The Dreaming Void

Void Trilogy, Book 1

De: Peter F. Hamilton

Narrado por: John Lee

AD 3580. The Intersolar Commonwealth has spread through the galaxy to over a thousand star systems. It is a culture of rich diversity with a place for everyone. A powerful navy protects it from any hostile species that may lurk among the stars. For Commonwealth citizens, even death has been overcome.

At the center of the galaxy is the Void, a strange, artificial universe created by aliens billions of years ago, shrouded by an event horizon more deadly than any natural black hole. In order to function, it is gradually consuming the mass of the galaxy. Watched over by its ancient enemies, the Raiel, the Void's expansion is barely contained.

Inigo dreams of the sweet life within the Void and shares his visions with billions of avid believers. When he mysteriously disappears, Inigo's followers decide to embark on a pilgrimage into the Void to live the life of their messiah's dreams - a pilgrimage that the Raiel claim will trigger a catastrophic expansion of the Void.

Aaron is a man whose only memory is his own name. He doesn't know who he used to be or what he is. All he does know is that his job is to find the missing messiah and stop the pilgrimage. He's not sure how to do that, but whoever he works for has provided some pretty formidable weaponry that ought to help.

Meanwhile, inside the Void, a youth called Edeard is coming to terms with his unusually strong telepathic powers. A junior constable in Makkathran, he starts to challenge the corruption and decay that have poisoned the city. He is determined that his fellow citizens should know hope again. What Edeard doesn't realize is just how far his message of hope is reaching.

Into the Void? Listen to more in the Void Trilogy.©2007 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2008 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Broad in scope and panoramic in detail." ( Library Journal)
"A real spellbinder from a master storyteller." ( Kirkus)

Very Dry, Not sure if it was the reader or read.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Book was very slow to get going.

Would you be willing to try another one of John Lee’s performances?

Not sure, have to decide if this book was boring or if it was his reading

Was The Dreaming Void worth the listening time?

I would say only if you like Sci-Fi strictly for the techno babble. This book has very little in the way of action. I will say there is quite a bit of build up of characters and story if you can fight you way to the end when things finally start to come together.

Any additional comments?

The long drawn out first book might have prevented me from trying the second book, maybe I will give it a chance on a sale though.

Only the First Third of the Story

Any additional comments?

This book is hard to rate because, it's only the first third of a book. It's just a beginning (despite its length) with no middle and no end. So without listening to the rest I can't really tell if this is good story or not.

However I will say that Hamilton has gotten a little better at making his characters a little more diverse and less like each other. But he could still use more improvement. I don't know why Sci-Fi writers have such a hard time making believable characters. Hamilton is far from the worst I have read though, so it is tolerable. While some of the scientist types seem to almost share the same personality, there is a man with telekinesis that seems to at least be his own person. One of the main female characters just seems to be a sex bot and serve no purpose in the story at all other than sex.

The story is interesting so far. But by the end of the book the main plot is as much of a mystery as when the story started, as are some of the characters.

The book is overwritten, and could have had some of the many orgies edited out, which so far seem to have nothing to do with the plot. And are just thrown in to keep horny males interested, and to give the sex-bot something to do. Now I don't mind sex in books, however when Sci-Fi writers, write about sex it tends to be dull and when used as a cheap way to grab attention too many times, with a book of this size, one starts to just want the story to pick up a bit.

Great Extension of his previous works

I HIGHLY recommend you read/listen the the Pandora's Star / Judas Unchained books first. These two books introduce you to the world Hamilton has created and gives you a great basis for the technology and the Universe in which this series revolves.

Next, this series actually follows the events of two time lines, one is the universe itself in the present (present of the story), the other is the life events of a single man who lives inside the void.

For those who are fans of the Pandora's Star /Judas Unchained books you will be happy to know several of the key characters in those books either play a major role here or make a cameo appearance, but they fit right in and you do not feel like this is just regurgitated storyline.

Finally, you have to give the story some time to build up, throughout the first book Hamilton is setting the stage, and with a story like this one it takes time, by 2/3 into the first book you should feel right at home with the story organization and from that point on it is smooth sailing.

Outstanding!

While you would not technically have to listen to Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained, I would highly recommend it. They are good listens, if somewhat long and drawn out.

That being said... YIKES!! This was SO much better written and pared down to a more essential story line. There is a little confusion at the beginning, and if you have not read or listened to PS or JU, then you will be lost for the first few hours. If you have made it through the first two books, then you will be pleased to hear references and tie-ins to characters you knew before.

There were times in PS and JU that I wanted to fast forward, there is really none of that in this book. I was unhappy that it ended and immediately downloaded the 2nd book and I'm already looking forward to the third. This is a big story, and there are a lot of players and sub plots to keep track of. However if you like your stories to have a huge story arc, then dig in and start listening, you won't be disappointed.

confused

very confusing for the first 10 hours then became interesting. Audio edition should be different than print.

What lies at the center of the galaxy?

The Intersolar Commonwealth of mankind has spread across thousands of stars but humanity is no more united in 3058 AD than it was when it existed on a single planet. Multiple factions with wildly different agendas vie to advance their beliefs in their own unique ways. One of those factions, the Living Dream movement, is planning something that could impact every species in the galaxy - a Pilgrimage to the Void. The Void lies at the center of the galaxy, and according to the Raiel, the oldest and most advanced species known to man, it is a destructive force that expands from time to time destroying everything in its wake. The Raiel dread the next expansion phase and they know that not even the might of their technology can do anything to stop it. They do not want Living Dream to tempt fate with their Pilgrimage and they are not alone in that belief. 

Living Dream has over 5 billion followers, which is impressive for a movement that was started only 130 years ago by Inigo, the First Dreamer. Inigo dreamed of a world inside the Void many times with his dreams focusing on the life of Edeard. Edeard lives inside the Void on a planet known as Querencia where technology does not exist but psychic powers do. Edeard starts as an apprentice egg shaper where he uses his psychic abilities to "shape" eggs so that they can be quickly matured into unique life forms. This almost idyllic life is destroyed when bandits raid his town and force him to flee to the big city of Makkathran as a refugee. Fueled by a burning desire for justice Edeard continues to grow his powers by joining the constables where he fights back against the corruption that plagues his new home. It is the accomplishments of Edeard over his life that has inspired the Living Dream movement to want to leave technology behind and enter the Void so they can lead similar lives.

The galaxy outside the Void is full of advanced technology that is both diverse and complex and humans have greatly changed because of it. In 2833 the ANA was formed with new technology allowing people to download their consciousness into a virtual universe that exists within the quantum fields around Earth. It is from within this virtual universe that the ANA runs the Commonwealth government but they are anything but united. Many different factions have evolved within the ANA including the Accelerators, Conservatives, Darwinists, Moderates, and Separatists. Each has their own agenda and a massive game of cat and mouse goes on as they attempt to help or hinder the Living Dream movement and their Pilgrimage.

The Dreaming Void bounces back and forth between telling the story of Edeard's life within the Void while detailing the events surrounding the Pilgrimage. This makes for a unique, rich story that I found very interesting. As the first book of a trilogy don't expect anything to be wrapped up when this comes to an end but know that the story is indeed taken to next level as the trilogy continues. John Lee does an excellent job on the narration of all three books.

Space Opera at it's finest.

Exotic locations, deep characters, intelligent story arc, thought provoking morality. Admttedly I had to listen twice in close succession in order to absorb the finer details, it's that rich in content. Hamilton's mind is thing of wonder. Not for novices to the Sci-Fi genre, but you veterans will love it.

I found the audio version hard to follow

I'm not a novice when it comes to audio books. I've listened to many audio books. I found this one hard to follow at least the audio version. There are lots of characters. Lots of plots and subplots. so for me it made it hard to follow while listening. also reader be warned there's a lot of graphic sex in here

some skipping issues

I wish there weren't so many moments where the story skipped by a couple of syllables, it's very distracting even though I was able to follow the line, audible needs to work on their servers and make sure all their stories have a good down load

Enjoyable where is ozzy

I enjoyed his one i really like this author and narrator i actually downloaded another book because of the narrator. i did miss some of the characters like ozzy. but this is a trilogy and anything can happen come on audible get me the next one!!!