History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Average customer rating:

Very creative buildup, mildly disappointed by ending
Probably not the best Sci-fi to start the genre with
Free SF Reader
lose one star for unrealistic dialogue
It's ok middle of the road

Revelation Space
Alastair Reynolds
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0441009425
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Alastair Reynolds's first novel is "hard" SF on an epic scale, crammed with technological marvels and immensities. Its events take place over a relatively short period, but have roots a billion years old--when the Dawn War ravaged our galaxy.

Sylveste is the only man ever to return alive and sane from a Shroud, an enclave in space protected by awesome gravity-warping defenses: "a folding a billion times less severe should have required more energy than was stored in the entire rest-mass of the galaxy." Now an intuition he doesn't understand makes him explore the dead world Resurgam, whose birdlike natives long ago tripped some booby trap that made their own sun erupt in a deadly flare.

Meanwhile, the vast, decaying lightship Nostalgia for Infinity is coming for Sylveste, whose dead father (in AI simulation) could perhaps help the Captain, frozen near absolute zero yet still suffering monstrous transformation by nanotech plague. Most of Infinity's tiny crew have hidden agendas--Khouri the reluctant contract assassin believes she must kill Sylveste to save humanity--and there are two bodiless stowaways, one no longer human and one never human. Shocking truths emerge from bluff, betrayal, and ingenious lies.

The trail leads to a neutron star where an orbiting alien construct has defenses to challenge the Infinity's planet-wrecking superweapons.

At the heart of this artifact, the final revelations detonate--most satisfyingly. Dense with information and incident, this longish novel has no surplus fat and seems almost too short. A sparkling SF debut. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

Alastair Reynolds's critically acclaimed debut has redefined the space opera with a staggering journey across vast gulfs of time and space to confront the very nature of reality itself.

Customer Reviews:

Very creative buildup, mildly disappointed by ending.......2007-10-07

A friend recommended this to me as Reynolds is his favorite author. I was instantly hooked and the book held my attention well the whole way through. It was very creative and has a rich dialoge describing gadgets and weapons, branches of humanity, and a few alien cultures. Very intricate plot kept me guessing till the end. However, I was a bit shell shocked at the very end and caught myself saying "RRRRIIGHHT...". Kind of funny to start questioning a scifi novel on unrealistic course of events! But even with that minor annoyance of an ending a bit too perfect (one assumes because it is vaguely described at best), the book is extremely well thought out. I will go on to read some of his others.

Probably not the best Sci-fi to start the genre with.......2007-09-10

Very hard not to give Revelation Space a 5 star.

Like a few, I'm astounded at the amount of bad reviews that this book received. I just finished reading it today and had to put my opinion in.

As for the flaws: Revelation Space, like any other book, has a few flaws that can be easily overlooked. As many have stated, the characters are only modestly developed and don't hold a candle to the characters of Hyperion or Ender's Game. The same could be said about Dune, but it wasn't the characters that made that book.
There were also points in the story were Reynolds went crazy with the Deus Ex Machina, not to save the lives of his characters, but allow the characters to make a move against an antagonist when the situation reaches the coolest, most last-minute stage, not when the window presented itself earlier. In that aspect, this book is very 'Hollywood.'

Now for the good: O.k., I've read two different reviews about how Peter Hamilton's epic sci-fi beats the snot out of this book. Sorry, but if you want to talk about some completely lifeless and utterly unrealistic characters, not to mention a blatant overuse of good ol' Deus Ex, Hamilton takes it running. His stories are so weighed down with sex that you can't even pay attention to the plot. Hamilton writes about bad guys who are completely invincible throughout his story and then they are all of the sudden vulnerable at the end. What the Hell. Reynolds owns Hamilton with Revelations Space and I'm assuming with the sequels as well.

I actually think the last time I read a book of such far-sweeping ideas laid out so meticulously it was Dune. Many reviewers alluded to the idea that Reynolds basically plagiarzed this book. Of all the Sci-fi I've read, I've never read anything like it. The only thing that comes close to it is Stephen Baxter's Xeelee cycle, of which Revelation Space is wholly different.

Reynolds basically came up with a hypothetical scenario of why a galaxy such as the Milky Way, one that is more than adequately capable of supporting many forms of life, so devoid of life. I found his analysis, basically the history of the galaxy, thoroughly amazing. I can easily over look moderate character development when a plot is so imaginatively developed.

Many have said that the book has way too many plot threads. The book has three plot threads which are continuously developed as the book progresses. Dan Sylveste is attempting to solve the riddle of why the Amarantin race was obliterated right when they were about ascend to a spacefaring civilization. Ana Khouri is a professional assassin who lost her husband due to a mishap of relativistic space travel. Volyova is an "ultra" (modified humans basically) onboard the lighthugger 'Nostalgia For Infinity' who wants to hire Khouri to be the new Gunnery officer, though Khouri has plans of her own.

There are so many great things (Awe-inspiring things) about this book that I really don't have time to go into. The science, technology, and aliens are truly imaginitive and great additions to a story that is largely archeological, and it is great from cover to cover.

I read that many people complained about how Reynolds didn't bother describing his future. First of all, his description of Resurgam and Chasm City were more than adequate. Secondly, do we really need another Peter Hamilton to bore us with lengthy descriptions of the 10,000 worlds he created when they have nothing to do with the plot?

That said, I highly recommend picking this one up. I'll definitely continue this series and read anything Reynolds publishes.

Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Dan Sylveste is an archaeologist of sources investigating why a particular race of aliens became instinct. Sylveste is also the only man to encounter the strange region of space called the Shroud and survive.

Because of this, a ship full of transhumans, named the Nostalgia For Infinity, want to talk to him.

These people converge on the strange planet Yellowstone, and another character becomes involved, a martially skilled woman named Anna Khouri, who ends up being co-opted to join The Nostalgia For Infinity.

The mystery of the Amarantin is at the heart of this, and is the actual Revelation we are waiting for.

lose one star for unrealistic dialogue.......2007-08-11

Reynolds creates a wonderful universe in Revelation Space. It's a great book (as the whole series is) to get lost in. It's not easy to create such depth to the universe, but Reynolds has done so... he ought to have considering the word count of the bloody thing. So yes, it's a great book to get lost in.

However, the dialogue between characters is quite ridiculous and lengthy at times. Many, if not all, the characters were unlikable, which I enjoy a great deal. Creating characters which are easy to like to just an easy task to perform. But hating many aspects of lead and supporting characters takes dedication, to which Reynolds succeeds. Kudos to Reynolds for either his word usage or giant thesaurus, but as a crossword puzzle aficionado, his word usage stimulated me.

His plot jumping leaves one on ones heels quite often, awaiting for the story to story to the point at which it left. There are numerous cliffhangers throughout the book with mysteries that the reader can try to solve before the answers are revealed... and most the time I thought I had the answers nailed down but Reynolds always kept me on my toes and forced me to review my aspect on the scenarios. The entire plot has a significant amount of troughs and crests... like a wave function.

It's ok middle of the road.......2007-07-10

To start with I want to say that the first 175 pages of the book are boring and not very good. In fact there were times when I started to put it away and not finish it. However I bought all 3 books so I chose to solider on and it did get better and more exciting. You have to get into the heart of the book to enjoy the story as in 200+ pages

There are some things about the book I don't like. Such as the world building (or should say galaxy building) isn't up to par it is very shallow and I don't feel amazed by it at all in fact it is vanilla. I don't really have any connection with the cities and people at all. Its only 300 to 500 years in the future depending on what part of the timeline the characters are discussing. The technology seems out of time or not very believable the travel of 1% below light speed is fine but the author just sort of glosses over it by some mysterious engines built by a techno group. That's ok though I can deal with that I suppose and he may open up that technology later or maybe I missed it somewhere...

The constant change of perspective and year is hard to get used to. In fact it can be annoying for a good deal of the book, the small cliffhangers every few pages doesn't raise the excitement factor for me at all in fact I dislike the style of writing. At the same time however I understand keeping all the timeline together is important with the way technology works space travel. In essence you have 2 or 3 sometimes more plots going on in different decades and the perspective changes every 2 to 5 pages.

With all that said though there is a good story here and it is interesting once you get past the mundane beginning. Some of the cyborg, computer AI and medical technology is really very good stuff. Some of the other technology in the book is just vague but it gets more and more interesting as you read.

Hopefully the next 2 books in the series will make up for the boring parts in this book. I just wish there was some character in the book that I could connection with and like. So far there aren't any I care for at all they could get killed and would be ok. Maybe it will change and I didn't mean for this review to be completely negative but that is how it reads. There is a story there you just have to concentrate a great deal to bring it out.

The Dialogue of Worship: Creating Space for Revelation and Response (Faithgrowth, 2)

Average customer rating:

The Dialogue of Worship: Creating Space for Revelation and Response (Faithgrowth, 2)
Gary Furr , and Milburn Price
Manufacturer: Smyth & Helwys Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Ritual | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1573121592

God's Universe: A New Theory of the Universe

Average customer rating:

God's Universe: A New Theory of the Universe
Les Burgess
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Cosmology | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

A mind expanding new theory of the universe A more complete view of the space-time continuum This is the first step forward in cosmology in 100 years And in religion in two millennia Is there a cosmic horizon? Yes, every observer has one. It is formed by the exponential attenuation of electromagnetic waves to infinity. Is the universe expanding? No, it is relatively static but everchanging. Why are we at the center of the observable universe? Every observer sees himself at the center. Can a space ship exceed the speed of light? Yes, but only in its own time frame, not in an observer's time frame. Can anything be lost or escape from the universe? No, we cannot even approach the edge because there is no edge, and there is no center. This supports the probability of constant regeneration despite the great loss of matter converting to energy in stars. Four-dimensional space-time is a continuum and has a different geometry to three-dimensional space. We cannot visualise its shape in a single 3-dimensional image. All is relative to the observer. What limits the speed of light, and why is it a constant? It is limited to observers because of the curvature of 4-dimensional space-time. Time does not exist to light. It moves instantaneously in its own time frame, but a constant ('c') 300,000 km per second in any observer's own time frame. Einstein showed that the time frame of matter that moves at light-speed contracts to zero and its mass increases to infinity. Motion is only relative to other matter; absolute motion does not exist to nature (but acceleration does), which explains much. Nature stores the kinetic energy of acceleration in increased mass (law of conservation of mass/energy) in the ratio E=mc squared. Light has energy and energy has mass (Feynman). There are lots of experiments at the quantum level where light appears to move instantaneously to everyone's surprise and mystification. One is described in the magazine Science (AAAS) March 17, 2000 pp 1909-1920 called 'Spooky Action'. Does a straight line in space form a spatial circle? Yes, but it would need to be 20 billion light years long, and 20 billion universal years (in the time frame of stationary observers) would have passed between the beginning and the end of a light-speed journey. With the right technology space ships can exceed the observed (but not the actual) speed of light (which is infinite, meaning instantaneous motion) because of the time contraction in accelerated objects. The mysteries of the universe are greater than man ever thought. Scientists need to think in four (and five) dimensions instead of three plus a limited view of time. Their minds are locked in 3 dimensions preventing a true understanding of relativity. This is why no advance in cosmology has been made since Einstein, and the universe continues to mystify, because more recent observations do not fit the currently widely accepted expanding-universe theory. For instance, the ages of some galaxies exceed the time available since the supposed 'Big Bang' commencement. The geometry of four-dimensions seems irrational to 3-dimensional thinking. If we can't understand it we have to accept it in the face of hard evidence. The mathematics of Riemann, Minkowski, Kaluza, Klein and Einstein have opened the door to multi-dimensional logic, but where is the understanding to apply it to the real universe? Where is the proof, or supporting evidence, for all this? The supporting evidence is in the recent astronomical observations described in my book and elsewhere. For me, the best supporting evidence is that all the pieces of the 4-dimensional continuum theory fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, producing a wonderful picture. The proof for the cosmological statements is in the work of the aforementioned mathematicians. Einstein's equation for the universe shows it to be "static, spherical in shape, and bounded. It has constant curvature" (p.156, 'God's Equation' by Amir Aczel). Also on the same page: "Einstein's universe is a three-dimensional analogy of the surface of the earth. Here, a ray of light or a particle travelling along a geodesic (a curve of shortest distance between two points) will eventually return to its point of departure - however, this will take a very long time. Such a universe is finite but unbounded. Einstein's universe has curvature that is time-independent. The universe is homogeneous, that is, it looks the same everywhere. It is also isotropic, that is, it looks the same in every direction the observer may look - there is no preferred direction in space." I agree with Dr Aczel on everything except on the important point of time independence of the curvature. Current thinking on the model of the universe is that space is time-independent, even Einstein seemed to think like that, otherwise he wouldn't have worried about gravitational contraction. But it is essential that space and time be integrated into a single continuum, otherwise light would be observed to move at infinite speed and gravity would crush the universe, also the validity of relativity theory depends on it. Space curves one second for every 300,000 km. Events at that distance are one second behind the observer's time frame. Events at our cosmic horizon would be 10 billion years behind - if we could see them. The curvature of space-time governs the observed speed of light. The universe is spatially a little smaller than the red-shift effect indicates. We should soon have a more accurate figure based on other known methods of measurement. The red shift of Supernova 1997ff indicates that it is 10 billion light years distant but its known brightness indicates 7 billion. All light from an object exactly on an observer's cosmic horizon (a single point in space on the opposite side of the universe) would commence travelling 'sideways' following the curved surface in a simplified 3-dimensional visualization of the surface of a sphere, its waves becoming exponentially attenuated to infinity as it travelled halfway around the globe. If the observer moved, the point would also move, in his view, correspondingly. There would be a considerable volume of space adjacent to the point that he could not see until the attenuation factor decreased enough to allow the light waves to become detectable. The energy of light and the force of gravity are not lost. They are only undetectable or diminished from the cosmic horizon relatively to the observer. To gain a better comprehension we would have to study the analytic (algebraic) or coordinate geometry of higher dimensions that Einstein used. Why didn't Einstein see the shape of the universe as I do? Actually, I think he did, at least tentatively. But he couldn't understand why it wouldn't collapse under its own gravity unless it was expanding, which was a novel idea in those days because the universe appeared to be no bigger than our own Milky Way galaxy, and that wasn't expanding. Hence he devised an additional unknown constant force to rectify his perfect equation to fit the observed facts. When Hubble later found the red shift and deduced that the universe must be expanding, Einstein said that his insertion of the constant (to counteract gravitational collapse) was his 'greatest blunder'. Professor Stephen Hawkins from his book, 'A Brief History of Time', p.68: "...nowadays nearly everyone assumes that the universe started with a big bang singularity. It is perhaps ironic that, having changed my mind, I am now trying to convince other physicists that there was in fact no singularity at the beginning of the universe." Also, "If the rate of expansion one-second after the big bang had been smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million, the universe would have recollapsed before it ever reached its present size." And what could cause it to happen at all, unless it had an everlasting pre-history? Nothing happens without a cause. What I think Einstein missed was the idea that, due to the 180 degree curve of space-time at the cosmic boundary (my explanation, something to do with the angular change) not only is light attenuated (causing the 'red-shift') to infinity and none-reality to any observer, but gravity behaves the same way. This limits the effect of gravity to localities of greater than average density, such as clusters of galaxies. These are kept from collapsing by centrifugal forces. More distant galaxies would tend to have equal and opposite as well as diminished gravitational effect. The universe is a continuum, not a sphere. It is only spherical from any single point of observation for which events on its horizon have no significance. This permits the universe to be in equilibrium, self-regenerating, everchanging. and everlasting. If God is from 'everlasting to everlasting' then the same logic can apply to the universe, providing it is self-sustaining. It is a lot more believable than inexplicably beginning from a point. I doubt that Einstein realized that light (the alter ego of matter) exists in a spatial but timeless dimension (motion can only be instantaneous or no motion at all), and that its observed finite constant speed is due to the curvature of space-time. I know how difficult the 4-dimensional continuum universe is to see because it has taken me over fifty years to 'get the picture' or 'get my head around it' as one person remarked, to which I replied, "Have faith, and look at everything from an observer's point of view". This is the essence of relativity theory. We don't have to understand it, just accept it, as long as it fits the evidence. It is also a widely held view that nothing can travel faster than light-speed which is patently wrong - there is no limit to speed from the accelerated object's point of view. Infinity is impossible to attain because of increasing mass. The accelerating object's time frame also contracts as defined by the Lorentz relativity transformation equation. It is the stationary observers who can never see anything travelling faster than light-speed. We could never see a light-speed spaceship coming to earth because it would arrive at the same instant that its original image arrived. Universal time on its home planet, as on earth, would pass at one yea...

Average customer rating:

Revelations of the Metatron
Can this be true?

Revelations of the Metatron
Gary Sornson
Manufacturer: Galde Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Unexplained Mysteries | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 188009021X

Product Description

Ancient hieroglyphics written on golden columns deep in a South American mountain explain everything from Earth's prehistory to the coming of angels. Revelations of The Metatron is riveting and prophetic. Written in the style of Edgar Cayce, it contains answers to the timeless questions haunting humanity for centuries. Were angels on the Earth? How did mankind evolve?

Customer Reviews:

Revelations of the Metatron.......2001-11-21

At first this book gave me the impression that it was just a tall tale. The story about how this ancient text was found sounds like something out of a hollywood script. However, as one read on, one find that it echoes just about all the myths contained in the Gnostic tradition. I would advice the reader to be somewhat familiar with gnostic thought to have full value of the, at times (and more often than not), wonderful language.

One of the few books that has made a great and lasting impression on me ! Recommended reading for anyone spiritually inclined, or anyone searching for the foundations for the greatest myths ever.

Helge Samuelsen, november 2001

Can this be true?.......2000-12-16

In the proccess of reading, one becomes so involved that they begin to believe. I still wonder if one should or should not believe this account. The book was borrowed several times by friends and eventually came up missing. There are still people asking me to borrow this book even 7 years after losing it!

Details are outstanding in referance to biblical history and angelic names.And in a time like today this book could bring even non-believers into a "Relationship" with non-worldly beings.

Average customer rating:
Beyond Time & Space. Poetic Observations, Revelations & Experimental Fiction.

Manufacturer: The Kummunity Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0961196416

Average customer rating:
Revelation (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 8)
Karen Traviss
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Star Wars | Media Series | Series | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Fury (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 7)

Inferno (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 6)

Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 5)

Death Star (Star Wars)

Exile (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 4)

ASIN: 034547757X
Release Date: 2008-02-26

Average customer rating:
Revelation and the Silicon Chip
Alma S. Blanton
Manufacturer: Authorhouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
Astronomy | Astronomy | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1410723151

Average customer rating:
Revelation from outer space
Felix H Zimmermann
Manufacturer: F.H. Zimmermann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006XRBRQ

Average customer rating:
The revelation of humanity
Jonas Sepetys
Manufacturer: Philosophical Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0802221378

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books