Rating: 
Summary: Night's Dawn, The best future epic I've read.
Review: I was immediately hooked by The Reality Dysfunction and as quickly as I was able, acquired and devoured every word in the entire 3 (or 6 as published in the U.S.) volume set. I absolutely loved the universe that Hamilton created. His space habitats were truly believable but fantastic and richly detailed. His story was another take on the battles between good and evil, with incredibly imaginative extensions to the universe's dimensions, etc. He drew a society split into two main camps, those using hard technology and those using biotech. There were issues of the future of humanity involved, as well. My only complaint with the series is that I thought a bit much of the epic to be dark and wallowing in disaster, hopelessness and evil. Hamilton brought in lighter story lines enough to keep me going. Hope and joy were kept alive just enough. His final resolution to the great problem was simply ingenious and wonderful. Comedy, horror, drama, lust, adventure...this series has it all. It is a huge and wonderful work. I'm wondering how Hamilton will follow it now. Of the great space operas, it rates for me above Foundation and above Dune, both of which were excellent. A great read!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fantastic
Review: What more can I say- this whole series are the best sci-fi books I've ever read. They are books where you truly can't put them down- they have so much going on in so many plots, sub-plots etc. For a nearly 4000 page series Hamilton has kept it remarkably free of boring bits. In short buy the whole lot of this series- I can guarantee that no true sci-fi reader will be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: This is the beginning of a stunning epic
Review: I admit that I've read both parts of the end of the series (i.e. The Naked God), but what I read inspired me to read the other two volumes (Reality Dysfunction and Neutronium Alchemist). This storyline is simply unparalleled by anything else I've read. It describes a human future rife with sentience and filled with drama - human drama. The dialogue is uncensured and the story is so HUGE that it requires all six books to convey. Ignore the occasional typos and enjoy the story.I especially like the concept of the sentient starships used by the Edenists. The technological concepts are unobstrusive and I am in love with Hamilton's descriptive abilities. If you're like me, you'd probably be put off by the titles of his books when browsing in the bookstore, but don't buy this book unless you have four weeks set aside to embark on the most glorious of space epics. The story has everything - tragedy, comedy and emotion. Other authors would do well to borrow a leaf from Hamilton and I would be happy if some would write books even half as worthy of their price tags as this one is (I am talking about you, Haldeman. 'Forever Free' was a total rip-off).
Rating: 
Summary: SOUND AND FURY AND SAYING NOTHING...
Review: What a major disappointment. How this can be equated with Dune or Foundation is beyond me. Boring, embarrassingly adolescent techno-bable, a myriad of uninvolving characters in a myriad of bad sci-fi cliches.....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. I thnk this Emergence should go back where ever it came from.
Rating:
Summary: I found Hamilton's prose to be awkward and lacking in rhythm
Review: I should first admit that I did not read much of the book -- but this is because I simply found that many of the sentences Hamilton builds are awkward. I don't have the book in front of me, so I unfortunately can't quote anything. But even in space operas which do not purport to be 'Great Literature' I expect the prose to flow with a certain grace, and here it did not. I am simply putting this comment in here to see if anyone else had the same reaction.
Rating: 
Summary: 10 out of 10 for effort, but...
Review: I'll have to comment on this book as it's printed in Australia - one loooong book containing both the Emergence / Expansion books (in fact all 6 books are printed in only 3 books - each about 1200 pages long). A much more cost effective way to buy them by the way.... First up, this is a very good book that is worth trying, but it won't change your life - you aren't going to be confronted with overwhelming ideas and concepts, multi-levelled character development or even anything terribly original. The book, ultimately, is only about one group attempting to dominate another with all of the flaws/prejudices/nobility, etc of humanity thrown in then placed in a futuristic setting. However, The Reality Dysfunction is, in the end, an engaging book, one obviously written as a long and sweeping saga, ultimately taking in 3 books (or six if you're from the US of A) - therefore, some bizarre comments by readers saying the book ended with too many loose ends comes out as just ridiculous. If you want short, fast-paced plots that skim over techno-babble and character building (although some characters here are clichéd and many are given far too much description for what turns out to be only a brief appearance), you'll probably find this somewhat boring. However, if you're happy to sit back and flow with it you'll find it a rewarding experience - just don't expect quick answers, there won't be any. Your enjoyment of this book relies solely on how much depth you want/require in your characters, your story and ultimately in the world you're about to enter for days of reading. There are times you feel part of this universe. Yet there are also times you feel manipulated solely to progress the story; hence many clichés do crop up - the benevolent aliens, the genius-like, young, sex-obsessed captain, the women in power who seem ultimately guided by their feelings for the men (I know I shouldn't but I just can't stop thinking about him), and then there's the bad guys. Evil is a one-shaded character here. It is only the 'good guys' that you often wonder about. Too many times when we're back with the bad guys we know something bad (and usually somewhat gruesome) is going to happen - you often wonder what these people do in-between being evil; nothing obviously. Being evil must be a 24/7 job. Then there's the 'red shirt' cliché. Pretty much any time a 'marine' is in the picture you just know they're going to die a pointless death just to demonstrate how powerful the 'sequestered' people are (an original Star Trek syndrome here - you know the guys wearing the red shirts are going to die). And naturally the good guys are stumbling around wondering (ignoring) what's going on and being (typically) self-absorbed in their own lives; results of which can often be frustrating to the reader, especially when the same issue is brought up several times by different groups. Some judicious editing could have been good. But I look at it this way, it's a long book, you're not going to like everything. Overall though, the majority does hold your attention and truly makes you want to read on. Whether you are satisfied with what the 'reality dysfunction' turns out to be is a personal issue. I wasn't - and fully admit it took me some time to continue. From the behaviour of the original 'sequestered' people to what happens with them later simply came across to me as weak (just consider the behaviour of the sequestered people in the start to how mushy and good-feely some turn out by the end). We're presented with what appears to be a true evil, something we can't comprehend, something whose only goal is total domination - and we end up with mere shades of ourselves. Again, one group trying to dominate another. The Reality Dysfunction deserves 10 out of 10 for effort; it truly has the grand sweep of classic space opera with the overriding intelligence to set it apart. However, it needed more editing to quicken the pace (you really don't need an entire page on someone's history when they never appear again), and it needed to drop a few of its many clichés. In the end though, if it's good SF you enjoy, then this book will be hard to beat. Just give it the time it deserves and try not to get frustrated over how long it takes to resolve issues - good things come to those who wait (oops, a cliché).
Rating:
Summary: Somehow fantastic yet deeply disturbing
Review: This book wonderfully portrayed a delicately balanced society, with each to their own utopia. Where telepathy (tech or bio) is commonplace, and genetic or cybernetic engineering are a matter of religeon. There is a capacity for great shared terror as it all comes crashing down, prey to a menace no-one could possibly forsee. This book is a real eye opener-both for SF fans, and readers of dystopia literature. I look forward to reading more of Hamiltons work.
Rating:
Summary: The Digital Frontier is expanding!!
Review: The best way to enjoy a palm top computer is to have some books to read when you need to while away some time. And who better than someone like Peter F Hamiliton. His sci fi books define a world of the distant future that is both compelling and entralling. It's the best thing I've read on my palm top yet! I can't say enough to rate the compelling intensity of Hamilton, so I'll say this. Get his books, in what ever format you can!
Rating: 
Summary: Reality Dysfunction -Series
Review: I found the books Part1 and Part 2, to be a little long but very engrossing after the first hundred pages. I do wish the third installment would come out before I forget the story so far. The characters were built up well and the detail is astounding. Very strong concepts and very new (to me) ideas. I am now tagged by the what-happens-now syndrome. It can be difficult to follow all the characters so far do to the large number of players. Definitely start with this book and stick with it. You will be thrilled.
Rating:
Summary: the reality dysfunction
Review: I just love the book! I' going to buy the rest of the series ASAP! It was so helpful when me and my crew had to fight pirates near Jupiter and before signing that contract in New California system. ;D
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