I’m currently reading Alastair Reynolds newest book Eversion and I’ve read all of his books up to now and still my favorite one is Pushing Ice. Best ending that just blew my mind and great concepts throughout.
Good review. I agree with you about the dialog and the info dumps. On the other hand, I really loved the universe he created. I like the fact that it's not all neat and tidy, but rather dark and dangerous. There are enough hard science fiction elements in this world that make me want to read the next novel in the series.
You are rapidly becoming my favorite reviewer. There is something very much like a “beginner’s mind“ aspect to what you say, in that you genuinely appear to be experiencing something brand new. I’ve read most of the books that you have reviewed on your channel and my opinions have, in some cases, been changed. (I know it’s not your goal to change peoples opinion, but I mean this as a compliment.). I think that is because I read most frequently from about age 8 to around age 30 and I did not read critically at the time (i’m 55, so we’re talking almost 50 years ago for some books, for instance Foundation, which I read when I was 12.) You point out, in many cases, things that never occurred to me when I read the books. I think that’s really wonderful (for lack of a better word.) Anyway, thanks for another great review. I read this book, and I can’t remember a thing about it. That should tell you something, because I can name individual characters in truly great books that I read when I was 10.
Great review! This was my first Reynolds book, years ago, after which I read everything else he wrote. I thought Chasm City and Pushing Ice were better, much more accessible. I love Reynolds’ big ideas but wish he were better at characterization. In Revelation Space I didn’t like any of the characters but loved the ship and the plot and the ending. I thought the ship name was the most awesome I’d ever heard (Nostalgia for Infinity). This book did make me a fan of his, but then… I had never heard of Vinge until this review! Time to look him up…
Also: read the entire thing. This is his first book. Read book 2, 3, 4. It gets better and better. Especially the writing. When it comes to the elements you’re missing to understand science and technological context, you will absorb it more in each book. Also look into Chasm City for that.
this book was actually really good if you like world building. The more of his books you read the more enjoyable they become. (You get exposed to a lot of lore very quickly and it does get overwhelming.) It's like reading lord of the rings and giving up after 200 pages and complaining it's dragging on too much. The idea is immerse the reader for the long haul in a sci-fi setting.
I can't really disagree with your criticisms of Revelation Space (though I liked it more than you did) but I will say Reynolds' writing does improve quite a lot between this and Redemption Ark. Which isn't too surprising considering RS was his first novel. Still very long and info-dumpy, though.
This is a fantastic review. I'm a reluctant but steadfast fan of Alastair Reynolds I like what you said in one of your reviews. I got sucked in by the cover of Revelation Space. (That sounds shallow but the honesty is refreshing). Since this was my introduction to Space Opera I think I've held on to the author as a point of reference. Some of the things you say really resonate: (1) that point in a book where you stop caring and finishing the book is a chore. (2) Exposition: The way some sci-fi is self-indulgent and self amazing for the writer/narrator: they really nerd out on all their explanatory science at the expense of the reader. (3) Your point about tech that is so far advanced it might as well be magic... that's something i never thought of but it's worth exploring. I'm fascinated by your review because I have similar sentiments... and yet I found Hyperion to be just awful. I'm looking forward to you reading Absolution Gap and Redemption Ark (hopefully). I enjoyed those more than RS. but it will be interesting to hear your takes on them. Good reviews with meat in them help you to know you're not crazy. Thanks for your insights. I will read A Fire Upon the deep. (Right after Dark Forest and The Fifth Season)
I absolutely agree with the dialogue and how it sounded like everyone was trying too hard to be witty at every moment. It wasn’t unbearably bad like you see in suits but it was a drawback. I haven’t read the later books yet but I heard the characters get better
Blindsight and Echopraxia by Peter Watts. The author was/is a biologist, so there's this creepy, organic feel to both books. Plus, there are vampires and zombies (though there are plausible scientific justifications to their existence).
The point at which future tech effectively becomes indistinguishable from magic is an ever-present stumbling block for these kinds of epic scale stories. However, what I find even more problematic is that no-one (as far as I know) seems to want to fully address the social and psychological effects these advances would have on human cultures and human preoccupations. Not an original thought, of course, but look at the effects of the automobile, television and the internet for example in the space of a single century. All new technology can bring swathes of unexpected and unpredictable problems and dilemmas that past generations could scarcely have imagined. Human nature remains the same, but the changes in our attitudes and patterns of thought in so short a time would be incomprehensible to even the most forward thinkers of the 19th century. The further ahead in time the setting, the more patchy and oddly antiquated the future society is going to look.
I feel like I’m reading a different book to the one you describe. I love the non-ornate economical prose, the non-FTL realism, the way various plot points are developed in concentric circles… Reynolds is building an inspired yet pragmatic universe, that I rank much higher than the Zones of Thought or the Hyperion Cantos for he strikes a rare balance between sober style, epic scope, and a harder and more plausible world building.
I tried RS a few years ago and gave up, ditto House of Suns, Consider Plebas, Hamilton’s Fallen Dragon and the first Salvation book…what’s the matter with me but I’m still gonna watch Moid
I have read all of Reynolds books to date and the one that I started with and got me hooked was his Diamond Dogs story. I feel like reading his long works AFTER reading some of his short stories is the best way to acclimate to his style. That being said some of his stories do drag a bit but are always rewarding int he end. I am currently reading Fire Upon the Deep and it took a while to get started but I am finally getting interested in it about 1/3 of the way in. Hopefully Mr Bookpill is right about the quality of FUtD since it is a long time between Reynolds books. Pushing Ice was another one I loved too. I wonder if there is a cultural difference that is hurting the dialog parts for the reviewer, the brits do love a bit of snark in their speech.
I loved this book but it was hard to get into in. The 2nd book is very good and it teases you with characters form the 1st book in a delicious way that makes you care more about them.
Tried to read Revelation Space a couple of times, but fell into the miasma in the middle. Simply had better things to do. However recently read Reynolds House of Suns, for me, so far, I consider it the best SF novel of 21st Century.
i read all the Reynolds i could find after Revelation Space. Chasm City was memorable. i was reading Vinge at the time too. funny comments about the snark. you might like Excession by Banks. i was hoping he would expand on it with another volume. i want to know what happened to those Elencher ships and who was really aboard the Grey Area. alas! perished too soon. RIP.
Before: Mmm.. less than 1000 subs... I'll give him a try without expectations. After: Who are you sir, and why do you speak so fluently? Congrats, great video :)
Your review of _Revelation Space_ was interesting but a bit confusing. By that I mean for a book you like, you mention a lot of flaws. That is not necessarily bad though, because I understand that things aren't all good or all bad. I will say that you need to watch some good anime. 😉 It sounded like you have not watched any of the good stuff.
These were my feelings almost exactly on Chasm City - too long, pacing is off .. but interesting, solid book. What are your thoughts on Iain M. Banks Culture Series?
Have you ever done Jason Russell's 224-Verse? Sounds up your alley, well aside from the whole plot threads crossing several books (even though each entry does work as a stand alone too). As for Revelation Space - gorgeous beginning and end IMO. Your complaints kinda follow Reynolds even to this very day.
Hey dude, new subscriber here, try his Revenger trilogy, written after all the books you found in that mighty haul. I love the latter trilogy. Very different.
Definitely agree with most of what you said here. I read this a couple of weeks ago and there were certain parts of it that grabbed me but entirely too many parts where I felt it was a chore to get through. I'm still getting into more sci-fi so it wasn't as if I was seeing something repeated that I've read several times before, but there just wasn't something clicking for me in this one. Leviathan Wakes for example I clicked with almost immediately.
Leviathan Wakes didn't grab me but I also didn't give it an adequate chance. Space opera is so hard to pull off at a high level. Ultimately I'm grateful for anything competent, which revelation space definitely is
Thanks for the review. I read Terminal World earlier this year and was pretty unimpressed. I think (it has been a bit) in part because of the protagonist who I could not get behind at all. The ending was pretty questionable also. Sounds like at least one of those issues is not a problem with Revelation Space?
When her mentioned he loves Hyperion and this job wasn't as good as that, but then started talking about story arcs not paying off until later in the series I was thinking, "he's going to mention that about Hyperion." Lol.
I’m currently reading Alastair Reynolds newest book Eversion and I’ve read all of his books up to now and still my favorite one is Pushing Ice. Best ending that just blew my mind and great concepts throughout.
+1 - although I have other favorites - Pushing ice is a gem.
I loved Pushing Ice!
A Fire Upon the Deep has the best prologue I've ever read. I'll give it that.
Good review. I agree with you about the dialog and the info dumps. On the other hand, I really loved the universe he created. I like the fact that it's not all neat and tidy, but rather dark and dangerous. There are enough hard science fiction elements in this world that make me want to read the next novel in the series.
You are rapidly becoming my favorite reviewer. There is something very much like a “beginner’s mind“ aspect to what you say, in that you genuinely appear to be experiencing something brand new. I’ve read most of the books that you have reviewed on your channel and my opinions have, in some cases, been changed. (I know it’s not your goal to change peoples opinion, but I mean this as a compliment.). I think that is because I read most frequently from about age 8 to around age 30 and I did not read critically at the time (i’m 55, so we’re talking almost 50 years ago for some books, for instance Foundation, which I read when I was 12.) You point out, in many cases, things that never occurred to me when I read the books. I think that’s really wonderful (for lack of a better word.) Anyway, thanks for another great review. I read this book, and I can’t remember a thing about it. That should tell you something, because I can name individual characters in truly great books that I read when I was 10.
Great review! This was my first Reynolds book, years ago, after which I read everything else he wrote. I thought Chasm City and Pushing Ice were better, much more accessible. I love Reynolds’ big ideas but wish he were better at characterization. In Revelation Space I didn’t like any of the characters but loved the ship and the plot and the ending. I thought the ship name was the most awesome I’d ever heard (Nostalgia for Infinity). This book did make me a fan of his, but then… I had never heard of Vinge until this review! Time to look him up…
If you dig Reynolds you will likely dig Fire Upon the Deep.
It comes more together in the second book, trust me
DNFed a few years ago, but Moid's channel has convinced me to give it another chance. Good to hear it's not perfect.
Also: read the entire thing. This is his first book. Read book 2, 3, 4. It gets better and better. Especially the writing. When it comes to the elements you’re missing to understand science and technological context, you will absorb it more in each book. Also look into Chasm City for that.
this book was actually really good if you like world building. The more of his books you read the more enjoyable they become. (You get exposed to a lot of lore very quickly and it does get overwhelming.) It's like reading lord of the rings and giving up after 200 pages and complaining it's dragging on too much. The idea is immerse the reader for the long haul in a sci-fi setting.
I can't really disagree with your criticisms of Revelation Space (though I liked it more than you did) but I will say Reynolds' writing does improve quite a lot between this and Redemption Ark. Which isn't too surprising considering RS was his first novel. Still very long and info-dumpy, though.
I agree this book was a bit clunky at times, but books two and three really make up for it.
This is a fantastic review. I'm a reluctant but steadfast fan of Alastair Reynolds I like what you said in one of your reviews. I got sucked in by the cover of Revelation Space. (That sounds shallow but the honesty is refreshing). Since this was my introduction to Space Opera I think I've held on to the author as a point of reference. Some of the things you say really resonate: (1) that point in a book where you stop caring and finishing the book is a chore. (2) Exposition: The way some sci-fi is self-indulgent and self amazing for the writer/narrator: they really nerd out on all their explanatory science at the expense of the reader. (3) Your point about tech that is so far advanced it might as well be magic... that's something i never thought of but it's worth exploring. I'm fascinated by your review because I have similar sentiments... and yet I found Hyperion to be just awful. I'm looking forward to you reading Absolution Gap and Redemption Ark (hopefully). I enjoyed those more than RS. but it will be interesting to hear your takes on them. Good reviews with meat in them help you to know you're not crazy. Thanks for your insights. I will read A Fire Upon the deep. (Right after Dark Forest and The Fifth Season)
I absolutely agree with the dialogue and how it sounded like everyone was trying too hard to be witty at every moment. It wasn’t unbearably bad like you see in suits but it was a drawback. I haven’t read the later books yet but I heard the characters get better
Revelation Space is my favourite series.
What sci-fi book do you recommend for a beginner to the genre. I mostly read Horror.
Blindsight and Echopraxia by Peter Watts. The author was/is a biologist, so there's this creepy, organic feel to both books. Plus, there are vampires and zombies (though there are plausible scientific justifications to their existence).
The point at which future tech effectively becomes indistinguishable from magic is an ever-present stumbling block for these kinds of epic scale stories. However, what I find even more problematic is that no-one (as far as I know) seems to want to fully address the social and psychological effects these advances would have on human cultures and human preoccupations. Not an original thought, of course, but look at the effects of the automobile, television and the internet for example in the space of a single century. All new technology can bring swathes of unexpected and unpredictable problems and dilemmas that past generations could scarcely have imagined. Human nature remains the same, but the changes in our attitudes and patterns of thought in so short a time would be incomprehensible to even the most forward thinkers of the 19th century. The further ahead in time the setting, the more patchy and oddly antiquated the future society is going to look.
I feel like I’m reading a different book to the one you describe. I love the non-ornate economical prose, the non-FTL realism, the way various plot points are developed in concentric circles… Reynolds is building an inspired yet pragmatic universe, that I rank much higher than the Zones of Thought or the Hyperion Cantos for he strikes a rare balance between sober style, epic scope, and a harder and more plausible world building.
Sounds like I need to read a fire upon the deep.
I tried RS a few years ago and gave up, ditto House of Suns, Consider Plebas, Hamilton’s Fallen Dragon and the first Salvation book…what’s the matter with me but I’m still gonna watch Moid
I have read all of Reynolds books to date and the one that I started with and got me hooked was his Diamond Dogs story. I feel like reading his long works AFTER reading some of his short stories is the best way to acclimate to his style. That being said some of his stories do drag a bit but are always rewarding int he end. I am currently reading Fire Upon the Deep and it took a while to get started but I am finally getting interested in it about 1/3 of the way in. Hopefully Mr Bookpill is right about the quality of FUtD since it is a long time between Reynolds books. Pushing Ice was another one I loved too. I wonder if there is a cultural difference that is hurting the dialog parts for the reviewer, the brits do love a bit of snark in their speech.
I loved this book but it was hard to get into in. The 2nd book is very good and it teases you with characters form the 1st book in a delicious way that makes you care more about them.
Tried to read Revelation Space a couple of times, but fell into the miasma in the middle. Simply had better things to do. However recently read Reynolds House of Suns, for me, so far, I consider it the best SF novel of 21st Century.
Im gonna take the bookpill now, thank you sir!!!111!! 🥺🥺🥺🥺
i read all the Reynolds i could find after Revelation Space. Chasm City was memorable. i was reading Vinge at the time too.
funny comments about the snark. you might like Excession by Banks. i was hoping he would expand on it with another volume.
i want to know what happened to those Elencher ships and who was really aboard the Grey Area. alas! perished too soon. RIP.
Decent book, I agree.
But yeah my all-time favorite science fiction is definitely Zones of Thought
Great honest review
I'll give it a shot later
try "House of Suns", I loved it
Before: Mmm.. less than 1000 subs... I'll give him a try without expectations.
After: Who are you sir, and why do you speak so fluently?
Congrats, great video :)
Thanks for rolling the dice on me, glad it paid off.
Your review of _Revelation Space_ was interesting but a bit confusing. By that I mean for a book you like, you mention a lot of flaws. That is not necessarily bad though, because I understand that things aren't all good or all bad. I will say that you need to watch some good anime. 😉 It sounded like you have not watched any of the good stuff.
As I remember, your view is close to mine, which I had some ten years or so ago. I find the author's characterizations to be his weak point.
These were my feelings almost exactly on Chasm City - too long, pacing is off .. but interesting, solid book.
What are your thoughts on Iain M. Banks Culture Series?
Banks is a big blank spot in my SF literacy. My favorite booktube guy (Moid) talks about him all the time. Have my eye out.
Have you ever done Jason Russell's 224-Verse? Sounds up your alley, well aside from the whole plot threads crossing several books (even though each entry does work as a stand alone too). As for Revelation Space - gorgeous beginning and end IMO. Your complaints kinda follow Reynolds even to this very day.
Hey dude, new subscriber here, try his Revenger trilogy, written after all the books you found in that mighty haul. I love the latter trilogy. Very different.
That is a YA young 🌱 adult series for kids. He won't gel with it.
Definitely agree with most of what you said here. I read this a couple of weeks ago and there were certain parts of it that grabbed me but entirely too many parts where I felt it was a chore to get through. I'm still getting into more sci-fi so it wasn't as if I was seeing something repeated that I've read several times before, but there just wasn't something clicking for me in this one. Leviathan Wakes for example I clicked with almost immediately.
Leviathan Wakes didn't grab me but I also didn't give it an adequate chance. Space opera is so hard to pull off at a high level. Ultimately I'm grateful for anything competent, which revelation space definitely is
@@Bookpilled For sure.
Thanks for the review.
I read Terminal World earlier this year and was pretty unimpressed. I think (it has been a bit) in part because of the protagonist who I could not get behind at all. The ending was pretty questionable also.
Sounds like at least one of those issues is not a problem with Revelation Space?
This reads more like a 5 or a 6 out of 10, for the most part.
epic mate
When her mentioned he loves Hyperion and this job wasn't as good as that, but then started talking about story arcs not paying off until later in the series I was thinking, "he's going to mention that about Hyperion." Lol.