House of Suns

Alastair Reynolds

Jun 2009 · Penguin

About this ebook

An “engaging and awe-inspiring”(SF Signal) space opera from the critically-acclaimed author of the Revelation Space series.

Six million years ago, at the dawn of the star-faring era, Abigail Gentian fractured herself into a thousand male and female clones, which she called shatterlings. She sent them out into the galaxy to observe and document the rise and fall of countless human empires. Since then, every two hundred thousand years, they gather to exchange news and memories of their travels.
                                                                                 
Only there is no Gathering. Someone is eliminating the Gentian line. And now Campion and Purslane—two shatterlings who have fallen in love and shared forbidden experiences—must determine exactly who, or what, their enemy is, before they are wiped out of existence...

Ratings and reviews

This story may not have been as deep as some of the Revelation Space stories, but it was still very enjoyable. I would read more from this Universe.

I am very picky about my science fiction. I'm a nerd who knows what I like, and I loved this book. The story is enthralling, and the scope is vast -- but these characters of six million years in the future are surprisingly human and relatable. The grand scope of events unfolds from the perspective of a pair of likeable protagonists. And Hesperus is a classic, awesome character straight out of golden age sci-fi. Asimov would have been proud of this one.

My favorite amongst modern sci-fi books. Excellently written, consistent science and entertaining plot!

About the author

Alastair Reynolds is the author of the Poseidon’s Children series and the Revelation Space series. Born in Barry, South Wales, he studied at Newcastle University and the University of St. Andrews. A former astrophysicist for the European Space Agency, he now writes full-time.