A Hole in the Sky: Arkship Trilogy, Book 1

Peter F. Hamilton, known for his "wide screen" (no, that's not something I came up with on my own) space operas, full of dozens of characters, menacing aliens, multiple viewpoints, and large scale space battles, and complex plots, has done something completely different. He's written a YA novel. A HOLE IN THE SKY is the first volume, if you will, in the Arkship Trilogy. I say "if you will" because the novel is released in audio form only, and quite frankly I'm not sure if the term volume still applies, although I suppose it does.The fact that it is a YA novel is not the only departure for Hamilton. Whereas his other novels are told from multiple viewpoints, A HOLE IN THE SKY is a first person narrative told in a linear fashion. Hamilton is well known for his complex plots covering multiple characters in different settings. The characters and plotlines eventually converge, bringing together everything and everyone into one climactic and scintillating event that typically leaves the reader wanting for more. Not so with A HOLE IN THE SKY.The novel takes place in the arkship Daedalus. As with most generational starship stories, the Daedalus is searching for a new home after leaving the Earth. The Daedalus is on its second search, leaving behind the first world that it found because of indigenous life forms. It is thus on a 500 year journey to its second home.People in the Daedalus live a very simple life, almost, but not quite a type of pre-technology life. And while it's a simple life, mostly consisting of farming, there is some technology, most of which is in the control of the law enforcement team, known as the Regulators, and the medical team, which has some rudimentary technology. The arkship is in this state because some time in the past there was a rebellion, during which most of the technology was destroyed. The captain held off the rebellion, but in the process uploaded herself into the computer systems to become "the Electric Captain", who occasionally appears on the video screens in each of the villages to give announcements and make pronouncements. The people who live in the Daelalus live a simple life, looking forward to the time that they land on their new home.Because the ship is on what amounts to a second voyage, everything must be rationed and cycled, which includes the humans themselves. At the age of 65 (as I remember, I could be wrong at this point), all humans are cycled for the good of the remaining humans living on the Daedalus. Our protagonist, Hazel, a late teenage girl participating in Cycling Day, is given a message by one of the Cheaters - those who run away to live past their Cycling Date. She is told that the atmosphere is leaking out of the Daedalus, which is the cause of the headaches everyone is having. After her brother suffers an accident that leaves him paralyzed, Hazel and her brother go off in search of the Cheaters. While with the Cheaters she discovers that everything she has been told is a lie, and that the residents of the Daedalus are in grave danger.Yes, this is a YA novel. Yes, this is different from anything Hamilton has ever done. But you can see typical Hamilton stuff within this novel. Our protagonists are in grave danger from an alien threat (while this may seem like a spoiler to some, in reality anyone who had consumed a Hamilton novel knows that alien threats are the norm). The Electric Captain is not really on their side - again, not a surprise for anyone who has read any Hamilton prior to this. And while there isn't some "wide screen scope" that Hamilton readers are used to, there is enough here that reminds the reader that this is really is a Hamilton novel.Is it any good? Well, I think so. As a rule, I don't read YA (I've been putting off reading the Alastair Reynolds YA novels, but A HOLE IN THE SKY may get me started reading those.), but as this was a Peter F. Hamilton book I couldn't resist giving it a try. Once I gave it a chance, I did enjoy it. I've been reading a few reviews from folks saying that they didn't like it because it was not what they're used to from Hamilton. You know, that's okay. You don't have to like every book by an author whose works you love. Yes, it's different. But different doesn't have to mean it's bad. And A HOLE IN THE SKY is not bad. It's actually quite good.The other thing that should be discussed is the narrator. Elizabeth Katt is not John Lee, the usual narrator for Hamilton's audio books. But that's okay. I don't think Lee should have been the narrator for this YA effort. Is Katt the right narrator for this? She certainly seems to be okay for it. I definitely had no problem with her narration. A different narrator for a different type of book is certainly called for. Many of those same reviewers I mentioned earlier didn't like her narration. I think it's because they are used to something else from Hamilton, including the narrator. I think it's important to keep an open mind on these things. In any event, I think both the story and the narrator worked, at least for me. I think it will work for most folks if they just give it a chance.

When I finished reviewing the Salvation Sequence by Peter F. Hamilton, I said that I looking forward to trying his next series. And I was so right! I got an audio advanced reader copy of A Hole in the Sky and it was fantastic! I love Hamilton’s space opera, and I love a good generation ship story, and this was so much fun!I didn’t realize that this book was a YA book when I began listening to it, so in some ways it came across as a breath of fresh air. Some of the sex and violence in some of Hamilton‘s other books gets a little grim, and it was a pleasure to have a teenaged female protagonist in this book that I wasn’t going to have to worry about.The mysteries of how the people on the generation ship lost their access to technology war well plotted and well revealed. I didn’t wanna stop listening to this book because I kept wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I am very much looking forward to the sequel and everything else Mr. Hamilton chooses to write.

Not your typical Peter F Hamilton book. This book is aimed at a younger audience, but it is just as well crafted as his other work. I listened to it with my seven year old daughter and we enjoyed it together.If you are expecting Hamilton’s usual space opera, you might be disappointed. Not me, though. A Hole in the Sky is a thrilling adventure and a perfect introduction of hard science fiction for the younger audience. My daughter and I loved the female heroine. We look forward to the next installment.