joeker24's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Great story, but can definitely tell he was a scientist first, author second.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Alastair Reynolds is one of the (apparently rare) creatures who not only has vast knowledge of a particular field of science, in this case astronomy, but is able to translate his scientific prowess into an artfully told, emotionally satisfying, and entertaining story. His characters have thoughts beyond “Shoot that thing! Now shoot that thing!” They have to make wrenchingly difficult decisions, and because technology in Reynolds's universe allows computer infiltration into human brains, they're not always sure if their thoughts are their own or if they're being manipulated by an external presence. Ahh, the complexity!—not just of the science involved, which is fairly academic, but of the characters and the choices they must make.
I was delighted to come across an example of a science fiction writer who could manage both types of complexity with equal aplomb. I was even more delighted to find not one, not two, but three central female characters—each with a very different personality and skill set.
If I haven't managed to sell you yet, here's a bit of background: Revelation Space is a space opera, which is a sci-fi sub-genre in which the story spans a wide range of time and geography (shout-out to Adam for the succinct definition!). I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy all the talk of interstellar space travel, space shuttles, and G-forces, but I was spellbound by the characters' journeys around the galaxy, particularly the way time seems to become highly subjective, the passage of it faster for some and slower for others depending on the speed and distance of their travels. I've heard others claim that one thing Reynolds does well is express the great gasping vastness of space, and I have to agree.
That was another thing that really worked for me—Reynolds explains just enough to make the science accessible, but never so much that he comes across as pedantic or lecture-y. It's an impressive feat, considering how convoluted the situation gets by the final chapters, with the lines between human and machine blurred more than you'd think possible. (But this is sci-fi, so anything is possible! Theoretically.)
Reynolds keeps everything moving along by hopping back and forth (sometimes frenetically) between several groups of characters. First is Dan Sylveste, an archaeologist of sorts, except he studies dead alien civilizations in other solar systems. One culture, the Amarantin, become a particular fixation for Dan as he investigates deeper into the surface of their former home planet Resurgam. Then there's Ilia Volyova, aboard a massive shuttle called a lighthugger, traveling at unfathomable speeds through the universe while trying to keep her cryogenically frozen captain alive, although by this point he might be more machine than man. And finally we meet Ana Khouri, a former soldier who now works as a paid assassin-for-hire—but the catch is that she is hired by her targets themselves.
And that's just the characters at the very beginning of the book. We can tell they're set on a trajectory towards each other, but there are a lot of questions that are going to have to be answered before the final page. I have to admit, I found the narrative a bit disjointed in the first half of the book, when all the characters are in different places doing different things, but when they come together the structure does as well, and the second half of the book is an unstoppable page-turner.
This book is part of a series on my website, the Summer of Sci-Fi Challenge. You can find the full text of this review, more information about the Challenge, and many other book recommendations at www.readingwithhippos.com.
I was delighted to come across an example of a science fiction writer who could manage both types of complexity with equal aplomb. I was even more delighted to find not one, not two, but three central female characters—each with a very different personality and skill set.
If I haven't managed to sell you yet, here's a bit of background: Revelation Space is a space opera, which is a sci-fi sub-genre in which the story spans a wide range of time and geography (shout-out to Adam for the succinct definition!). I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy all the talk of interstellar space travel, space shuttles, and G-forces, but I was spellbound by the characters' journeys around the galaxy, particularly the way time seems to become highly subjective, the passage of it faster for some and slower for others depending on the speed and distance of their travels. I've heard others claim that one thing Reynolds does well is express the great gasping vastness of space, and I have to agree.
That was another thing that really worked for me—Reynolds explains just enough to make the science accessible, but never so much that he comes across as pedantic or lecture-y. It's an impressive feat, considering how convoluted the situation gets by the final chapters, with the lines between human and machine blurred more than you'd think possible. (But this is sci-fi, so anything is possible! Theoretically.)
Reynolds keeps everything moving along by hopping back and forth (sometimes frenetically) between several groups of characters. First is Dan Sylveste, an archaeologist of sorts, except he studies dead alien civilizations in other solar systems. One culture, the Amarantin, become a particular fixation for Dan as he investigates deeper into the surface of their former home planet Resurgam. Then there's Ilia Volyova, aboard a massive shuttle called a lighthugger, traveling at unfathomable speeds through the universe while trying to keep her cryogenically frozen captain alive, although by this point he might be more machine than man. And finally we meet Ana Khouri, a former soldier who now works as a paid assassin-for-hire—but the catch is that she is hired by her targets themselves.
And that's just the characters at the very beginning of the book. We can tell they're set on a trajectory towards each other, but there are a lot of questions that are going to have to be answered before the final page. I have to admit, I found the narrative a bit disjointed in the first half of the book, when all the characters are in different places doing different things, but when they come together the structure does as well, and the second half of the book is an unstoppable page-turner.
This book is part of a series on my website, the Summer of Sci-Fi Challenge. You can find the full text of this review, more information about the Challenge, and many other book recommendations at www.readingwithhippos.com.
dbonilla0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I simply love Alastair Reynolds' story telling. And science fiction has so much more space available as well as time is experienced/traversed on completely different scales.
In this book we start at an areochological dig on some far away planet until storms set operations to a halt and then the story takes up later on.
Loved the exploration of trying to understand long bygone cultures/civilisations and how they sometimes still can impact in a much later time period.
The story is very well told and it was easy to follow despite all the tech talk.
In this book we start at an areochological dig on some far away planet until storms set operations to a halt and then the story takes up later on.
Loved the exploration of trying to understand long bygone cultures/civilisations and how they sometimes still can impact in a much later time period.
The story is very well told and it was easy to follow despite all the tech talk.
choomsky's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
enbyglitch's review against another edition
4.0
Fun world, ideas, and mystery as usual. Also exemplifies the issues I've had with a few Reynolds books at this point, including stagnant characters and third acts which are drawn out faaaaaaar too long. In particular this book saw every lore drop (of which there were many) needing to be repeated two or three times for different groups of characters.
Mind-gripping as ever, but man the last 100 pages or so were a slog of bland action and overexplanation.
Mind-gripping as ever, but man the last 100 pages or so were a slog of bland action and overexplanation.
alcazarz's review against another edition
3.0
really deep and complicated and hard to get into. I liked it but it took about 2 years to finish, so I can't say I loved it... more happy I got through it.
pipsyj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
muck0009's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0