This is the first in a series - but it is stand-alone- from one of my favorite hard sci-fi authors. A welshman with a PhD of Physics - he worked for many years for the European Space Agency.
Brilliant stuff that adheres to relativity.
Hi Alpaca,
As you say Reynolds observes the principles of relativity. Like Joe Haldeman - another physics graduate - he also uses the idea of ‘time dilation’ as a fictive distancing device. News and bodies travel slow in Reynold’s universe and his star born societies are like squabbling rats trapped in a smaller corner of some gothindustrial maze. He’s also adept at portraying morally compromised characters trying to make the best of almost impossibly scary situations: a bit like BSG really!
Incidentally, I wonder if Reynolds’ work might point the way for post BSG TV space opera? It would be cool to see a show which speculates about sub light interstellar travel.
Did some reading about Revelation Space. Looks interesting. Thanks for the suggestion.