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jeremyreads's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alicjaz's review
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
webjoram's review against another edition
3.0
En esta novela Peter Hamilton repite muchos de los esquemas que ya utilizo en la saga de novelas ambientadas en la Federación. Al igual que en la "estrella de Pandora" y "Judas Desencadenado", el autor realiza una exhaustiva descripción de la sociedad en donde se ambientan las novelas proporcionando al lector multitud de detalles que dan credibilidad al desarrollo tecnológico que se ha producido. Esta profundidad en la descripción del entorno es una de las razones por las que me gustaron esas dos novelas, ademas de por tener una trama bien construida y mantener el suspense a través de casi 2000 páginas.
En esta ocasión el autor repite esquema; una sociedad altamente evolucionada, que se encuentra en un momento crucial de su historia y que debe enfrentar un peligro desconocido....El problema es que ni los personajes ni las situaciones por las que pasan permiten mantener una tensión adecuada. En mi opinión esta es una buena historia a la que le sobran páginas. A lo largo de la narración hay momentos que te desesperas esperando que suceda algo, que se "desencadene el infierno" y por desgracia esto no sucede hasta el último cuarto del libro cuando la acción se desencadena a raudales llegando a un final hasta cierto punto imprevisible. Posiblemente esta es la mejor parte del libro y en cierto modo consigue reconciliarte con su lectura.
En definitiva una novela interesante que solo recomendaría a gente con paciencia y constancia.
En esta ocasión el autor repite esquema; una sociedad altamente evolucionada, que se encuentra en un momento crucial de su historia y que debe enfrentar un peligro desconocido....El problema es que ni los personajes ni las situaciones por las que pasan permiten mantener una tensión adecuada. En mi opinión esta es una buena historia a la que le sobran páginas. A lo largo de la narración hay momentos que te desesperas esperando que suceda algo, que se "desencadene el infierno" y por desgracia esto no sucede hasta el último cuarto del libro cuando la acción se desencadena a raudales llegando a un final hasta cierto punto imprevisible. Posiblemente esta es la mejor parte del libro y en cierto modo consigue reconciliarte con su lectura.
En definitiva una novela interesante que solo recomendaría a gente con paciencia y constancia.
konain's review against another edition
2.0
Too many and way too long backstories that don't contribute much to the main story or characterisation.
No all-round character development. One character given disproportionately more time than other main characters. And even then, he doesn't act consistent to his character for most of the book.
An unnecessarily long romance which is less a romance and more a badly written porn.
Fallen dragon feels just like a deux ex machina rather than the focus of the story.
Shallow plot. Certainly not worth 800+ odd pages.
Stupid end.
Plenty of smaller issues, but can't bother to write them all. Disappointing stuff from a master writer.
No all-round character development. One character given disproportionately more time than other main characters. And even then, he doesn't act consistent to his character for most of the book.
An unnecessarily long romance which is less a romance and more a badly written porn.
Fallen dragon feels just like a deux ex machina rather than the focus of the story.
Shallow plot. Certainly not worth 800+ odd pages.
Stupid end.
Plenty of smaller issues, but can't bother to write them all. Disappointing stuff from a master writer.
audreyvm's review against another edition
2.0
Hamilton at his worst is decidedly mediocre. About 200 pages in I began to realise I've read it before. 50 pages before the end I realized I didn't finish it last time and I'm not going to this time either. Read the Night's Dawn trilogy instead!
charlibirb's review against another edition
3.0
Like...I liked it in a lot of ways - I want to give it 3.5 - but I felt like it was missing something. I was kind of bummed out by the women in the book, I guess. People in this book felt a bit 2-D. And the first ~200 pages or so were so confusing, I had to start over.
aronr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Based on the plot description alone, I did not think I would enjoy this one. That being said, Hamilton's writing style really shines and this was alot of fun to read. His normal themes/issues are present...rich people/corporations know better than governments, hot sex craved woman that like the main character, great themes related to transhumanism advanced technology, super humans, a bit of what can only be called smut.
This is not Hamilton's best, but it's definitely not his worst. Totally worth a read if you are into his stuff.
This is not Hamilton's best, but it's definitely not his worst. Totally worth a read if you are into his stuff.
cjblandford's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a weird one. 80% of the novel is spent on a conflict between a pirate corporation and the revolutionary groups who try to stop the company from pilfering their planets resources. But the last 20% reveals what was truly at stake and the tone completely shifts. I liked the revolutionary characters the most, and really wanted them to wipe out the main character, who was a space marine who joined a space-faring corporation to explore the stars, but ended up enforcing the corporation's policy of forced resource accumulation on colonized planets, i.e. piracy, because this was the only way that space colonization was profitable. I did not identify with his character, but he was obviously written to be the protagonist, even though his ultimate character arc came so close to maturation and growth, he ended up chasing his past and his ending was just..uncomfortable. There were many interesting ideas here and the author tried as hard as possible to be even-handed about the philosophies that were being argued. I liked the themes and ultimate philosophy of the book but did not enjoy the military aspects of it. Probably won't read it again, but it was worth reading once.
cassie_b's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If only Hamilton could write endings. I usually enjoy his books despite the ropy final acts & as usual the majority of Fallen Dragon was good fun but the total lack of character development was underlined at the very end & spoiled it by diving headfirst into power imbalance / inappropriate age gap / markedly differing maturity levels relationship territory. I’m relieved to see the publication dates of Fallen Dragon vs Salvation because both reminded me of Dan Simmons, though for different reasons. I’m glad Hamilton moved away from Endymion towards Hyperion during the 20 year gap!