Great company

A gripping tale with a few twists. Doesn't carry on from the first book, all the characters are new.

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1 person found this helpful

Steam punk

Enjoyable in many ways though the story was ultimately weak. I think the author might be hoping for a film deal; steam punk blade runner. The first book is on another level. I'll read the third in the series to form a better opinion.

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2 people found this helpful

Incredible

What a story - what an imagination- Reynolds draws you into worlds and stories that grip you to the end and beyond

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Keeps you hooked the whole way through

Can see why this book won awards when it came out. It should be made into a tv series (possibly suit an animated series).

Also have to say, John Lee is the best narrator in the audiobook business.

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Alastair Reynolds dropped the ball before it was thrown.

This book was so disappointing. Not because it was a terrible story, but because he developed it so well and then copped out at the very last moment. He obviously didn’t realize what he had before he threw his jewel in the bin. I’m surprised that after 700+ pages of good writing he couldn’t think of anything better than a completely absurd deus-ex machina climax.

I also wish he’d had cut the over used tropes and cliches of science fiction. He has a PhD in astrophysics you think he’d be smarter and more original. He takes the horse that’s been beaten to death, revives it with fantastical futuristic technology, and then beats it some more.

On the plus side John Lees performance was superb.

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Fantastic

This is, while very different in some ways, superior to Revelation Space, the first in the series. It deals with certain themes and character in extremely imaginative and spectacular ways. While not necessarily perfect, or especially close to it, it is more than worth listening to.

And of course, John Lee is still my favourite narrator. I can't fault him.

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Reynolds' ode to Use of Weapons

A narrative which has numerous plot twists, set in the gothic world of post-plague Chasm City. Well narrated with no filler material - a solid 4/5 stars.

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addictive

Chasm city was a story that had me consistently coming back for more, eager to uncover the next twist. the narration grew on me, and after an hour or so I couldn't have imagined a better voice for it. excellent

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Folds together, just barely.

Reynolds’ disjointed approach is at full swing again: As usual, story figments start lightyears apart, and slowly come closer, and eventually fold into a single continuum... but this time, just barely. This story lacks some of the elegant geometry of its presecessor, Revelation Space. The killing punch comes too late in the telling, and is overshadowed by much else. Still, a solid 4/5 overall. Enjoy, and keep along with the series. Definitely, worth the time invested.

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Did listen twice. Had to though!

On second listening i could see the significance of the different bits which seemed unrelated the first time.

The fact i got through it twice prices or was a good book!

A wacky and complex mystery. A mix of harsh scientific realities and circus- like horror for a future space-faring society. Very imaginative and largely makes sense.

I wish the characters had a bit more ... character. I found them largely paper dolls. You could switch any of their names and you wouldn't notice the difference because they don't have distinctive traits or behaviours. But it's OK. It enables the mystery.

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