The Reality Dysfunction

Night's Dawn, Book 1

By: Peter F. Hamilton

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 41 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The first in the Night's Dawn trilogy, The Reality Dysfunction is a sweeping, intergalactic adventure from the master of space opera, Peter F. Hamilton. For fans of Iain M. Banks and Alastair Reynolds.

An extinct race named this phenomenon 'the Reality Dysfunction'. It is a nightmare that has haunted us since the dawn of time . . .

In AD 2600, the human race is finally realizing its potential. The galaxy’s colonized planets host a multitude of diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has defeated disease and produced extraordinary space-born creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive, living on the wealth created by industrializing entire star systems. And throughout inhabited space, the Confederation Navy keeps the peace.

Then something goes catastrophically wrong. On a primitive colony planet, a renegade criminal encounters an utterly alien entity. And this unintended meeting triggers the release of those that should never see the light – threatening everything we’ve become . . .

The Reality Dysfunction is followed by The Neutronium Alchemist and The Naked God.

©2016 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2016 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Critic reviews

'Hamilton puts British sci-fi back into interstellar overdrive' – The Times

Great story, well made and satisfying finale

Overall great begining of the series. The narrator was great, my only issue is not long enough pauses between chapters. The story starts bit slow, but it gets good after a while.

best sci-fi books ever

There are no better sci-fi books out there. I have all the hard copies, the audio books are brilliant for driving to work.

Worth every bit

I've read the book before and listening to it again was wonderful. While the narrator tends to give every character a slightly snobbish tone, and it takes some getting used to, he does a very good job with accents and emotion. Very well done now on to the next book!

Great story/Cringy performance

I like his voice when he speaks naturally. But when he tries to make a feminine voice it becomes so cringe and sounds so ugly. The rest of his attempts at changing his performance is just plainly annoying. I absolutely hate his performance, which have taken so much from this great story, I actually bought these books many years ago but only recently have I been able to listen to it. Who ever chose this terrible voice artist probably cost a lot people enjoyment.

Interesting but jumpy storyline

Read it on paper first liked a lot. Hearing was not so good. Too much jumping between different storylines without clear reference.
Story was very interesting but too much sex, I think there was no chapter without it.

The best book that I have listened to.

John Lee is an amazing narrator and Peter wrote a book that keeps to interested though out.

The narrator was really good, but

the edditing had let no space between scene shifts. This results in some confusion...

Not the best editing.

Missing pauses between sections of the story, you have to pay really good attention to follow.

Great but complex plot

liked the story, but production left the narrator John Lee in a bad light.
In other productions John Lee is one of the Best.
It is very hard to follow the story because it is complex and because production left No time for pauses to switch between sub stories and scenes

Mind-boggling Universe

The book is truly epic in every sense. One of the best true sifi works available. Everything from characters, ideas, plot and underlying science is well written and thought of.

There is one issue, especially for non native speakers. The book is extremely complex and in Audible format virtually impossible to fully grasp without some research material on hand. To be honest I would be amazed if anyone can fully comprehend all details on a first listen.