Pandora's Star (2005)

This is the most over-written and under-edited book I have ever read; however filled with intriguing storylines and engaging characters, this mare's nest of activity saw NO winnowing at all! Author and editor treated every idea as of equal value but they are not, and the dizzying jumps across time and space between plots can absolutely bewilder the reader, trying to remember who the hell these names are and what is going on with them. I don't care what make and model some land vehicle in another world in 2381 is, especially if it isn't germane to the story; why waste our shared time filling a paragraph with it??

While the construction and presentation of this book barely earns 1 star from me, the story (as I understand it), general world-building and stage-dressing, and one particular sub-plot (Ozzie and Orion, for the win) together have me sufficiently engaged to find the second half of this ludicrously dense duology to see what happens. That makes the overall effect worth a grudged 2.5 stars, but I'm still kind of pissed about it.

And to the author: Hey, Hamilton; why is it your future reads like "Lifestyles of the Fabulously Rich and Beautiful"? Obsessed with aristocracy and wealth a bit, are you? ( )

So I finally finished this behemoth of a book. Overall, I liked it. Well, about 2/3 of it. Unfortunately, the 2/3 that I liked were interrupted by the 1/3 I didn't like. The biggest thing that I didn't like about the book was the fact that it couldn't decide WHAT kind of book it was going to be. Space Opera? Colonization? Life in the 24th century? Detective? Exploration? Political? All of that and much more!
Honestly, if the 1/3 of the book that dealt with the murder investigation and all of the political intrigue had been expunged then this would be a 5-star book. The good was really just that good. The rest was just distracting.
And then an honest-to-FSM cliffhanger of an ending.
Unfortunately, I'm just not feeling up to dealing with another 37 hour audiobook where I can't wait for it to JUST GET ON WITH THE GOOD STUFF ALREADY! ( )

Holy f*ck this was a great, great book. I'd been intending to delve into this doorstopper for years, but I wasn't sure if I wanted commit to a 1000 science fiction novel, when that genre has disappointed me a lot (Downbelow Station, Bright in the Sky, Sun of Suns, etc.)But, finally I took the plunge, and man, Hamilton's talent is quite honestly staggering. Read on as below I will turn into a slathering fanboy...

This book combines absolutely flawless, transparent prose as good as any "literary" novel with a brain-bogglingly epic science fiction plot featuring not one but several intriguing mysteries spread out among an extensive cast of fully fleshed out characters (including an alien that is truly *alien*)in a richly imagined future. Sound too good to be true? yeah, that's what I thought too when I heard Hamilton being compared to Dickens and Tolstoy. Gotta be pure hyperbole, right? Uh, no.

The way Mr. Hamilton is able to choreograph his ambitious, complicated story is awesome. He is like a puppet master, all the many many moving parts move together brilliantly, Many times something mentioned in passing would end up really being key, causing me to say "riiight" and nod my head appreciatively. I never lost track of what was going on with the charecters or who was who.

The book is sci-fi, but it blends in mystery, spy thriller, action, and even horror elements (one particular chapter involving an alien is absolutely blood-curdling, in addition to the aforementioned literary craft. And oh, yeah, there a few laugh out loud funny moments as well.

If I had to split hairs, I'd point out that some of the characters are not as fleshed out as others. But trust me, that really is nitpicking. It is a testament to the awesomeness of this book that I after reading this 1000 , I am thinking of jumping right into Judas Unchained, which is the second, even longer half of what is essentially one immense novel.

( )

I found the excess characters and settings tiring at first - but over the length of the book it started to grow on me. What struck me the most was the sheer imagination of the author - the quantity and variety of the characters, settings and plot lines were very impressive. And they (somewhat) came together closer to the end, while leaving some plot lines separate and open for the rest of the series I imagine. Enjoyable book.

I also enjoyed the portrayal of Ozzie - how would a 300 year old man act? Probably with a similar level of low-key cynicism. ( )

Space Opera at its very best. ( )