BOOK REVIEW: Peter F. Hamilton's THE TEMPORAL VOID

Peter F. Hamilton's The Temporal Void is Book 2 in his Void Trilogy. Hamilton is one of my favorite authors, primarily for his Night's Dawn series and the Commonwealth Saga (Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained). The first book in the Void Trilogy was The Dreaming Void and was released in the United States in March 2008. This second book was released in March 2009. The third (and final) book, The Evolutionary Void is expected to be released August 31, 2010.

The Void Trilogy is unusual for Hamilton, because it combines elements of fantasy and hard space opera. The setting is fifteen hundred years in the future from the events that are depicted in the Commonwealth Saga books Judas Unchained and Pandora's Star, although some of the major characters from those books are still alive (thanks to rejuvenation technology), like (my personal favorite) Paula Myo, the openly gay Oscar Monroe and Ozzie (who has become so famous his name is a regular outburst).

The Temporal Void continues immediately after the The Dreaming Void and dispenses with the background details that were necessary in that initial outing to acclimatize the reader to Hamilton's intricately detailed universe.

The best features of The Dreaming Void are included in its sequel: the continuing saga of Eldeard Waterwalker, the development of his telekinetic and telepathic powers and his ascension through the society of the medieval city-state of Makkathran.

Additionally, the space opera components of the story are stronger, but as varied as ever.
Happily, more time is spent with old familiar characters like Investigator Paula Myo and Senator Justine Burnelli, and new characters like the memory-wiped assassin Aaron and the fugitive Second Dreamer Araminta begin to intrigue and impress.

The Dreaming Void fulfills the promise of the first book and sets up what should be a thrilling conclusion in the final book, The Evolutionary Void. I can't wait!

Hardcover: 736 pages.
Publisher: Del Rey.
Date: March 24, 2009.

PLOT: A+.
IMAGERY: A.
IMPACT: A-.
WRITING: A.

OVERALL GRADE: A.