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 The Nano Flower by Peter F. Hamilton
reviewed by XXX
Original appearance: Albedo one issue??, date
Peter F. Hamilton is an English author who writes detective fiction that is set in the future. Hamilton's is a high-tech future full of bright lights and sharp edges rather than muted colours and smoky mumblings. THE NANO FLOWER is a huge, blockbuster of a book. And every page is crammed with action and plot advancement, which is just as well because there's a lot of action and an awful lot of plot to get through before he ultimately delivers the final twist.
Greg Mandel is a retired investigator with extra-sensory abilities which were augmented in the distant past by the military, when he worked for them. One of his closest friend just happens to be the most powerful woman on the planet: Julia Evan the owner of a huge industrial conglomerate called Event Horizon. When Julia's husband disappears who does she call for but, naturally, Greg.
When the novel opens Julia's husband, Royan, has been missing for eight months. He left of his own free will and Julia knows that he will come back if and when he wants to. Until, that is, he sends her a flower. The flower is a message. The flower contains alien DNA. It proves the existence of other life in the universe. It also proves that that life has made contact with the Earth.
Suddenly Royan is not just a missing husband. He quickly becomes the key to the greatest boon mankind has known, or possibly the greatest threat mankind has ever suffered. And Event Horizon aren't the only ones who wish to find him.
THE NANO FLOWER is a no-frills, techno thriller with probably just a little too much science fiction in it for the blockbuster market. It's a page turner that satisfies on just about every level. If it had been a hundred pages shorter I might have gone totally OTT with my praise.
 The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton
(Night's Dawn Trilogy, Vol 2)
reviewed by Lawrence Cloake
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 15, Winter 1997-1998
'The Neutronium Alchemist' is preceded by 'The Reality Dysfunction' in the 'Night's Dawn' trilogy. Initially a work of this size was a challenge but soon became an excitement and a revitalization of science fiction for this jaded reader. Unlike many other works of its kind -namely space opera- I was surprised to find that the techno-babble was readily decipherable. The scope and sheer audacity of Hamilton's imagination was overwhelming but well paced and controlled. Using the backdrop of man's golden age in space he quickly introduces chinks into the complacent security of the characters. And the whole work descends into a wonderful climax of horrific proportions. Namely, man's worst nightmare, the undermining of death and the great spiritual journey that has been his one source of hope.
AD 2600. Quinn Dexter, an ivet undesirable transported out from Earth, helps to unleash mankind's nemesis on Lalonde's primitive surface, a colony planet that quickly succumbs and disappears from the physical plane. 'The Reality dysfunction' has returned with a vengeance. Meanwhile, not far from The Lord of Ruin's biotek habitat, Joshua Calvert, artifact prospector and independent ship owner, discovers the largest Laymil artifact. An alien race that faced, and were defeated by, 'The Reality Dysfunction'. Interspersed with the Confederation's fascination with the diminutive Dr. Alkad Mzu and the whereabouts of 'The Neutronium Alchemist', legendary star-slayer, and generally not-good-for- your-health, device. However, with the removal of Lalonde and the disappearance of Dr. Mzu, everything quickly escalates until we are confronted by the rampaging Possessed who face off against the Confederation's navy and promptly whup their asses. But Joshua, almost with brass trumpet blasting from his lips, discovers he has a bro and returns to save the universe once again while searching for the elusive Dr. Mzu. Who, it would seem, might not in fact be the single-minded vengeful witch of children's bed-time warnings. Of course now the Possessed want the Alchemist and they are not too bothered about how they achieve their desires. With their godlike powers, and their taste for choice real estate, the Possessed are changing the very fabric of the universe. OOPS there goes the neighbourhood, literally and actually, through 'The Reality Dysfunction'.
Technical know-how falls flat on its face as the golden age of mankind faces off against the possessed, the ultimate threat to man's survival. Invincible, the hordes of souls from the void beyond death swarm across the galaxy, their very presence and existence threatening man's sanity. Liberally sprinkled with space battles, smugglers, rebels armed with the star-slayer, and whole planets removed from the physical plane, the Confederation of man battles with the question of life after death while trying to contain the mundane war against the dead.
However, it soon becomes apparent that Peter is relying too heavily on the larger than life characters that carry his narrative forward. But he does manage to retain the essential magic of his story-telling ability. Allowing us to easily accept the slightly worn nature of his superheros. Who, like their literary predecessors, overcome the impossible. I know that we all like, and appreciate, the spirit of endeavour inherent in man but Hamilton's attempt to make them seem human is a little contrived.
The quasi-religious overtones are more than weak. Even though it is understandable why he has introduced them -to give depth- this, as yet, seems a little beyond his ability to maintain with any real confidence.
As to the magnitude of his universe, it would seem distance is too readily traversed -with the turn of a page- for any real sense of vastness or time passed.
But Peter proves that he is mercenary enough, when need be, by introducing some self-interested characters that are nasty and heroic at one and the same time. They display all the necessary characteristics long associated with smugglers and cutthroats, and the colourful cornucopia of the underworld. Sadly, just when you think that a space captain is about to throw a spanner into the works, Peter kills him off.
So why should you waste your time and money?
Simple.
In creating, and drawing from some fine writers that have gone before him, -namely Banks, Brin, Simmons and Lumley- Hamilton has woven a rich fabric that is not only futuristic but also historical, that allows him to have fun with situations and dialogue.
You will be very surprised by some of the historical characters that abound throughout. And as for the endless possibilities ahead it remains to be seen whether or not he can continue to use them to his advantage. In fact all he is short of doing is staging the Ashes and the Triple Crown. The one thing that has me losing sleep at night is how he will ever resolve the fundamental question of life after death which is his basic premise for 'Night's Dawn'.
Weighing up the good and the bad of it, I would have to say, when he is good he's damn fine and when he's bad it could be a lot worse.
My main quibble really is the bad case of wristitis that haunts me even now.
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