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Thousandth Night And Minla's Flowers (2009)

by Alastair Reynolds(Favorite Author)

4.04 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1596062592 (ISBN13: 9781596062597)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Subterranean Press

review 1: Only after getting about ⅓ of the way through Thousandth Night did I realize that I had read Reynolds about ten years ago or so; and that there was a reason why I had forgotten.So, as with his earlier works, the set up for Thousandth Night is a truly interesting and elegant idea. In this case, far-future humans are not just sci-fi standard quasi-omnipotent beings, but rather the descendants, (after a fashion) of single humans who are now exploring every nook and cranny of the galaxy. Then, at regular intervals they reunite for a festival of reunion and sharing of memory and experience.Which really is a lovely notion, but the trouble starts early on. There is poorly written dialog and characters who are only the broadest of stereotypes. Actually, many of the characters re... moread more like walking, talking plot devices in what is essentially a drawing room murder mystery of the simplest kind.There is a plucky heroine, a reluctant protagonist, the obsequious ally/confidant and the ostensible villain who, I swear, sounds as if he's twirling his handlebar mustache. In space.And Reynolds just doesn't know how to close on a deal. Without sharing any spoilers; I would just say that the resolution of the murder mystery portion of the story is on par with an episode of Scooby doo and the solution to the other Big Mystery is patently ridiculous.Other reviewers here have noted that they're fans of space opera, so I would suggest the immensely more satisfying Peter Hamilton, Iain Banks or Stephen Baxter.
review 2: The Kindle version I read only had Thousandth Night, but I think it should have been paired with the second novella (Minla's Flowers). Maybe I had to buy that separately? Or maybe the digital copy is messed up? Anyway, beware if you are thinking of buying on Kindle.Alastair Reynolds is quickly becoming a new favorite science fiction author. Thousandth Night played with some of the concepts he explored more in Blue Remembered Earth (the first and only other of his books I've read), and featured a little mystery plot that kept things moving as we learned more about this world and this species of space travelers. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more by Mr. Reynolds. less

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