Book Review: Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained are part one and part two of a single story. And what a story it is.
Richard Morgan, writing about Judas Unchained says, "flat-out huge widescreen all-engine-at-full I-dare-you-not-to-believe-it space operate", and I have to agree. Without a doubt, this is the most thrilling humans-meet-aliens book I've read. Though your head may be reeling from the massive list of characters mid-way through the first book, by the end of the first book and throughout the second you'll really be hitting your stride as you are fully immersed in the Commonwealth's universe. The story is audacious in scope and storyline.
I wrote earlier about Pandora's Star: "Great sci-fi novel set in future mankind space exploration and settlement age using “wormholes” that allow instantaneous travel between two places. The story encompasses an encounter with a “Dyson’s Pair” of stars that are suddenly cut off from the universe. Who did it, and why?" I won't say more, because there is a great deal of suspense in the book about what will happen next. After rereading my notes about Pandora's Star, I realized I gave that book a "4 out of 5" rating. But Judas Unchained definitely rates a "5 out of 5" (maybe even 5.5 out of 5) rating.
Pandora's Star: Buy at Amazon or Place hold at Multnomah County Library
Judas Unchained: Buy at Amazon or Place hold at Multnomah County Library