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)

many plot lines at the same time to follow

In general I liked the book although the different plot lines were difficult to follow. I felt like I should be taking notes as I listened. The last third of the story the pieces do come together.

Slow start

If you have not read Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained, you will be lost in this universe. Even after reading them, technology and the socio political structure of the commonwealth has changed so much that it can still be confusing. The transition to the dreams is somewhat jarring almost like a separate book, but I found myself more interested in the dreams than the 'real world.'

This book sets the scene for the Void books, so (understandably I suppose) it was really slow. I remember thinking the same thing about Pandora's Star. So if you liked it, this one will probably not bore you too much. The second book makes this one worth the read.

Typical Hamilton - a semi-hard sci-fi space opera.

This is a strong sci-fi/alternative future/fantasy novel. If you have read any of Hamilton's works before, you will find this one has exactly the same style, tone and pacing as his other works... if you didn't like his style, tone or pacing in other books he has written, you won't like this one either.

For those of you who haven't read Hamilton before - his books are THICK. The science is relatively detailed (but not hard-core), the plot is divided into 'threads' that start off completely unconnected but tie together at the end, and there are a LOT of characters to keep track of. Sometimes this disconnected thread approach might cause you to get lost... and sometimes there is just a bit too much time spent on side-stories (in this case: the alternative sexual/relationship possibilities of the future). But these side stories do fill out the space-opera requirements, and give the reader a fuller sense of the world/reality being built.

I actually quite liked the 'fantasy' component of the novel. I thought it was, in many ways, more interesting than the 'sci-fi' part since it was a single storyline, not the multi thread line of the 'real' world story. Again, though, all these threads do come together in the end, but you have to get through probably more than half of the book before you can see the potential connections. There is just a smidge of moralizing but it is short and dispersed throughout the story so it doesn't become too annoying.

I will read the rest of the series, and probably any other books Hamilton comes out with as well. His stories are strong, his characters distinct, and the science/potential is very believable. The only thing that would make his books a bit more enjoyable would be the cutting back of about 100 pages of side-story filler - this would increase the pacing a bit, and I don't think we would miss out on much if we didn't get to hear about what people wear in Hamilton's worlds.

The narration is very good. There is occasional swearing, but there is no gore or graphic sex (though there is an exploration of mature alternative sexual activities). Oh, and keep in mind it is a trilogy so the story isn't wrapped up here; the cliffhanger is somewhat mild, but you will probably have to get the next book in the series if you like full resolutions.

Narration is unlistenable

If you could sum up The Dreaming Void in three words, what would they be?

Hard to follow but interesting. Narration is over pronounced and the accent prevented the narrator from properly pronouncing or even making clear certain words. there were several instances where he struggled with the juxtaposition of syllables.

Any additional comments?

I wanted to return the book but I was unable to.

great

excellent continuation after Judas unchained. the tie ins were so nice to revisit all the old friends.

Great story hard to follow

The reader does not pause between subjects or is the chapters like a traditional audio book so it just made it hard to follow. But very interesting

Read the Other books first

Any additional comments?

There are 5 books. Read them in this order:
1. Pandora's Star
2. Judas Unchained
3. The Dreaming Void
4. The Temporal Void
5. The Evolutionary Void.

There is too much context that is lost if one starts with the Dreaming Void first.

Amazing

One of those books that after "listening" to it, you have to buy the hard cover to proudly display it in your library! I'm actually having dreams myself about the VOID. Just downloaded book 2 and just learned it might be another year for book 3. So I will slowly digest this book to make it last as long as possible.

A little hard to follow at first but worth it.

A little hard to follow at first but worth it. Developed nicely and finished well. Definitely starting the next book in the series soon.

awesome space opera

PFH is the man. Consistent good space opera. Good characters. Interesting technology. Highly recommended. I need six more words to submit this.