Night Without Stars is Peter F Hamilton’s conclusion to his Chronicle of the Fallers duology, itself effectively a conclusion – at least for the moment – of his Commonwealth Universe. Following on from The Abyss Beyond Dreams (Mark C’s review, MarkY’s review), Night Without Stars has a lot to do in its page count to effectively tie up the story, and it makes this task even greater by essentially resetting the society and technology on Bienvenido following its expulsion from the Void. It’s safe to say that having read The Abyss Beyond Dreams is a must before tackling Night Without Stars…
From the publisher:
The planet Bienvenido is in crisis. It has finally escaped the Void, emerging into regular space. But it’s millions of light-years from Commonwealth assistance, and humans are battling the Fallers for control of their world. This rapacious adversary, evolved to destroy all sentient life, has infiltrated every level of human society – hijacking unwilling bodies so its citizens fear their leaders, friends and family.
A mysterious figure known as the Warrior Angel leads a desperate resistance. She’s helped by forbidden Commonwealth technology, which gives her a crucial edge. But the government obstructs the Angel’s efforts at every turn, blinded by prejudice and technophobia. As Fallers also prepare to attack from the skies, she might need to incite rebellion to fight this invasion. But the odds seem impossible.
Then astronaut Ry Evine uncovers one last hope. On a mission against the enemy, his spacecraft damages an unidentified vessel. This crash-lands on the planet carrying unexpected cargo: a baby. This extraordinary Commonwealth child possesses knowledge that could save them all. But if the Fallers catch her, the people of Bienvenido will not survive.
Nigel Sheldon’s attempt at destroying the Void at the conclusion to The Abyss Beyond Dreams failed and Bienvenido has been ejected into deep intergalactic space. With the Void behind them the planet must adapt to these new conditions where technology can prevail, having to build society around these life-altering changes. However, the Fallers are a constant and even more deadly threat now that their orbital spawning ground has been shattered, causing them to come down across the entire globe. The struggle for the planet, and the survival of humanity, is more precarious with an oppressive government denouncing the use of Commonwealth enhancements, relegating those born with this heritage to second-class citizens. There are but a few rays of light against this dark backdrop, and it’s down to Kysandra, the Warrior Angel, and her group of ANAdroids to take the fight to the Fallers, and a little help is coming…
I’m a big fan of Hamilton’s work, especially his Commonwealth books, so the release of Night Without Stars was one I’ve been looking forward to since the closing pages of The Abyss Beyond Dreams. However, when I cracked open the novel and began reading, it was somewhat of a surprise to find that time had moved forwards over 200 years since the previous volume’s conclusion. This surprise turned to interest at the society Hamilton had created – rather than one that had embraced the Commonwealth technology that Laura Brandt and Kysandra had at their disposal, it turned against these elements, forcing the ‘eliters’ underground to work in secrecy. While Sylvasta is no longer around, his presence and desires are felt through the governmental policies that restrict control and advancement in the hopes of maintaining a status quo that keeps them in charge.
While this society is fascinating to read – comparable to the mid-20th century, with few aspects of higher technology – the conflict against the Fallers is what interests me so much. Fighting an enemy with the ability to take on the form of anyone or anything, with a sharp intellect focused on the genocide of humanity, makes for a startling brutal story. Not only this, but also other elements present in Bienvenido’s new star system cause much woe and a little intrigue, especially to the reader. However, it’s the Fallers against humanity that this story is ultimately about, and Hamilton manages to weave a tight story with the many threads present. Not a single page is wasted in the telling, and once again it’s a joy to witness such a master of science fiction at work.
With a varied cast of characters that each bring their own point of view to the story, and many threads that intertwine as the plot progresses, Night Without Stars ticks almost every box on an SF fans list. While sporadical during the early parts of the novel – prologue (Nigel Sheldon in Andromeda!) and start of chapter 1 (Primes!) excepted – these elements build to a very satisfying and enjoyable conclusion, and one that long-time fans of Hamilton’s work will relish.
The Chronicle of the Fallers is an excellent duology of novels. Where The Abyss Beyond Dreams brought a different take on the Void with some unforgettable characters, story elements, and plotting, Night Without Stars shows conflict on a human level against the most terrifying of enemies, all the while delivering an action-packed page-turner. Highly recommended.
Publisher: Pan Macmillan (UK), Del Rey (US)
Author: Peter F Hamilton
September 2016, 750 Pages
Hardcover, ISBN:
Review copy received from the publisher
© 2016 Mark Chitty
