revelation space series by alastair reynolds

Many extinct cultures were discovered by humanity as it spread into space, no living ones aside from two exceptions.

As it turns out, the Sylveste family maintained a research institute on Yellowstone dedicated to the study of alien civilizations. Conjoiner Drives).Īnd finally, we learn why Sylveste is on Resurgam and why the Mademoiselle wants him dead. Ilia secured these weapons from sources unknown, but in time it is suggested that they are of Conjoiner manufacture – the same advanced faction that built the Nostalgia’s engines (aka. We also learn that the cargo hold of the ship is holding a large supply of Cache Weapons, what are apparently referred to as Hell-class, all of which appear to be a bunch of Doomsday devices. During a training exercise where they test their landing suits, another glitch results in the death of another crewman, leaving only the Triumvirs – Ilia, Hegazi, Sajake – and the Captain.

This virus appears to be what drove the last gunner insane and is threatening to kill Ilia now. For one, the Nostalgia appears to have been infected by virus other than the one that’s got their Captain in cryo-sleep. Meanwhile, we learn a few things of importance. As such, she orders Khouri to go into stasis and meet up with the crew 20 years later when they arrive in orbit. Apparently, she wants Dan Sylveste found and killed, and she knows the Nostalgia for Infinity will go to the ends of the universe to find him. Last, the scene switches to 2524 and the surface of Yellowstone, where professional assassin Ana Khouri is hired by a wealthy recluse known as The Mademoiselle. It also advanced a lot of ideas and concepts which would inspire yours truly 😉 Known as Revelation Space, this story became the basis for the universe of the same name and the setting of most of his books. To start my review of his work off right, I’d like to cover his first full-length novel. So when it comes to matters of science and space – be it exploration, travel, or the physics thereof – this guy really knows what he’s talking about. Yes, from 1991 to 2004, Reynolds worked as an astronomer for the European Space Research and Technology Center, which is part of the European Space Agency, in Noordwijk, Holland. The author of the Revelation Space series, Pushing Ice, Blue Remembered Earth, Century Rain, House of Suns, Terminal World, and a slew of short stories and articles, Reynolds is not only a hard science fiction author but an actual scientist.

Lighthuggers, Inhibitors, Ultras, Hyperpigs, Conjoiners Drives, Demarchists, Chasm City… Few science fiction authors have come up with as many weird and intriguing concepts as Alastair Reynolds.

Revelation space series by alastair reynolds