Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Orbit (2022), 352 pages
Description
From the master of the space opera comes a dark, mind-bending adventure spread across time and space, where Doctor Silas Coade is tasked with keeping his crew safe as they adventure across the galaxy in search of a mysterious artifact. In the 1800s, a sailing ship crashes off the coast of Norway. In the 1900s, a Zepellin explores an icy canyon in Antarctica. In the far future, a spaceship sets out for an alien artifact. Each excursion goes horribly wrong. And on every journey, Dr. Silas Coade is the physician, but only Silas seems to realize that these events keep repeating themselves. And it's up to him to figure out why and how. And how to stop it all from happening again.
Media reviews
New Scientist
It isn't every day you get to experience a perfect collision of the Romantic macabre of Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft with The Usual Suspects and 2001: A Space Odyssey. So much of the book's joy is working out which bits are real and which are misdirection on the way to unlocking the final
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mystery. Trust me, you don't want this spoiled by more plot details. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member hblanchard
I was so eager to read Alastair Reynolds’ new novel “Eversion” that I ordered it from the UK (it won’t appear in the US until next month - “hard” science fiction seems to have a more solid following in England). Well I was not disappointed, most fun sf book this year so far. You are
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dazzled by a series of settings from 19th century sailing ships, to steampunk, atompunk, near future solar system exploration, and finally (amusingly) to a E. E. Doc Smith like space patrol setting. In the process he mines several tropes from Al to Lovecraft to aliens. And even some math (hence ‘eversion’). What a trip, I broke a land speed record in finishing this one: recommended. (Note this is the UK cover, the US cover has galaxies and a space gateway ring on it - neither cover bears much resemblance to the story-this one a tiny bit better.) Show Less
LibraryThing member SpaceandSorcery
I received this novel from Orbit Books through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review: my thanks to both of them for this opportunity.
Alastair Reynolds' name is always enough to make me pay attention to any new book he publishes: so far I've learned to expect space opera stories strongly based
The novel starts, quite unexpectedly, on a sailing ship from the early 19th Century, the Demeter, traveling through the icy waters of Norway: Dr. Silas Coade, the ship's surgeon, is the narrating voice of the story as he relates the goal of the expedition, a search for a mysterious construct – named the Edifice – that could be reached through a narrow passage in the ice. The expedition members include, besides the good doctor, the leader of the group, boisterous Master Topolsky; Coronel Ramos, a weapons and explosives expert; tormented mathematician Dupin, and a few others, including Lady Ada Cossile, a noblewoman of great knowledge and prickly disposition. As their intended destination approaches, we get to know the various members of the group and learn about the frictions generated by such different characters sharing close quarters: once the passage is located, though, and the wreck of a previous visiting ship – the Europa – is discovered, tempers flare in a heated exchange of accusations, and then disaster strikes in a most unexpected way. But it's not the end, because in the next chapter we find once again Dr. Coade on Demeter, only this time he finds himself on a late 19th Century steamship, forging the waters near Patagonia – and still looking for a mysterious passage and an equally mysterious Edifice...
The pattern repeats itself again as the time frame proceeds forward and Demeter morphs from sail ship to steamship to dirigible to spaceship, always seeking to uncover the mystery of the Edifice, always forging through a dangerous passage and always meeting with disaster in one form or another. Some elements remain the same throughout the various versions of the story, however: the characters and their respective roles; Dr. Coade’s addiction to drugs and his literary aspirations which take the form of speculative fiction in which he imagines more advanced technology; Ramos’ head injury which Coade treats successfully and which leads to a close friendship between the two men; Ada Cossile’s pointed remarks which seem to target the doctor more than anyone else, and the hints that she might know more about him than circumstances seem to warrant. It all adds to a compelling narrative that kept me reading on as the picture gained more details with each new iteration, until the core of the puzzle was revealed and it opened the door toward the real situation and danger facing the complement of the Demeter.
The buildup of narrative pressure is certainly the strongest element in Eversion: from the moment in which the story resumes after the first catastrophic ending, although in a slightly different form, it’s clear that there is more at work here than meets the eye, and obtaining the answers to the many questions posed by the story becomes the main attraction in this compelling novel, where the new elements manage only to tease the readers’ imagination, leading them to formulate hypotheses that most of the times prove wrong. When I previously mentioned the Groundhog Day vibes I might have made this story sound like a series of repetitions, but it’s far from that, not only because of the changes in temporal and technological setting for each iteration, but also because there is always some new detail that adds something to the overall picture, while never offering a way to pierce the mystery. Being kept guessing might prove somewhat frustrating, but it’s also a sure way to compel you to forge ahead and look for the final revelation - which will prove to be quite unexpected.
One of the other intriguing components in this novel is the enigma tied to the Edifice, a place whose size and shape appear almost Lovecraftian in their mind- and space-bending quality and also because of the bothersome messages left by the unfortunate crew of Europa about the horrors waiting there: there is nothing more chilling than an incomplete message about something terrible and inescapable coming from the depths, and here it’s also paired with Dr. Coade recurring dream about a
[…] stumbling progress down a stone tunnel, a scurrying nightmare charged with the terrible conviction that I myself were already dead.
which will get a startling but consistent explanation once the veil will be pierced.
Compared to Alastair Reynolds’ previous works, Eversion lacks the sense of galactic vastness one can find in them, but it’s the rather confined background of this story which allows him to explore in greater depth the characters (something which I felt was somewhat missing from his other novels) and to linger on their interactions and personalities. There is a greater focus here on friendship and interpersonal relationships, mixed with some intriguing discussions about ethics and the kind of acceptable sacrifices to be tolerated in the quest for knowledge: it all gains an intriguing meaning once we learn about the reality of the situation facing Coade and the crew of Demeter, adding depth and humanity to what, until that point, was just a puzzling mystery.
While quite different from my previous experience with Alastair Reynolds’ writing, Eversion proved to be a fascinating novel combining science fiction and mystery in a seamless blend: prepare for something unexpected but totally engrossing…
Alastair Reynolds' name is always enough to make me pay attention to any new book he publishes: so far I've learned to expect space opera stories strongly based
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on science and dealing with a galaxy-wide scope of events, so my curiosity was piqued by the blurb for Eversion, which sounded like a very different take from those themes. It turned out to be a very unexpected, deeply engaging read that held my attention from start to finish and offered a quite unusual story that mixed some Groundhog Day vibes with tales of exploration and an alien mystery shrouded in a quasi-Lovecraftian shade of fear: in short, a story that compelled me to burn the proverbial midnight oil to see where the author would take me.The novel starts, quite unexpectedly, on a sailing ship from the early 19th Century, the Demeter, traveling through the icy waters of Norway: Dr. Silas Coade, the ship's surgeon, is the narrating voice of the story as he relates the goal of the expedition, a search for a mysterious construct – named the Edifice – that could be reached through a narrow passage in the ice. The expedition members include, besides the good doctor, the leader of the group, boisterous Master Topolsky; Coronel Ramos, a weapons and explosives expert; tormented mathematician Dupin, and a few others, including Lady Ada Cossile, a noblewoman of great knowledge and prickly disposition. As their intended destination approaches, we get to know the various members of the group and learn about the frictions generated by such different characters sharing close quarters: once the passage is located, though, and the wreck of a previous visiting ship – the Europa – is discovered, tempers flare in a heated exchange of accusations, and then disaster strikes in a most unexpected way. But it's not the end, because in the next chapter we find once again Dr. Coade on Demeter, only this time he finds himself on a late 19th Century steamship, forging the waters near Patagonia – and still looking for a mysterious passage and an equally mysterious Edifice...
The pattern repeats itself again as the time frame proceeds forward and Demeter morphs from sail ship to steamship to dirigible to spaceship, always seeking to uncover the mystery of the Edifice, always forging through a dangerous passage and always meeting with disaster in one form or another. Some elements remain the same throughout the various versions of the story, however: the characters and their respective roles; Dr. Coade’s addiction to drugs and his literary aspirations which take the form of speculative fiction in which he imagines more advanced technology; Ramos’ head injury which Coade treats successfully and which leads to a close friendship between the two men; Ada Cossile’s pointed remarks which seem to target the doctor more than anyone else, and the hints that she might know more about him than circumstances seem to warrant. It all adds to a compelling narrative that kept me reading on as the picture gained more details with each new iteration, until the core of the puzzle was revealed and it opened the door toward the real situation and danger facing the complement of the Demeter.
The buildup of narrative pressure is certainly the strongest element in Eversion: from the moment in which the story resumes after the first catastrophic ending, although in a slightly different form, it’s clear that there is more at work here than meets the eye, and obtaining the answers to the many questions posed by the story becomes the main attraction in this compelling novel, where the new elements manage only to tease the readers’ imagination, leading them to formulate hypotheses that most of the times prove wrong. When I previously mentioned the Groundhog Day vibes I might have made this story sound like a series of repetitions, but it’s far from that, not only because of the changes in temporal and technological setting for each iteration, but also because there is always some new detail that adds something to the overall picture, while never offering a way to pierce the mystery. Being kept guessing might prove somewhat frustrating, but it’s also a sure way to compel you to forge ahead and look for the final revelation - which will prove to be quite unexpected.
One of the other intriguing components in this novel is the enigma tied to the Edifice, a place whose size and shape appear almost Lovecraftian in their mind- and space-bending quality and also because of the bothersome messages left by the unfortunate crew of Europa about the horrors waiting there: there is nothing more chilling than an incomplete message about something terrible and inescapable coming from the depths, and here it’s also paired with Dr. Coade recurring dream about a
[…] stumbling progress down a stone tunnel, a scurrying nightmare charged with the terrible conviction that I myself were already dead.
which will get a startling but consistent explanation once the veil will be pierced.
Compared to Alastair Reynolds’ previous works, Eversion lacks the sense of galactic vastness one can find in them, but it’s the rather confined background of this story which allows him to explore in greater depth the characters (something which I felt was somewhat missing from his other novels) and to linger on their interactions and personalities. There is a greater focus here on friendship and interpersonal relationships, mixed with some intriguing discussions about ethics and the kind of acceptable sacrifices to be tolerated in the quest for knowledge: it all gains an intriguing meaning once we learn about the reality of the situation facing Coade and the crew of Demeter, adding depth and humanity to what, until that point, was just a puzzling mystery.
While quite different from my previous experience with Alastair Reynolds’ writing, Eversion proved to be a fascinating novel combining science fiction and mystery in a seamless blend: prepare for something unexpected but totally engrossing…
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LibraryThing member majkia
Very odd and surprising stand alone book that appears to be alt history but turns out as something quite different.
LibraryThing member SamShumate
I very much enjoyed this book. I do have a caveat about the Kindle edition. At least the copy I received. The beginning quotations marks for every other line of dialog were missing. Has anyone noticed any such flaws in the printed editions?
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Clever but like all such things, not quite as interesting to read as it is to consider what Reynolds has done here, and I prefer enjoying the reading rather than thinking about the reading, so not one of my favourites of his, nor a suitable introduction to his work, but nevertheless something
The story opens with one Silas Cloade having to perform an emergency operation on the skull of a poor fellow sailor. Their schooner is exploring the frozen wastes of Norway's coastline in search of an unusual building, reported by fellow travelers. The trepanning operation is a success and shortly afterwards they discover a wreckage of another vessel, and the Edifice they seek.
TBC
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worthwhile about it.The story opens with one Silas Cloade having to perform an emergency operation on the skull of a poor fellow sailor. Their schooner is exploring the frozen wastes of Norway's coastline in search of an unusual building, reported by fellow travelers. The trepanning operation is a success and shortly afterwards they discover a wreckage of another vessel, and the Edifice they seek.
TBC
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LibraryThing member plappen
Silas Coade is the ship's doctor on an 18th century sailing ship. It is heading for the north of Norway, looking for the rumored Edifice, with the possibility of lots of money to be made. They are also looking for any sign of a ship called "Europa," which made the same trip several years
The zeppelin is looking for evidence that the earth is hollow, and for any sign of a ship called "Europa," which made the trip several years before. Coade dies, and wakes up on a steam-powered schooner on the southern tip of South America. He is again the ship's doctor.
After several such incidents, Coade, and Ramos, the head of security for these expeditions. begin to realize that something very weird is happening. Along for the journey is Ada Cossile, who turns out to be more than just the plucky lady reporter sent to document the expeditions. The book ends in the underground sea on Jupiter's moon Europa, with Coade understanding just what he is.
This book deserves more than 5 stars. The first part of the book works very well as a pulp/adventure story. It has plenty of thought-provoking science, good characters and first-rate writing throughout. This is very highly recommended.
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previously. Coade dies, and a short time later, wakes up on a zeppelin heading for Antarctica. He is again the ship's doctor. The zeppelin is looking for evidence that the earth is hollow, and for any sign of a ship called "Europa," which made the trip several years before. Coade dies, and wakes up on a steam-powered schooner on the southern tip of South America. He is again the ship's doctor.
After several such incidents, Coade, and Ramos, the head of security for these expeditions. begin to realize that something very weird is happening. Along for the journey is Ada Cossile, who turns out to be more than just the plucky lady reporter sent to document the expeditions. The book ends in the underground sea on Jupiter's moon Europa, with Coade understanding just what he is.
This book deserves more than 5 stars. The first part of the book works very well as a pulp/adventure story. It has plenty of thought-provoking science, good characters and first-rate writing throughout. This is very highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member waldhaus1
A recurring search that becomes a self exploration.
It is almost too repetitive at first. There is just enough development to hold interest until the action begins to happen. The protagonist is a military doctor helping on the search for a strange artifact. It has become an all consuming search that
It is almost too repetitive at first. There is just enough development to hold interest until the action begins to happen. The protagonist is a military doctor helping on the search for a strange artifact. It has become an all consuming search that
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repeats. over centuries of scientific progress. Show Less
LibraryThing member santhony
I’ve read virtually everything that Alastair Reynolds have written, enjoying almost all of it. A few pages into this work, I checked the cover to make sure there was not some mistake; that this was, in fact, a Reynolds work. All of my previous experience with Reynolds was science fiction, and
Well, okay, that’s different, but the story progressed nicely through about 4-5 iterations, all with a similar theme (exploration of the Edifice), though through an advancing time line, until SURPRISE, you get to science fiction.
I’ve got to say that about ¾ of the way through the book, it had largely lost its novelty and I was ready for advancement of story line, which though it ultimately occurred, was less than stellar. Dreams within dreams gave the impression of a much simplified version of Inception. Not bad, just not great.
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here I was, reading a book set on a 19th century sailing ship, making its way north, up the coast of Norway, searching for “the Edifice”, a huge, isolated structure, inexplicably located on the Arctic Circle.Well, okay, that’s different, but the story progressed nicely through about 4-5 iterations, all with a similar theme (exploration of the Edifice), though through an advancing time line, until SURPRISE, you get to science fiction.
I’ve got to say that about ¾ of the way through the book, it had largely lost its novelty and I was ready for advancement of story line, which though it ultimately occurred, was less than stellar. Dreams within dreams gave the impression of a much simplified version of Inception. Not bad, just not great.
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LibraryThing member Sensory
Really twisty, sometimes a bit confusing, nevertheless I really enjoyed the surprises in this novel.
LibraryThing member vladmihaisima
A complex and intriguing story that evolves in unexpected ways. Turns darker towards the end, but has some serenity built into it, as character's struggle is towards a goal and makes sense, even if their options are not that great. Combines skillfully multiple settings across time periods and The main character is the AI of a land module that must contribute to rescue the crew from an alien spacecraft. In order to do this it must allow one of the crew members to die, solving a mathematical problem. The ending does not solve the struggles clearly, but gives hope that success was at least an option. Very well crafted so that lots of things make sense). Really enjoyable!
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places (real and not) in an interesting and believable way. Show Less
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — Science Fiction Novel — 2023)
Dragon Award (Finalist — Science Fiction Novel — 2023)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2022
Physical description
352 p.; 9.2 inches
ISBN
0316462829 / 9780316462822