Brilliant, expansive sci-fi
342836
This one stuck with me more than the last 20 books combined. Don't skim the first 50 pages, you have to get that to really...get it. It takes the concept of machine intelligence to another level. You won't think of time the same way again. Great book.
1785152
This is an incredible book.  Many concepts are raised which would ordinarily be the subject of a whole Sci-Fi novel in themselves.
2583102
Soul Continuum is the second book in an ambitious series that challenges the reader to contemplate several profound metaphysical questions. Well-written and with some great eureka moments, the novel is also pretty heavy with references to quantum physics, multiverse theory, time travel, respawning, and computer science.

Salem Ben has spent eons searching for the truth about the afterlife. He is the last of a civilization that rose from humanity to become omnipotent. His home is the soul consortium, a vast space station floating beyond the edge of the known universe, safe from the violence of the big crunch (the end of the universe) and the eventual big bang. The lives of every person who has ever lived is recorded and can be experienced directly in a simulator called the WOOM. Salem spends his time trying to learn about the afterlife, afraid to die, with only an AI named Qod to accompany him. Keitus Vieta, a mysterious specter threatened him and the consortium, creating anomalies in the soul archives, something that should be impossible.

An anomaly known as Jagannath has ripped through the fabric of space time and is now attempting to destroy the soul consortium. Salem Ben must rush once again through the archives, experiencing several lives to discover the source of the anomaly.

Overcoming the heavy science is by far the biggest issue with this book. It is essentially a mystery novel but as Salem learns more about the Jagannath, the explanations get more confusing. I could not figure it out until everything was revealed at the end. If you can follow the physics, Soul Continuum is a great metaphysical mystery. If not, it reads more like a series of short stories about life, death, and mysterious beings that seem able to break the laws of physics.

Taken as short stories, the prose is very strong and flows well, even as Salem inhabits four entirely different people from four entirely different eras. The author demonstrates impressive range and descriptive power. While the characters within each simulated life are compelling, the core protagonist Salem is not a particularly captivating character, more of a stoic rationalist. This makes for some pretty dry dialogue between him and Qod, but the topics of conversation are very fascinating. If the central conflict that linked all the stories together was a little clearer, this book would get 5 stars easily.

Imagine you knew the future, all they down to the atomic level. No imagine you cannot die. At the same time, you do not live or experience the physical universe, only simulations within the soul consortium. What would be the point of living? Salem's only real reason for still being alive is that he is terrified of death.

The novel ends with what feels like a short-term fix to a long-term problem. Since I didn't fully understand the science, I could be wrong here. If the series continues I am eager for the third novel.
1591260
EON is one of the best major sci-fi novels -- right up there with DUNE and GATEWAY and THE CITY AND THE STARS for world-building detail and quality, and their equal in terms of intensely tantalizing what-if and wonder-filled  scenarios. Also a rarity: a hard-sf novel containing interesting, not  deadly dull, political background.  I could not put it down and  unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone who wishes they were born 500 years from now.

One caveat: although you'll want to desperately, as with GATEWAY, Do. Not. Read. The. Sequels. Leave it at EON and keep that sense of awe alive for a long, long time.
515558
Originally published as a trilogy, Peter Hamilton's Night's Dawn sequence (published in the U.S. in six fat volumes) represents state-of-the-art space opera that makes up for in pace and sheer storytelling energy what it lacks in style. The first installment introduces us to the dualing doctrines of the neo-fundamentalist Adamists and telepathic Edenists (an ideological gulf suspiciously similar to that of the Shapers and Mechanists of Bruce Sterling's excellent "Schismatrix"). Hamilton's galaxy-spanning conflict is well-realized and fascinating, even if his characters occasionally succumb to the one-dimensional predictability of their pulp-fiction predecessors. "Emergence" is a promising far-future romp that successfully breathes new life into the much-chewed turf of galactic conflict and promises a lot of fun; I'll read later installments with interest.
Hamilton continues his bold galactic tale in "Expansion." The second half of "The Reality Dysfunction" is without doubt the best, and an absorbing reward for readers who decide to tag along after the introductory material covered in "Emergence." Brimming with capably written action sequences and harrowing excursions into uncharted interstellar depths, "Expansion" manages to boost the Night's Dawn sequence into literary escape velocity. Hamilton's main goal in writing this series is to tell a story, and he succeeds brilliantly, maintaining a sense of suspense while juggling a vast cast of characters and alien environments. A sort of cyberpunk fusion between Stephen King's "The Stand" and Isaac Asimov's "Foundation," "The Reality Dysfunction" is one of the most enjoyable and refreshingly unpretentious sagas to grace science fiction bookshelves in a long time.
"Consolidation," the first part of the second installment in Hamilton's sprawling Night's Dawn sequence, sees the characters and situations of the first two-part novel thrust deeper and farther into intricate and deftly balanced storylines. As the series matures and gathers momentum, Hamilton is able to develop and humanize his protaganists; more than before, the characters seem real enough to actually root for. Fortunately for readers who have made it this far, Hamilton manages to counter his incendiary action sequences with existential paradox and fiendish genre-crossing sensibility. The result is a completely arresting widescreen fiction experience that raises profound questions while maintaining a consistently high level of suspense. Hamilton's series is staggering in its kinetic, playful vision, and "Consolidation" leaves us thirsting for more.
539179
Set in a vast empire entering a period of crisis brought on by the very methods (cloning, hierarchical social structure, ultra-sophisticated AI technology, military recycling of the bodies of conquered enemies, space travel) that ensured its success. The story is riveting, told from the perspective of a preternaturally skilled "ancillary," a reanimated (and partially rebuilt) body assimilated to the ancient AI of an immense troop ship (Justice of Toren) supporting the annexation of a conquered planet. The ancillary is, herself, in crisis, the lone surviving extension of its ship's AI, orphaned by a catastrophic development in the empire's structure of command. She (the female pronoun is the default term for all genders in the Radch empire) is a sentient machine in an almost fully human body, and the book achieves the rare feat of making this surprisingly sensitive "corpse soldier" fully believable, morally and psychologically compelling. The chapters alternate between present tense narration of Breq's unfolding showdown with those responsible for the loss of her ship, and the backstory consisting of events some 20 years earlier that led to Breq's current quest for--justice is not quite the right word, since she is also seeking to atone for her past choices, and make sense of what has gone awry in her world. The writing is tremendously agile, easily leading the reader through the complexities of shared minds and intersecting time-frames (the individual ancillary is both "young" and unimaginably old, given its participation in the thought-processes of an AI thousands of years old). Leckie has a real gift for visualizing distinctive places and cultures rich in sensory detail, yet with a minimum of fuss. At the story's start Breq, an unlikely Don Quijote, picks up a most unpromising, infuriating Sancho Panza (who's been in stasis after losing her ship, but Breq still remembers, not pleasantly, from her rotation a thousand years earlier in Justice of Toren); by the end of the book their partnership has come to seem inevitable, and taught us a great deal about Breq's moral temper, and the cultural peculiarities of the Radch empire. The story provides a satisfying narrative arc, yet it also opens the gateway for a sequel. This second volume is about to be published, and I can't wait.
1900870
The amount of sci-fi available today is amazing...and what is truly amazing about this book is the new direction it goes with intelligent life and super intelligent people.  Space-time, wormholes, gravitic time dilation, death row inmates, and a decidedly dystopian vision of a  future United States.  I devoured this book in one sitting and look forward to book #2
3479871
Jason Halstead's Vitalis series (at least the first seven stories collected here) are brimming with mind-bending concepts and slam-bam action.  The main character is Kira, and while her story is one we've seen before (she doesn't remember who she is, but possesses amazing skills), the context of having her make an emergency landing on an uncharted planet, with the crew of her space ship, give it new context.  And that planet, in itself, is a remarkable creation.  While it offers a veritable Fountain of Youth, it also (logically) is teeming with predators who ALSO benefit from the restorative powers of the planet.  In other words, man is returned to his place on the food chain, and it isn't on top.

What's interesting is how the genre devolves, starting with a battle in space, and eventually stripping away technology until it becomes a veritable Tarzan adventure.  I love stories where the characters have to adapt to unfamiliar environments, and nowhere is that more literally true than here.  If I have one quibble, I just wish the installments were a little longer.  But at least collected together here, they almost read like long chapters of a book.

If you like the Dune series, give Jason Halstead's Vitalis series a try.  You can download the first in the series for free, and if you like it, this omnibus edition is a steal.  I'm looking forward to checking out the next installment.
2330399
Sins of the Father is an intricate and brilliantly crafted military scifi treat. I was held completely captive from page one, and was not disappointed once along the way. The plot had all the political intrigue, action, character and science I craved, and just when I thought I had it worked out, it expertly twisted in a different direction.
Just as Thomas Atherton's devious plans had infinite, unexpected layers, the story itself continued to peel back and deepen with each shift in the action.
I haven't been this entertained by a book in a very long time.
Superb.
1340778
From the frigid manipulations of the military-industrial complex  --  to the ethereal, rainbow-hued time-wielders known as the Custodians who traverse multi-planed universes to determine their fate  --  author Philip Margo has unleashed the definitive tome of our time.  The Null Quotient is, thankfully, not just the "doom point"; it is about erasing billion-year-old history so all life can get a fresh start.

This cream of modern sci-fi is a delicious buffet with something for everyone:  Believable, charismatic characters.  Provocative, uniquely themed chapters. Creative genius. Deep thought, yet page-turning thrills (beware what lurks in the frozen tundra of Alaska!).  Behind-the-scenes politics. Subtle, original wit.  Science, metaphysics, fantasy.  A diamond-mine of imaginative concepts.

Warning!  The Null Quotient will make you think. Dare to escape into the next reality that awaits humanity. Has Philip Margo inadvertently tapped into the true nature of existence with its myriad mysteries and dimensions? Higher-consciousness circles will be startled. This book goes beyond the Beyond, and is one to read and read again.  Hard to believe it's a novel.
4205427
I really enjoyed the first book, but II is richer, fuller, and continues the vivid image of a future universe that only M. Pax can construct. It's got everything I want: action, strong character, and PURE science-fiction goodness. It's really a perfect book, and I look forward to reading the next installation.
464391
What a fantastic adventure through a meticulously crafted world, as rich and full as any fantasy saga that I've come across. Melia has an obvious passion and skill at thinking outside the box of traditional sci-fi, while still sticking to the essential roots of great story-telling, making the drama about the characters, rather than on the stuff of pure imagination and future dreams. These two young men, torn from different cloth, surely, but still brutalized and challenged by the same man, makes for a fascinating discovery of self-worth and independence in both. I thoroughly enjoyed watching two disparate world clashing and learning to trust one another in the face of a more significant danger.

The story could be described as both a "buddy cop" romp and a space opera, and seamlessly tying those two personalities together, Melia has created something very special indeed. While it's certainly geared for young adults, it is one of the most complex and well-crafted YA sci-fi that I've come across, and I am always interested in reading new authors to the genre. You never know where the next great author will come from, but this demonstration of Melia's undeniable skills make her a top contender and a force to be reckoned with in this ever-changing area of literature.
4929686
It was with a degree of trepidation that I began reading Kryathaba Rising by William Bryan Miller. Fearful caution because, in the past, I have carefully avoided high tech and (what I call) hard-core science fiction as novels that I cant enjoy because I haven't the patience or inclination to wade through myriad paragraphs of detailed, mystifying science, regardless the scientific subdivision. My fears were realized in spades for the first three chapters as Mr. Miller laid the foundation for the story with complicated (for me) computer jargon and highly technical definitions/descriptions for the subterranean world in which this tale begins. Because the characters were developed quickly, I was very interested in their growth, so I continued to readevery worduntil suddenly, like the morning sun bursting over the top of a mountain top, everything became clear and the story, itself, assumed dominance. I was thoroughly hooked from that point onward.

Every character is exceedingly well developed and accurate to the wide variety of traits and characteristics common to the human psyche. (Subsequent to finishing the novel, I learned that Mr. Miller holds a degree in psychology.) The initial futuristic, post-apocalyptic world Mr. Miller creates is amazingly described, using all of the technical descriptive necessary while equalizing the difficult concepts with easy to understand narrative.  And thenwhat is already an addictive, believable story takes a side road into a fantasy world that, for the duration of the tale, runs concomitant to the initial futuristic plot. The original connection between these two worlds is clear; how they will interact as the characters and storyline develop remains to be seen in future episodes to the series, and therein, lies my single, critical comment.

I fully understand and applaud the use of cliff-hangars in novel series. With brilliant honesty, Mr. Miller explains the cliff-hangar ending in comments following the conclusion of the story. All well and goodbut for me, the cliffhanger conclusion was too steep. Still, though none of the story sub-plots was concluded and the point at which the story ends was, perhaps, not the best position, Kryathaba Rising stands an excellent chance of becoming an epic Sci-fi/Fantasy tale that I highly recommend. If only the second episode were readily available!
3692497
This book was such an enjoyable read  that, after I had finished it, I wished that there were more. Though 900 pages sounds like a lot, I was so immersed in the setting, characters, and story that they went by incredibly fast.

The main action begins when a couple of ordinary humans accidentally become embroiled in an interplanetary war spanning eons of time. They are taken to another planet by a mysterious time traveler.

The natives of the unfamiliar planet have produced an enlightened culture that has managed to mostly move beyond greed and violence, while elevating artistic achievement. There the main characters learn that the peaceful planet is threatened by aggressive humans, a species that, in the future, will take a turn toward indulging their destructive appetites for imperial domination.

I am afraid of giving away too many spoilers, but I want to make a few general observations. The prose is solid. It is clear and direct, yet manages to beautifully convey the setting, which the author knows well. Though the story drove my interest, the evocative imagery alone might have been enough to keep me turning pages.

As for the story, the author manages to weave together many recognizable science fiction and fantasy traditions  including super powers in such a way that the finished product comes across as fresh and thoughtful. Any fan of science fiction or fantasy will find a lot to enjoy here and should definitely check it out.
2997166
A beautifully and vibrantly conceived world and potently possible future. The author is a masterful writer who manages to infuse his words with adrenaline and motion. Some of Naam's writing, as when Sam first experiences Nexus 5, moves amazingly and fluidly from prose to poetry without losing a beat; that blew me away. That isn't to say his work is filled with poetry. Far from it. Most of the book is hard hitting well crafted prose. But like a movie which uses special effects sparingly but brilliantly he chooses his moments well. Dialogue is believable. The main characters are deeply and fully realized people. Easily one of the best writers of the genre.

More than cyberpunk or techno thriller, there is meaningful philosophy and wisdom woven into this book. Nexus is the work of a superb story teller.
1200805
Great science fiction opens your mind to new possibilities, ideas and concepts.  "Orion's Hounds" by Christopher L. Bennett is outstanding science fiction.  Ingenious and enthralling, "Orion's Hounds" balances scientific theory with character driven adventure in a vibrant story that challenges the Star Trek mythos.

Now that the Romulan storyline necessitated by the movie Star Trek: Nemesis has been wrapped up with the previous Titan novel The Red King, in Orion's Hounds the series can boldly go forward with original new adventures and Christopher L. Bennett has crafted the perfect story to do just that.

Bennett's prose is spellbinding.  The rich narrative enables the reader to clearly visualize some of the more bizarre alien species that populate Titan's crew and I really liked how the author took full advantage of character interactions to help build up a portrait of the varied cultures of the characters.  The story allows you to feel as if you're really beginning to know the characters and consequently you care more about them.

As satisfying as the character development is, it is the authors extremely vivid descriptions of the cosmozoans and the region of space in which they thrive that makes "Orion's Hounds" really stand out.  Bennett's first novel "Ex Machina" demonstrated his talent for creating alien species and in this novel he lets his ample imagination loose with the Pa'haquel, the species that hunt the star-jellies.

That the author found several ways to effortlessly pay tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation is just an added bonus when you're reading "Orion's Hounds" but best of all, on top of everything else, you're left feeling like you can't wait to meet up with these folks again.
1871761
Melissa Scott has crafted a beautifully unique world with its own rules and castes that are complicated but presented in a masterful way that makes it easy to delve right in. Silence Leigh is an amazing character (and yes, her unique name is commented on and explained in a really great way), as are her crewmates.

The act of space travel is explored here in a way that is rarely seen in sci-fi. Most franchises tend to just have a captain say "Bring me that horizon" and the ship goes. This novel makes it a more mechanical process, like the ancient mariners checking their sextants and gauging the winds before setting sail.

Parts of the story involving the ship, cargo, the crew, pirates, etc, reminded me of Firefly, but this novel was written fifteen years before the pilot of that show aired. So technically Firefly is reminiscent of THIS, but the entire book is a beautifully-formed creature all of its own.

Very glad this trilogy is being released in Kindle editions. It deserves a place among the pantheon of great speculative fiction.