The Medusa Chronicles

De: Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds

Narrado por: Peter Kenny

A sequel to Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s Nebula Award–winning novella “A Meeting with Medusa,” this novel continues the thrilling adventure of astronaut Howard Falcon, humanity’s first explorer of Jupiter from two modern science fiction masters.

Howard Falcon almost lost his life in an accident as the first human astronaut to explore the atmosphere of Jupiter—and a combination of human ingenuity and technical expertise brought him back. But he is no longer himself. Instead, he has been changed into an augmented human: part man, part machine, and exceptionally capable.

With permission from the Clarke Estate, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds continue this beloved writer’s enduring vision and have created a fresh story for new readers. The Medusa Chronicles charts Falcon’s journey through the centuries granted by his new body, but always back to mysteries of Jupiter and the changing interaction between humanity and the universe. A compelling read full of incredible action right from the beginning, this is a modern classic in the spirit of 2001 and The Martian.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A worthy sequel to a classic." (Jack McDevitt)

Two of the most acclaimed contemporary hard SF writers successfully team up in this ambitious epic space opera, spanning almost 800 years, that expands the themes raised by Arthur C. Clarke’s classic 1971 novella, A Meeting with Medusa. Clarke’s hero, Howard Falcon, suffered horrific injuries in an accident in 2080, surviving only by cybernetic surgery; his new abilities led him to a successful search for extraterrestrial life and positioned him to be an “ambassador... between the creatures of carbon and the creatures of metal.” That unsought status tests Falcon as, over the centuries, robots begin to become self-aware and seek autonomy. Humankind’s expansion of its reach beyond Earth provides more opportunity for conflict, and the authors do a superior job of predicting plausible political developments. The novel’s reach does come at the expense of some psychological depth, but fans of the authors’ other work won’t be disappointed. (Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW*)

"Clearly reverential but never derivative of Clarke’s original work, Baxter and Reynolds’ respective styles work in near-faultless harmony. A joy to read, it’s yet another feather in Baxter and Reynolds’ well-adorned hats."

"The Medusa Chronicles is a good old-fashioned SF tale, strong on big ideas and filled with sensa-wunda and magical moments. There’s even some genuine surprises. It’s an ambitious if not audacious thing to try, and I’ll happily admit that I am a tough critic of anything connected to one of my favourite authors, who inspired me to read science fiction. My main worry before reading was that it would have been a pastiche of one of my heroes, but instead I found a book produced with respect for one of the genre’s most-loved classic authors. I therefore think it fitting if I say that I think that Sir Arthur would be pleased by this."

"A surprisingly substantial extension of "A Meeting With Medusa" suggested by chance “by Alastair Reynolds in the course of a nostalgic email exchange” with Stephen Baxter, The Medusa Chronicles tells the story of those very centuries, and it is—if you’ll pardon my hyperbole—frickin’ terrific." (-- Niall Alexander)

"The results are remarkable; Baxter and Reynolds may have been working out of reverence for the original story, but this is no mere exercise in nostalgia. It is a breathtaking standalone work, a sci-fi story of rare scope and intelligence, celebrating Clarke’s legacy even as it sets out for new territory."

Arthur C. Clarke would be proud!

I really enjoyed the story and the reader. Arthur C. Clarke would be proud of the life his short story took on.

Odd narrator

I liked the story but had a problem with the narrator. Peter Kenny has an odd upward inflection in his voice which makes him sound overly cheery.

Magnificent

I rarely write reviews. The book has to really be impactful. Something that makes me stop after reading and wonder. This is such a book. Forget about the negative reviews. Yes the first handful of chapters are slow. But the final chapters escalate to a satisfying crescendo. You won’t be disappointed. Well done Misters Baxter and Reynolds!

Monday. performance and wonderful story

As one might expect from a collaboration between two of the great SF writers of the Era, combining long time imagination and practical science/engineering expertise, and in reflection upon a short by one of the all time masters of the craft, this book is wonderful. Fleshed out in lively details, the story of one man turned cyborg explorer traveling through the future of humanity century by century, always called to be a tool in the negotiation between man, machine, and life itself. This is truly a refreshing perspective, a break from the typical space opera military man or savvy politico, as an explorer by trade Commander Falcon (no relation to the Captain) provides levity, poise, and a thirst for knowledge mirroring that of the reader.

As always, Peter Kenney takes to story to brilliant heights with a deft and entertaining performance. Truly the preeminent talent of SF narration in my opinion, he does not disappoint with this one.

Intriguing follow-on to an Arthur C Clarke short

The Medusa Chronicles, a joint effort by Alastair Reynolds and Stephen Baxter is a follow-on story to a 1971 Arthur C Clarke short (A Meeting with Medusa) that originally appeared in a magazine (Playboy) and as such may not have enjoyed wide distribution. Howard Falcon, the main character from the Clarke short who is a cyborg, serves as a witness and participant in the passage of time within the solar system, chronicling the conquest of the planets and asteroids, the discovery of alien life, and the emergence of machine intelligence, along with political and societal upheaval. Always the mediator, go between, and negotiator, Falcon plays in central role in nearly every significant event in Earth's future history.

The sci-fi elements are a mix of rudimentary space travel, alien lifeforms within a gas giant, and the rise of machine intelligence. Perhaps more fascinating than the science fiction and the story plot is the gradual transition in presentation from the more classic sci-fi of Clarke's era to a more contemporary style as displayed by the authors' other works, leading to a progression towards a more complex, nuanced and engaging tale as the story evolves. In the end, Falcon has a Forrest Gump quality that places him squarely in the middle of every significant turning point for humanity and the other forms of life and intelligences that come to inhabit the solar system eventually becoming a type of ambassador for the whatever come next.

The narration is nicely done with a good range of voices, including the non-human entities that comprise a large set of the major players.

Very good.

It very much comes off as a brilliant nod towards the imaginative worlds of Clarke. I hope these two work together again. This is definitely worth listening too.

Almost stopped listening. Glad I didn't.

At about 5 chapters in, I was seriously considering stopping. I couldn't believe this was written by Reynolds, it was so slow and clumsy.

However, I stuck with it, and am glad I did. In there end this book is as mind expanding as any of his other books.

A brilliant and spanning story

this is one of my favorite science fiction novels to date. a wonderful collaboration, of writers and a stunning narrative performance.

The Parabolic Father of Sci-Fi, Gratified.

Sir Clarke, the parabolic father of all science fiction lovers, might be enduring 100,000atm of condensed hydrogen and thermonuclear fusion-based helium inside Jupiter’s core, or touring the universe with some friendly neutrinos. But regardless of position in time and space, he’s surely pleased with the wonderfully amplified and embellished chronicle of his A Meeting With Medusa by the affiliate mind of Baxter and Reynolds.
Peter Kenny has a smooth, distinguished voice. His narration is outstanding.
Highly recommended.

Doesn't Quite Match the Original

Having been a fan of many of Alastair Reynolds' imaginative sci fi novels in the past, I decided to read Sir Arthur C Clarke's novella upon which this is based. I enjoyed it, so I eagerly began this book, hoping for an exciting and fantastic series of stories set throughout the universe.

This book didn't quite live up to those expectations. Set within the solar system, it really doesn't offer any new ideas or vision of the future that we haven't seen before. There's a bit of a twist at the end, kind of a deus ex machina really, that helps things out and gives the novel a happy and mostly satisfying ending. But, large portions of the book are wordy and boring, which I think create a barrier for many readers.

This book feels like a labor of love by these authors toward Clarke's work, and it's great that they did that. But this isn't going to be remembered as one of the landmarks of the genre by any stretch of the imagination.