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Revelation Space [Paperback]

Alastair Reynolds (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 11 Dec 2008

Nine hundred thousand years ago, something wiped out the Amarantin. For the human colonists now settling the Amarantin homeworld Resurgam, it's of little more than academic interest, even after the discovery of a long-hidden, almost perfect Amarantin city and a colossal statue of a wingest Amarantin. For brilliant but ruthloess scientist Dan Sylveste, it's more than merelty intellectual curiosity - and he will stop at nothing to get at the truth. Even if the truth costs him everything. But the Amarantin were wiped out for a reason, and that danger is closer and greater than even Syveste imagines . . .

REVELATION SPACE: a huge, magnificent space opera that ranges acrioss the known and unknown universe . . . towards the most terrifying of destinations.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 576 pages
  • Publisher: Gollancz (11 Dec 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0575083093
  • ISBN-13: 978-0575083097
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 3.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 11,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon Review

Alastair Reynolds's first novel is "hard" SF on an epic scale, crammed with technological marvels and immensities. Its events take place over a relatively short period, but have roots a billion years old--when the Dawn War ravaged our galaxy.

Sylveste is the only man ever to return alive and sane from a Shroud, an enclave in space protected by awesome gravity-warping defences: "a folding a billion times less severe should have required more energy than was stored in the entire rest-mass of the galaxy". Now an intuition he doesn't understand makes him explore the dead world Resurgam, whose birdlike natives long ago tripped some booby-trap that made their own sun erupt in a deadly flare.

Meanwhile the vast, decaying lightship Nostalgia for Infinity is coming for Sylveste, whose dead father (in AI simulation) could perhaps help the Captain, frozen near absolute zero yet still suffering monstrous transformation by nanotech plague. Most of Infinity's tiny crew have hidden agendas--Khouri the reluctant contract-assassin believes she must kill Sylveste to save humanity--and there are two bodiless stowaways, one no longer human and one never human. Shocking truths emerge from bluff, betrayal and ingenious lies.

The trail leads to a neutron star where an orbiting alien construct has defences to challenge the Infinity's planet-wrecking superweapons.

At the heart of this artefact, the final revelations detonate--most satisfyingly. Dense with information and incident, this longish novel has no surplus fat and seems almost too short. A sparkling SF debut. --David Langford --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Intensely compelling; darkly intelligent; hugely ambitious." --Paul J. McAuley, author of Ancients of Days

"A terrific treat. I was hooked from page one. Billion-year-gone alien wars, killer intelligences--and perhaps the most stunning and original alien artifact in modern science fiction--and all rendered with the authentic voice of a working scientist. Ferociously intelligent and imbued with a chilling logic--it may really be like this Out There." --Stephen Baxter, co-author of The Light of Other Days

"A striking first novel. Revelation Space delivers the goods. Certain to be one of the year's most impressive debut novels, and one of the most significant large-scale epics of the year. Reynolds is the next writer to watch in the resurrection of the conceptually intelligent space opera." --Gary Wolfe, Locus

"Complicated, and very clever and well-written...a spectacular first novel."--Aboriginal SF

"A delight. A refreshing and entertaining reconsideration of some of the genre's oldest tropes. An impressive first novel, quite possibly the space opera of the year. Watch for it at awards time."--Jonathan Strahan, Locus --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent debut novel 7 Aug 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I'd heard this debut novel was similar to both Iain Banks' and Dan Simmons' universes, and I was pleased to note that this was true - though only on a surface level. There's a very strong sense that the author sees the novel form as a vehicle for exploring science fact. It isn't hard to accept that this man is a hard scientist in his actual life, and even easier to accept that he's a passionate man in his imagined one. I don't think I have ever read science fiction that marries 'hard' sci-fi with a convincing narrative quite so assuredly. I was initially gripped by the solidity of his universe, but as the manifold plot lines began to unfold that all seemed to take a background role to the lives and motivations of his characters. I was never less than completely engrossed, and I put this down to Reynolds' keen eye for what is actually interesting in the sci-fi form. The primary 'revelation' for this reader was Reynolds' ability to create a dystopian future that is, intrinsically new. From Lighthugger ships and their nauseatingly intimidating weapons, through to the stupendous alien artefact we come to see a central to the story, there is always an underlying sense of purpose and symmetry. If you've read Banks, Simmons, Hamilton or even Sagan (and were impressed) then buy this book. It is that rare thing: an original science fiction universe; one you recognise but have never visited. Hard science fiction for non-'hard' sci-fi fans.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and interesting but... 5 April 2006
By Avidreader
Format:Paperback
Having read Reynolds' second book Chasm City, I decided to try his first, Revelation Space. It is set in the same universe, where mankind has splintered into different sects and groups, and travels the galaxy at just under the speed of light in giant "lighhuggers."

Revelation Space revolves around the destruction of an alien species a million years before. Sylveste, essentially an archeaologist, believes that the aliens were advanced spacefarers, who somehow brought about their own destcrution. Few believe him, but one assassin is sent to kill him by somebody who obviously does, someone who fears that his actions may trigger humanity's destruction.

Mixed in to this story are politics, a decaying lighhugger with an infected captain and weapons of unimaginable power, computer constructs, coups and politics and the brain-bending effects of near-light speed travel and the relativistic effects. It's all great fun and the eventual unravelling of what happened to the aliens is exciting and interesting. The characters are well-drawn - if a little too similar - and the pace is good. Why only 3 stars then?

First the dialogue. It's fine but somehow lacks any real zest or zip. It's a little stodgy in truth and in places it creaks. Second, the ideas. There are simply too many. I liked the lighthuggers, the Ultras, the Inhibitors, the melding plague and even the constructs. But did we also need the Pattern Jugglers, the Shrouds, Hell-class weapons, cloning, thermal-lift aircraft, neutron-star computers and so on? Too many, with not enough detail on the important ones means that the reader becomes frustrated. For example, the history of the aliens and how they became technologically advnaced is passed over very quickly when it is of vital importance. Similarly, the weapons are obviously a set-up for the next book.

Third, the aliens don't really work for me. They appear to be massively advanced compared with humans but they still get wiped out rather easily. Their background and history are a little feeble too, and the set-up feels forced - would highly advanced aliens really leave no trace of their technological civilisation?. Fourth, Reynolds tries a little bit too hard on the cyperpunk/noir side of things. Why have rats eat somebody? Why the decpitation? Perhaps sci-fi demands that nowadays but it's not really necessary. I'm not squemish but whereas with Banks and Gibson it's part of their style and the story, here it feels added-in.

Still, despite my gripes, it's a good book, with a lot of good ideas. I recommend for a long plane journey or a couple of days on the beach, and intend to read the sequels.

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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The first science-fiction masterpiece of the millennium! 27 July 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Alastair Reynolds has produced an amazing masterpiece (an incredible debut!) blending the extrapolations of hard science with unforgettable characters set in a possible and disturbing future five centuries from now. This is a thinking person's novel, not light reading to be finished overnight. The conceptions from nanotechnology, astrophysics, genetic engineering, and computer science will stimulate you and keep you thinking long after finishing the book. It is so well written, that despite its length I was left wishing it would continue for a few hundred pages more. The vast panorama of intergalactic history and conflict, spanning billions of years, and the original ideas the author presents establish him as one of the most powerful voices of modern science fiction, in the tradition of Arthur Clarke, A.E. van Vogt, Jack Williamson, and a very few others. Although the power of this novel emerges primarily from the dizzying vistas of the future and the alien artifacts and civilizations it paints in cataclysmic brush strokes, it also features outstanding characters not easily forgotten: Khouri, the soldier assassin, and Ilia Volyova, the dynamic Triumvir on the starship Infinity, are easily two of the strongest female characters in sf literature, and the pathos of Dan Sylveste will long linger in memory as well. This novel is a first rate masterpiece of the calibre of Clarke's CHILDHOOD'S END, Williamson & Gunn's STAR BRIDGE, and A.E. van Vogt's VOYAGE OF THE SPACE BEAGLE. Highly recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars Who wrote this?!?!?
Seriously, the description and plot summary for this book is so badly written I can't even begin to explain. You spelled the protagonist's name wrong and you only used it twice. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Shiny_Llama
5.0 out of 5 stars An addictive and engrossing read!
Having enjoyed Alastair Reynold's Blue Remembered Earth (Poseidons Children 1) last year, it was just a matter of time before I returned to the beginning. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kate
4.0 out of 5 stars Very revealing.
Yes this book is fiction, but i'm not so sure it can be labelled science fiction, I would say fiction based on science future fact. Read more
Published 3 months ago by mike
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Brilliant book a must read kept me captivated throughout. I've heard him on the radio and frankly was not impressed with him but the book was so highly recommended I had to give it... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. R. L. Davies
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story, badly written
Cheesy expository dialogue, intensely unlikable characters, unnecessary mega info dumps, repetetiveness, I'm not sure how I managed to finish this book but maybe it's a sign of how... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jon
5.0 out of 5 stars very intense and very detailed
Very intense, and very detailed. Amazingly tight storyline. I did find it quite difficult to read, purely because it is so intense. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Aberter
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
This book was bought for me by my wife after it was recommended to her by an enthusiastic waterstones assistant. Read more
Published 9 months ago by GearGimp
4.0 out of 5 stars A Harder Class of Space Opera
I had heard great things about Alastair Reynolds from several friends, and so decided to begin at the beginning, with his debut novel. Read more
Published 10 months ago by David Ford
1.0 out of 5 stars The worst SF I've read since the 80s
I'm sad to say that I've given up on this after 250 pages. I never give up on books, but this was so excruciatingly boring and badly written that it comes as some relief to bin... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jonny
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning sci-fi adventure
This book simply blew me away (metaphorically). More accessible than the ramblings of Banks, more concise than Peter F Hamilton, yet no less amazing in scope, technology,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Stunt Goat
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