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  • The Abyss Beyond Dreams

  • Chronicle of the Fallers, Book 1
  • By: Peter F. Hamilton
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 22 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (193 ratings)

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The Abyss Beyond Dreams cover art

The Abyss Beyond Dreams

By: Peter F. Hamilton
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's Summary

The first volume in the Chronicles of the Fallers, The Abyss Beyond Dreams is an incredible adventure, exploring the mystery at the heart of the Peter F. Hamilton's sprawling Commonwealth Universe. For fans of Iain M. Banks and Alaistair Reynolds.

To save their civilization, he must destroy it.

When a so-called prophet sees visions of a lost civilization, Nigel Sheldon is asked to investigate. Especially as these dreams seem to be coming from the Void – a mysterious area of space with hugely destructive capabilities. Then Nigel crash-lands inside the Void, and finds so much more than he expected. Bienvenido: a planet populated by survivors from long-vanished Commonwealth ships.

For centuries their descendants have been fighting a desperate battle against the Fallers, space-born predators that have evolved to conquer worlds. And Nigel soon realizes that the Fallers hold the key to the destruction of the Void itself. If he can survive long enough to find it . . .

Continue the adventure with the second in the duology, Night Without Stars.

©2014 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2014 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Critic Reviews

'Huge cast, enormous canvas, big ideas – mega in every way' – Daily Mail

What listeners say about The Abyss Beyond Dreams

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excited for the sequel

I enjoyed this book, much like Hamilton's other books. I would recommend reading the Commonwealth Saga and Void series before this one, although it might not be essential. This book is more of the same, except with less of the "converging storylines" that the previous books utilized (get comfortable listening to the same character's perspective for much of the book).
Love the narration, in line with the other series.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, but...

Not sure I wanted to read about a communist revolution set in space, but spent large chunks of the book doing so!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another great book.

These books are never long enough. Enjoyed every minute of this book. Whats next then?

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING.

another amazing book ftom Hamilton
the link with all others in the series
the creativity, the characters, the end... all amazing...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dors not disappoint

It's very very good. Peter F Hamilton is a fantastic, believeable scifi author and the narration for this was spot on - even if I had never imagined Nigel Sheldon sounding quite like that in my head.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Did not see that ending coming

Classic PFH Commonwealth saga ridiculousness. Just what I felt like listening to. The new void setting is interesting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Ben
  • 11-03-2022

These two books are sensational

Magnificent. Peter Hamilton, John Lee,
Thank you. A great story, hi end sci-fi adventure. Just amazing.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

boredom

probably the most boring Peter Hamilton book I've read... so much unnecessary and irrelevant details. the story itself has no new elements.... not recommended

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too much social revolution, not enough space opera

Wonderfully narrated, unfortunately the bulk of the book focuses on non space faring characters involved in planning a planetary revolution, with too little attention to space opera or previous characters in the Commonwealth Universe for which Peter Hamilton & this series is known. Enjoyed far less than the previous books in the series.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

suffered through this one

As zi spent a credit to read this story I suffered through. Very tedious and confusing

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