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Revelation Space

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Revelation Space

By: Alastair Reynolds
Narrated by: John Lee
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About this listen

 Nine hundred thousand years ago, something annihilated the Amarantin civilization just as it was on the verge of discovering space flight. Now one scientist, Dan Sylveste, will stop at nothing to solve the Amarantin riddle before ancient history repeats itself.

With no other resources at his disposal, Sylveste forges a dangerous alliance with the cyborg crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity. But as he closes in on the secret, a killer closes in on him because the Amarantin were destroyed for a reason. And if that reason is uncovered, the universe - and reality itself - could be irrevocably altered.

©2008 Alastair Reynolds (P)2008 Tantor Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Space Robotics

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Critic reviews

"One of the best books of the year." ( Science Fiction Chronicle)
"Ferociously intelligent and imbued with a chilling logic - it may really be like this Out There." (Stephen Baxter, co-author of The Light of Other Days)
All stars
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Revelation space is one of many books I've read in dead tree format, and have revisited in audiobook form. Usually it's a very rewarding experience, and I loved this book when I read it so had high hopes for the more immersive medium of audio.

However this is the second Alastair Reynolds book I've listened to, and I just can't face any more of them as John Lee's narration ruins them. His pacing... is... terrible.

That's only the second time in years of audible membership a narrator has spoiled the experience, but a bitterly disappointing one as I was looking forwards to making my way through Reynold's back catalogue.

Good book, terrible reader

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The whole book feels like a set-up for the other 2 books in the trilogy. The story only really starts in the last few chapters with certain plot points left ignored in the end.



I have to agree with some other reviewers, the narration for 2/3 of this book feels like sitting though a lecture. the story jumps between different times and places without so much as a pause for breath or a change in tone. So it is hard to figure out if you are still on the same planet or even in the same century.

Textbook feel with sleep inducing narration

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This is, I think, easily the best of Alastair Reynolds' "Revelation Space" stories. His style is to weave a set of interlocking narratives together in a very detailed way, building up to a terrific climax and the manner in which he draws the detail of his SF world as it were is very convincing. Translates very well to audio format. Excellent narration too. Stongly recommended.

Excellent story & superbly narrated

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I picked this book up as it was suggested to me as a Banks fan. This sets the bar extremely high. Sadly Revelation Space comes no where near to it. It was not bad, just a bit average. I may read or listen to another of his books in the future, but I am certainly not in any rush.

Disappointing

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loved It. loving John Lee's narration. The vastness of the bigger story and the growth and depth of characters kept me involved to the end.

Grand Vision

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Fantastic story, read with clear faultless narration. A thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish.

riveting space opera

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Very good book with great worldbuilding and a fantastic climax but drags in the middle quite a lot. John Lee does a very good job with French and Russian (or should that be Norte and Russish?) accents.

Great worldbuilding

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I like John Lees other work. Perhaps it is the characters he has to portray here. A portentously delivered giggle inducing mixture of dodgy French accents from Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail, Inspector Clouseau's oriental man servant Kato from the Pink Panther films, Evil Russian female bond villains and a touch of 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum'. The giggles pass though and it is not a bad story after all.

The Ministry of Silly Voices

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Initialy I thought I'd made a big error on this one, it starts by bouncing about through multiple related plot lines, It may have made more sense in the book but in audio I found myself going hu!, only to realise the narator had switch between the set up lines.
Once they come together its a really good book but it takes a few hours to do so.

Jumpy to start Good once it gets going

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Story was well thought out and contains both familiar and new elements.
narration suffered a bit from the accents but was all in all good!

intelligent and entertaining

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