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Pushing Ice

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By Alistair Reynolds (978-0575078154)

Having read all of Reynolds' Revelation Space series I was a bit disappointed by Pushing Ice. Obviously there is far less scope in a standalone novel compared to a series, but the story took quite a while to get going and didn't really contain any new science fiction.

The book draws heavily from both the Space Odyssey and Rama series and even steals the "First Ones" concept from Babylon 5.

Reynolds successfully induces a sense wonder and makes you want to read on to find out what's really going. The ending is a little week and there are many questions left unanswered, but the scene is set for two possible sequels. If he writes them, I'll read them!

If you're new to hard science fiction or to Alistair Reynolds then this would be a good place to start.

Comments

  1. allan kelly11 June 2009 at 10:24

    I discovered Alistair Reynolds through "The Prefect" last year. I was looking forward to reading more by him until I visited the book shop (odd I know, still happens sometimes) and discovered that everything else he's written is 500+ pages.

    The older I get the more intolerant I get of long books, whether technical or fiction.

    Blame Neal Stephenson, it took me over a year to read Cryptomonicon and the thought of reading any of the sequels is just depressing.

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