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Eversion
From the master of the space opera comes a dark, mind-bending adventure spread across time and space, where Doctor Silas Coade is tasked with keeping his crew safe as they adventure across the galaxy in search of a mysterious artifact.
In the 1800s, a sailing ship crashes off the coast of Norway. In the 1900s, a Zepellin explores an icy canyon in Antarctica. In the far future, a spaceship sets out for an alien artifact. Each excursion goes horribly wrong. And on every journey, Dr. Silas Coade is the physician, but only Silas seems to realize that these events keep repeating themselves. And it's up to him to figure out why and how. And how to stop it all from happening again.
In the 1800s, a sailing ship crashes off the coast of Norway. In the 1900s, a Zepellin explores an icy canyon in Antarctica. In the far future, a spaceship sets out for an alien artifact. Each excursion goes horribly wrong. And on every journey, Dr. Silas Coade is the physician, but only Silas seems to realize that these events keep repeating themselves. And it's up to him to figure out why and how. And how to stop it all from happening again.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2022
About the author
Alastair Reynolds
276 books8,348 followersI'm Al, I used to be a space scientist, and now I'm a writer, although for a time the two careers ran in parallel. I started off publishing short stories in the British SF magazine Interzone in the early 90s, then eventually branched into novels. I write about a novel a year and try to write a few short stories as well. Some of my books and stories are set in a consistent future named after Revelation Space, the first novel, but I've done a lot of other things as well and I like to keep things fresh between books.
I was born in Wales, but raised in Cornwall, and then spent time in the north of England and Scotland. I moved to the Netherlands to continue my science career and stayed there for a very long time, before eventually returning to Wales.
In my spare time I am a very keen runner, and I also enjoying hill-walking, birdwatching, horse-riding, guitar and model-making. I also dabble with paints now and then. I met my wife in the Netherlands through a mutual interest in climbing and we married back in Wales. We live surrounded by hills, woods and wildlife, and not too much excitement.
I was born in Wales, but raised in Cornwall, and then spent time in the north of England and Scotland. I moved to the Netherlands to continue my science career and stayed there for a very long time, before eventually returning to Wales.
In my spare time I am a very keen runner, and I also enjoying hill-walking, birdwatching, horse-riding, guitar and model-making. I also dabble with paints now and then. I met my wife in the Netherlands through a mutual interest in climbing and we married back in Wales. We live surrounded by hills, woods and wildlife, and not too much excitement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 808 reviews
August 15, 2022
“A ship is a dream of whispers, the dead man said.I’ve been familiar with Alastair Reynolds through his epic high-tech Revelation Space universe.
Whispers and dreams.
So I dreamed.”
Well, this is nothing like that.
This starts more like if “Moby Dick” (but an interesting version of it) had a literary baby with “Groundhog Day” while cheating on Jules Verne — but don’t worry, there will still be science fiction to come, although certainly not as space opera. But you still get to travel through time and space, on sailboats and steamboats and dirigibles and spaceships. The plot is a puzzle and a quest and an adventure, and even if a savvy reader manages to figure out what’s going on before the reveals, it’s still very much worth it and very clever. Nothing is as it seems.
And I loved it.
Alastair Reynolds is a very good writer. There is something crisply precise about his writing, even when stylized along the 19th century lines with a steampunk flavoring and a set of what seem to be alternate realities, all converging into a story that makes sense despite initial touch of confusion. It’s odd and weird and compelling, a story of denial and acceptance, friendship and hard ethical choices. A mind unraveling under pressure, forced to make choices that cause pain no matter how you look at that. Humanity, personhood, self-delusion, the question of what being alive means — all this is touched upon and is unexpectedly poignant.
I loved it. And I’m certainly planning to catch up with Reynolds’ back catalog since he seems to be consistently good.
4.5 stars.
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Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Also posted on my blog.
May 24, 2022
Think of Diamond Dogs, HMS Terror, Jules Verne, Edgar Allan Poe - or Agatha Christie - in a bunch of alternate realities with a steampunk flavour, and you'll have an idea on what's this book revolving around, but... not quite.
It's even gloomier than his other works and with a longer exposition than usual, but one that will pay off eventually. It gradually builds up tension, and is definitely messing with your mind - you won't be able to discern reality from imagination until almost at the end.
Another thing that differentiate it from the others is that it's missing the grand scope, the vast universe and distances, the immensity of time scale which I loved to read about in his other books. This one is focused more on human mind, the mystery behind its mechanisms of defense when dealing with something unbearable.
Overall, it's a bitter-sweet-dreadful novel, with an optimistic spirit about friendship, ethics, moral principles and tough choices. I was enraptured by the ingenuity of its construction, the (apparent) frailty of the main character, the premise and its conclusion, but I deeply missed the vastity of the universe. In Reynolds' novels I am not satisfied entirely with just the Solar system; I need more.
>>> ARC received thanks to Orion Publishing Group / Gollancz via NetGalley <<<
It's even gloomier than his other works and with a longer exposition than usual, but one that will pay off eventually. It gradually builds up tension, and is definitely messing with your mind - you won't be able to discern reality from imagination until almost at the end.
Another thing that differentiate it from the others is that it's missing the grand scope, the vast universe and distances, the immensity of time scale which I loved to read about in his other books. This one is focused more on human mind, the mystery behind its mechanisms of defense when dealing with something unbearable.
Overall, it's a bitter-sweet-dreadful novel, with an optimistic spirit about friendship, ethics, moral principles and tough choices. I was enraptured by the ingenuity of its construction, the (apparent) frailty of the main character, the premise and its conclusion, but I deeply missed the vastity of the universe. In Reynolds' novels I am not satisfied entirely with just the Solar system; I need more.
>>> ARC received thanks to Orion Publishing Group / Gollancz via NetGalley <<<
August 5, 2022
My second book by this author and I loved it!
Silas is a doctor on a sailing ship off the coast of Norway searching for an exploration ship that went there before. But Silas is also on a zeppelin exploring an icy canyon in Antarctica. And Silas is on a spaceship that has set out to find an alien artifact.
How is this possible? Well, Silas is asking himself the same question. Especially since the vessel's name as well as the crew are always the same and each expedition goes wrong (usually pretty badly too).
So why do events keep repeating albeit in a slightly different setting? What is the artifact that he seems to be after? How can he break the cycle?
The story was very fast-paced and I loved being thrown into the thick of it, being as disoriented as Silas. The characters were equally quirky and infuriating as well.
In short, a wonderful story that had me hooked from start to finish.
Silas is a doctor on a sailing ship off the coast of Norway searching for an exploration ship that went there before. But Silas is also on a zeppelin exploring an icy canyon in Antarctica. And Silas is on a spaceship that has set out to find an alien artifact.
How is this possible? Well, Silas is asking himself the same question. Especially since the vessel's name as well as the crew are always the same and each expedition goes wrong (usually pretty badly too).
So why do events keep repeating albeit in a slightly different setting? What is the artifact that he seems to be after? How can he break the cycle?
The story was very fast-paced and I loved being thrown into the thick of it, being as disoriented as Silas. The characters were equally quirky and infuriating as well.
In short, a wonderful story that had me hooked from start to finish.
August 2, 2022
Alastair Reynold's new standalone novel is a real keeper. At first, I thought it was a homage to Cloud Atlas by way of Dan Simmon's Terror, but after getting much farther along, I've got to say that its title gives it all away. And pleasantly so.
Eversion: not to be confused with inversion, is a fancy way of saying "inside-out". After being grounded in several incarnations of exploration ships, having twisted myself up with the great characterizations, I have to say that I came out of this a bit inside-out, as well.
But then there's the whole question of topology. And that's where things get really interesting.
Solid, or quite more than solid SF here. Reynolds is always one of my top to-go guys for the genre and he's proven himself many times over. I'm reminded of some of his very best short fiction in these pages, a huge-concept piece written adroitly, and in the end, he gives us a great psychological knife-twist.
I totally recommend this for lovers of old-and-new-school exploration fiction. The ice-on-the-boat ambiance totally got me going, as did the slow introduction to the mystery.
Eversion: not to be confused with inversion, is a fancy way of saying "inside-out". After being grounded in several incarnations of exploration ships, having twisted myself up with the great characterizations, I have to say that I came out of this a bit inside-out, as well.
But then there's the whole question of topology. And that's where things get really interesting.
Solid, or quite more than solid SF here. Reynolds is always one of my top to-go guys for the genre and he's proven himself many times over. I'm reminded of some of his very best short fiction in these pages, a huge-concept piece written adroitly, and in the end, he gives us a great psychological knife-twist.
I totally recommend this for lovers of old-and-new-school exploration fiction. The ice-on-the-boat ambiance totally got me going, as did the slow introduction to the mystery.
July 24, 2022
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/07/18/...
I confess, I haven’t had the best luck with Alastair Reynolds. I had the worst time with the first book I ever read by him (the title of which I can’t even remember anymore, it was that lackluster) so ever since then I’ve stayed far away.
But something about Eversion spoke to me. The book’s synopsis teased a sci-fi adventure across time and space, inviting readers to figure out a grand mystery. What does a sailing ship off the coast of Norway in the 1800s, a exploration zeppelin in the Antarctic in the 1900s, and a space ship seeking alien life in the far flung future all have in common?
For one, Dr. Silas Coade, a young assistant surgeon is at the head of all three narratives. Sailing on the Demeter, he first describes a treacherous journey through the icy narrow passages of the Norwegian straits as the expedition seeks a mysterious construct known as the Edifice. When disaster strikes, the Demeter meets the same fate as others ships that have attempted this doomed quest. Without skipping a beat though, readers next find Silas on a steamship, and next a dirigible, and finally on a spaceship. Basically, each time something terrible happens to end the expedition, but we always find ourselves in another time through the eyes of another incarnation of Dr. Silas Coade on a mission to search for the elusive Edifice. So just what is going on here?
Mind-bending does not even begin to describe Eversion. It’s definitely something special, and the entire plot is a puzzle to be solved. But even beyond that, there’s just an epicness to the difference pieces that make up this novel, from the harrowing maritime setting of the 1800s, to the steampunkish elements of adventure aboard an early twentieth century airship, and finally to the high-tech starship in the vast expanse of outer space. Even though there is a repetitiveness to the structure of the story, it grabbed me from page one. Obviously I cannot give away the answers, but I will say there are clues from the beginning that will make the gears in your head turn.
The characters also had such a big role to play in this. Silas is well-written and sympathetic. You only get to know a part of him when the book begins, but it’s enough to know that he’s a caring and dedicated doctor, well-liked among the crew. As the story progresses, we get to meet Silas in the other timelines and learn more about him as more of his personality and motives are revealed. And the beauty is that the full picture won’t be revealed until the very end.
Still, even when the mystery is solved, there is more. The final section of Eversion is probably the most rousing and exhilarating, thanks to the buildup of everything that came before. It gathers up all the threads and ties them up pretty well, and touches on some deeper philosophical themes about one’s existence and purpose.
Ultimately Eversion might not be anything like Reynolds’ space opera, but I honestly believe that’s to its advantage. This was a very clever and unique book and has single-handedly reawakened my interest in checking out more the author’s work.
I confess, I haven’t had the best luck with Alastair Reynolds. I had the worst time with the first book I ever read by him (the title of which I can’t even remember anymore, it was that lackluster) so ever since then I’ve stayed far away.
But something about Eversion spoke to me. The book’s synopsis teased a sci-fi adventure across time and space, inviting readers to figure out a grand mystery. What does a sailing ship off the coast of Norway in the 1800s, a exploration zeppelin in the Antarctic in the 1900s, and a space ship seeking alien life in the far flung future all have in common?
For one, Dr. Silas Coade, a young assistant surgeon is at the head of all three narratives. Sailing on the Demeter, he first describes a treacherous journey through the icy narrow passages of the Norwegian straits as the expedition seeks a mysterious construct known as the Edifice. When disaster strikes, the Demeter meets the same fate as others ships that have attempted this doomed quest. Without skipping a beat though, readers next find Silas on a steamship, and next a dirigible, and finally on a spaceship. Basically, each time something terrible happens to end the expedition, but we always find ourselves in another time through the eyes of another incarnation of Dr. Silas Coade on a mission to search for the elusive Edifice. So just what is going on here?
Mind-bending does not even begin to describe Eversion. It’s definitely something special, and the entire plot is a puzzle to be solved. But even beyond that, there’s just an epicness to the difference pieces that make up this novel, from the harrowing maritime setting of the 1800s, to the steampunkish elements of adventure aboard an early twentieth century airship, and finally to the high-tech starship in the vast expanse of outer space. Even though there is a repetitiveness to the structure of the story, it grabbed me from page one. Obviously I cannot give away the answers, but I will say there are clues from the beginning that will make the gears in your head turn.
The characters also had such a big role to play in this. Silas is well-written and sympathetic. You only get to know a part of him when the book begins, but it’s enough to know that he’s a caring and dedicated doctor, well-liked among the crew. As the story progresses, we get to meet Silas in the other timelines and learn more about him as more of his personality and motives are revealed. And the beauty is that the full picture won’t be revealed until the very end.
Still, even when the mystery is solved, there is more. The final section of Eversion is probably the most rousing and exhilarating, thanks to the buildup of everything that came before. It gathers up all the threads and ties them up pretty well, and touches on some deeper philosophical themes about one’s existence and purpose.
Ultimately Eversion might not be anything like Reynolds’ space opera, but I honestly believe that’s to its advantage. This was a very clever and unique book and has single-handedly reawakened my interest in checking out more the author’s work.
June 12, 2023
I enjoyed it
July 19, 2022
Eversion is a thoroughly compelling and chilling near future space mystery that feels a bit like some of the best reality warping parts of a Philip K. Dick novel (Ubik comes to mind most readily) along with the mysterious foreboding and wonder of a cryptic alien artifact from a sci-fi classic like Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama or 2001: A Space Odyssey. At its heart it's a poignant tale with a grand reveal that develops throughout the narrative via the protagonist's recurring processes of denial and acceptance and is pretty mind blowing. It falls somewhat outside Reynolds' usual space opera fare, but is no less masterful in its crafting and execution, adopting a tone generally more hopeful and less darkly baroque than his widely acclaimed Revelation Space series.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
December 15, 2022
"The monster you don’t think you’re capable of becoming, you already have."
It begins on a nineteenth century sailing ship, with a Captain Ahab-like obsession, searching for a strange fissure in the ice that will lead to a mysterious structure. The sense of foreboding builds as the ship gets ever nearer to the object of its search, then suddenly things get totally strange and the reader is taken on a journey through time and space. The story moves from sailing ship to steam ship to air ship and onward, all with the same crew and the same mission. A fascinating read even if, as is always the case with Reynolds, a little too complex for my tiny brain to fully appreciate. A recommendation for science fiction fans.
It begins on a nineteenth century sailing ship, with a Captain Ahab-like obsession, searching for a strange fissure in the ice that will lead to a mysterious structure. The sense of foreboding builds as the ship gets ever nearer to the object of its search, then suddenly things get totally strange and the reader is taken on a journey through time and space. The story moves from sailing ship to steam ship to air ship and onward, all with the same crew and the same mission. A fascinating read even if, as is always the case with Reynolds, a little too complex for my tiny brain to fully appreciate. A recommendation for science fiction fans.
July 4, 2022
This book came as a complete surprise to me. Having had mixed feelings on Reynolds’ Revelation Space Trilogy — fascinating concepts, plots, and a few great characters tinged with stilted writing and excruciating pacing — my expectations going in were reasonably moderate. I was intrigued by the premise, since the expansive ideas and mysteries that were promised have been my favourite aspects of Reynolds’ work. It ended up being a compelling page-turner with extremely clever writing, my favourite Reynolds book by a significant margin.
The book follows Silas Coade, a medical doctor in the 1800s aboard a ship, commissioned to investigate a mysterious artifact hidden in the ice off the coast of Norway. In the 1900s, Silas Coade is the physician on an airship investigating an inexplicable artifact in the Antarctic. And in the distant future, he is the doctor aboard a spaceship investigating a mysterious artifact in space. He begins to realize that there is something horribly wrong with these missions, wondering why only he can remember memories and information that makes no sense.
This story is, at its core, a mystery — Silas attempting to unravel the anomalies in his experience of reality and the unknown artifact while trying to keep his crew and friends alive. The voyages of adventure and exploration into the unknown are reminiscent of Jules Verne, mixed with some Lovecraftian, eldritch aspects and elements of horror. It was engaging from the very beginning, small hints that something is not right with these situations and trying to uncover what exactly is going on. The plot is very clever — when you finally think you have a grasp on events, it throws you for a loop and makes you question everything you learned. It does this in a way that doesn’t feel frustrating or overdone, but compelling in its confusion.
One of my issues with Revelation Space were the poorly sketched characters, barring a few like Scorpio. I don’t have that problem at all here. The minor characters are distinguishable and serve their roles well. Silas is a well-written protagonist with compelling internal conflict, but you only get the full picture once the book is complete, so it’s hard to judge at first. There were a few emotional beats at the end that landed surprisingly well, since I didn’t expect to be that invested by the characters alone. It is clear though, that the characters are made more interesting by the situations they find themselves in.
The last quarter of the book was what made it amazing. Before that, I was really enjoying the story and the mysteries being built up, but the ending explained and wrapped things up extremely well. It didn’t give all the information so as to lose the sense of wonder, but enough to answer the burning questions and resolve the central journey. The themes explored here are also quite interesting. It deals with illusions of reality — how it is fundamentally affected by perception and self-delusion, and exploring what it means to be alive, what it means to be human.
All of this becomes clear only after certain revelations that change how you look at past events, so rereading this book will be an interesting experience with that knowledge in mind. Eversion was a pleasant surprise, a well-crafted and compelling mystery science-fiction story that keeps you questioning, with cleverly unpredictable but logical explanations and engaging character conflict.
The book follows Silas Coade, a medical doctor in the 1800s aboard a ship, commissioned to investigate a mysterious artifact hidden in the ice off the coast of Norway. In the 1900s, Silas Coade is the physician on an airship investigating an inexplicable artifact in the Antarctic. And in the distant future, he is the doctor aboard a spaceship investigating a mysterious artifact in space. He begins to realize that there is something horribly wrong with these missions, wondering why only he can remember memories and information that makes no sense.
This story is, at its core, a mystery — Silas attempting to unravel the anomalies in his experience of reality and the unknown artifact while trying to keep his crew and friends alive. The voyages of adventure and exploration into the unknown are reminiscent of Jules Verne, mixed with some Lovecraftian, eldritch aspects and elements of horror. It was engaging from the very beginning, small hints that something is not right with these situations and trying to uncover what exactly is going on. The plot is very clever — when you finally think you have a grasp on events, it throws you for a loop and makes you question everything you learned. It does this in a way that doesn’t feel frustrating or overdone, but compelling in its confusion.
One of my issues with Revelation Space were the poorly sketched characters, barring a few like Scorpio. I don’t have that problem at all here. The minor characters are distinguishable and serve their roles well. Silas is a well-written protagonist with compelling internal conflict, but you only get the full picture once the book is complete, so it’s hard to judge at first. There were a few emotional beats at the end that landed surprisingly well, since I didn’t expect to be that invested by the characters alone. It is clear though, that the characters are made more interesting by the situations they find themselves in.
The last quarter of the book was what made it amazing. Before that, I was really enjoying the story and the mysteries being built up, but the ending explained and wrapped things up extremely well. It didn’t give all the information so as to lose the sense of wonder, but enough to answer the burning questions and resolve the central journey. The themes explored here are also quite interesting. It deals with illusions of reality — how it is fundamentally affected by perception and self-delusion, and exploring what it means to be alive, what it means to be human.
All of this becomes clear only after certain revelations that change how you look at past events, so rereading this book will be an interesting experience with that knowledge in mind. Eversion was a pleasant surprise, a well-crafted and compelling mystery science-fiction story that keeps you questioning, with cleverly unpredictable but logical explanations and engaging character conflict.
August 13, 2022
3.5 stars
This felt like a departure from Reynolds' typical novels. As a standalone, this is a short accessible read. However, if a reader is wanting to try Reynolds' work, I don't think this book is not very representative of his other stories.
For me, the strength of Reynolds is his ability to write sweeping space opera with incredible worldbuilding. Yet this novel is instead very intimate and small in scale. This novel is much more plot and character driven, which is not the author's strength.
I sound critical only because I have such high expectations of this author. Compared to the average sci fi thriller, this one was solid with a bit of mystery and an intriguing plot.
If you are looking for an easy sci fi suspense than I would recommend this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This felt like a departure from Reynolds' typical novels. As a standalone, this is a short accessible read. However, if a reader is wanting to try Reynolds' work, I don't think this book is not very representative of his other stories.
For me, the strength of Reynolds is his ability to write sweeping space opera with incredible worldbuilding. Yet this novel is instead very intimate and small in scale. This novel is much more plot and character driven, which is not the author's strength.
I sound critical only because I have such high expectations of this author. Compared to the average sci fi thriller, this one was solid with a bit of mystery and an intriguing plot.
If you are looking for an easy sci fi suspense than I would recommend this one.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 16, 2023
I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book!! Wow, wow, wow!! I’m SO glad that I went into this one totally blind. This was *nothing* like what I was expecting, and a very “trust the process” type read, but it was VERY cool. Big recommend. One day read for me, because even though the structure was somewhat jarring, I just HAD to keep going to figure out what the heck was going on. And it didn’t disappoint. Excellent standalone sci-fi with a gothic horror twist. 300 pages with a giant font, or 10 hours reg speed audio. Also the audio was excellent.
August 28, 2022
Wow.
Eversion wowed me with the mind-bending mix of science fiction, cosmic horror, and intriguing characters who're not what they seem. I was expecting hard science fiction, but Eversion begins aboard the Demeter, a ship sailing along the Norwegian coast in the early 19th century. A small group of explorers is searching for the Edifice, a remote and mysterious artifact hidden somewhere on the ice.
The narrative follows doctor Silas Coade, who has disturbing dreams and a habit of dying and then continuing the mission on another vessel and in another timeline. And that's all I can say about the story without spoiling it. A big part of the fun of reading Eversion comes from trying to piece together the puzzles and understand what's going on.
Reynolds describes in great detail the technologies and mathematics used to locate and identify the Edifice (great use of the Big Dumb Object trope). Fans of science will be thrilled to follow it. But readers more interested in the characters and the emotional core of the story will also enjoy this one. At each stage of this mystery, the characters reveal different facets of their personalities and inner drives. Silas longs for things (and relationships) that are unattainable for various reasons. He also seems to "reset" reality when he gets too close to the truth. Why? Well, that's the core of the mystery!
Suffice it to say, Silas's arc is stunning and mind-bending. While science is crucial to the story, it has a strong, emotional ending rather than a cerebral one.
If you're into science-fiction stories that require attention to detail and a certain interest in mathematics, you'll love Eversion. If you don't, you should still be able to appreciate its emotional core.
Highly recommended.
Eversion wowed me with the mind-bending mix of science fiction, cosmic horror, and intriguing characters who're not what they seem. I was expecting hard science fiction, but Eversion begins aboard the Demeter, a ship sailing along the Norwegian coast in the early 19th century. A small group of explorers is searching for the Edifice, a remote and mysterious artifact hidden somewhere on the ice.
The narrative follows doctor Silas Coade, who has disturbing dreams and a habit of dying and then continuing the mission on another vessel and in another timeline. And that's all I can say about the story without spoiling it. A big part of the fun of reading Eversion comes from trying to piece together the puzzles and understand what's going on.
Reynolds describes in great detail the technologies and mathematics used to locate and identify the Edifice (great use of the Big Dumb Object trope). Fans of science will be thrilled to follow it. But readers more interested in the characters and the emotional core of the story will also enjoy this one. At each stage of this mystery, the characters reveal different facets of their personalities and inner drives. Silas longs for things (and relationships) that are unattainable for various reasons. He also seems to "reset" reality when he gets too close to the truth. Why? Well, that's the core of the mystery!
Suffice it to say, Silas's arc is stunning and mind-bending. While science is crucial to the story, it has a strong, emotional ending rather than a cerebral one.
If you're into science-fiction stories that require attention to detail and a certain interest in mathematics, you'll love Eversion. If you don't, you should still be able to appreciate its emotional core.
Highly recommended.
October 11, 2022
Excellent and mind-bending.
Reynolds demonstrates his writing skill to great effect in yet another twisty timeline shifting story. This is as good as Permafrost, which remains one of my favourite novellas. I can't really say much about Eversion without giving too much away, although I will say you may want to skip even the synopsis and just go in on blind faith that Reynolds knows how to tell a good story.
Reynolds demonstrates his writing skill to great effect in yet another twisty timeline shifting story. This is as good as Permafrost, which remains one of my favourite novellas. I can't really say much about Eversion without giving too much away, although I will say you may want to skip even the synopsis and just go in on blind faith that Reynolds knows how to tell a good story.
October 7, 2022
This is a SF novel, which starts as a historical novel about naval exploration, but then grows to something more. The author – Alastair Reynolds – is quite famous for his space opera Revelation Space as well as other works, but I’ve never read him before, except for his novella Permafrost. I liked what I’ve read and plan to try more from him. I read it as a part of monthly reading for October 2022 at SFF Hot from Printers: New Releases group. The book was published in 2022 and therefore eligible for the next year's SFF awards.
The story starts with a physician Doctor Silas Coade on a ship Demeter getting a new patient – one of the ship’s crew got hit in the head and is now convulsing – so the good doctor has to do a trepanation to decrease pressure. A group of other people visits Coade, quite a strange bunch, from Master Topolsky, who organized the expedition (and claims friendship of both Peter I and Catherine II, setting the time period to the middle of the 18th century) to Milady Ada Cossile, who upon witnessing the abovementioned operation, gives a lecture on different roots for words trepanation and trephination (which aren’t etymologically related). Moreover, readers find out that Coade writes a novel, a kind of proto-SF, with such impossible marvels as “Ships that sail by steam, cannons that fire volleys without being reloaded, and paintings that compose themselves by light alone".
Upon reading the ship’s name, I assumed relation to Dracula, where the ship with the same name is used. As the story develops, the relationship, not direct but in the mood and gloom remains until the story twists suddenly.
This is a very well-written novel published this year that I’ve read, definitely a worthy nominee for SFF awards. The prose is flowing, the plot grips the attention and keeps to the end.
The story starts with a physician Doctor Silas Coade on a ship Demeter getting a new patient – one of the ship’s crew got hit in the head and is now convulsing – so the good doctor has to do a trepanation to decrease pressure. A group of other people visits Coade, quite a strange bunch, from Master Topolsky, who organized the expedition (and claims friendship of both Peter I and Catherine II, setting the time period to the middle of the 18th century) to Milady Ada Cossile, who upon witnessing the abovementioned operation, gives a lecture on different roots for words trepanation and trephination (which aren’t etymologically related). Moreover, readers find out that Coade writes a novel, a kind of proto-SF, with such impossible marvels as “Ships that sail by steam, cannons that fire volleys without being reloaded, and paintings that compose themselves by light alone".
Upon reading the ship’s name, I assumed relation to Dracula, where the ship with the same name is used. As the story develops, the relationship, not direct but in the mood and gloom remains until the story twists suddenly.
This is a very well-written novel published this year that I’ve read, definitely a worthy nominee for SFF awards. The prose is flowing, the plot grips the attention and keeps to the end.
July 19, 2022
Alastair Reynolds has already proved himself a master of intelligent space opera such as Shadow Captain - with Eversion he enters more exotic territory, giving us an SF novel where things are much more weird and wonderful, and he succeeds equally well here.
We start Eversion on a nineteenth century sailing ship, looking for a strange fissure in the sub-Atlantic ice that is thought to lead to a vast, mysterious structure. The narrative is told from the point of view of Dr Coade, the Demeter's surgeon, along with a number of suitably disparate characters (one with a name surely intended to bring A. E. van Vogt to mind). These range from a greedy financier to an obsessively driven mathematician and cartographer, plus a titled lady who seems intent on ridiculing Coade, particularly over his attempt at writing a scientific romance.
Before long, soon after the crew discover the wreck of the Europa, the ship that was supposed to have brought back news of the walled city (or whatever the structure is), the Demeter faces disaster. From here on in things get decidedly strange: Coade is suddenly on a steam ship rounding Cape Horn, but with the same crew and the same mission.
The mystery we - and Coade - are faced with is working out what is really happening, what the vast structure is and what has happened to the crew of the Europa. This is the kind of long-lasting, puzzling, 'what the heck is going on?' scenario that occurs in some of the best of Gene Wolfe's fantasies such as Castleview and There Are Doors - but it is less often found in science fiction, and Reynolds makes a great job of dealing it.
The only problem with such an 'unwrap the multi-layered puzzle' book is how to end it. Wolfe has a tendency to not really bother, leaving it to the reader to work out. The alternative, which Reynolds uses here, is to have quite a lot of exposition at the end. I'm not sure either works perfectly - but this doesn't stop the mystery being a wonderful experience for the reader, as long as you are prepared to let go and see how things develop, rather than expect to understand everything that's happening before getting near the end.
One thing that, frustratingly, isn't fully explained is the eversion of the title - I can't sensibly describe what this refers to without giving too much away, but it's pretty much presented as a given without the reason for it happening being explored. Again, though, this doesn't get in the way of the excellent storytelling.
Overall, Reynolds paces things well and builds the mystery at the same time as giving clues that will allow some to enjoy a sense of achievement in getting ahead of the narrative - it's a beautifully constructed novel and never fails to keep the reader engaged. I'm not a natural audience for the opening period nautical setting - but it still interested me and as the situation develops and changes, the book really takes off. An excellent addition to Reynolds' impressive collection of reliably entertaining science fiction.
We start Eversion on a nineteenth century sailing ship, looking for a strange fissure in the sub-Atlantic ice that is thought to lead to a vast, mysterious structure. The narrative is told from the point of view of Dr Coade, the Demeter's surgeon, along with a number of suitably disparate characters (one with a name surely intended to bring A. E. van Vogt to mind). These range from a greedy financier to an obsessively driven mathematician and cartographer, plus a titled lady who seems intent on ridiculing Coade, particularly over his attempt at writing a scientific romance.
Before long, soon after the crew discover the wreck of the Europa, the ship that was supposed to have brought back news of the walled city (or whatever the structure is), the Demeter faces disaster. From here on in things get decidedly strange: Coade is suddenly on a steam ship rounding Cape Horn, but with the same crew and the same mission.
The mystery we - and Coade - are faced with is working out what is really happening, what the vast structure is and what has happened to the crew of the Europa. This is the kind of long-lasting, puzzling, 'what the heck is going on?' scenario that occurs in some of the best of Gene Wolfe's fantasies such as Castleview and There Are Doors - but it is less often found in science fiction, and Reynolds makes a great job of dealing it.
The only problem with such an 'unwrap the multi-layered puzzle' book is how to end it. Wolfe has a tendency to not really bother, leaving it to the reader to work out. The alternative, which Reynolds uses here, is to have quite a lot of exposition at the end. I'm not sure either works perfectly - but this doesn't stop the mystery being a wonderful experience for the reader, as long as you are prepared to let go and see how things develop, rather than expect to understand everything that's happening before getting near the end.
One thing that, frustratingly, isn't fully explained is the eversion of the title - I can't sensibly describe what this refers to without giving too much away, but it's pretty much presented as a given without the reason for it happening being explored. Again, though, this doesn't get in the way of the excellent storytelling.
Overall, Reynolds paces things well and builds the mystery at the same time as giving clues that will allow some to enjoy a sense of achievement in getting ahead of the narrative - it's a beautifully constructed novel and never fails to keep the reader engaged. I'm not a natural audience for the opening period nautical setting - but it still interested me and as the situation develops and changes, the book really takes off. An excellent addition to Reynolds' impressive collection of reliably entertaining science fiction.
September 5, 2022
Dr Silas Coade is a ship's physician aboard the Demeter on a voyage of discovery to a mysterious edifice off the coast of Norway. Only something very strange is happening, both with Silas's fellow crew and the mission itself.
Try to avoid spoilers for this one. A good part of its delight is the scraping away of layers through the stories iteration to discover what is really happening with the mission.
Try to avoid spoilers for this one. A good part of its delight is the scraping away of layers through the stories iteration to discover what is really happening with the mission.
October 18, 2022
Eversion isn't set within the Revelation Space series universe. It's entirely standalone. The main question you have to ask yourself is how much you think you'd enjoy reading about the same cast of characters sequentially going through similar scenarios at different times and locations for most of the book. If you don't mind that sort of repetition then this shouldn't be a problem for you. Eversion tries to do a lot, so in terms of genre I'd say it's a mystery adventure with a science fiction background and a few horror elements. The vast majority of its narrative takes place on a ship of some sort. It starts out as an 1800s nautical tale of an assistant surgeon as part of a crew seeking to find a location off the coast of Norway.
I didn't really care for any of the characters, but that's not uncommon for me when reading works by Reynolds. As one ought to expect from this author, the characters have memory and identity issues. My enjoyment started going downhill somewhat more than halfway through because I didn't like the current scenario or those that came after. This is also when the mysteries start being explained rather than hinted at. I found the plot and its twists to be rather lacking. Because Eversion has far fewer pages than his Revelation Space novels, I thought its page count would be appropriate. I was wrong. This should've been a novella. Apparently I wanted an entirely different story than what was written.
Maybe I would've enjoyed it a bit more if I just went through it without thinking about it at all, or didn't know anything at all about it whatsoever. I don't know. I'd be disappointed regardless. I felt like dropping it at a few points because I simply wasn't engaged at all. The further along I got the less I enjoyed myself. The main reason I read it was to have read something published this month. I had hoped it would be more somewhat more enjoyable than it was. On a whim I read this with others as well because doing stuff with others can make basically anything at least somewhat better, ideally anyway.
I didn't really care for any of the characters, but that's not uncommon for me when reading works by Reynolds. As one ought to expect from this author, the characters have memory and identity issues. My enjoyment started going downhill somewhat more than halfway through because I didn't like the current scenario or those that came after. This is also when the mysteries start being explained rather than hinted at. I found the plot and its twists to be rather lacking. Because Eversion has far fewer pages than his Revelation Space novels, I thought its page count would be appropriate. I was wrong. This should've been a novella. Apparently I wanted an entirely different story than what was written.
Maybe I would've enjoyed it a bit more if I just went through it without thinking about it at all, or didn't know anything at all about it whatsoever. I don't know. I'd be disappointed regardless. I felt like dropping it at a few points because I simply wasn't engaged at all. The further along I got the less I enjoyed myself. The main reason I read it was to have read something published this month. I had hoped it would be more somewhat more enjoyable than it was. On a whim I read this with others as well because doing stuff with others can make basically anything at least somewhat better, ideally anyway.
October 15, 2022
Well, that was amazing, start to finish, and a gamble, initially, since I had never read anything by this author before, having heard he wrote hard science fiction, which isn’t my thing. But the summary of this book intrigued me enough to have me taking a chance on it, and it ended up checking all the boxes for me and truly exceeding my expectations. It was part mystery, part adventure story, part historical fiction, part science fiction, and always mind bending, the story twisting this way and that, which is no surprise, considering its title. The word “eversion” means a turning or being turned outward or inside out. This is what your brain will feel like while reading this book as you travel along with the main character, Doctor Silas Coade, and become a passenger in his seemingly living nightmare.
To tell you more of the story would be giving too much away. Just know you’ll be puzzled throughout this book, but in a good way, as you try to solve the mystery and make sense of whatever it is the good doctor is going through. And know that the characters are sympathetic ones that take front and center, investing you in what happens to them. To top it off, the ending was satisfying and one I never would have guessed. It had me wanting to turn back to page one and begin reading the book all over again.
To tell you more of the story would be giving too much away. Just know you’ll be puzzled throughout this book, but in a good way, as you try to solve the mystery and make sense of whatever it is the good doctor is going through. And know that the characters are sympathetic ones that take front and center, investing you in what happens to them. To top it off, the ending was satisfying and one I never would have guessed. It had me wanting to turn back to page one and begin reading the book all over again.
August 15, 2022
Reading this book is the literary equivalent of doing mushrooms. Let me explain.
Eversion is the latest from Alastair Reynolds and my first book by him. I always thought he was the space guy, but this book is about a cast of characters on a ship, off the coast of Norway. I settled into the book quickly because of his effortless prose and short chapters. I was digging it quite a bit, but by the 100-page mark, something seems a little wonky. Slowly this feeling creeps up on you, and by the halfway point the mindfuckery begins. This is the part where you would normally question your choices in life. Then you watch it unravel, and when it 'clicks' it feels great. Now you can finish out the last 50-60 pages of this in the bliss state.
8.5/10 - definitely interested in reading more by this guy. New release, and short - go for it.
Please Note - I have not done mushrooms, and my accurate descriptions are pure coincidence.
Eversion is the latest from Alastair Reynolds and my first book by him. I always thought he was the space guy, but this book is about a cast of characters on a ship, off the coast of Norway. I settled into the book quickly because of his effortless prose and short chapters. I was digging it quite a bit, but by the 100-page mark, something seems a little wonky. Slowly this feeling creeps up on you, and by the halfway point the mindfuckery begins. This is the part where you would normally question your choices in life. Then you watch it unravel, and when it 'clicks' it feels great. Now you can finish out the last 50-60 pages of this in the bliss state.
8.5/10 - definitely interested in reading more by this guy. New release, and short - go for it.
Please Note - I have not done mushrooms, and my accurate descriptions are pure coincidence.
June 28, 2022
Starts quite interestingly and the first half is excellent with lots of cool stuff, inventiveness, and making one want to turn pages to see where it goes next, but then it kind of peters out in a predictable storyline (wouldn't want to say more not to spoil it), though the ending at least is good.
November 3, 2023
DNF @ 50%
What I expected from the blurb and what this book is about is miles apart.
50% in and were still in the 1800's? I want Sci in my SciFi.
Also, it's just boring verbosity.
What I expected from the blurb and what this book is about is miles apart.
50% in and were still in the 1800's? I want Sci in my SciFi.
Also, it's just boring verbosity.
February 26, 2023
Finished a while ago. Too bad I don't have enough time to comment properly this novel. Suffice it to say that it is good science fiction and that I am happy to know that, with so many first novels currently being published (nothing against new authors, of course, all of them are very welcome), established writers like Alastair Reynolds are still contributing with their talented works to the science fiction genre.
Eversion is a standalone novel. About the plot: It starts out as a classic voyage of exploration in the arctic and ends up turning into something more fantastic and at the same time more sinister. Recommended.
Eversion is a standalone novel. About the plot: It starts out as a classic voyage of exploration in the arctic and ends up turning into something more fantastic and at the same time more sinister. Recommended.
September 7, 2023
My first book by Alastair Reynolds did NOT disappoint. I read this in 4 days straight, in my inbetween moments of work and life, and it was truly hard for me to put down.
Eversion is an excellent, time-hopping, swashbuckling adventure, with a great twist about 60% into the narrative. A 'this explains' moment that doesn't get boring, and in fact ups the stakes.
The novel is very well written, with excellent characterisation. I loved Silas Coade, and Ramos the expeditions Mexican chief of security. Ada was hilarious.
Think pulpy adventures with a hard SF twist, mysteries that infold in strange but tangible ways, characters who need to face the hard truths about themselves they are desperate to forget.
This novel would make an excellent movie. Preferably directed by Christopher Nolan.
I look forward to reading more of Reynold's novels in the future!
Eversion is an excellent, time-hopping, swashbuckling adventure, with a great twist about 60% into the narrative. A 'this explains' moment that doesn't get boring, and in fact ups the stakes.
The novel is very well written, with excellent characterisation. I loved Silas Coade, and Ramos the expeditions Mexican chief of security. Ada was hilarious.
Think pulpy adventures with a hard SF twist, mysteries that infold in strange but tangible ways, characters who need to face the hard truths about themselves they are desperate to forget.
This novel would make an excellent movie. Preferably directed by Christopher Nolan.
I look forward to reading more of Reynold's novels in the future!
July 1, 2022
What a weird little story. Definately not Reynold's standard fare. Kind of charming, and odd, but entertaining. It takes a while to figure out what's going on. But I enjoyed it. And the ending was rather lovely.
August 10, 2022
4.5/5
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a sci-fi book that has some really intriguing mysteries. This was my first Reynolds and it won't be my last.
The less you know about this book going in the better. Going in blind is very satisfying, just make sure you have some patience with it as it won't be quite what you expect in the beginning, but things are slowly revealed and it's pretty mind blowing.
This kind of sci-fi is usually criticized for having weak characters but I connected with a number of them here and they're all fairly distinct and have interesting backgrounds. I was definitely invested in them and how they would fare in the challenges that come up throughout the story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a sci-fi book that has some really intriguing mysteries. This was my first Reynolds and it won't be my last.
The less you know about this book going in the better. Going in blind is very satisfying, just make sure you have some patience with it as it won't be quite what you expect in the beginning, but things are slowly revealed and it's pretty mind blowing.
This kind of sci-fi is usually criticized for having weak characters but I connected with a number of them here and they're all fairly distinct and have interesting backgrounds. I was definitely invested in them and how they would fare in the challenges that come up throughout the story.
September 5, 2023
I read the book blurb, took a good look at the cover (blue version) and googled Eversion, which led me to watch animations of what sphere eversion could look like. Other than I tried to stay away from spoilers (this is me, going over my review again, shortening and „de-spoilering“ it…).
The story is quite odd, actually. It feels a bit like those idle games for smart phones, where you have to destroy your current evolution of the game in order to progress to the next level. Silas keeps figuring things out slowly and a little further with each progressive step of the plot. It‘s a neat way to create suspense.
I am surprised that this book hasn‘t been shelved as horror. I found it quite claustrophobic and not a little creepy. It has been tagged as Space Opera though, which I don‘t think applies. Gothic steampunk time-travel space-exploration mystery?
I would have liked to connect more deeply with Silas on his journey of (self-)discovery. His ethical dilemma was well-done, but could have been… just more? Funny, I never thought I would turn into a reader wanting more character development.
Very good audio narration.
What I have read so far by Reynolds, I liked. I am going about it quite haphazardly though. Perhaps I should have a closer look at his back catalogue and make an attempt at a more coordinated reading experience.
Read so far by Reynolds, both 5-star reads:
The Prefect (Prefect Dreyfus Emergency, #1)
Blue Remembered Earth (Poseidon’s Children, #1)
On my shelf, to be read:
Permafrost
Revenger (Revenger, #1)
The story is quite odd, actually. It feels a bit like those idle games for smart phones, where you have to destroy your current evolution of the game in order to progress to the next level. Silas keeps figuring things out slowly and a little further with each progressive step of the plot. It‘s a neat way to create suspense.
I am surprised that this book hasn‘t been shelved as horror. I found it quite claustrophobic and not a little creepy. It has been tagged as Space Opera though, which I don‘t think applies. Gothic steampunk time-travel space-exploration mystery?
I would have liked to connect more deeply with Silas on his journey of (self-)discovery. His ethical dilemma was well-done, but could have been… just more? Funny, I never thought I would turn into a reader wanting more character development.
Very good audio narration.
What I have read so far by Reynolds, I liked. I am going about it quite haphazardly though. Perhaps I should have a closer look at his back catalogue and make an attempt at a more coordinated reading experience.
Read so far by Reynolds, both 5-star reads:
The Prefect (Prefect Dreyfus Emergency, #1)
Blue Remembered Earth (Poseidon’s Children, #1)
On my shelf, to be read:
Permafrost
Revenger (Revenger, #1)
May 31, 2023
A very unpredictable book that I thoroughly enjoyed because of the amazing performance on the audiobook. All of the characters are voiced by Harry Myers and he does a great job at making every character sound distinct even with a few different accents that were needed for this one. I think the author did a great job at making the main character feel real and portray how many others would respond under similar circumstances.
December 5, 2022
7.5/10
I've never read a book by Alastair Reynolds but it's an author I'm aware of and know he's a well thought of name in the sci-fi community. So when I started reading this book I was a little confused as to why we were in the 1800's aboard a ship off the coast of Norway. One thing I noticed though, it was really compelling to read and the characters were interesting. It's not often you can feel immersed in a book so quickly but this is one that I can say did the task well and in a short space of time.
This tale is set over a number of different time periods all involving Dr Silas Coade and each version echoes the other. There are many time twists throughout this and each period is enjoyable in it's own way. I really enjoyed the story and the differing periods but the ending fell a little flat for me overall. I was impressed with the majority of this though and would recommend to anyone slightly interested and it has definitely made his works jump higher in my list of "to-reads".
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy for review.
I've never read a book by Alastair Reynolds but it's an author I'm aware of and know he's a well thought of name in the sci-fi community. So when I started reading this book I was a little confused as to why we were in the 1800's aboard a ship off the coast of Norway. One thing I noticed though, it was really compelling to read and the characters were interesting. It's not often you can feel immersed in a book so quickly but this is one that I can say did the task well and in a short space of time.
This tale is set over a number of different time periods all involving Dr Silas Coade and each version echoes the other. There are many time twists throughout this and each period is enjoyable in it's own way. I really enjoyed the story and the differing periods but the ending fell a little flat for me overall. I was impressed with the majority of this though and would recommend to anyone slightly interested and it has definitely made his works jump higher in my list of "to-reads".
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy for review.
July 28, 2022
A new Alastair Reynolds novel is always a cause for celebration, even if my enjoyment of them is inconsistent. In Eversion, though space is a part of the setting, time is far more important. Reynolds takes your classic science-fiction trope of a time loop story, and he spins it just enough to keep things fresh. Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the eARC!
Silas Coade is the assistant surgeon (well, only surgeon) aboard the Demeter, a sailing ship bound for the coast of Norway. Sorry, a steamship bound for the coast of South America. Sorry, a zeppelin bound for—OK, that’s about all I’m going to reveal. It’s a time loop, but it isn’t a time loop. Silas lives through similar-yet-subtly-different events over and over as part of an expedition to explore a curious and alien Edifice. Each time, he dies in some spectacular fashion, and another member of the expedition consistently drops her mask long enough to reveal that she knows something about what Silas is experiencing.
The key to the success of Eversion is in Reynolds’ delight in how he describes each setting. The first several chapters of the book only ever hint at the science-fictional premise behind the events; taken separately, they are simply adventure stories about a ship on a mission for exploration and profit. Reynolds harnesses the tropes and storytelling devices in the tradition of authors like Jules Verne, creating an immersive, entertaining atmosphere with each setting Silas finds himself in. I love each of them.
Alas, Reynolds finally drops the mask and allows Silas (and by extension, the reader) to see “reality,” I as let down. I thought the twist regarding Silas’s nature to be somewhat boring. It wasn’t predictable per se, at least not for me, but I was hoping for something … deeper, I guess? The same holds true for the nature of the Edifice and its antagonistic qualities. The second half of the novel is weaker, for there is much less danger for our protagonists. It becomes a kind of journey of exposition and self-discovery—and that has merit, I would agree, but it doesn’t hold interest as much as the tension of the first half did for me.
That being said, I liked the ending and the resolution. As always, Reynolds might not consistently wow me with his stories, but he does make me think. His approach to science fiction is always interesting, thoughtful, and worth a read.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
Silas Coade is the assistant surgeon (well, only surgeon) aboard the Demeter, a sailing ship bound for the coast of Norway. Sorry, a steamship bound for the coast of South America. Sorry, a zeppelin bound for—OK, that’s about all I’m going to reveal. It’s a time loop, but it isn’t a time loop. Silas lives through similar-yet-subtly-different events over and over as part of an expedition to explore a curious and alien Edifice. Each time, he dies in some spectacular fashion, and another member of the expedition consistently drops her mask long enough to reveal that she knows something about what Silas is experiencing.
The key to the success of Eversion is in Reynolds’ delight in how he describes each setting. The first several chapters of the book only ever hint at the science-fictional premise behind the events; taken separately, they are simply adventure stories about a ship on a mission for exploration and profit. Reynolds harnesses the tropes and storytelling devices in the tradition of authors like Jules Verne, creating an immersive, entertaining atmosphere with each setting Silas finds himself in. I love each of them.
Alas, Reynolds finally drops the mask and allows Silas (and by extension, the reader) to see “reality,” I as let down. I thought the twist regarding Silas’s nature to be somewhat boring. It wasn’t predictable per se, at least not for me, but I was hoping for something … deeper, I guess? The same holds true for the nature of the Edifice and its antagonistic qualities. The second half of the novel is weaker, for there is much less danger for our protagonists. It becomes a kind of journey of exposition and self-discovery—and that has merit, I would agree, but it doesn’t hold interest as much as the tension of the first half did for me.
That being said, I liked the ending and the resolution. As always, Reynolds might not consistently wow me with his stories, but he does make me think. His approach to science fiction is always interesting, thoughtful, and worth a read.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
June 28, 2022
Spheres have two surfaces – an inside and an outside. A sphere eversion turns it inside-out and reverses the two surfaces. Contrary to intuition, it is possible to do this without cutting or tearing or creasing the sphere’s surface. Cool! Yeah, but, well, it isn’t what Alastair Reynolds’ new science fiction novel is actually about. Alastair Reynolds is a former research astronomer with the European Space Agency, and now prolific hard-sf/space opera writer, best known for his Revelation Space novels and stories, almost all of which I have previously read. Eversion is a stand-alone novel, and not set in the Revelation Space universe.
What it is, is a story told by a medical doctor aboard an exploratory sailing ship off the coast of Norway. While experiencing events in this reality, he is also writing a fiction about very similar events. While he at first seemed to be kind of a stick figure, Silas is revealed to be a surprisingly sympathetic and sincere individual, who selflessly does what needs to be done. So, my recommendation is to persevere through the Jules Verne-like opening to the emotional payoff of the ending.
I found the novel to be conceptually related to Reynolds’ 2004 stand-alone novel Century Rain. In fact, the first chapter of Century Rain was included after the conclusion of this novel as a teaser. If you liked that, you will like this too.
I read an advance Digital Review Copy of Eversion in an ebook format, which I received from Orbit Books through netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review on social media platforms and on my book review blog. This new title is scheduled for release on 2 August 2022.
What it is, is a story told by a medical doctor aboard an exploratory sailing ship off the coast of Norway. While experiencing events in this reality, he is also writing a fiction about very similar events. While he at first seemed to be kind of a stick figure, Silas is revealed to be a surprisingly sympathetic and sincere individual, who selflessly does what needs to be done. So, my recommendation is to persevere through the Jules Verne-like opening to the emotional payoff of the ending.
I found the novel to be conceptually related to Reynolds’ 2004 stand-alone novel Century Rain. In fact, the first chapter of Century Rain was included after the conclusion of this novel as a teaser. If you liked that, you will like this too.
I read an advance Digital Review Copy of Eversion in an ebook format, which I received from Orbit Books through netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review on social media platforms and on my book review blog. This new title is scheduled for release on 2 August 2022.
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