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Fallen Dragon

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'Fallen Dragon' by Peter F. Hamilton is a science fiction novel set in a future where mega corporations control the galaxy and engage in 'asset realisation' missions, seen as robbery by the colonies. The story follows Lawrence Newton, a disillusioned interstellar mercenary, and Denise Ebourn, a schoolteacher involved in a resistance movement on the planet Thallspring. As the plot unfolds, it alternates between Newton's past as a corporate prince and his present as a corporate soldier, and Ebourn's tales for her students about a long-dead empire. The book explores themes of space exploration, colonization, economic constraints, and the influence of science fiction on the future, all while presenting clear and exciting combat sequences and technological skullduggery.

Characters:

Characters are multifaceted, with a mix of protagonists and antagonists, including a disillusioned soldier and a resistant schoolteacher.

Writing/Prose:

The writing incorporates rich, elaborate descriptions and detailed world-building, though some readers find it unnecessarily verbose.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves themes of corporate control over space exploration, mercenaries on colonized planets, and personal betrayal leading to redemption, all within a multi-layered narrative.

Setting:

The story is set in a future where corporations dominate space exploration, particularly focusing on colonized worlds and their socio-economic challenges.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with a slow start leading to action-packed sequences, although some find the shifts in action and reflection disorienting.
TIME WAS WHEN THE BAR WOULD HAVE WELCOMED A MAN FROM ZANTIUBraun’s strategic security division, given him his first beer on the house and listened with keen admiration to his stories of life as it was...

Notes:

Fallen Dragon is often seen as a mix of ideas from Hamilton's Night Dawn trilogy, but it stands apart as a unique story.
The protagonist, Lawrence Newton, comes from a wealthy family but dreams of space exploration.
Lawrence becomes a mercenary for a corporation involved in space colonization and enforcement.
The story features themes of betrayal and disillusionment as Lawrence is betrayed by those close to him.
The narrative includes a rich backdrop of corporate greed affecting space exploration in the 24th century.
The plot involves an 'asset recovery mission' which some characters view as legalized piracy.
Denise Ebourn, another key character, appears to be a simple schoolteacher but takes on a more complex role.
The aliens in the story are depicted as vastly different from humans, challenging characters' assumptions about them.
The book is noted for its detailed world-building and carefully crafted technology.
Some readers criticize the pacing, feeling there are too many irrelevant details that distract from the main plot.
Despite mixed reviews, many readers praise the action sequences and plot twists as excellent.
Hamilton is known for including philosophical themes in his stories, especially surrounding colonization and technology.
Fallen Dragon is considered a more concise novel compared to Hamilton's longer series, making it a preferable starting point for new readers.
The story addresses economic constraints in space colonization, presenting a grim view of corporate overlords controlling the galaxy.
The writing style features detailed exposition and flashbacks that some readers find engaging while others see as excessive.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Fallen Dragon include themes related to economic exploitation, betrayal, corporate greed, and some suggestive content, which may not be suitable for all readers.

From The Publisher:

In the distant future, corporations have become sustainable communities with their own militaries, and corporate goals have essentially replaced political ideology. On a youthful, rebellious impulse, Lawrence joined the military of a corporation that he now recognizes to be ruthless and exploitative. His only hope for escape is to earn enough money to buy his place in a better corporation.

When his platoon is sent to a distant colony to quell a local resistance effort, it seems like a stroke of amazing fortune, and Lawrence plans to rob the colony of their fabled gemstone, the Fallen Dragon, to get the money he needs. However, he soon discovers that the Fallen Dragon is not a gemstone at all, but an alien life form that the local colonists have been protecting since it crashed in their area. Now, Lawrence has to decide if he will steal the alien to exploit the use of its inherent biotechnical processes - which far exceed anything humans are capable of - or if he will help the Resistance get the alien home.

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