Terminal World (8/10)

Alastair Reynolds
Science Fiction


It begins with a fallen angel and ends with one rising. It begins and ends on Spearpoint, a vast tower that rises high into the atmosphere, and one of the last centres of civilisation on this world.

This novel travels far from this heart of the story and the world, and then returns all the way back. In fact this theme is the heart of the story, and touches every plotline...

This is what SF is all about, touches of Steampunk / Cyberpunk, scenes of wonder and realistic, gritty  characters who do not care about how the world came to be, only their own place in it. This novel does not seek to answer every question, or fully explain every character, like a impressionist painting, it suggests, and the readers fill in the blanks on their own...

Some reviewers have complained about the lack of sequels and additional books set in this world. But I fail to see why we need to keep revisiting the same creation time and time again. This is the mentality that lead to Raymond Feist pillaging his Magician reputation to the last atom. Rejoice in what you see, and then move on.

I really enjoyed this book, it created a wonderful world that you think might just have a chance...

Quality 4/5
Readibility 4/5