Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28681 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 600 pages

Review
This is thrilling stuff; compulsively readable and abundantly full of ideas. The only drawback is that, as it's the first volume of a new trilogy, we'll have to wait to find out whether our galaxy will be destroyed. Cliff-hangers are tense enough, but this is a planet-hanger! --The Times

Peter Hamilton's willingness to shake up an already fascinating creation with this new trilogy is admirable, and the 1500-year gap offers up both new mysteries for him to reveal, and an opportunity for familiar characters to have grown up and changed. --Starburst

This is a book that arguably nobody else in Brit SF could even have attempted. Epic, multi-stranded, full of wonders. --Sfx

Synopsis
At the centre of the Intersolar Commonwealth universe is a massive black hole. This Void is not a natural artefact. Inside there is a strange universe where the laws of physics are very different to those we know. It is slowly consuming the other stars of the galactic core - one day it will have devoured the entire galaxy. It's AD 4000, and a human has started to dream of the wonderful existence of the Void. He has a following of millions of believers. They now wish to Pilgrimage to the Void to live the life they have been shown. Other starfaring species fear their migration will cause the Void to expand again. They are prepared to stop the Pilgrimage fleet no matter what the cost. The Pilgrimage begins...

From the Inside Flap
AD 3580. The Intersolar Commonwealth has spread through the
galaxy to over a thousand star systems. It is a culture of rich diversity
with a place for everyone. A powerful navy protects it from any hostile
species that may lurk among the stars. For Commonwealth citizens, even
death has been overcome.

At the centre of the galaxy is the Void, a strange artificial universe
created by aliens billions of years ago, shrouded by an event horizon more
deadly than any natural black hole. In order to function, it is gradually
consuming the mass of the galaxy. Watched over by its ancient enemies, the
Raiel, the Void's expansion is barely contained.

Inigo dreams of the sweet life within the Void, and shares these visions
with billions of avid believers. When he mysteriously disappears, Inigo's
followers decide to embark on a pilgrimage into the Void to live the life
of their messiah's dreams - a pilgrimage which the Raiel claim will trigger
a catastrophic expansion of the Void.

Aaron is a man whose only memory is his own name. He doesn't know who he
used to be, or what he is. All he does know is that his job is to find the
missing messiah and stop the pilgrimage. He's not sure how to do that, but
whoever he works for has provided some pretty formidable weaponry that
ought to help.

Meanwhile inside The Void, a youth called Edeard is coming to terms with
his unusually strong telepathic powers. A junior constable in Makkathran,
he starts to challenge the corruption and decay that have poisoned the
city. He is determined that his fellow citizens should know hope again.
What Edeard doesn't realize is just how far his message of hope is
reaching.

Customer Reviews

outstanding work
I am a significant fan of Peter's books. I felt that he had lost his way as an author with previous books, but this one is a return to the clever plots, fantastic writing and entertainment that I've come to expect from him.

If you liked the technical descriptions and bio-weapons of the reality dysfunction then you will love this.

I recommend this book.

His best so far!
I'm a massive 'Space Opera' fan, with The foundation(Asimov), Dune(Herbert) and The culture series(Banks) being my favourites. I really enjoyed Hamilton's (Night's Dawn Trilogy and Commonwealth Saga) but they didnt really compare to the best. However I thought the dreaming void was brilliant, I could not put it down, up there with the best and i'm itching to read the next one!

As already said numerous times by others I realy think you need to read the commonwealth saga to fully appreciate this one.

Classic Hamilton...but buy it and keep it in storage until the others are published
Having been caught out by 'The Reality Dysfunction', I was expecting a book that left everything hanging. And I was not disappointed. The good news is that there are two more books to come...and the also good news is that I'll read 'The Dreaming Void' again when I buy each of them because otherwise who can remember everything that's going on otherwise.

Now, is it any good? Yes, if you like your SciFi layered with gizmos, gadgets and high-tech humans. Plus you get a large cast, heaps of planets described in gory detail and a plot that looks like its going somewhere.

So, buy it but if you can't cope with a novel that literally just stops and leaves everything hanging until the next installment, then put it away and don't read on until you have collected all three!!