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Revelation Space

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Revelation Space

By: Alastair Reynolds
Narrated by: John Lee
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Nine hundred thousand years ago, something annihilated the Amarantin civilization just as it was on the verge of discovering space flight. Now one scientist, Dan Sylveste, will stop at nothing to solve the Amarantin riddle before ancient history repeats itself.

With no other resources at his disposal, Sylveste forges a dangerous alliance with the cyborg crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity. But as he closes in on the secret, a killer closes in on him because the Amarantin were destroyed for a reason. And if that reason is uncovered, the universe - and reality itself - could be irrevocably altered.

©2008 Alastair Reynolds (P)2008 Tantor Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Robotics
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Critic reviews

"One of the best books of the year." ( Science Fiction Chronicle)
"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)
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I love this book, just finished it and getting ready to download the sequels (and prequels) set in the same universe. The Narrator is fantastic and I have listened to a lot that he has done, great job done on the narration here and elsehwere by the narrator, who I find very easy to listen to.... I found the following on the Authors website which I think it is worth sharing as the chronology of the publishing dates does not follow the chronology of the story - I really want to pick up where this one leaves me..... so from the Authors website.......... "Of my books to date, five are set in the same universe. The reading order isn't that critical, in my view, but it probably improves things to read REVELATION SPACE, REDEMPTION ARK and ABSOLUTION GAP in that sequence. The other related books, CHASM CITY and THE PREFECT, as well as the collections DIAMOND DOGS, TURQUOISE DAYS and GALACTIC NORTH, can be read at any point (or in fact, not read at all)."

I hope that someone else finds that info from Alastair Reynolds as useful as I have done - if you like Sci Fi, this series is for you... Aliens, Ancient Relics, super weapons, super humas, Ai, cyborgs, vast time scales, vast distances, vast wars, mystery, plot twists, great characters.......this has all that and some :) happy listener.

Start of a fantastic tale..

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This is easily the best sci-fi novel I have come across in my 42 years. It's a real treat for jaded, old sci-fi lovers like me who fell let down all too often by modern space operas that raise more questions than they answer. This epic tale has wheels within wheels, unexpected plot lines, no waffle, no fat, and just the right blend of hard science with fiction. I found John Lee's narration style took some getting used to, but in the end I came to enjoy his delivery. It's a crying shame that this book is the only work by Alistair Reynolds available on Audible. I would buy the others in a heartbeat.

Can sci-fi get better than this?

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The whole book feels like a set-up for the other 2 books in the trilogy. The story only really starts in the last few chapters with certain plot points left ignored in the end.



I have to agree with some other reviewers, the narration for 2/3 of this book feels like sitting though a lecture. the story jumps between different times and places without so much as a pause for breath or a change in tone. So it is hard to figure out if you are still on the same planet or even in the same century.

Textbook feel with sleep inducing narration

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I picked this book up as it was suggested to me as a Banks fan. This sets the bar extremely high. Sadly Revelation Space comes no where near to it. It was not bad, just a bit average. I may read or listen to another of his books in the future, but I am certainly not in any rush.

Disappointing

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I saw some having notes in style or dialogues but to me this is one of the greatest SF stories I've read/listened to. amazing detail and realistic setting IMO. This is my 3rd time going through the revelation space universe and I enjoyed listening & reading combo of this book.

fantastic world and great story

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