"
The Naked God" (2000) is the final installment in
Peter F. Hamilton's excellent "
Night's Dawn"
science fiction trilogy. The first two parts are "
The Reality Dysfunction" and "
The Neutronium Alchemist". This is the biggest of the three books, with the
American edition clocking in at over 1500 pages. Once again, the book is split in two separate paperbacks on the
US market.
"
The Naked God" continues the story of the
Confederation, consisting of nano-augmented Adamists and telepathically-enhanced Edenists. The same main characters appear, including traditional
hero and
spaceship captain extraordinaire
Joshua Calvert,
Louise Kavanaugh and the
Messiah of the Damned,
Quinn Dexter. The
book includes a "
Dramatis Personae" section, which is useful after 2000 pages and dozens of different characters.
If you've read the first two
novels in the series, you will definitely want to read this one for the exciting
conclusion to the story. People have complained that the ending is rather
"deus ex machina" and sadly, I have to agree. Still, this is an excellent
space opera with lots of excitement and
sensawunda.
In December 2000 "
The Confederation Handbook" was published, with detailed descriptions of the characters, worlds,
habitats and
alien races. Interesting for die-hard fans and potentially a basis for a
role-playing or
strategy game that may be in the works.