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The '''Revelation Space universe''' (RSU) is the moniker traditionally given to the setting of [[Alastair Reynolds]]' Revelation Space series. The Revelation Space fictional universe depicts a fictional future history of humanity, within the trappings of a "space opera" milieu.
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The '''Revelation Space universe''' (RSU) is the moniker traditionally given to the setting of [[Alastair Reynolds]]' Revelation Space series. The Revelation Space fictional universe depicts a fictional [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_history future history] of humanity, within the trappings of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_opera space opera] milieu that has a generally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction hard science fiction] focus.
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  +
Reynolds' RS narratives are considered part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_opera#cite_ref-Hartwell_4-9 wave of "New Space Opera"] works, by mostly British science fiction authors, which began roughly in the late 1990s and continued throughout the early decades of the 21st century. The series' publication history spans some three decades, from its first short story in 1990 to its latest novel in 2018.
   
 
The series chronicles gradual human exploration and settlement of the Solar System and nearby interstellar space, as well as the technological, political and social turmoil and complexity involved in the process. Most works set in the RS universe span a timeframe from the late 22nd century to the 27th century, i.e. within the later parts of the third millennium, but some of the furthest dates explored in the series go as far as ca 40 000 AD.
  
The series chronicles gradual human exploration and settlement of the Solar System and nearby interstellar space, as well as the technological, political and social turmoil and complexity involved in the process. Most works set in the RS universe span a timeframe from the late 22nd century to the 27th century, i.e. within the later parts of the third millennium, but some of the furthest dates explored in the series go as far as ca 40 000 AD.
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== History and chronology of the Revelation Space universe ==
  
== History and chronology of the Revelation Space universe ==
   
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''Main article: [[Timeline]]''
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''Main article: '''[[Timeline]]'''''
   
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Please see the main article for more detailed information on the fictional universe's timeline of events and developments.
 +
''Please see the main article for more detailed information on the fictional universe's timeline of events and developments.''
   
 
== Lifeforms of the Revelation Space universe ==
  
== Lifeforms of the Revelation Space universe ==
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**[[Screech Mat|Screech Mats]] ([[Fand]])
  
**[[Screech Mat|Screech Mats]] ([[Fand]])
 
**[[Slime Scraper|Slime Scrapers]] ([[Grand Teton]])
  
**[[Slime Scraper|Slime Scrapers]] ([[Grand Teton]])
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  +
== Characters, factions and groups of the Revelation Space universe ==
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  +
''Main overview: '''[[:Category:Characters|Characters]]'''''
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  +
''Main overview: '''[[:Category:Factions|Factions]]'''''
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''Main overview: '''[[:Category:Organisation|Organisations]]'''''
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  +
''Please see the main links for more detailed information on the fictional universe's cast of characters (of various species, factions and groups, in various time periods).''
   
 
== Works set in the Revelation Space universe ==
  
== Works set in the Revelation Space universe ==
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'''''[[:Category:A Prefect Dreyfus Emergency|A Prefect Dreyfus Emergency]]''''' series<br>
  
'''''[[:Category:A Prefect Dreyfus Emergency|A Prefect Dreyfus Emergency]]''''' series<br>
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'''Description:''' A '''''spinoff novel series''''', set on [[Demarchists|Demarchist]] [[Yellowstone]] and its surroundings in the 25th century, at the height of the ''Belle Epoque'', several decades before the outbreak of the [[Melding Plague]]. Written in the manner of a police procedural or crime fiction, the series focuses on a team of [[Panoply]] law enforcement officers, known as [[prefects]]. The leader of the team is prefect [[Tom Dreyfus]], an experienced inspector of the Panoply.<br>
 +
'''Description:''' A '''''spinoff novel series''''', set on [[Demarchists|Demarchist]] [[Yellowstone]] and its surroundings (the [[Glitter Band]] orbital colonies, etc.) during the 25th century, at the height of the ''[[Belle Epoque]]'', several decades before the outbreak of the [[Melding Plague]]. Written in the manner of a police procedural or crime fiction, the series focuses on a team of [[Panoply]] law enforcement officers, known as [[Prefect|prefects]]. The leader of the team is prefect [[Tom Dreyfus]], an experienced inspector of the Panoply.<br>
 
'''Works:'''
  
'''Works:'''
 
*''[[Aurora Rising]]'' (2007, novel, orig. as ''The Prefect'')
  
*''[[Aurora Rising]]'' (2007, novel, orig. as ''The Prefect'')
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'''''[[Chasm City (novel)|Chasm City]]'''''<br>
  
'''''[[Chasm City (novel)|Chasm City]]'''''<br>
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'''Description:''' A '''''standalone novel''''', with Yellowstone and [[Chasm City]] as its main setting. The novel also provides insight into the history, nature and society of the planet [[Sky's Edge]] (in the system). The storyline of ''Chasm City'' focuses on the quest of an antiheroic protagonist from Sky's Edge, with Yellowstone as his destination. What at first seems like a straightforward vow of avenging the killer of his close friends becomes a more complex story about individual identity and historical memory.<br>
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'''Description:''' A '''''standalone novel''''', with Yellowstone and [[Chasm City]] as its main setting. The novel also provides insight into the history, nature and society of the planet [[Sky's Edge]] (in the system [[61 Cygni A]]). The storyline of ''Chasm City'' focuses on the quest of an antiheroic protagonist from Sky's Edge, with Yellowstone as his destination. What at first seems like a straightforward vow of avenging the killer of his close friends becomes a more complex story about individual identity and historical memory.<br>
 
'''Works:'''
  
'''Works:'''
 
*''[[Chasm City (novel)|Chasm City]]'' (2001, standalone novel)
  
*''[[Chasm City (novel)|Chasm City]]'' (2001, standalone novel)
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*''[[Redemption Ark]]'' (2002)
  
*''[[Redemption Ark]]'' (2002)
 
*''[[Absolution Gap]]'' (2003)
  
*''[[Absolution Gap]]'' (2003)
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  ⚫
----
   
 
==== '''1.2 Anthologies''' ====
 
==== '''1.2 Anthologies''' ====
   
 
These are mostly [[:Category:Stories|short stories and novellas]] providing side-stories or further insights into the universe. Arranged in roughly chronological order.
  
These are mostly [[:Category:Stories|short stories and novellas]] providing side-stories or further insights into the universe. Arranged in roughly chronological order.
−  
⚫
----
  
   
 
'''a.) Main overview'''
  
'''a.) Main overview'''
   
 
'''''[[Galactic North]]''''' (2006)<br>
  
'''''[[Galactic North]]''''' (2006)<br>
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'''Description:''' A collection of short stories from the Revelation Space universe, from its earliest explored eras, to some of the most far-future periods seen in the setting to date. Most of the stories are standalone, but some have continuity with each other, or the novels and novellas set in the same universe. Three of the short stories were first published in this anthology, five others had previously first appeared in science fiction magazines (Interzone, Spectrum SF).<br>
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'''Description:''' A collection of short stories from the Revelation Space universe, from its earliest explored eras, to some of the most far-future periods seen in the setting to date. Most of the stories are standalone, but some have continuity with each other, or with the novels and novellas set in the same universe. Three of the short stories were first published in this anthology, five others had previously first appeared in science fiction magazines (Interzone, Spectrum SF).<br>
 
'''Works:'''
  
'''Works:'''
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*''[[The Great Wall of Mars]]'' (Spectrum SF 1, 2000)
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*''[[Great Wall of Mars]]'' (Spectrum SF 1, 2000)
 
*''[[Glacial]]'' (Spectrum SF 5, 2001)
  
*''[[Glacial]]'' (Spectrum SF 5, 2001)
 
*''[[A Spy in Europa]]'' (Interzone 120, 1997)
  
*''[[A Spy in Europa]]'' (Interzone 120, 1997)
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----
  
----
   
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''Other anthologies or published in magazines''<br>
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''Other anthologies''<br>
 
'''Description:''' Other anthologies that have featured Reynolds' short stories and novellas from the Revelation Space universe, but were not focused solely on that setting.<br>
 
'''Description:''' Other anthologies that have featured Reynolds' short stories and novellas from the Revelation Space universe, but were not focused solely on that setting.<br>
 
'''Works:'''
  
'''Works:'''
 
*''[[Monkey Suit]]'' (2010) - ''[[Deep Navigation]]'' anthology
  
*''[[Monkey Suit]]'' (2010) - ''[[Deep Navigation]]'' anthology
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*''[[The Last Log of the Lachrimosa]]'' (2014) - Subterranean Press Magazine's final issue (summer 2014)
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*''[[Great Wall of Mars]]'', ''[[Weather]]'', ''[[Diamond Dogs]]'', ''[[The Last Log of the Lachrimosa]]'' (2016) - ''[[Beyond the Aquila Rift]]'' anthology
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*''[[The Great Wall of Mars]]'', ''[[Weather]]'', ''[[Diamond Dogs]]'' (2016) - ''Beyond the Aquila Rift'' anthology
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*''[[Night Passage]]'' (2017) - ''[[Infinite Stars]]'' anthology
   
 
----
  
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'''b.) Standalone short stories and novellas (overview)'''
  
'''b.) Standalone short stories and novellas (overview)'''
   
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This list focuses on stories that don't have deeper continuity ties.
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These are short stories and novellas that don't have deeper continuity ties.
 
*''[[Weather]]'' (short story)
  
*''[[Weather]]'' (short story)
 
*''[[Dilation Sleep]]'' (short story)
  
*''[[Dilation Sleep]]'' (short story)
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'''c.) Loosely-connected short stories and novellas (overview)'''
  
'''c.) Loosely-connected short stories and novellas (overview)'''
   
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Some short stories and novellas that share characters and continuty (listed chronologically):<br>
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Some short stories and novellas that share characters and deeper continuty (listed chronologically):<br>
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*The short stories ''[[The Great Wall of Mars]]'' and ''[[Glacial]]'' offer insights into the origins and history of the [[Conjoiners]] as a faction, and share characters such as [[Galiana]], [[Felka]] and [[Nevil Clavain]].
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*The short stories ''[[Great Wall of Mars]]'' and ''[[Glacial]]'' offer insights into the origins and history of the [[Conjoiners]] as a faction, and share characters such as [[Galiana]], [[Felka]] and [[Nevil Clavain]].
 
*''[[A Spy in Europa]]'' and ''[[Grafenwalder's Bestiary]]'' share some story and setting elements, though their casts of characters are unrelated.
  
*''[[A Spy in Europa]]'' and ''[[Grafenwalder's Bestiary]]'' share some story and setting elements, though their casts of characters are unrelated.
 
*The shady scientist [[Dr. Trintignant]] is a major character in the novella ''[[Diamond Dogs]]'' and then in the short story ''[[Grafenwalder's Bestiary]]'', set some time after the events of the novella.
  
*The shady scientist [[Dr. Trintignant]] is a major character in the novella ''[[Diamond Dogs]]'' and then in the short story ''[[Grafenwalder's Bestiary]]'', set some time after the events of the novella.
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There are three short stories that can provide further insight into the events and character backstories of the [[:Category:Inhibitor trilogy|Inhibitor trilogy]] novels:
  
There are three short stories that can provide further insight into the events and character backstories of the [[:Category:Inhibitor trilogy|Inhibitor trilogy]] novels:
−
*''[[The Great Wall of Mars]]'' and ''[[Glacial]]'' focus on the earlier personal history and adventures of Nevil Clavain, Galiana and Felka, who become major characters in the trilogy, starting with the second novel, ''Redemption Ark''.
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*''[[Great Wall of Mars]]'' and ''[[Glacial]]'' focus on the earlier personal history and adventures of Nevil Clavain, Galiana and Felka, who become major characters in the trilogy, starting with the second novel, ''[[Redemption Ark]]''.
 
*The events of the short story ''[[Galactic North (short story)|Galactic North]]'' partly overlap with the (particularly latter) events of the Inhibitor trilogy, especially those detailed in ''[[Absolution Gap]]''.
 
*The events of the short story ''[[Galactic North (short story)|Galactic North]]'' partly overlap with the (particularly latter) events of the Inhibitor trilogy, especially those detailed in ''[[Absolution Gap]]''.
   
 
It is ''not'' necessary to read the above three stories to complement the main novel trilogy, but they do add more clarification to the events, characters and situations.
  
It is ''not'' necessary to read the above three stories to complement the main novel trilogy, but they do add more clarification to the events, characters and situations.
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  +
----
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==== '''1.3 Published in magazines and chapbooks''' ====
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  +
For the "completionist"-minded, here is an overview of the series' [[:Category:Stories|short stories and novellas]], in order of their first publication in various magazines and chapbooks. (Please note that many of the RSU short fiction first appeared directly in book anthologies and was not previously published in a magazine before being published in a book.)
  +
  +
*''[[Dilation Sleep]]'' - Interzone 39 (1990)
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*''[[A Spy in Europa]]'' - Interzone 120 (1997)
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*''[[Galactic North (short story)|Galactic North]]'' - Interzone 145 (1999)
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*''[[Great Wall of Mars]]'' - Spectrum SF 1 (2000)
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*''[[Glacial]]'' - Spectrum SF 5 (2001)
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*''[[The Last Log of the Lachrimosa]]'' - Subterranean Press Magazine's final issue (summer 2014)
   
 
----
  
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===2.) RS works by chronology===
  
===2.) RS works by chronology===
   
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''Some of the stories don't have strict information on the dates and years the occur in, but can be inferred by the events and situtations described.''
 +
Some of the stories don't have strict information on the dates and years they occur in, but can be inferred by the events and situtations described.
   
 
*''[[The Great Wall of Mars]]'' (short story)
  
*''[[The Great Wall of Mars]]'' (short story)
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*''[[Grafenwalder's Bestiary]]'' (short story)
  
*''[[Grafenwalder's Bestiary]]'' (short story)
 
*''[[Turquoise Days]]'' (novella)
 
*''[[Turquoise Days]]'' (novella)
  +
*''[[Nightingale]]'' (short story)
 
*''[[Revelation Space]]'' (novel)
  
*''[[Revelation Space]]'' (novel)
 
*''[[The Last Log of the Lachrimosa]]'' (short story)
  
*''[[The Last Log of the Lachrimosa]]'' (short story)
 
*''[[Redemption Ark]]'' (novel)
  
*''[[Redemption Ark]]'' (novel)
 
*''[[Absolution Gap]]'' (novel)
  
*''[[Absolution Gap]]'' (novel)
  +
*''Inhibitor Phase'' (novel)
 
*''[[Galactic North (short story)|Galactic North]]'' (short story, ''latest events'')
  
*''[[Galactic North (short story)|Galactic North]]'' (short story, ''latest events'')
   
−
Please also see the [[Timeline]] article, for more information on the chronology of the universe and how the individual stories fit into it.
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Please also see the [[Timeline]] article, for more information on the chronology of the RS universe and how the individual stories fit into said chronology.
   
 
== Adaptations ==
  
== Adaptations ==
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''This section offers information on the development of the fictional universe from an author's and publishing perspective.''
  
''This section offers information on the development of the fictional universe from an author's and publishing perspective.''
   
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----
 
=== Development history ===
  
=== Development history ===
   
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Alastair Reynolds has detailed the origins and evolution of the Revelation Space series and its universe in a number of older and newer [[Websites#Online_articles.2C_interviews_et_al|interviews]], as well as in the Afterword of the ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology and several other published works of the series.
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''To be added soon''
  
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Some articles from Reynolds' official website providing insight into his creative roots and influences as a writer:
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*''[http://www.alastairreynolds.com/about/formative-years/ Me in a nutshell]'' - Reynolds on his formative years as a writer, on authors and works that influenced his own science fiction prose
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*''[http://www.alastairreynolds.com/stories/ Stories]'' - Reynolds on his short story writing track record and personal history (for the interested, [http://www.alastairreynolds.com/stories/list-of-published-stories/ here's a list] of all published Reynolds short fiction to date)
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  +
Some articles from Reynolds' blog that shine a light into the early development of the series are:
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2013/10/two-trunks.html Two Trunks]'' (15 October 2013) - discussing his first two written, unpublished science fiction novels from the 1980s (''A Union World'' and ''Dominant Species'')
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2012/10/it-was-twenty-years-ago-today.html It was twenty years ago today]'' (5 October 2012) - discussing the history of the first drafts for what later became the novel ''[[Revelation Space]]''
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2015/12/closing-contact.html Closing Contact]'' (18 December 2015) - discussing the early 1990s prototype for what later became the novel ''Revelation Space''
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2010/02/travel-time.html Travel Time]'' (18 February 2010) - on music listened to while writing ''Revelation Space''
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2011/02/short-stories.html Short stories]'' (3 February 2011)
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Other blog musings related to the series and writing in general:
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2011/01/scifi-now-and-other-goings-on.html SciFi Now and other goings on]'' (28 January 2011)
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2011/06/cryo-arithmetic-engines.html Cryo-arithmetic engines?]'' (7 June 2011)
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2011/06/onto-book-2.html Onto book 2]'' (21 June 2011)
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2012/10/exhaust-gases.html Exhaust gases]'' (4 October 2012)
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-compass.html A compass]'' (4 December 2012)
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2013/02/map-of-revelation-space-universe.html Map of the Revelation Space universe]'' (19 February 2013) - on a fan map by R. Terrett
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*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-same-old-same-old.html The same old same old]'' (29 May 2015)
  +
*''[https://approachingpavonis.blogspot.com/2018/10/oh-atlanta.html Oh, Atlanta]'' (23 October 2018) - on how some swooping elevators in Atlanta might have inspired [[Ilia Volyova|Volyova]]'s elevator ride in an early chapter of ''Revelation Space''
  +
  +
----
   
 
=== Inspirations ===
  
=== Inspirations ===
  +
Some of the inspirations for the tone of the series mentioned and cited by Alastair Reynolds, especially in the Afterword of ''Galactic North'' and in various articles and interviews, include:
   
  +
* Arthur C. Clarke's works (especially pre-1980s) - cited as a general early influence within the context of literary science fiction, and a possible influence on Reynolds' later hard science fiction leanings after maturing as a short story and early novel writer
−
''To be added soon''
  
  +
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Known_Space Known Space]'' (1964-), book series and its universe, by Larry Niven - cited as fostering Reynolds' love for the idea of an interconnected, detailed, but varied future history. Also cited as an influence on creative alien species and civilisations. <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schismatrix Schismatrix]'' (1985), novel by Bruce Sterling - the novel was a seminal work of cyberpunk-influenced space opera, with distinct themes of a future splintering of space-faring humanity along transhumanist lines. The technological outlook of the implants-focused faction of the "Mechanists" is a similar archetype to the [[Skyjacks]] and many of the [[Ultranauts]], while the "Shaper" faction has some rough similarities with the [[Mixmaster|Mixmasters]], genetic engineering specialists. <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_Center_Saga Galactic Center Saga]'' (1977-1996), book series by Gregory Benford - cited as an influence on "''much of the hard SF furniture''" of the Revelation Space series (e.g. [[Lighthugger|slower than light travel]], [[Reefersleep|cold sleep]], [[Inhibitors|machine intelligences]]), drawing on Benford's ideas and motifs. <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_(novel) Nova]'' (1968), novel by Samuel R. Delany - Reynolds cites the novel as an early influence on his own "''fascination with cyborg spacers, and the Baroque trappings of space opera in general''". <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
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* ''[https://littleredreviewer.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/the-outcasts-of-heaven-belt-by-joan-d-vinge/ The Outcasts of Heaven Belt]'' (1978), novel by Joan D. Vinge - the concept of a [[Demarchists|Demarchist]] polity (though utilising different sortition technology than neural implants), as well as the idea of ideologically opposed factions competing within a single planetary system (and the tensions and repercussions stemming from that). <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_Flowers Vacuum Flowers]'' (1987), novel by Michael Swanwick - Reynolds had cited a cultural group in the novel's setting, The Comprise - a human hive mind ruling Earth - as an influence on his conceptualisation of the [[Conjoiners]]. Another grouping of the novel, the Dysonworlders, inhabit artificially created comets (somewhat similar to Conjoiners building [[Mother Nest|home bases]] inside hollowed-out natural comets). <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Centauri_Device The Centauri Device]'' (1975) by M. John Harrison - though the [[Lighthugger#List of known lighthuggers|whimsical spacecraft names]] of the Revelation Space series are often suspected to be an Iain M. Banks influence (via the whimsical ship names of his famous ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_series The Culture]'' series), Reynolds has cited Harrison's 1970s novel, with its peculiar spaceship names, as a more direct influence ("''pinching it''" from Harrison's novel, with names such as ''Driftwood of Decadence''). <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
* ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek Star Trek]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg Borg] - semi-jokingly cited as what some of the more radically modified Ultras would look like, "''if the Borg took an unhealthy interest in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth_subculture Goth subculture]''". <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
*''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Millennial_Project The Millennial Project]'' (1992/1994), non-fiction by Marshall T. Savage - some of the ideas for the appearance of lighthugger starships were loosely inspired by reading this book. <ref>Afterword, ''[[Galactic North]]'' anthology, Gollancz, 2006</ref>
  +
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Robicheaux Dave Robicheaux series] (1987-2019), novel series by James Lee Burke - a neo-noir crime novel series focusing on the titular Cajun war veteran, now a police detective in employ of the New Orleans police. Cited specifically as an influence on the neo-noir style of the novel ''[[Chasm City (novel)|Chasm City]]''. <ref>[http://www.alastairreynolds.com/release/chasm-city/ Official article on ''Chasm City''] at [http://www.alastairreynolds.com/ Alastair Reynolds' website]</ref>
  +
  +
== References ==
  +
<references/>
   
 
== See also ==
  
== See also ==
 
*[[Alastair Reynolds]]
  
*[[Alastair Reynolds]]
  +
*[[Awards]]
⚫
*A. Reynolds' official website [http://www.alastairreynolds.com/rs-universe/ articles on the setting]:
  
  +
*[[Websites]]
  +
  +
==External links==
  ⚫
*[[Websites#Official websites|A. Reynolds' official website]] [http://www.alastairreynolds.com/rs-universe/ articles on the setting]:
 
**[http://www.alastairreynolds.com/rs-universe/revelation-space-universe-timeline/ Timeline of the RSU]
  
**[http://www.alastairreynolds.com/rs-universe/revelation-space-universe-timeline/ Timeline of the RSU]
 
**[http://www.alastairreynolds.com/rs-universe/map-of-the-rs-universe/ Map of the RSU]
  
**[http://www.alastairreynolds.com/rs-universe/map-of-the-rs-universe/ Map of the RSU]
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**[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Revelation_Space_locations RSU locations]
  
**[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Revelation_Space_locations RSU locations]
 
*Podcast reviews of Revelation Space works
  
*Podcast reviews of Revelation Space works
  +
**[http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/23 ''Aurora Rising'' audio review] at [http://www.sfbrp.com/ The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast]
−
**''''
  
  +
**[http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/721 ''Aurora Rising'' audio review] (revisited) at [http://www.sfbrp.com/ The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast]
−
**''''
  
  +
**[http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/1392 ''Elysium Fire'' audio review] at [http://www.sfbrp.com/ The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast]
−
**''''
  
  +
**[http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/9 ''Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days'' audio review] at [http://www.sfbrp.com/ The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast]
  +
**[http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/459 ''Chasm City'' audio review] at [http://www.sfbrp.com/ The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast]
  +
**[http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/140 ''Revelation Space'' audio review] at [http://www.sfbrp.com/ The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast]
  +
**[http://www.sfbrp.com/archives/1127 ''Redemption Ark'' audio review] at [http://www.sfbrp.com/ The Science Fiction Book Review Podcast]
  +
* [https://www.gollancz.co.uk/titles/alastair-reynolds/the-revelation-space-ebook-collection/9780575129085/ Official site of the ''Revelation Space E-Book collection''] (e-book omnibus of 7 [[:Category:Books|books]]) at [https://www.gollancz.co.uk/ Gollancz.co.uk]
  +
{{Revelation Space series}}
 
[[Category:Content| ]]
  
[[Category:Content| ]]
 
[[Category:Books| ]]
  
[[Category:Books| ]]

Latest revision as of 07:31, 24 March 2024

The Revelation Space universe (RSU) is the moniker traditionally given to the setting of Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series. The Revelation Space fictional universe depicts a fictional future history of humanity, within the trappings of a space opera milieu that has a generally hard science fiction focus.

Reynolds' RS narratives are considered part of the wave of "New Space Opera" works, by mostly British science fiction authors, which began roughly in the late 1990s and continued throughout the early decades of the 21st century. The series' publication history spans some three decades, from its first short story in 1990 to its latest novel in 2018.

The series chronicles gradual human exploration and settlement of the Solar System and nearby interstellar space, as well as the technological, political and social turmoil and complexity involved in the process. Most works set in the RS universe span a timeframe from the late 22nd century to the 27th century, i.e. within the later parts of the third millennium, but some of the furthest dates explored in the series go as far as ca 40 000 AD.

History and chronology of the Revelation Space universe[]

Main article: Timeline

Please see the main article for more detailed information on the fictional universe's timeline of events and developments.

Lifeforms of the Revelation Space universe[]

Characters, factions and groups of the Revelation Space universe[]

Main overview: Characters

Main overview: Factions

Main overview: Organisations

Please see the main links for more detailed information on the fictional universe's cast of characters (of various species, factions and groups, in various time periods).

Works set in the Revelation Space universe[]

1.) RS works by sub-series and by cast[]

Works set in the universe, based on which thematic subset of stories and cast of characters they focus. Some are standalone short stories and novels, others are varyingly interconnected with tighter and deeper continuity.

1.1 Novels[]

Arranged in chronological order.

A Prefect Dreyfus Emergency series
Description: A spinoff novel series, set on Demarchist Yellowstone and its surroundings (the Glitter Band orbital colonies, etc.) during the 25th century, at the height of the Belle Epoque, several decades before the outbreak of the Melding Plague. Written in the manner of a police procedural or crime fiction, the series focuses on a team of Panoply law enforcement officers, known as prefects. The leader of the team is prefect Tom Dreyfus, an experienced inspector of the Panoply.
Works:

Chasm City
Description: A standalone novel, with Yellowstone and Chasm City as its main setting. The novel also provides insight into the history, nature and society of the planet Sky's Edge (in the system 61 Cygni A). The storyline of Chasm City focuses on the quest of an antiheroic protagonist from Sky's Edge, with Yellowstone as his destination. What at first seems like a straightforward vow of avenging the killer of his close friends becomes a more complex story about individual identity and historical memory.
Works:

Inhibitor trilogy series
Description: The original and primary novel series of the setting, the trilogy follows an evolving cast of characters, as their adventures and ultimate fates intertwine with the lighthugger starship Nostalgia for Infinity. Mysteries pertaining to the Fermi paradox are slowly uncovered, revealing unsettling new knowledge about the nature of intelligent life in the galaxy, and the far-reaching consequences for all of humanity. The trilogy is set in a greater number of planetary systems and planets.
Works:

1.2 Anthologies[]

These are mostly short stories and novellas providing side-stories or further insights into the universe. Arranged in roughly chronological order.

a.) Main overview

Galactic North (2006)
Description: A collection of short stories from the Revelation Space universe, from its earliest explored eras, to some of the most far-future periods seen in the setting to date. Most of the stories are standalone, but some have continuity with each other, or with the novels and novellas set in the same universe. Three of the short stories were first published in this anthology, five others had previously first appeared in science fiction magazines (Interzone, Spectrum SF).
Works:

Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days (2003)
Description: A collection of two novellas from the Revelation Space universe, both first published in this anthology. Diamond Dogs is about a private reconaissance expedition to a mysterious structure on a wasteland planet, Turquoise Days tells the story of an isolated colony on an oceanic planet with an abundant presence of Pattern Jugglers.
Works:

Other anthologies
Description: Other anthologies that have featured Reynolds' short stories and novellas from the Revelation Space universe, but were not focused solely on that setting.
Works:

b.) Standalone short stories and novellas (overview)

These are short stories and novellas that don't have deeper continuity ties.

c.) Loosely-connected short stories and novellas (overview)

Some short stories and novellas that share characters and deeper continuty (listed chronologically):

There are three short stories that can provide further insight into the events and character backstories of the Inhibitor trilogy novels:

  • Great Wall of Mars and Glacial focus on the earlier personal history and adventures of Nevil Clavain, Galiana and Felka, who become major characters in the trilogy, starting with the second novel, Redemption Ark.
  • The events of the short story Galactic North partly overlap with the (particularly latter) events of the Inhibitor trilogy, especially those detailed in Absolution Gap.

It is not necessary to read the above three stories to complement the main novel trilogy, but they do add more clarification to the events, characters and situations.

1.3 Published in magazines and chapbooks[]

For the "completionist"-minded, here is an overview of the series' short stories and novellas, in order of their first publication in various magazines and chapbooks. (Please note that many of the RSU short fiction first appeared directly in book anthologies and was not previously published in a magazine before being published in a book.)

2.) RS works by chronology[]

Some of the stories don't have strict information on the dates and years they occur in, but can be inferred by the events and situtations described.

Please also see the Timeline article, for more information on the chronology of the RS universe and how the individual stories fit into said chronology.

Adaptations[]

See the following articles for more detailed information.

Behind the scenes[]

This section offers information on the development of the fictional universe from an author's and publishing perspective.

Development history[]

Alastair Reynolds has detailed the origins and evolution of the Revelation Space series and its universe in a number of older and newer interviews, as well as in the Afterword of the Galactic North anthology and several other published works of the series.

Some articles from Reynolds' official website providing insight into his creative roots and influences as a writer:

  • Me in a nutshell - Reynolds on his formative years as a writer, on authors and works that influenced his own science fiction prose
  • Stories - Reynolds on his short story writing track record and personal history (for the interested, here's a list of all published Reynolds short fiction to date)

Some articles from Reynolds' blog that shine a light into the early development of the series are:

  • Two Trunks (15 October 2013) - discussing his first two written, unpublished science fiction novels from the 1980s (A Union World and Dominant Species)
  • It was twenty years ago today (5 October 2012) - discussing the history of the first drafts for what later became the novel Revelation Space
  • Closing Contact (18 December 2015) - discussing the early 1990s prototype for what later became the novel Revelation Space
  • Travel Time (18 February 2010) - on music listened to while writing Revelation Space
  • Short stories (3 February 2011)

Other blog musings related to the series and writing in general:

Inspirations[]

Some of the inspirations for the tone of the series mentioned and cited by Alastair Reynolds, especially in the Afterword of Galactic North and in various articles and interviews, include:

  • Arthur C. Clarke's works (especially pre-1980s) - cited as a general early influence within the context of literary science fiction, and a possible influence on Reynolds' later hard science fiction leanings after maturing as a short story and early novel writer
  • Known Space (1964-), book series and its universe, by Larry Niven - cited as fostering Reynolds' love for the idea of an interconnected, detailed, but varied future history. Also cited as an influence on creative alien species and civilisations. [1]
  • Schismatrix (1985), novel by Bruce Sterling - the novel was a seminal work of cyberpunk-influenced space opera, with distinct themes of a future splintering of space-faring humanity along transhumanist lines. The technological outlook of the implants-focused faction of the "Mechanists" is a similar archetype to the Skyjacks and many of the Ultranauts, while the "Shaper" faction has some rough similarities with the Mixmasters, genetic engineering specialists. [2]
  • Galactic Center Saga (1977-1996), book series by Gregory Benford - cited as an influence on "much of the hard SF furniture" of the Revelation Space series (e.g. slower than light travel, cold sleep, machine intelligences), drawing on Benford's ideas and motifs. [3]
  • Nova (1968), novel by Samuel R. Delany - Reynolds cites the novel as an early influence on his own "fascination with cyborg spacers, and the Baroque trappings of space opera in general". [4]
  • The Outcasts of Heaven Belt (1978), novel by Joan D. Vinge - the concept of a Demarchist polity (though utilising different sortition technology than neural implants), as well as the idea of ideologically opposed factions competing within a single planetary system (and the tensions and repercussions stemming from that). [5]
  • Vacuum Flowers (1987), novel by Michael Swanwick - Reynolds had cited a cultural group in the novel's setting, The Comprise - a human hive mind ruling Earth - as an influence on his conceptualisation of the Conjoiners. Another grouping of the novel, the Dysonworlders, inhabit artificially created comets (somewhat similar to Conjoiners building home bases inside hollowed-out natural comets). [6]
  • The Centauri Device (1975) by M. John Harrison - though the whimsical spacecraft names of the Revelation Space series are often suspected to be an Iain M. Banks influence (via the whimsical ship names of his famous The Culture series), Reynolds has cited Harrison's 1970s novel, with its peculiar spaceship names, as a more direct influence ("pinching it" from Harrison's novel, with names such as Driftwood of Decadence). [7]
  • Star Trek's Borg - semi-jokingly cited as what some of the more radically modified Ultras would look like, "if the Borg took an unhealthy interest in Goth subculture". [8]
  • The Millennial Project (1992/1994), non-fiction by Marshall T. Savage - some of the ideas for the appearance of lighthugger starships were loosely inspired by reading this book. [9]
  • Dave Robicheaux series (1987-2019), novel series by James Lee Burke - a neo-noir crime novel series focusing on the titular Cajun war veteran, now a police detective in employ of the New Orleans police. Cited specifically as an influence on the neo-noir style of the novel Chasm City. [10]

References[]

  1. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  2. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  3. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  4. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  5. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  6. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  7. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  8. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  9. ↑ Afterword, Galactic North anthology, Gollancz, 2006
  10. ↑ Official article on Chasm City at Alastair Reynolds' website

See also[]

External links[]

Revelation Space series
NOVELS
A Prefect Dreyfus Emergency
(crime fiction series, 2007-present)
Aurora Rising (2007) | Open and Shut (short story midquel, 2018) | Elysium Fire (2018) | Machine Vendetta (2023)
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Chasm City
(standalone novel, 2001)
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Inhibitor Cycle
(main novel series, 2000-2003, 2021)
Revelation Space (2000) | Redemption Ark (2002) | Absolution Gap (2003) | Inhibitor Phase (2021)

ANTHOLOGIES
Galactic North
(2006, short stories)
Great Wall of Mars | Glacial | A Spy in Europa | Weather
Dilation Sleep | Grafenwalder's Bestiary | Nightingale | Galactic North
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Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days
(2003, novellas)
Diamond Dogs | Turquoise Days
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Other anthologies
Deep Navigation (2010) - Monkey Suit (2009)
Beyond the Aquila Rift (2016) - The Last Log of the Lachrimosa (2014)
Infinite Stars (2017) - Night Passage (2017)
Belladonna Nights and Other Stories (2021) - Night Passage (2017), Open and Shut (2018), Plague Music (2021)

PUBLISHED ONLINE
Subterranean Press Magazine (2014, summer issue) - The Last Log of the Lachrimosa (2014)
Gollancz / Hachette UK (2018) - Open and Shut (2018)

BEHIND THE SCENES / RELATED ARTICLES
Revelation Space universe | Alastair Reynolds | Websites
Cultural and scientific references | Adaptations | Translations
Book cover art | Fan art
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