Fantastic,fantastic book. The first really original science fiction that I’ve read in some time. At least two ideas in it that I’ve never seen anywhere else. The ending is a bit of a jumble, but not terrible.
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Hamilton is a fun author but he can’t write a short book or one not in a series to save his life. In order to read the Commonwealth Saga, you have to read four HUGE books. Enjoyable but I gave up after the first two. 🙂
I’m not digging the Void series as much as The Commonwealth saga. Between this and Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space they are 2 of the longer series I’ve tried to work through.
Yep, I made a mistake – A Deepness in the Sky is a much better book than a Fire Upon the Deep. Fire is a very innovative book but didn’t have the depth of character or the pacing that is so engaging. Fire did have a lot of novel ideas including the pack mind. But Deepness was definitely a more engaging, approachable and enjoyable read.
This was one of my favourite SF books. The other 2 books/series that I enjoyed following included:
* Richard Morgan – Altered Carbon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_Carbon
* Peter F Hamilton – The Commonwealth Saga including Pandora’s Star & Judas Unchained.
Highly recommended.
Hamilton is a fun author but he can’t write a short book or one not in a series to save his life. In order to read the Commonwealth Saga, you have to read four HUGE books. Enjoyable but I gave up after the first two. 🙂
I’m not digging the Void series as much as The Commonwealth saga. Between this and Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space they are 2 of the longer series I’ve tried to work through.
ditto. bought this a couple of years ago and it remains one of my favourite SciFi books too.
glad you liked it! It’s one of my all-time favorites. A Deepness in the Sky is also excellent and I liked the Peace War books too.
I’m stuck about halfway through Deepness. Great, too, but a little slow in the middle. Will get back to it soon.
I actually liked A Deepness in the Sky more than A Fire Upon the Deep. Probably one of my favorite sci-fi books in a long time.
Scott,
Yep, I made a mistake – A Deepness in the Sky is a much better book than a Fire Upon the Deep. Fire is a very innovative book but didn’t have the depth of character or the pacing that is so engaging. Fire did have a lot of novel ideas including the pack mind. But Deepness was definitely a more engaging, approachable and enjoyable read.