Chasm City

By: Alastair Reynolds

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 23 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Named one of the best novels of the year by both Locus and Science Fiction Chronicle, Alastair Reynolds's debut Revelation Space redefined the space opera. With Chasm City, Reynolds invites you to reenter the bizarre universe of his imagination as he redefines Hell.

The once-utopian Chasm City - a domed human settlement on an otherwise inhospitable planet - has been overrun by a virus known as the Melding Plague, capable of infecting any body, organic or computerized. Now, with the entire city corrupted---from the people to the very buildings they inhabit---only the most wretched sort of existence remains. For security operative Tanner Mirabel, it is the landscape of nightmares through which he searches for a lowlife postmortal killer. But the stakes are raised when his search brings him face to face with a centuries-old atrocity that history would rather forget.

©2008 Alastair Reynolds (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Consistently startling.... Reynolds remains one of the hottest...SF writers around." ( Publishers Weekly)

Best Of The Best, A Must Read for Any SF Fan

Any additional comments?

Alastair Reynolds is easily one of the three or four best science fiction writers working today and when it comes to hard SF, there’s really no one better. I’m convinced that Reynold’s body of work will be the standard by which both space opera and hard SF are judged for years to come. Chasm City is his best stand-alone novel (just barely nudged from the top spot imo by Redemption Ark). The novel is set within the Revelation Space universe, delving deep into the future culture in which the events of Revelation Space take place. A truly original and groundbreaking novel, Chasm City truly does redefine the space opera genre. While most space operas find convenient ways around Einstein and physics, Reynolds actually uses the physical restrictions of the real world to tell his story. The characters are relatable but just weird enough to work in the context of his universe. I highly recommend this novel for any SF fan and it works as a great introduction to Reynold’s body of work. The narration of John Lee seems, at times, a little colloquial but is otherwise fine.

The best of the Revelation Space series to date

Would you listen to Chasm City again? Why?

I've read Revelation Space, Redemption Ark, Absolution Gap, The Prefect, and now Chasm City, and I feel it's safe to say the latter is Alastair Reynold's best work. The story is great, but the thing that really makes it stand out is it's the only novel in the series written from the first person perspective. Therefore, the entire novel focuses on character development, which is done brilliantly. I don't feel like this book would diminish greatness were I to read it/listen to it several more times.

Very enjoyable

Great writing and narration. Interesting, intriguing and intelligent storytelling. Will recommend to science fiction fans.

My thoughts.

This should have been the first book in the series but I only say that to say that I really enjoyed the execution either way.

Surprise Steampunk

What made the experience of listening to Chasm City the most enjoyable?

The crafting of a city at the end of an interstellar journey that survives on steam technology due to the onset of the alien melding plague.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Chasm City?

A character realizing that they are not who they think they are.

Which scene was your favorite?

The chase scenes in the cable cars. Again, these are not what one would think they are.

Top notch story telling.

The author finds a perfect balance between story, character development and science. This book is full of interesting ideas. It's also has some lovely touches of philosophy. John Lee does great work, narrating perfectly for this book. I look forward to listening to/reading the rest of Alastairs' stories.

God damn these are great

I had been recommeneded this series by Isaac Arthur, this is the second book and hot damn was it great.

one of my favorite books ever. read very well

loved it. very good book red very well. felt like I was reading myself. looking forward to the next book by the author and the artist next reading as well

Narrator so so

The Narrator seems like he wanted to get through the book as fast as possible. In the middle he acquired a much better rythm.

Interesting. A little too convoluted.

The book tells several stories. Some nice and some awesome. Their convergence, however, makes the whole thing a bit overly convoluted.
In addition, the main characters' motives and choices don't always seem to make much sense (if there is any sense in following any motives at all in a future that offers such fluidity of body-and-mind as the book describes).
But all in all it was a good read with lots of interesting ideas.