Reynolds has the ability to tell diverse storylines and have them come together in cohensive and gripping fashion. Dan Sylveste, a obessive scientist on the colony world of Resurgam seeks to find the answers for why the planet's original inhabitants, the Amarantins, an avian race, was wiped out eons ago. But Sylveste doesn't know it but he and his simulation of his dead, Father calvin are being sought by the cyborg crew of starship Nostalgia for Infinity to cure their captain who suffers from nanotech plague.
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Sylveste isn't aware that one of the crew, a lady assasin, Khouri is contracted to kill him! The tension of this novel is so palpable you can almost cut it with the knife. Reynolds also knows his plot twists, as he illustrates that in the future technology changes but human nature doens't as he gives scenes of machivellian manuvers among the crew of Nostlagia. Characters in this epic novel also are not what they appear to be like the brave and sometimes ruthless Volyoya who seeks to save her captain from the nanotech plague.
Khouri the assasin who must kill Sylveste in order to be reunited with her husband.The deadly Sajaki who agendas on the ship no one knows.Reynolds how to create memorable worlds and aliens like engimatic intelligence called the Shroud and how those who enters it are changed. The atmosphere of the creepy ship, Nostlagia, is very memorable as the crew battle each other and a deadly stowaway called Sun Stealer.
Reynolds also gives an answer why there are few intelligent civilizations found in the universe. The reason will terrify you!The author's ability in universe-building puts him in the same league as David Brin, Greg Bear, and frank herbert as he tells a epic saga that transcences space and billions of years in the history of the universe.Reynolds also knows how tell a story with hars science in a way that doesn't confuse the reader or take away from the human element of story.
The review of this Book prepared by Rodney Powell