The Prefect

By: Alastair Reynolds

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Tom Dreyfus is a Prefect, a law enforcement officer with the Panoply. His beat is the multifaceted utopian society of the Glitter Band, that vast swirl of space habitats orbiting the planet Yellowstone, the teeming hub of a human interstellar empire spanning many worlds. His current case: investigating a murderous attack against one of the habitats that left 900 people dead, a crime that appalls even a hardened cop like Dreyfus. But then his investigation uncovers something far more serious than mass slaughter---a covert plot by an enigmatic entity who seeks nothing less than total control of the Glitter Band. Before long, the Panoply detectives are fighting against something worse than tyranny, in a struggle that will lead to more devastation and more death. And Dreyfus will discover that to save what is precious, you may have to destroy it.

©2008 Alastair Reynolds (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A fascinating hybrid of space opera, police procedural and character study.... This is solid British SF adventure, evoking echoes of le Carre and Sayers with a liberal dash of Doctor Who." ( Publishers Weekly)

Good Stand Alone Novel That Provides Context to RS

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you are a fan of the Revelation Space Universe you will enjoy this book. Although a stand alone novel, it provides a great backdrop to the series. It also includes some clues on the beginning of the Melding Plague. This is almost a companion to the Chasm City novel. In that novel the Glitter Band was already ravaged by the plague. In this novel the Glitter Band is still at its height.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Prefect?

This is fundamentally a detective novel, and that plot device makes this book unique in the series. At times it reminded me of Asimov's Robot Series in tone and approach. As a long time Sci Fi reader that connection made this book memorable as a whole.

What does John Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Always terrific, he does his usual spot on job here. I have read other reviews that complained about his accents, but I find them great. In a novel this length having some identifying markers for characters helps me keep track of everyone. Well done.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The RS series is a lot to consumer, no doubt about it. But if you are looking for escapist books that keep you interested, intrigued and guessing this series is for you. Though a standalone book it fits well into the series. Overall very well done.

Any additional comments?

I read Chasm City and The Prefect as a break in the RS Series. I recommend this approach. it provides background and lets you take breath in that story arch, which can become overwhelming in the story lines, time frames and characters. In many ways the standalone books make the core RS Space series even more enjoyable. Highly recommend.

Alastair Reynolds does it again

Yet another work of art in his Revelation Space opera. I do have to admit that the timeline throws me a bit - this book could almost have happened at the beginning of the series and explain the plague that infects machinery and people on Chasm City, but it seems to be later. I should really start from the beginning of the series and listen again.

As engaging as any in the series

I have to admit to having developed quite an attachment to both Alastair Reynolds and John Lee. Alastair's storytelling uses highly descriptive details while still moving the story along at a good pace. Life in the large told from the perspective of the individual. Thoroughly enjoyable.

A Real Space Thriller with Brain’s to Boot

I’m new to Alastair Reynolds and only a passing fan of sci fi literature but this is a great book that stands alone even though it is part of a larger series. One of the best aspects of the book is that the technology presented within the story is understandable and has a very familiar feel to it. In other words, most of the technical innovation is linear from our own time and place. Also, the hero is a classic tuff guy who doesn’t annoy by coming off as an all knowing, all power individual (a type that I can’t stand). He does come across as the right man at the right time for a world that is grown complacent and ceased any kind of introspection or self-improvement. Sound familiar? There are other contemporary issues addressed as well such as governmental role in private life, gun control, artificial intelligence, and the impact of supermen (people) on society.

One of the best Alastair Book

Unfortunately we don't have many living legends like Alastair. His Storytelling with John Lee's narrative is great. His imaginary Glitterband as good as Asimov's Foundation. For me his best book is "Pushing Ice" but this one is not far behind.

great story, well performed

I enjoyed the plot and the characters. looking forward to reading more in the series.

Hard core Sci-Fi at it’s best

The story is incredible. Complex and visionary. Narrated by John Lee. Who could ask for more.

The Prefect is Perfect

Just coincidentally, I have recently listened to three sci-fi novels that all begin as police procedurals with law-enforcement agents investigating a localized crime that expands into a much more cosmic, universal mystery - The Prefect, The Great North Road, and Leviathan Wakes. The Prefect was by far the best of the three. Not only does The Prefect benefit from Reynold's elegant, evocative writing which is a cut above most other sci-fi writers, these are some of Reynold's best characters (primary protagonists and antagonists fleshed out with great back stories), the tightly woven plot is riveting with multiple twists, and the setting, The Glitter Band, is one of the coolest concepts from Revelation Space. Jon Lee does a bang-up job on this book - this is one where the Reynolds-Lee combo makes for a terrific audiobook. The Prefect will be an enjoyable listen for anyone who loves hard sci-fi even if you haven't read any of the Revelation Space trilogy, but if you have read the trilogy, the new stories of Philip Lascaille and Dan Sylveste in The Prefect will be extra fun.

A possible explanation for the melding plague?

Its Alastair Reynolds, and all his stuff is great for the most part, I like the way that Dreyfus has a Hyperpig as a partner or deputy Sparver is great and from listening to the other books he reminds me of Scorpio which is cool.

This is sorta a prequel to Chasm City because its before the Melding Plague, but this book was written after that book so if you like Reynolds stuff you probably already read that one - this is no problem because although this takes place before the Melding Plague its sorta a story of its own unlike the trilogy of Revelation Space, Redemption Ark, and Absolution Gap this book like Chasm City was a story that's just in the same universe as them, and Chasm City is the name of the city on the Planet or Moon named Yellowstone that the Glitter Band (latter re-named the rust belt) orbits a large gas giant with 10,000+ habitats.

The 10,000+ habitats are all self sufficient but all vote and that voting is policed by Panoply but they only insure fare voting, they dont care what else goes on inside the habitats - some are VT's or "Voluntarily Tyranny" where people actually want to be controlled, mostly this goes bad and there is nothing that can be done about it.

The good thing about this is that there are some technologies that are talked about in the other books but arent used anymore because of the Melding Plague, which is nice to see them used.

John Lee does a good job as usual but he really only has about 3-5 voices and mostly uses 2-3 of them at most - you have to get over this because its hard to follow because at times you can forget who is talking but thats OK because you figure it out pretty fast.

The end IMO hints at a possible explanation to the Melding Plague that is a large part of the other 4 books set in the universe, the Clockmaker and Aurora fighting it out, maybe after a time they combine forces and unwittingly create the Melding Plague?

A bit simple

The concept of this book was great. The narrator was good as well.

I found the characters a bit simple ...... The lead character was overly right all the time ... it got a bit annoying ..... The ending was abrupt that left me asking myself what just happened..... it ended so quickly ...

Even with my negative comments i did enjoy the book .. I guess I enjoyed it enough that I wanted it to be just that much better