Reading this for the first time in 2013 felt like reading the secret code for how all businesses will be run in the future. And it is. It’s a must-read for the startup world. It’s such an important piece of the modern business world it’s practically table-stakes.
Though this series is contains two massive tomes—and apparently a third that just came out in 2016—it is absolutely worth the read/listen. Peter F. Hamilton is one of my favorite authors, and John Lee is my favorite narrator. There is so much to these books, so many subplots, intertwined stories, and excellent characters, that it’s one of my favorite series.
I’m going to repeating myself from the individual reviews… Peter F. Hamilton creates vast, imaginative worlds filled with well-written characters on seemingly separate paths and lives…. until they all come crashing together. His plots and subplots are so intricate, his books deserve a second reading to pick up on all the subtleties you missed in the first read.
The conclusion and the reveal at the end of this book was so incredible, I couldn’t wait to get and read it again. As I said in the review of the first book in the series, Pandora’s Star, Hamilton creates vast, imaginative universes filled with complex, interweaving plots. I love his books.
My only complaint with Judas Unchained is that there’s one story arc that I just don’t understand how it contributes to the story. I almost rated the book four stars because of that, but friends who have read the series think it’s an important part. I’m happy to debate this with you after you finish the book. Regardless, I still recommend the book and the series.
Peter F. Hamilton creates vast, imaginative worlds filled with well-written characters on seemingly separate paths and lives…. until they all come crashing together. His plots and subplots are so intricate, his books deserve a second reading to pick up on all the subtleties you missed in the first read.
Pandora’s Star is a massive tome, and worth every minute. I love world he’s created and the characters in it. I’ve read this and the sequel twice, and just thinking about the world he creates, I want to read it again. It helps that my favorite narrator, John Lee, reads these. As I said in another review, he could read you grocery list and have your rapt attention, wanting more. Pandora’s Star is worth every minute.
John Lee narrating an Alastair Reynolds space opera sci-fi book. It doesn’t get better than that. One of my all-time favorite stand-alone novels, I heartily recommend this to anyone. I’ve read this book more than any other in my library—though I’ve lost count, I’ve easily read it five times.
It covers more spacetime in one novel than most sci-fi series do throughout multiple books. Many species and planets are visited, sometimes at length, sometimes briefly. The diverse cultures and unique perspective of a near-immortal group of humans traversing the galaxy never gets old. And it’s all wrapped up in a galaxy-wide, species-threatening mystery thriller.