Absolution Gap - Alastair Reynolds Book Review

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Review Summary

Ace, Jun 2004, 24.95, 576 pp.
ISBN: 0441011586

Over two decades ago Clavain, Scorpio and refugees landed on the Pattern Juggler world of Ararat. Over time Clavain and Scorpio led the development of a thriving community. However, in the past half a year, Clavain has become increasingly reclusive and neglectful of his duties until lights in the sky proclaim that their enemy, the Inhibitors, apparently have found them. Now they must flee their haven, choosing a moon that orbits a weird gas giant planet.

On the moon Hela, they find a strange Quaichist cult with enormous movable Cathedrals. The cult with their movable cathedrals follows the track of the gas giant Haldora that the satellite orbits. Clavain and his exiles arrive at Haldora where they will either save humanity from the Inhibitors or enable the enemy to kill them.

The final tale of the Revelation Space trilogy is an entertaining science fiction tale that will please readers who prefer a cerebral tale with limited military action. Action seekers will find the pace slow and the battle warriors will wonder why there are such short abrupt skirmishes. Still ABSOLUTION GAP is an intriguing look at religion, war, societies, and economics in outer space, just more passively highbrow than active exploits.

Harriet Klausner
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Absolution Gap

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - colonizing/homesteading another planet
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - an average amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to Absolution Gap
The Burning Heart of Night by Ivan Cat
Crossfire by Nancy Kress
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
City of Pearl by Karen Traviss
The Price of the Samaritan by Ellen Anthony

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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