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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Fascinating
This was an enjoyable and fascinating start to this series. Looking forw3to the next book. My hope is that it is an improvement upon the sequel from his first series.
This was an enjoyable and fascinating start to this series. Looking forw3to the next book. My hope is that it is an improvement upon the sequel from his first series.
There are some good ideas here, but about 500 words too many. It’s a shame a single plot thread wasn’t tied up before the cliffhanger ending.
Sorry, I just can't do it. I felt like I should read something by Hamilton, but after 500 pages and then finding out that nothing gets resolved by the end of book one, so it's effectively a 2-part 2000 page novel... I'm done. I'm sure the sci-fi ideas are great, and I want to find out what's in Pandora's star, but I really have never read a book that needs a good edit like this one. I really don't mind long old books that ramble, if the prose quality or characterisation is interesting in itself -- I'm also reading Lonesome Dove right now, and loving it -- but everything here is just so workmanlike, and ponderous, so I resent the diversions. And every time the novel turns to sex or the suggestion of sex, it gets pretty cringeworthy.
Is anyone else rooting for the aliens? #thesepeoplesuck
3.5/5 stars
This book was frustrating.
200/1100 pages in, I thought this could turn out to be one of my favourite books ever. The detail in fleshing out absolutely everything was astounding. Each planet had a distinct feel, with realistic history, economy and architecture all implemented to give an extremely detailed and realistic feel to each location. The amount of action in the first 20% was great.
The use of wormholes instead of faster than light travel was definitely interesting and a bit different than the usual.
However, I quickly found that the characters lacked depth due to an almost non-existant development. Ozzie's storyline is very dull, and there is a good 250-300 pages devoted to describing him walking through various environments.
700/1100 pages in and I was getting frustrated by the slow pacing and repetition. Detailed environments and incredible attention to detail start becoming horribly boring when you're aching for the next story development that never seems to appear.
The last 200 pages picked up considerably, and the ending was actually fantastic. I am still strongly considering reading the second part, which is another 1200 pages, even after the frustration this book put me through.
Usually, in sci-fi I don't have a problem with simple, rather stereotypical characters. But, when there are long periods of little action with very little character development, all those chapters serve almost no point.
I think this book would have really found benefit from removing 20%+
This book was frustrating.
200/1100 pages in, I thought this could turn out to be one of my favourite books ever. The detail in fleshing out absolutely everything was astounding. Each planet had a distinct feel, with realistic history, economy and architecture all implemented to give an extremely detailed and realistic feel to each location. The amount of action in the first 20% was great.
The use of wormholes instead of faster than light travel was definitely interesting and a bit different than the usual.
However, I quickly found that the characters lacked depth due to an almost non-existant development. Ozzie's storyline is very dull, and there is a good 250-300 pages devoted to describing him walking through various environments.
700/1100 pages in and I was getting frustrated by the slow pacing and repetition. Detailed environments and incredible attention to detail start becoming horribly boring when you're aching for the next story development that never seems to appear.
The last 200 pages picked up considerably, and the ending was actually fantastic. I am still strongly considering reading the second part, which is another 1200 pages, even after the frustration this book put me through.
Usually, in sci-fi I don't have a problem with simple, rather stereotypical characters. But, when there are long periods of little action with very little character development, all those chapters serve almost no point.
I think this book would have really found benefit from removing 20%+
The story itself is a bit meandering, creating mystery purely through the abundance of side plots, but the aliens are truly alien and that goes a long way. The most intriguing side plot is just left disconnected. I would read a series dedicated to that storyline. I am on board for the next tome in large part because I would like to keep exploring new worlds and unraveling the oddities of Commonwealth Saga's most ephemeral race. This review sounds like a three star, but when it shines it shines. Four stars.
Cool world building, a compelling mystery, and thoughtful ruminations on the shape and relationships in this society. It occasionally gets bogged down by mundane minutiae. And then, of course, the last 50 pages or so are riveting, forcing my to read the next book. Well played, Mr. Hamilton.