The Prefect

I was charmed and enthralled by the imaginative scope of this novel, the poor review I had read almost put me off, I am so glad it didn't! Great story, well drawn together at the end , with the hint of a sequel, perhaps? Is this what irked the negative reviewer? The characters lived for me and reflected weaknesses and strengths, making the dilemmas resonate for me. Not a 5 , but a worthy 4.

A.R. keeps writing these excellent books with very imaginative storylines which enables the reader to conjure up fantastic images of the characters and vistas used in his stories. Keep them coming Alastair.

This is Reynolds at his absolute best. Fast paced, tense and with all the usual slightly disturbing Reynolds imagination.



Although it's set before the Redemption Ark and Chasm City books, you'll enjoy it all the more if you've already read (or listened to) those earlier books.



John Lee is flawless, as usual.

This is the first novel, chronologically, in Alastair Reynolds' "Revelation Space" series, though it stands on its own without problem. And it's an absolute cracker - wonderfully well-drawn SF backdrop, great characters and complicated plot, and a driving narrative that never lets up. There are one or two holes in the plot, but these are forgiveable, and I thought the ending well judged, unlike one of the other reviewers.

John Lee narrates superbly - great pace, well judged tone and draws the characters very well.

Best book in the RS series, and recommended.

This book has a great plot, and builds up beautifully with multiple protagonists, but then all that tension and potential for excitement just dissipates away like so much nebula gas.


Part of me only wants to give it 1 star, but it was so good for so long, that I can't quite lower the score that far.


Sadly, this is the second Alastair Reynolds book I have read, and for the second time I have been very disappointed by the ending. Admittedly the previous book was only the first in the 'Revelation Space' trilogy; but 'The Prefect' is a stand alone book set in the same universe, and again I feel betrayed by the ending.

And reviews of the final book in the 'Revelation Space' trilogy would seem to show he can't even write 'endings' for sequences of books, never mind single books.


So much potential followed by so much disappointment means I won't be buying any other Reynolds books from now on.

Go and buy something by Iain M Banks instead. Use Alastair Reynolds as last resort.