"Hard core futuristic outer space action thriller"
Light years ago, the Inhibitors feared intelligent species
and built machines to stop any from developing. These
killing machines traveled the universe to destroy
intelligent life. Eons later, the machines must have
failed as intelligent species have arisen including humans
advancing throughout the cosmos. Late in the twentieth-sixth century, the human crew of the
Infinity learns why a sentient race suddenly vanished, but
the crew also innocently rouse the Inhibitors. The death
killing machines turn towards mankind for total
annihilation. Planets are eradicated to tap into the raw
material to build a doomsday destruction device never seen
before by humanity. As humans compete and even kill one
another to escape the coming genocide, only war criminal
Clavain seems remotely capable of stopping what looks like
human extinction. Though there is a bit of the middle novel syndrome to
REDEMPTION ARK, fans of hard core futuristic outer space
action thrillers based on scientific theory will relish
this Reynolds universe tale. The exciting story line picks
up about fifty years after the events of REVELATION SPACE,
but for the most part can stand on its own though reading
the debut novel first is recommended. The key human
characters are fully developed and make the audience
believe that they the readers too are part of a doomed
future because the Inhibitors seem so authentic. Those
fans who want premium outer space adventure will peruse
Alastair Reynolds's powerful two novels and its companion
but independent tale, CHASM CITY, as well as some related
short stories. This will have to satiate the audience
until book three is released next year. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted May 10, 2003
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