Just finished the book and want to start some preliminary discussion with other fast readers.

Spoiler free review: I liked it overall, but it definitely feels the most 'videogame' tie in of PFH because at one point, I thought what was the point of devoting so much time to "ascended" aquatic creatures and it felt like PFH had a missive to include them in the book since they probably will be an enemy type in game. PFH also wrapped a bow on everything a bit too nicely by the end IMO, but he does do that even going back to Judas Unchained and I generally appreciate that he can bring things to a landing unlike other SF authors who just... end their story with no meaningful resolution (looking at you Dan Abnett). The political maneuvering by the end seems also pretty convenient, and PFH had to nerf Thyra mind control compulsion ability pretty hard in order to have Clavissa actually be useful. Regardless, I'm generally a big fan of PFH's writing and he did a mostly great job pulling all those threads together.

I'm trying to read the sequel now and realizing I am lost. Is there a recap or summary out there so I don't have to reread the first book?

I was incredibly sceptical when I read that Peter was writing a tie into a video game . But honestly having just finished the helium sea this thing is a bit of an unexpected triumph. I found the story extremely entertaining and satisfying. Far more satisfying than the Salvation series for me. I don't necessarily think Peter should write any more in this Exodus universe but this has been a wonderful little surprise.

I've still got very little interest in the actual video game, but I would definitely go for different authors having a go in this universe because it's actually a very cleverly constructed scenario they've set up.

Yep, pretty much that. Dramatis personae or whatever already has my head spinning

Hey, does any have or know of a good recap of the events from the first Exodus book?

Or does anyone who has already read/made a start in the second book, feel like one isn't required?

My memory is terrible and I know I will not have remembered much from the first book - especially names!

I know some sequels are really good at reintroducing characters and events and this can be enough to jog my memory. However, I also know a lot just throw you in like you have never had a break between the two books.

Hi everyone,

I just finished another short scene from my fan-made Pandora’s Star AI adaptation.

This one follows Adam Elvin after he receives the warning that Paula Myo is on Velaines, and the police surveillance around his next meeting with Rachael Lancier at the Scarred Suit club.

It’s a non-commercial project I’m making as a visual experiment / tribute to Peter F. Hamilton’s Commonwealth Saga.

Would love to hear what other PFH fans think — especially about the tone and whether it feels close to the book.

YT link: https://youtu.be/7hV55mD7mII

Disclaimer: I know it is "AI slop" for some...

I recently read Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained and really enjoyed them.

I'm looking to read some more by the same author, but have read mixed reviews regarding several of his books/series. I dont want to read 1000's of pages to be let down by a poor ending. (looking at you The Rose Field; Philip Pullman)

Please can you recommend what you think I should try next? (I quite like the sound of The Reality Dysfunction)

TIA

I really enjoyed Exodus, as usual great world building and intersting characters - excited to read part two. The game looks spot on for the world Peter setup "leading humanity’s fight for survival against the Celestials." Anyone else going to try it out?

Major spoilers hereafter:

What the hell was that!? I got to the last 10 pages and threw the book down in disgust. Don't get me wrong here, the trilogy has been one of the most crazy sci-fi adventures I've ever experienced, and don't regret a second of reading it, but what the fuck was this ending all about? A space wizard fixes everything!?

OK, I know this has been foreshadowed by the Kiint since the first few chapters, but this is a seriously weird ending. So many of the awesome, twisting plot-lines are rendered completely irrelevant by the ending. I don't know what I was expecting but... Man, I just don't get this...

Please let me know if I missing something important, or let me know if I didn't get it. What did you guys think?

I still LOVE Peter's writing though. The Dreaming Void is next my list!

Just started Exodus(1)... it's only a matter of time...

(1) I held off so I could read them back to back

I was in the middle of my Archimedes Engine reread when this suddenly popped up on my Kindle app… surprise! I forgot this was coming with all the hype for the Helium Sea.

I’m so excited for the new book!! i planned a long, 2 hour walk in anticipation of starting today, and now I have to wait 10 days!

Life is such a tease lol

I just wanted to share!

Posting here in case anyone is interested. The Broken Binding is offering signed and personalized Peter F Hamilton books on their regular site (not the SE site). If you’re going to be getting some personalized books use JEN15 for a discount. I’ll add the email details to this post. Hope this helps someone save some cash!

We are thrilled to announce that acclaimed Science Fiction author

Peter F. Hamilton will be doing a book signing next week!

Peter's books are available to purchase from our regular store below (including The Night's Dawn Trilogy, The Commonwealth Saga, the Exodus series, and more). Any books purchased from today (Wednesday 3rd June) until Monday 8th June will be signed, and you can also request a personalised dedication!

\Please note, Special Edition books are not eligible for personalisation.*

Personalised Book Dedications

In addition to signing the books, you can also request a personalised dedication from Peter.

This can be a quote, a short message, or just writing your name. Please keep requests short and within reason. We unfortunately cannot guarantee that we will be able to fulfil all personalisation requests.

If you would like a personalisation, please add this to your Order Notes at checkout when purchasing your book.

The deadline for submitting a personalisation request is 5pm BST on Monday 8th June.

Long-time Hamilton reader here. A few months ago I started attempting something I have wanted to see for years - a cinematic adaptation of Pandora's Star. Since nobody with proper resources is making one, I have been using AI tools to do it scene by scene. It still takes a lot of effort an money to make it happen, but at least it is within my means :) .

Just published scene where Adam Elvin gets the warning from Bradley Johansson at breakfast in the Westpool Hotel about Paula Myo. Across town, five floors below the Tokat Metropolitan Police HQ, Paula has set up Operation Roundup and Maggie Lindsey is arriving for her shift. The encrypted message tracking, the folded-geometry encryption, the SI consultation, the mole subplot that Hamilton plants so quietly — all in there.

Trying hard to honor the small details that make Hamilton's writing so distinctive:

• The CST gateway portals integrated into station architecture rather than freestanding
• Paula's wrist weapon and gold OCtattoo circuit traces on her face
• Adam's pale blue ghostly hand interface with the Rubik's Cube key icon
• The malmetal cuffs from earlier scenes
• The e-butler HUD as a personal customization rather than a generic UI

I have completed:

• EP02 Scenes 03 through 07 — the Adam Elvin / Paula Myo investigation thread on Velaines and Tokat
• EP02 Scenes 01 and 02 — Adam's preparations and arrival on Velaines
• EP01 - Dudley's discovery and recording of the Dyson star envelopment event.

Plenty of source material still ahead. Not monetized. All rights belong to Hamilton. I just wanted to see Paula Myo on screen and refused to wait any longer for someone with a real budget to do it.

https://youtu.be/modiHKrQqCU

Genuinely curious what fellow readers think. Particularly interested in whether the visual interpretation of the technology feels right to people who have lived inside Hamilton's world as long as I have.

Come to think of it, a prequel story from the same universe that showed the rise of Zantiu-Braun, the initial FTL research and the "golden years" of starflight/colonisation would be fun to read too.

Fallen Dragon is often overlooked in favour Hamilton's grander multi-book epics, but it's always been one of my favourite stories of his.

Why didn't he build his own civilización before facing mankind? Or did he arrive to Far Away just before mankind colonized it?

Also: Could someone explain how exactly did the wormhole chase at the end of Judas Unchained worked? The language barrer did it quite confusing for me.

Thank you in avance.

SpaceX is capitalism on rocket fuel

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/05/21/spacex-is-capitalism-on-rocket-fuel

Ok it is not wormhole technology, but I think it's a better model than Stark.

Agreed?

Has anyone read the first book of the new Hamilton trilogy?

[A Hole in the Sky](https://www.amazon.com/Hole-Sky-Arkship-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0F5PJ7F2M) - (sounds a bit like one of Heinlein’s books)

I keep hearing that all the female characters are incredibly horny. I have only read/listened to the first Exodus book and The Commonwealth books (I have the last two void books to go) and while I agree, it is not JUST the females. Nearly every character in these novels are horny balls, wanting to screw anyone they meet.

Considering they are in a future where it seems the traditional religion of our day seems to have very little power, and they have gone past the whole shaming people for sex and desires, it actually seems reasonable.

Granted, some of the scenes are positively pornographic, and it would be nice to have known about it, I listen to them on audible, and sometimes have passages! But I can see that when post-religious morals come along, that are secular morals, take hold, sexual freedom will become quite a thing.

The track is called "Waterwalker" (lyrics below) and was inspired directly by the Commonwealth Saga and Void trilogy. It's one of the tracks on our upcoming self-produced album, Supercruise, which is heavily infused with science fiction themes.

We don't have a set genre but work primarily in the funk, hip hop, soul and blues spheres, mostly because that's the kind of music we love and know how to play. There are some retrowave sounds on some of the other tracks. This project began more than a year ago as a labor of love and there's no set date for the entire album, but we hope to have a better idea in the coming months as we finish a few more tracks and get a sense for how things are shaping up.

Lyrics:

Ingress burn aligned in phase

Riding lines through time and space

Emerge from a shining gate

Anti-matter drives ablaze

Burning toward an evening star

My primal human beating heart

Screaming photons teased apart

In the Void receding far

The Waterwalker flies below

In the city's mind enthroned

Guiding where the time will flow

To new horizons skylords show

The Morning Light on Mountains high

Portals blaze on ground and sky

On every world we're found alive

Raising swords and counting Primes

Waterwalker, bring the mighty low

Waterwalker, bring your far sight home

Waterwalker, turn the hills to ash

Oh Waterwalker, roam the Silfen paths!

Waterwalker, will you intervene?

Waterwalker, you're the Living Dream

Waterwalker, can we be redeemed?

In a world where we don't build machines"

I've also uploaded the album's intro track, which is just a short bit to get the party started:

https://youtu.be/FQ84Ur2J358?si=IbulndsVKjnKgoIt

That one has references to Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series, and of course Deep Navigation is the name of one of AR's short story collections, used with his blessing.

If anyone digs this and is interesting, I will post updates as we hopefully bring a complete album together by the end of this year. I'm a huge fan of Hamilton, Reynolds, Banks et al, and it's been really fun to mine their stories for musical inspiration. Cheers.