Revelation Space universe
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The Revelation Space universe is a fictional universe which was created by Alastair Reynolds and used as the setting for a number of his novels and stories. Its fictional history follows the human species through various conflicts from the near future (roughly 2200) to approximately AD 40 000. It takes its name from Revelation Space, which was the first published novel set in the universe.
The name "Revelation Space universe" is used both in introductory text in the collection Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days and on the covers of some editions of it and Galactic North, making it at least somewhat official.
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[edit] Overview
Like many science fiction universes, the Revelation Space universe is essentially our own with the addition of a number of extraterrestrial species and fantastical technologies not necessarily grounded in current science[1]. Reynolds has said he adopts science he believes will be impossible when it is necessary for the story. [2]
The setting has elements of Lovecraftian horror, with one posthuman entity stating explicitly that some things in the universe are fundamentally beyond human or transhuman understanding[3]. Despite this, the main storyline is essentially optimistic, with humans continuing to survive even in a universe which seems fundamentally hostile to intelligent life.[4]. Even so, the story so far concludes with humanity under attack from rogue terraforming machines, with no attempts at containing them having any success (a view presented to the characters from an alternate universe shows what could happen if the machines are not stopped; a universe where intelligent life is forced to flee as the entire universe is rendered uninhabitable).
While a great deal of science fiction reflects either very optimistic or dystopian visions of the human future, the Revelation Space Universe is notable in that human societies have not departed to either positive or negative extremes, but instead are similar to those of today in terms of moral ambiguity and a mixture of cruelty and decency, corruption and opportunity, despite their technology being dramatically advanced.
[edit] Books and stories set in the universe
Also see Galactic North.
| title | date |
|---|---|
| Dilation Sleep | 1990-09 |
| A Spy in Europa | 1997-06 |
| Galactic North | 1999-07 |
| Revelation Space | 2000 |
| Great Wall of Mars | 2000-02 |
| Chasm City | 2001 |
| Diamond Dogs | 2001-11 |
| Glacial | 2001-03 |
| Redemption Ark | 2002 |
| Turquoise Days | 2002-08 |
| Absolution Gap | 2003 |
| Weather | 2006 |
| Grafenwalder's Bestiary | 2006 |
| Nightingale | 2006 |
| The Prefect | 2007 |
All are by Alastair Reynolds.
[edit] See also
- Characters in Revelation Space
- Factions in Revelation Space
- Races in Revelation Space
- Locations in Revelation Space
- Technology in Revelation Space
[edit] References
- ^ One example is the "Hades matrix" in Revelation Space: a supercomputer created inside a neutron star, and capable of communicating freely with its own past and future selves.
- ^ Science fiction 'thrives in hi-tech world' BBC News Monday, 30 April 2007: "I prioritise story over science but not at the expense of being really stupid about it. If there's a story I absolutely cannot tell without faster than light travel then I am quite prepared to accept it - even though I don't personally believe it is possible."
- ^ Absolution Gap, pages 412-413 in the hardcover version, although many other passages hint at it.
- ^ From an interview with the author: "Galactic North is actually quite optimistic, in my book, because it hints that there will still be thousands of years of good times ahead before things reach a crisis point again. And humanity will survive that, as well, even if it means abandoning the old galaxy. So in a way I think the whole thing's quite cheerily upbeat!"
