Science Fiction
Discussion
Salgar said:
Does anyone know a good website where I can read a detailed summary of Abyss Beyond Dreams? I want to start A Night Without Stars but feel like I need a refresher
I'm in exactly the same boat! Just started NWS but can't really remember how ABD ended, and the Prologue isn't jogging my memory..... I had a quick google earlier looking for a synopsis but didn't immediately find one. DibblyDobbler said:
I've started a re-read (3rd time I think but haven't read it for years) of Banks's Excession - damn he was some writer - really enjoying it 
It's my favourite Banks book- I've just finished Player of Games (my second favourite) for the first time in close to a decade and it was like having your brain massaged by an old friend. I just love the Drones and Minds. His writing has this amazing ability to make you feel clever simply by enjoying the wit of his characters.I have, just today in Waterstones, realised that I have never read the Hydrogen Sonata, so that's at my bedside now. I've a weird feeling of excitement at a new Banks novel and sadness that I'll never read another new Culture novel ever.
funkyrobot said:
Indeed. Imagine if at least a third was cut from his books. I bet you wouldn't miss much of the story, and he would sell more.
For example, my friend likes Hamilton's ideas and stories, but won't read the books because they are too long.
One scene in the commonwealth saga was especially naff. The scene where Justine(?) glides down a rock face and what happens after. I found that to be a bit, weird. Also, while I am thinking about it, Hamilton's portrayal of women. Makes me laugh too.
I stopped reading him after the Commonwealth Saga- I thought it was an improvement on the Nights Dawn simply because the ending wasn't shocking and it did feel a bit more compact, but yes- his female characters are absolutely dreadful. He is really, really good at blowing stuff up though and the sense of inertia that he gave to the commonwealth or the confederation was great. For example, my friend likes Hamilton's ideas and stories, but won't read the books because they are too long.
One scene in the commonwealth saga was especially naff. The scene where Justine(?) glides down a rock face and what happens after. I found that to be a bit, weird. Also, while I am thinking about it, Hamilton's portrayal of women. Makes me laugh too.
Has he written anything better than the Commonwealth Saga yet? I've seen some of his books, but have never had the same appetite to pick one up as say something new by Reynolds (who managed to make better female characters right from the beginning!).
glazbagun said:
Has he written anything better than the Commonwealth Saga yet? I've seen some of his books, but have never had the same appetite to pick one up as say something new by Reynolds (who managed to make better female characters right from the beginning!).
I didn't really like the Void series; it was good in parts but somewhat ruined by having all the Commonwealth series characters still alive a thousand years into the future as near enough Demigods.The Greg Mandel books are very good though. SciFi, not space opera.
glazbagun said:
It's my favourite Banks book- I've just finished Player of Games (my second favourite) for the first time in close to a decade and it was like having your brain massaged by an old friend. I just love the Drones and Minds. His writing has this amazing ability to make you feel clever simply by enjoying the wit of his characters.
I have, just today in Waterstones, realised that I have never read the Hydrogen Sonata, so that's at my bedside now. I've a weird feeling of excitement at a new Banks novel and sadness that I'll never read another new Culture novel ever.
Lucky you! You'll love it I have, just today in Waterstones, realised that I have never read the Hydrogen Sonata, so that's at my bedside now. I've a weird feeling of excitement at a new Banks novel and sadness that I'll never read another new Culture novel ever.
Glaz, you jammy git!
I had that as year or two ago - realised I hadn't read Excession. Was a truly bittersweet experience.
I really like PFH, all of them. Just rereading Abyss beyond dreams in preparation for his new one. Can understand a lot of the criticism of his work but just not an issue for me.
Have a few Baxter to catch up on - need to be in the right mood to read him, and life's been just too hectic recently to be able to engage with it.
I had that as year or two ago - realised I hadn't read Excession. Was a truly bittersweet experience.
I really like PFH, all of them. Just rereading Abyss beyond dreams in preparation for his new one. Can understand a lot of the criticism of his work but just not an issue for me.
Have a few Baxter to catch up on - need to be in the right mood to read him, and life's been just too hectic recently to be able to engage with it.
Lurking Lawyer said:
Salgar said:
Does anyone know a good website where I can read a detailed summary of Abyss Beyond Dreams? I want to start A Night Without Stars but feel like I need a refresher
I'm in exactly the same boat! Just started NWS but can't really remember how ABD ended, and the Prologue isn't jogging my memory..... I had a quick google earlier looking for a synopsis but didn't immediately find one. Paula and Nigel cook up a plot to dream from the inside of the void to get rid of it (the world from the first dreaming void books). Then they get a clone of Nigel in that will do the dreaming back to Nigel and stuff happens. The Brant colony ships have colonised another world in the void after getting sucked in (unknown to everyone and not the same as the dreaming void world) however Laura Brant gets stuck in a time loop after exploring some stuff in orbit. Nigel in a smart ship is landed on this other world and sets about doing stuff.
Another fella is central and sets about climbing the political ladder dealing with the fallers that prey on the world. Nigel is discovered at some point and some of his drones are not what they seem. Nigel gets Laura out the time loop.
Lets see.
Nigel sets off to blow up the trees with quantum buster but only does a few in, the other fella becomes a megalomaniac, Laura becomes awn inventor but all this after the void ejects the world when Nigel sets off the quantum buster.
Other stuff happens.
jmorgan said:
Lurking Lawyer said:
Salgar said:
Does anyone know a good website where I can read a detailed summary of Abyss Beyond Dreams? I want to start A Night Without Stars but feel like I need a refresher
I'm in exactly the same boat! Just started NWS but can't really remember how ABD ended, and the Prologue isn't jogging my memory..... I had a quick google earlier looking for a synopsis but didn't immediately find one. Paula and Nigel cook up a plot to dream from the inside of the void to get rid of it (the world from the first dreaming void books). Then they get a clone of Nigel in that will do the dreaming back to Nigel and stuff happens. The Brant colony ships have colonised another world in the void after getting sucked in (unknown to everyone and not the same as the dreaming void world) however Laura Brant gets stuck in a time loop after exploring some stuff in orbit. Nigel in a smart ship is landed on this other world and sets about doing stuff.
Another fella is central and sets about climbing the political ladder dealing with the fallers that prey on the world. Nigel is discovered at some point and some of his drones are not what they seem. Nigel gets Laura out the time loop.
Lets see.
Nigel sets off to blow up the trees with quantum buster but only does a few in, the other fella becomes a megalomaniac, Laura becomes awn inventor but all this after the void ejects the world when Nigel sets off the quantum buster.
Other stuff happens.
Just finished reading both the Faller books.
Very, very nice.
Slightly odd how the time overlaps the Void Trilogy, but only slightly jarring.
Ending is a tad deus ex machina, but can be forgiven I think. Came very quickly, after a massive build up.
In summary, classic PFH. Still doesn't match the Night's Dawn Trilogy (not much does, to be fair) but a great addition to the Commonwealth series.
Oh, and Nigel's retirement villa sounds quite stunning!
Very, very nice.
Slightly odd how the time overlaps the Void Trilogy, but only slightly jarring.
Ending is a tad deus ex machina, but can be forgiven I think. Came very quickly, after a massive build up.
In summary, classic PFH. Still doesn't match the Night's Dawn Trilogy (not much does, to be fair) but a great addition to the Commonwealth series.
Oh, and Nigel's retirement villa sounds quite stunning!
Yep:
Massive cast of instantly forgettable characters (after we finally find out who the mother character was in the Void trilogy, I had to google her because I couldn't even remember who she was).
Bizarre and somewhat disturbing approach to female characters.
Too long by half (literally).
Finally solved by a deus ex machina at the point when I'm past caring and am only finishing the books because of a slightly obsessive nature which means I can't bear to leave things unfinished (see also Turtledove's World War books).
I'm doubtless going to regret having borrowed the Abyss Beyond Dreams from the local library.
On a more positive note, I've just started on "The long way to a small angry planet" and, so far, it seems great.
Massive cast of instantly forgettable characters (after we finally find out who the mother character was in the Void trilogy, I had to google her because I couldn't even remember who she was).
Bizarre and somewhat disturbing approach to female characters.
Too long by half (literally).
Finally solved by a deus ex machina at the point when I'm past caring and am only finishing the books because of a slightly obsessive nature which means I can't bear to leave things unfinished (see also Turtledove's World War books).
I'm doubtless going to regret having borrowed the Abyss Beyond Dreams from the local library.
On a more positive note, I've just started on "The long way to a small angry planet" and, so far, it seems great.
Well - just knocked off 'Look to Windward' as part of my rerun through Banks's Culture Series. Good book - not a classic in my view but good. Was trying to decide what to go for next and it occurred to me that I hadn't ever read 'State of the Art' - it never really appealed due to being a collection of short stories but will give it a go next up
DibblyDobbler said:
Well - just knocked off 'Look to Windward' as part of my rerun through Banks's Culture Series. Good book - not a classic in my view but good. Was trying to decide what to go for next and it occurred to me that I hadn't ever read 'State of the Art' - it never really appealed due to being a collection of short stories but will give it a go next up
I actually think Look to Windward is my favourite Banks, but I do get excessively wound up by his deus ex machina endings.tertius said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Well - just knocked off 'Look to Windward' as part of my rerun through Banks's Culture Series. Good book - not a classic in my view but good. Was trying to decide what to go for next and it occurred to me that I hadn't ever read 'State of the Art' - it never really appealed due to being a collection of short stories but will give it a go next up
I actually think Look to Windward is my favourite Banks, but I do get excessively wound up by his deus ex machina endings.tertius said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Well - just knocked off 'Look to Windward' as part of my rerun through Banks's Culture Series. Good book - not a classic in my view but good. Was trying to decide what to go for next and it occurred to me that I hadn't ever read 'State of the Art' - it never really appealed due to being a collection of short stories but will give it a go next up
I actually think Look to Windward is my favourite Banks, but I do get excessively wound up by his deus ex machina endings.Anyway - I agree about the endings, many of the books fairly romp along and then just seem to stop rather than conclude.
Use of Weapons is my personal favorite
RobDickinson said:
Just finished reading 'A Night Without Stars' after re reading 'The Abyss Beyond Dreams' ( Peter F Hamilton)
A great story well worth a read and imo one of his best (yes he kinda sticks with his typical ending but it works..)
Good just bought it 2nd hand, dam heavy book! Just listening to the void trilogy again! A great story well worth a read and imo one of his best (yes he kinda sticks with his typical ending but it works..)
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff