The Abyss Beyond Dreams: A Novel of the Commonwealth (Commonwealth: Chronicle of the Fallers)

I'm a big fan of the Void Trilogy. This is the final book in the series. I didn't find it quite as compelling as the first 2, but it's still a good story. John Lee is, at least to me, an excellent narrator, with a really good voice. It isn't annoying, nor does it put me to sleep.

This is the first book in Peter F. Hamilton’s new Chronicle of the Fallers series. It is set in the same commonwealth universe as a few other books written by him. The main focus of the book is about humanity learning more about the void and how to defeat it before it consumes our universe.As usual Peter Hamilton is a master at creating a detailed and rich universe. This is not small book by any means with the hardback coming in a massive 674 pages. There is a nice amount background about this new planet in the void and the people that inhabit it. All this extra detail is great to have, making the world much easier to visualize. I wont add spoilers in this review. This book expands on Peter Hamilton Void universe with some old characters coming back such as Nigel Sheldon, there are also quite a few new ones added. This book is a nice blend if science and fantasy, with things like the neural implants and the telekinesis.The only real dislike was that I am not too keen on how the different perceptions were laid out in the book. It gives you one characters story for part of the book. It then jumps back in time to give someone a different characters story of the same time. Then towards the end of the book it all comes together with both perspectives becoming one.This is a really good first book in Peter F. Hamilton’s new Chronicle of the Fallers series. It is definitely worth the money to buy this book.I was a little worried when I picked this up having not read books from the same universe for several years now, as too whether I would get lost or confused. I needn’t had worried as returning characters are introduced and enough background given for the memories to come back from other books in the series.The flow of the two main viewpoints is done in a little odd way. I think it would have been better to mix them together rather than the time hop that happens in this book.There are a couple of plot twists towards the end of the book, which I will not spoil here. One of which is quite a shock.It is going to be interesting as to where Mr. Hamilton goes for the next book in the series. With all the base work done in this book I expect the next one to be a very good one. I will be pre-ordering the next book in the series once it becomes available.I would rate this book a 9 out of 10. Close to perfect with one or two niggles.

Great book, but the print quality is abysmal. The print is too tight and small, and the pages are cramped and very hard to read.

First of all, this is a very good addition to the Commonwealth Universe novels. It's fascinating and quirky. Granted, there is the usual Hamilton profanity, but not as bad as one reviewer stated it, and sex, but not overtly explicit. One thing I really appreciate about Hamilton's sex scenes is that most of the characters like it, and want to share intimate lovemaking. Too many SF authors think sex is merely an animal impulse to be engaged in just to scratch an itch, without any real affection or intimacy, and usually dysfunctional. Hamilton's scenes read more like Heinlein's later works.Yes, it is Hamiltonian in length. Yes, you will have to be patient. Yes, it's worth the ride.Can't wait for the sequel.One grief I have with it is not the author's fault, but the marketing. This is being touted as a stand-alone novel that doesn't require familiarization with the other Commonwealth works. I totally disagree. Too much is obliquely referred to, and it is far too dense for someone who hasn't read others in the series. Some will pick it up, and be confused and not wish to read further. It's a shame that poor marketing may earn Mr. Hamilton some unappreciative remarks.

Fantastic storyline and many nods to the universe this is set in (a few in-jokes for the fans of Peter F. Hamilton).