Publishers Weekly
‘Expanding a fascinating universe, Robertson brings to life a virtual world where memories can be rewritten without warning and physical distance means nothing. A brisk, twisty plot with plenty of intrigue will work for action fans as well as more philosophical readers who love to ponder big ideas.’
https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4732-0343-3
Upcoming4.me
‘Even though “Waking Hell” is technically a second book in the series you will have no issues by not having read the first one. “Waking Hell” has a different cast of characters and Station is a place that organically evolves through time so even the constant readers will be slightly disoriented. It’s a wonderful place that’s worth exploring at ease – it seems like even Robertson seems to appreciate this, filling the first part of the books with less action and more character and setting development.
“Waking Hell” is anything but a difficult second novel. If anything, there seems to be lightness to Robertson’s writing. “Waking Hell” proves once again that he has plenty to offer to readers looking for intelligent science fiction filled with engaging characters, drama, emotions and advanced technology. Very recommended.’
http://upcoming4.me/item/11950-review-waking-hell-by-al-robertson
Astounding Yarns
‘As with its predecessor, Waking Hell asks us questions about the ethics of future technology, and what makes us people. With our experience increasingly mediated through the digital, and the potential for increasingly complex AIs to learn, grow and be fused with digital storage of memory, “fetch rights” becomes a real issue. Human memory is notoriously fallible, but the digital can be easily edited, changed and duplicated. Robertson asks us not just what truth is, but which versions of ourselves have primacy.
Waking Hell is a thought-provoking thriller with real warmth at its heart. Fans of Hugo Fist should embrace its richness, rather than be disappointed by his absence.’
https://liwella.wordpress.com/2016/12/30/waking-hell-al-robertson/
Blue Book Balloon
‘As I said, you have to go with the flow. But what a flow it is. It’s a conspiracy thriller. There is a true “war in Heaven”. There are walking cities, and the ruins of human civilization, sketched poignantly as Leila pursues her brother. Most of all, the book transcends the setting of the previous story, revealing the original purpose and perhaps the ultimate origin of Station.
I don’t know if Robertson has any plans for further Station books but if he has, I’ll be reading them.’
http://bluebookballoon.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/waking-hell.html
For Winter Nights
‘Waking Hell begins gently with a personal tragedy and grief and, for some time, you might think you were reading one type of book before it suddenly explodes into something else entirely. Having read and loved Crashing Heaven, I should not have been surprised. Both books demonstrate so brilliantly the author’s fantastic imagination and creativity, not to mention his wit and eye for action and thrills. There are elements of horror here to go with the science fiction. I love this when it works and it works really well here. I loved how the story and plot developed. It builds and builds and builds and the intensity and excitement of the second half is so huge and powerful that I couldn’t put it down.’
https://forwinternights.wordpress.com/2016/10/23/waking-hell-by-al-robertson/