Book Review: Pandora's Star by Peter F Hamilton

I finished this book at the beginning of the month so I guess I'd better review it. The good news is that it's won the right to be the January Book of the Month on the Hard SF online group that I'm a member of, but I don't think that many members with jobs are going to get through this in a month, it took me between 2-3 months to consume it's 1200 odd pages. But I'm so glad that I did.

I've not been this impressed or gripped by a book for several years. It was interesting to try and work out where all the intermingling story lines between the various different plot arcs merged together, but by the end of the story some of them are all falling into place. I guess my favourite character has to be the Maverick Ozzy, 400+years old and creator of the wormhole gateways that link the Commonwealth together. He reminds me quite a lot of the central (and also ancient character in my favourite novel, Ringworld), except rather than getting bored at parties, you would rather catch Ozzy catching a wave on some bizarre alien planet. I've also got to admire the ultimate female cop, Paula Mao. And the mystery of the Starflyer. Of course being a techno-fan I was completely hooked at the offset of the first few chapters which mentioned the pair of stars known as the Dyson Pair being shut off in a moment by that impenetrable barrier.

A real cliff hanger of an ending (and you've got to read the last page to know how much tongue in cheek that comment it ;). I can't wait to read the sequel, Judas Unchained which I've just learned is now out! YAY!

(hopping over to Amazon to buy it now!).