The Saints of Salvation

 

The Saints of Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton (2020 Macmillan softcover 518pp)

 

I’ve been reading Peter F. Hamilton’s wide-screen space opera sagas since the mid-1990s. After skipping a few of his recent series I came back to him when he produced the first “Salvation” volume back in 2017. I found it something of a return to form and a bit of a change of pace. The second volume in the series “Salvation Lost” came out around a year ago and now the final book is here. Obviously, this isn’t a good place to start reading – little will make sense. So, if you’re interested start from the beginning for goodness sake.

The basic set up of the series is thus – By the late 22^nd century mankind has developed into an advanced technological culture. Stargate like portals are used for even short-distance travel and have opened up other solar systems for colonisation. Late in the century an alien spacecraft arrives and mankind makes contact with the Olyix race. At first, they seem peaceful and benevolent, sharing their even more advanced technology with humans. Some on earth remain unconvinced and suspicious of the newcomers. The discovery of a crashed alien ship on a distant planet brings together a group of security and intelligence specialists (later known collectively as ‘The Saints’) who must learn to work together after the ship’s curious cargo is unearthed. Soon the true nature of the Olyix is revealed and the aliens launch an all-out assault on earth with the aim of capturing all humans for delivery to their ancient god.

Meanwhile thousands of years into the future the descendants of humans who escaped earth have bred genetically engineered warriors and strategic specialists. They train and set out to lure the Olyix into traps and face them in a final battle.

All three books switch between these two main story threads in alternating chapters. In the second volume a ‘street-level’ 23^rd century viewpoint was added to give us an eye-witness view of the alien invasion. In this book that character bows out part-way through.

Its pleasing to meet up with these characters again and follow them as they face more challenges, experience triumphs and reverses. Hamilton has never been the best at ending his sagas and this one does get a wee bit clunky when more exotic technology and Ex Machina saviours make an appearance. Due to timey-wimey reasons the two main threads come together for the final battle which takes up a good tenth of the book’s length. The author is at his best describing space conflict with all manner of advanced weaponry being used against all manner of weird and wonderful spaceships. His weakness seems to be his depictions of women – they’re all ‘kick-ass’ assassin warriors or nothing at all. Likewise, there are several sections of juvenile wish fulfilment stuff – ‘badass’ looking this and that that ultimately go nowhere.

Several unresolved issues hint at one or two possible sequel avenues and I’d happily read them. I enjoyed the ride and experimentation Hamilton did with this series. Possibly this volume didn’t quite live up to the promise of the first book and may be the weakest of the three. Pick up the first one and know there’s some great reading ahead.