In The Dreaming Void, we were introduced to the Commonwealth nearly a millennium and a half after the events of Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained. A wide, diverse Commonwealth has exploded into numerous factions and polities, including the strange adherents of Living Dream, seeking a way into the physics-defying realm in the center of the galaxy. Book one was set up, introducing us to the characters, and allowing the reader to slowly start to piece things together. Old friends from the original duology,like Paula Myo, took their places along with Araminta, Mr. Bovey, Corrie-Lyn and many other new characters.

In the second book, Hamilton really sets them in motion. With the revelation of the identity of the mysterious Second Dreamer, much of the book is an extended cat and mouse chase sequence as Araminta seeks to escape the various forces that want to control her, destroy her, or worse.

In the meantime, we get to see much more of Edeard's life within the Void. Even more important--a key event in Edeard's life reveals once and for all just *why* it is so crucial, so important for the Living Dream adherents to get within the Void and live a life there. You didn't really think that the millions of Living Dream followers just wanted to live a medieval life, bereft of technology and gaining a few psionic powers, did you? In the Temporal Void, Hamilton reveals it--and it is a doozy. (For spoiler reasons, I am not revealing it).

But that last point shows the strength of Hamilton's writing when it comes to series. This middle volume sets us up for the finale, but does so without marking time. Again, Hamilton shows his increasing sense of balance in his writing. The Void Trilogy, while epic-sized at nearly 700 pages, is still tighter and more focused than previous novels Hamilton has wrote. He does seem to have gained increased control over his writing, much as Edeard refines his psionic abilities. Practice and skill allow the words to flow, and the plot and characters come to life in this middle volume of the trilogy.

I also have a personal, idiosyncratic theory that Hamilton wrote this trilogy to dip into the waters of fantasy. Edeard's adventures in Makkathran certainly feel like a fantasy story, and in this second volume, we switch from "callow boy makes his way to the big city" to a "political power, intrigue and police procedural with psionics in the big city". Its not all roses and champagne, Edeard's path is not easy or even clear. The consequences of power seems to be an emergent theme in this second book, both in Edeard's story and the universe at large.

Strong science fiction, amazing technology, a realm at the center of the galaxy which feels like psionic-fueled fantasy? Hamilton has managed a tricky balancing act for a second volume, and has come through with flying colors. I look forward to the third and final of the Void books, and so should you.