Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

Any other fans of Alastair Reynolds and his Revelation Space books. Great space opera as far as I'm concerned.

I was just looking at those at the used books store today....now I wish I would have picked it up!

Revelation Space is sitting on my desk now, waiting for me to read it. i'm thinking it will be a good nomination for the Random Read in july.

Revelation Space looks interesting! I'm gonna have to pick it up.

It's one of my all time favorite scifi books, it's definitely hard scifi and it's definitely a sprawling space opera. Basically anything by Alastair Reynolds I recommend.

I am putting it on my TBR thanks!

The Revelation Space series is my second favorite space opera series behind Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga and Void Trilogy. (I am considering them to be one series since they take place in the same universe with a lot of the same characters.)
So far Chasm City is my favorite Revelation Space book.

Hamilton and Reynolds are very good SF writers and have gained much critical acclaim, but readers should be warned at the difficulty of their work. At least, I found this so. Their writing is highly complex, dense and sometimes confusing; the plots intricate and at times convoluted. Well worth the effort--and it is an effort--if you feel like making the effort. But these two are not easy reads. So don't be disappointed if you find it hard going. One could say the same for Ian M. Banks--often sticky going. The difference is that Banks has a marvelous sense of humor. One could never say that about Reynolds or Hamilton. They take themselves and the worlds they create with a daunting seriousness.

Margaret wrote: "One could say the same for Ian M. Banks--often sticky going. The difference is that Banks has a marvelous sense of humor. One could never say that about Reynolds or Hamilton. They take themselves and the worlds they create with a daunting seriousness. "
I actually don't like my space operas to wink at me, break the immersion and bring me back down to earth.
I have to admit that Hamilton and Reynolds have spoiled me. In search for other space operas I found John Scalzi, Jack Campbell and Richard K. Morgan, but was disappointed by the lack of parallel strands told by different people / from different perspectives.

I've enjoyed Hamilton's Commonwealth books, quite fancy giving Reynolds a go but never knew what to start on. Revelation Space books it is then!

Michael--There is a difference between a sense of humor taken within the SF context and just being silly for the sake of a laugh. I just find Banks incredibly witty in his descriptions, and mostly in his characterizations of the many and masterful AIs in his culture universe. But I think I know what you mean, as when a writer uses current slang for humorous effect (simply does not work) or when he has his characters do silly things that are nothing more than slapstick. Yes, there is a great difference bewteen slapstick and wit, and Banks is a masterful writer who knows this. Read his description of the Dwellers in "The Algebraist". I defy you not to smile. Me, I laughed out loud, even though the tone and content of this passage was totally in keeping with the color and flavor of his created world. Speaking of Scalzi, he is writer with great wit as well. Example of what I mean, from The Old Man's War: "The planet was so beautiful they considered calling it Eden, but somebody decided that the karmic repercussions of this would be nothing but trouble." This is the kind of wit in SF writing that I mean. Nothing to bring you down, but rather uplifts and carries you along.

It looks like a discussion thread for Revelation Space won't have to be started for September.

Quarter Share is a good space opra too.

Has anyone read the following two in the Revelation Space series? Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap?

I'd be very interested to know what others think of Absolution Gap and how the series ends.

I have to agree with you Leah. I am really struggling with the chapters too. I am determined to finish it, but have stopped to read Hyperion. Once I have completed that, I will go back to Revelation Space.

I just picked this up earlier today. So far, not so bad. I can't believe we read this nearly a year ago. lol

I found the first, Revelation Space, difficult at first, but it gets better as it goes on. The style reminds me a little of Peter Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga. I'd say stick with Revelation Space and get half way in and the rewards grow and grow.

that's a funny comparison for me to read - i made that comparison in my review, but felt more like Revelation Space was the dark flip side of the rather shiny sagas of Peter Hamilton.

I'd agree with that. My point was the style of multiple switching character perspectives at different points in time, in different locations was reminiscent of Hamilton for me.

yeah, same here.

I'm just finishing the Void Trilogy and I really, really, no, really wished I had read the previous two books(i.e. Judas Unchained etc.) before I had gotten into these. Down the road I will go back and read the first two and maybe read the Void again.

I have all the Revelation Space books in hardcover on my shelves (including Chasm City and Diamond Dogs). I will be starting these soon.

The Void books seem pretty long though.

Just about finishing the Commonwealth Saga, it is absolutely epic.

Just getting into Revelation Space finally, and I have to say I like it better than the Void trilogy so far... and the Void was pretty great.

About a month ago I sent the mass market version out to some troops... I think it was a good choice.

Alastair Reynolds, along with Iann M Banks, is one of the greats. I have read all his stuff and really haven't found a stinker anywhere amongst his work. Although On a Steel Breeze was a bit meh. Yes it is techy and huge, the ideas and plots challenge you on every level, but isn't that what you want from writers, to be challenged and to provoke thoughts beyond your boundaries?
Loved Terminal World for its decent into non tech. Worth a read.

I really liked Revelation Space. Haven't gotten to the next book yet, but might soon. Reynolds also wrote one of my favorite stories in Solaris Rising.

I didn't care much for the one Hamilton I've read (The Dreaming Void) but I am going to give him another chance with Pandora's Star.

Pandora's star was great. Judas Unchained, not so good but worthwhile.

Hamilton's Fallen Dragon is worth reading as well. It's a standalone novel, so it kind of distills his version of action/space opera SF down to a quicker paced, more concise package.

I was not a big fan of the Void series either. The SF was pretty good in it, but the fantasy elements, I thought, were a bit boring and were dwelled upon too extensively. I'm not really a fantasy reader, and the SF justification for it felt very contrived.

those fantasy parts were my favorite parts! well, different strokes. I did really enjoy that series, although not quite as much as the Reality Dysfunction series.

If I wanted to read fantasy, I'd stick with Lois McMaster Bujold ];P

They felt contrived and way over melodramatic in the midst of hardcore space empire alien weirdness.

But as you say, different strokes.

I agree with Mark. I don't read fantasy but the fantasy bits of the void series were my favourite parts. I was ploughing through the books just to continue reading the fantasy story. I'd have happily read the waterwalker story as a stand alone novel.