Rating: 
Summary: I loved it!
Review: In a future where humans are successfully colonizing the galaxy, something terrible begins to stir on the otherwise insignificant jungle planet Lalonde. Although this volume serves mainly to set the stage, it is clear that the known universe is about to be thrown into chaos.This series has provoked very polarized responses. Many of the negative reviews come from reviewers who have read more of the series than I have, but based on this first installment I come down firmly on the positive side. Peter Hamilton has imagined a fascinating universe and relates it in amazingly intricate detail. Some have criticized the book for its sexuality and violence, but I would like to point out that this aspect of the book is far outweighed by pages and pages of material on the effect of technology on human society, the economies of interstellar colonies, the geographies of worlds both natural and artificial, and dozens of interesting characters, resulting in a truly impressive and plausible feat of universe-building. I can't recall another SF novel that so successfully underscores the importance of economics and commercial activity in conquering frontiers and establishing colonies; the result is a universe that believeably includes both bioengineered telepathic starships and primitive worlds that still rely largely on pre-20th-century technology. All of this explication has led some to criticize the series for getting off to a slow start, but I enjoyed this read immensely. I did think that the publisher's way of splitting the volume in two parts was unfortunate. From the way events just seem to peter out instead of building to some kind of cliff-hanging moment of suspense, it is clear that Hamilton did not intend for his story to be presented in this way.
Rating:
Summary: Part 1 Emergence
Review: "....the first part of a two-volume book that is itself the first book of a series." Amazon.com review. Actually, its a trilogy, which might be confusing as this is merely the first half of the first novel. Ergo, as it is pointless to "review" half a novel, I can only recommend that you read both "halves" at once. Just a sidenote: It is unfortunate that this novel is published in two "mass market" paperbacks instead of one trade paperback, as in the UK. Which, imho, is preferable; first, because these two volumes constitute a single movement, and then because it's a simpler and seemingly more effecient use of paper, ink and shelf space. I read the one volume SFBC edition which I heartly recommend, if you can find it. Despite axegrinding naysayers, to know contemporary SF one must read "The Reality Dysfunction: Emergence & Expansion."
Rating: 
Summary: The kind of garbage that gives science fiction a bad name...
Review: This truly is junk. I am always on the lookout for good hard science fiction in the vein of Gregory Benford or Allen Steele, and I hoped I had found something like that when I picked up this first volume in a series. What a disappointment! It's not that Hamilton doesn't have interesting ideas. In his universe, Edenists are telepathically linked to their "bitek" starships and habitats (and to each other); Adamists regard such "geneering" as scandalous at best and heretical at worst. But these ideas unfortunately only serve as backdrop to gratuitous and graphic descriptions of sex, and to ever more stomach-churning violence. And then it just gets silly, with the souls of dead bad guys inhabiting the bodies of devil-worshipers (I'm not kidding). If you want a good example of how coarse popular fiction has become, this is your book. If you want to be entertained or maybe even intellectually engaged, stay a few light years away.
Rating:
Summary: The bad beginning of an awful series.
Review: The bookseller who handles the rather extensive science-fiction section at my local independent bookseller absolutely gushed over this series. I followed his advice, and proceeded to waste my time on an overlong, needlessly complicated, and ultimately pointless series. It is tripe like this that makes me lament the death of the novel and the rise of the multi-volume epic in science fiction and fantasy. To sum up, the utterly ludicrous plot involves the souls of the dead coming back, taking over the living, and proceeding to wreak havoc over the known universe. What began as a promising, even intriguing universe degenerated into a preposterous "epic" packed with needless explicit sex scenes, gratuitous graphic violence, and caricatured characterization. This is reminiscent not of Foundation, or Hyperion, or in fact of anything remotely good; it is reminiscent instead of Piers Anthony at his very worst. I urge you not to waste your time with this garbage, unless you simply must see any army of the returned dead led by the (extremely cartoonish) resurrected soul of Al Capone, terrorizing known space. You have been warned.
Rating:
Summary: First book is slow, but Trilogy is best SF ever!
Review: This is the best SF writing I have ever read. The first half of the first book is the slowest, it just gets you up to speed (600 years in the future), and then it slowballs forward into an incredibly detailed and inticate universe that will make you thankfull the entire series is already out. I had to wait for Naked God for over a year and I was dying for it:) If you like SF, then you will like this. Just don't read the back of any of the books. Whoever wrote the backs really didn't understand what they were doing. It gives away information that you need to get on your own. And it just isn't a reasonably accurate account of what these books are about or like:)
Cheers, and enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Space Opera
Review: This is the opening book in the "Nights Dawn" trilogy - although the paperback versions run to six books. It was my first introduction to Peter Hamilton, and I am sold. The book spans a grand universe with varied planets and habitats, alien races, FTL travel, and one of the key drivers of the book is the split of mankind into Edenist (bioengineered humans) and Adamists (fundamentalist creationist humans). Without spoiling the plot I can say that this book introduces the reader to a variety of characters and plotlines and sets up a compelling story to follow. There is a good mix of sci-fi technology material (organic spaceships and habitats, space ships and lasers) with primitive fantasy style elements (backward planets with low tech environments). I can honestly say I am hooked and have ordered book 2 already!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing Happens
Review: The world Mr. Hamilton creates is fascinating. The first 100 to 150 pages or so are very interesting, with a lot of action. And then, from that point to the end of the book (which is about 400 or so more pages) NOTHING HAPPENS. From that point, where he's done setting up his universe, the action just stops. Buy Dune or Hyperion or Foundation if you haven't read them...but don't waste your money on this.
Rating:
Summary: Simply...Astounding!
Review: This book had me hooked from the first page. This book has it all, action, armour and hard sf, politics, love, and a touch of horror. Basically, read this book, even if you are not a big SF fan, its one of the best. I read the entire 6 book series in about 1 week, and I was begging for more!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother
Review: I knew the book was in trouble when the narrator noted that 9 sec had elapsed since enemy ships showed up. There had been at least 20 sec of dialogue since the ships arrived. This happened on page 3. The bookjacket blurb compares this to Dune, Hyperion and The Foundation series. Much better reads that you should look into rather than buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: A universe-spanning epic of amazing detail!
Review: This book was incredible! There is no way that I could even begin to overview to plot, so I won't even try.
You have to read this book to believe it. Forget I said that, you just have to read it! It's beyond vast, beyond amazing, just beyond! Somehow, there is an entire universe in that one book alone.
I'll be honest now. I wasn't sure I even liked this book until after I finished, (there was just so much to absorb at once!) but even then I knew it was 5 stars. Even if you don't like it, you'll be awestruck at the sheer scope of this book.
Once you reach the middle of it, there's no way you can stop.
I'll admit that it takes a while for the threads of the plot to tie together, but with a tapestry of this scale, you've got to give it time. Once they begin to form that amazing web, you're hooked.
And, it's true that not all of the characters are all that interesting, not at first, but with so many to read about, you don't really even notice.
What else can I say? The writting style was engaging, the plot was complex and far-reaching, the characters amazingly varied and interesting, the story itself was fantasic. And this is only the beginning!
I've heard it refered to as a space opera, and that's a fitting description indeed. Only it's better and more than just that. It's a combination of ideas and places that, when put all together, will blow you away.
So, to sum this up, you have to read this book! Only then can you really understand how utterly facinating it is.
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