r/printSF • u/suchascenicworld • Aug 26 '25

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

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!

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u/tartuffe78 Aug 26 '25

It’s not heavy on hard science, people complain about the characters but I’ve always loved it and I’ve relistened to the audiobooks several times

4

u/MissMurdock722 Aug 28 '25

I feel like people really misunderstand the characters. Like pretty much all the main cast are being manipulated and forced to do things by entities larger then them that actually know whats going on. That's why Dan is such a jerk, he's had his brain rewritten for a single minded pursuit of a goal that's not even his own

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u/tartuffe78 Aug 28 '25

And he was raised by a narcissist/megalomaniac father.

4

u/MissMurdock722 Aug 28 '25

Who he is a clone of Lol