The third book in the trilogy of Revelation Space, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap.
This is a hard science fiction story involving quite a few subplots, each of which would make a fine science fiction story all by itself. Unfortunately, each of those subplots simply fades away, eventually contributing nothing at all to the story. Midway through the first book, the pattern is already disappointly obvious, as the excellent subplots each dry up and are replaced with endlessly repetitive, soap opera-like personal dramas. Eventually, if you flounder through all the unnecessary drama of all three books, the ending is equally disappointing, as the main plot fades away to nothing, just like all the subplots did.
As hard science fiction, it could have been an excellent story, if simply told in a single novel and given a decent ending.
This is a hard science fiction story involving quite a few subplots, each of which would make a fine science fiction story all by itself. Unfortunately, each of those subplots simply fades away, eventually contributing nothing at all to the story. Midway through the first book, the pattern is already disappointly obvious, as the excellent subplots each dry up and are replaced with endlessly repetitive, soap opera-like personal dramas. Eventually, if you flounder through all the unnecessary drama of all three books, the ending is equally disappointing, as the main plot fades away to nothing, just like all the subplots did.
As hard science fiction, it could have been an excellent story, if simply told in a single novel and given a decent ending.
final volume in Reynold's great space opera trilogy, starting with Revelation Space and continuing in Redemption Ark before concluding here. While this book drags a bit in the middle third, it's a great read overall and full of great ideas and characters.
This rip-roaring space opera concludes Reynolds' Revelation / Redemption / Absolution trilogy with class. As with its predecessors, it's chock-full of good ideas and excellent characterisation. A great read.