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Peter F. Hamilton
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The Neutronium Alchemist: Part I - Consolidation Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 1998

by Peter F. Hamilton (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 46 ratings
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Humanity is in incredible peril. The minds of those long dead are taking over the bodies of the living, in increasingly alarming numbers. Joshua Calvert is desperately trying to recover a "doomsday weapon", an instrument that might blast the dead back into oblivion--but in the wrong hands, it could mean the end of the human race.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    608 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Aspect
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 1998
  5. Dimensions
    4.25 x 1.13 x 6.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0446605174
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0446605175
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Peter Hamilton's space opera saga, which began with the Reality Dysfunction, Part 1: Emergence and Part 2: Expansion, continues in The Neutronium Alchemist, another two-volume novel. Now the battle lines are clearly drawn, and more than half a dozen plot lines are charging ahead as humanity's galaxy-spanning culture faces a terrifying revelation: souls of the dead are returning from the beyond to possess the living. The living, though competent and brave in the best science fiction tradition, must contend with history's greatest generals and leaders, as well as some unexpected champions. Al Capone, it seems, makes an excellent interstellar emperor. How do you fight an enemy whose every soldier is also a hostage and who, if killed, will simply return to possess someone else? The dilemmas are not just technical, but moral, as people face the first real proof of life after death.

This conflict is far broader, though, than a simple apocalyptic battle of good versus evil. Among the possessors are some good souls who fight the risen dead even though it's against their best interest. Conversely, plenty of the living see siding with the dead as an opportunity to further their own interests. Action, wonders, and mystery continue to characterize this high-quality series. --Brooks Peck

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aspect (April 1, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0446605174
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0446605175
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.13 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

About the author

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Peter F. Hamilton

Peter F. Hamilton

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Peter F. Hamilton is the author of numerous novels, including The Abyss Beyond Dreams, Great North Road, The Evolutionary Void, The Temporal Void, The Dreaming Void, Judas Unchained, Pandora’s Star, Misspent Youth, Fallen Dragon, and the acclaimed epic Night’s Dawn trilogy (The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist, and The Naked God). He lives with his family in England.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
46 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

G. Flynn
5.0 out of 5 stars Epic Space & Reality
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
Great 6-book series worth every read & re-read. This is no "popcorn novel" - quickly consumed & forgot - this series of books starts with a future that we can trace from our own current world and delves into original ideas, taking the reader into place outside of space and time. Well-written characters, worlds, concepts and a patient, rich narrative have kept me gripped!
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K. Sozaeva
4.0 out of 5 stars Action heats up as both sides begin to consolidate their assets
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2007
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Book 2A or 3 (depending on how you want to count the books) begins on the pastoral planet of Norfolk and ends on an asteroid in the Dorados called Ayacucho. I felt this extreme contrast shows how the people of the Confederation's innocence has been stripped away by the discovery of the possessed, life after death in a seemingly endless purgatory - so many ideals stripped down to the bare bones, leaving none of the lovely illusions used to blanket their fears of death.

Several plot lines run through this book: Alkad Mzu finds her way to the Dorados to get the Alchemist ready for her revenge on Omuta. Louise and Genevieve Kavanaugh - with the help of a possessed by the name of Christian Fletcher (yes, THAT Christian Fletcher of the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty) - escape from Norfolk and travel to Mars. Joseph succeeds in bringing Elwes, the children and Kelly Tirrell back to Tranquility and receives a heroes welcome - and more responsibility. Rubra (a habitat personality now - he used to be human but transferred his memories into the matrix and took over when he died) fights against the possessed taking over his habitat, who are using his descendant Dariat to try to gain control of the habitat. Kiera, possessing Marie Skibbow, is the leader in the habitat and decides that they need more people in the habitat, so designs an advertisement, which they send all over the galaxy - it becomes a big hit with the teens, becoming a fad called Deadnight. Al Capone takes over the whole New California system. And more . . .

It is never easy to keep track of all that is going on in a Hamilton book, as he tends to populate them with a lot of people (all with amazing back stories which he manages to work in without overly much exposition) and a lot of intersecting plot lines. This series is further complicated by its overall length. However, the more I read it the more I am engaged by it - the depth of the notion is quite fascinating and I am interested to see where he takes this idea of life after death, death and where the dead go - is there only one level of the beyond? Etc. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a very detailed, intricately plotted sci-fi/space opera with a thought-provoking plot. Just be sure to read it all in order!
One person found this helpful
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Jskyypilot
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2020
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Have read the entire saga twice, one of the very best sci fi writers.
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dmbuono
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice condition.
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2018
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Thanks. Nice condition. Clean
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SB
4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging lead-in to a good series
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2017
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Good writer, and read the full Neutronium/Naked God series  The Neutronium Alchemist: Part I - Consolidation . Great imagination and admire galactic scifi novelists who are able to create whole universes. In first book, the author keeps returning to the sexual escapades of the chief protagonists frequently enough to become noticeable, but as another reviewer noted, he backs off [a bit] in the subsequent novels in the series. I enjoyed reading the series, but consider it one tier down from magnificent 5-star series, such as David Brin's "Uplift War", Dan Simmons "Hyperion", and Benford's "Galactic Center".
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Ben K.
5.0 out of 5 stars The excitement builds
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2005
Sequel to The Reality Dysfunction, this book continues the story while fleshing out the characters substantially. Told from many different points of view, there are a few points where the story lags a little, but I also found myself flipping pages frantically, caught up in the the intriguing plot, exciting action, and sympathetic characters. I highly recommend the entire series.
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jane arc
2.0 out of 5 stars The series falls on its face with installment #3
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2000
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After having read the first two books in the series, I am sorely disappointed by this book.
It would appear that Hamilton has run out of ideas and is instead resorting to the "Star Trek" trap of including elements of the present (Al Capone anyone?) into the future for the purposes writing a story.
The characters carried over from the first two books are just as interesting. The ideas contained in this series are just as intriguing. Alas, this book contributes nothing new to the series, and actually brings down the overall quality of it.
I read the book, I finished the book, and I am reading the sequels. However, most people will not find themselves able to read through the drek that this book constitutes. Perhaps skipping ahead to _The Naked God_ might be a better idea.
One person found this helpful
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Emerson Swan
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best series I have read in the last 30+ years
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 1999
These Hamilton books have it all - hard SF, speculative SF, fantasy, horror, combat, space opera, sex (with and without responsibility). Multiple plots perfectly interwoven. Characters that are strong and believable yet not "over the top" (too far). I have not once said, "Why would this person do that?" I have not once said, "OK, get on with it." And they're BIG books, but real page-turners from cover to cover. These books are about realistic people, made larger than life by their circumstances, pitted face to face with pure evil (and the possibility of pure good) incarnate. Mythical, spiritual, raw-edged escapism at its best. Take it from a guy who quit counting after the 20th time he saw Star Wars, the original, in a theater. Hamilton rocks.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Nancy R
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2015
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was a gift so can't comment on personally but receiver didn't complain
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Starbuck
5.0 out of 5 stars More and more interesting
Reviewed in Germany on March 11, 2004
Verified Purchase
In this first book of the second part, the story gets more and more complex. There are at least ten plotlines, most of them pretty thrilling. I did not care too much for the Al Capone plot, but liked most of the others.
What is most important is that the main threat, possession from the beyond, is encountered differently on different planets. Some planets are quickly overwhelmed by the danger, other planets manage to contain it. Many fine characters are doing their best to save humankind while we also get an extended look behind the curtains of the possessed - and learn that they have different agendas and some of them are not so bad guys at all.
After this "consolidation" phase we have a lot to looking forward to: Will Joshua Calvert find Alkad Mzu, the inventor of the ultimate weapon, or are Capones Henchmen or the "good guys" from Eden quicker? Can Ralph Hiltch and the King of Kulu free Mortonridge? Will Louise Kavanaugh hunt down Quinn Dexter? Oh my, there is so much going on at once - if you can follow it, you will enjoy it!
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