A Night Without Stars has everything a science fiction lover desires
A Night Without Stars
A Novel of the Commonwealth
by Peter F. Hamilton
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Del Rey
Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date 27 Sep 2016
Review
A Night Without Stars has everything a science fiction lover demands - a unique, exquisitely detailed universe complete with believable aliens and technologies, a thrilling fast-paced plot, characters who are understandable, even when their motives and actions come into conflict. As I have not read The Abyss Beyond Dreams, I was a bit daunted by the introduction. The first chapter quickly dispersed my fears and immersed me in the story. Peter F Hamilton made Bienvenido real to me. I sympathized with the Eliters marginalized because of their genome and despaired at Bienvenido’s totalitarian rule. Despite this, I could still empathize with Captain Chaing, as his goal was to protect humans, all humans from the Fallers. Peter F Hamilton does an excellent job making the Warrior Angel and Paula powerful and yet still vulnerable. This makes the novel work.
A Night Without Stars is a truly impressive piece of science fiction. Not only does it provide an incredible, action packed story, it touches on important issues. Not the least of which is institutionalized discrimination and the devastation caused by a government that encourages bigotry against a large percentage of the population. I highly recommend A Night Without Stars and look forward to reading more from this incredible author.
5/5
I received a copy of A Night Without Stars from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
Bestselling author Peter F. Hamilton returns to his acclaimed Commonwealth series in this thrilling follow-up to The Abyss Beyond Dreams. Featuring Hamilton's trademark blend of intricate plotting, riveting suspense, high-concept science, and vivid characters, A Night Without Stars brings the story to a fully satisfying finish.
After centuries trapped inside the Void, the planet Bienvenido—along with its inhabitants, both human and Faller—has been expelled into normal space. But the survivors are millions of light-years from the Commonwealth, which knows nothing of their existence. As the two races plunge into mortal conflict for sole possession of the planet, the humans seem destined to lose—despite the assistance of the mysterious Warrior Angel, who possesses forbidden Commonwealth technology.
With the Fallers' numbers growing, and their ability to mimic humans allowing them to infiltrate all levels of society, it's only a matter of time before they surge to victory. Then, on a routine space flight, Major Ry Evine inadvertently frees a captive vessel that crash-lands on Bienvenido carrying the last, best hope for human survival: a baby. But a far from ordinary one.
The child not only ages at a remarkable rate but demonstrates knowledge and abilities far beyond those of Bienvenido's humans. Hunted by Fallers and humans alike, she is a crucial link to humanity's lost past—and a glorious future already almost out of reach.
