Revelation Space - Alastair Reynolds Book Review

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"Revelation Space"
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Review Summaries

"Reynolds has the ability to tell diverse storylines and have them come together in cohensive and gripping fashion. Dan Sylveste, a obessive scientist on the colony world of Resurgam seeks to find the answers for why the planet's original inhabitants, the Amarantins, an avian race, was wiped out eons ago. But Sylveste doesn't know it but he and his simulation of his dead, Father calvin are being sought by the cyborg crew of starship Nostalgia for Infinity to cure their captain who suffers from nanotech plague. Sylveste isn't aware that one of the crew, a lady assasin, Khouri is contracted to kill him! The tension of this novel is so palpable you can almost cut it with the knife. Reynolds also knows his plot twists, as he illustrates that in the future technology changes but human nature doens't as he gives scenes of machivellian manuvers among the crew of Nostlagia. Characters in this epic novel also are not what they appear to be like the brave and sometimes ruthless Volyoya who seeks to save her captain from the nanotech plague. Khouri the assasin who must kill Sylveste in order to be reunited with her husband.The deadly Sajaki who agendas on the ship no one knows.Reynolds how to create memorable worlds and aliens like engimatic intelligence called the Shroud and how those who enters it are changed. The atmosphere of the creepy ship, Nostlagia, is very memorable as the crew battle each other and a deadly stowaway called Sun Stealer. Reynolds also gives an answer why there are few intelligent civilizations found in the universe. The reason will terrify you!The author's ability in universe-building puts him in the same league as David Brin, Greg Bear, and frank herbert as he tells a epic saga that transcences space and billions of years in the history of the universe.Reynolds also knows how tell a story with hars science in a way that doesn't confuse the reader or take away from the human element of story.

Crested sapwood supportable noradrenaline runout. "
Rodney Powell, Resident Alastair Reynolds Scholar

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Overall Review

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

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena - fighting a disease/illness affecting everyone
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - finding a killer (criminal)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - scientist
Age: - 40's-50's
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male Alien
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - dictator
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - telekinesis - mind control
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an above average amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Planet surface, need spacesuit - Space, need spacesuit - Domed/Underground City
Spaceship setting: - futuristic human warship - futuristic human freighter/transport
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a significant amount of technical jargon
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

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

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