With stories like "Ferryman" (Eric Brown), "The White Stuff" (Peter F. Hamilton & Graham Joyce), and "A Night on Bare Mountain" (Graham Charnock), anthologies don't get any better than this. My only quibble is with the experimental narrative "Thirteen Views of a Cardboard City"(William Gibson) which rounds out the volume with a whimper, not a bang. Otherwise, this is Hugo & Nebula territory.

I read the paperback edition of this series, and absolutely loved it. The first book I found a little slow and tedius at times, but was generally enjoyable. And it set up a lot of the story for the next two books, which just got better and better. The detail in the books and the sheer depth of the story (planets, cultures, technology, etc) was awesome. I would give the series 7 stars if I could...

This is probably my favorite book series of all time. Hamilton weaves a complex and engaging storyline that actually manages to bring an entire world to life. And unlike other sci-fi series, this vision of the future actually seems believable. The culture he describes could have easily developed from our present one, and the technology (aside from the FTL) is remarkably realistic. This is definately the sci-fi version of Tolkien, without the madeup languages and unnessary appendixes. I rank this series up with Heinlein's "Future History" as one of the greatest sci-fi epics of all time. (This review is based on the paperback novels).

Have you ever decided to seriously examine the implications of whether or not a soul exists and what happens to the soul after it leaves the body? This is the scientific journey that takes you to that place where one such dimension of this idea is explored on a cosmic scale. Not only is this "trilogy" a great read but it keeps you going with all of the lines of expansive thought explored and intertwinned.
This book took up 19,000 pages on my IPaq - It kept me going through a 10 day vacation and made me an anti-social animal for at least 10 other days.
If you enjoy exploring the implications of a simple thought - the soul - this is the book to read.

I dont know whether these books were published initially as one (i.e., The Reality Disfunction in one book, The Neutronium Alchemist in another), but the series might make a little more sense if they were.

_Conflict_ is the sequel to _Consolidation_, and more than makes up for the shoddy writing in the latter. _Conflict_ truly begins to flesh out for the reader what the crux of this series is about: How do you win a war against the dead?

You can't simply kill 'em...

Swirling around Hamilton's lush universe are myriad sub-plots, love stories, epic space battles, likeable heroes, and detestable villains. Hamilton comes up with some really neat inventions in this book.

The actual mechanism and description of just what this "Neutronium Alchemist" is might disappoint you (hence the 4 star rating), and some of the calculational errors he makes (present in all of the first four books) might bother you -- they bothered me (hey Peter, 300 meters per second is not "subsonic"). But let me tell you, this book actually creates and finishes one of the major plotlines in this story while leaving you HUNGRY for more.

I told my girlfriend I'd put these books down for a little while after I finished this one. That was before I had read the last 50 pages. Clearly I will have to do a little grovelling here, as I've got another 960 pages left to go in _The Naked God_. Beware. They're addictive!

I've now read about 2000 pages about LaGrange Calvert, Father Horst, et al... Quite a story. These novels remind me of the science fiction I read as a teenager (Van Vogt, Heinlein, Asimov, Simak). Quite unlike the "idea" stories you see so much of these days. And yet Hamilton's work uses lots of "fresh science" (datavise, geneering, voidhawks, habitats, etc). In defense of the length of his novel (These four books: Reality Dysfunction I & II, Neutronium Alchemist I & II are really one long novel; each does not have a discernable conclusion): I found myself reading each one more rapidly than the previous, and enjoying it more as well. My criticism of the length of his novel: Mr. Hamilton, are you squeezing as much money out of me as you can with this story? At about 10 bucks a pop, I've now spent $40, and I have to wait till 1999 for the conclusion of this story? (And at the end, I won't even have a nice hardcover to put on the bookshelf with the other clssics I've read.) I think Mr. Hamilton knows he has us hooked. Finally, I must say, this book(s) is worth the effort. Read it!

I have been a sci-fi junkie since I can remember -but a discriminating one. I always make sure a book is good, or at the very least excellent entertainment before commiting to reading it. And when I find a good book, I keep it. My shelves are full of outstanding sci-fi books. And I can confidently place this series among the top five novels/sagas on those shelves. This series has all the ingredients to become an all time classic:

1. A very intelligent and original plot 2. Extremely engaging, gripping reading 3. Believable, well thought, hard science 4. Outstanding character development. 5. A richly complex and realistic universe on a grandiose scale. 6. Lots of action, and lots of ideas.

The brilliant narrative of Hamilton has perhaps one feature that gives it its most distinctive flavor: it delivers the most though-provoking, outrageous ideas in a way that makes them completely believable and logical. I was a bit turned off when he described an apparently supernatural fenomenon, but that didn't last long as it quickly made sense and added great value to the experience that this saga is.

If you like intelligent, highly entertaining hard sci-fi, do yourself a favor: get a few days off, find a comfortable chair, and read this saga.

"A Second Chance At Eden" is a short story collection by science fiction author Peter F Hamilton. All stories are set in the same universe as his acclaimed Night's Dawn trilogy (comprised of "The Reality Dysfunction", "The Neutronium Alchemist" and "The Naked God"). This collection fills in the period leading up to the first book in the trilogy and spans about 500 years. The stories describe the first uses of the affinity gene, the founding of the Edenist culture, and the discovery of the Laymill by Marcus Calvert (yes, the father of the trilogy's hero Joshua Calvert). The story "Escape Route" was included in the fifteenth edition of "The Year's Best Science Fiction" (ed. Gardner Dozois).

The collection as a whole is uneven in quality, but definitely interesting for fans of the trilogy.

This book is basically a supplementary text to the well-known "Night's Dawn" trilogy of books. Unlike "The Confederation Handbook", this book is actually a series of stories rather than just a set of facts and figures detailing the Future History that Hamilton has established. Many of the stories here are pretty weak on their own but they do fit into the overall history and what they serve to do is provide a backdrop for the technology of the Future History at various points within it. In most cases it is very hard to get into the characters per se but rather you just come to understand the future, the technology it holds, and maybe a little of the various political undercurrents that exist. The two most fleshed out stories are probably "A Second Chance at Eden" (from which the book derives its title) and "Escape Route". Here you have longer stories with characters that you can identify with and care about to a greater extent than the other stories while also learning quite a bit about the future.

All in all, I recommend the book whether you have already read "Night's Dawn" (although do not expect the same depth and detail) or before you have read "Night's Dawn") to provide a little background and ease you into the technology concepts that Hamilton puts forth. I give it five stars simply because it really does not detract from the series itself and it certainly does add to it in terms of providing different viewpoints into the future that Hamilton has created.

After reading Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy (The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist and The Naked God) I found myself WANTING to learn more about the universe that he had so wonderfully created.

I found this little book full of short stories set in the same universe as that series and was totally impressed. There are hints to the stories in A 2nd Chance at Eden in The Naked God (When Calvert tells Ione that his dad had once traveled through time and she didn't believe him, for example.)

There is also a VERY valuable and fascinating story of Edenism which paints its esteemed leader in a much different light than most would think after reading the entire Night's Dawn series.

So, check it out, and enjoy!

This could have been one of the finest science fiction novels, if not for its extraordinary length. At 1200+ pages, the book is plain too long (even as a standalone - well, it is the first part of a trilogy). The story starts off in a promising manner - exciting starfleet action, exotic biotechnology, mysterious alien race, and more. It all bogs down in the backward colony planet (the mood is very much like the tropical jungle it depicts, messy and drowsy). The main theme of the tale, reality dysfunction, emerges after an incredible 400 pages. Then it wanders off again to the intentionally stale Victorian countryside. Battle scenes follow, clearly influenced by the SF/horror movies Predator and Aliens. Admittedly, there are flashes of brilliance throughout the volume, but with lots of dilation, the pace is hard to sustain. The finest hour of the story comes up after about 900 pages, when it takes on some qualities of a fable. The structure of the many sub-plots is more disciplined at the start, but they become badly intermingled near the end, making it difficult to follow. Clear headings of the chapters, a list of characters, a glossary, even a starmap, will all be welcome additions. Finally, perhaps an abridgement of the novel would be more of a success (a 'good parts version', to quote from Princess Bride).

Peter Hamilton has proven himself to be an author capable of immense imagination and incredible plot development. However he also reveals a disturbing darkside. As a parent of two small children, I found several of the scenes depicting the Lalonde "colonists" treatment of children to be very disturbing.

As the title of the book implies, "Expansion" focuses on the expansion of the Lalonde problem originally outlined in Emergence. The storyline alternates between several Adamist and Edenist worlds. Joshua Calvert continues his swashbuckling, Han Solo-like, escapades. The Adamists and Edenists rally to try and save Lalonde. Quinn Dexter rallies to try and save himself.

The pace of this book is truly frantic. So much so, that as the pace quickened, so did my heartbeat and the speed with which I read. But in the end, more questions are left open that I would have liked and there is more "dead space" in this book than in "Emergence". Hence the 8 rating.

The publication of the third book in the series is unknown, at least to me, at this time. I can only sit back and wait and hope that the editors encourage Mr. Hamilton to tone down the gore and treatment of childres a little bit.

This far-future version of Murphy's Law meets Wes Craven continues at the breakneck pacing set in book 1. Futile military maneuvers on Lalonde are set in motion while the horrific dysfunction spreads unchecked across the confederation, and the tension could not be better maintained. Every question answered is simply overshadowed by more perplexing mysteries. Characters fall victim to the crisis, and some earlier victims resurface, sometimes to the reader's horror...

The author once again treats the reader to a nonstop tour de force of machines and mayhem, always staying two steps ahead of the reader and ten ahead of the characters. Entropy is the central theme, and Hamilton dishes it out liberally while managing to navigate the characters through it realistically. You may find yourself immersed, so don't be surprised to find yourself cheering out loud for the good guys (and hissing at the nasties). You'll surely come running back for the next volumes when you're done.

I bought this collection for one reason and one reason only: it contained another slice of Ian McDonald's world-turned-upside-down 'Chaga; sequence. As it turned out this was by far the best piece in the book, but more of that later.

I haver never been convinced by Pater Hamilton, much as I want to like a British author who can do cyberpunk and do space opera with the best of the yanks. However his piece in this collection, 'Watching Trees Grow' changed my opinion of him. It is an alternative-history crime novella based on the premise that descendants of the Romans still rule Britian through a set of East India Company-style families who combine economic control with a monopolies over various areas of scientific progress. It is a neat idea, and takes the premise further than many other alternative histories by throwing the story further and further into the future, as an old rivalry becomes an obsession that almost transcends time.

I enjoyed it despite the episodic feel - perhaps a novel would have been more appropriate - but its 'Britishness' seemed slightly musty and old-fashionned, and redolent of dreams of Empire, in stark contrast to McDonald, or more overtly hip authors like Jeff Noon or Justina Robson. Maybe that was the point, and if so it was well made: science fiction is much the poorer if it doesn't teach you something about the society in which you live.

As for Stephen Baxter's 'Reality Dust': well, he does try, and he does keep churning them out, but this is so boring and so mainstream and so traditional. It is all done very competantly, but it is basically the kind of SF I enjoyed when I was a teenager, it isn't challenging in any way.

I was a little disappointed with Paul McAuley's novella, 'Making History', especially as he is one of my favourite writers. This was partly because at the heart of it was a very tedious old argument about the nature of history (great men versus social processes) which tended to intrude on the quite interesting story of the processs of war, defeat, reconciliation and the way history is written. Perhaps this was set up as part of the character of the historian to demonstrate his own flaws, but it didn't really convince. This is certainly not one of his best stories.

As I said at the start, I bought this collection for Ian McDonald's 'Tendeleo's Story'. I was certainly not disappointed by this one. McDonald is one of the few writers in the genre today who can combine real politics and a strongly compassionate and empathetic grasp of human nature. He is also a superb writer, able to portray setting and character in a vivid, dynamic and sensual way.

This novella, as the title suggests is the story of Kenyan girl, Tendeleo, the arrival of a extraterrestrial nanotech lifeform, the Chaga, that begins to transform Africa, and as a result the balance of global power. Initally for Tendeleo, however, this means growing up and simply trying to survive in the ferment that follows, which in her case means geting more and more deeply involved in street gangs smuggling Chaga material out of Africa. Capture and exile is never far away and whe it comes she loses here family in tragic and guilt-inducing circumstances. She winds up in cold, rainy Manchester, England, where she meets the other central character and narrative voice of the story, Sean, a black Irishman, who is also an exile in various ways, and a tentative love affair begins. Of course, inevitably Tendeleo has to return to Africa, where the Chaga has begun to revolutionise everyday life and the place of Africa in the world.

'Tendeleo's Story' is worth the price of this collection alone. It is an almost perfect example of how to write a novella that with none of the structural problems of the others in the book. The narrative is perfectly paced, with a deft handling of both action and emotion and no forced-ness or pretension. It is truly worthwhile and heartbreakingly real story that exist within an utterly fantastic and transforming world, yet a world which says so much about our own. A true gem of a story, from one of the best and most underrated writers around.

This volume is somewhat different than the usual flurry of anthologies that come out, especially during the holiday season, on two counts.

First, it is a British import, and thus the authors represented, while to varying degrees familiar to most of the rest of the world, really are British in tone and outlook.

Second, rather than stories, this volume has the longer novella form for the stories, and thus there is one story apiece. SF seems to be the last bastion of this "not quite short story, not quite novel" length work, and the virtues of the form are admirably displayed here.

The first story is Peter F. Hamilton's WATCHING TREES GROW. Although far better known for his Reality Dysfunction space opera, Hamilton has written detective SF before (The Mindstar Rising novels) and this is another example, with a twist...it is set in an alternate history where Heinleinian long-lived families vie for power and influence, and that is just the backdrop to a murder mystery.

The second story is REALITY DUST by Stephen Baxter. Unlike Hamilton, Baxter's story is set in his trademark universe, the "Xeelee Sequence". This is set after the Qax Domination, where their former collaborator-lackeys seek escape from the freed peoples of Earth in a rather unusual escape route.

MAKING HISTORY, by Paul McAuley is set in a more standard "near future" solar system, in the aftermath of a war...and even if it is true that history is written by the victors, that history can sometimes be rather muddled in the making.

The last story is TENDELEO'S STORY by Ian MacDonald. Like the Baxter, it is set in a trademark world of his, the "Chaga stories", where a strange alien life (nanotech? technolife?) has started to colonize the Earth, beginning with Africa. This story, like his other novels and stories, focuses more on the people affected by the Chaga, much more so than the actual event itself.

All four of these stories are strong, but of course, tastes may vary. The stories do range a far chunk of SF, and it is very possible that while you might like two or three, you may not like all four (personally, I liked the Baxter the best and the McDonald the least). Thus, the 4 star rating. Still, all in all, if you are at all interested in what the best British SF writers are doing, this paperback is perfect for the purpose.

Four novellas that are everything that is great about science fiction. These four authors are absolutely among the greatest voices in the genre today.

In WATCHING TREES GROW Peter Hamilton took history, turned it upside down, shook it a bit & gave us an alternate view of a history quite unlike anything I had ever read before.

Stephen Baxter's REALITY DUST made the reader look at reality in a whole new way.

In MAKING HISTORY, Paul McAuley showed how history is not always written by the victor.

Ian MacDonald's TENDELEO'S STORY took me back to the Chaga in EVOLUTION'S SHORE which always impressed me as being one of the most possibly real First Contact stories ever written.

All four novellas explore the very trait of our species' survival, adaptability, that brings hope & after all that's what science fiction is really about.

I have the benefit, or the detriment, of reading this book without having access to the first two in the series. It was a benefit because I was right in the action and knew roughly what was going on from tidbits I picked up about the previous two books. So I was anxious to know what happened with Mzu and was curious about what the title meant.

This book is complex, even with my experience at untangling plot lines, this was a broad and deep galaxy to read about. The number of viewpoints are astounding. Every person has their own little short story that connects and then diverges. It brings to mind that of a fractal image. The one weakness I must point out is that it jumps view points so quickly and numerously, that sometimes you will become annoyed that it isn't more continuous. If you get can get over that hump, then the rest of the story should suit you fine.

The Neutronium Alchemist begins with Consolidation. The newly possessed argue among themselves about what they should do and how they should do it. While the Confederation strives to contain the "infection" and learn more about it. The two main protagonist and antagonist are the Confederation and Al Capone's "organization". Amidst this backdrop of conflict, there are numerous neutral and not so neutral characters and sub entities. The struggle for Valisk, the escape from Norfolk, and other viewpoints which seek to enlighten you about the every day life of the citizens of the Confederation.

The next part culminates in the use of the Alchemist as you might have guessed.

OK, lets get some things straight. If you didn't like the first book then there's no real point in you reading this one. Because it's more of the same. If, like me though, you thought the first book was superb and you're gagging for more then this is an essential purchase.

This second instalement of the NIGHT'S DAWN trillogy is stunning. Hamilton weaves an excellent plot. Strands which were in the background in THE REALITY DYSFUNCTION are brought to the fore in this, and to some extent vice-versa. Consistent though is the same blend of amazing, visonary technology mixed with great, emotive characters breath-taking action and an intriguing plot. It's hard in places to keep track of the wealth of diverse characters in the book, which is why the list of characters and timeline at the back of the book prove paticularly usefull from time to time. That, really, is my only gripe.

Some peole have complained about the 'posession' side to the story. Well if you don't like it then there's no point continuing on to what will no doubt be a climactic final installment. Personally I think Hamillton has a great take on what at first seems to be a cliched idea. Instead of a means-to-an-end, the full extent - ie. social and religious consequences and power of this 'reality dysfunction' are explored in great depth. Individual and brilliantly concieved societies of humanity battle against a different form of darkness.

The scope remains breathtaking. From the personal strife of individuals on the smallest personal level, to the enginnering of entire planetry systems. Sentient organic constructs in space forty miles long are mind-bonded with individual human beings. Edenist ship captains, are literally *one* with thier ships. Planetry destruction plays against smatterings of romance... There is *so* much in the exotic, epic universe that has been created here.

In closing, this is a dangerous book. Dangerous because, well, I don't know how I am going to bridge the gap between finishing this book and October 1999 w! hich aparantly is when NIGHT'S DAWN PART III - 'THE NAKED GOD' will be published. This second part was sheer brilliance, instead of what could have so easily have been a real let-down after 'THE REALITY DYSFUNCTION'.

What can I compare it to? Ah, BABYLON 5 at it's best - epic space battles, multiple plot stands, great three-dimensional characters... Blend in even more exotic technology and you get on a par with this book.

In a word... AWESOME.

As far as I can see, Peter F Hamilton is the next rising star of the science fiction genre. He has everything that a book needs within it. I read the first set of books in about 3 days, and have devoured the second set just a quicklt. His ideas are new and fresh and has a seamlees ideas of how his universe works. O.K so the actual science of it does'nt work in places but so what, Its beautiful in a way that 'new tech' has been designed. There are many questions left unanswered in the second book and at this moment in time I am chewing my arms off in anticipation of the finale of the chronicle. I just hope he keeps on writing!!!!!!!!! I CANT WAIT.

It's a lucky day when you find an author who has actually created an epic story in a well-realized, fascinating universe. Peter F. Hamilton has and the Naked God (and its predecessors) should not be missed. Hamilton is eclipsed only by William Gibson and the classic masters. Scientific detail, a speedy plot and a well-orchestrated cast of characters make TNG a compelling read. Unfortunately, the book seems to have been put together in great haste. The multitude of spelling errors and the anti-climatic ending attest to this. The last fifth of the novel seem like a hurried tying up of unfinished plots. That Joshua Calvert is suddenly in love with Louise although it never has been mentioned in previous books, the unanswered question of what happened to the humans in the Melange, to Andy and to many other characters attests to that sprint to the finish line. Often, an epic character is "wrapped up" in a ten-line paragraph. But, then again, it is the path that counts and TNG managed to keep me reading until the early morning hours and that is more than can be said for 95 percent of books I've read.

I would loved to have given The Naked God 5-stars, but to me, the ending was kind of disappointing. It was good, but it definitely didn't match the writing from the rest of this excellent series. Perhaps, a few loose strings should have been left untied, questions unanswered, etc.

The book is very entertaining, but not too high-minded. I read it until 3:30am last night just to finish it, but as others have noted, the ending just leaves something to be desired. That said, it's a must read for anyone who has read the previous 4 US books(or 2 books as printed in the UK), and the series is a must read for everyone else. Overall, I'd give the series 5 stars without hesitation.

Personally, I find this series more entertaining than Azimov's Foundation series. Foundation seemed too predictable to me...not that this one isn't, but for a series considered a classic, Foundation didn't entertain me as much as this Reality Dysfunction series did. Still I must agree with the reader below, Dune is still my favorite science fiction series.

I have just finished reading TNG. I am left with a great sense of completion, but not the emotional high I left with when I finished reading the Hyperion Cantos.

To remind myself of the details of the epic story (and to make sure I got the plot!) I re-read the first two books. I found this set me up well for TNG.

Hamilton writing is just phenomena; he has constructed a universe and characters of immense complexity and depth in a multiple plotted story that I was amazed how he managed to keep track of.

Published as an 1161 page hard book in the UK it no small feat to carry it around but I had to. TNG was very compelling I wanted to now what happened to Joshua, Louise and the host of other characters, not to mention the Confederation. Perhaps the ending was not as emotional rewarding at it was on intellectual level, but I would be had pushed to find an author could do better, especially given the subject matter. I always thought Hamilton was brave to take the Nightfall story where he did and I for one am looking to the next book he writes.

Looking at the three books overall the Nightfall Trilogy is excellent, if not heavy read, but worth the weight on many levels.

Having read eveything I can get my hands by Peter F Hamilton, I was disappointed by this long drawn-out saga. In fact, if it wasn't for the blurb on the dust jacket I honestly wouldn't have a clue about the core story until about two thirds through. All too long winded for my liking, and lacking the fast pace, interesting characters and intersteller action set pieces of NDT. In fact, I got quite frustrated by the 'old fashioned' technology of this story - now that I am totally spoilt by the fabulous technology of Night's Dawn...

Most of all, however, this book feels like a first novel, pulled off the shelves and offered up as something new - mainly because the style of writing lacks the polish, story zest, and sheer page turning tempo of his more accomplished works. Peter: please don't just churn out stories to appease your fans. I'd rather wait another three years and get the real 'Hamilton' macoy...

Hamilton's vision is unequalled when focused on mankind's state of mind and developing social structures as we pioneer our way towards the stars. Whilst his kinetic high-tech fight sequences and interstellar battles are the most exciting SF since Dan Simmon's Hyperion cantos.

But none of this came through, and in the end, I felt this book dwelled on senseless moment's in the protagonist's life for so long that, when the action came, it was short and far from the usual Hamilton velocity. At one point it was almost: E.T meets Platoon.

Only the the chapter on the Santa Chico incursion felt like Hamilton was really enjoying himself. The rest a labour of love (or contract fulfillment, perhaps)...

Unfortunately, the ending was pretty tame and half-expected, too.

I will keep buying Hamilton - but let's 'swallow' forwards into the epic arena of the far flung future that you know so well on the next one, please.

I only started reading Hamilton last year. I love the way he creates a believeable universe in the future. My favorite aspect of Fallen Dragon is that for once he develops the universe and delivers a great read in one book. After spending over 4000 pages digesting the fantastic Reality Disfunction and the books that followed I am psyched to see him create an equally compeelling tale in under 700 hardcover pages.

Hamilton is coming into his own and is as good a writer in the "universe building" arena as there is.

This is a great read, you will root for the good guys, and the bad guys, it is hard to choose exactly which characters are in the right. Enjoy this book. You will find yourself turning pages quickly

I have read several other works by Peter Hamilton like the Reality Dysfunction, Neutronium Alchemist, et.al so I am very familar with his writing. I was very excited upon reading the dust jacket. I was prepared to read a ripsnorting tour de force of military sci-fi like Hammer's Slammers or Starship Troopers. Instead I got a very personal tale of one man's life journey to fulfill a dream. The main character Lawrence Newton gives up home, family and love to get the chance to become a starship pilot. Then years later, he discovers all that he gave up is all he ever really wanted in the first place. I also saw a repeat of a message that seems to recur throughout Hamilton's work - What is the good of technological advances, mastery of the physical world and exploring space if humanity's heart doesn't change and become better? Or as one character asks Newton 'You would sell your soul to go home?' He replies 'I left my soul at home'. This is a great book about shattered dreams and second chances.

I wanted to wait until finishing the entire series before I sat down to write a review of this book, and I'm glad that I did. On the strength of the rest of the Night's Dawn books, I would recommend this beginning installment, although as a single novel I did not particularly enjoy it.

I'll start with the bad news. The story starts off in a disjointed fashion. I found that as soon as I was beginning to become interested in a particular character, the chapter ended and I was introduced to someone totally new. The characterization in general is very weak - in the entire series, actually, but it is weakest in the beginning. The characters are the stock, cliched participants in most space operas, and do not have enough personality to become interesting.

There are several disturbingly graphic scenes of violence, which I found somewhat distasteful and difficult to read. The main villain does not have an ounce of humanity to him, making him one of the most detestable characters I've ever read, but at the same time making him something of a cardboard cutout. Furthermore, Hamilton seems to feel the need to toss in way too many explicit sex scenes unrelated to the plot, as if he thought he needed the sexual content to sell the book. Yes, some of it is needed as it is an integral part of some of the character relationships. But it goes overboard and lessens the impact of the plot.

Lastly, the writing style irked me. I don't know if the differences in grammar that bothered me are due to the fact that Hamilton is a British writer and I am American, but the sentences were frequently choppy and the grammar not quite right.

So why on earth would I recommend the book at all? Because if you can make it through this first installment in the Night's Dawn series, it is a series that is worth reading. I wouldn't call it *brilliant* (some people compare it to Dan Simmons' "Hyperion", but personally I don't think Hamilton can hold a candle to Simmons' genius), but it is a real page-turner and will give you a lot of food for thought. As the series continues, there is less violence, the sex becomes less irrelevant to the plot, historical figures pop up in unexpected places, fascinating mysteries are introduced and eventually resolved, and the ending is quite satisfying. If you have a difficult time getting through this first book, it might be worth having someone explain the major plot points to you so you can continue with "The Neutronium Alchemist", because that's when it starts to get good. Happy reading!

Very few Science Fiction novels can manage (well) the scope and intricacy required to effectively build characters that literally jump out of the book....This is one of those few. Every reader has personal favorites in terms of story lines and writing style...As for myself... I will proudly rate this series above Asimov's "Foundation Series", Vinge's "Fire Upon the Deep" or Herbert's "Dune",(Blasphemy I know). I found it difficult to put the book down, even at work:). The intricate character building, assorted plots and the insightful, but original, variations of technology used, create a believable world that swallows the reader and drags them willingly into the future. Far too often SciFi "epics" expose the reader to the same technology and themes...NOT this series. If you want to read horror...SciFi at its grandest...political intrigue...Future economics...All out, Ultra High-Tech Warfare...and ABOVE ALL "Original Thought"...Then read "The Reality Dysfunction" and ALL of the others in this series. It will be difficult to find another Science Fiction epic capable of building such a grand cast of characters and intensly high energy plot. If you love SciFi at its best and want to immerse yourself into the funnest, most enjoyable page burn'n novel ever...Read this!

For hard core Sci-Fi, the "Night's Dawn" Trilogy has it ALL!!!He-Man heroes, classy heroines, nasty bad guys (not to Even forget THE DEAD RETURNING!!!) New Worlds and Old;Aliens, space battles, suspense, intergalactic conflict and politics; who could ask for MORE? Starships, living space habitats, Biotech, Neurotech, Cyborgs, Genetic Engineering; it's all here; just be prepared to read nothing else for the next couple of MONTHS, 'cause this one is IT!! I originally was hooked into this Epic in the Hardcover Sci-Fi Book Club Edition, buying "The Neutronium Alchemist" first (somehow, I missed "The Reality Disfunction" when first offered; then had to wait another two weeks for that delivery rather than read the story out of sequence. THEN was forced to go through several cowhides, chewing leather and making a complete nuisance of myself until "The Naked God" was finally published and released in Nov. '99. BOTTOM LINE: If you're going to dive into this Epic, Buy the complete Trilogy as a complete set and be prepared to be enthralled by a whole new universe of the caliber of Heinlein, Asimov, or Clarke (and to stay for awhile!!!)