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Good Reading : November 2007
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34 goodreading ı NOVEMBER 2007 word of mouth science fiction / fantasy Everything about books www.goodreadingmagazine.com ONLINE The Dreaming Void Peter F Hamilton This adds another layer to Hamilton’s humungous reputa- tion in the genre of galaxy-spanning space opera. The first in a new trilogy about The Commonwealth, it is set around AD 3850, some 1500 or so years after the events of his ‘Commonwealth Saga’. In brief, The Commonwealth has expanded mightily, life is generally good for its citizens, technology (as always with Hamilton) has been extrapolated to new and unusual directions (aficionados of his earlier books will smile fondly when they see some old favourites have grown up), and the navy stands ready to protect all. The Void, watched over by an alien race, provides the element of threat to this utopia; throw in a proto-messiah who dreams of paradise within the Void, mix the elements and watch as chaos looms. While you could read this book on its own, it will help immensely (espe- cially with some of the characters and technology) to have read the ‘Common- wealth Saga’. Hamilton’s plot skeins are their usual disparate, rambunctious selves, making you wonder sometimes where they’re going or even what their rel- evance is; every now and then a few of them manage to meld together and your understanding of where you are being taken undergoes a sort of epiphany. A monster of a tale, very hard to put down. ★★★★ Macmillan $32.95 Reviewed by Brooke Walker Rome Burning Sophia McDougall Rome is triumphant, spread across most of the known world; politics reigns supreme around the Emperor with sycophants and relatives jockeying for position; the institution of slavery is a festering chancre throughout society, with rebellion simmering just below the surface; and crucifixion is almost a way of life – but this is the 21st century, not the time of Christ. The Emperor has been struck down by illness and his inexperienced teenage heir, Marcus, has been appointed Caesar and Regent. Challenged by his ambitious cousin Drusus, Marcus must walk a fine line between his desire to end slavery, the need to restore peace with the neighbouring Empire of Nionia while the Roman military ugger naut prepares to invade, and his abiding love for the freed slave Una – a love that will face the ultimate political threat. This second volume in McDougall’s ‘Romanitas’ trilogy peeds up the pace set in its predecessor, albeit the characters spend an awful amount of time in introspective thought, which slowed the first half of the book. The politics and machinations of the Imperial court and the humanity of Marcus, Una and their friends provide a poignant tale set against this alternative history of a millennia-old Roman Empire. ★★★ Orion $32.95 Reviewed by Brooke Walker Red Seas Under Red Skies Scott Lynch Lynch’s sequel to The Lies of Locke Lamora re-introduces us to the erstwhile Gentleman Bastards, Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen. Having quit their chaotic lives in Camor r, they have fled to the city-state of Tal Ver rar, home of the Sinspire – an exclusive, luxurious uber-gambling house; a tempting target just waiting to be plucked bare by the likes of our heroes, provided they can get past the guardians. As seems to happen with Locke, his plans go somewhat awry and they end up among a band of pirates cajoling and swindling their way across the high seas.The opening chapter starts with a cliff-hanger (an unusual writing ploy) which, luckily for Locke, gets resolved towards the end of the book, but I didn’t think this outing was as engrossing as Lies; there were a number of slow patches while the boys were at sea, the storyline did seem to be somewhat over-populated with an abundance of tough females (I applaud strong female characters, but there is a limit) and there wasn’t enough attention paid to fleshing out some of the key secondary characters. Nevertheless, it’s an entertaining caper with a bit of Pirates of the Caribbean flavour running through it. ★★★ Gollancz $32.95 Reviewed by Leslie Lightfoot The Awakening Bevan McGuiness Hwenfayre lives on the edges of the Asan Empire. She is feared because she looks like a raider’s child. She stands on the shore each morning playing a battered harp, imagining she is playing in the dawn. Shanek lives at the heart of the Empire, in a position of privilege. Trying to perfect his skills as a war rior, he begins to notice that he is able to predict his opponents’ moves and becomes almost unstoppable. But he is betrayed and left to fend for himself in the wild northlands. Aldhere, a young man living in an isolated village, can feel the growing rength of immense power in him. He knows that the power can be nleashed but never tamed and that nce he reveals his ability he will be et apart, an outcast left to wander n exile’s life. A great evil is rising again in the ands of the Asan Empire and these three people hold the key to the future of their world. They are not fully aware of this but others are, and are trying to stop them from fulfilling their destiny. This reads beautifully. It is sweeping and grand in its vision and has enough of the familiar from previous fantasy novels to be recognisable in parts and yet is different enough to be unique. Fans of fantasy and newcomers to fantasy will all enjoy it. ★★★★ Harper Voyager $20.99 Reviewed by David Johnson
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