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The Mandel Files, Volume 1: Mindstar Rising & A Quantum Murder (2011)

by Peter F. Hamilton(Favorite Author)

3.97 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

034552635X (ISBN13: 9780345526359)

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

Del Rey

review 1: It was a real toss up between 2 and 3 stars.Note that this was my first techno thriller novels. And... I do plan on reading the final Greg Mandel installment, The Nano Flower. I just have to find out what happens to the embarassingly juvenile Julia Evans.This book is actually the 1st 2 of the novels, crammed together. It was NOT a bad read, but techno thrillers are just not my thing. I don't agonize over who could have done it.The first book completely lacked gravitas. I mean... really, really lacked gravitas. Someone stole some information from a corporate company... *yawn* Not even worth touching on other than I enjoyed the characters.The second book - A Quantum Murder... now that one was much more interesting. Lots to think about, enough evidence to get the brain flo... morewing on who could be the murderer, and characters that are in typical Hamilton style just a real treat to get to know.It was also interesting to read Hamilton's first published works. 8)
review 2: Overall, enjoyed this mystery set in a near future. Enough science fiction to keep it in the genre, but as much a mystery series than anything. This newly published work combining "Mindstar Rising" and "Quantum Murder" is a good way to purchase these older Hamilton stories. I enjoyed "Mindstar Rising" more, finding it more of a science fiction read, where as "Quantum Murder" took the setting and science described in the earlier work and built upon it to tell a more pure murder mystery. Obviously the science plays an important role, but the mystery is the central theme.These books are not as complex and multi-threaded as Hamilton's 'Night's Dawn' or 'Void' series, but enjoyable all the same. Intriguing is the setting of a world whose economy has collapsed as a result of the 'Warming' where temperatures have risen dramatically, and with it, the seas. England is devastated by the tides, which overrun coastal development, stranding thousands inland. The Mandel series is set in the decade following this 'Warming' as England is just recovering from an equally devastating political disaster in the form of severe socialism/communism that shattered the infrastructure and was joined by wars in MidEast/Turkey.A worthwhile read and purchase, however, I feel that the setting is not exotic enough to hold my interest, though the characters are interesting and by the second novel, begin to become more developed. less

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