I've decided to avoid PF Hamilton novels after a few bad experiences with his later works. Esp that last novel in the Nights Dawn Trilogy. He spent hundreds of pages setting up the excitement for it to be all neatly tidied up by using a "God" like machine that was in no way different than a big Genie granting your every wish. Nothing science fiction about it. This novel introduces some interesting science but does not use any of it in an interesting way. Devices are used and created without effort or exploration of their effects. The many many characters are too numerous for them all to become worth worring about. The aliens are too alien and thus hardly require any moral qualms about their inevitable demise. Peter in fact tries too hard to make them unlovable. His normal anti social tendencies of giving everyone in power the lowest morals is dreary and unsuprising. In summary this novel is a drag. Stay clear.