Binding: Mass Market Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 813 EAN: 9780345479211 ISBN: 0345479211 Label: Del Rey Manufacturer: Del Rey Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 992 Publication Date: January 25, 2005 Publisher: Del Rey Release Date: January 25, 2005 Sales Rank: 73683 Studio: Del Rey
Product DescriptionCritics have compared the engrossing space operas of Peter F. Hamilton to the classic sagas of such sf giants as Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert. But Hamilton’s bestselling fiction—powered by a fearless imagination and world-class storytelling skills—has also earned him comparison to Tolstoy and Dickens. Hugely ambitious, wildly entertaining, philosophically stimulating: the novels of Peter F. Hamilton will change the way you think about science fiction. Now, with Pandora’s Star, he begins a new multivolume adventure, one that promises to be his most mind-blowing yet.
The year is 2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars some four hundred light-years in diameter, contains more than six hundred worlds, interconnected by a web of transport “tunnels” known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: Over one thousand light-years away, a star . . . vanishes. It does not go supernova. It does not collapse into a black hole. It simply disappears. Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, a faster-than-light starship, the Second Chance, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat. In command is Wilson Kime, a five-time rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot whose glory days are centuries behind him.
Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood, a cult that believes the human race is being manipulated by an alien entity they call the Starflyer. Bradley Johansson, leader of the Guardians, warns of sabotage, fearing the Starflyer means to use the starship’s mission for its own ends,.
Pursued by a Commonwealth special agent convinced the Guardians are crazy but dangerous, Johansson flees. But the danger is not averted. Aboard the Second Chance, Kime wonders if his crew has been infiltrated. Soon enough, he will have other worries. A thousand light-years away, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery whose unleashing will threaten to destroy the Commonwealth . . . and humanity itself.
Could it be that Johansson was right?
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - 1000 Sub Plots and a Cast of Billions
I had no idea what was going on half the time I was reading this book. Every chapter introduced yet another set of characters with yet another sub-plot. I reached the point where I was skipping 10 pages at a time and not really missing anything significant. And when I finally reached the end I almost hurled the book out the window.... what a crappy ending. This is hands down one of the worst "epic" sci-fi books I have ever read (although pared down to basics it might make a pretty good short story.) ... Read More
Rating: - Awesome!!!
Hamilton creates yet another great futuristic world and gives his trademark "epic" sci-fi stories with great writing. The story is awesome :)
Rating: - A masterful and epic space opera
I came across Pandora's Star and picked it up, a little deceived. It felt like a decent sized 500 or so paged sci fi with an interesting description on the back cover. So I took it home and it sat on my shelf for a while until I read from someone else's blog that they recommended as a top read. My interest was piqued and so I put it in my que.
I soon realized that the compact mass market was in fact a 988 page mass market. Not so mass market or compact. But I couldn't care less. After ... Read More
Rating: - Best since Gap Series
I think this is the best SF since the Gap series which still remains #1.
Rating: - Great Read
I am admittedly much more widely read in the Fantasy genre, with only brief fortes into SF, but this book was great. It created a very believable world and kept the plot moving at a pretty quick pace. Some of the characters could have been developed a bit more, but overall this was a fun book that left me wanting more.
- 1000 Sub Plots and a Cast of Billions
- Awesome!!!
