understand what is going on without the Commonwealth background, but it is possible. My advice, and what I think makes these series great, is to start at Pandora's Star and immerse yourself in this universe. It is what makes these books and the stories so great.

What about John Lee’s performance did you like?

One word. Fantastic. Different voices, dramatic delivery, just terrific. One negative comment about the production however. The chapters and sub chapters are not given a short pause between beginning and end. It is annoying and I frankly don't understand how this could be viewed as acceptable. It is as if not pausing between songs on a CD. But overall it does not change the fact that John Lee is great and these stories are interpreted in a professional and dramatic fashion.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not sure. I am not a movie guy and if you thought Lord of the Rings was too long these books would amount to about 50 movies.

Any additional comments?

I rate these, with the production flaws among the best of Audible. right up there with the Foundation Series, The Hyperion Cantos and Dune in terms of sweeping, epic story telling. So glad I found them....

No Voids in this Dream

Peter Hamilton has become a new favorite author with this Void Trilogy. The series is devoid of flaws. Edeard is a wonderful hero and I found myself waiting for the story to shift back to Makkathran inside the Void even while enjoying the story of the universe outside and the machinations of the characters bent on stopping the Void from absorbing their worlds. Edeard's power to reset the clock and relive his life until he got it right was compelling. Even after enjoying a half dozen Audible books following this series I can still recall most of the 91 hours of vivid listening pleasure. Highly recommended for those who have the time to get lost in this incredible adventure.

Hamilton is a great writer

Finished today. Downloading book 2. Excitement. Variety. Suspense. I would highly recommend to any Sci-Fi buff.

Long, but I wish it was longer!

Hamilton weaves multiple storylines together in a way that makes it hard to guess how they are related. That's a good thing - the overall arc of the story is continued throughout, supported by all the storylines, keeping your interest up as you move through them.

Great start to a series, but you have to pay attn

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, you have to pay attention to what's going on or you will get lost. Luckily the story is so good that it's easy to pay attention.

Any additional comments?

I like the characters, world and stories. It is easy to get hooked by multiple stories and I can wait to get into the next book to see how it goes.

Peter Hamilton Never Disappoints

The Commonwealth continues, Peter Hamilton never disappoints, excellent plotting and the storiea carry you away...

Back to the commonwealth

Can’t speak highly enough about Mr Hamilton. I am listening to the audible version so many years after reading the books. Enjoying it more in audio. I do like the narrator but a story of this complexity could use a whole cast of narrators to help distinguish them. The dreamer sequences are especially brilliant in imagining what a colonized version of British aristocracy would evolve on a planet even this far in future. People don’t change.

Ambling story with no direction

What was most disappointing about Peter F. Hamilton’s story?

The story pops around several different points of view. By the end of this book, you have a sense of who the POVs are, and how they're related, but it takes forever to get there. It's really unclear who the antagonist and protagonist are... and that's never resolved. In fact, the main "character," the Void itself, remains an enigma. Mostly, it's a series of descriptions of radically advanced technology, peppered with political angst about an event that may or may not happen.

What three words best describe John Lee’s voice?

Scottish guy, what? --- I've listened to a couple of books written by John Lee, and whenever he needs another voice, he defaults to "deep voiced Scottish guy," which often doesn't make sense in context to the rest of the characters. He's not bad to listen to... but I kinda wish he didn't do so many "voices."

Do you think The Dreaming Void needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Dreaming Void is NOT a standalone book. It's a part of a trilogy... so if you like the premise, it might be worth investing in the whole trilogy. This first book was not satisfying as a single book, and really went no where. It would probably make more sense in context with the rest of its series.

Another stunning achievement

Amazing book, (can't wait to get part 2), love that their is so much continuity with his previous work's; but in new ways that leaves the story fresh and exciting.

I can understand a "little bit" of the other reviewers frustration, Hamilton's stories can be complex and are not always obviously cohesive. (This isn't the kind of book you can partially listen to while grading papers or something)But these are also the qualities that keep you riveted and intrigued and impatient for more! One needs to do a bit of critical thinking on their own to put things together, but the brilliance of this is that the immersion into the story is intense. The reader isn't constantly jolted out of the story by some monotonous explanation. It has some of the qualities that make up a really good mystery or thriller. That the readers conclusions and interpretations, right or wrong, are part of the experience. Plus the connections and overall continuity in the end are always surprising and satisfying!

I highly recommend any of his books and look forward to the continuation of this story...