Really digging Alastair Reynolds

[Rhoderic]

I hope you guys don't mind that I'm going to talk about something that's not miniature-related for a minute. I'm actually taking a break from the whole wargaming hobby for a while (which I do often, but I always get back into it a month or two down the line) and thought I'd re-read a good book - Alastair Reynolds' "Revelation Space". I'm not very experienced with "serious" sci-fi literature, but Reynolds is really a very good author and he has come to be the ruler in my own little pantheon of gods of modern sci-fi. The Revelation Space universe is mostly space operatic "hard sci-fi" deeply rooted in real science, but has sprinklings of noir-ish cyberpunk (great sprawling cities full of rickshaws, assassins and yakuza-like gangs), "gothic" sci-fi (secretive guilds and societies all over the place) and Lovecraftian numinousity (ancient, inhuman things existing out there, hinted at by the archaeological evidence of dead alien civilizations). The writing is quite witty at times, and lovers of the English language (like myself) get to delight in seeing plenty of uncommon, complicated words in use. The first book in the series has taught me such gems of English vocabulary as "parochial" and "soliloquy", to name a few.

I definitely recommend Reynolds' books for anyone (like me) who's interested but not very experienced in hard sci-fi, and just wants to dive in there without having to bother with reading all the dozens (hundreds?) of "classics" beforehand. It's hardly a soft start (quite the contrary) but then again, I don't think there's any such thing as a soft start in hard sci-fi - complexity is much of the point of the whole genre.

Anyway, that's it for now. Basically I just wanted to recommend a good author for those who are interested in this kind of stuff. Delectably complex and edgy science fiction with plenty of "sense of wonder". You can practically hear the gears inside your head whirring at full speed as you read it.

[Hammers]

I'm actually taking a break from the whole wargaming hobby for a while

Shun the heretic! ;-)

[matakishi]

Alastair Reynolds is the best writer of hard science fiction alive.
If you like is work you should read Marrow by Robert Reed too.

[Rhoderic]

I'm actually taking a break from the whole wargaming hobby for a while

Shun the heretic! ;-)

Meh. I'm just indulging in another facet of geek culture for a while. It's not as if I'm, like, taking up exercise or something (perish the thought)  

Alastair Reynolds is the best writer of hard science fiction alive.
If you like is work you should read Marrow by Robert Reed too.

Nice to see I'm not alone, and thanks for the tip! The Marrow series certainly sounds intriguing, from what I can glean of it.

[Plynkes]

People who say "meh" on internet forums should be made to sit on the naughty step.  

[demi_morgana]

meh, why? :wink:

[Plynkes]

1) I'm not particularly serious about this  
2) I find it rude and uncouth
3) (this is the important one) BECAUSE I SAID SO!  

[Rhoderic]

What's a "naughty step" and what's wrong with a plain old corner of shame?

Meh, I say. I will even be so bold as to not end my post with a smiley, and leave you second-guessing whether I was being sarcastic or not.

[Plynkes]

SAMPSON
I will say "Meh" at them;
which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.

Meh!

ABRAHAM
Do you say "Meh" at us, sir?

SAMPSON
I do say "Meh", sir.

ABRAHAM
Do you say "Meh" at us, sir?

SAMPSON
[Aside to GREGORY] Is the law of our side, if I say ay?

GREGORY
No.

SAMPSON
No, sir, I do not say "Meh" at you, sir, but I
do say "Meh", sir.

GREGORY
Do you quarrel, sir?

William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.
Next there is a big fight, involving almost the whole town. And it all ends in tears. That's where "meh" can get you.



Sorry for hijacking this topic about the book you like. Sounds interesting, and I must confess I never heard of the chap. Used to read a lot of Sci-Fi as a young chap, but find I cannot bear it these days. Philip K. Dick's paranoid nuttiness was always my favourite. If I ever find myself feeling a Sci-Fi urge coming on, I may well try out this Reynolds chap of yours. I'll shut up now.