Revelation Space, by Alastair Reynolds

A science fiction novel set in a complicated space and time. The intricate and sometimes convoluted history of the species that populate the universe and how humans interrelate is the backdrop for a fast-paced adventure/mystery novel. There are so many “new” terms to describe things that are purely of the author’s imagination that I had difficulty, at times, envisioning them. The author makes the effort but falls short too often in describing/explaining both physical objects and events that happened prior to the story. These objects and events are important but not critical to appreciating the storyline, which, in the end, is really all that the book has to offer. A synopsis of the plot is impossible due to its complexity. As an example, a deep subterranean cavern is exposed as a result of an archeological dig. It encloses a “miniature” city built by a species hundreds of thousands of years ago. There is a tower adorned with a flying figure that is evidence to the characters that the creatures that built the city and the tower had a “new” god. The line of reasoning is not well developed, nor is the description of the tower/city detailed enough for me to fully envision it during my reading. Perhaps this is my failure. I wrestled with the book and its convoluted narrative at other times as well – especially the end which reminded me of some surreal homage to science fiction movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Contact. If you aren’t as picky as I and you like fast-paced wacky science fiction with some legitimately interesting ideas, then it’s probably worth a go.

The Terror, by Dan Simmons

A novel given to me by my good friend Joe Walsh who just said it was a really good read. I learned later that Dan Simmons was a successful and award winning science fiction writer who has won some Hugo Awards. At the time I read this book I had no idea who he was. What a treat. 19^th century British Discovery expedition to find the northwest passage. The background of this novel is based on historic events and the author did his homework, down to the details of the food on board the two ships, the composition of the crew and the names of the men who actually served aboard the ships. The name of the lead ship of this expedition is “The Terror.” Remarkably, the two ships are frozen in the ice for over two years and the men survive, more or less, aboard the ships for much of this time. If you are thinking that this sounds like the Shackleton expedition, you are right. I thought the same thing. Much of the story details how the men survive. Out on the ice, moreover, something is hunting the men. One by one the men die either from the cold, starvation, scurvy, accident or at the hands of the monster on the ice. Like a long, slow tease we come to learn about the indigenous people of the lands above the arctic circle, their myths and their monsters. The power of the story, for me, is not so much the plot, but the narrative rhythm and language. Simmons can write and this was a joy to read.