I am currently correcting the audio error at: 5:14 and at 6:49! RUclips's built-in editor is a bit slow! Thank you all so much for watching! Check out my new podcast, The Cosmic Chronicles, for an audio glitch-free experience! :) ruclips.net/video/8gGFeUtuzPE/видео.html
What I liked the most from Revelation Space, was the ship Nostalgia for Infinity. Described as ancient and "stupidly huge", Reynolds really nails how such a ship would have an incredibly complex history in a sub-lightspeed civilization. Way too much to handle for its crew of 5, the majority of the ship has become unfamiliar territory. Most of its cavernous sections have fallen into disrepair, some places quarantined entirely from threats that are beyond the crew's ability to excise, and you may even find a ghost or two in some of the operating systems. It's a wild, dangerous untamed jungle as much as it is a ship.
So, a ship made for space travel before Hyperspace/Lightspeed was attainable? Interesting, yeah you're so advanced that the old stuff is hardly recognizable.
Yep, it takes SO MUCH for me to sit and read like... multimedia is far too tempting to me, I have a hard time reading voluntarily unless I'm like, unable to connect to the internet But I love getting exposure and hearing at least the broad strokes, and interesting aspects puled from, these stories that I'd never be exposed to otherwise I doubt people like me were ever the target audience, but I enjoy the videos very much nonetheless
@@wolvo5441 eh you know, he's got to sit and read books and all, find something he wants to talk about before he can make anything. Yeah more would be nice, but I think we get as much as we can
This channel holds a special place in my heart as being one of the few channels still dedicated to the underrated and underappreciated art of science fiction.
Revelation space was the first real sci-fi series I read based on a friends recommendation. And it’s held onto my attention ever since. I rarely stop thinking about it. John Lee (the narrator) is also the voice of sci-fi for me in audio books. His narration style brings me right back into the universe.
Same here with John, I've bought numerous audio books just because he's the narrator and rarely been let down. Except for the weird thing where there's no pause between sections which seems to be an issue on many of his .
I read all the books in the Revelation Space Universe and Reynold's stand-alone sci-fi novels. I also read hundreds of other sci-fi books (all the classics and then some). The Revelation Space Universe gave me a sense of ever-looming danger and desperation that no other author yet invoked in me. It's fascinating and scary at the same time to me. I consider the Revelation Space stories to be among my Top 10 sci-fi books/series. Edit: Oh yeah, what got me into sci-fi: I read Jules Vernes "20 000 leagues under the sea" when I was 9 years old and have been hooked ever since. I even wrote my last University work in Anthropology about Cyborganthropology (based on Donna Harraway and Bruno Latour).
I loved a lot of the RevSpace books, but maaaan Absolution Gap left me pretty cold. It made me feel like Reynolds really had no idea how to wrap things up.
To me, the most sorrowful parts of the Revelation Space series are the few holdover aliens that survived the early days. They're usually the last of their kind, doomed to be surrounded by beings that they don't understand and don't understand them. I'm thinking of the solitary Grub in Yellowstone, or the craven Amarantin survivors hiding in the Shrouds, or the burrowing ice-worms acting as neurons for a glacially slow brain.
Alistair Reynolds is one of my favorite sci-fi authors, if you enjoy the Revelation Space series and the Dreyfus off-shoots; try Pushing Ice by Reynolds, it's an excellent book.
@@pierstewfik7858 did Reynolds write the book where at some point in another galaxy instead of ftl they just move their planets closer to the galactic core thus decreasing travel time and at the same time response time for anger leading to them wiping out their civlisation. . . i just cant remember who wrote it. i am sure it is Reynolds and a character is trying to find out what happened to a civlisation/galaxy or why something happened . it is one of the background mysteries in whatever novel it was . iirc it is observations of other galaxies and sudden loss of signals of civilisatons or something . thanks in advance for any help with the name
The Culture is easily, hands down, the best science fiction series in my opinion. I plan on making videos about its science and how some of the technologies in it might be in the cards here in reality. Besides that though, the entire premise is invigorating - it’s galvanized me to pursue a career in STEM to help better the world around me
Can i just say, i like your selection of music and your narrative voice in these videos so much It just sets the perfect atmosphere for the subject matter
I am, even now, superbly amazed at Quinn's ability to tell a story. I tried to listen to the 1st book of the three body problem via audiobook. Three speakers and I had to stop each one. I ended up going back to Quinn's page and listening to his "compressed" retell of the story. Quinn! You tell stories like no other. You should explore doing audiobooks. With your voice and voice capabilities, I'd listen to 4x more books than I usually do. You are good. No, better! no, great!!!
Dude. So glad you’re doing these. Even the worst of Reynolds is just wild. Compared to the other hard space opera authors he’s like a whale among minnows.
"the other hard space opera authors" other than The Expanse writers and Ian McDonald (Luna series), I legit can't think of many other contemporary authors who even deserve that title at all. Every other space opera author eventually falls back to FTL, psionics, and other 'soft' concepts (which are great, don't get me wrong...we love sci fi of all flavors!), but Reynolds refuses to cave. He carries hard sci fi on his shoulders, Atlas-style, with intelligent writing and BDE
@@andrewk9267TBF I don’t think there’s a hard (excuse the pun) and fast rule for what constitutes _hard SF,_ because what would be considered "hard SF" a hundred years ago would in some ways be considered pretty soft now; and our "hard SF" might be considered soft in some ways a hundred years from now, for example. I do agree with your general point however, as I watch a lot of Isaac Arthur videos, and after inculcating them are left wondering where all the O’Neill/Mackendree cylinder space habitats are.
Mate, you've singlehandedly pushed me into becoming a much more avid sci-fi literature enjoyer. I've only ever read fantasy fiction, and have only read the Forerunner saga by Greg Bear -- who I knew was a well respected sci-fi writer, but I never really had the desire to branch out to ther stories and works. Some of your videos changed that -- mainly the one on the threebody problem. Ever since then I've been on a binge.
Great series, Revelation space is one of my favorites. One thing I loved about the series is the shear immensity of space it felt so lonely as Nostalgia for Infinity traveled across the decades.
Alistair reynolds holds a special place in my heart. When I think "Sci-fi," I think of the Revelation Space universe. It spoke to me like no other setting did.
'Revelation Space' is formidable. Very excellent story. 'Chasm City' and 'Redemption Ark' are good reads, but there is something immensely clever and profound about the whole Resurgam Delta Pavonis archaeology story line - I loved it.
Love this series. Please delve DEEP into this series. You did a phd on the Three Body Problem and Blindsight was just a footnote…. the alien life described in Blindsight was profound. So profound that I can’t think of another book like it. The life in David Brin’s Uplift series is worth a look as it’s quite fun
My first book I got into Sci-Fi was Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke. I also saw "Lawnmower Man" at a similar time to reading "Flowers for Algernon", which have similar themes, and similarly got into Star-Trek and Stargate, and it all came together. I also tried to get into B5 and Farscape, but I was a bit young to appreciate the themes. Rewatching both as an an adult, and like them both. I tend to like Sci-Fi as a vehicle to explore greater themes, with "Living Witness" for Star Trek Voyager my favourite singular episode of any sci-fi I can think of, which explores Racism and revisionist history in a really beautiful way.
I still like your old intro tune better...but the graphics ARE better. I will read this series and come back to this video...thanks for the suggestion tho
I totally agree with your idea on the topic of UFOs and how we are living in "post-God" society and we are waiting and looking for something new to come and give us meaning - to make sense of this infinite universe we have now become infinitesimally small part of.
I’ve never been much of a sci fi guy my entire life, always been a fantasy nerd, but the way you present these books is soooo good bro, I had never read a single sci fi book until you showed up in my algorithm and got me on the three body problem. You’re the man, keep it up, is there a playlist for this series? Don’t see one but the thumbnail looks interesting about to listen now
If I may be permitted, I would like to speak to R's question... I believe there may be a critical flaw in the premise. Would it not be more true to say that adaptability is the true force behind success, instead of cooperation? Non-conscious organisms are merely "doing" -- with chemical reactions or instinct. These things are tempered by the organisms' environment and fragility in that environment. Most organisms only cooperate to the point of stability. Once stability for procreation can be maintained, it becomes a competition for resources. I dare say viruses don't cooperate; they just procreate and adapt. Apex predators tend to be more solitary and territorial, depending on how "tough" they are. Jackals cooperate to compensate for weakness in the presence of apex predators. Prey will live in groups and procreate a lot to compensate for whatever their weaknesses are -- until they exceed the resource limits of their environment. Humans cooperate because we are very fragile and we are sentient. But groups of humans that are big enough to survive and reproduce will fight with other humans over resources, until such time as their control is overextended, or the groups are equally matched. The UN is the result of adversarial humans reaching limits in our ability to conquer each other/destroy ourselves... but we can keep others from becoming stronger than we are. If humans expand beyond this planet, we will be seeking more natural resources (places to live, energy to harness, etc). And we will likely behave the same way we do now -- conquer when we can, negotiate when we must, fear "The Other" taking our stuff (see Immigration Policies). Since we only have our planet to go by, we have no reason to believe that other sentients will not be the same. Thus, there will probably be no negotiations unless the competitors are equally matched enough to stave off conquest.
I am a bit in awe of the REVELATION SPACE series, and adore how the intimate interplays with the cosmic. Part of what I walk away with is that life ends, sooner or later. Let us try to live well, and long, and do not dwell overlong on vastness. After all, are not the Inhibitors the essence of mindless planning with no concern for individual lives? Yet what is life if not a vast number of individuals interacting with each other, experiencing one another in uniquely valuable ways? Wonder if you will ever talk about David Brin's EARTHCLAN series?
One of the things that I so respect & appreciate about your passionate broadcast style is that you are not bigger or more the focal piece than the subject matter you cover. It is an endearing, wonderful and artistic quality. Love the latest inhibitor phase and so dig his Chasm City & Prefect tales; as the glitter band and rust belt era stuff fascinates me. His Belladonna Nights is wonderful too. For me, it all started with 2001 a space Odyssey and a phenomenal English teacher who had us read Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451. Hooked on sci-fi ever since.
@QuinnsIdeas I wonder if you have read the Greg Mandel Trilogy by Peter F Hamilton? For those in the UK it's especially recommended reading and may be all too prescient with it's predictions of the near future 😀
Glad to see more content on the Revelation Space universe! It's the setting for my favorite Alastair Reynolds short story: Diamond Dogs. I highly recommend it!
I love the Revelation Space books! As a universe it is so difficult to explain, I don't think there is an easy way to get all that worldbuilding in there. I think Diamond Dogs remains the best part to get it, it's fairly short and gives a good overview over the entire thing.
Yep! When I want to recommend Reynolds to someone I usually have them start with Diamond Dogs. It’s hard to get through something as dense as Revelation Space if you don’t know what you’re getting into.
I like your idea of reading the book before watching the movie -- one can get a better feel for what the author was creating, as opposed to what either a studio's management thought would bring in the most money or that they could afford to film. As for the question about cooperative organizations, I'm pretty much convinced that the more complex the organisms forming the organizational entity, the more difficult the formative act becomes and the shorter-lived the overall new entity (at least in terms of effectiveness/vitality, if not actual lifespan). In human history, most such groups (eg., the EU or the UN, or almost any empire) seem to fit into one of the following categories: 1) We're gonna grab as much as we can get before anyone else does; 2) We're gonna push back against the #1 group to undo the damage & theft; 3) We're gonna set up an organization to prevent organizations like #1 from becoming active and/or successful, and 4) We're gonna try to band together so we're strong enough to hold off #1 and not be forced into joining #2 or #3 while living the way we chose -- and we'll fight 'em all if that's what it takes.
99.3% of the time books are vastly superior to their televised or movie adaptations, just look at Game of Thrones or even the moderately decent adaptation of The Expanse.
In my 20's i got into science fiction audiobooks. I listened to alot of open domain books from older eras. They tended to have a bright and optimistic view of space. Think The Jetsons. Then I found Revelation Space. It's gritty. Alot of mistrust, cheating and exploiting of humans. The lighthugger is probably one of the coolest "ghost" ships out there. Skylar Houseman... "I want you to pay attention so you fully understand what I'm about to do"
I was already subscribed to your channel but seeing you chat about Alastair Reynolds has made me so happy. It's always felt like he isn't as appreciated outside the UK in the way Banks and Pratchett are so your analysis is extra special.
To answer your question about what started me read SF. It was Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke. This was when I was 13. Then I read Asimov’s Foundation. Then I read all other things they have written, and then more and more other authors. I could not wait for the books to come in the shops so I got to the company who printed the books and bought them there. At that time SF was quite popular in Sweden so it was translated. Not only from English but also Russian like the Strugatskij books. Then people started to like Fantasy more and that became what was translated, not SF. I have never been a big fan of Fantasy so I had to start reading books in English. Almost everything I read or watch are SF, preferably high tech with sense of wonder.
I liked Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space when I came across it because you rarely see Scifi not have some form of FTL travel, so it was weird getting used to how Light-Huggers operated and how that changes how people think about everything we normally take for granted on a planetary scale. Jack L. Chalker's Wellworld series is what really made me a huge scifi fan. Also Ben Bova's Orion series, Fred Saberhagen's Berserker series and Keith Laumer's Bolo series. More recently I've got into David Weber's Honorverse and Peter F. Hamilton's Void and Commonwealth series.
Revelation space was the first real sci-fi series I read based on a friends recommendation. And it’s held onto my attention ever since. I rarely stop thinking about it. John Lee (the narrator) is also the voice of sci-fi for me in audio books. His narration style brings me right back into the universe. The RS universe also has a very distinct dingy, and slightly darker look in my mind eye. Sort of like the difference between the color and look of the Tom Cruise movie, Oblivion, and something like Alien, with its darker tones and grays and blues and browns
So glad you got around to these, first read them back at uni and amongst my favourite books to the point i used one of the titles as my email address at uni. Love your content, keep up the good work!
My father was a sci fi fan, so I had a lot of paperbacks to start, but having star trek, doctor who and the Thunderbirds on TV as a lad made a huge difference, and I don't see any of that around now.
Please have a comment for your algorithmic benefit. Your coverage of various science fiction works not only serves to remind me of those which I have enjoyed in the past, but also guide me to those I hope to have the luck to obtain and read in the future. Thank you for your hard work and excellent creations.
Alistair Reynolds is my favorite author of all time. I still believe his book House of Suns is the most likely outcome for humanity. We will conquer the galaxy below light speed and create thousands, millions of civilizations and new human species. That today is just the prologue of the great human story. Side note, if extraterrestrial life exist which it probably does, even if it used the same molecules for DNA we would still be completely incompatible. Like matter and anti-matter there are two mirror images of every molecule. All their proteins could be completely mirrored. Imagine landing on a planet and eating a sweet fruit but you end up starving because the glucose is mirrored and your body can’t interact with it. Just something I find interesting.
Started watching your videos a few years ago. Even though I was already a fan of sci-fi movies, games and the lot, I'd never read any. You singlehandedly got me to read, Hyperion, then Dune. I haven't read too widely yet but I keep expanding my scope
i keep going back to the Revelation Space stories as the characters are so compelling and their dealing with each other is relatable. I want figures of the characters, and ships for my desk top ^_^
Loved the Revalation Space Saga.... I would love to hear your takes on the culture and tech of this universe. Hopefully youll do a couple more. More people should know about this 'verse. This has got me thinking it's time for a re-read. Its been a few years. Thanks Quinn.
Alistair Reynolds was my first true scifi love. I read most of his books at 13 but recently read the Revenger series. The characters and history of that world is so unbelievably old and interesting with so many secrets. A big star wars like empire story I loved was The Saga of the Seven Suns. Starts out with an expanding human empire stumbling upon an ancient alien ruins where they decoded the technology to teleport a neutron star to the core of a gas planet to create a habitable system for human expansion. Turns out the gas giant had entities living inside it and they were pissed. A series I've tried getting my hands on again is the Recursion trilogy by Tony Balyntine. I literally can't find it anywhere
It feels fundamentally off-subject to mention, but there has been a significant level of inspiration and expansion of complex concepts intrinsic to my own personal creative thought processes experienced through my love of LEGOS. I have developed entire stories drawn from the models I create. Reading speculative fiction is, of course, a consistently inspiring activity I developed a severe addiction to decades ago, but as a writer, for some reason, I discovered that building spaceships out of building blocks can ignite amazing world-building mentation. Idk, just thought I would throw that out there.
Please god do more long form videos that explain the entire story in a longer form. The best thing about literature analysis is being able to sit back for an hour and half and get engrossed in it.
Since you asked... Poul Anderson wrote The Enemy Stars (also published as We Have Fed Our Sea) which has a wonderful resolution. I don't even want to tell you the theme he's exploring as it would be a spoiler (funny thing: the Hugo Award for best novel went to another book exploring similar territory, but terribly; he was ROBBED.) Gordon Dickson had a few that I found really compelling. One in particular played with the concepts of bridging conceptual gaps across alien cultures (The Alien Way). I also enjoyed Naked to the Stars and Hour of the Horde (takes a moment to get going) for different reasons. Recently, N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy, an extremely satisfying trilogy. Hugh Howey's Half Way Home is an absolute must-read. Wonderful. I'm in danger of listing a lot more. Gonna run away now...
Ive been watching your videos that show in my feed for over a year and this is the first time I've seen a revelation space one. Hell yeah, apparently we have the same taste in books.
Descender is definitely one of my favorite Lemire series, and Nguyen's art in it is superb. The follow-up series, Ascender, was a worthy sequel as well.
There is a quote about war that likely stands true here " In war there are no winners only survivors and what those who fall leave behind, war is not about winning it is about survival, and if not survival to never be forgotten".
im currently working through the three body problem series an am about 2/3rds of the way through deaths end and i wouldn't have known about it if i wasn't for your channel
This book or series of books sounds AMAZING!! 1) What’s the complete series called? 2) where can I find how to best read ie in what order? Release or chronological? I like reading as they were released
I am currently correcting the audio error at: 5:14 and at 6:49! RUclips's built-in editor is a bit slow! Thank you all so much for watching! Check out my new podcast, The Cosmic Chronicles, for an audio glitch-free experience! :) ruclips.net/video/8gGFeUtuzPE/видео.html
damn it! Yet another post that I can't watch because I'm 1/2 way through the book!
Gosh i'm CRAVING you review The Book of the New Sun cycle...
Do you do any voice-over work? I'd love to listen to a book narrated by you.
Thank you for your hard work, I really appreciate it. 😌☺️😊😄😃🤩 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
This needs to be developed into a show. Thank you Quinn, you're helping me distract my self from an ear infection brought on by a cold.
What I liked the most from Revelation Space, was the ship Nostalgia for Infinity. Described as ancient and "stupidly huge", Reynolds really nails how such a ship would have an incredibly complex history in a sub-lightspeed civilization. Way too much to handle for its crew of 5, the majority of the ship has become unfamiliar territory. Most of its cavernous sections have fallen into disrepair, some places quarantined entirely from threats that are beyond the crew's ability to excise, and you may even find a ghost or two in some of the operating systems. It's a wild, dangerous untamed jungle as much as it is a ship.
And there’s the matter of what actually powers its engines.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I want a lighthugger
So, a ship made for space travel before Hyperspace/Lightspeed was attainable?
Interesting, yeah you're so advanced that the old stuff is hardly recognizable.
John the revelator
Finally a new Quinn video, you’ve quickly become one of my new favorite channels on RUclips dude keep it up.
It's good stuff, huh? He gets better and better
Yep, it takes SO MUCH for me to sit and read like... multimedia is far too tempting to me, I have a hard time reading voluntarily unless I'm like, unable to connect to the internet
But I love getting exposure and hearing at least the broad strokes, and interesting aspects puled from, these stories that I'd never be exposed to otherwise
I doubt people like me were ever the target audience, but I enjoy the videos very much nonetheless
Agreed
I knoooow, did I wish he uploaded more lol
@@wolvo5441 eh you know, he's got to sit and read books and all, find something he wants to talk about before he can make anything. Yeah more would be nice, but I think we get as much as we can
This channel holds a special place in my heart as being one of the few channels still dedicated to the underrated and underappreciated art of science fiction.
Revelation space was the first real sci-fi series I read based on a friends recommendation. And it’s held onto my attention ever since. I rarely stop thinking about it. John Lee (the narrator) is also the voice of sci-fi for me in audio books. His narration style brings me right back into the universe.
Same here with John, I've bought numerous audio books just because he's the narrator and rarely been let down. Except for the weird thing where there's no pause between sections which seems to be an issue on many of his .
I read all the books in the Revelation Space Universe and Reynold's stand-alone sci-fi novels. I also read hundreds of other sci-fi books (all the classics and then some). The Revelation Space Universe gave me a sense of ever-looming danger and desperation that no other author yet invoked in me. It's fascinating and scary at the same time to me. I consider the Revelation Space stories to be among my Top 10 sci-fi books/series.
Edit: Oh yeah, what got me into sci-fi: I read Jules Vernes "20 000 leagues under the sea" when I was 9 years old and have been hooked ever since. I even wrote my last University work in Anthropology about Cyborganthropology (based on Donna Harraway and Bruno Latour).
What I like about Reynolds is how he has parts of the lore in his short stories too.
I loved a lot of the RevSpace books, but maaaan Absolution Gap left me pretty cold. It made me feel like Reynolds really had no idea how to wrap things up.
Awsome
@@SuperSecretAgentNeinyep, that was his biggest fail. However, I think he has made up for it with his other works
To me, the most sorrowful parts of the Revelation Space series are the few holdover aliens that survived the early days. They're usually the last of their kind, doomed to be surrounded by beings that they don't understand and don't understand them. I'm thinking of the solitary Grub in Yellowstone, or the craven Amarantin survivors hiding in the Shrouds, or the burrowing ice-worms acting as neurons for a glacially slow brain.
Alistair Reynolds is one of my favorite sci-fi authors, if you enjoy the Revelation Space series and the Dreyfus off-shoots; try Pushing Ice by Reynolds, it's an excellent book.
@@walkingcontradiction223Pushing Ice was to me was very much like reading his spin on the entire Rama series from Arthur C. Clarke in one book.
My favourite stand alone Reynolds book is House of Suns
@@pierstewfik7858 I just reread it last month. Still holds up!
@@pierstewfik7858 did Reynolds write the book where at some point in another galaxy instead of ftl they just move their planets closer to the galactic core thus decreasing travel time and at the same time response time for anger leading to them wiping out their civlisation. . . i just cant remember who wrote it. i am sure it is Reynolds and a character is trying to find out what happened to a civlisation/galaxy or why something happened . it is one of the background mysteries in whatever novel it was . iirc it is observations of other galaxies and sudden loss of signals of civilisatons or something . thanks in advance for any help with the name
The Culture is easily, hands down, the best science fiction series in my opinion. I plan on making videos about its science and how some of the technologies in it might be in the cards here in reality. Besides that though, the entire premise is invigorating - it’s galvanized me to pursue a career in STEM to help better the world around me
Biggest surprise about the culture, I never expected some of my favorite characters would be ships.
@@electricmessiah3932 developing a love for hyper intelligent AIs was definitely a big plus I got out of the series
The ideas are good, but it's the characters that really make the Culture series great. In my opinion of course.
Can i just say, i like your selection of music and your narrative voice in these videos so much
It just sets the perfect atmosphere for the subject matter
I am, even now, superbly amazed at Quinn's ability to tell a story. I tried to listen to the 1st book of the three body problem via audiobook. Three speakers and I had to stop each one. I ended up going back to Quinn's page and listening to his "compressed" retell of the story. Quinn! You tell stories like no other. You should explore doing audiobooks. With your voice and voice capabilities, I'd listen to 4x more books than I usually do. You are good. No, better! no, great!!!
the nature of *"The Wolves"* ALWAYS makes me shudder, and the story of *"The Dawn War"* is horrifying.
Dude. So glad you’re doing these. Even the worst of Reynolds is just wild. Compared to the other hard space opera authors he’s like a whale among minnows.
"the other hard space opera authors" other than The Expanse writers and Ian McDonald (Luna series), I legit can't think of many other contemporary authors who even deserve that title at all. Every other space opera author eventually falls back to FTL, psionics, and other 'soft' concepts (which are great, don't get me wrong...we love sci fi of all flavors!), but Reynolds refuses to cave. He carries hard sci fi on his shoulders, Atlas-style, with intelligent writing and BDE
@@andrewk9267TBF I don’t think there’s a hard (excuse the pun) and fast rule for what constitutes _hard SF,_ because what would be considered "hard SF" a hundred years ago would in some ways be considered pretty soft now; and our "hard SF" might be considered soft in some ways a hundred years from now, for example. I do agree with your general point however, as I watch a lot of Isaac Arthur videos, and after inculcating them are left wondering where all the O’Neill/Mackendree cylinder space habitats are.
Redemption Arc is my all-time favourite sci-fi opera book, closely followed by Revelation Space. So thanks for this video!
Mate, you've singlehandedly pushed me into becoming a much more avid sci-fi literature enjoyer.
I've only ever read fantasy fiction, and have only read the Forerunner saga by Greg Bear -- who I knew was a well respected sci-fi writer, but I never really had the desire to branch out to ther stories and works.
Some of your videos changed that -- mainly the one on the threebody problem.
Ever since then I've been on a binge.
So happy to see more RS material.
If you haven't read his Pushing Ice, you should. Then make a video for it. Great novel that explores deep time.
Pushing ice is a great book.
Great series, Revelation space is one of my favorites. One thing I loved about the series is the shear immensity of space it felt so lonely as Nostalgia for Infinity traveled across the decades.
Yes! Revelation Space is one of my favorite scifi series.
Absolutely love the new intro my guy!
Love the love for Reynolds. For me, Reynolds is one of only a few authors that consistency deliver surprise and complete awe with each new book.
Alistair reynolds holds a special place in my heart. When I think "Sci-fi," I think of the Revelation Space universe. It spoke to me like no other setting did.
'Revelation Space' is formidable. Very excellent story. 'Chasm City' and 'Redemption Ark' are good reads, but there is something immensely clever and profound about the whole Resurgam Delta Pavonis archaeology story line - I loved it.
Love this series. Please delve DEEP into this series. You did a phd on the Three Body Problem and Blindsight was just a footnote…. the alien life described in Blindsight was profound. So profound that I can’t think of another book like it. The life in David Brin’s Uplift series is worth a look as it’s quite fun
terrifying if we are alone and terrifying if we are not. always haunting that one.
My first book I got into Sci-Fi was Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke. I also saw "Lawnmower Man" at a similar time to reading "Flowers for Algernon", which have similar themes, and similarly got into Star-Trek and Stargate, and it all came together. I also tried to get into B5 and Farscape, but I was a bit young to appreciate the themes. Rewatching both as an an adult, and like them both. I tend to like Sci-Fi as a vehicle to explore greater themes, with "Living Witness" for Star Trek Voyager my favourite singular episode of any sci-fi I can think of, which explores Racism and revisionist history in a really beautiful way.
Nobody does what you do better, because nobody even tries to do what you. You are hands-down the best source of content related to Science Fiction.
I like the intro music. Thanks for linking the artist.
I'm Hoping Alastar Reynolds continues the Revelation Space books, loved them.
It must be dawnting to fight against the algorithm but your work and episodes are top tier, you are a great ward of sci fi.
Revelation space doesn’t get nearly the recognition it deserves, its ideas bounce around in so many major scifi franchises these days
Your hubby killed that new intro! I’m glad you kept the same melody just updated it!
OMG You're doing Revelation Space universe now?! Awesome!! My favorite
I still like your old intro tune better...but the graphics ARE better. I will read this series and come back to this video...thanks for the suggestion tho
I'm glad to see you covering this series. It's been one of my favorites for a long time!
I started to buy some books because they appeared in Quins videos . Content of books and videos is interesting.
Quinn's Ideas doing Revelation Space is so exciting! Reynolds is one of the greats
I totally agree with your idea on the topic of UFOs and how we are living in "post-God" society and we are waiting and looking for something new to come and give us meaning - to make sense of this infinite universe we have now become infinitesimally small part of.
I’ve never been much of a sci fi guy my entire life, always been a fantasy nerd, but the way you present these books is soooo good bro, I had never read a single sci fi book until you showed up in my algorithm and got me on the three body problem.
You’re the man, keep it up, is there a playlist for this series? Don’t see one but the thumbnail looks interesting about to listen now
If I may be permitted, I would like to speak to R's question...
I believe there may be a critical flaw in the premise. Would it not be more true to say that adaptability is the true force behind success, instead of cooperation? Non-conscious organisms are merely "doing" -- with chemical reactions or instinct. These things are tempered by the organisms' environment and fragility in that environment. Most organisms only cooperate to the point of stability. Once stability for procreation can be maintained, it becomes a competition for resources. I dare say viruses don't cooperate; they just procreate and adapt. Apex predators tend to be more solitary and territorial, depending on how "tough" they are. Jackals cooperate to compensate for weakness in the presence of apex predators. Prey will live in groups and procreate a lot to compensate for whatever their weaknesses are -- until they exceed the resource limits of their environment. Humans cooperate because we are very fragile and we are sentient. But groups of humans that are big enough to survive and reproduce will fight with other humans over resources, until such time as their control is overextended, or the groups are equally matched. The UN is the result of adversarial humans reaching limits in our ability to conquer each other/destroy ourselves... but we can keep others from becoming stronger than we are.
If humans expand beyond this planet, we will be seeking more natural resources (places to live, energy to harness, etc). And we will likely behave the same way we do now -- conquer when we can, negotiate when we must, fear "The Other" taking our stuff (see Immigration Policies). Since we only have our planet to go by, we have no reason to believe that other sentients will not be the same. Thus, there will probably be no negotiations unless the competitors are equally matched enough to stave off conquest.
Alastair Reynolds is one of my all time favorites, so glad you cover him
I am a bit in awe of the REVELATION SPACE series, and adore how the intimate interplays with the cosmic. Part of what I walk away with is that life ends, sooner or later. Let us try to live well, and long, and do not dwell overlong on vastness. After all, are not the Inhibitors the essence of mindless planning with no concern for individual lives? Yet what is life if not a vast number of individuals interacting with each other, experiencing one another in uniquely valuable ways?
Wonder if you will ever talk about David Brin's EARTHCLAN series?
That opening theme is excellent.
Nice intro hope it gets you more noticed: I'm reading the culture series of books thanks to your recommendation. Thank you
One of the things that I so respect & appreciate about your passionate broadcast style is that you are not bigger or more the focal piece than the subject matter you cover. It is an endearing, wonderful and artistic quality.
Love the latest inhibitor phase and so dig his Chasm City & Prefect tales; as the glitter band and rust belt era stuff fascinates me. His Belladonna Nights is wonderful too. For me, it all started with 2001 a space Odyssey and a phenomenal English teacher who had us read Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451. Hooked on sci-fi ever since.
@QuinnsIdeas I wonder if you have read the Greg Mandel Trilogy by Peter F Hamilton? For those in the UK it's especially recommended reading and may be all too prescient with it's predictions of the near future 😀
Glad to see more content on the Revelation Space universe! It's the setting for my favorite Alastair Reynolds short story: Diamond Dogs. I highly recommend it!
I love the Revelation Space books! As a universe it is so difficult to explain, I don't think there is an easy way to get all that worldbuilding in there. I think Diamond Dogs remains the best part to get it, it's fairly short and gives a good overview over the entire thing.
Yep! When I want to recommend Reynolds to someone I usually have them start with Diamond Dogs. It’s hard to get through something as dense as Revelation Space if you don’t know what you’re getting into.
There were some weird audio artifacts in this video.
Great overview of the story! Love your presentation style.
I can never thank you enough for turning me towards the three body problem!!!
I like your idea of reading the book before watching the movie -- one can get a better feel for what the author was creating, as opposed to what either a studio's management thought would bring in the most money or that they could afford to film. As for the question about cooperative organizations, I'm pretty much convinced that the more complex the organisms forming the organizational entity, the more difficult the formative act becomes and the shorter-lived the overall new entity (at least in terms of effectiveness/vitality, if not actual lifespan). In human history, most such groups (eg., the EU or the UN, or almost any empire) seem to fit into one of the following categories: 1) We're gonna grab as much as we can get before anyone else does; 2) We're gonna push back against the #1 group to undo the damage & theft; 3) We're gonna set up an organization to prevent organizations like #1 from becoming active and/or successful, and 4) We're gonna try to band together so we're strong enough to hold off #1 and not be forced into joining #2 or #3 while living the way we chose -- and we'll fight 'em all if that's what it takes.
99.3% of the time books are vastly superior to their televised or movie adaptations, just look at Game of Thrones or even the moderately decent adaptation of The Expanse.
love the new music Quinn!
In my 20's i got into science fiction audiobooks. I listened to alot of open domain books from older eras. They tended to have a bright and optimistic view of space. Think The Jetsons.
Then I found Revelation Space. It's gritty. Alot of mistrust, cheating and exploiting of humans. The lighthugger is probably one of the coolest "ghost" ships out there. Skylar Houseman... "I want you to pay attention so you fully understand what I'm about to do"
I love this channel so much❤❤ the storytelling, his voice, the visuals…perfection
Dont stop posting. You make me happy.
I was already subscribed to your channel but seeing you chat about Alastair Reynolds has made me so happy. It's always felt like he isn't as appreciated outside the UK in the way Banks and Pratchett are so your analysis is extra special.
To answer your question about what started me read SF. It was Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke. This was when I was 13. Then I read Asimov’s Foundation. Then I read all other things they have written, and then more and more other authors. I could not wait for the books to come in the shops so I got to the company who printed the books and bought them there. At that time SF was quite popular in Sweden so it was translated. Not only from English but also Russian like the Strugatskij books. Then people started to like Fantasy more and that became what was translated, not SF. I have never been a big fan of Fantasy so I had to start reading books in English. Almost everything I read or watch are SF, preferably high tech with sense of wonder.
The concept of the Conjoiners always fascinated me with an alternative presentation of a more pragmatic and less fanatic "adeptus mechanicus"
Revelation Space and the whole universe is really great. Super fun and thought-provoking. Can't wait for the next release in the series.
I liked Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space when I came across it because you rarely see Scifi not have some form of FTL travel, so it was weird getting used to how Light-Huggers operated and how that changes how people think about everything we normally take for granted on a planetary scale. Jack L. Chalker's Wellworld series is what really made me a huge scifi fan. Also Ben Bova's Orion series, Fred Saberhagen's Berserker series and Keith Laumer's Bolo series. More recently I've got into David Weber's Honorverse and Peter F. Hamilton's Void and Commonwealth series.
I'm not gonna lie you have ignited my passion for science fiction to a new level. I love your channel and your insight
Revelation space was the first real sci-fi series I read based on a friends recommendation. And it’s held onto my attention ever since. I rarely stop thinking about it. John Lee (the narrator) is also the voice of sci-fi for me in audio books. His narration style brings me right back into the universe.
The RS universe also has a very distinct dingy, and slightly darker look in my mind eye. Sort of like the difference between the color and look of the Tom Cruise movie, Oblivion, and something like Alien, with its darker tones and grays and blues and browns
Thanks ! Revelation Space is one of my favorite scifi series.
I NEED a full version of that intro song! Love it!🔥
So glad you got around to these, first read them back at uni and amongst my favourite books to the point i used one of the titles as my email address at uni. Love your content, keep up the good work!
The new intro is awesome crazy very good!❤
My father was a sci fi fan, so I had a lot of paperbacks to start, but having star trek, doctor who and the Thunderbirds on TV as a lad made a huge difference, and I don't see any of that around now.
I love this new intro. Quinn is pulling a doctor who on us and I love it.
Please have a comment for your algorithmic benefit. Your coverage of various science fiction works not only serves to remind me of those which I have enjoyed in the past, but also guide me to those I hope to have the luck to obtain and read in the future.
Thank you for your hard work and excellent creations.
Alistair Reynolds is my favorite author of all time. I still believe his book House of Suns is the most likely outcome for humanity. We will conquer the galaxy below light speed and create thousands, millions of civilizations and new human species. That today is just the prologue of the great human story.
Side note, if extraterrestrial life exist which it probably does, even if it used the same molecules for DNA we would still be completely incompatible. Like matter and anti-matter there are two mirror images of every molecule. All their proteins could be completely mirrored. Imagine landing on a planet and eating a sweet fruit but you end up starving because the glucose is mirrored and your body can’t interact with it. Just something I find interesting.
Loved these books. The melancholy freedom for interpretation that he leaves at the end of every book is just so great.
WOO another revelation space episode!
Started watching your videos a few years ago. Even though I was already a fan of sci-fi movies, games and the lot, I'd never read any. You singlehandedly got me to read, Hyperion, then Dune. I haven't read too widely yet but I keep expanding my scope
been watching you grow for 3 years bro. Amazing stuff.
i keep going back to the Revelation Space stories as the characters are so compelling and their dealing with each other is relatable. I want figures of the characters, and ships for my desk top ^_^
Gonna miss the old intro but this one is good too
Your content just keeps getting better and better!
Started reading this series this year. Thank you for your videos!
Loved the Revalation Space Saga.... I would love to hear your takes on the culture and tech of this universe. Hopefully youll do a couple more. More people should know about this 'verse. This has got me thinking it's time for a re-read. Its been a few years. Thanks Quinn.
Alistair Reynolds was my first true scifi love. I read most of his books at 13 but recently read the Revenger series. The characters and history of that world is so unbelievably old and interesting with so many secrets.
A big star wars like empire story I loved was The Saga of the Seven Suns. Starts out with an expanding human empire stumbling upon an ancient alien ruins where they decoded the technology to teleport a neutron star to the core of a gas planet to create a habitable system for human expansion. Turns out the gas giant had entities living inside it and they were pissed.
A series I've tried getting my hands on again is the Recursion trilogy by Tony Balyntine. I literally can't find it anywhere
this series was so deep and complex! easily one of the best!
It feels fundamentally off-subject to mention, but there has been a significant level of inspiration and expansion of complex concepts intrinsic to my own personal creative thought processes experienced through my love of LEGOS. I have developed entire stories drawn from the models I create. Reading speculative fiction is, of course, a consistently inspiring activity I developed a severe addiction to decades ago, but as a writer, for some reason, I discovered that building spaceships out of building blocks can ignite amazing world-building mentation. Idk, just thought I would throw that out there.
Yet another Fantastic Video!!!
Please god do more long form videos that explain the entire story in a longer form. The best thing about literature analysis is being able to sit back for an hour and half and get engrossed in it.
Alright more Revelation Space! Thank you for continuing to talk about it.
Ohhh new opening!! Awesome 👏 love it
Since you asked...
Poul Anderson wrote The Enemy Stars (also published as We Have Fed Our Sea) which has a wonderful resolution. I don't even want to tell you the theme he's exploring as it would be a spoiler (funny thing: the Hugo Award for best novel went to another book exploring similar territory, but terribly; he was ROBBED.)
Gordon Dickson had a few that I found really compelling. One in particular played with the concepts of bridging conceptual gaps across alien cultures (The Alien Way). I also enjoyed Naked to the Stars and Hour of the Horde (takes a moment to get going) for different reasons.
Recently, N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy, an extremely satisfying trilogy.
Hugh Howey's Half Way Home is an absolute must-read. Wonderful.
I'm in danger of listing a lot more. Gonna run away now...
You finally got around to my favorite modern space opera. 😊🍿
Ive been watching your videos that show in my feed for over a year and this is the first time I've seen a revelation space one. Hell yeah, apparently we have the same taste in books.
I've always wanted a Sci Fi book review and recommendation channel or blog. This channel is a gem. Happy 4th of July!
Aaah! At last!!" You have followed my recommendation. Many thanks and RESPECT Mr Quinn!
Descender is definitely one of my favorite Lemire series, and Nguyen's art in it is superb. The follow-up series, Ascender, was a worthy sequel as well.
Just read the first book! So much fun. Thanks Quinn
This was exceptionally written.
There is a quote about war that likely stands true here " In war there are no winners only survivors and what those who fall leave behind, war is not about winning it is about survival, and if not survival to never be forgotten".
Could you give your opinion on Peterr F Hamilton. He's more spsce opera orientainted but creates such a rounded universe despite relying on wormholes.
im currently working through the three body problem series an am about 2/3rds of the way through deaths end
and i wouldn't have known about it if i wasn't for your channel
YUSSSS Thanks dude. This was my first serious sci-fi series. Looking forward to your thoughts on it!
So glad you’re doing Alistair Reynolds content
This book or series of books sounds AMAZING!!
1) What’s the complete series called?
2) where can I find how to best read ie in what order? Release or chronological? I like reading as they were released
Didn't even see this in my notifications! Glad I checked the channel after the dune vid.
bit of an audio artifact at 5:14 and at 6:49