The Reality Dysfunction

Night's Dawn Trilogy, Book 1

By: Peter F. Hamilton

Narrated by: John Lee

In AD 2600, the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature's boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems, and throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace. A true golden age is within our grasp.

But now something has gone catastrophically wrong. On a primitive colony planet, a renegade criminal's chance encounter with an utterly alien entity unleashes the most primal of all our fears. An extinct race that inhabited the galaxy aeons ago called it the Reality Dysfunction. It is the nightmare that has prowled beside us since the beginning of history.

©1996 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Elements of space opera, Straubesque horror and adrenaline-laced action make this a demanding, rewarding read." ( Publishers Weekly)

Finally on Audible!! My favorite Hamilton series!

This book and it's sequels (Neutronion Alchemist, and The Naked God) are simply fantastic. In my opinion, this series is Hamilton's best work. Huge galactic scope, Elizabethan themes, 1940's gangsters, Interstellar travel, a very disturbing take on the Apocalypse, Sentient Cities, bio-engineering ethics (and advantages), telepathy, dystopias and utopias, interesting aliens, the Afterlife, cyborgs, cults, underworld syndicates, horror, etc, etc....

The page to page writing is arguably inferior to Hamilton's later stuff, but the ideas here are so dang grand! This is a Big Story with lots of point of view characters.

Like most of Hamilton's books, the start is a bit slow - with many characters and societies introduced, but once it gets going the momentum is impressive. Stick with it - it's worth it.

****As of writing this review you still need to download in parts, whole book download will not work (hopefully this is fixed soon). ***

Quick tip, I love John Lee as a reader, but I enjoy his reading and performance at 1.25 playback speed even more.

Finally! 1 of the greatest Space Operas out there!

What made the experience of listening to The Reality Dysfunction the most enjoyable?

One of Peter Hamilton's best works & John Lee delivers it wonderfully.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Another John Lee master piece!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not a thing!

Any additional comments?

Audible, I really hope we see the rest of this trilogy in the coming months!!!

Painful

The narration was plodding and slow. But the tambour off. There were no breaks between scenes, which can be confusing if 100% attention is not paid to the story. Author must have gone through a bout of celibacy while righting. The sex scenes Listen like Tina Belcher's private diaries, if suspended in amber.

My suggestion is to skip this one and head over to Leviathan Wakes and the Expanse Series.

Good, but could use some editing

The story itself is great. And John Lee does a good job narrating. But chapters blend together with no pause. You may find yourself momentarily lost when a new paragraph starts and it takes you a few moments to realize they aren't talking about the same characters anymore. If they had just placed a 5-10 seconds delay at the beginning of a new story, it would be much better.

Raw early work from a master of sci-fi

This version (with John Lee narrating) wasnt available until relatively recently so I read this series after the Void series. The story weaving and imagination are every bit as present here. The only difference is that the author was still a little less refined. This takes nothing away from the book, as it's still an exceptional read and the lack of refinement gives the story an edgey vibe. Highly recommend for any sci-fi lover. And anyone who appreciates PF Hamilton, but hasn't yet tried these, is in for a real treat.