Space opera of incredible scope (and length - the three books in the "Night's Dawn" trilogy are broken up into six 600-page paperbacks). Couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Set in a sprawling, realistically written galactic confederation, faced with an existential crisis that challenges humanity's beliefs as well as technical cleverness.

The Reality Disfunction, parts 1 and 2, are really one book, so it is hard to give a meaningful review on half a book. There are a lot of threads started and not all of them woven together. The main ones start to weave together, but there is no telling where the rest of the book goes.

To give you an idea of the threads (spoiler free), we have:

-A star-killing technology that never got used
-An energy being that likes to watch
-A sentient spaceship and its psychically bonded captain
-A extra-lucky Han Solo complete with the parts where you remember that Han Solo is kindof an asshole
-A satan-worshipping disenfranchised youth who gets more than he bargains for

If any of those interest you in the context of space opera, go ahead and pick up this book. ( )

Not the easiest thing I've read. Hamilton is introducing people, planets, starships and technology almost every other page and sometimes he takes quite a bit to go back to them. There were several occasions where I was trying to remember what a name referred to. On the other hand, the story so far is compelling and he's build quite a remarkable world to set it in. I've already started on the second part ... Expansion which promises to pick up the pace. ( )

Awesome part of the dark series by Peter Hamilton.

Utterly entranced by the opening chapters as Hamilton creates a dark and detailed universe in which to stage his space opera. However I was left cold by the appearance of the seemingly magical dead-people and finished the book only to get to the end. ( )