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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
5⚝
I wish I wasn't such a lazy slouch of a slow reader as I would love to devour everything this man has ever written. But then again, it is probably for the best as I have more time to read, digest and then rave Reynolds till everybody's ears give out
⩨FootNotes/Remarks:
-⋇Currently on my way to finishing his Revelation Space series in a chronological order and those two stories lie pretty far below
- Great Wall Of Mars , shortly followed by Weather were my first introductions, all of this was of course preceded by the masterpiece
I wish I wasn't such a lazy slouch of a slow reader as I would love to devour everything this man has ever written. But then again, it is probably for the best as I have more time to read, digest and then rave Reynolds till everybody's ears give out
⩨NFO
⩐ Read Via Moon+ReaderPro Android-AsusXOOTD
•Great Wall of Mars - 5★
•Weather - 5★
•Minla's Flowers(Merlin #2) - 5★
•Beyond the Aquila Rift - 5★
•Zima Blue - 5★
•Fury - 4.5★
•The Star Surgeon’s Apprentice - 4★
•The Sledge-Maker’s Daughter - 3.5★
•Thousandth Night- 5★
•Troika - 5★
•Sleepover - 4★
•Vainglory - 3.5★
•Trauma Pod- 3.5★
•The Water Thief- 3.5★
•The Old Man and the Martian Sea- 4★
•In Babelsberg- 4.5★
•Diamond Dogs - 5★⋇
•The Last Log of the Lachrimosa - 4.5★⋇
⩨FootNotes/Remarks:
-⋇
- Great Wall Of Mars , shortly followed by Weather were my first introductions, all of this was of course preceded by the masterpiece
I usually don't enjoy short stories. They typically seem like the introduction to a novel, which was never written. The Revelation Space stories are not like that because the novels provide the context which is missing in most short stories.
Абсолютно прекрасна збірка. Звісно, не абсолютно кожне оповідання заслуговує на 5, є, на мій погляд, слабші, але як мінімум половина - заслуговують на 5 і вище.
This was such an excellent read. Some stories were longer than others, but I felt drawn in and excited by each one. I think he may be my new favorite Sci-Fi author. Highly recommend!
Transhumanism is a fascinating philosophy. It raises crucial issues, the most intriguing of which is the question: "what does it mean to be human?" Of course, there are no clearly defined answers yet, and the philosophy pushes it further. What does it mean to be human? Am I human if my body parts are metallic? Am I human if I live for a million, billion years? Am I human if I can't dream?
Reynolds, I find, finds these questions fascinating too. His stories thread these ideas into narratives that push the boundary of what it is to be human. The protagonists in Great Wall of Mars and Weather are good examples. These 'people' are hated and persecuted, but in the end, they have more humanity than humans. My favorite was Zima Blue, which was turned recently into an animated short. The titular protagonist takes us on a journey of self-discovery, guiding us through a labyrinth of what it means to exist. The ending is a brilliant deconstruction of identity and selfhood; it left me reflective and asking questions about what it means to be 'me.'
Diamond Dogs and Thousandth Night take the idea of transhumanism further, focusing on the physical side of things. The former has a horror movie (ala Cube) vibe, presenting a ridiculously difficult challenge that offers absurd levels of punishment. By the end, the protagonists turn into something that barely resembles humans. Yet, all facets of humanity are present in them, especially that of obsession and pride. The latter I found the star of the book. Saying anything will be akin to spoilers, so I'll let you discover it yourself.
Trauma Pod and In Babelsberg take on transhumanism from other angles. I love the use of AI and how it emerges and plays with human consciousness. Reynolds asks critical questions here: "are AIs human, and if they are, do we treat them like humans or something else?"
His stories aren't all about transhumanism though. Space travel and the absurd amount of time it takes to traverse is a running theme through most of the stories. Beyond the Aquila Rift is the biggest one of them all, tackling the issue of time and how insignificant and helpless we are even with near-light speed travel. The conceit will leave you thinking, and once you're done, it'll leave you horrified to the core.
Minla's Flowers, Fury, Thousandth Night, Troika, and The Old Man and the Martian Sea all play with this concept of time. There's a varied approach in how protagonists feel time. I love how Reynolds shows how millions of years is but a drop in the vastness of the galaxy. I love how he uses history and culture, noting how with time and space they distort and become localized. Great distances can't be conquered no matter how hard you try. And time? It's the worst enemy of all.
These stories are a must-read for any sci-fi fan, especially if you're a space travel and transhumanist nerd like me. Reynolds will leave you thinking with each of his expertly crafted stories. I can't highly recommend this book enough!
Reynolds, I find, finds these questions fascinating too. His stories thread these ideas into narratives that push the boundary of what it is to be human. The protagonists in Great Wall of Mars and Weather are good examples. These 'people' are hated and persecuted, but in the end, they have more humanity than humans. My favorite was Zima Blue, which was turned recently into an animated short. The titular protagonist takes us on a journey of self-discovery, guiding us through a labyrinth of what it means to exist. The ending is a brilliant deconstruction of identity and selfhood; it left me reflective and asking questions about what it means to be 'me.'
Diamond Dogs and Thousandth Night take the idea of transhumanism further, focusing on the physical side of things. The former has a horror movie (ala Cube) vibe, presenting a ridiculously difficult challenge that offers absurd levels of punishment. By the end, the protagonists turn into something that barely resembles humans. Yet, all facets of humanity are present in them, especially that of obsession and pride. The latter I found the star of the book. Saying anything will be akin to spoilers, so I'll let you discover it yourself.
Trauma Pod and In Babelsberg take on transhumanism from other angles. I love the use of AI and how it emerges and plays with human consciousness. Reynolds asks critical questions here: "are AIs human, and if they are, do we treat them like humans or something else?"
His stories aren't all about transhumanism though. Space travel and the absurd amount of time it takes to traverse is a running theme through most of the stories. Beyond the Aquila Rift is the biggest one of them all, tackling the issue of time and how insignificant and helpless we are even with near-light speed travel. The conceit will leave you thinking, and once you're done, it'll leave you horrified to the core.
Minla's Flowers, Fury, Thousandth Night, Troika, and The Old Man and the Martian Sea all play with this concept of time. There's a varied approach in how protagonists feel time. I love how Reynolds shows how millions of years is but a drop in the vastness of the galaxy. I love how he uses history and culture, noting how with time and space they distort and become localized. Great distances can't be conquered no matter how hard you try. And time? It's the worst enemy of all.
These stories are a must-read for any sci-fi fan, especially if you're a space travel and transhumanist nerd like me. Reynolds will leave you thinking with each of his expertly crafted stories. I can't highly recommend this book enough!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
I didn't read all the stories, but the title story was intriguing and enjoyable and more than a little horrifying. The Netflix adaptation in the "Love, Death, and Robots" anthology is also pretty good.
After enjoying the Revenger series by Alastair Reynolds, I decided I needed more of the author. I had planned to dive into the author’s most popular work, the Revelation Space series, but the library gave me a collection instead. Some of these stories are set in the Revelation Space universe, and I think I would have understood them a bit better if I’d first read the series, but it wasn’t enough to completely ruin my enjoyment of the stories.
Great Wall of Mars was a two-star rating. It’s a story that had me curious, and I believe I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read the Revelation Space series. As it was, I was interested in seeing how the story would come together but I would have liked a wee bit more detail. In truth, this two-star rating is a rounded-down rating.
Weather was a three-star rating. This is another story that was clearly set in the Revelation Space series, but I found this one much easier to follow. Although I saw certain details coming, the story kept me gripped throughout.
Beyond the Aquila Rift was a four-star rating. This was another story that had me gripped, one that had me intrigued by the way it would play out. There was more packed into it than I’d expected, and I loved the way it came together in the end.
Minla's Flowers was a four-star rating. This one had ups and downs for me, making it more of a rounded-up rating. Although I loved the way things developed with this one and was hooked, there were certain parts that I felt could have done with a wee bit more detail.
Zima Blue was a three-star rating. I enjoyed this one more than I’d initially anticipated, finding myself gripped by the way it developed. It’s certainly one that makes you think, one that packs a more powerful punch than expected.
Fury was a three-star rating. This one did not go in the way I had anticipated, and it kept me gripped throughout. In truth, this is another rounded-down rating. I was hooked, but I would have liked a bit more from it than I was given.
The Star Surgeon's Apprentice was a two-star rating. This was a rounded-down rating, one that wasn’t quite enough for me to round-up. It was intriguing, it had some nice surprises thrown in, but I wanted more from it than was given.
The Sledge-Maker's Daughter was a two-star rating. In truth, this was a rounded-down rating. Although there were some three-star moments, I wanted a bit more from it. It ended just as it was becoming the most interesting, and I would have liked to see how certain elements played out.
Diamond Dogs was a four-star rating. In truth, this wasn’t quite a full four-star rating. However, it was so close I had to round it up. It had me hooked and curious from the start, and I was eager to see how all the pieces would come together. In fact, I could easily see this as a full-length novel with even more surprises thrown in.
Thousandth Night was a four-star rating. Although this one was slow in a few places, it had me hooked throughout. It was an addictive read, one filled with intrigue, and I was desperate to see how the pieces came together. With plenty of layers in this story, I could not put it down.
Troika was a three-star rating. In truth, this was a rounded-down rating. I debated whether to round this one up, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do so. Although it came together well, it was a bit slow in places and didn’t quite pack the punch it could have.
Sleepover was a three-star rating. This was another rounded-down rating, one I couldn’t quite bring myself to round up. It was unique and had me curious as to how it would play out, but I was left wanting more from it. With a bit more, it could have been a four-star rating. As it was, it was lacking that final touch.
Vainglory was a two-star rating. This one had the potential of being a three-star rating, but it wasn’t quite enough. It was interesting and I enjoyed watching the pieces come together, but I would have liked more from it than I was given.
Trauma Pod was a two-star rating. This was another rounded-down rating, one that hinted at being a three-star rating. Although I enjoyed it, there was nothing surprising about it and I easily worked out where it was going. With more, it could have been a three-stat rating, but it wasn’t quite there.
The Last Log of the Lachrymosa was a three-star rating. In truth, this was a rounded-up rating. The story had me curious throughout, but I failed to connect with it. The details were great, but it would have hit harder if I’d felt something for the characters.
The Water Thief was a two-star rating. This was a great idea, but I feel it was never taken as far as it could have been. I wanted more, and I especially wanted answers to the questions that were still lingering at the end of the story.
The Old Man and the Martian Sea was a two-star rating. This was a rounded-down rating, one that didn’t wow me in the way I had hoped but did have potential. For me, this was too much of a cliché young adult story for me to be moved by this one.
In Babelsberg was a three-star rating. This one had some four-star moments, but not quiet enough for me to round my rating up. It was different and entertaining in unexpected ways, and it certainly kept me hooked throughout.
All in all, this was a mixed bag for me. Some I enjoyed, others I wasn’t crazy about, and all ensured I want to read more of the author’s work.
Great Wall of Mars was a two-star rating. It’s a story that had me curious, and I believe I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read the Revelation Space series. As it was, I was interested in seeing how the story would come together but I would have liked a wee bit more detail. In truth, this two-star rating is a rounded-down rating.
Weather was a three-star rating. This is another story that was clearly set in the Revelation Space series, but I found this one much easier to follow. Although I saw certain details coming, the story kept me gripped throughout.
Beyond the Aquila Rift was a four-star rating. This was another story that had me gripped, one that had me intrigued by the way it would play out. There was more packed into it than I’d expected, and I loved the way it came together in the end.
Minla's Flowers was a four-star rating. This one had ups and downs for me, making it more of a rounded-up rating. Although I loved the way things developed with this one and was hooked, there were certain parts that I felt could have done with a wee bit more detail.
Zima Blue was a three-star rating. I enjoyed this one more than I’d initially anticipated, finding myself gripped by the way it developed. It’s certainly one that makes you think, one that packs a more powerful punch than expected.
Fury was a three-star rating. This one did not go in the way I had anticipated, and it kept me gripped throughout. In truth, this is another rounded-down rating. I was hooked, but I would have liked a bit more from it than I was given.
The Star Surgeon's Apprentice was a two-star rating. This was a rounded-down rating, one that wasn’t quite enough for me to round-up. It was intriguing, it had some nice surprises thrown in, but I wanted more from it than was given.
The Sledge-Maker's Daughter was a two-star rating. In truth, this was a rounded-down rating. Although there were some three-star moments, I wanted a bit more from it. It ended just as it was becoming the most interesting, and I would have liked to see how certain elements played out.
Diamond Dogs was a four-star rating. In truth, this wasn’t quite a full four-star rating. However, it was so close I had to round it up. It had me hooked and curious from the start, and I was eager to see how all the pieces would come together. In fact, I could easily see this as a full-length novel with even more surprises thrown in.
Thousandth Night was a four-star rating. Although this one was slow in a few places, it had me hooked throughout. It was an addictive read, one filled with intrigue, and I was desperate to see how the pieces came together. With plenty of layers in this story, I could not put it down.
Troika was a three-star rating. In truth, this was a rounded-down rating. I debated whether to round this one up, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do so. Although it came together well, it was a bit slow in places and didn’t quite pack the punch it could have.
Sleepover was a three-star rating. This was another rounded-down rating, one I couldn’t quite bring myself to round up. It was unique and had me curious as to how it would play out, but I was left wanting more from it. With a bit more, it could have been a four-star rating. As it was, it was lacking that final touch.
Vainglory was a two-star rating. This one had the potential of being a three-star rating, but it wasn’t quite enough. It was interesting and I enjoyed watching the pieces come together, but I would have liked more from it than I was given.
Trauma Pod was a two-star rating. This was another rounded-down rating, one that hinted at being a three-star rating. Although I enjoyed it, there was nothing surprising about it and I easily worked out where it was going. With more, it could have been a three-stat rating, but it wasn’t quite there.
The Last Log of the Lachrymosa was a three-star rating. In truth, this was a rounded-up rating. The story had me curious throughout, but I failed to connect with it. The details were great, but it would have hit harder if I’d felt something for the characters.
The Water Thief was a two-star rating. This was a great idea, but I feel it was never taken as far as it could have been. I wanted more, and I especially wanted answers to the questions that were still lingering at the end of the story.
The Old Man and the Martian Sea was a two-star rating. This was a rounded-down rating, one that didn’t wow me in the way I had hoped but did have potential. For me, this was too much of a cliché young adult story for me to be moved by this one.
In Babelsberg was a three-star rating. This one had some four-star moments, but not quiet enough for me to round my rating up. It was different and entertaining in unexpected ways, and it certainly kept me hooked throughout.
All in all, this was a mixed bag for me. Some I enjoyed, others I wasn’t crazy about, and all ensured I want to read more of the author’s work.
I usually don't enjoy short stories. They typically seem like the introduction to a novel, which was never written. The Revelation Space stories are not like that because the novels provide the context which is missing in most short stories.