Customer Reviews
Absolutely brilliant - By: Adam Watson, 16 Nov 2008 
I just finished reading the Temporal Void last night, & I would implore anyone who has a mind for imaginative sprawling space operas to buy this book. It is a wonderful addition to Hamilton's established Commonwealth series, beginning chronologically with Pandoras Star & Judas Unchained (known collectively as the Commonwealth saga), & the Void trilogy, of which the Temporal Void is number 2.
The plot picks up directly after the end of Dreaming Void, with Justine escaping Centurion Station, immediately after the Void encroachment is triggered by the Second Dreamer's rejection of the Void entity known as a Skylord. Aaron, the ANA agent, is on Hanko with Inigo & his estranged wife Corrie Lyn, trying to escape before the world implodes from an m-sink which was driven into the planet. The threat of the Ocisen fleet is a constant danger, with a few nostalgic twists that I couldn't help but smile at,in particular the Ocisens very formidable ally, unknown as yet to the Navy. If you've read the Commonwealth saga, you will know what I mean. The book basically kicks off with most of the characters trying to escape certain death, (or capture,in Araminta's case).
There is also another vital aspect of the book which I find very engaging. The story of Edeard the Waterwalker is one of the best concepts I've seenin large scale sci fi such as is fitting to Hamilton's writing style. If you were to take out all the segments entitled "Inigo's Dream", from the first 2 books so far, you would have a thoroughly engaging stand alone fantasy novel. But the way it tiesin with the rest of the storyline is a winner, expertly switching from the eventsin our Universe, & that of the Void.
The closing chapters supplied me with many memorable (and emotional) moments. Edeard's plight as he consolidates Makkrathan & drives out the gangs, amounts to a series of wonderfully fashioned events which I found immensely gripping, paying homage to Hamiliton's development of his characters within the Void.
Allin all, I would thoroughly recommend this book, whether you've read Hamilton's books or not (though is you haven't you're going to be very confused). I will let something slip though, which I cannot contain, but it sets up the final installment nicely. If you don't want to know finish reading here. To be honest it was inevitable, but if you're wondering where the hell Ozzie's been all this time, you're guaranteed to pay him a visitin the 3rd book.
Congratulations Peter Hamilton. I cannot wait until the final book.
Adam
Glorious Convolution - By: J. Flaton, 12 Nov 2008 While I agree with one reviewer about the usefulness of a summary of Part I, I also think that you just have to sink yourself into Hamilton's marvellous universe (or universa?) to fully appreciate the wild & convoluted rollercoaster you're about to undergo.
Plus that I think Hamilton is one of the very few to have created a consistent universe, including delightfully contradictions. I'm wondering why othersin this region (Iain Banks, Terry Pratchett, Alastair Reynolds, to mention just a few) are all British writers. Mmm... something to do with Empire-building... ;-)
In the meantime, enjoy Hamilton. And now we have to wait about 1 1/2 year for the conclusion...
Magic Realism - By: Parsifal, 10 Nov 2008 Just superb fiction, up Hamilton's best standard. I just wonder however if some of the other reviewers have got it right describing Edeard's adventuresin Makkathran as fantasy. I found that part of the work best savoured rather than rushed as it reminded me of the Magic Realism style (Gabriel Garcia Marquez et al. ) which I think would elevate the work to literary fiction rather than Science Fiction.
Solid if slightly self-indulgent in places - By: C. Green, 04 Nov 2008 
There are pluses & minuses to Peter F. Hamilton's second volume of the Void Trilogy; `The Temporal Void' (TTV).
In the plus column are:
1. The quality of the writing is as high as always.
2. There is plenty of exciting, well written action.
3. Its chock full of ideas.
4. The future it envisages is brilliantly conceived.
5. It juggles multiple plot strands with deceptive ease.
6. There is a welcome lack of the cringe making sex that Hamilton sometimes seems slightly too fond of.
In the minuses:
1. There is no preceding summary of events thus far. Having read The Dreaming Void well over a year ago I struggled to remember who everyone was & what they were up to. Surely it's not beyond the publishers to include a quick recap up front.
2. Whilst Edeard's adventures were the strongest element of The Dreaming Void & whilst they are still enjoyable there is simply too much of them here & they go on for too long. They could have been substantially truncated with no real loss. Instead they feel self-indulgently long winded & limit the amount of time given to the other plot strands. Araminta's adventures especially feel very shortchanged.
3. The pacing is off. By the end I was tempted to skip forward to find out what happens. Partly this is due to the surfeit of Edeard's adventures & partly becausein the final quarter nothing terribly `exciting' happens. Yes, there are revelations aplenty but the no real action to speak of. Plus too many plot strands are just left waiting for volume 3, without a cliff hanger or big finale to keep the reader interested.
4. Its 700+ pages long. I don't have a problem with long booksin principle. I do wonder however, whether the length is entire justified here. I think some trimming could have been done without the book losing anything.
Overall TTV doesn't quite live up to the standard of The Dreaming Void. It very much feels like the middle chapter of a three volume series, with a great deal going on but no resolution. It's also feels somewhat self-indulgentin places, & struggles to completely hold the reader's interest for its not inconsiderable length.
Despite these problems however, it remains first class epic sci-fi. Hamilton is one of the best writers workingin the genre at present & I will eagerly await the trilogy's conclusion. Who knows, when viewed as part of the completed saga I might find that my opinion of TTV needs to be reassessed.
Much better than the first book. - By: A. Whitehead, 16 Oct 2008 The first volumein The Void Trilogy, The Dreaming Void, was an enjoyable novel but not up there with Peter F. Hamilton's best. The story took a little long to get going & the links between Edeard's storyin the Void & of eventsin the Commonwealth felt somewhat disconnected. This second bookin the trilogy is a much stronger book which sets things up nicely for the finale & ties the two narratives together much more strongly.
Picking up after the events of the first novel, the Greater Commonwealth isin turmoil. The Living Dream movement is assembling its Pilgrimage fleet, which it plans to take into the Void to begin a life of paradise & unity. Unfortunately, it seems likely that this will trigger a major expansion event within the Void, threatening the Galaxy with destruction. In order to undertake the Pilgrimage, the Living Dreamers must find the Second Dreamer, the human who isin contact with the Skylords who control the Void. Unfortunately, the Second Dreamer is a scared young woman who has no interestin becoming the new messiah to a fanatical movement whose followers numberin the billions, & she goes on the run.
Elsewhere, the alien Ocisens are hurtling towards Commonwealth space, determined to destroy the Pilgrimage fleet before it can reach the Void. The Commonwealth's attempts to deter them reveal that the threat they are facing are of a far greater magnitude than previously thought, resultingin the callingin of some very big guns indeed. Characters from the Commonwealth Saga - such as Paula Myo & Oscar Monroe - are involvedin investigating the apparent conspiracy by elements within the Commonwealth who want the Pilgrimage to succeed, despite the trillions of lives it could cost. Another returning character, Justine Burnelli, opts for a more direct approach when she decides to try to slip into the Void & negotiate directly with the Skylords.
However, the bulk of the novel takes place within the Void itself. Edeard, a young constablein Makkathran's police force, has been revealed as possessing extraordinary psi-powers beyond those of many of the inhabitants. As his abilities grow, so does his determination to bring down & destroy the corrupt gangs who hold the lower echelons of the cityin their grasp. But, as he discovers, there are connections between the gangs & the city's rulers which makes his task thankless, uncomfortable & exceedingly dangerous.
The Temporal Void picks up from the ending of The Dreaming Void without a beat & ramps up the pace of events. This may be a novel that is over 700 pages longin hardcover, but the pages absolutely fly past. There may be SF writers who have more attitude (Morgan) or better & darker prose (Reynolds), but for the simple ability to tell a rattling damn good story & combine it with complex scientific ideas & make it all compelling, Hamilton can't really be beaten. Just to add insult to the wound, Hamilton also proves himself to have similarly good skills with writing fantasyin the Makkathran chapters, & once again the reader ponders what Hamilton would do with a pure fantasy story.
Complaints? Edeard's powers mean that the situations when he finds himselfin jeopardy are not as dangerous as they should be, & a shocking series of events near the end (which are beyond GRRM's Red Weddingin making the reader's jaw drop & go, "What the hell?") are disposed of rather easily. There's also a rather awkward plot revelation near the end of the book that essentially relies on lots of characters not talking about something they all know about merely to keep the readerin suspense, which feels slightly artificial.
The complaints are pretty minor though. The Temporal Void (****½) is the most readable, compelling slice of SF published this year, & leaves the reader sitting on edge for The Evolutionary Void, which will conclude the story (duein early 2010). The novel is out nowin the UK from Pan Macmillanin hardcover, & will be published by Del Reyin the USAin February.
