The Neutronium Alchemist

Hamilton, Peter F. The Neutronium Alchemist. 1997. Night’s Dawn No. 2. Warner, 2000.
About eight years after Dan Simmons wrote a monumental space opera series in which he resurrected John Keats, Peter F. Hamilton wrote an equally impressive, albeit much less literary, series in which he resurrects the like of Fletcher Christian, Al Capone, and Elvis. On a distant planet some aliens manage to lock open the gate to a pocket universe, allowing the sensation-deprived dead to take over the bodies of the living. That was all in Reality Dysfunction, the first novel. In this one, the dead are getting organized with leadership by Al Capone. Will Al conquer the galaxy? In another ring of Hamilton’s interstellar circus, a mad scientist with a grudge and a superweapon (the Neutronium Alchemist of the title) is looking to get even with some war criminals. Al Capone and others would also like the weapon. The action moves right along but following it all presents a considerable challenge. There are a dozen different locations with a gaggle of different characters in each one. Since many of the locations are spaceships, you cannot count on them staying in one place. There is also a lot of far-future technology, much spooky physics, and several religions and governing philosophies to get the head around. Is it worth the effort—yes, indeed! But I do have two nits to pick. Why Al Capone and not some far future gangster? Finally, can’t we find a less old-fashioned term than “datavise” for a future alternative to email? Take a deep breath. On to The Naked God to wrap up the plot. ( )

Too long, too slow, too many characters: There was just enough additional mystery added for me to want to read the final volume. ( )

How is it even possible to review a book jammed with a future galactic civilization getting invaded by the dead of all history?

Succinctly, I suppose. ;)

... unlike the first and second books in the series, at 1000 pages for the first and just under 1,300 pages for the second and an even bigger page count for the third. Ah, well, at least the book is epic as hell. The invasion goes from one world to a vast swath of the galaxy. Just how often do we get epic space operas with living spaceships, high-tech alien races, a vast number of inhabited worlds, only to have it turn into a war of the Living versus the Dead?

With a tiny alteration, of course. These aren't the dead rising up from graves. The dead are rising up out of history and out of purgatory, taking over the bodies of the living in a vast way. Vast numbers. And now it's almost magic versus high-tech in a very unusual war.

With Al Capone. :) And anti-matter. :) Hippies and star-busters.

Very fun. I have to admit it took me a while to get into Hamilton's writing style, but once I finally got to this proper comfort level, things really took off. :) ( )

Excellent follow-on, not a weak middle at all. ( )

This book made me keep saying 'Noooooo, you can't do that!' because of the different times in the book where either evil triumphs over good or it appears that evil has triumped over good. It was a riveting read and introduced some new characters and complexities, as well as having more adventures with the characters we know and love. ( )