RV002 - The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton

Hello everyone!

I cannot believe it has been almost a year to the date that I've last reviewed something, when I reviewed the sub-standard bluetooth speaker, I envisioned doing plenty more like it. But as is often the case, life got in the way and I drifted away from interest in doing reviews.

Now that I am back, I aim to churn these out at a more regular pace, especially as I'm always borrowing books from the library. What better focus to have, then, than the books that I borrow.

First up is the second book in the Night's Dawn trilogy; The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton...

The Good

What I liked about this book, as vast as its pages were (clocking in at over 1,200), the action was pretty much relentless. Once the story took hold of you it didn't let go until the end and, whilst I've read other books that are much shorter than this and been bored by them, I most certainly wasn't whilst reading this.

It took me almost three weeks to get through, but that's no fault of the writer, I assure you, I just could not make time to read it each day like I had hoped I would be able to. Nevertheless, as the story progresses the plot thickens at quite a rapid pace and yet, at no stage, does it become unbelievably convoluted. The writer always makes you feel like you are in control of what you are reading as things are very craftily explained in such a way as to be "shown rather than told". A master-stroke in my mind.

As for who, or what, the Alchemist turns out to be, the way that was gradually hinted at was expertly crafted in such a way that whilst those super observant will see it coming, it was surprising enough for me that I didn't mind the way it actually revealed the importance of this to the story. It eventually becomes clear there is a lot more to this than meets the eye.

The Not-So-Good

Well, what can I say here for the negatives? I can't really think of any as I tap this review out in the early hours of Wednesday morning, even though it probably won't go live until Thursday at the earliest. Again, I could argue that, for the number of pages that this story runs to, it doesn't get in the slightest bit boring, yet manages to sequel bait perfectly, setting up a surprise ending leaving you wanting more.

I am, by no means, saying that this is the perfect book, just that it was right in my wheelhouse for the sort of fiction that I am interested in.

In Conclusion

Rather than write out spoiler after spoiler and thus risk ruining it for you, my dear readers, I decided against that for these reviews as, whilst it can be helpful to know about the story, sometimes it pays to do like I did and go in blind. I've never read any of Hamilton's fiction before, but at this rate, I am likely to source the third book in this trilogy to see how the story unfolds, if only to see what happens to Al Capone (yes, that's right, the gangster!).

Do I rate this one as a book to own/borrow? Absolutely.

You can buy it from Amazon or at all good retailers today!

Until next time...

===TLP===