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Greg Mandel #1-2
The Mandel Files, Volume 1: Mindstar Rising & A Quantum Murder
For the first time in a single volume, Peter F. Hamilton’s acclaimed novels— Mindstar Rising and A Quantum Murder —set in a near-future so real it seems ripped from tomorrow’s headlines
In Mindstar Rising, Greg Mandel, gifted—or cursed—with biotechnology that makes him a living lie detector, is hired to investigate corporate espionage by Event Horizon, a powerful company about to introduce a technology that will solve the energy problems of a world decimated by global warming.
Set two years later, A Quantum Murder once again teams Mandel with Event Horizon and its beautiful young owner, Julia Evans, in a locked-room mystery that combines the ingenuity of an Agatha Christie novel with cutting-edge speculative brilliance.
Read together, these novels take on fresh depth and complexity, underscoring the magnitude of Peter F. Hamilton’s creative talent.
In Mindstar Rising, Greg Mandel, gifted—or cursed—with biotechnology that makes him a living lie detector, is hired to investigate corporate espionage by Event Horizon, a powerful company about to introduce a technology that will solve the energy problems of a world decimated by global warming.
Set two years later, A Quantum Murder once again teams Mandel with Event Horizon and its beautiful young owner, Julia Evans, in a locked-room mystery that combines the ingenuity of an Agatha Christie novel with cutting-edge speculative brilliance.
Read together, these novels take on fresh depth and complexity, underscoring the magnitude of Peter F. Hamilton’s creative talent.
880 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
206 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Peter F. Hamilton
203 books10.1k 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 44 reviews
January 25, 2016
Overall, enjoyed this mystery set in a near future. Enough science fiction to keep it in the genre, but as much a mystery series than anything. This newly published work combining "Mindstar Rising" and "Quantum Murder" is a good way to purchase these older Hamilton stories. I enjoyed "Mindstar Rising" more, finding it more of a science fiction read, where as "Quantum Murder" took the setting and science described in the earlier work and built upon it to tell a more pure murder mystery. Obviously the science plays an important role, but the mystery is the central theme.
These books are not as complex and multi-threaded as Hamilton's 'Night's Dawn' or 'Void' series, but enjoyable all the same. Intriguing is the setting of a world whose economy has collapsed as a result of the 'Warming' where temperatures have risen dramatically, and with it, the seas. England is devastated by the tides, which overrun coastal development, stranding thousands inland. The Mandel series is set in the decade following this 'Warming' as England is just recovering from an equally devastating political disaster in the form of severe socialism/communism that shattered the infrastructure and was joined by wars in MidEast/Turkey.
A worthwhile read and purchase, however, I feel that the setting is not exotic enough to hold my interest, though the characters are interesting and by the second novel, begin to become more developed.
These books are not as complex and multi-threaded as Hamilton's 'Night's Dawn' or 'Void' series, but enjoyable all the same. Intriguing is the setting of a world whose economy has collapsed as a result of the 'Warming' where temperatures have risen dramatically, and with it, the seas. England is devastated by the tides, which overrun coastal development, stranding thousands inland. The Mandel series is set in the decade following this 'Warming' as England is just recovering from an equally devastating political disaster in the form of severe socialism/communism that shattered the infrastructure and was joined by wars in MidEast/Turkey.
A worthwhile read and purchase, however, I feel that the setting is not exotic enough to hold my interest, though the characters are interesting and by the second novel, begin to become more developed.
March 9, 2018
Mindstar Rising 4 stars, A Quantum Murder 3 stars ... so 3.5 total for this two-book collection.
I like and have read quite a few Hamilton's books, and quite a lot of those by Ken MacLeod, so I know their "voices" fairly well. Or I thought I did. These two early works by Hamilton, though, sound a lot more like MacLeod's voice. I kept forgetting who I was reading!
As others have said, these are more mystery/detective than action adventure SF. Mindstar Rising is particularly good at it; A Quantum Murder is a bit more plodding and uninspiring (and focuses even more on the detective stuff with only a very few action scenes in the whole book).
Mindstar Rising also excels because it's the introduction to this world. Main characters get to meet one another and figure each other out, which is always more interesting than a cast of already familiar personalities. You have character back story slowly unpeeling, tension and resolution of interpersonal conflicts.
In A Quantum Murder all that's been worked out. There aren't really any new main characters introduced and none of their relationships change over the course of the book. There's a problem that comes up and the main characters collaborate to figure it out. Pretty cut and dry. Some new world elements come up but aren't really main plot lines.
As far as the world creation goes, Hamilton's got a pretty interesting and logical near-future world here. It's a pseudo-dystopian world that's kind of on the rebound; climate change has brought dramatic environmental differences to our world; green tech is no long an option; elements of cyber punk and radical political conflict has turned society upside down. In those elements it really echoes some works by Ken MacLeod such as his novella The Human Front. The biggest difference between Hamilton's near future "I wouldn't want to live there" society and MacLeod's is that Hamilton chose to make the radical left wing apparatchiks the bad guys, whereas MacLeod usually has them as the (ineffectual) good guys. I've read an interview with Hamilton where he made it clear this was strictly for story purposes, not something coming out of his own political point of view. But it's pretty funny to see how strangely similar the radical left and radical right appear in Hamilton and MacLeod's works. There's probably a truth in that, but that's for another essay.
If you like Hamilton's work and want to see where he started, or indeed if you like MacLeod's political works like his Star Fraction books, then by all means give this a go. It's a great deal to have both these novels in one publication.
I like and have read quite a few Hamilton's books, and quite a lot of those by Ken MacLeod, so I know their "voices" fairly well. Or I thought I did. These two early works by Hamilton, though, sound a lot more like MacLeod's voice. I kept forgetting who I was reading!
As others have said, these are more mystery/detective than action adventure SF. Mindstar Rising is particularly good at it; A Quantum Murder is a bit more plodding and uninspiring (and focuses even more on the detective stuff with only a very few action scenes in the whole book).
Mindstar Rising also excels because it's the introduction to this world. Main characters get to meet one another and figure each other out, which is always more interesting than a cast of already familiar personalities. You have character back story slowly unpeeling, tension and resolution of interpersonal conflicts.
In A Quantum Murder all that's been worked out. There aren't really any new main characters introduced and none of their relationships change over the course of the book. There's a problem that comes up and the main characters collaborate to figure it out. Pretty cut and dry. Some new world elements come up but aren't really main plot lines.
As far as the world creation goes, Hamilton's got a pretty interesting and logical near-future world here. It's a pseudo-dystopian world that's kind of on the rebound; climate change has brought dramatic environmental differences to our world; green tech is no long an option; elements of cyber punk and radical political conflict has turned society upside down. In those elements it really echoes some works by Ken MacLeod such as his novella The Human Front. The biggest difference between Hamilton's near future "I wouldn't want to live there" society and MacLeod's is that Hamilton chose to make the radical left wing apparatchiks the bad guys, whereas MacLeod usually has them as the (ineffectual) good guys. I've read an interview with Hamilton where he made it clear this was strictly for story purposes, not something coming out of his own political point of view. But it's pretty funny to see how strangely similar the radical left and radical right appear in Hamilton and MacLeod's works. There's probably a truth in that, but that's for another essay.
If you like Hamilton's work and want to see where he started, or indeed if you like MacLeod's political works like his Star Fraction books, then by all means give this a go. It's a great deal to have both these novels in one publication.
November 1, 2022
This book includes two complete novels that are very different in their readability. I've rated each separately here because of that fact. I really liked the first one "Mindstar Rising" because it introduced some interesting characters and concepts, including the main character, a neurologically enhanced former soldier who is an 'empath.' There is also a wealthy young woman who has an interesting relationship with her wealthy corporate mogul grandfather, and who also has some enhanced abilities. The plot is interesting and not very predictable, so I was fairly invested in the story. Though the ending left me a little wanting, I looked forward to the next novel with anticipation. I would rate "Mindstar Rising" 4 stars.
The second novel doesn't come anywhere close, in my opinion, to the first. The characters who were introduced in the first book become flat and predictable. One in particular, Julia, becomes unlikeable and is like a completely different person. The story is fractured and hard to follow...never seems to have a point...and the resolution is completely unsatisfying. This reads like a draft that was never edited of finished. 2 stars for this one.
The second novel doesn't come anywhere close, in my opinion, to the first. The characters who were introduced in the first book become flat and predictable. One in particular, Julia, becomes unlikeable and is like a completely different person. The story is fractured and hard to follow...never seems to have a point...and the resolution is completely unsatisfying. This reads like a draft that was never edited of finished. 2 stars for this one.
January 7, 2021
Very intriguing mystery
This is a two-book collection. I read Monday at Rising so long ago, I don't remember it. I must have liked it or I wouldn't have kept the book.
So this review is only about A Quantum Murder. Normally, I'm not a fan when sci go elements are mixed with genre fiction like a mystery or a spy tale. It is often used as a short cut for getting out of plot difficulty. (Detective Krump was not going to escape this mob unless...Yes! He could reach his psycho-neurolizer!). In Quantum Murder, sci fi and murder mystery are very skillfully blended which makes for an unusual and satisfying mystery. But more for sci fi fans than mystery lovers.
This is a two-book collection. I read Monday at Rising so long ago, I don't remember it. I must have liked it or I wouldn't have kept the book.
So this review is only about A Quantum Murder. Normally, I'm not a fan when sci go elements are mixed with genre fiction like a mystery or a spy tale. It is often used as a short cut for getting out of plot difficulty. (Detective Krump was not going to escape this mob unless...Yes! He could reach his psycho-neurolizer!). In Quantum Murder, sci fi and murder mystery are very skillfully blended which makes for an unusual and satisfying mystery. But more for sci fi fans than mystery lovers.
March 11, 2018
Like everything else I’ve read by Peter F. Hamilton, this 2-book set gets 5 stars. I haven’t read much crime/mystery, and I don’t dig on crime TV shows. I guess you could call these crime/mystery stories, and I really enjoyed them. Greg, Eleanor, and Julia are characters I would be happy to read about time and time again. I’m putting some other books on hold to move on to the 3rd book (the 2nd volume) of The Mandel Files right now. Thank you again, Mr. Hamilton.
May 29, 2017
This was really two novels. Mindstar Rising and A Quantum Murder. I enjoyed the heck out of both. Part sci-if, part mystery, part noir detective, part cyberpunk with all parts fitting together quite nicely.
December 27, 2017
Two very interesting ideas
I can skip the descriptions of what everyone is wearing, but truely enjoyed the idea of personality injection and seeing into the past, both great "big ideas" to build an exciting mystery around.
I can skip the descriptions of what everyone is wearing, but truely enjoyed the idea of personality injection and seeing into the past, both great "big ideas" to build an exciting mystery around.
June 24, 2019
I have read and enjoyed a lot Peter Hamilton's Space Opera books. I could see glimpses of Commonwealth characters in some of the characters in these first two Mandel stories. Even though I enjoyed these two stories, I'm glad Peter Hamilton switched to his Commonwealth universe of stories.
March 27, 2020
Both a goodd mystery and Sci Fi novel
Great escape read in a post climate change world. Besides the main characters the minor characters are wuite interesting. I will be reading the next one soon.
Great escape read in a post climate change world. Besides the main characters the minor characters are wuite interesting. I will be reading the next one soon.
February 5, 2021
Feels clunky compared to PFH's other works. I felt like it stuttered a bit, rather than having a smooth flow to the story. It depends on protagonists making dumb decisions to let bad guys get the upper hand (I know that tt is rare to find detective-thriller that doesn't, but it always bugs me).
November 21, 2017
Told you I was gonna read more Peter Franklin.
August 29, 2018
At first I wasn't sure about this but then I got caught up in the characters and the action. In the end, I couldn't put it down!
September 18, 2020
Contains Mindstar and A Quantum Murder. I will review them individually.
January 25, 2025
DNF. I have read all his other books but this was written before he grew up. Read end of 2024.
Read
March 10, 2017Just pleased there are still SF books that capture attention.
March 31, 2018
These books were good. I am not sure I will read them again, but then again, I am not sure that was the intention of them. They were suspenseful mysteries with plenty of action and characters. I appreciated the starkly different plots between the books while keeping the same characters. I would say these are more suspense/mystery and less sci-fi, but I liked that.
May 25, 2017
Peter F. Hamilton's "The Mandel Files, Volume 1" is a compendium of the first two books in his "Mandel Files" trilogy. Because I've rated these two books before, I'll start with copying in my reviews for those books here. I'll add a bit afterward:
The three books in Peter F. Hamilton's Greg Mandel series were written before his "Night's Dawn" series. I'm not certain of this, but they seem to occur in the same universe as that series, just at a MUCH earlier time. Regardless, this series is excellent. What's especially nice, is that, for the most part, each of these books stands alone. You still need to read them in order, but none of them ends in a cliff-hanger requiring your reading of the next. Unfortunately, each of these books has a few fairly explicit sexual situations described in them. The amount of sex increases as you move from book to book. If it weren't for that, I'd recommend these books for everyone.
"Mindstar Rising" is the first book in the series. It's a very good, fast-paced sci-fi action thriller. The book introduces all the important characters and the "universe" used throughout the series. For the most part, the character development is good. I have a few qualms about a character or two suddenly being more capable than they are during the majority of the book, but that's mostly inconsequential. The plot, too, is very good. However, the transition between the first, introductory, situation in the book and the primary situation could have been worked better: it seems contrived. But, I might be seeing that solely because I've read the book four times now.
"A Quantum Murder" is the second book in the series. This book takes place about three years after "Mindstar Rising." Instead of being the science-fiction action thriller that the first book is, it's more of a science fiction mystery. It's a close call, but I think this book is slightly better than "Mindstar Rising." Once again, there's good character development, but this time, the plot is somewhat more tightly put together. I've only got a couple of quibbles: first, in one scene, Mandel's psi powers inexplicably include actual telepathy instead of just the empathy described in "Mindstar Rising." And, second, after the characters find out who the murderer is, instead of sending the police out immediately, they close up shop for the night and say they'll do it in the morning. Other than that, this is an excellent book which shows the origins of a lot of the technology in the "Night's Dawn" series.
Now my updated comments: After my re-reading of these books in this compendium, I stand by most of the above. However, I think I'd now rate "A Quantum Murder" at slightly below "Mindstar Rising." The problem is that AQM includes a lot more extraneous (and somewhat juvenile) material regarding Julia's sex life and fashion issues. Still, I'm rating this compendium at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5. It's just that I'm rounding up the average of a 4 star and 3 star rating instead of taking the average of two 4 stars.
The three books in Peter F. Hamilton's Greg Mandel series were written before his "Night's Dawn" series. I'm not certain of this, but they seem to occur in the same universe as that series, just at a MUCH earlier time. Regardless, this series is excellent. What's especially nice, is that, for the most part, each of these books stands alone. You still need to read them in order, but none of them ends in a cliff-hanger requiring your reading of the next. Unfortunately, each of these books has a few fairly explicit sexual situations described in them. The amount of sex increases as you move from book to book. If it weren't for that, I'd recommend these books for everyone.
"Mindstar Rising" is the first book in the series. It's a very good, fast-paced sci-fi action thriller. The book introduces all the important characters and the "universe" used throughout the series. For the most part, the character development is good. I have a few qualms about a character or two suddenly being more capable than they are during the majority of the book, but that's mostly inconsequential. The plot, too, is very good. However, the transition between the first, introductory, situation in the book and the primary situation could have been worked better: it seems contrived. But, I might be seeing that solely because I've read the book four times now.
"A Quantum Murder" is the second book in the series. This book takes place about three years after "Mindstar Rising." Instead of being the science-fiction action thriller that the first book is, it's more of a science fiction mystery. It's a close call, but I think this book is slightly better than "Mindstar Rising." Once again, there's good character development, but this time, the plot is somewhat more tightly put together. I've only got a couple of quibbles: first, in one scene, Mandel's psi powers inexplicably include actual telepathy instead of just the empathy described in "Mindstar Rising." And, second, after the characters find out who the murderer is, instead of sending the police out immediately, they close up shop for the night and say they'll do it in the morning. Other than that, this is an excellent book which shows the origins of a lot of the technology in the "Night's Dawn" series.
Now my updated comments: After my re-reading of these books in this compendium, I stand by most of the above. However, I think I'd now rate "A Quantum Murder" at slightly below "Mindstar Rising." The problem is that AQM includes a lot more extraneous (and somewhat juvenile) material regarding Julia's sex life and fashion issues. Still, I'm rating this compendium at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5. It's just that I'm rounding up the average of a 4 star and 3 star rating instead of taking the average of two 4 stars.
June 26, 2017
This is a book set in a near future Earth slowly emerging from a gray ages after a serious but not catastrophic environmental upheaval caused by global warming. Britian is now a tropical island, subject to frequent hyper-violent hurricanes.
The book contains two stories of approximately novella length set in this universe. They are unconventional crime mysteries revolving around Greg Mandel, a former specops soldier who has been biologically modified with a psi-enhancing "gland" that gives him an active ability to tell definitively if someone is lying and a passive increase in general psi-related powers almost like Spiderman's "spidey sense". There is of course the obligatory downside to using the gland similar to getting a very bad near instant hangover for a few days. Greg is not alone in having a gland, there are a limited number of other people who still have glands. These others have various other psi related talents like precog, the ability to nullify others psi-senses, etc etc.
I liked the two stories in this book. They were well written, if a tad long winded, in typical Hamilton fashion. Not up to the same level as The Reality Dysfunction in terms of sheer page turn-ability though. Just good, not great. The universe is pretty well fleshed out, as is typical of Hamilton books. I know there are already more stories in this series set in this universe (which I have not read yet). I wouldn't be surprised if there were many more eventually, given the raw material he builds here. It is fertile ground for a long line of Mandel/Evans stories. This universe could also certainly be fleshed out to become the pre-history of the Nights Dawn series.
The book contains two stories of approximately novella length set in this universe. They are unconventional crime mysteries revolving around Greg Mandel, a former specops soldier who has been biologically modified with a psi-enhancing "gland" that gives him an active ability to tell definitively if someone is lying and a passive increase in general psi-related powers almost like Spiderman's "spidey sense". There is of course the obligatory downside to using the gland similar to getting a very bad near instant hangover for a few days. Greg is not alone in having a gland, there are a limited number of other people who still have glands. These others have various other psi related talents like precog, the ability to nullify others psi-senses, etc etc.
I liked the two stories in this book. They were well written, if a tad long winded, in typical Hamilton fashion. Not up to the same level as The Reality Dysfunction in terms of sheer page turn-ability though. Just good, not great. The universe is pretty well fleshed out, as is typical of Hamilton books. I know there are already more stories in this series set in this universe (which I have not read yet). I wouldn't be surprised if there were many more eventually, given the raw material he builds here. It is fertile ground for a long line of Mandel/Evans stories. This universe could also certainly be fleshed out to become the pre-history of the Nights Dawn series.
November 26, 2011
This is a true sci-fi story. Set in the near future, Hamilton's constructs are familiar enough that we can all see ourselves living in such a society. It was written in the 1990s, and it's amazing (and scary) to see how close we're getting to this vision.
Though the characters are two-dimensional, it's the good kind, with just enough information about them to move the plot along and not detract from the world Hamilton paints. This story is more about ideas than the characters, about the abuse of technology and the cruelty people have toward their fellow men. Despite the character simplicity, Hamilton is still able to paint shades of gray, keeping the hero less than perfect and therefore much more interesting. The only weak point of the story came at the very end when a team of secondary characters go through a long slog of invading a locked down mansion for the purpose of setting up an action at the end of the story. This part was written more like a description for a movie scene because the reader was not really vested in these characters. It was the one departure from the two main characters, Greg and Julia, and we didn't care enough about them to follow them through this long technical battle. But that said, it's still a good read for lovers of cyber-punk fare.
Though the characters are two-dimensional, it's the good kind, with just enough information about them to move the plot along and not detract from the world Hamilton paints. This story is more about ideas than the characters, about the abuse of technology and the cruelty people have toward their fellow men. Despite the character simplicity, Hamilton is still able to paint shades of gray, keeping the hero less than perfect and therefore much more interesting. The only weak point of the story came at the very end when a team of secondary characters go through a long slog of invading a locked down mansion for the purpose of setting up an action at the end of the story. This part was written more like a description for a movie scene because the reader was not really vested in these characters. It was the one departure from the two main characters, Greg and Julia, and we didn't care enough about them to follow them through this long technical battle. But that said, it's still a good read for lovers of cyber-punk fare.
August 31, 2013
Finished the 2nd novel of the omnibus, "A Quantum Murder". Greg Mandel is a pretty fun detective to follow, and this time around he gets into a bit more action-packed trouble, with most of the main players from the first novel returning. Again, this is one of Hamilton's early works, and the "sci-fi" is kept to a minimum, though fantastic in nature. This is a pretty cool sci-fi detective series set in the not too distant future, and unlike Hamilton's more recent epic space-opera work it is very easy to read. Looking forward to finishing the trilogy and then moving on the his "Commonwealth" saga which is comprised of many novels.
Great sci-fi detective novel (Mindstar Rising). Less dense with hard sci-fi that Hamilton's later work gets into. Great first novel for sure. Looking forward to the next 2 (one of which is in this book) and final Greg Mandel books. Hopefully, in the future Hamilton will go back to this character. The "world" it takes in is not as expansive as everything else he does, but he has great characters to work with here.
Great sci-fi detective novel (Mindstar Rising). Less dense with hard sci-fi that Hamilton's later work gets into. Great first novel for sure. Looking forward to the next 2 (one of which is in this book) and final Greg Mandel books. Hopefully, in the future Hamilton will go back to this character. The "world" it takes in is not as expansive as everything else he does, but he has great characters to work with here.
July 6, 2012
It was a real toss up between 2 and 3 stars.
Note that this was my first techno thriller novels. And... I do plan on reading the final Greg Mandel installment, The Nano Flower. I just have to find out what happens to the embarassingly juvenile Julia Evans.
This book is actually the 1st 2 of the novels, crammed together. It was NOT a bad read, but techno thrillers are just not my thing. I don't agonize over who could have done it.
The first book completely lacked gravitas. I mean... really, really lacked gravitas. Someone stole some information from a corporate company... *yawn* Not even worth touching on other than I enjoyed the characters.
The second book - A Quantum Murder... now that one was much more interesting. Lots to think about, enough evidence to get the brain flowing on who could be the murderer, and characters that are in typical Hamilton style just a real treat to get to know.
It was also interesting to read Hamilton's first published works. 8)
Note that this was my first techno thriller novels. And... I do plan on reading the final Greg Mandel installment, The Nano Flower. I just have to find out what happens to the embarassingly juvenile Julia Evans.
This book is actually the 1st 2 of the novels, crammed together. It was NOT a bad read, but techno thrillers are just not my thing. I don't agonize over who could have done it.
The first book completely lacked gravitas. I mean... really, really lacked gravitas. Someone stole some information from a corporate company... *yawn* Not even worth touching on other than I enjoyed the characters.
The second book - A Quantum Murder... now that one was much more interesting. Lots to think about, enough evidence to get the brain flowing on who could be the murderer, and characters that are in typical Hamilton style just a real treat to get to know.
It was also interesting to read Hamilton's first published works. 8)
April 22, 2012
A Two novel re-issue of Hamilton's 1990 novels involving Greg mandel...a biologically altered empath in a post apocolyptic( Environmental...the great warming) Britain. Lots of nice touches here...The Trinities vs the PSP...the New Conservatives...the various play-oofs and pay-offs of dealing with a disintegrating world and the purely pro-business nature of the story arc...I do like the hacker element of the two novels. Speculative fiction always run the risk of seeming dated and there are elements of that at play in the novel...but on the big themes...the stories still stand.
December 15, 2014
This is two complete novels in one. The first is better than the second. I enjoyed the first, but the second was even more draggy and seemed unfocused in places.
Typical of this author. Good characterizations, interesting plot. Author is enamored of the universe he has created and seems to include little descriptions that are only marginally related to the plot. He could use a better editor.
I'm done with this author for a long time.
Typical of this author. Good characterizations, interesting plot. Author is enamored of the universe he has created and seems to include little descriptions that are only marginally related to the plot. He could use a better editor.
I'm done with this author for a long time.
Read
September 11, 2011Grr. My bookstore won't have til 8/23.
p 16 - it is good to be an esper
P 88 - Spaaaaaace!
EDIT:
p 171/467 (1st novel) - consciousness uploading :) This is also a 'post global warming' novel.
I have to wonder why these 2 novels were reprinted as one book. Is a 467 page novel just too low a profit margin, or do they think it won't sell as much?
p 16 - it is good to be an esper
P 88 - Spaaaaaace!
EDIT:
p 171/467 (1st novel) - consciousness uploading :) This is also a 'post global warming' novel.
I have to wonder why these 2 novels were reprinted as one book. Is a 467 page novel just too low a profit margin, or do they think it won't sell as much?
February 18, 2013
Two books in one.
The first one is a bit bumpy read, a rough ride, although not bad overall, not on the level I am used from Peter F. Hamilton. So 2/5
But, the second book is way better, with a compelling story line, thought nothing really over the top, but enough to get a 4/5
Overall I give a 4/5, especially because for the second book
The first one is a bit bumpy read, a rough ride, although not bad overall, not on the level I am used from Peter F. Hamilton. So 2/5
But, the second book is way better, with a compelling story line, thought nothing really over the top, but enough to get a 4/5
Overall I give a 4/5, especially because for the second book
January 26, 2014
Two fun techno-thriller, sci-fi, mysteries. I enjoyed both Mindstar Rising and A Quantum Murder for the action ,and the ongoing character development. I look forward to more of Greg Mandel and his psi- ability crime solving, and the continued growth of Julia Evans as her story unfolds in The Nano Flower.
June 5, 2016
I only managed to get through the first novel in this collection, Mindstar Rising. It was a tedious slog, full of technobabble and tiresome cliches that borrowed heavily from both the super-spy and hard-boiled detective genres. It's vastly inferior to Hamilton's later space opera fiction. I may get around to reading the second novel, or maybe not.
August 19, 2012
This is two books combined into one massive read. Both books were pretty good -- the first being a little better than the second. Both are sort of sci-fi murder/mystery books. Hamilton is a bit long winded, but the plot is interesting enough to keep things moving.
January 8, 2014
I enjoyed the two books in one. But I'm a Hamilton fan. Despite his tendency toward verbosity, these read quite quickly. Technothriller is the right label for these stories. The setting is near-future Earth, which I think is a neat contrast to the settings in his Commonwealth and Void books.
March 21, 2014
While Peter F. Hamilton is an author on my to-read list, I found myself skipping pages at the end of the book. A series I would still complete, it was difficult initially to really get into the storyline as I needed to learn the slang peculiar to the series.
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