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  • The Reality Dysfunction

  • Night's Dawn Trilogy, Book 1
  • Written by: Peter F. Hamilton
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 41 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (84 ratings)

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The Reality Dysfunction cover art

The Reality Dysfunction

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

In AD 2600, the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature's boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems, and throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace. A true golden age is within our grasp.

But now something has gone catastrophically wrong. On a primitive colony planet, a renegade criminal's chance encounter with an utterly alien entity unleashes the most primal of all our fears. An extinct race that inhabited the galaxy aeons ago called it the Reality Dysfunction. It is the nightmare that has prowled beside us since the beginning of history.

©1996 Peter F. Hamilton (P)2016 Tantor

What the critics say

"Elements of space opera, Straubesque horror and adrenaline-laced action make this a demanding, rewarding read." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Reality Dysfunction

Average Customer Ratings
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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

Surprisingly good

Awesome character, ideas, and not dry like lots of sci-fi tend to be. Also super long so awesome value.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Fantastic story, average performance

The story itself is absolutely phenomenal, lots of complex, really well told stories that end up winding into each other at some points, and you can really feel for the characters.
On the other hand, the performance by John Lee is average at best, and sometimes makes it hard to follow. There's no breaks where there should be, and I've found myself rewinding multiple times because I didn't realize that the story head switched from one story arc to another. Overall, I will still listen to the last 2 books narrated by him.

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1 person found this helpful

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

narrator issues

I personally had a lot of fun with this book and after a little bit got used to the quick flipping back and forth nature of the writing
but I must say this might have been a bit more enjoyable and easier to listen to if the narrator had put in more pauses when the story flipped from one story line to another

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1 person found this helpful

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

Long

Keep in mind when starting this book that you will have to keep listening through the whole trilogy. Each new book doesn’t waste time catching people up that jumped in part way, so you’re best off listening to all three in a row.

If you like more hard sci fi, like long books, and like multiple plot lines... this is for you.

If you want a light read that has a story line that wraps itself up in the first book... this isn’t for you.

#Audible1

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

I won’t continue this series

I find a good deal to like in Hamilton’s later work, but I think this book has a lot of problems. First, the main character’s immaturity and selfishness makes him completely unlikeable. Second, the women in this book seem like they exist primarily for sexual exploitation. Third, this feels more like a fantasy story set in a sci-fi setting. Fourth, even by Hamilton’s write-by-the-pound style this story is far too long. Lastly, no matter the author, I’m not a fan John Lee’s narration. His narration is boring and dry and his character voices range from silly to borderline racist. If you haven’t read Hamilton before, skip this and start with his Commonwealth series, or the standalone story, Great North Road.

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

Too horny

Needs to chill on the space sex and the evil reveal ruined the book for me. Some of hamiltons worst

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

Incredible Series!!

How is this series not a TV or movies series yet I don't know but it should be, and probably will be soon. If you are a Sci-fi fan and like vast well defined story universes this is for you, no question. If you are going to get into it, I recommend just buy all three books as bundle if you can, your going spend the $$$ anyway, trust me. John Lee's narration is incredible he uses a verity of accents and vocal tones brilliantly throughout the series to really get the reader immersed in the characters, and there are alot of characters. Hamilton does a great job of giving them all complete stories, no one is forgotten, 99% of the plot is resolved but still leaves room to imagine the characters futures which is great. My only criticism is that there are basically no breaks between storylines and you will get lost if you are not listening attentively, but you just rewind alittle and get caught up and it's fine. I don't blame Lee for this it's probably a post-production/editing decision maybe to cut down the time? Anyway the take away is 10/10 Audiobook series here in my opinion.

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

Grotesque childish side stories get in the way

Instead of focusing solely on the uniquely epic concepts the author spends chapters writing about rape, brutal murder of men, women and children alike and teenage sex. Such a shame as it's all written when not dealing with the above topics

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

Great story, racist voice actor

Very fun start to a massive space opera. Life and death, space and habitats, cultures and religions.

The hitch was the voice actor reading doing funny accents for the black characters, Scottish accents for English descendents etc.

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