Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

Alastair Reynolds - Chasm City

Reviews
 

I enjoyed Revelation Space, but found the ending to the trilogy very disappointing. In fact I was so disappointed with the end of Absolution Gap, that I almost didn't buy this book at all.

I did buy it though, but approached this book prepared to be disappointed again. Instead found myself enjoying this book far more than I expected.

This book stands alone from the trilogy, but is set in the same universe and time frame. It also features some of the same characters.

You don't have to have read any of the other books to enoy this one, but I would suggest that if you are intending on reading Revelation Space, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap, you should read them first as this one fills in and fleshes out some of the background to events and characters contained within those books.

I found the plot in this book to be much more focused and tighter than Revelation Space and its follow ups. The plot also moves at a faster pace. It also, I am very glad to say, has a much more satisfying ending.

Alastair Reynolds is very good at hiding the twists and turns in his books, yet giving you enough clues that you can work them out if you want to work hard enough. If you don't want to work that hard, the actual points where the twists are revealed are very nicely done. He doesn't make you feel like you have been stupid not to have spotted what was happening, or assume that you would have worked it out by then - this is probably a lot harder to do than I can imagine!

All in all I would say this book is well worth reading.
S. Horrigan

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Recently discovered Alistair Reynolds although not new to the genre thought that Id take the plunge and see what all the fuss is about surrounding his books.

Working my way through the Revelation Space series (book one complete) but thought Id try this as well to get some further background material on Chasm City, and the story surrounding the plague.
Characters are superb and you really feel yourself immersed in the world he has created.
Excellent plot and amazing set pieces make this the best so far.
Just started The Prefect and despite being 160 pages in has so far been another enjoyable read with great storyline and characters.
Darren

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This was my third Reynolds book after 'The Prefect' and 'Century Rain', and again, I have not been disappointed. Pacey and generally well-written, 'Chasm City' roars along - even the passages set aboard the restrictive environment of the generation ships did not disappoint. The story spans centuries, planets and multiple identities, deftly weaving a number of seeminging unrelated plot-lines. If you enjoy sci-fi then you'll enjoy this book - you'll finish it in no time at all. Maybe I haven't read enough of this genre and I'm far too easilly impressed, but Reynolds like China Meiville seems to relish in inventiveness at a level that leaves me a little lost for words. Gone are the simple plots and tropes of your typical TV sci-fi, there is crazyness and creativity at every turn within these pages. Who'd have thought of mutant buildings and the terrifying Melding Plague?

I guessed the main plot twist about three quarters of the way through ( though not every nuance ), but this didn't spoil the book as it was interesting to learn the history that made the twist possible. On the downside, and this is a complaint I have with all of his books, the characters are not entirely believable and I'm never fully convinced of their motivations. In particular, Reynolds doesn't expend much effort on 'side characters' - one minute they want to kill the protagonist, the next ( after a couple of overly-long and unrealistic dialogue exchanges ) new alliances are forged. One of the characters, the name I forget ( some kind of mushroom I think ), performs a startling about-face and happily joins Tanner Mirabel ( the 'hero' ) along with some other previous Tanner haters in their final battle against the 'end-of-level' baddie.

There were also a couple of 'what's going on moments' as mutant-pigs bubble out of the background, nudge the plot a bit, and then disappear never to be heard of again. Also, the generation ship race seemed a bit unrealistic - why would it matter which generation ship reached Sky's Edge first - a big planet ain't going to feel full if tens of thousands of such ships arrive at an empty world, let along a handful. I'm sure some very important information was missed out on a body scan too - won't say anymore, just look out for it.

Nevertheless, a very, very enjoyable Banks-lite yarn. Just don't think too much about the plot. I'm going to have to give it a five - the book kept me going, it was something to look forward to late at night during a couple of weeks of excessive DIYing!
Nick Phillips

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I came to the this book by way of revelation space and redemption ark, both of which i enjoyed. Based on the lacklustre reviews (on here) of the next book in the series, (absolution gap) many of which advise to skip that book altogether and go with this instead, i did just that. This is a spin off novel in the same universe, with a slightly differing timeline.
At this point i have to say im disappointed, and my first comment would be that im going to give absolution gap a go, and that readers of the series who reached the same conclusion as me from the reviews of that book should not heed them.
This book opens with what has to be said, is a stunning chapter, leaving a cliff hanger that almost immediately has you fumbling to turn the next page and see what happens to the main protagonist next.
Unfortunately i spent the rest of the book becoming increasingly certain i had been sold a dummy in the first chapter, as what was promised never transpired. I wont be spoiling the novel by telling you it is situated in a city where steam power is the order of the day. If steampunk is not your thing, this is unlikely to appeal. I struggled to empathise with any of the characters, cared nothing for their fate, and the dragging predictability of the whole setup which is ultimately a very long chase story insterspersed with steampunk imagery became quite droll by the end. The less said about the end the better, except to say its nothing special!
All said, the book is fairly readable, and if you really are thirsting for more in the same universe you may enjoy it. I cannot however recommend it, stellar first chapter or not. There are far better ways to spend your money / time
qubitcruncher

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-In answer to other reviwers-
The seemingly cut out roles make perfect sense when considered as a whole they all have links to one man(in the main plotline) And eventually Tanner

As to their motivation well it may be obvious but it is there. And in most cases is all it needs to be. To have added story to all but the main
protaganist would have added 100 pages at least, (would seem out of pace, and seriously mess up the pacing)

-Spoilers (this is in anawer to other reviewers)-
As for the change in his character, well major brain damage for a start, also the fact that neither Tanner nor Cahuella were devoid of concience, and Tanner does gradually do more good from one end of the book to the other

As for Haussmens change that too is explained by not one but many events. There are parallels to the dolphins hes so interested in at the start. (finally its most probably the fact that as mentioned his parents did dump him with clown rarther a lot)

Finally the plot twist in the middle isnt a twist reynolds is deliberately hinting it as to not do so would totally destroy coherance and force an unatural lump of Sky plotline in the second half of the book)
J. A. Smith

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