Fallen Dragon
by Peter F. Hamilton · first published 2001
56% recommend44% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Space opera with a cynical edge, exploring interstellar colonization, economics, and mercenary warfare. Suited to hard-leaning science fiction readers who enjoy grim plot devices.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Lawrence Newton always dreamed of adventure amongst the stars. Now the ultimate prize is within his grasp, but what will he risk to get it? Lawrence is the sergeant of a washed-out platoon, taking part in the bungled invasion of yet another human colony world. The giant corporations call such campaigns 'asset realisation', but in practice it's simple piracy.
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…Diamond Age - Neal Stephenson Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson Gridlinked - Neal Asher Neuromancer - William Gibson The Reality Dysfunction - Peter F. Hamilton The Dreaming Void - Peter F. Hamilton Fallen Dragon - Peter F. Hamilton Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan Market Forces - Richard Morgan Blindsight - Peter Watts The Electric Church - Jeff Somers Tunnel in the Sky - Robert A. Heinlein The Moon…
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗I wonder if you've read Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton? Unremovable, remote controllable lethal necklaces are a central plot device in the mercenary invasion. They are put on randomly chosen civilians as "collateral" to ensure co-operation…
on “Post-Mortem for Google Compute Engine’s Global Outage on April 11” ↗I'd also mention P. F. Hamilton's "Fallen Dragon", where FTL travel is possible, colonization of a few nearby Earth-like planets has happened... but it's not economically viable after all, which leads to some twisted consequences.
on “The Rise of Dismal Science Fiction” ↗Peter F Hamilton's "Fallen Dragon" had a sub-plot along these lines. Some soldiers wore exo-suits-of-muscle that had access to valves embedded in the femoral and carotid arteries. The human inside was breathing for both themselves and…
on “British woman revived after six-hour cardiac arrest” ↗A little different, but Fallen Dragon by Peter F Hamilton scratches the same itch for me.
I'm so glad to see this as the top comment. In particular, his "Fallen Dragon" really resonated with me. If I may, I'd also like to suggest Richard K. Morgan for his Takeshi Kovacs trilogy, which is currently being turned into a TV series named after the first book, "Altered Carbon".…
on “Ask HN: Which scifi authors to interview about immortality?” ↗There is a scene in Peter F. Hamilton's SF novel "Fallen Dragon" which immediately made me remember the restaurant "joke" from "Portnoy's Complaint". SPOILER Only here, the protagonist vomits violently after learning he's been treated (by his weirdo girlfriend)…
on “Philip Roth has died” ↗Much of the above are depicted in depth by Peter F. Hamilton's books, such as the Pandora's Star or Fallen Dragon.
on “Star Trek, tech companies, and the death of futurism in cinema” ↗…Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle. 6. Work Rules! by Laszlo Bock 7. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. 8. The Law by Frédéric Bastiat. 9. Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt. 10. Fallen Dragon by Peter Hamilton. Let me know which one of these you have read (if any) and what do u guys think?
on “Reading List from CZ (Of Binance) - Any good?” ↗…picking our fates. "Well, I did it through dreams. Phil would have done it another way. But yeah, homage to Phil [K.] Dick is right." - https://www.wired.com/2012/07/geeks-guide-ursula-k-le-guin/a... Fallen Dragon is an early & involved Peter Hamilton adventure book. There's leaving home, & space ships, more space ships, bad guys, fighting back the bad guys, bigger ships, and action. There is A LOT going on, all…
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗Currently reading Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton.
on “Ask HN: What book(s) are you reading?” ↗