book review

[jmtorres]

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds is far, far too long and contains far too many instances of "and all was revealed to character x" without letting the audience in on it. The big revelation is handed out in so many tiny bits and pieces over the course of 584 pages that by the time the characters (most of whom had known for about three hundred pages, give or take) kick back and discuss it amongst themselves at the end, you don't feel like you're getting a big revelation, you feel like you're getting a tiny, tiny crumb. Okay, sure, it's a tiny, tiny crumb affecting the fate of all of mankind and possibly some other species, but honestly? Still a tiny, tiny crumb.

Comments

[zortified.livejournal.com]

I didn't even finish the book. :-) made it to, I think, page 300 or so? maybe not that far. Gave up - sounds like I made a good choice. :-)

[jmtorres.livejournal.com]

Heh. Once I've gotten halfway through a book that size, I feel kind of obliged to see how it comes out.