Featuring Inspector Dreyfus – one of Alastair Reynolds most popular characters – this is a fast paced SF crime story, combining a futuristic setting with a gripping tale of technology, revolution and revenge.
One citizen died a fortnight ago. Two a week ago. Four died yesterday . . . and unless the cause can be found – and stopped – within the next four months, everyone will be dead. For the Prefects, the hunt for a silent, hidden killer is on . . .
Alastair Reynolds has returned to the world of The Prefect for this stand-alone SF mystery in which no one is safe. The technological implants which connect every citizen to each other have become murder weapons, and no one knows who or what the killer is – or who the next targets will be. But their reach is spreading, and time is not on the Prefects’ side.
Praise for Alastair Reynolds:
‘An adroit and fast-paced blend of space opera and police procedural, original and exciting’ George R. R. Martin on Aurora Rising
‘The span here is mind-boggling, cosmos-spanning concepts, a breath-taking journey’ Good Book Guide on Chasm City
‘[A] wonderfully entertaining puzzle wrapped inside an adventure story’ The Guardian on Eversion
‘A fabulous and satisfying novel’ SF Crowsnest on Revenger
‘An excellent adventure that’s sure to keep readers on their toes’ Publishers Weekly on Revenger
‘A fun, character focused bottle mystery that shifts settings like a chameleon walking across a rainbow carpet’ The Quill to Live on Eversion
‘Entertaining and thought-provoking’ Locus on Revelation Space
‘Pirates in space, full of peril and high-jinks . . . This is a novel that’s elegantly plotted, full of surprises and, as first time round, rip-roaring fun’ SFX on Revenger
‘Reynolds is one of the modern masters of science fiction’ Starburst
‘This is a story to break hearts and make you turn pages. It’s great stuff; pick it up, you’ll want to know what happens next’ SF&F Reviews on Century Rain
‘Much of the fun of these books comes from the construction of a far, far-future space-opera . . . the mapping of Age of Sail tropes onto space travel is just the start . . . Nevertheless, at the centre of this baroque masquerade party resides a sober consideration of what it might mean to go off adventuring, what it might cost’ Locus on Revenger
‘Reynolds is a master singer of the Space Opera’ The Times
One citizen died a fortnight ago. Two a week ago. Four died yesterday . . . and unless the cause can be found – and stopped – within the next four months, everyone will be dead. For the Prefects, the hunt for a silent, hidden killer is on . . .
Alastair Reynolds has returned to the world of The Prefect for this stand-alone SF mystery in which no one is safe. The technological implants which connect every citizen to each other have become murder weapons, and no one knows who or what the killer is – or who the next targets will be. But their reach is spreading, and time is not on the Prefects’ side.
Praise for Alastair Reynolds:
‘An adroit and fast-paced blend of space opera and police procedural, original and exciting’ George R. R. Martin on Aurora Rising
‘The span here is mind-boggling, cosmos-spanning concepts, a breath-taking journey’ Good Book Guide on Chasm City
‘[A] wonderfully entertaining puzzle wrapped inside an adventure story’ The Guardian on Eversion
‘A fabulous and satisfying novel’ SF Crowsnest on Revenger
‘An excellent adventure that’s sure to keep readers on their toes’ Publishers Weekly on Revenger
‘A fun, character focused bottle mystery that shifts settings like a chameleon walking across a rainbow carpet’ The Quill to Live on Eversion
‘Entertaining and thought-provoking’ Locus on Revelation Space
‘Pirates in space, full of peril and high-jinks . . . This is a novel that’s elegantly plotted, full of surprises and, as first time round, rip-roaring fun’ SFX on Revenger
‘Reynolds is one of the modern masters of science fiction’ Starburst
‘This is a story to break hearts and make you turn pages. It’s great stuff; pick it up, you’ll want to know what happens next’ SF&F Reviews on Century Rain
‘Much of the fun of these books comes from the construction of a far, far-future space-opera . . . the mapping of Age of Sail tropes onto space travel is just the start . . . Nevertheless, at the centre of this baroque masquerade party resides a sober consideration of what it might mean to go off adventuring, what it might cost’ Locus on Revenger
‘Reynolds is a master singer of the Space Opera’ The Times
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Reviews
Although a long book, with so much story to fit in there is a brevity to the text which makes it an easy read which can be enjoyed as a standalone even though it satisfactorily revisits and resolves the majority of the threads from the previous novels
A revelation that satisfies the demands of SF and mystery.
Transhumans, talking elephants, inscrutable aliens and good old fashioned spaceship fights all contribute to a breathtaking adventure
his finest moment yet and a glorious conclusion of the trilogy. A wonderful book and best that British SF has to offer at the moment
Incredible story telling and all plaudits are greatly deserved.
If you're looking for a cracking sci-fi mystery, pick this one up.
A vivid universe with beautiful settings and engaging, dynamic characters ...Fans of sf will definitely want to pick up this title, especially if they also enjoy mysteries or police procedurals.
Reynolds has not only rise to the challenge, but upped the ante.
It's grand, involving and full of light and wonder. Poseidon's Wake is one of the best sci-fi novels of the year
Possibly the best space opera I've read.
Reynolds combines depth in characterization and dazzling hard-science applications to keep the reader turning pages.
Cerebral but gripping, Elysium Fire is a must for Reynolds fans and a recommended read.
An utterly involving thriller, with a mystery that unfolds under steely control.
Having completed the trilogy I now want to return to its beginning and re-read. Alastair Reynolds is one of my very favourite authors, every book is a much-anticipated event, and withPoseidon's Wake he shows yet again why that is. I loved every single page.
A tremendously assured read, a fast-paced page-turner that delivers a well thought out story.
Intriguing speculation about human identity and potential.
A well-paced, complex story replete with intrigue, invention and an optimism uncommon in contemporary SF
a novel that works brilliantly as a space adventure and also reads, touchingly, almost as an atheist's reflection on why a kind of optimistic agnosticism may be a useful approach to finding contentment
a well realised sci-fi universe, with plausible character