The Reality Dysfunction

The Reality Dysfunction was written by Peter F. Hamilton and published in 1996.  It's the first half of a thousand page novel; I guess the publisher thought it was a good idea to make two 500 page books out of it, yeah, and I never ever thought I would read this, but I am, and it's really great; only there is another book after this one, called The Reality Dysfunction part 2,  and after that there are two more huge books called The Neutronium Alchemest (part 1 and 2) that's good for at least 1000 or so pages, and then there are TWO MORE books called The Naked God (part 1 and 2)  or something or other....man, this book is chock full 'o tech, but characters rule here, so here's a text sample:

"Just like you and all the others, you want to believe that everything's so perfect on this planet.  You convinced yourselves we're a bunch of regular lads who got a bad break in life.  Anything else would have cracked your dream open and made you face reality.  Illusion is easy.  Illusion is the loser's way out.  Your way.  You and all of the others grubbing around in the dirt...."

O.K. this book kicks some serious ass, it's a wicked horror filled page turner, and Peter F. Hamilton is giving space opera a good name.