Brilliant scifi! This was my first foray into the worlds of Peter F. Hamilton and I was blown away. A must read for scifi fans!

Hamilton is back in full force. Here we get a new universe, but with some recognisable tropes. He likes the idea first presented in Pandora's Star, with worm hole tunnels to other planets. Now he's upgraded the idea. In this book the tunnels can be very short, too. You use them to get to work, go for a holiday or visit distant planets. The transport industry is no more. Then comes a spaceship along, full of aliens. They are friendly and wants to exchange their knowledge for antimatter for their engines. Or so they say ...

He juggles a lot of main characters without making you too dizzy and steadily builds up the tension. A very nice first part of a series of three books.

I personally thoroughly enjoyed this book by Peter Hamilton. He tells the story of a number of characters in the course of the book, and while that is time consuming, it is also engrossing. Especially since all of these characters are tied together by the discovery of and flight from an alien life form. Hamilton is spending a lot of time here setting the stage for what looks to be a potentially fantastic series.

I am always excited to read a new to me author, especially in one of my favorite genres, however that excitement dwindled a little because I had a hard time becoming invested in the story. I loved the plot. However, there were a few things about the book I did not enjoy. I’ll get into that later.
The story open with aliens, disguised as humans, landing on Earth. Skip forward to the beginning of the 23rd century and the Olyix, another alien species, has made contact. They are on a religious mission and are making a stop over to refuel before continuing on their journey to the end of time to meet their God. They have given humans technology to greatly extend life expectancy in exchange for the fuel they need. In addition, humans have now begun to colonize the galaxy. A new technology of jump gates, literally, makes far flung plants just one step away.
A crashed alien ship is found on a newly discovered planet and this has a highly skilled team assembled to review the findings. As the team travels to the crash site, we learn more about each team member and how their lives, and what they do from this point forward, will affect the future of mankind.
Interspersed with the team member’s stories is a look at life in the future at least 1000 years later. The humans of this time are being genetically modified to do battle against a group of hostile aliens. The reader learns that the crash site investigation team members are now called “Saints”. Therefore, you know something is not at it seems and the reader does not yet know why they are called “Saints”.
I loved the story. My beef is with the execution. First problem, there is no main character. Therefore, I never had someone to identify with and root for. In addition, I did not enjoy all the various stories and the jumping around between time lines. It made the pace of the plot rough. Basically, it felt like a bunch of short stories strung together.
I liked the inventiveness of the story and a couple of characters I liked a lot. I just wished the author had focused on one or two of the characters to advance the plot. I did like the story enough that it over came some of the problems and I liked it enough to read the next book in the series.
Two addition items to note. First, this book ends on a cliff hanger so if you enjoy the book it will be a wait for the next installment. Lastly, my rating is 3.5 but I have rounded up to 4.
I recommend this book to all those who love Science Fiction. If you are a true Sci-Fi fan, I think the flaws in the book are not fatal and you will still enjoy this one.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm afraid this was a DNF for me. I read 10% of the book and just could not get interested in it. It is hard science fiction - not my first choice of reading material. Others will love it I'm sure and it does seem to be written well. That's why I rated it three stars.

This was the first time I've read anything by Peter Hamilton. I found the sci-fi future tech fascinating and enjoyed the future he created.

Salvation's storyline is told using the past, present, and future. 5 people are investigating a crashed alien ship and on their way, each tells a story that gives their backstory. Interspersed are chapters of humans in the future being trained to fight the aliens who are trying to wipe out the human species.

To be honest, I had a hard time staying with this one. The writing was extremely dense and just slogged along. There were so many different storylines, and too many names so I had a hard time keeping track of everyone. Especially at the beginning.

And when I finally did get to the end, very little was revealed. The story is a "to be continued" which was disappointing. I was hoping for a bit more to be revealed. At this time, I'm not sure I'll continue with this series. I guess it will depend on my mood at the time.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advance copy.*

Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Under normal circumstances, I would normally rate a book like this lower because the setup leaves us hanging, but this is PETER F HAMILTON we're talking about. That means, if you're picking up the first book in one of his trilogies, no matter how long each individual book might be, you're invested for the long haul. You might be slightly miffed you need to wait that much longer before SOMETHING major gets resolved, but that's the nature of this beast.

That being said, Salvation has a ton of great multiple storylines going on here, full of technothriller action, early AIs, assassins and investigators, and a mysterious alien spaceship that seems to be quite benign, hopping into our system and piling us with some pretty cool medical toys turning us all into *better* immortal-ish younglings. There are still people around from our age and tons of understood references from our day, so that means this trilogy is much earlier than most of Hamilton's other books.

Oh, and the aliens are encouraging us to join their religious crusade to the end of time. As in, come with us, we'll transform the hell out of you and we'll be on our merry way. But they're not dumb about it. They trade with us, live among us, and are generally good neighbors.

Supposedly.

Another huge plotline takes us to one of our colonies designed to be a true utopia. Post-scarcity. And they're also trying to go about protecting the hell out of humanity. Fun, interesting characters, and of course there's tons of conflict there because the rest of our species loves to distrust the hell out of them.

Is the novel a winner?

Only in the sense that it's fun to get a fully established storyline, character base, and feel for the galaxy-at-this-time. We're also rightly suspicious of everyone. The intrigue is high.

End analysis?
High-quality setup, interested in reading on, and I think Hamilton is mightily imaginative. The devil is truly in the details.

Salvation is the first book of a trilogy. For a first book, I had a hard time while reading it. It reminded me too much of another book as far as the way it was written and some of the concepts in the book. Once I got that other book in my head it was hard to not make comparisons. Most of the book revolved around five people that were chosen to investigate an alien ship that had been discovered. During the transport to the alien ship, each person tells a story from their past. The stories each tells were all action-packed thriller type stories. Which were a bit of a slog to read. Interspersed between their stories, is another storyline far into the future. I thought the more interesting parts of the books was what was going on far into the future. I was getting worried near the end when the last story was being told. I thought I was going to be left hanging as to what was going on at the alien ship. There was some resolution (albeit very quickly done) and thus the setup for the next book. I can’t say I was enamored with his book. The series as a whole has potential but I am not sure if I am interested enough to keep going or not.

Salvation is a story told in the past present and future and while that is fine in itself this story jumps back and forth inside the same chapter which can be a bit confusing at first. It was something that took some getting used to as well as the abnormally long chapters that made for a few long nights until I gave up on stopping points. But the writing was smooth and characters blended well in their appropriate times, the action was tremendous as well as the twists and suspense. All in all this turn out to be a decent book once I got into the books rhythm and we meshed. I loved the story it would grab you and not let go, thus some of those late nights searching for a decent stopping point that never came. I think if you like sci-fi you should give it a whirl, I wish I could really try the audio I think that would be so much better for this dyslexic.

While I do not actively seek out books in the sci-fi genre, I do look forward to reading Peter Hamilton's stories. So when I had the opportunity to read Salvation, I jumped on it.

As book #1 of a trilogy, there was lots of character building and scene development. This is a complex story with chapters that alternate between past, present and future. I don't want to give away any spoilers and the overview does a great job of explaining the gist of this story.. Suffice it to say that I am eagerly awaiting book #2.

I received this book from Random House Publishing - Ballantine, via Netgalley.

I would consider myself a fan of Peter F. Hamilton. I've previously read both the Void trilogy and The Abyss Beyond Dreams, which are set in his Commonwealth universe. I honestly adored both and was fully expecting to have the same feelings about Salvation. Maybe I wasn't in a sci-fi mood, or maybe I just wasn't in a Salvation mood, but as much as I wanted to like this book, it really fell flat for me. I didn't hate it, I just didn't really feel much of anything for it.

As usual for Hamilton's books, we're all over the place. The book takes place over many years, over many continents and planets, and involves a whole lot of people. And also, as usual, everything is connected. The problem is that I never really felt any connection to any of the characters. I also felt that the book was unnecessarily long and ended up skimming a lot of the chapters.

I know that this review sounds pretty negative for a book that I gave three stars, so I feel like I should say again that I didn't actually dislike this book. I think that people who read a lot of sci-fi would probably enjoy it. It's a slow start to a new universe, but given what I know about Hamilton's writing, I'm sure that it'll all be worth it in the end.

Review: SALVATION by Peter F. Hamilton

Each time I open a novel by Peter F. Hamilton, I am in awe, throughout the reading and after. In a colloquial sense, Mr. Hamilton is like the Stephen Hawking of Science Fiction, such an utter genius that our minds and imaginations are tasked and stretched trying to comprehend. I think his oeuvre ought to be a required university course.

In this massively dual-timeline story, we are introduced to multiple species of aliens, with diverging purposes, and a humanity with advanced technology under control but still displaying the vices of greed, covetousness, vanity, and violence.

SALVATION is Book One in the SALVATION SEQUENCE Series.

I'm not exactly sure what we're all needing Salvation from. Ourselves, most likely. Our incompetence as a species, at least, however redeemable we are as individuals.

I must admit this Salvation did not hold enough promise to engage me to the consummating last page. I was hoping for a new universe on par with Hamilton's Void, or the Dysfunction even, but alas, it was not to be. There were a few characters among the space operatic cast with whom the reader was obviously meant to relate, identify, or connect, but I couldn't pull it off, as hard as the author tried for his part.

Perhaps it was the switching between parallel story lines while simultaneously hitting back story flashbacks on one of the lines. I'm pretty sure there were only two and a half story lines, though I may have lost track. Or maybe there were too many personas set up on the pedestal of character development, losing the prophet among the crowd of messiahs. Or a combination thereof. At any rate, an underwhelming Salvation on the emotional side.

Technical challenges also affronted the analytical mind. The critical plot device, ubiquitous and cheap portals for all, did not consider under which limitations such technology would befall, courtesy of regulation-crazed governments and a physics-crazed universe. Of the latter, for instance, small differentials in temperature or altitude can create some interesting wind effects, let alone possible consequences of differentials between planets. The former, as a result, would probably lock down the technology faster than a staff intern could spell relativistic reference shift.

Portals, in this reader's universe anyway, would at the very least be baked into existing airport terminals with triple fail-safed airlocks and gift wrapped with strata of red tape. And that's not even considering the anti-terrorism measures and RICO related enactments as soon as the tech smelled of interstate commerce. It also wouldn't have taken the intelligence of genius land developers and super assassins to realize the potential of insta-transport along quantum entangled roadways; parole skippers, mid-level procurement and supply managers, and opiate mules would be the early adopters, to name a few, if not for regulatory suffocation of such liberties.

As soon as this Salvation is published, I'll toss in my shekels for a hard copy, but that's only because I'm a real pulped tree addict. If you're a Hamilton fan, I wouldn't say avoid this book, just don't let past Hamilton set your expectations. If you're new to the author, this Salvation is decent enough to be enjoyable, but I also recommend seeking out some of his classics.

I just finished this book and I already want to read the next one. I took a couple breaks while reading this but that's more because of kids and life than the book itself.

The book jumped around over a couple viewpoints and I always love making sense between them and seeing if it matches to to my expectation when I get to the end.

I can't wait for the next one!

I received an advanced copy for an honest review. I enjoy Peter Hamilton's books but this one took me a long time to get through. It almost feels like short stories. There is a main story of youths preparing for war against a big evil. We get to know them and how they progress on their training and the challenges they encounter. The other story is a group of business/ security and government personnel ( which we will know later in the book how they relate to the first group) going out to see what they think might be an alien crash site that includes (dead?) abducted humans. We get stories of things that happened in the past that connect them. This is the part that felt a little bit like short stories. They were well written, they were interesting but they were hard to connect with and I am not sure why. I understand that he slowly builds up his stories but his one felt like it went on forever but I am a fan so it will take a lot more than a slow story for me to stop reading his books. That being said the ending was incredible , it truly all comes together

The universe is technologically linked by portals which make visiting other planets easy, but the threats remain, Spaceships have become obsolete but and ancient one is found crashed on a newly discovered planet with cargo that creates more questions than answers, A group of individuals is sent to explore the find and solve the mystery, I found this to be a slow read however the book does open a new series and the world building and character development is wonderful. The future the author poses is plausible and the tension is palpable. The author is a master at the craft.

First I must mention that this is the first book by Peter Hamilton I have read, so I cannot compare it to his previous novels. The situation is complex (as is the science and speculation) - part takes place in the 22nd century when a group of powerful individuals meets for a very hushed trip to an alien crash site, part is flashback to the backstories of five of those individuals, and the rest takes place in the distant future, where humans are trying to stay ahead of species obliteration and work toward a final battle with killer aliens. Which barely touches the surface of the story.
The story and writing are dense. The characters are well-realized and diverse, the action segments are fast-moving and exciting, but the exposition of the science and culture is vast and can slow the story down to a crawl. Well thought out and perfectly plausible, but so MUCH to learn, and far more "telling" than "showing." So for me at least, it was a bit of a slog, and I doubt I will continue the series.

Hamilton builds a complex future, with mankind populating the stars. He weaves a great space opera. There are many worlds the book covers, all richly developed. The view of the future, is believable. The characters are well developed and consistent with the books plot. The story is about a high tech future and mankind fleeing an alien threat. Story is fast paced. The surprise ending demands a sequel. I enjoyed the book.

"Salvation" launches a new series in which mankind has mastered travel through portals to distant locations, yet still battles terrorism at home.

Travel via starship is as archaic as jaunting about on horseback. The cars and motorcycles of the 20th century have become playthings, expensive ones, for those who can afford to have the fuel synthesized. Problem people are deported via portal to a planet that is extremely inhospitable to human life. A minimal amount of survival supplies is dispensed with each person, but it's extremely difficult to develop a viable way of existence. Instead the survivors suffer from bad air and water, live on the edge of starvation, and lead a "Lord of the Flies" existence in which the latest bully to arrive dominates their struggling community and abuses them at will.

Humanity discovers a wrecked starship in the distant planets, and in it are the ravaged remains of 17 humans who have apparently been part of biological experimentation. Earlier, Hamilton has revealed the existence of an alien civilization in possession of modified humans, apparently being grown for eventual return to Earth...and to do what?

This is a multi-volume series, and not every question is answered in "Salvation." It is an interesting story, and it will gain momentum as it continues. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

Born out of the great imagination of Peter Hamilton, "Salvation" is wondrous new sci fi epic featuring two different timelines of characters. Filled with some very interesting twists and turns, readers will be surprised as the story unfolds. Featuring a new universe with new characters, Hamilton really shines in effort.