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Great North Road

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'Great North Road' by Peter F. Hamilton is a lengthy science fiction novel that combines elements of a murder mystery with interstellar colonization in the near future. The story follows a complex web of characters, including a police investigation led by Sid Hurst and centered around Angela, as they uncover a murder mystery involving clones and a murderous alien presence. The book is praised for its detailed world-building, cool technology, and the way various plot threads intersect in a satisfying manner.

Characters:

The characters are multifaceted, featuring a diverse cast that includes detectives, cloned heirs, and perpetrators with intertwining backstories and motives.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is immersive and descriptive, characterized by extensive details and a focus on character development, though it can be dense at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative features a rich and multi-layered plot that weaves together a murder mystery surrounded by political and corporate intrigue in a futuristic society where cloning plays a significant role.

Setting:

The setting is a well-crafted future, primarily in Newcastle, featuring advanced technology and societal structures influenced by cloning, extending to an alien planet.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, with a slow start that can drag before escalating towards a gripping conclusion; some sections may feel overly elongated.
As midnight approached, the wild neon colors of the borealis storm came shimmering through the soft snow falling gently across Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. It was as if nature were partying along with the res...

Notes:

The Great North Road blends genres, including police procedural, sci-fi, and murder mystery.
Set in 2143, the story unfolds in Newcastle, England and explores themes of cloning and corporate power.
The North family consists of clones of an original trio of brothers, each generation experiencing genetic mutations.
Detective Sidney Hurst investigates the murder of an unidentified North family member, whose death parallels an earlier murder on the planet St Libra.
Angela Tramelo, the convict from the first murder case, claims an alien monster was responsible and plays a key role in the investigation.
The novel features a detailed future society with advanced technology, including surveillance systems and interstellar travel.
Political intrigue and class dynamics are key elements, with the North family portrayed as elite ruling class clones.
Despite its length (around 951 pages), readers found it engrossing once they engaged with the characters and plot.
Readers noted the flaws in pacing, suggesting that some sections could have been trimmed for a tighter narrative.
The book concludes tying up multiple plot threads, offering a satisfying resolution to the murder mystery.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic violence related to murder, discussions of animal abuse, and themes of torture.

From The Publisher:

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

New York Times bestselling author Peter F. Hamilton's riveting new thriller combines the nail-biting suspense of a serial-killer investigation with clear-eyed scientific and social extrapolation to create a future that seems not merely plausible but inevitable.

A century from now, thanks to a technology allowing instantaneous travel across light-years, humanity has solved its energy shortages, cleaned up the environment, and created far-flung colony worlds. The keys to this empire belong to the powerful North family-composed of successive generations of clones. Yet these clones are not identical. For one thing, genetic errors have crept in with each generation. For another, the original three clone "brothers" have gone their separate ways, and the branches of the family are now friendly rivals more than allies.

Or maybe not so friendly. At least that's what the murder of a North clone in the English city of Newcastle suggests to Detective Sidney Hurst. Sid is a solid investigator who'd like nothing better than to hand off this hot potato of a case. The way he figures it, whether he solves the crime or not, he'll make enough enemies to ruin his career.

Yet Sid's case is about to take an unexpected turn: because the circumstances of the murder bear an uncanny resemblance to a killing that took place years ago on the planet St. Libra, where a North clone and his entire household were slaughtered in cold blood. The convicted slayer, Angela Tramelo, has always claimed her innocence. And now it seems she may have been right. Because only the St. Libra killer could have committed the Newcastle crime.

Problem is, Angela also claims that the murderer was an alien monster.

Now Sid must navigate through a Byzantine minefield of competing interests within the police department and the world's political and economic elite . . . all the while hunting down a brutal killer poised to strike again. And on St. Libra, Angela, newly released from prison, joins a mission to hunt down the elusive alien, only to learn that the line between hunter and hunted is a thin one.

Praise for Great North Road

"A mesmerizing page-turner."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A gripping saga that blends wilderness survival, police procedural, political and social intrigue, and dynastic sf into a mammoth tale featuring believable characters and exceptionally skilled storytelling."-Library Journal (starred review)

"A perfect introduction to [Hamilton's] gifts for character design, dialogue, and sheer, big-idea-driven storytelling."-Booklist (starred review)

"Compelling and original . . . an awesome novel [with] plenty of action."-SFRevu

"One very compelling and entertaining science fiction novel."-SF Site

"Simply brilliant . . . an astonishing achievement."-Tordotcom

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About the Author:

Peter F. Hamilton is the author of numerous novels, including A Night Without Stars, 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…

 
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