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)

great reading, maybe the best in the revelation sp

quite a few different voices are done well. the story is good, and while not my favorite Reynolds it is probably my favorite in the revelation space series. heavy on mystery and detective work, but still goes for the big ideas.

Very entertaining…

This my first listen to an Alastair Reynolds and it was very good. I will be getting more from him. It was very entertaining and I would definitely recommend.

Really enjoyed this

Good story and plot. Good character development. This book is part of a series. I recommend the books be read in story chronological order.

Great SF Mystery

I listened to this over a three month period whenever I used the Stairmonster (even if it is a long book, it's a good thing it's not my only form of exercise, eh?). The story kept my interest the entire time. The sci-fi isn't window dressing to the mystery; it's a fully-drawn, complete world. I did guess parts of the mystery and it added to the tension for me (so I imagine it was intentional by the author). The characterization is truly excellent, complemented wonderfully by the narrator, whom I loved. This is the only book I've read (listened to) from the series, so I can say that it does stand alone nicely. I've read other reviews that said I would have appreciated it more if I'd read earlier books which take place chronologically later, though. The ending, while satisfying, was certainly open to a sequel.

Another great piece from Reynolds.

Just as good as Chasm City, but more linear in the story telling as it is centralized in Yellowstone/Glitter Band system.

Best story yet

I was pleasantly surprised with this unique story. My favorite of the series so far. For those wondering if it is worth listening to because it doesn’t follow most of the same characters, give it a chance and you won’t be disappointed!

good, but...

Tom Dreyfus is a bit of a Mary Sue.
John Lee is a decent narrator. he has good range of characters, but I'm not too fond of his normal voice...
I think I'd have liked to know more about the various habitats. something to make me care about them...

regional restrictions are a crock of shit.

great read, great story that keeps building.
also enjoy the reader who I have followed through several authors.

Another masterpiece from this duo

I continue to be impressed, inspired and absolutely grateful for the ongoing wonders that this author/artist continue to gift us.

love it

I always yearn for hard sci fi. I want stories about genuinely possible futures and Reynolds delivers far more than most. .