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)

Fascinating, complex story made incomprehensible

This recording completely disregards the meaning of "chapters" and segments the story into 1 hour blocks. there are meaningful shifts in perspective in the take that deserve to be noted as chapters in the recording. As it is, there are often no apparent divisions or pauses between scene changes, and the chapters listed have absolutely nothing to do with the story structure. This left me deeply confused for the first third of the book, which I listened to several times, attempting to figure out what the heck was going on.

Once I figured out a bit about the universe (in part by reading Wikipedia) and that the chapters were a mess, I was able to compensate to a degree.

Excellent

favorite book series of all time. How can it get any better than crazy futuristic Sci-Fi and fantasy magic stories at the same time? Character development is phenomenal and the story is captivating. Thank you Peter!

Listen to Pandora's Star & Judas Unchained 1st

If you listen to Pandora's Star & Judas Unchained 1st this will male a lot more sense and you'll enjoy the references. This trilogy has a mix of everything, fantasy and sci fi. its wonderful. The narration is great, each character is given their own personality.

Finally Got Going.

The Story Set Up Went On For Awhile. Characters Were Nicely Assemble In To A Well Built Roll. I Look Forward To The Next One.

Great Book

Great storylines and I will keep listening to the books in the series. Hard to follow listening.

Hamilton does it for me

Can't say I am surprised this book was good. Hamilton weaves a tale that thrills and grasps your heart fully. Sure all his book require a little dedication, it is always worth it.

Starts of really slow but gets much better

Any additional comments?

This one did not start as one that I even remotely liked. Initially, I wanted to return this for anything else. Fortunately, that didn't work so I slogged through the first hour or so. There are several stories that move the plot along and the movement between them seems to come without warning. Once you learn the characters and start to figure out what is really going things get interesting. By the end I was actually looking forward to listening to the second book in the series. Just take my word that no matter what, this is not a book or a series that can be picked up in the middle you have to start at the beginning and work your way through our it's like watching Lost starting at season 3.

liked it, but didn't love it

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This is a book that builds up in pleasureable listening. In the past it was worth it to me to listen to the next two books. This time...I am not sure I will get the next two books.

Would you recommend The Dreaming Void to your friends? Why or why not?

No...it is not a stand alone book.

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

I like John Lee a good deal. This rates right up there.

Did The Dreaming Void inspire you to do anything?

Not a thing...did make me want to find more scifi though

Good Story, Sometimes Hard to Follow

As others have said, the lack of audible pauses at textual breaks where the scene shifts requires an alert reader and some repeat listening. I restarted after 5 chapters when I felt I knew the various characters and was better prepared to recognize these shifts.

We Nee Better Story Lines

I enjoyed the Dreaming Void especially the performance by the narrator, Peter Hamilton, he handles the characters well. Overall the Dreaming Void Trilogy series is good reading for the ears it hold ones attention as the story progresses. That said the story is the same old theme and the same old lines, earthling’s tired interpretation of the future with a smattering of singularity (the long lived human machine) to give us enough time to repeat the same stupidity of the human race. I wish someone would write a truly original story of the future without the following: Earthling domination of space and other sentient beings; give us you planet’s resources or else and our all-time favorite, resist us and we will enslave you or wipe you out. Remember we only have one functioning planet in this star system and we have yet to change for the better. Would we be surprised if we came in contact with sentient beings in the multiverses that live multiple thousands of years, genetically heal their entire body; have acute five senses; they are living weapons with access to the whole multiverses and act as one. What will we do then? Please authors come up with better storylines.