• click here to return to the homepage •
Home > Categories > Books > Sci-Fi > Night's Dawn : The Confederation Handbook review
A Vital Guide to the Night's Dawn Trilogy
Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy (and companion publications) has proved one of the best-selling Science-Fiction series of the last decade, and the most dramatically successful from a UK author.
This handbook is an essential companion volume for all the countless readers past, present and future for whom this massive trilogy has evolved into a defining SF classic. It comprises general background information relating to all three volumes, with comprehensive notes andglossaries on the major characters, planets, space stations, political hierarchies, weaponry, spacecraft, invasions, and the many alien races with their diverse social economies, industries and technologies.
Night's Dawn : 1 : The Reality Dysfunction
Night's Dawn : A Second Chance at Eden
Night's Dawn : 2 : The Neutronium Alchemist
Night's Dawn : 3 : The Naked God
e.explore - Rock and Mineral
The Shadow Queen
The Kingdom
How to Make Stonehenge Out of Biscuits - a Years Worth of Crazy Ideas
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Confessions: The Private School Murders
My Gentle Barn: The incredible true story of a place where animals heal and children learn to hope
Mummy, You're Special To Me
E Oma, Rapeti - Te Hopua Kaukau. Run, Rabbit - The Swimming HoleProduct reviews...
Review by: tucker (Karl)
Dated: 10th of January, 2005
If you enjoyed the stories set in that Night's Dawn universe, you will simply have to get a copy of this book too! It helps fill in a lot of background, presents easily-referenced data on every aspect of the "known universe and it's inhabitants", and it just helps you keep track of what's going on and where it's happening.
A little pricey for what it is, (I would have been happy to pay up to $16.95), it is still an essential reference book and well worth thinking about. OK, if you have a fancy memory, you can do without it, and it contains a couple of TINY contradictions (but only a geek is gonna spot them really) [Did I just call myself a geek?!] but the overall structure is amazingly detailed and coherent.
The only other thing is, of course, that it predates the revelations at the end of The Naked God, and so does 'appear' to contradict itself. This is well covered by the occasional headings of "From Pre-2611 Information".
Overall, I am really impressed, and it just goes to show how detailed a 'universe' you need to build if you plan to write realistic stories. There goes the first draft of my little sci-fi tale. Ah well, back to the word processor. :)
Random listing from 'Books'...
When Tim Ellison finds a cheap room to rent in the perfect location in Sydney it looks like a huge stroke of luck. In fact the room comes with a condition, and the owner of the house, the mysterious Anna London, is unfriendly and withdrawn.
When strange and terrifying things start happening in the house at night, Tim wonders if taking the room is a mistake. But then his feelings for Anna start to change, and when her past comes back ... more...
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"Are there specially reserved parking spaces for 'fully-abled' people at the Special Olympics?"
unattributed
