Dark Diamond: Action-packed time travel space opera from sci-fi's most explosive author (Time's Shadow Book 1)

Great to see Agent Cormac back and some other old friends. Really enjoyed it. Can't wait for the next book.

Neal Asher has a gift for crafting expansive universes with imaginative but believable technology and ecologies. His villains are detestable and his heroes are surprisingly human (even when they have evolved far beyond that nomenclature). Here he has returned to the familiar Polity but also revisiting some of the themes he's explored in other novels set in differing universes. The writing is sublime and the cliff-hanger is absolutely crushing. If you enjoy epic-scale space opera then you will love this (although do yourself a favour and read all his other books first).

I think this is his longest novel. Mr. Asher is playing some of his greatest hits here. Time travel is my least favourite sci-fi trope, but he incorporates it well enough. No romantic involvements either, so we're at least spared another toe curling sex scene. Things don't quite ring true in this one, though. It feels like it's been built rather than written. Like he's taken components out of storage and bolted them together, so it lacks the flow and cohesiveness of his best previous work. It stops dead as well, as if the whole thing has already been finished and chopped into three at a convenient point in the page count. So why four stars? Well, a by the numbers Neil Asher job is still a damn fine read. I look forward part two, maybe he'll hit his straps as we go on.

As always from Mr Asher, he gives us a great story that’s immaculately crafted. With new ideas and some old beloved characters. This was an immensely enjoyable read with my only criticism of a very sharp end to the story which just wanted me to wish for the next instalment. Thanks Neil you never disappoint and always leave us wanting more. I salute you sir !

I’m barely about 70% of my way through and I’m def enjoying the thrills spills action always a fantastic read by neal Asher in his polity universe there’s ai’s golems augmented people haimans prador firepower space ships high tech nano tech it’s got it all

I have read every book by this author and like all the others I devoured this in one sitting. Was great to read about Cormac again and Blite makes a great protagonist. I was actually angry about the ending because I know I have to wait for the next book, but I have great faith that the payoff will be worth it. Fantastic read.

Enjoyed this ride with out three favourite characters and the obvious AI villain. There’s some threads left to complete meaning I’ll look forward to the sequel.

Constantly maintaining excellent story line for Agent Cormack, the Brass Man & Aroch. Can't wait for the next adventure. Brilliant.

First chapter, someone is assassinated. Second chapter, we have a couple of heavily armed goons fighting a brass robot with ancient alien technology inside it. That’s just setting the stage, mind you. I was in the middle of reading another book but I put everything down when Asher comes out with a new book, that’s how good it is.

Neal Asher may be the best science fiction author of our time! Start with Gridlinked. Go from there... He is a prolific author. His novels and novellas share a common future, but it is not necessary to read them in order. This is book one of a two-book series. (Hoping for more. ;) ) This book stands on its own. This novel is a page-turner. The characters are well written, complex, and they take you along on a wild ride! The story is gripping, epic, and kept me reading for "just one more chapter". It ended far too soon. I'm waiting for a studio to pick up the rights to his fictional world. That'd be something.

I always look forward to a new release by Neal Asher and order them well in advance. When Dark Diamond landed in my inbox with a message to open it up in my Kindle I knew to put some serious me time in place to access this new read. Neal is one of those authors who pulls out all the stops to create complex realms and storyline’s that need considered time to get into. Old favourites like Cormac and Crane help me to get into the reading zone quickly and the ever present threats of Jain technology and the spatterjay virus all ads to the narrative. Ultra fleshed out worlds and boundlessly interesting characters pepper his universe and it takes dedicated time to flesh out all that this entails. All worth it of course and the knowledge that the book will leave me hanging just adds spice to my wait for the next instalment. I am waiting, waiting, waiting.

All of Neal Ashers books are good. Sure wish he'd write more.

Asher has made a fascinating use of previous characters, story arcs and seemingly disconnected scenarios and weaved them into yet another riveting continuation of the Polity universe.