The Reality Dysfunction

Night's Dawn Trilogy, Book 1

By: Peter F. Hamilton

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 41 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

In AD 2600, the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature's boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems, and throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace. A true golden age is within our grasp.

But now something has gone catastrophically wrong. On a primitive colony planet, a renegade criminal's chance encounter with an utterly alien entity unleashes the most primal of all our fears. An extinct race that inhabited the galaxy aeons ago called it the Reality Dysfunction. It is the nightmare that has prowled beside us since the beginning of history.

©1996 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Elements of space opera, Straubesque horror and adrenaline-laced action make this a demanding, rewarding read." ( Publishers Weekly)

Definitely not the Commonwealth

If you, like me, are expecting something akin to the Commonwealth books you might be disappointed. This is more like a paranormal thriller that happens to take place in a futuristic SciFi world, and if that sounds like a bit much, it is. Still if you can get past the satanist murder/sex cults and don't mind a morbid portrait of the afterlife it's an engaging story that will keep you wondering what's going to happen next all the way to the end until you're wondering "What hell did I just listen to, and should I buy the sequel?"

finally on audiobook

This series was my first exposure to Peter F. Hamilton and I'm excited to finally have it in my audible library! it is a great read.

A universe to get lost in...

The Reality Dysfunction is the 1st book in Peter F Hamilton’s Night's Dawn trilogy. The setting is the early 27th century. Humanity has settled nearby star systems with an environmentally damaged Earth relegated to domed arcologies and much of the population emigrating. Society is divided into "Edenists" with a "gen-gineered" affinity gene that gives them telepathic abilities, which the "Adamists" avoid. Edenists tend to populate habitats that surround gas giants, while Adamists prefer planets and organize themselves variably including with limited technology. There are also three known alien species as well as a dead alien race that committed suicide and is the subject of much interest. Added to the mix is an extra-galactic entity that likes to watch.

In true space opera fashion, there are dozens of characters engaging throughout multiple habitats and planets. Most of the action occurs on Lalonde that is an early stage colony planet with limited technology. Lalonde becomes the nexus for an odd combination of an Edenist mass murderer believed dead, hiding out, a devil worshiping convict with undetected advanced implants, and the extra-galactic entity which results in a rent in the space/time fabric allowing for former dead souls to possess the bodies of living humans. With expertly crafted “fog of war” situations, no one is quite sure exactly what is occurring or the potential for worlds ending scenarios, but acts according to their own limited information.

The sci-fi elements are pure Hamiltonian. FTL spaceships are evident as are well constructed alien races. There is also biological technology or “bitec” which are ships and habitats gestated and grown with human consciousness. The dead alien race is a source of mystery as they appear to have committed racial genocide for unknown reasons. Anti-matter is the WMD du jour. Finally, the extra-galactic entity is pure energy based. The universe of the 27th century is a thriving hive of interstellar commerce (more intriguing as Hamilton later followed up this series with Fallen Dragon where interstellar commerce was deemed economically non-viable). Of particular interest is a focus with religion themes. The Edenists are largely atheists, while the Adamists have a variety of forms including old-fashion fire and brimstone. In addition, there is also a cult of devil worshipers and even one of the alien races has their own form of religion.

John Lee’s narration certainly merits a five star rating. His rendition of multiple characters of both genders as well as even children (even frightened, no less), along with the aliens is nothing short of spectacular. Lee really deserves to have a six star or “Lee Level” rating. The ding for performance is in the production quality. At 41 hours length, there are only 31 chapters. As such, there are numerous scene shifts within each chapter with little to no gap. Close attention is required to appreciate when a scene shift has occurred, usually indicated a name or location; a bit of spacing with a pause would have been helpful. While much engaging and compelling action takes place, most mysteries are left for later installments to reveal. This is true storytelling at its finest.

A little overwhelming

Very deep story, definitely. Great character development. Interesting storyline.

I often felt exhausted though as new characters and settings were continuously introduced- even 30 hours into the book. It was a bit of a chore keeping up with all of the actors in all the varied locations across the galaxy.

You need to be sitting down with a legal pad to keep enough notes to properly keep up. I'd definitely recommend it in that setting.

Verbal breaks in the segments! Wtf.

John Lee is great. Producers. Please get a clue. There needs to be at least a pause in the tempo when changing POV’s. You did this in the Confederation books too. It’s dumb and it ruins the immersion to constantly stop and backtrack to figure out why the continuity is mismatched.

Gud

Narrator read much too quickly for me. 75% speed was perfect. Even with the reduction in speed some of the perspective changes were so quickly transitioned that I didn't notice immediately. Great story arc & plot, great characters. Would recommend.

Epic plot, unengaging characters

Interesting and well detailed plot, but forgettable characters. A great idea, but not for me.

Pack a lunch for this one...

This book has a bit of a slow start to it. It falls to the same foe of all large epic stories, the back story of everyone slows the story down a lot as you learn each character and group. Splitting this book into two may have been a better option but that is just my opinion. The last quarter or so of the book got real action packed and engrossing as all the backstory and such was finally out of the way and you have become attached to certain characters. I didn't know this was a trilogy when I started it so I was surprised when it ended mid story. The narrator does a great job voicing each character uniquely and during general narration. As others have said, an audio break could have been edited in to aid in knowing when one scene ends and another begins. Some scenes you are moving right along and then bam, new characters are being talked about and you think to yourself, did I fall asleep and miss something?

Having said all that though, this was a great book and I hope the next two are just as great! Excellent use of science in science fiction unlike some that are more of the pseudo science type of science fiction. Great bang for you buck if you are using a credit to get this audio book!

holy cow! What a ride!

John Lee is the best reader available.This huge sorry covers a lot of ground and what world building! Hamilton is the master of space opera.

Complex, interesting, amazing

Mr. Hamilton again lives up to his promise. Very complex story but that's what I expected.
Wonderful worlds and characters