Peter F. Hamilton

jmilsom · Sep 27, 2004

There used to be a thread on this guy, but maybe it disappeared during the great SDC crash of 04. I must admit, Peter F. Hamilton is, in my mind, one of the greatest SF talents to emerge in the past twenty years. I just read Fallen Dragon and was profoundly impressed. Many things I had been dwelling on and of great relevance to me at the moment were teased out through this book. I think this guy is a star and is shaping up to be one of the true greats of the genre. Why? Because SciFi is more than just cool ideas and outlandish concepts – it is in my mind, one of the greatest genres through which to examine socially, culturally, politically where we are today and where we are going – and Hamilton is just getting better and better in this regard. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

kelle · Sep 27, 2004

Yeah, I really like this author too. I've only read the "Night's Dawn" trilogy, "Fallen Dragon" and "A Second Change at Eden", but they are all among my favourite books. There is something with his style of writing I really enjoy, I'm not sure what it is... but... yeah, he's good. It might be his fantastic imagination, his books does have some really interesting ideas. I'll have to check out some more of his books next time I'm on a book-bying-spree <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

flynn · Sep 27, 2004

I'm about a third of the way though Pandora's Star. His writing style has improved if anything since Nights Dawn trilogy. Pandora's Star will be just as epical I just hope he ends it better than Nights Dawn. I thought the ending was a bit of a let down. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - Chuck Palahniuk. </div>

a_lost_packet_ · Sep 27, 2004

He is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I really enjoyed the "Night's Dawn" books. All of them. He's accomplished something that is rare in sci-fi : A storyline that hasn't been done before in a mileu so detailed and steeped with history, it rivals the "greats" of Science Fiction. Great work, great "action writing" and wonderful character development. jmilson - I think this guy is a star and is shaping up to be one of the true greats of the genre. Absolutely. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

Saiph · Sep 30, 2004

The big thing I like about his work is it's got weight. It makes you think, it isn't cut and dried. AND It has a sense of history, that there was a world before you even opened the book. It doesn't appear to be materializing in front of my eyes as a few interesting observations/quirks of the people on hand are pointed out. It's more like these things are merely pointing out the obvious, that they're the typical and logical behaviors you've seen for years. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

a_lost_packet_ · Sep 30, 2004

Nice observations Saiph. I agree completely. It's the characters interacting in the milieu rather than constructing it. It makes for a much richer story. Again, good point! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

avaunt · Oct 3, 2004

Yeah, I read "Pandoras star" the last month. What a cool grab bag of concepts. Nothing like as original as say, "Ringworld" or the "Riverworld", but the WRITING carries you along, doesn't it?. Nights Dawn was actually scary to me, the idea that all this order we see about us, is so reliant on there BEING order. It wouldn't have to be souls escaping from hell. Just the order being broken would undermine people having front doors, and the newspaper turning up.

flynn · Oct 3, 2004

Even Mr Punch has someones hand up his gown... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - Chuck Palahniuk. </div>

avaunt · Oct 3, 2004

Let me guess, you wrote that after a few scoops?. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I am waiting for my bus. Did you ever read "Mr Punch" by Neil Gaimen?. Scary old mr punch !.

flynn · Oct 3, 2004

I'll keep an eye out for it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - Chuck Palahniuk. </div>

jmilsom · Oct 7, 2004

I thought that I may as well Peter F. Hamilton's bibliography to the thread. Useful for reference and discussion. Are there any books I've missed? Greg Mandel Series 1992 Mindstar Rising 1994 A Quantum Murder 1995 The Nano Flower The Night’s Dawn Trilogy 1996 The Reality Dysfunction Volume I (The Emergence) 1996 The Reality Dysfunction Volume II (The Expansion) 1997 The Neutronium Alchemist Volume I (Consolidation) 1997 The Neutronium Alchemist Volume II (Conflict) 2000 The Naked God Related to Night’s Dawn 1997 A Second Chance at Eden (Short Stories) 2002 The Confederation Handbook: The Essential Guide to the Night’s Dawn Series Other Books 1999 The Web: 2027 2001 Futures (four novellas, including Watching Trees Grow by PFHamilton) 2002 Fallen Dragon 2002 Mispent Youth 2004 Pandora’s Star <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

flynn · Nov 5, 2004

Finally finished Pandoras Star last night, Its taken me a very long time. Whilst I think its an improvement over Nights Dawn and there are some terribly exciting technologies involved there could be some flaws (I'll let you discover for yourselves, I don't want to spoil it for others). Again, I seem to be saying this time and time again when it comes to Science fiction writers.... When you graduate sci-fi writer college I think you get given a big book of stereotypically characters that you pick your cast from. Whilst PFH isn't as guilty as some (Bova and Anderson being the biggest culprits) they could all learn a lesson from minimalist writing. I've a post I want to make on this subject when I get time to write it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - Chuck Palahniuk. </div>

jmilsom · Jan 6, 2005

When I started this post I had only read the Greg Mandel series, A second Chance at Eden and Fallen Dragon (the latter so impressing me and prompting me to re-start this post). I just did a book buying sortie over the past two months and was in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. I visited about ten bookstores in search of the Night's Dawn Trilogy and only managed to get the first two (The Reality Dysfunction, Parts 1 and 2). The others were sold out everyhwere. So. I just completed volume one and must say the depth of the work is amazing. I was surprised at how macabre it was in places. Brings me right back to Matheson's "I am Legend." Anyway I intend to read all of his works eventually. I steamed through the first book in three days, so by the weekend I'll finish the second and probably have to wait six months to get the rest. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

flynn · Jan 6, 2005

You'll have to remind me were you are in the story at the end of the first book so I don't give anything away. I never rally warmed to the Greg Mandel series, in fact had I read those first I may not of read Nights Dawn. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - Chuck Palahniuk. </div>

chitman13 · Feb 1, 2005

I loved reading the Night's Dawn trilogy, I just steamrolled through the 3 books. Although it did start off slow, as soon as the main background detail and expansive universe was taken in I couldn't put the book down. I first got onto his books by reading Misspent Youth which I read in a couple of days before going onto the Nights Dawn books and then Pandora's Star. Out of the ones I've read, Pandora's star is my favourite out of them, mainly because it takes the world of Misspent Youth and expands on it, but I did love Misspent Youth (managed to get a signed copy for xmas last year). I've been looking around the net trying to find out when Judas Unchained will be released but have come up short so far, although Amazon.co.uk does list it as Judas Unleashed with a release date of October 7th 2005. I checked out the site of Tor Books that is apparently publishing it and that website is about as useful as an ejector seat in a helicopter <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /> I don't suppose anyone could help me with any info on the next book, or possibly any websites for Peter F Hamilton that are actually up-to-date - everything I've found so far is over 2 years old and never updated <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" />

Saiph · Feb 8, 2005

IIRC they have those, ejector seats in helicopters that is. Or some models do. They use explosive bolts to detach the rotors, then eject. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

jmilsom · Apr 24, 2005

Just read The Neutronium Alchemist (Parts 1 and 2) . Reviewed it on the Sci Fi Books Just Read thread. My only comment is a question: "When is this guy going to win a Hugo?" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jmilsom · Nov 27, 2005

Finally got hold of and read The Naked God. So finally managed to read the full Night's Dawn Trilogy. I would have read these quickly had I been able to get hold of the books. This guy is a star. I thirst to read the rest of his work. I find his work imaginative. I find his characters believable - I think he actively steers away from cliches. I have never known an author to so convincingly open up such a believable future in which humanity spreads throughout the galaxy. His descriptions of new solar systems are unsurpassed in the works I have read. OK, now time to get hold of Pandora's Star. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Reviewed it on the SciFi Books Thread here <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

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