Century Rain

By: Alastair Reynolds

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Three hundred years from now, Earth has been rendered uninhabitable due to the technological catastrophe known as the Nanocaust. Archaeologist Verity Auger specializes in the exploration of its surviving landscape. Now, her expertise is required for a far greater purpose. Something astonishing has been discovered at the far end of a wormhole: mid-20th-century Earth, preserved like a fly in amber.

Somewhere on this alternate planet is a device capable of destroying both worlds at either end of the wormhole. And Verity must find the device, and the man who plans to activate it, before it's too late - for the past and the future of two worlds.

©2008 Alastair Reynolds (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

“ Century Rain fuses time travel, hard SF, alternate history, interstellar adventure, and noir romance to create a novel of blistering powers and style.” ( SFRevu)

I would listen to this one again!

Would you listen to Century Rain again? Why?

Whenever you get into an Alastair Reynolds book you know you are in for an epic adventure. This is no different. Although it is easy to get a little confused at the beginning, the story will work its way into a delightful tale long before you would even begin to think of giving up.
Which is always the case for me with his novels. This is why I know that I will enjoy the story even more the second time around, in a few months.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Century Rain?

Maybe its all my years around SciFi that had prepared me for the possibility, but I was thinking along the lines of a planetary intelligence being behind some of the activities. When that is revealed as being the case, it was done in such a way that really kept me glued.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Whenever I am contemplating a new audiobook, if I see John Lee as the narrator, its a done deal. I could listen to him for a week. Actually, I am sure that I have.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

A one-sitting read for an Alastair Reynolds book would be quite a feat. I listen at work. (I am a general contractor.) Although there are interruptions, this was a book that kept me interested the whole way through. After some distractions, I always backed up so that I wouldn't miss a thing.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book to any SciFi fan.

My ear's are bleeding.

I have never heard a book narrated so badly. John Lee reads science fiction as if it were 1920s detective noir. Which wouldnt be so bad if all of his character voices didnt sound almost exactly the same.

I do have to give Mr. Lee some credit, he's not working with a masterpiece of literary gold here.

I just finished the first part (6:32:10) and Im sitting here wondering if listening to the rest is a good idea. Having read or listened to all of Alastair Reynolds books this is by far the last on my list.

Because.

It starts in 1959 Paris, with no explanation of preceding events to put things in context. It almost feels like youve actually started with part 2. I actually had to stop and check.

The story jumps between characters so much you'll need Dramamine to keep from getting seasick, and when the characters change you don't realize it until a name is spoken BECAUSE THEY ALL SOUND THE SAME. (ARRRGGGGHHHH!!! )

Ok Im going to stop before my blood pressure go's up any more. Lol. Needless to say I wish I had purchased the e-book or actual paper version, maybe then it would be enjoyable, but I can not recommend the audible version.

Do yourself a favor and listen to the sample before you buy this book.

A gem

My favorite Alastair Reynolds book so far (I've read almost all of them). What an amazing story... Great concepts and an original look at the future. Highly recommended.

Very nice mix of 1950s Paris and proximate future

I would definitely read a sequel to see where the characters go. Alistair Reynolds pulls these mixes of times off so we'll - well worth it.

A few more plot elements would have made it even better.

Will Wonders Never Cease

This is the fifth selection by Reynolds (with Lee) to which I have listened. This is the first that I can describe as a good one, without reservation. It is a complex story of humanity, several centuries into the future, after a calamitous event (reflecting man's hubris and negligence) that renders the earth uninhabitable.

I like Reynolds for both his prescience, in presenting believable and imaginative future realities, and for his fearless exploration of a variety of narratives that grow out of these fictional environments. Unfortunately, in the four previous books I've finished, his stories have lacked a sympathetic character to bind my attention. This has been exacerbated by serious problems with the audio recording, in which I have found myself straining, often unsuccessfully, to hear the last words of EVERY SENTENCE uttered by narrator Lee.

With this background, I approached CENTURY RAIN with some level of skepticism. This time, I was rewarded with another solid science fiction story, set several centuries in the future, and TWO(!) SYMPATHETIC MAIN CHARACTERS with whom I could identify, and for whom I could cheer.

I enjoyed the book all the way through, and found it a very satisfying redemption of Reynolds in my library...
which would not have been possible without the vast improvement in the recording quality. Even though we are, once again, charged with enduring John Lee's professorial English elocution, we can, at least, HEAR EVERY WORD. And, to my utter astonishment, we hear him add distinguishing flourishes to specific characters, i.e.: many primary characters gain regional or national accents. Further astonishment: Lee performs these accents and dialects with laudable skill. Why has this wonderful talent been missing in previous books? He still has trouble making gender differences in characters anywhere near obvious, and, although, from one paragraph to the next, Reynolds likes to change both the setting and central character of the narrative, Lee never even pauses between these monumental upheavals in storyline to warn the listener, leaving us scrambling for context that might provide a clue to where we are and who it is we're now following.

If you are a science fiction fan, you won't be sorry to invest the time in Century Rain.

Brilliant on All Levels

I've listened to many of Reynolds' novels. This is the winner. Reynolds had me believing in his new and exciting SF inventions, but beyond that the novel is a fine mixture of mystery and terror.

it was okay

it kinda lost me in the middle and you could definitely tell it was a man writing a woman. some fun ideas though and I lived the old times detective aspect.

A bit of a different Reynolds

A bit of a departure from Reynolds' Revelation Space, but thoroughly enjoyable. Lee knocks it out of the park as usual, I just love those often used French accents.

great story

probably one of the most engaging stories I've ever read. one of Reynolds best works for sure, and the narrator is great.

A good Sci-fi/Noir hybrid, but not the best of Reynolds work.

The main characters were compelling with the gradual discovery of Auger's and other parties motivations. Though I wouldn't say it holds up to Revelation Space it is still a very enjoyable standalone book worth your purchase.