The Revelation Space Collection Volume 1

by Alastair Reynolds

This is volume 1 of the complete collection of tales set in the Revelation Space universe, by British Science Fiction Award-winner Alastair Reynolds.

The 'mastersinger of Space Opera' (The Times) created the astonishing Revelation Space universe - one of the most vivid and original SF universes ever written. Alongside the award-winning novels is a galaxy of superb short fiction, collected and published here, in two volumes, in chronological order.

This volume

Dilation Sleep
A Spy in Europa
Galactic North
Great Wall of Mars
Glacial
Diamond Dogs

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2025

About the author

I'm Al, I used to be a space scientist, and now I'm a writer, although for a time the two careers ran in parallel. I started off publishing short stories in the British SF magazine Interzone in the early 90s, then eventually branched into novels. I write about a novel a year and try to write a few short stories as well. Some of my books and stories are set in a consistent future named after Revelation Space, the first novel, but I've done a lot of other things as well and I like to keep things fresh between books.

I was born in Wales, but raised in Cornwall, and then spent time in the north of England and Scotland. I moved to the Netherlands to continue my science career and stayed there for a very long time, before eventually returning to Wales.

In my spare time I am a very keen runner, and I also enjoying hill-walking, birdwatching, horse-riding, guitar and model-making. I also dabble with paints now and then. I met my wife in the Netherlands through a mutual interest in climbing and we married back in Wales. We live surrounded by hills, woods and wildlife, and not too much excitement.

Reviews

[Dan Trefethen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good idea, pulling together the various shorter fiction that Reynolds has published in the Revelation Space universe over the past few decades. From the time- and galaxy-spanning Galactic North, to the intricately deadly puzzle box of Diamond Dogs, we get a good representation of the RS story. If you're familiar with the RS books, Nevil Clavain is in a few stories, especially in a sort of origin story about him and the Conjoiners.

Readers not familiar with RS will probably be puzzled by what's going on and how all the stories connect, so this is not for them. But for those of us who are fans of Reynolds's imagined universe, it's a pleasure to have all these stories in a two volume collection to accompany the novels.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5
Individual stories range from 4 to 5

Haven’t read these any of these for some time so enjoyed going back to them.
Must admit to liking AR earlier work than some of his recent novels.
These are quite a good start point for anyone new to AR and the writing style of his earlier works.

Value for money side of things definitely worth it for new readers, long term readers probably need to check their collections before deciding on purchase.
On another side note the cover art for this and volume 2 is not very good imo. Pre 2019/20 (maybe) AR cover art on hardback and paperback was incredible, the reflective holographic-almost style really stood on the shelves and made them very desirable. These new covers are quite flat and uninspired, also same thing applies to the recent reprint of the dreyfuss novels … very disappointing.

Overall though definite recommendation for the contents.