rachel on 10/4/2007 at 19:57
I discovered (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alastair_Reynolds) Alastair Reynolds last year, just after the London meet, I took a "3 for £18" deal in one of the airport's bookstores and bought
Ringworld,
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, and as I was looking for a third title, the glossy cover caught my eye, the short summary on the back was intriguing enough, and so I grabbed
Revelation Space by Reynolds.
Inline Image:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Revelation_Space_cover_(Amazon).jpgMy *best* literary purchase of the year.
His approach to sci-fi is tough, very technical, full of details I sometimes have trouble comprehending, and not only because English is not my first language. But it's
believable. His worlds are fully built, fleshed out, consistent, the whole backstory is there, and you can almost see the gritty and worn décor, like something out of
Blade Runner or some similar bleak stories.
He writes his stories so well you're just caught in the web and can't let go until the last page. You follow a faction in one book, that will be the unseen enemy in the next. The universe he created is so vast it is hard to grasp.
I just finished
Chasm City, a standalone set in the "Revelation Space" universe, and it's on par with PK Dick in my book, mixed with something out of Dan Simmon's
Hyperion. In fact, the Shrike was the image that came to mind when I read the short story,
Diamond Dogs. I made the mistake of buying
Redemption Ark in French, and the translation was a bit of a letdown, although perhaps I had too high expectations after discovering the first book.
In any case, go for it. If you like sci-fi, it's an absolute must-read. :thumb:
Shoshin on 10/4/2007 at 20:24
Agreed, although I found the final book in the trilogy (Absolution Gap) to be a bit of a letdown.
Chasm City was fantastic though.
I haven't been reading much in the way of science fiction lately. Been meaning to finish off some of the Gene Wolfe I have in my to read stack.
The Alchemist on 10/4/2007 at 20:27
Which reminds me, what do you guys think of The Reality Dysfunction books? My roommate is obsessed with them, Neutron Alchemist or w/e. He's always trying to get me to read them.
Shoshin on 10/4/2007 at 20:49
I thought they were decent reads. They start out better than they finish. It's worth reading the first one, for sure.
daprdan on 10/4/2007 at 21:10
The Reality Dysfunction...I liked the first book(nods to Shoshin) but found the next to be less readable.I found it difficult to buy the story line,to suspend disbelief.It's been a while though.
I see Raph picked up Ringworld,a very good series!Larry Niven is on my alltime top five list for sure.I will try "Revelation Space".
Vivian on 10/4/2007 at 21:14
Meh, those books were fart-inflated space opera heartburn. Hamilton's a hack at heart, a hack whose main and in that respect not-inconsiderable talent lies in imagining and described baroque space weapons and other technological flights of fancy. The characters were stock, the bolt-on sex scenes read like clumsy adolescent fan erotica, and many of the elements of the plot were just plain stupid - mainly Al Capone and his space mafia? What?
That said, the series and especially the first book is enjoyable as a page-turner. It's just outclassed in every possible way by Ian M Banks.
daprdan on 10/4/2007 at 21:30
Quote Posted by Uncle Bacon
That said, the series and especially the first book is enjoyable as a page-turner. It's just outclassed in every possible way by Ian M Banks.
A very enthusiastic agreement,Another one for my All time top five writers list.
This calls for a new thread I think:erg:
rachel on 10/4/2007 at 23:07
Quote Posted by daprdan
I see Raph picked up Ringworld,a very good series!Larry Niven is on my alltime top five list for sure.I will try "Revelation Space".
Great book indeed, although it did feel a bit dated at times. I'll definitely get the sequels as soon as I get a chance. :D
And no need for a new thread if you want to discuss another author, as long as it's remotely sci-fi, just go ahead :) Might get me some ideas for future reads.
Aerothorn on 10/4/2007 at 23:53
I finished Neal Stephenson's The Confusion today, and am about to start Hyperion, which I got from a recommendation on TTLG. Hope it's decent.
Scots Taffer on 11/4/2007 at 00:47
I've recommended it before but Altered Carbon was a great read, I recently picked up both the Takeshi Kovacs sequels, Broken Angels and Woken Furies. Violent, brutal, futuristic dystopia with more of an emphasis towards character than science-fiction specifics, I really enjoyed it.
Also highly recommended are Michael Marshall Smith's Spares and One of Us, but I tend to like very non-sci-fi sci-fi. I won't read anything that blathers on about astrophysics or space-time-continuums, nor will I read space operas.
