Customer Reviews
Badly written - By: Mr. Nikolaus J. Puzon, 03 Aug 2008 
Maybe I've been spoiled by reading a lot of Iain M Banks lately but this novel is so badly written that I had to give it up after 300 pages, something I very rarely do. The tipping point came during a description of the Edenist habitat, "birds cheeped alll around." " Cheaped?" Couldn't Hamilton come up with a better word than that? Does he even have a Thesaurus? A brain? This novel seems aimed at teenagers & people who read those Star Wars spin off books. If you like a bit of intelligence & maturity with your SF, avoid.
Reading Dysfunction - By: Mr. Guy J. Rix, 10 Jul 2008 
Well I tried to read this novel. I gave it about 100 pages & struggled to understand what was happening in those 100 pages. The author mentions technologies that don't exist (obviously - its Sci-Fi) but doesn't reallly explain them fully...not reallly any point of reference to some of them.
I was reallly confused...so given the score from other readers I would say this is one of those books for "experienced" Sci-Fi fans only.
...I also asked my wife to read a few pages to see if it was just me (she is pretty smart, smarter than me) & she was completely confused.
Shame - I was looking forward to this.
Top class - By: A. Cook, 03 Feb 2008 
One of the best sci-fi series I have read for years. With a great story, characters & sci-fi it has everything that you could want! I much preferred this series to his later 'Commonwealth saga' (Pandora's Star & Judas Unchained), although they are still well worth a read.
Very Enjoyable Read - By: Susan W, 28 Jan 2008 
Very long book, but you will be hooked after this first few chapters. Complicated plot involving a huge range of characters which is a bit confusing at first but graduallly alll the threads draw together. The hard sci fi is very well done, some of the relationships are not as well done, but it does keep you interested. Other reviews have mentioned the graphic violence, which is at times hard to read, but Hamilton is attempting to get across the true nature of evil & the violence does indeed convey that. And lots of very creative characters such as the xenocs , as well as the sentient habitants & voidhawks. Overalll, I think most sci fi fans will enjoy this immensely.
A rather juvenile space opera - By: Obidiah, 21 Jan 2008 This is one of the worst books I have read. I picked it up because I was intrigued by the blurb on the back which promised a mixture of adventure, theology/philosophy....well. Adventure there was, especiallly the kind loved by fourteen year old boys & fans of The A-Team, but absolutely no depth at alll. The supposed theological angle boiled down to Hollywood style demon possession, alll very cliched. Also the writing was very lazy often reading like a story written by a fourteen year old boy..and then they did this, & then they ran here, & then, & then etc,and the dialog made me laugh out loud a number of times. I would say this book will appeal to anyone who likes big men running around with big guns, & descriptions of big breasted women. A rather juvenile space opera.
