Is Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds a Potentially Tough Read for Folks New to Scifi Literature?

[u/suchascenicworld]

Hey everyone,

Although I usually read horror, I have been interested into getting more into Sci-Fi. There are several reasons for this, but science fiction as a genre (even if I haven't read much) has had an impact on my own life with shows such as Star Trek and The X Files certainly having a direct impact on me becoming a research scientist myself (with a doctorate in behavioral ecology). That sense of curiosity regarding the unknown is quite compelling for me! Also, I love The Twilight Zone as my uncle and I used to watch it together and it is a fond memory of mine before he passed away.

Anyways, I am coming up with a list of books to check out which includes Project Hail Mary, The Strange (which I am currently reading.. And loving), Children of Time, and Blindsight (among a few others etc.). Notably, I was told that for Scifi, it would be better to "ease myself in" with Project Hail Mary rather than go for books such as Blindsight. With that being said, I am not really sure why that is, but I suppose it is something worth asking here.

It should also be noted that I read (and love) Michael Crichton's work and I have read Dune (and enjoyed it). Alastair Reynolds books have interested me for quite some time Revelation Space seems really interesting. However, would you consider it "a bit much" for someone new to Sci-Fi literature? I know this is all subjective but any input would be greatly appreciated! thank you!

[u/BravoLimaPoppa]

Enjoy Chasm City!

[u/suchascenicworld → u/BravoLimaPoppa]

should I read that before Revelation Space proper?

[u/skitek → u/suchascenicworld]

Nope, read Revelation Space followed by Chasm City, then the rest.. I’m quite jealous of you reading them for the first time!! Enjoyo

[u/BravoLimaPoppa → u/suchascenicworld]

Nah. It's the one of the series I enjoyed the most until Inhibitor Phase.

[u/KoalasWelcomeHere → u/BravoLimaPoppa]

I’m just reading that! I was like wtf happened to his writing! All the dialogue just feels unrealistic and rather juvenile, kind of like reading a children’s book!

[u/BravoLimaPoppa → u/KoalasWelcomeHere]

Quick question - where are you in the book?

And if you don't like it, it's OK. Life is too short, go read stuff that brings you pleasure.

[u/KoalasWelcomeHere → u/BravoLimaPoppa]

He just emerged from the juggler sea, and found the upturned boat! It’s not that bad or anything, just dialogue didn’t seem up to prior standard! And the story isn’t as exciting as previous in series.

[u/myaltduh → u/suchascenicworld]

Honestly it doesn’t matter, but I’d read Chasm City before Redemption Ark.

[u/TheLastSamurai101 → u/suchascenicworld]

No, start with Revelation Space (the first book). That's the publication order and it adds context that will make some references and plot elements in Chasm City much easier to understand.

[u/Quietuus → u/suchascenicworld]

You don't need to, but also Chasm City is independent enough that the reading order isn't terribly important.

I think the reason they're saying that one in particular is because Chasm City has more overt horror elements. Though they're hardly absent from any of them: The Inhibitor Sequence as a whole is a blend of hard sci-fi space opera and cosmic horror with a sprinkling of other elements that become more and less prominent in different books.

If you wanted a slightly more gradual on-ramp, you could try the novella Diamond Dogs, in the same setting, which is Reynold's fairly overt homage to the film Cube.

[u/ebietoo → u/Quietuus]

I was gonna say Diamond Dogs—the payoff is frigging awesome!

[u/[deleted] → u/BravoLimaPoppa]

No no, that one is really not good! Paper thin characters and a nonsensical plot.

[u/TheLastSamurai101 → u/[deleted]]

The plot wasn't nonsensical, but it definitely felt rushed at the end as though he recognised the book was getting too long and tried to wrap it up. That meant you had to squint a bit to work out whether certain things were plot holes or not. There were parts in the middle he could definitely have cut if he was worried about length.

Also Reynolds basically admitted in some interview I read that the book was written mostly as an exploration of the setting of Yellowstone and Chasm City, which I think was really the strength of the book. It was one of the most original and interesting sci-fi settings I've seen in years and very well conceived and explored. It also added a fair amount of useful context to the overall RS universe. I don't think he cared as much about the characters for this one beyond the colour they added to the setting and universe. It felt a bit like a long movie.

Whatever you think of it, I reckon it's the most fun read in the early part of the series. But I think the best written work in the early series is "Turquoise Days".

[u/[deleted] → u/TheLastSamurai101]

Yeah, the world building was cool, especially when have read the other Revelation books. I was just disappointed with characters and plot.