Reviews

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

detrimental's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

patrick_l's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jstatt's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Gotta be one of the best sci-fi books I've ever read. There are concepts in this book that I've never experienced in any other sci-fi, and I love it. It's mostly a slow paced book until about the last 15-20%, then it all really picks up the pace. 

Really looking forward reading the next book.

frazsaysyes's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

kreppen's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-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

4.0

farktronix's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

samaji's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A great book but a touch too long, some of the characterisation was a little weak and I found the rate at which Reynolds swapped perspectives a little quick especially at the beginning. Despite these limitations the plot was masterfully executed and leaved me asking questions until the end. A fantastic beginning to a Space Opera.

outcolder's review against another edition

5.0

This had some tropes in common with an SF series I just finished reading: the Heechee books by [a:Frederik Pohl|22996|Frederik Pohl|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1226540337p2/22996.jpg]: alien artifacts but missing aliens, computer simulations of dead people, and an alien menace that doesn't want anyone exploring space. I liked this much better though for a bunch of reasons. 1. Reynolds colors inside the lines. Although we would think of the computerized characters as more or less human, his human characters don't... the whole idea of immortality by uploading your brain leads to all kinds of crap here that [a:Ray Kurzweil|47744|Ray Kurzweil|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1238471819p2/47744.jpg] probably hasn't considered... although Reynolds does it make it possible at the end when our heroes are in a giant quantum computer the size and density of a neutron star. I should take a point off for what was really a deus ex machina but I had too much fun reading it. 2. No FTL drives. 3. The vocabulary... I had to look up the word "entoptic." 4. The darkness of it. There is a quote from [a:Paul McAuley|20433|Paul McAuley|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1367680738p2/20433.jpg] on the cover that called it "gonzo cybergoth." The spider room kind of tipped it into steampunk for a second but mostly it has its own creepy style on the edge between space opera and weird.

At times it is like he is having a conversation with [a:Ian M Banks|6525815|Ian M Banks|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] Culture novels. The Culture novels have this optimism... AI is not only possible it becomes a pantheon of benevolent gods who love us. Reynolds' galaxy is more or less an exciting place to die painfully and slowly as a plague turns you into a metal plant and an alien intelligence takes over your brain.

paukinra's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

kristian26's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0