Great story spoiled by poor audio editing..

You really have to listen hard and be prepared to skip back. Whoever editing the sound removed every pause between scenes. Within a chapter the story is told from many perspectives. Without any pauses to e a change in scene they all merge in to one and you only realise after some time the scene has changed. Frustrating.

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53 people found this helpful

You have to read it!

Read it years ago in paperback. Listening to it via audible was a fantastic experience. The narrator was perfect, such a great voice and he really brings characters to life.

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Get past the first section, then gripping

Great story, loads of “neural nanonics”. Lots of parallel stories, well connected. Great detail for sci-if hardcore. Narration good, although the early chapters sound a bit robotic. Just downloading the second book. With this and Banks culture series, I’m set up for 2019..

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Awe Inspiring Writing

This is an amazing, galaxy spanning, faith restoring, epic struggle against evil, with valud commentry on the future if we follow certain paths now becoming real. Loved every minute, except a couple of nasty bits that were totally justifiable for the story line.

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Be prepared to get stuck in

It feels like a lot of work in places but it's worth it. After 30 hours I can't wait to start the next book.

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Good with some small buts

I've rated the performance as average. The reading is very good but the chapters are 90 minutes long, containing multiple viewpoints, and it is virtually 90 minutes of non stop talking, which makes it very difficult to follow.
The story is good, though even with the lack of pauses between viewpoint transitions feels around 10 hours too long to me, considering the fact that it really is just the first third of a story, unlike some other trilogies that are all stories of their own that tie together.
Hamilton does offer the time to build a very interesting world though filled with flawed heroes and some likable villains (as well as some truly detestable ones)

Overall, worth the listen though. I'm looking forward to seeing if my theory about what links the "visitors" is correct, and the book has woven a lot of loose ends to continue on in the remaining books.

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Stick with it!

I first purchased this book, tried it, but couldn’t get past the narrator over narrating the first few chapters. It was like he was over emphasising EVERY word needlessly! I couldn’t face 50 hours of that! I returned the book and got a refund.

One day I noticed it was still in my library, despite the credit being refunded. I was between books so I gave it another go, after all if not paid for it!

This time I got past the beginning and into the book. The story is good, I’d call it rich with background detail, and the narrator turned out to be very good as time passed. However the story dawdles and hangs overly long at dull points that don’t really end up having much to do with the main plot. Too many characters come, go, and are (so far to best of my knowledge) meaningless in the over arching plot. It can wear you out trying to keep track.

Add to this the editing is terrible with no discernible gap between chapters the story feels like it’s jumping all over at times.

That all said. I did enjoy the story, and it’s a true grandiose space opera for sure! I love the authors imagination of life in space and the tech and people’s.

Give it a try, it can be hard going at times, but I enjoyed it ultimately. I now learn its part of a whole series! But I might need a rest before I start the next one!

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Epic space saga well told.

Great clarity of enunciation. Very easy to listen to and fantastic value for money in my opinion. Getting access to such a fantastic unabridged story for one credit is amazing.

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Worth persevering with the detail.

I always enjoy John Lee's perfect diction, even when walking in the wind he is easily understood. A great story but sometimes the detail included for background information is rather long and, well, excessive.

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awesome space opera

I've read the book twice and have now listened to it , it never gets old

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