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)

thoroughly enjoyable!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The ending was very satisfactory and in my opinion better than the ending of the next book in the series. I believe that book is called the blood spire? in any event, the narrator, John Lee was at his usual best and was able to perform multiple characters in a way that made them different from one another what was not so different that it was jarring. in my opinion, some narrators try too hard with other voices and I find it distracting. John Lee is one of my favorite narrators.

The Prefect delivers!

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

I have listened to many of Alastair Reynolds books on Audible, he has created a highly detailed and intriguing universe containing interesting characters and places. The life breath of this universe is the continuity from story to story, that thread of recognition contain in names and places from previous stories, as you listen to each new story. This is just one small aspect of why I look forward to each new installment.

The character of Field Prefect Dryfus as the hard driving cop with the moral imperative to protect the citizens of the Glitter band from the impending collision of a twisted destiny forge by the leftover remnant of an experiment gone badly, is one of Reynolds best.

The performance of each story by John Lee is enthralling, each character uniquely endowed with personality through the force of his vocal nuances.

What other book might you compare The Prefect to and why?

Dune. Paul Atreides and the fight protect and free that planet.

Which scene was your favorite?

To many to pick just one!

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

Just the feeling of awe in this expanding universe.

An almost perfect team

I just finished the Prefect for the second time. I nearly never listen to a book/performance twice. I had started on the sequel when I realized that I couldn't remember the Prefect as well as I wanted to. I had planned on speeding through it for a refresher, but, within minutes of starting I realized that Alastair Reynold's writing and John Lee's performance were just too stellar, so, I listened to it at normal speed. They are just about the perfect team of exceptional writing and performing that I have listened to in the hundreds of books I have downloaded over the years. if you are a fan of good science fiction and a great voice, you're going to love this book and the many others that these guys have made together.

Detective meets Sci fi horror

Firstly, this is a prequel to the main series Revelation Space. I strongly recommend reading at least the first book in the series before this one. I have read Revelation Space and Chasm City before reading this one and I would say I understood most if not all refrences made.

Secondly, if I ever wanted a creepy, detective, cyberpunk story this would be it! While I liked the other books in the series, i think this is my favorite. Maybe a bit predictable at some points, but for me the atmosphere is so on point and the characters so likable it doesn't matter. I will listen to it again. And probably again after that.

Classic Reynolds

If you like AR. you'll love this story. Intricate characters, fast paced. fun read. Read

Should have been shorter

No doubt about it. When it comes to Science Fiction, Reynolds is one of the best writers out there. And, John Lee heads the pack on Narrators. My issue with this story is that I felt the length, which means I kept losing my focus, which means the storyline could have been tightened. Otherwise, the book is worth reading -- in my case at a much faster speed.

Perfect

This Alastair Reynolds is the finest in the space opera genre, John Lee is a master orator. A sincerely fabulous partnership

Got me hooked on A Reynolds

This is the story that got me hooked on A Reynolds. After that I started back in chronological order.

Bestest Narrator

I'm hooked on this series. 15 word minimum requirement is stupid and I hope audible comes to their senses.

Incompetent cops

Should I feel bad that I was rooting for the villains by the end. The cops were just so stupid that they deserved to fail. The glitter band is a sick joke. Aurora was right to be afraid of these people.