REVELATION SPACE by Alastair Reynolds | Book Review

In this video, Jordan discusses one of the best SF novels of the 21st century, Revelation Space, by Alastair Reynolds.

~*TIME STAMPS*~
Intro: 0:00
Context: 0:44
Synopsis: 2:45
Is this book for you?: 6:27
What I liked: 12:11
The Big Idea: 28:34
What I disliked: 38:40

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#iWizard #Alastair Reynolds #RevelationSpace

[fconstraints]

It can be a little difficult to get into at first but it's well worth sticking with.

[robertharcourt]

The book sounds really fascinating. going to purchase this book book. Thanks for introducing me to a new book series ;)

[sobutto]

I think a lot of the coldness and sociopathy of the characters comes from Revelation Space being Reynolds' first novel, and while he already had a lot of experience from his day job writing engagingly about science, (hence the enjoyable infodumps right from the start), he didn't have so much experience writing about people. The dialogue especially often seems to rely on cliches and cheesy one-liners that feel out of place in the majestic gothic environments he creates. That gets much better in his later books though; the character work in novels like House of Suns or the Blue Remembered Earth trilogy, or even the Prefect Dreyfus novels, is much more engaging.

[nabucodonosor]

I love these books. Granted they are dense, but the glimpses you get of the universe and its mysteries are really compelling. In general I think that Reynold's takes on some of the classics sci-fi ideas are awesome; add to that his new concepts mixed with gothic and cosmic horror elements -almost warhammerie- and you get a must-read sci-fi series.

[Subbacultcha]

I just finished this book and this was a great review. Your deep dive into the consciousness ideas in this book lead me to highly recommend Blindsight by Peter Watts if you haven't read it already. Blindsight is an entire hard sci-fi book dedicated on exploring the philosophy of consciousness, featuring a whole crew of transhuman characters each with different degrees of consciousness, as well as a big central mystery about alien consciousness. It wasn't an easy read for me (it's dense, full of manicured prose with multiple meanings, unreliable narrator), but it's a book that I pondered for a long time after finishing it.

[larrylambert]

I know tthis message is dated, but thanks for the indepth review of Revelation Space. It's my favorite book series. If I do this life again, I hope I come back as a crew member on a light hugger.

[RichardBarclay]

Great review, i read the first 4 books like 15 years ago and I'm still thinking about them. So good.

[ronbecker]

That and redemption ark were life changing for me. Thanks for reviewing!

[hussmoosbally]

Damned fine description of this superb book. I have read it twice so far and may I recommend Blindsight by Peter Watts which is distinctly hard science fiction and another level of dense. You mention Steven Ericson and his Malazan Book of the Fallen is the best fantasy I have read by far. Superb military fantasy along with Glen Cook's Black Company series. Great work mate. Subscribed.

[Belemrys]

Just read house of suns and I fell in love with Reynolds…this series is shooting up the TBR!

[geoffreywright]

you could try his under-
appreciated series Poseidon's Children which IMO has more character development that you find lacking here.

[DylanCollins]

Incredible stuff as always! This is my 2nd favorite sci fi series behind red rising. I've only read the trilogy so far, but the philisophical Gothic horror approach is fascinating! Those are my 2 favorite aspects in books so the combination was perfect for me!

If you have any suggestions for more philisophical scifi or gotchic scifi definitely let me know! I'm relatively new to the genre so any recommendations help.

[DestructorN]

I absolutely agree with your review, both the good and the bad

[twokoolskool]

Yeah, this series is really good. I'm surprised it hasn't been picked up to become a tv show or movie. It's a lot better than The Expanse.

[debyton]

Here's pulling the proverbial rug out from under it all; {LIVE Science; Forums, History and Culture; Culture History & Science; What is a living individual and is it naturally universally mobile?}

[thirdmonkeyent]

I envisioned Ilia Volyova with a buzz cut. Like a Russian woman with a buzz cut. And I think he explains Kouri that way, but I liked Ilia having the buzz better. Also, if you like AR, you HAVE to read House of Suns. Definitely his best book next to Rev Space. Probably equal. Lots of his fans say it is his best book. And then Chasm City and Rev Space after that, but there are a lot of people who like the third book, Absolution Gap more than Rev Space, but I freaking loved the ending of Rev Space. I read the last 160 pages in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I will admit, I didn't like the boob at first and took me a while to get into it, but once I did I really liked it. Because the Hyperion Cantos is my favorite sci-fi novels.

[thirdmonkeyent]

You want a book that will REALLY blue your mind and get your wheels turning about consciousness, read Blindsight by Peter Watts