The Evolutionary Void

Void Trilogy, Book 3

By: Peter F. Hamilton

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 24 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

An innovator praised as one of the inventors of "the new space opera", Peter F. Hamilton has also been hailed as the heir of such golden-age giants as Heinlein and Asimov. His star-spanning sagas are distinguished by deft plotting, engaging characters, provocative explorations of science and society, and soaring imaginative reach. Now, in one of the most eagerly anticipated offerings of the year, Hamilton brings his acclaimed Void trilogy to a stunning close.

Exposed as the Second Dreamer, Araminta has become the target of a galaxywide search by government agent Paula Myo and the psychopath known as the Cat, along with others equally determined to prevent - or facilitate - the pilgrimage of the Living Dream cult into the heart of the Void. An indestructible microuniverse, the Void may contain paradise, as the cultists believe, but it is also a deadly threat. For the miraculous reality that exists inside its boundaries demands energy - energy drawn from everything outside those boundaries: from planets, stars, galaxies...from everything that lives.

Meanwhile, the parallel story of Edeard, the Waterwalker, as told through a series of addictive dreams communicated to the gaiasphere via Inigo, the First Dreamer, continues to unfold. But now the inspirational tale of this idealistic young man takes a darker and more troubling turn as he finds himself faced with powerful new enemies - and temptations more powerful still.

With time running out, a repentant Inigo must decide whether to release Edeard's final dream: a dream whose message is scarcely less dangerous than the pilgrimage promises to be. And Araminta must choose whether to run from her unwanted responsibilities or face them down, with no guarantee of success or survival. But all these choices may be for naught if the monomaniacal Ilanthe, leader of the breakaway Accelerator Faction, is able to enter the Void. For it is not paradise she seeks there, but dominion.

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

©2010 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Epic, multi-stranded, full of wonders." (SFX)

It's the Journey - not the destination

What a wonderful trip this was. It just kept getting better. Bravo Mr. Hamilton. Your work covers all the bases and illuminates the situations from such diverse points of view. The dangerous dogma of the Dreamers is such an appropriate metaphor for a contemporary equivalent.

Very imaginative with great detail.

I think the narration was excellent, the story is complex and rich. I will enjoy listening to this entire series again.

A fitting conclusion to an excellent saga

It takes a lot of hours of listening to get to this concluding volume of Hamilton's epic, multi-threaded tale (a rare reason to be thankful for a half-hour commute and otherwise boring yard work to do every week), but I was actually sorry to come to the end. The complexity and scope of this story is vast beyond describing (just about every contemporary SF trope is here in some clever form or other). You will just have to listen to it (or read it) yourself. Contrary to some other reviewers, I thought Hamilton did an excellent job of bringing all of the complexity to a satisfying conclusion even while making it clear that the universe will go on being complicated and mysterious, just like life itself. In that sense, no good story ever has a hard-stop ending. One story arc reaches its end, but others go on as long as life, in whatever form, remains. I've commented on various aspects of this series in reviews of the previous volumes, but let me add here that Hamilton is not just writing a story of "things that happen" in his imaginary universe. He is making very abstract, high-level comments on the nature of humanity, of morality, of the universe itself across the whole series. He is never obvious or in your face about this; these deeper questions are embedded in the story itself, and if you take the time there is a lot to ponder. You may not like this series if you aren't prepared to really commit your thought and attention to it (this is not for casual listening), but if you invest the effort you will be well rewarded.

Amazing World-Building

A fantastic wrap to this slice of the "Commonwealth" universe. Keep them coming!!! There are never-ending servings that should be had from this extraordinary world-building saga. Thanks!!!

Love the Narrator!

Excellent book, great story. couldn't stop listening to it, it went so fast. great great.

Wonderful Ending to a Brilliant Story

I truely enjoyed this trillogy. The characters were engaging and the story detailed and interesting. This was a great conclusion with lots of excitement and twists. Well worth the hours put into listening.

perfect

A wonderful blend of old and new a story that could support it's own but is a wonderful connection to his previous work.

Great ending to a fantastic series

You probably do not need this review if you have listened the rest of the series until now. If you have *read* the series and not listened to it, then I can say that there is no better Narrator than John Lee so you are in good hands to listen to the last part.

If you have never read this series, the entire series is on Audible. Start with Pandora's Star. Check out Peter's website for the entire bibliography of the Commonwealth Series. It is outstanding and certainly my favorite "epic" modern sci-fi series.

Best epic sci-fi available

Hamilton succeeds at writing a worthy finish to his epic sci-fi Commonwealth series. Lesser sci-fi authors get caught up in a clever premise and punt at the ending, but Hamilton shows his epic was well planned.

The Void trilogy is a continuation of Hamilton's Commonwealth series, so best to get Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained prior to the Void books.

Audible: While Hamilton works on his next series, please add some of his other books.

Not gonna start any new series for a while...

What a roller coaster ride this series has been! I've decided not to start any new books for a little while because I just wouldn't be able to give them a fair shot after getting so caught up in this saga, for such a long time... it was actually that good.

...and here's what kinda worries me, as always; Once in a while an author has a series or two (or three) that gets people caught up in them, and wanting a lot more... yet for some reason the author suddenly decides that they're tired of writing the type of books that really made them stand out WAY above other authors. They veer off into another genre, or style, that just isn't "them", that just doesn't attract the same following, and just doesn't allow them to use the Gift they have for writing to the best advantage.

I've seen some fantastic authors pronounce that they wouldn't be writing any more books of the style (or containing characters) that got their name to be so well known to begin with, and then they start putting out books that I just can't get into, and certainly can't spend money on. I often listen to people talk about some of these authors in the past tense even... that is an absolute shame every time see it.

I hope nothing like that happens with this series of books, or with this style of writing! When you've got a winning combination of personalities that you've developed, along with a unique style that can be recognized even without a "By-Line", It may be time to stick with it for a while...

...especially when you've been given a Gift that allows you to take the ragged edge of the newest scientific theories and discoveries, and extend the possibilities of those discoveries far into an imagined future where they've found a daily "practical use" that no one else would have ever thought of! Anyone can imagine what "computers" will be like a few hundred years into the future, it's been done to death, but to take some obscure bits of Quantum Physics and show them being used as a Social Networking Tool in the future (and do it as a mere afterthought, no less!) is the kind of genius that gets Planets, Space Ports, etc, named after an author! As an engineer I can say that it's rare to see someone instinctively understand a complicated science to the point where their mind just naturally comes up with a plethora of "everyday mundane far-future uses" that have nothing to do with High-Tech Devastating Bombs or Planet-Splitting Devices... while using other bits of the same science to imagine (and describe) "devastating bombs and planet-splitting devices" (and to write them into fiction in such a way that they don't just seem gratuitous)

I'm highly impressed by this series, and by this style of writing, and I hope both will continue on in some form! It'll have me waiting to click "Add To Cart" the day they become available!

Mr. Hamilton, I am a Fan!