Good, but a little formulaic

Once again, an excellent set of characters, all with good developmental arcs, set in a time and place rich in detail.

My only gripe is the slightly formulaic story. In particular, the use of "whip hounds" rather than pistols or stun batons. They at first appear to be a technological marvel, but eventually are used in the plot in a very disappointing fashion. This in itself wouldn't be all bad if it wasn't for the fact that it feels like this plot point was the only reason they were included at all - the use of any other weapon would have changed everything.

Overall though, a very enjoyable listen.

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Excellent world building sci-fi combined with a twisty detective story

I’ve read other A Reynolds stories but this was my first listen on Audible. I enjoyed the story as above (great Sci-fi world building continuing from earlier stories in this universe, The Prefect, Chasm City etc which might help but aren’t essential) and the combination with a detective story. The narrator was entirely clear and the different characters voices and accents probably do help to differentiate speakers, but the pace was a little too deliberate for me. Four not five stars for Mr Lee

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1 person found this helpful

Great story, really well read

Full marks to John Lee for his reading. It makes all the difference to an audio book when the narrator gives character to his performance. Well done also to Alastair Reynolds. Another great adventure.

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another good one

Still an enjoyable series although I wasn't too keen on the end. but kept my interests throughout

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Another masterpiece...however the voices...

Reynolds can do no wrong in my eyes, and I found it easier to absorb the intricacies of his world with audiobooks. I just couldn’t get on with this narrator however. He uses a certain dry-humour tone to all the characters, as if everything they’re saying is sarcastic and droll to them, and it really started bothering me as more characters got introduced and I found I didn’t always know who was talking. A great voice actor I just wish there was some diversity.

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1 person found this helpful

pigs can't fly but they have skills

Great story was kinda sad it finished so will be waiting for another one to arrive

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Not his best

This was enjoyable but not one of his best. I enjoyed the familiar setting and characters. I enjoyed John Lee”s narration as usual but i felt most of the characters sounded similar to each other. Better differentiation in the Prefect.

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10 people found this helpful

Great followup

If you liked the previous book this will be a great read.
Not really part of revelation space.

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Good Story but why change the voices?

I usually love John Lee reading Alastair Reynolds books but as another reveiwer has ponted out, in this title he has completley changed a lot of the charaters voices since The Prefect which is set only 2 years earlier. For me Sparva is the worst example of this, he used to soind gruff, with an attitude but now sounds like a posh aristocrat rather than a Hyperpig Prefect.

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5 people found this helpful

Alastair Reynolds does it again

Another excellent addition to the revelation space series. Hard sci-fi at it's best. Superb depth of vision and enthralling sprawling density.

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