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Fallen Dragon
From science fiction master Peter F. Hamilton comes a standalone novel that is “a fascinating, compulsively readable clash of hardware and ideals”, political intrigue, and space opera at its best (Kirkus Reviews (starred review)).
In the distant future, corporations have become sustainable communities with their own militaries, and corporate goals have essentially replaced political ideology. On a youthful, rebellious impulse, Lawrence joined the military of a corporation that he now recognizes to be ruthless and exploitative. His only hope for escape is to earn enough money to buy his place in a better corporation.
When his platoon is sent to a distant colony to quell a local resistance effort, it seems like a stroke of amazing fortune, and Lawrence plans to rob the colony of their fabled gemstone, the Fallen Dragon, to get the money he needs. However, he soon discovers that the Fallen Dragon is not a gemstone at all, but an alien life form that the local colonists have been protecting since it crashed in their area.
Now, Lawrence must decide if he will steal the alien to exploit the use of its inherent biotechnical processes — which far exceed anything humans are capable of — or if he will help the Resistance get the alien home.
In the distant future, corporations have become sustainable communities with their own militaries, and corporate goals have essentially replaced political ideology. On a youthful, rebellious impulse, Lawrence joined the military of a corporation that he now recognizes to be ruthless and exploitative. His only hope for escape is to earn enough money to buy his place in a better corporation.
When his platoon is sent to a distant colony to quell a local resistance effort, it seems like a stroke of amazing fortune, and Lawrence plans to rob the colony of their fabled gemstone, the Fallen Dragon, to get the money he needs. However, he soon discovers that the Fallen Dragon is not a gemstone at all, but an alien life form that the local colonists have been protecting since it crashed in their area.
Now, Lawrence must decide if he will steal the alien to exploit the use of its inherent biotechnical processes — which far exceed anything humans are capable of — or if he will help the Resistance get the alien home.
808 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
450 people are currently reading
7245 people want to read
About the author
Peter F. Hamilton
205 books10.2k followersPeter F. Hamilton is a British science fiction author. He is best known for writing space opera. As of the publication of his tenth novel in 2004, his works had sold over two million copies worldwide, making him Britain's biggest-selling science fiction author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 527 reviews
August 31, 2017
hi there! *
review : Hamilton is a surprisingly contemplative writer in this rare (only?) standalone novel. he layers diverse and often opposing ideas about identity, ambition, globalization, colonialism, and corporate (ir)responsibility atop a fun and compelling narrative chock-full of detailed world-building. the story pits a revolutionary against a disgruntled corporate mercenary; neither are mere talking heads for their respective perspectives on life and how to live it, both continually confound expectations. the author strives, as always, for an even-handed approach, and succeeds. the book also features a lovely Golden Age-style science fantasy that has major impact on the main story surrounding it - a nice precursor to the fascinating parallel fantasy narrative he embedded within his Void series. a very enjoyable novel despite its frequent inconsistencies and occasional missteps in characterization.
you probably should just skip the rambling that follows.
anyway... you're a regular sort of person who likes the occasional bout of binging on quality and maybe not-so-quality tv, right? don't even talk to me if you are the sort of person who doesn't even own a tv because of whatever reason. i admire your strength but you may as well be from mars. anyway, let's say you like to binge-watch some tv. that's a large group of people.
ok let's narrow it down some. are you also a fan of binge-watching science fiction or fantasy tv shows? I'm not talking high quality stuff like say Battlestar Galactica or Westworld or the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones, but something a bit more low-brow like um Farscape. that's probably a smaller group of people. but still a big bunch of people!
can you enjoy binging on those tv shows despite the internal inconsistencies and the often flat but fun characters and the sometimes eye-rolling melodrama? you are entering into a different world when you binge-watch so you have to suspend some disbelief. the main thing is that the person who created these worlds really believes in them, in their product, in the world they are creating. there may be irony, but not so much irony that distance is being created between viewer and world. there may be a central narrative, but because these are 12-26 episode tv serials, the narrative is just one thing of many things, and many of those many things are about building a world and giving life to all of its settings. ok, that may be a slightly smaller group of people, but that's still a lot of people.
A Recommendation for This Group of People
Read This Book!
also, don't complain about its length. PLEASE. if you can spend 12-26 hours binge-watching a tv show, you should be down for a big fat doorstopper of a book like this one. live in its world for chrissakes! it's a lot of fun and you get to live in it for a whole bunch of hours. stop being so impatient and stop being so hooked on that central narrative. it's not all about the narrative all the time! it's about living in a place.
* drunk review
review : Hamilton is a surprisingly contemplative writer in this rare (only?) standalone novel. he layers diverse and often opposing ideas about identity, ambition, globalization, colonialism, and corporate (ir)responsibility atop a fun and compelling narrative chock-full of detailed world-building. the story pits a revolutionary against a disgruntled corporate mercenary; neither are mere talking heads for their respective perspectives on life and how to live it, both continually confound expectations. the author strives, as always, for an even-handed approach, and succeeds. the book also features a lovely Golden Age-style science fantasy that has major impact on the main story surrounding it - a nice precursor to the fascinating parallel fantasy narrative he embedded within his Void series. a very enjoyable novel despite its frequent inconsistencies and occasional missteps in characterization.
you probably should just skip the rambling that follows.
anyway... you're a regular sort of person who likes the occasional bout of binging on quality and maybe not-so-quality tv, right? don't even talk to me if you are the sort of person who doesn't even own a tv because of whatever reason. i admire your strength but you may as well be from mars. anyway, let's say you like to binge-watch some tv. that's a large group of people.
ok let's narrow it down some. are you also a fan of binge-watching science fiction or fantasy tv shows? I'm not talking high quality stuff like say Battlestar Galactica or Westworld or the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones, but something a bit more low-brow like um Farscape. that's probably a smaller group of people. but still a big bunch of people!
can you enjoy binging on those tv shows despite the internal inconsistencies and the often flat but fun characters and the sometimes eye-rolling melodrama? you are entering into a different world when you binge-watch so you have to suspend some disbelief. the main thing is that the person who created these worlds really believes in them, in their product, in the world they are creating. there may be irony, but not so much irony that distance is being created between viewer and world. there may be a central narrative, but because these are 12-26 episode tv serials, the narrative is just one thing of many things, and many of those many things are about building a world and giving life to all of its settings. ok, that may be a slightly smaller group of people, but that's still a lot of people.
A Recommendation for This Group of People
Read This Book!
also, don't complain about its length. PLEASE. if you can spend 12-26 hours binge-watching a tv show, you should be down for a big fat doorstopper of a book like this one. live in its world for chrissakes! it's a lot of fun and you get to live in it for a whole bunch of hours. stop being so impatient and stop being so hooked on that central narrative. it's not all about the narrative all the time! it's about living in a place.
* drunk review
September 26, 2012
Fallen Dragon is the only real stand alone space opera that Peter F Hamilton has written. His series' to date are huge multi-volume affairs that are as impressive as they are ambitious. Therefore, taking his skill and applying it to a stand alone book was always going to have an interesting result. Not only does he manage to keep the sense of wonder that he has in his trilogies and series, but he does so with flair and style, bringing the military SF of old up to speed in only the way he can.
The universe that Hamilton has created here is bleak and unforgiving. Interstellar travel is expensive and trade between planets is impracticable, never really justifying the cost. There is travel between planets, though not very often and usually at great cost to those wishing to make the journey. The companies that started and funded colonies find themselves in massive debt because of this - there is no way for them to maintain them during the phases of development require until they are fully self sustaining. Enter companies like Zantiu-Braun, they buy these colony worlds from the debt ridden founding companies so they can 'realise assets' from the planets they take control of. Essentially, it's piracy. Their security division supplies the brawn to enforce cooperation and they walk away with as much as they can.
Technology wise, Fallen Dragon is a true military sf novel. The skin suits (and their predecessors) are awesome and show just how unstoppable the technology can be, even if it has it's weaknesses when put against superior technology. The ftl of the starships, and that of the one-shot wormholes fits well into a story that has humanity at the top of their technological level. There isn't too much in here that is surprising, most of the tech that's in Fallen Dragon is a believable extrapolation of the technology of today, and applied well throughout.
As for the story, it's a very character focused affair with Lawrence Newton the main protagonist. The novel is split into three distinct sections - the here and now following Newton and the asset realisation of Thallspring; Newton's past and the events leading up to the present; and a plot thread that follows Denise and the attempts of the Thallspring natives (or at least a select few) to disrupt the operations of Zantiu-Braun to their own ends. Both the present story focusing on Newton and Denise run side by side and are interspersed with Newton's history and previous missions.
Hamilton is very capable at melding these stories to form a coherent whole and manages to stay focused on the plots at hand, never straying into needless side plots. There are times when his storytelling prowess is at its best - the sections where Denise tells a tale of the ancient Ring Empire springs instantly to mind - and I found Fallen Dragon to be a most enjoyable story. Lawrence Newton is a character with motivations that are relatable, although sometimes I questioned why he acted in the way he did during his formative years, but at the end of the day that's why the story is successful - it manages to convey a real sense of character growth which isn't limited to Newton. Going into too much detail will take away from the enjoyment of the novel, and enjoyment is what this novel is about.
Personally I find Fallen Dragon to one of Peter's strongest novels to date and is certainly the starting point I would recommend to anyone new to his work. While it doesn't have the scope of his previous Night's Dawn Trilogy, nor the cast of characters I've come to expect from his latest works (the Commonwealth Saga and Void Trilogy), it delivers a solid and thoroughly enjoyable story. Well worth the effort and time, and very, very highly recommended.
The universe that Hamilton has created here is bleak and unforgiving. Interstellar travel is expensive and trade between planets is impracticable, never really justifying the cost. There is travel between planets, though not very often and usually at great cost to those wishing to make the journey. The companies that started and funded colonies find themselves in massive debt because of this - there is no way for them to maintain them during the phases of development require until they are fully self sustaining. Enter companies like Zantiu-Braun, they buy these colony worlds from the debt ridden founding companies so they can 'realise assets' from the planets they take control of. Essentially, it's piracy. Their security division supplies the brawn to enforce cooperation and they walk away with as much as they can.
Technology wise, Fallen Dragon is a true military sf novel. The skin suits (and their predecessors) are awesome and show just how unstoppable the technology can be, even if it has it's weaknesses when put against superior technology. The ftl of the starships, and that of the one-shot wormholes fits well into a story that has humanity at the top of their technological level. There isn't too much in here that is surprising, most of the tech that's in Fallen Dragon is a believable extrapolation of the technology of today, and applied well throughout.
As for the story, it's a very character focused affair with Lawrence Newton the main protagonist. The novel is split into three distinct sections - the here and now following Newton and the asset realisation of Thallspring; Newton's past and the events leading up to the present; and a plot thread that follows Denise and the attempts of the Thallspring natives (or at least a select few) to disrupt the operations of Zantiu-Braun to their own ends. Both the present story focusing on Newton and Denise run side by side and are interspersed with Newton's history and previous missions.
Hamilton is very capable at melding these stories to form a coherent whole and manages to stay focused on the plots at hand, never straying into needless side plots. There are times when his storytelling prowess is at its best - the sections where Denise tells a tale of the ancient Ring Empire springs instantly to mind - and I found Fallen Dragon to be a most enjoyable story. Lawrence Newton is a character with motivations that are relatable, although sometimes I questioned why he acted in the way he did during his formative years, but at the end of the day that's why the story is successful - it manages to convey a real sense of character growth which isn't limited to Newton. Going into too much detail will take away from the enjoyment of the novel, and enjoyment is what this novel is about.
Personally I find Fallen Dragon to one of Peter's strongest novels to date and is certainly the starting point I would recommend to anyone new to his work. While it doesn't have the scope of his previous Night's Dawn Trilogy, nor the cast of characters I've come to expect from his latest works (the Commonwealth Saga and Void Trilogy), it delivers a solid and thoroughly enjoyable story. Well worth the effort and time, and very, very highly recommended.
August 29, 2016
Updated from four to five stars after I couldn't get this book out of my head. This one has stuck with me and that, for me, is usually a clear indicator of a five star book
I've no idea how to describe this book. I'm not much of a 'hard sci-fi' fan and there were definitely parts of this book where I switched off. There were also entire chapters I think that could've been removed.
This led to me taking ages to finish the damn thing but I got there in the end!
With that being said, I did really like the world(s) building and the arguments made by the book. I'll definitely be checking out more of Hamiltons work.
Characters are very likeable, although some are cardboard. Strong ending. Interesting twists and turns. Well worth a read.
I've no idea how to describe this book. I'm not much of a 'hard sci-fi' fan and there were definitely parts of this book where I switched off. There were also entire chapters I think that could've been removed.
This led to me taking ages to finish the damn thing but I got there in the end!
With that being said, I did really like the world(s) building and the arguments made by the book. I'll definitely be checking out more of Hamiltons work.
Characters are very likeable, although some are cardboard. Strong ending. Interesting twists and turns. Well worth a read.
August 25, 2016
By the time I finished it, I hated this book and it's put me off reading anything else by Hamilton.
The low points as I recall them with regret:
* The conflict filling up the first 80% of the book isn't what it's actually about. The story transitions (rather sloppily) to another plot entirely in that last remnant with only vague foreshadowing, leaving the first unresolved. The author probably thought this was clever, but it's actually frustrating.
* The protagonist is a petulant privileged man-child actively opposed to personal growth who, when
* The tone of the book is consistently cynical and pessimistic, repeatedly fumbling into a weak "screw it, why bother" message.
* There are long pointless digressions, the worst being a several-hundred page flashback to a farm on Earth adding no new insights and having no bearing on the rest of the story.
* Probably the most maddening thing about this book is that it has several interesting ideas worth building a good story around, but they get lost in the meandering text. This manuscript desperately needed the attentions of an ax-wielding editor to hack it down to something useful and box the author's ears until he got over his indulgent mid-life crisis sulk.
The low points as I recall them with regret:
* The conflict filling up the first 80% of the book isn't what it's actually about. The story transitions (rather sloppily) to another plot entirely in that last remnant with only vague foreshadowing, leaving the first unresolved. The author probably thought this was clever, but it's actually frustrating.
* The protagonist is a petulant privileged man-child actively opposed to personal growth who, when
* The tone of the book is consistently cynical and pessimistic, repeatedly fumbling into a weak "screw it, why bother" message.
* There are long pointless digressions, the worst being a several-hundred page flashback to a farm on Earth adding no new insights and having no bearing on the rest of the story.
* Probably the most maddening thing about this book is that it has several interesting ideas worth building a good story around, but they get lost in the meandering text. This manuscript desperately needed the attentions of an ax-wielding editor to hack it down to something useful and box the author's ears until he got over his indulgent mid-life crisis sulk.
May 24, 2010
Unusually for Hamilton, Fallen Dragon is not part of a trilogy, and I think that the book gains a lot for standing on its own.
Enjoyable plotting, with strong character development, does start a bit slow, but it doesn't suffer from the science-heavy focus of some of his other work. Interestingly, the science that is present focuses more on biology and gene therapy/adaptation rather than physics.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, since I'll likely ruin the surprises, but I did enjoy the ending which resolved the major issues without answering every single question. There isn't a neat "happy" ending, but rather a satisfying one.
Enjoyable plotting, with strong character development, does start a bit slow, but it doesn't suffer from the science-heavy focus of some of his other work. Interestingly, the science that is present focuses more on biology and gene therapy/adaptation rather than physics.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, since I'll likely ruin the surprises, but I did enjoy the ending which resolved the major issues without answering every single question. There isn't a neat "happy" ending, but rather a satisfying one.
July 17, 2022
Novela con varias tramas coherentes interconectadas, tecnicismos tecnológicos que suenan muy coherentes, personajes convincentes y dilemas éticos en el proceso de colonización humana del espacio que me han tenido enganchada.
Muy buena novela.
Muy buena novela.
October 11, 2011
I enjoyed the ride of this book, but I wouldn't read it again. Written after the Confederation books, it is light years better than those, but not nearly as good or well-constructed as the Commonwealth books, and takes place in a universe unrelated to either, but still suffers from Hamilton's two frustrating habits: 1) Having the same technology in his different universes just called something else; and, 2) WAY too much backstory and verisimilitude (there is realism and there is technobabble that we have no reference for or care about).
This book is actually two stories mushed together unsuccessfully. The back cover copy makes the story sound like a high-stakes, high-tech evil corporate treasure hunt. ERRRR. The first briefest mention of the book's namesake (that you gather from the back cover is the treasure) doesn't even appear until into the 500s, and doesn't actually impact the plot until the last 150 pages. So what the heck is most of the book about!? It's about a future where corporations control humanity's entire culture, down to what we eat, and have been responsible for setting up colonies all over our little area of the galaxy. Once they realize there is no money in GIVING people a new home, they return to their colonies every so often to "realize" their "assets" and rape and pillage the peaceful planets that just want to be left alone. The end. Plenty of compelling material there. Now, Mr. Hamilton, take your little treasure hunt idea and write a different novel, because it too is a compelling story with lots of material and things to say about our society. The two do not work together, or perhaps they would have if Hamilton had been better at giving equal time to both, but the thing you think early in the story is going to be the "fallen dragon", really has no relation to it all.
But all that said, I did enjoy the ride, but not nearly as much as the ride of the Commonwealth books.
This book is actually two stories mushed together unsuccessfully. The back cover copy makes the story sound like a high-stakes, high-tech evil corporate treasure hunt. ERRRR. The first briefest mention of the book's namesake (that you gather from the back cover is the treasure) doesn't even appear until into the 500s, and doesn't actually impact the plot until the last 150 pages. So what the heck is most of the book about!? It's about a future where corporations control humanity's entire culture, down to what we eat, and have been responsible for setting up colonies all over our little area of the galaxy. Once they realize there is no money in GIVING people a new home, they return to their colonies every so often to "realize" their "assets" and rape and pillage the peaceful planets that just want to be left alone. The end. Plenty of compelling material there. Now, Mr. Hamilton, take your little treasure hunt idea and write a different novel, because it too is a compelling story with lots of material and things to say about our society. The two do not work together, or perhaps they would have if Hamilton had been better at giving equal time to both, but the thing you think early in the story is going to be the "fallen dragon", really has no relation to it all.
But all that said, I did enjoy the ride, but not nearly as much as the ride of the Commonwealth books.
December 20, 2015
I don’t think I will ever cease to be amazed by how Hamilton succeeds in constructing his universes. It’s like he’s living there and paints what he sees in front of his eyes - the myriad details, the colors, the smells – all so real that you cannot but be transposed in that particular world. I should be used to this by now, having read most of his epic operas, but I’m not; and it’s an awesome feeling having the same thrill when starting one of his stories.
Compared to the others, this one has a register change: instead of focusing mostly on the environment and technologies, here we have as main focus the story of Lawrence Newton.
It is a story about love, friendship, growing up, making mistakes and having second chances.
A bit too long (some parts of Newton’s adolescence are too stretched out and would have been much better had they been shorter) but the events and the ending worth the journey.
Compared to the others, this one has a register change: instead of focusing mostly on the environment and technologies, here we have as main focus the story of Lawrence Newton.
It is a story about love, friendship, growing up, making mistakes and having second chances.
A bit too long (some parts of Newton’s adolescence are too stretched out and would have been much better had they been shorter) but the events and the ending worth the journey.
August 5, 2017
This book started out with excellent world building and characterization. The plot shifts from one group of people to another, as is usual in this author's stories, but it maintains a purposeful continuity and I felt like the plot was drawing tighter and tighter as the story progressed.
The initial part of the book is developed through flashbacks of the protagonist Lawrence combined with his current military type trip to a planet and it works well. Lawrence is indirectly characterized effectively as is Denise, another main character. The two seem on a collision course as the story progresses.
Usually I am not a fan of flashback literature, but in this case it works well. With this author I have often found deep plotlines, intricate world building, and amazing physics that grip me with the sheer enormity of their ideas, yet they are often combined with slowdowns in the story that force me to skim sections of the plot.
This novel did not appear to have any such slowdowns until the last 100 pages or so which I found difficult to read. Maybe it is just me, but the ending felt rushed and contrived compared to the rest of the novel which methodically works its way through the story, often digressing into arguments and theories about life itself which I found every bit as interesting as the main plot. Clearly the author has spent time thinking these types of things through and it shows. His interest was contagious for me. Yet when it came to boiling the plot down to the climax, I thought it felt slow and a bit predictable. The denouement seemed to reveal a plot similar to The Night's Dawn series, but that story stretches across a massively larger scale of three books that average around 1000 pages each.
I thought it was on its way to 4.5 stars, but the ending left me seeing this book as a 3.5. It's worth the read and shows a modern master of the genre at work.
The initial part of the book is developed through flashbacks of the protagonist Lawrence combined with his current military type trip to a planet and it works well. Lawrence is indirectly characterized effectively as is Denise, another main character. The two seem on a collision course as the story progresses.
Usually I am not a fan of flashback literature, but in this case it works well. With this author I have often found deep plotlines, intricate world building, and amazing physics that grip me with the sheer enormity of their ideas, yet they are often combined with slowdowns in the story that force me to skim sections of the plot.
This novel did not appear to have any such slowdowns until the last 100 pages or so which I found difficult to read. Maybe it is just me, but the ending felt rushed and contrived compared to the rest of the novel which methodically works its way through the story, often digressing into arguments and theories about life itself which I found every bit as interesting as the main plot. Clearly the author has spent time thinking these types of things through and it shows. His interest was contagious for me. Yet when it came to boiling the plot down to the climax, I thought it felt slow and a bit predictable. The denouement seemed to reveal a plot similar to The Night's Dawn series, but that story stretches across a massively larger scale of three books that average around 1000 pages each.
I thought it was on its way to 4.5 stars, but the ending left me seeing this book as a 3.5. It's worth the read and shows a modern master of the genre at work.
July 20, 2022
Como dice la novela al principio, la culpa de la mayoría de las cosas en el universo es el dinero
Y el dinero es el problema de la exploración espacial a mediados del siglo XXIV. La exploración espacial y la colonización simplemente no se pagan por sí mismas. Los viajes espaciales son muy caros.Las colonias tardan siglos en pagar a los inversores. No compensa el comercio entre colonias.Para empeorar las cosas, algunos se declaran independientes de sus fundadores corporativos en la Tierra. ¿La solución? La "misión de recuperación de activos", con la cual se legaliza un tipo de piratería donde los ejércitos corporativos se precipitan sobre las colonias que ellos mismos ayudaron a fundar para saquearlas y recuperar la inversión
Lawrence Newton es sargento en un ejército corporativo y, cuando se entera de una misión inminente al planeta Thallspring, comienza a planificar como conseguir sus propios activos privados....su saqueo personal. Mientras en la colonia de Thallspring, vamos viendo el desarrollo de una resistencia local (en princio condenada al fracaso, como todas ¿o no?) encabezada por Denise Ebourn, que es mucho más que la simple narradora y la maestra de escuela que aparenta ser.
Alternando con esta trama está la historia en flash back de cómo Newton, hijo de la élite corporativa en la colonia Amethi, huyó de su hogar después de una amarga traición. Estimulado por un amado "i-drama" (tipo de serie del futuro) de ciencia ficción, sueña con convertirse en un explorador de naves estelares. Veinte años después, este príncipe corporativo exiliado es un mercenario corporativo y sigue soñando. En contraposición a las aventuras de Newton, están las historias que la maestra Ebourn cuenta para sus alumnos, sobre el Príncipe Mozark del Imperio del Anillo muerto hace mucho tiempo y las civilizaciones que encuentra en su búsqueda del propósito de la vida y qué curso debe adoptar su gente.
Por lo tanto, la novela no solo resulta estar llena de secuencias de combate y artimañas tecnológicas típicamente claras y emocionantes de Hamilton, sino que también es una mirada a las limitaciones económicas en los viajes espaciales y la colonización, la expansión de la unicultura corporativa en la Tierra y en las colonias del hombre, el propósito los humanos deben encontrar en sus vidas a medida que avanza la tecnología, y la influencia de los romances de ciencia ficción en nuestro futuro.
Esta novela no te sumerge en un mundo tan a fondo como lo hizo la serie Night's Dawn de Hamilton simplemente porque tiene menos páginas, pero Hamilton presta mucha atención a su tecnología y economía.Buena lectura y muy recomendable. Trama sonora y personajes. Suficiente acción, pero no demasiada. Tecnología convincente. Relaciones bien trabajadas.
Y las últimas cien páginas de esta novela cambiarán por completo tu percepción de lo que ha pasado antes. Una verdadera joya.
Y el dinero es el problema de la exploración espacial a mediados del siglo XXIV. La exploración espacial y la colonización simplemente no se pagan por sí mismas. Los viajes espaciales son muy caros.Las colonias tardan siglos en pagar a los inversores. No compensa el comercio entre colonias.Para empeorar las cosas, algunos se declaran independientes de sus fundadores corporativos en la Tierra. ¿La solución? La "misión de recuperación de activos", con la cual se legaliza un tipo de piratería donde los ejércitos corporativos se precipitan sobre las colonias que ellos mismos ayudaron a fundar para saquearlas y recuperar la inversión
Lawrence Newton es sargento en un ejército corporativo y, cuando se entera de una misión inminente al planeta Thallspring, comienza a planificar como conseguir sus propios activos privados....su saqueo personal. Mientras en la colonia de Thallspring, vamos viendo el desarrollo de una resistencia local (en princio condenada al fracaso, como todas ¿o no?) encabezada por Denise Ebourn, que es mucho más que la simple narradora y la maestra de escuela que aparenta ser.
Alternando con esta trama está la historia en flash back de cómo Newton, hijo de la élite corporativa en la colonia Amethi, huyó de su hogar después de una amarga traición. Estimulado por un amado "i-drama" (tipo de serie del futuro) de ciencia ficción, sueña con convertirse en un explorador de naves estelares. Veinte años después, este príncipe corporativo exiliado es un mercenario corporativo y sigue soñando. En contraposición a las aventuras de Newton, están las historias que la maestra Ebourn cuenta para sus alumnos, sobre el Príncipe Mozark del Imperio del Anillo muerto hace mucho tiempo y las civilizaciones que encuentra en su búsqueda del propósito de la vida y qué curso debe adoptar su gente.
Por lo tanto, la novela no solo resulta estar llena de secuencias de combate y artimañas tecnológicas típicamente claras y emocionantes de Hamilton, sino que también es una mirada a las limitaciones económicas en los viajes espaciales y la colonización, la expansión de la unicultura corporativa en la Tierra y en las colonias del hombre, el propósito los humanos deben encontrar en sus vidas a medida que avanza la tecnología, y la influencia de los romances de ciencia ficción en nuestro futuro.
Esta novela no te sumerge en un mundo tan a fondo como lo hizo la serie Night's Dawn de Hamilton simplemente porque tiene menos páginas, pero Hamilton presta mucha atención a su tecnología y economía.Buena lectura y muy recomendable. Trama sonora y personajes. Suficiente acción, pero no demasiada. Tecnología convincente. Relaciones bien trabajadas.
Y las últimas cien páginas de esta novela cambiarán por completo tu percepción de lo que ha pasado antes. Una verdadera joya.
June 26, 2024
This is a rare one-off story for Hamilton, better known for his door-stopped duologies and trilogies set in the Commonwealth or the Confederation. The world here becomes a bit like that of the Commonwealth towards the end. As usual with Hamilton, the female characters tend to be pretty sexualized and less developed than the male characters. The action and tech are fun and there is plenty of action. I also appreciated the not-so-subtle critique of colonialism and late-20th century capitalism that was completely unexpected based on the previous books I read of Hamilton. This would have been a 4- or 5-star read, but I felt that the titular dragon was barely described and only got the stage at the very end of the book. The conclusion felt truly rushed (maybe his editor was pressuring him on page count?) and it just spoiled the overall effect for me.
October 11, 2020
Leído en Marzo de 2011
576 páginas (el libro de tapa dura) de CF que tiene un poco de todo : motivaciones éticas, algún personaje logrado (no todos), avances tecnológicos, distintos mundos y sociedades ... vamos, un compendio de lo que es la CF.
El notón que le he puesto es porque, además de todo lo anterior, tiene un desarrollo que engancha, ágil, que se lee con placer. No creo que decepcione a ningún aficionado a la CF.
576 páginas (el libro de tapa dura) de CF que tiene un poco de todo : motivaciones éticas, algún personaje logrado (no todos), avances tecnológicos, distintos mundos y sociedades ... vamos, un compendio de lo que es la CF.
El notón que le he puesto es porque, además de todo lo anterior, tiene un desarrollo que engancha, ágil, que se lee con placer. No creo que decepcione a ningún aficionado a la CF.
April 26, 2012
I stopped reading this ... Hamilton got a bit obsessive with the ... ahem ... bedroom scenes. The plot is very slow-moving and held no interest for me. There seemed to be no real menace, no threat.
April 17, 2018
2 1/2 stars
OK to good but mostly OK.
One of my husband's favorite books. He was doing a reread so I decided to read along to be able to talk about it. Well, it certainly is not a favorite for me.
We've got 4 stories going on. 1. The fable of the prince that Denise tells the children, 2. Lawrence's history from childhood, first love, new life in the Z-B, and new love kind of. 3. Denise and her fighting the Z-B pirates coming back to raid her home with guerilla tactics herself. 4. Lawrence current situation raiding Fallspring under the law but trying to get his too as the first chapter shows.
These four stories continue to interrupt one another in jarring ways. Some of the stories drag and have tiring sports and sex described that just add pages. We finally see how they might interact somewhat but... over 1/2 way through.
Then we get all the horrid, forced ways to fight each other. I get all these tactics by both sides and hate them and wish any one of these people were actually kind of good. But no, they are all pretty bad. I'm over 1/2 way through and have to take another break. Too much pussy and fucking talk to make the guys look horrid, which they are since they don't think much of what they actually signed up for with Z-B. Cogs in the machine. **sigh** I'm waiting for the great scifi futuristic interesting things, but instead there is a lot of freaking politics, corporate politics. And sex in a very male centric view.
So the last 10% is a good story line but the characters, for me, are still irredeemable. The last 100 pages don't make up for the 700 of droning mostly on corporate politics, relationships that Lawrence has. I guess trying to make his character grow, it doesn't as he just goes back to the beginning to start over. Maybe he will have a happier life, we don't find out. Denise ends up in the same situation teaching kids. Maybe she is safer, maybe not. Simon is still horrid and should be shot himself, along with his clone. The dragons are strange but wondrous creatures and I don't see them having no judgment. Just never got there.
So, OK to good 2 1/2 stars, 1/2 star for the ending but pretty much just OK and doesn't make me want to read any more of this favorite author of my hubby. :-) Everyone see it differently and we had a great discussion about it. Still I'm not bumping it up, disjointed timeline, too many POVs and too many back stories that went on too long.
OK to good but mostly OK.
One of my husband's favorite books. He was doing a reread so I decided to read along to be able to talk about it. Well, it certainly is not a favorite for me.
We've got 4 stories going on. 1. The fable of the prince that Denise tells the children, 2. Lawrence's history from childhood, first love, new life in the Z-B, and new love kind of. 3. Denise and her fighting the Z-B pirates coming back to raid her home with guerilla tactics herself. 4. Lawrence current situation raiding Fallspring under the law but trying to get his too as the first chapter shows.
These four stories continue to interrupt one another in jarring ways. Some of the stories drag and have tiring sports and sex described that just add pages. We finally see how they might interact somewhat but... over 1/2 way through.
Then we get all the horrid, forced ways to fight each other. I get all these tactics by both sides and hate them and wish any one of these people were actually kind of good. But no, they are all pretty bad. I'm over 1/2 way through and have to take another break. Too much pussy and fucking talk to make the guys look horrid, which they are since they don't think much of what they actually signed up for with Z-B. Cogs in the machine. **sigh** I'm waiting for the great scifi futuristic interesting things, but instead there is a lot of freaking politics, corporate politics. And sex in a very male centric view.
So the last 10% is a good story line but the characters, for me, are still irredeemable. The last 100 pages don't make up for the 700 of droning mostly on corporate politics, relationships that Lawrence has. I guess trying to make his character grow, it doesn't as he just goes back to the beginning to start over. Maybe he will have a happier life, we don't find out. Denise ends up in the same situation teaching kids. Maybe she is safer, maybe not. Simon is still horrid and should be shot himself, along with his clone. The dragons are strange but wondrous creatures and I don't see them having no judgment. Just never got there.
So, OK to good 2 1/2 stars, 1/2 star for the ending but pretty much just OK and doesn't make me want to read any more of this favorite author of my hubby. :-) Everyone see it differently and we had a great discussion about it. Still I'm not bumping it up, disjointed timeline, too many POVs and too many back stories that went on too long.
September 1, 2009
So I bought this book because I was interested in Peter Hamilton's writing (primarily The Reality Dysfunction) and this book was available on the Bargain Bin for $6.
Having read it, I would say it was easily worth the full price. Fallen Dragon is a great mix of military sci fi, politics, moral ambiguity, and a little bit of human drama to bind the whole thing together.
The book follows Lawrence Newton in the past and the present as he grows up, falls in love, has his heart broken, joins a corporate military, and then ... (no spoilers here.) During his time in the military, he goes on "asset realization" missions where the corporation he works for goes out to the stars and takes "dividends" from colony worlds that the corporation owns. That's where the military part comes in.
There's also a lot of interesting discourse on human nature, espeically greed, but also on counter cultures, the poverty cycle, and whether history truly is cyclical.
The last thing I absolutely loved about this book is how interrelated the story is. Things happen to the main character in his early life that are mirrored later in life. Things happened far in the past that are mirrored in the present. It's just a wonderfully thought out narrative.
Having read it, I would say it was easily worth the full price. Fallen Dragon is a great mix of military sci fi, politics, moral ambiguity, and a little bit of human drama to bind the whole thing together.
The book follows Lawrence Newton in the past and the present as he grows up, falls in love, has his heart broken, joins a corporate military, and then ... (no spoilers here.) During his time in the military, he goes on "asset realization" missions where the corporation he works for goes out to the stars and takes "dividends" from colony worlds that the corporation owns. That's where the military part comes in.
There's also a lot of interesting discourse on human nature, espeically greed, but also on counter cultures, the poverty cycle, and whether history truly is cyclical.
The last thing I absolutely loved about this book is how interrelated the story is. Things happen to the main character in his early life that are mirrored later in life. Things happened far in the past that are mirrored in the present. It's just a wonderfully thought out narrative.
December 23, 2021
Mi s-a părut excepțională.
Corporația Zantiu-Braun jefuiește periodic planetele colonizate de oameni, colectând și copiind bunuri realizate de acestea. Procesul se face în urma unei ocupații militare. Pe una dintre planete, corporația întâlnește o mișcare de rezistență pe care nu o poate nici anihila, nici expune. Iar ceea ce, la început, pare doar o revoltă, s-ar putea să ascundă un secret formidabil.
Parcă e greu să accept la Hamilton o acțiune care se limitează la o singură carte. Evident că, pe un spațiu așa mic, nu poate să-și desfășoare artileria care-l face atât de deosebit în SF-ul actual. Dar tot spectaculos rămâne. Ideile din carte sunt mișto, firele narative bine creionate și împletite, personajul principal are o poveste foarte bine construită, intriga e solidă, iar finalul e… pfuai!
Corporația Zantiu-Braun jefuiește periodic planetele colonizate de oameni, colectând și copiind bunuri realizate de acestea. Procesul se face în urma unei ocupații militare. Pe una dintre planete, corporația întâlnește o mișcare de rezistență pe care nu o poate nici anihila, nici expune. Iar ceea ce, la început, pare doar o revoltă, s-ar putea să ascundă un secret formidabil.
Parcă e greu să accept la Hamilton o acțiune care se limitează la o singură carte. Evident că, pe un spațiu așa mic, nu poate să-și desfășoare artileria care-l face atât de deosebit în SF-ul actual. Dar tot spectaculos rămâne. Ideile din carte sunt mișto, firele narative bine creionate și împletite, personajul principal are o poveste foarte bine construită, intriga e solidă, iar finalul e… pfuai!
August 8, 2017
So... there was no reason that a four hundred page story needed to be eight hundred pages long.
So... this felt less like a Space Opera and more like journey-to-adulting. Yes there was space, and philosophy, and sex, and politics but without the drama, passion, war, and violence I expected out of so lavish a title as Opera. To be fair I've never made it to the end of an opera without falling asleep in my chair.
But... I still enjoy opera and, while I didn't find this book riveting in the least, I had a lukewarm enjoyment for Lawrence's journey to the obvious: There's no place like home.
Low three stars.
March 12, 2023
Peter Hamilton's novels tend to subtly become more engaging. Kind of like circling a black hole, and then suddenly finding yourself unable to reach escape velocity. Fallen Dragon is an enjoyable read, with very good (too much?) character development and a fun plot. I classify it as an existentialist text in a good way, with a romance that is for the ages.
May 8, 2012
I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd say Fallen Dragon is the best scifi book ever written. It is truly a master piece.
January 7, 2024
3.25/5
I'd say the last 25 percent of this book is classic Hammy and I loved it, but it took way too long getting there. Lots of flashbacks that dragged the story amd pacing down for me. Of course in Hamilton fashion he does his best to make it all matter by the end but it just didn't 100 percent work for me. The last quarter and the end was great though. I also loved the nesting of a story within the story of the Ring Empire.
I'd say the last 25 percent of this book is classic Hammy and I loved it, but it took way too long getting there. Lots of flashbacks that dragged the story amd pacing down for me. Of course in Hamilton fashion he does his best to make it all matter by the end but it just didn't 100 percent work for me. The last quarter and the end was great though. I also loved the nesting of a story within the story of the Ring Empire.
June 17, 2017
Fallen Dragon is a scifi story about Lawrence, a young military man, who works for an organization involved in "corporate reallocation" which basically means legal piracy. Much of this 26 hour audiobook focuses on Lawrence's background as a rudderless teen who falls in love with a girl he meets at a hotel swimming pool and his later missions in the military.
I think with faster pacing this book would have been much better. The universe is large but the detailed descriptions of certain places or events overtook the actual plot of the story. Not until the very last part of the book do the readers find out what the fallen dragon even is or what is the main plot. I admit that the first time I started listening to this book I stopped after one hour and moved on to another book. I came back and finished the book but realize the problem was that there isn't enough of a suspenseful story or plot and too many detailed descriptions and background in comparison. I give this book three out of five stars as there are some good parts such as character development but not enough consistently.
For more of my reviews check out my fantasy and scifi website at www.fantasyworldwriter.com
I think with faster pacing this book would have been much better. The universe is large but the detailed descriptions of certain places or events overtook the actual plot of the story. Not until the very last part of the book do the readers find out what the fallen dragon even is or what is the main plot. I admit that the first time I started listening to this book I stopped after one hour and moved on to another book. I came back and finished the book but realize the problem was that there isn't enough of a suspenseful story or plot and too many detailed descriptions and background in comparison. I give this book three out of five stars as there are some good parts such as character development but not enough consistently.
For more of my reviews check out my fantasy and scifi website at www.fantasyworldwriter.com
May 12, 2008
Not quite up to snuff compared to his earlier masterpiece (I had high expectations!). It was a little harder to follow, a little more convoluted, and a little less satisfying, although I can't put my finger on why. The parallel plots with simultaneous flashbacks made it hard to read is short increments AND keep track of all the threads and characters at once. In the end I had to go back and spend an hour once I'd finished the book reviewing some key facts I'd forgotten to make all the ends tie up to my own satisfaction.
December 3, 2021
De niño, Lawrence Newton solo quería pilotar naves espaciales y explorar la galaxia. Pero vive en la época equivocada: la edad de los vuelos estelares del hombre está tocando a su fin, por lo que se rebela y huye en pos de su sueño. Veinte años después es el sargento de un problemático pelotón que está invadiendo otro planeta, eufemismo para un acto de piratería de una de las grandes corporaciones.
Mientras está luchando en tierra, Lawrence escucha la historia del Templo del Dragón Caído, el lugar sagrado de una secta que adora a una criatura mítica que cayó de los cielos hace milenios. Se dice que allí hay un tesoro de proporciones épicas, para garantizar la felicidad eterna de un hombre. Esta información le lleva a planear una misión privada.
fruzzle-fruzzle (ruido de mis manos frotándose ansiosas). Venga va. Una de ciencia-ficción. Vamos al lío. Hard sci-fi, dicen. Ole y ole. Explicaciones científicas a tutiplen y descripciones detalladas. Seeeeh! Lo mío. Empiezo, voy a tope...
Pues sí, pero no.
* Las descripciones son detalladas, sí. Pero demasiado. Y lo que es peor, en muchos casos no me aportaron gran cosa (ojo, a mi). No digo yo que no enriquecieran mi experiencia lectora, pero también me hicieron perder el hilo más de una vez.
* Hard Sci-fi sí que tiene. Peeeeero algunas veces no entendí las explicaciones y me perdí en una maraña de tecnicismos. Ahora que Hard, sí creo que sea.
* En su día me gustó mucho la bilogía iniciada con La estrella de Pandora con un estilo narrativo similar a mi entender a esta obra, pero donde brillaban más las virtudes y menos los defectos que en esta La caída del dragón. Recomiendo aquella, pero no esta para empezar con el autor...
* Momentos álgidos tiene, sorpresas también. Buenas batallitas. Terraformación planetaria, venga vale, y bien narrada. Sentido de la maravilla tiene bastante, no podía faltar y a este autor le sobra imaginación para incluirlo brillantemente.
* Mi resumen sería: con 200 páginas menos te llevarías 4 estrellas bien gordas, tocayo :)
Mientras está luchando en tierra, Lawrence escucha la historia del Templo del Dragón Caído, el lugar sagrado de una secta que adora a una criatura mítica que cayó de los cielos hace milenios. Se dice que allí hay un tesoro de proporciones épicas, para garantizar la felicidad eterna de un hombre. Esta información le lleva a planear una misión privada.
fruzzle-fruzzle (ruido de mis manos frotándose ansiosas). Venga va. Una de ciencia-ficción. Vamos al lío. Hard sci-fi, dicen. Ole y ole. Explicaciones científicas a tutiplen y descripciones detalladas. Seeeeh! Lo mío. Empiezo, voy a tope...
Pues sí, pero no.
* Las descripciones son detalladas, sí. Pero demasiado. Y lo que es peor, en muchos casos no me aportaron gran cosa (ojo, a mi). No digo yo que no enriquecieran mi experiencia lectora, pero también me hicieron perder el hilo más de una vez.
* Hard Sci-fi sí que tiene. Peeeeero algunas veces no entendí las explicaciones y me perdí en una maraña de tecnicismos. Ahora que Hard, sí creo que sea.
* En su día me gustó mucho la bilogía iniciada con La estrella de Pandora con un estilo narrativo similar a mi entender a esta obra, pero donde brillaban más las virtudes y menos los defectos que en esta La caída del dragón. Recomiendo aquella, pero no esta para empezar con el autor...
* Momentos álgidos tiene, sorpresas también. Buenas batallitas. Terraformación planetaria, venga vale, y bien narrada. Sentido de la maravilla tiene bastante, no podía faltar y a este autor le sobra imaginación para incluirlo brillantemente.
* Mi resumen sería: con 200 páginas menos te llevarías 4 estrellas bien gordas, tocayo :)
December 23, 2024
”Welcome back. Things are going to be a little different this time around.”
This actually reads a bit more like a "near future" Science Fiction novel as opposed to the fantastical far future offerings from Hamilton I have become used to. Anyway, that's neither here nor there.
I will say this: if you are going to read this, you had better commit to finishing it, the pay-off comes very late in the novel. It's worth it, but can be a slog at times, especially when it comes to the (over?) long sequences dealing with the protagonist's back story. It does make sense in the end... mostly.
Hamilton channels his inner teenager here by giving us loads of sex scenes, ranging from cringe-worthy teen sex to cringe-worthy adult sex (at one point he draws a comparison to kangaroos, what with hopping up and down in the sack, I kid you not). Again, this feels unnecessary, but it does serve some purpose in building the protagonist's back story... mostly.
Ironically, the author uses the term "typical bloatware overload" at one point. If you've ever read Peter F. Hamilton, you should know why I think that's funny, and this novel is no exception.
The denouement is what makes the book, since it opens up a whole different perspective on everything that went before. So, like I said, if you are reading this you had better persevere to the last page. So, while my above incoherent rumblings may appear to indicate that I didn't enjoy the novel all that much, the spanner that the author throws in the works is so good that it actually serves as a rating enhancer.
In the end, typical Hamilton fare... mostly. Remember: he's actually known for writing pretty good damn Science Fiction, albeit it a bit, erm, bloaty. But, with a bit of a twist this time around.
This actually reads a bit more like a "near future" Science Fiction novel as opposed to the fantastical far future offerings from Hamilton I have become used to. Anyway, that's neither here nor there.
I will say this: if you are going to read this, you had better commit to finishing it, the pay-off comes very late in the novel. It's worth it, but can be a slog at times, especially when it comes to the (over?) long sequences dealing with the protagonist's back story. It does make sense in the end... mostly.
Hamilton channels his inner teenager here by giving us loads of sex scenes, ranging from cringe-worthy teen sex to cringe-worthy adult sex (at one point he draws a comparison to kangaroos, what with hopping up and down in the sack, I kid you not). Again, this feels unnecessary, but it does serve some purpose in building the protagonist's back story... mostly.
Ironically, the author uses the term "typical bloatware overload" at one point. If you've ever read Peter F. Hamilton, you should know why I think that's funny, and this novel is no exception.
The denouement is what makes the book, since it opens up a whole different perspective on everything that went before. So, like I said, if you are reading this you had better persevere to the last page. So, while my above incoherent rumblings may appear to indicate that I didn't enjoy the novel all that much, the spanner that the author throws in the works is so good that it actually serves as a rating enhancer.
In the end, typical Hamilton fare... mostly. Remember: he's actually known for writing pretty good damn Science Fiction, albeit it a bit, erm, bloaty. But, with a bit of a twist this time around.
March 12, 2013
Good Christ this is a long book.
However - and this is the essential however - it's still compelling as all get out. Hamilton can make a 834 page tome fly by like a, well, like a merely 652 page tome. It's still a long read, but hey, we're all about value for the money here anyway, right?
As the back-cover-blurb reveals, this is really three stories, each with its own protagonist, and as they converge on a backwater planet with a massive secret, the threads become more and more deeply entangled. It is absolutely to Hamilton's credit that I began the novel completely certain that protagonist A was the real "hero" of the piece, protagonist "B" the villain, and protagonist "C" a red-herring...then halfway through, I knew with absolute clarity that "A" was the villain," "B" the red herring, and "C" the hero. By book's end, I'd gone through several more evolutions, and ended up satisfied both with the characters' respective fates, and how logically each had moved through the plot. These are realistic and complex characters, and literary testaments to the principle that nobody ever believes that he or she is the 'bad guy.' Everybody has a justification.
The other nice payoff was that the 'massive secret' was, contrary to some chequered history in this genre, actually as massive as promised. This book is a stand-alone in Hamilton's ouvre, and I've been wary of diving into his long series work because of their daunting lengths, but this has served as the perfect appetizer. If you can call 834 pages an "appetizer."
However - and this is the essential however - it's still compelling as all get out. Hamilton can make a 834 page tome fly by like a, well, like a merely 652 page tome. It's still a long read, but hey, we're all about value for the money here anyway, right?
As the back-cover-blurb reveals, this is really three stories, each with its own protagonist, and as they converge on a backwater planet with a massive secret, the threads become more and more deeply entangled. It is absolutely to Hamilton's credit that I began the novel completely certain that protagonist A was the real "hero" of the piece, protagonist "B" the villain, and protagonist "C" a red-herring...then halfway through, I knew with absolute clarity that "A" was the villain," "B" the red herring, and "C" the hero. By book's end, I'd gone through several more evolutions, and ended up satisfied both with the characters' respective fates, and how logically each had moved through the plot. These are realistic and complex characters, and literary testaments to the principle that nobody ever believes that he or she is the 'bad guy.' Everybody has a justification.
The other nice payoff was that the 'massive secret' was, contrary to some chequered history in this genre, actually as massive as promised. This book is a stand-alone in Hamilton's ouvre, and I've been wary of diving into his long series work because of their daunting lengths, but this has served as the perfect appetizer. If you can call 834 pages an "appetizer."
September 29, 2012
I rarely stop reading a book, but this wasn't even a book. More of a description of a fictional world, and every five pages a person says a sentence. I gave up after a hundred pages of description the pain of boarding a ship and descriptions of the ship and descriptions of the smell of the farts of the people trying to use the toilet in one tenth g. As much as I adore other books by Peter Hamilton, this one I won't read any further. 100 pages of nothing happens... nothing happens... nothing happens... doesn't even only want to make me skip the worst parts, but to skip the whole book, there's thousands of books that are actually interesting.
May 22, 2011
I think Hamilton is a very talented writer & world builder. The Pandora's Star series was very good. However, I gave up on this one about a third of the way into it. Rare for me as my momma didn't raise no quitter;) But I have so many books I do want to read, I didn't feel like slogging through just to say I finished. I'll still try Mr. Hamilton's Temporal Void series instead.
May 3, 2020
Fallen Dragon charts things primarily from the viewpoint of Lawrence Newton as he leaves his planet of Amethi! :D At the same time as well we get to the perspectives of other characters as well that on the face of it have nothing to with Lawrence but as things start to develop connections form that you will not see coming! :D This happens very subtly throughout and the books multiple time frame set up adds to this mix especially as the book delights in throwing out red herrings but at the same time throwing more twists in than you can count! :D The characters of Denise is another example of this with her Ring Empire knowledge as well as the Dragon itself! :D All have more going on that it initially seems, and with different agendas, and this makes Fallen Dragon keep you on your toes from the beginning! :D
Fallen Dragon as a result from the start is completely unpredictable! :D The world-building is immense as well as the character development from the start! :D Hamilton puts his characters through the wringer! :D At the same time though the action and plot never lets up with the constants flow of events changing the playing the field at every point keeping you guessing! :D Fallen Dragon is full of social observations and various solutions that the societies in them are proposing and this clashing of ideologies really adds to the books tone throughout! :D The white water rafting pace of Fallen Dragon and the sense of action, discovery, detecting etc also add to the tone of the book and will keep you trying to get ahead of the characters! :D
Fallen Dragon is a rip roaring adventure that at the same time doesn't stay away from the more sticky topics! :D It drives along at a relentless pace that never slows up! :D Brace yourself for a roller coaster ride from the start! :D Fallen Dragon has the air of action and mystery and adventure right from the beginning prepare to stay up late to find out what happens in it! :D
Fallen Dragon is full of Plot Twists, Discovery, World-Building, Alien Civilisations, Wormholes, Adventure and Action! :D Brilliant Crisp High Five! :D Get it When You Can! :D
Fallen Dragon as a result from the start is completely unpredictable! :D The world-building is immense as well as the character development from the start! :D Hamilton puts his characters through the wringer! :D At the same time though the action and plot never lets up with the constants flow of events changing the playing the field at every point keeping you guessing! :D Fallen Dragon is full of social observations and various solutions that the societies in them are proposing and this clashing of ideologies really adds to the books tone throughout! :D The white water rafting pace of Fallen Dragon and the sense of action, discovery, detecting etc also add to the tone of the book and will keep you trying to get ahead of the characters! :D
Fallen Dragon is a rip roaring adventure that at the same time doesn't stay away from the more sticky topics! :D It drives along at a relentless pace that never slows up! :D Brace yourself for a roller coaster ride from the start! :D Fallen Dragon has the air of action and mystery and adventure right from the beginning prepare to stay up late to find out what happens in it! :D
Fallen Dragon is full of Plot Twists, Discovery, World-Building, Alien Civilisations, Wormholes, Adventure and Action! :D Brilliant Crisp High Five! :D Get it When You Can! :D
January 21, 2014
3.5 stars
Essentialy, this is the story of Lawrence Newton, a kid who left the planet/colony Amethi to pursue his dreams of exploring space. In order to try to make his dreams come true, he joins the security force of the only company that still funds space exploration, Zanitu-Braun. As a member of the Z-B seurity force, Lawrence and his squad mates take part in "asset realization" raids on other colonies. These asset realization raids are when a corporation's security forces occupy your colony and claim any assets that would be of value to the company back on Earth. The companies are able to do this because a) it is legal and b) they security forces wear this organic armor, called Skin, that makes them nearly invulnerable. Z-B has just launched an asset realization mission on the planet Thallspring where Lawrence plans on doing some asset realization of his own, but not until after we (the reader) are presented with many lengthy flashbacks where we discover just how Lawrence got to where he is.
I enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading more by this author. Some really good world building and some interesting things to think about. I like that the author presented all the characters as people who really believed that what they were doing was the right thing. Since a lot of the novel deals with a corporatist future and corporate piracy, there is a lot to think about in regards to capitalism and its impact but I never fealt as I was being beaten over the head by a "message."
As I said, I enjoyed the novel, but there were some things that impacted my enjoyment. I did not like the sex scenes in the novel. Not becuase I'm a prude but because they didn't feel real, they felt like a letter to penthouse forum...fantasy and wish fulfillment. I also think the length of the book could have been reduced and the plot tightened up a bit (plot introduced at the beginning of the novel then essentialy dropped until near the end).
Essentialy, this is the story of Lawrence Newton, a kid who left the planet/colony Amethi to pursue his dreams of exploring space. In order to try to make his dreams come true, he joins the security force of the only company that still funds space exploration, Zanitu-Braun. As a member of the Z-B seurity force, Lawrence and his squad mates take part in "asset realization" raids on other colonies. These asset realization raids are when a corporation's security forces occupy your colony and claim any assets that would be of value to the company back on Earth. The companies are able to do this because a) it is legal and b) they security forces wear this organic armor, called Skin, that makes them nearly invulnerable. Z-B has just launched an asset realization mission on the planet Thallspring where Lawrence plans on doing some asset realization of his own, but not until after we (the reader) are presented with many lengthy flashbacks where we discover just how Lawrence got to where he is.
I enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading more by this author. Some really good world building and some interesting things to think about. I like that the author presented all the characters as people who really believed that what they were doing was the right thing. Since a lot of the novel deals with a corporatist future and corporate piracy, there is a lot to think about in regards to capitalism and its impact but I never fealt as I was being beaten over the head by a "message."
As I said, I enjoyed the novel, but there were some things that impacted my enjoyment. I did not like the sex scenes in the novel. Not becuase I'm a prude but because they didn't feel real, they felt like a letter to penthouse forum...fantasy and wish fulfillment. I also think the length of the book could have been reduced and the plot tightened up a bit (plot introduced at the beginning of the novel then essentialy dropped until near the end).
March 23, 2012
I decided to reread this book and I have to say that I was surprised how much of the plot I had not remembered from the first time I read it about 6 years ago. This is a good story that has all of Peter hamiltons hallmarks in just one book. The story happens across space, with believeable characters, and a multi threaded plot line that has a satifying ending. The plot invovles Laurence Newton, a young lady named Denise, an alien called a "dragon", and Simon Roderick. This is just some of the characters there are a large group (20+) of supporting characters as well. The future has seen the earth start colonies in space on other planets but the cost to earth is astronomical and the companies that undertake colonization have to resort to drastic means to make sure they are compensated for the resources they use to send the colonies out. We also follow Laurence from his teenage years to about his mid 40's as he is the main character for much of the story. There is good action, high technology, and real good character interactions. It also has the Hamilton touch when it comes to weaving a multipart story that you can follow but different parts will surprise you. The only issue I had with the story is it did drag a little bit for me with the flash back scences Laurence had though they were essiential to the story they just dragged it out a tad. Overall I think this book is a great story that is a good intro to Hamiltons writing before you jump into his multi part series.
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