• click here to return to the homepage •
or 
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
VIKING: Sworn Brother
The Maze Runner
Ready-To-Read Level 2 Return of the First Avenger
Hero
Ripley's Believe it or Not! Special Edition 2015
Catching Falling Stars
Gorillas In Our Midst
The Mysterious World of Cosentino: The Missing Ace + Bonus Trick Cards
Some Like it ColdProduct 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'...
Old Macdonald had a farm - e-i-e-i-o ..." Everyone knows the song. But now the farm and animals are in New Zealand and old Macdonald has a Swanndri and gumboots. Donovan Bixley's illustrations depict the beautiful New Zealand landscape - with farm animals! But what are those crazy animals up to?
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.
"Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."
Olivier
