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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Saved by an exciting ending, this book meanders an insane amount (probably like 600 pages) and never lives up to the promises on the back cover blurb. In fact that blurb doesn't remotely accurately sum up the plot. Also there's a weird disconnect between the technology and the stakes of the novel, an example is the author continually using death to drive the plot with any character able to reincarnate at any point. Where was the editor????
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Update Sep 2022: After relistening to this amazing book, I have upgraded it to 5 stars. It holds up after 13 years. It is still a wonder exploring the world. The characters are interesting. Great book. Looking at my old review, I wonder if part of the problem was that I listened to things at normal speed back then.
First Review 2009: Pandora's Star is slow at the beginning introducing numerous characters and world. It really revs up in the second half of the book as separate plot lines start to draw together. This is a two part series. The story concludes in Judas Unchained.
John Lee does a good job as narrator. However, with so many characters in the book, some of them sound alike and it sometimes gets confusing. I also found myself tuning out whenever new characters or worlds were being introduced as it took some time for the characters to become interesting to me.
In the end, Hamilton has built an interesting world filled with interesting people. In fact, MorningLightMountain is, so far, my favorite alien of all time.
I provisionally recommend this book but reserve final determination until I finish Judas Unchained.
First Review 2009: Pandora's Star is slow at the beginning introducing numerous characters and world. It really revs up in the second half of the book as separate plot lines start to draw together. This is a two part series. The story concludes in Judas Unchained.
John Lee does a good job as narrator. However, with so many characters in the book, some of them sound alike and it sometimes gets confusing. I also found myself tuning out whenever new characters or worlds were being introduced as it took some time for the characters to become interesting to me.
In the end, Hamilton has built an interesting world filled with interesting people. In fact, MorningLightMountain is, so far, my favorite alien of all time.
I provisionally recommend this book but reserve final determination until I finish Judas Unchained.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A Great among world building books. I could really see all the places in the commonwealth. I like how alien the aliens were. They weren't just strange looking figures who act and behave like people. There are so many places and so many people in this book. Several times I had to stop and remember who someone was as they were reintroduced into the plot. I also had some timeline issues as I traveled around the commonwealth. I would have liked a date at the beginning of chapters. Other than that it was a fantastic adventure to read. I am ready to jump into the next book.
Slow paced, with a giant cast of characters, most of whom end up not mattering much until the sequel.
The dialogue might be a little bland, and the prose nothing special, but the universe is Pandora's star, as well as some of the first-contact scenarios, are very compelling. The ongoing Dyson sphere mystery kept my attention and had a worthwhile payoff. Despite the existence of armored unicorns, sentient ships, and an immortal wormhole-hopping, female Sherlock Holmes with organic computers embedded in her flesh, this doesn't stray too far from hard sci-fi. Its many cultures are often a little too 'American' to be realistic, but hey, 'Murica! I was entertained.
An entertaining enough space opera with (fair warning here) no ending. Almost a literal cliffhanger, in fact.
adventurous
medium-paced