book data
330 ratings, 3.88 average rating, 21 reviews
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published
May 31st 2005
by Ace
binding
Paperback, 768 pages
isbn
0441012914
(isbn13: 9780441012916)
description
The climactic chapter in the Revelation Space saga destined to "solidify Alastair Reynolds's reputation as one of the best hard SF writers in the...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 420)
bookshelves:
alastair-reynolds,
scifi-fantasy,
space-opera
Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
Sci Fi fans
This is the conclusion of the three part series, and while I thought it was the weakest of the series, I still get insane pleasure out of this man's writing. I think the main problem this book has is that it is missing what would seem to be a very vital sense of urgency concerning the Inhibitors. Now, the nature of this galaxy he has created reminds us that our perception of the passage of time is quite different from the galaxy's perception, but even so, there is a race of machines out there de...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Hard SF nerds with big imaginations
This book claims to be the conclusion of the series Reynolds started with Revelation Space but as I got to the point where I had only about 50 pages left I realized that this was definitely not going to be the case. Sure the whole plot line is advanced, some major characters are dead, one threat might be put down for another but that's not much different than what happened in the transition between the first book and Redemption Ark.
That said, this book finds Reynolds finding a little more o...more
That said, this book finds Reynolds finding a little more o...more
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bookshelves:
sciencefiction
Read in September, 2008
This is the book I picked up after abandoning Mainspring by Jay Lake. As soon as I finished the first chapter, I exclaimed, "Now THIS is a good book!"
(EDIT) Now that I have finished it, I am so glad I gave up on Lake and moved back to Reynolds. This was 700+ pages of small font versus 300 pages of standard font for Mainspring ; I still read (and actually finished!) this faster and enjoyed it so much more.
Random notes: Scorpio the pig (ie, Space Orc) might be one o...more
(EDIT) Now that I have finished it, I am so glad I gave up on Lake and moved back to Reynolds. This was 700+ pages of small font versus 300 pages of standard font for Mainspring ; I still read (and actually finished!) this faster and enjoyed it so much more.
Random notes: Scorpio the pig (ie, Space Orc) might be one o...more
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2 comments
Read in November, 2008
recommends it for:
Hard SF fans
This is the third book of a trilogy. (The first two books are Revelation Space and Redemption Ark.) I recommend reading them in order. The author has incredible imagination and this continues through the third book. It is space opera hard SF with slower than light travel handled well. It is a slow, but not difficult, read. Light up the fireplace, kick back, and enjoy the winter with this series.
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Read in November, 2008
While this book wraps up the trilogy and closes off several loose ends - several plot strings seem to just dead end suddenly.
The entire series of books spans a significant amount of time - in fact between this book and the previous one 20 years have passed. That gap is fine except that in those intervening years one important faction in the book has progressed significantly. What happened to that group is only given enough lip service to move the plot along and no more. The thing is, what...more
The entire series of books spans a significant amount of time - in fact between this book and the previous one 20 years have passed. That gap is fine except that in those intervening years one important faction in the book has progressed significantly. What happened to that group is only given enough lip service to move the plot along and no more. The thing is, what...more
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Read in October, 2007
Early in the book: Poor editing is killing me; I've already had my rhythm thrown off by two or three paragraphs that start with open quotation marks but aren't speech. (One wasn't anywhere near speech.)
A little further along: A glaring typo.
Almost halfway through: There are now enough editing errors that the book will be unable to get five stars.
Done: Though it started weird, and couldn't quite live up to Redemption Ark, and even counting the horrible copyediting, this wa...more
A little further along: A glaring typo.
Almost halfway through: There are now enough editing errors that the book will be unable to get five stars.
Done: Though it started weird, and couldn't quite live up to Redemption Ark, and even counting the horrible copyediting, this wa...more
Completes the series in a good way. In fact, better than most series. He doesn't seem to feel he has to explain everything and wrap everything up. Things are left unsaid and open, but done - leaving the reader to imagine.
I love his universe. Good/Bad Black/White Past/Present/Future are all blended into something real. Good people doing bad things and bad doing good. Moral boundaries become very grey at times. He doesn't have characters that are the classic Good guy. These are people we could b...more
I love his universe. Good/Bad Black/White Past/Present/Future are all blended into something real. Good people doing bad things and bad doing good. Moral boundaries become very grey at times. He doesn't have characters that are the classic Good guy. These are people we could b...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
People with imagination and a love of Sci-fi
One of the most original and thorught provoking works of fiction that I've ever read. Reynolds makes abstract theories seem an amazing reality. I would give it 5-stars but, as with most hard-core Sci-fi authors, he could improve his individual charater's depth.
Brilliant, I can hardly wait to read the next installment.
Brilliant, I can hardly wait to read the next installment.
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Read in August, 2008
A great sequel to Revelation Space! If you loved the first book in this series you will love this follow-up. Big and imaginative ideas abound in this book that unlocked my imagination about the potential of technology and how it could impact human society.
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
sci fi nerds
I thought this wasn't as good as the other books in the Revelation Space series. I was disappointed that one of my favorite characters didn't make it. The ending of the main plot line was interesting, but I would have left out the epilogue!
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bookshelves:
epic-or-hard-sci-fi
The series takes a very pronounced turn with this one, introducing a disturbing and original antagonist and some very hard to figure out but rewarding elements that work from the sidelines to move the story along.
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Still damn fine writing with many fine moments but quite a few moments where the things I wanted explained / explored / finalised were skipped over.[return:][return:]I need closure!
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Read in August, 2007
This final book in the trilogy wasn't as engaging as the first two. However, it is still a good solid hard SF book. It definitely leaves the window open for more in the storyline.
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Read in November, 2007
DUUUDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEE I loved it. Sequel to Revelation Space. Get your mind blown apart. Only if you like SF Opera on a huge scale though.
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Read in October, 2007
This series is engaging, better-than-average stuff. Well written and thought out but the characters don't stand out. Good plot tho. Worthwhile.
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Revelation Space --> Redemption Arc --> Absolution Gap. Was tedious but I was already 3 books deep.
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Read in April, 2008
A most enjoyable read. I personally preferred the first two books in the trilogy.
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So far this one is better than the other two...
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