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  Alastair

  Reynolds

  The Revelation

  Space

  Collection

  Praise for Alastair Reynolds:

  ‘Alastair Reynolds is a name to watch. Mixing shades of Banks and Gibson with gigatons of originality’ Guardian

  ‘Intensely compelling; darkly intelligent; hugely ambitious’ Paul McAuley

  ‘Reynold's narrative is truly breathtaking in scope and intricate in detail, making him a mastersinger of the space opera’ The Times

  ‘When word of mouth builds up the head of steam that Reynolds's massive SF epic has created, attention needs to be paid. Like many of the best novels in the hard SF genre, the span here is mindboggling, with a comprehensively realised protagonist’ Good Book Guide

  ‘[Alastair Reynolds] has a genius for big-concept SF’ Publishers Weekly

  ‘Dark, gothic and graphic, with tightly composed narratives full of shocks and jaw-dropping moments’ BBC Focus

  ‘Reynolds is currently the best exponent of this “Sense of Wonder” school.’ Daily Telegraph

  ‘Alastair Reynolds occupies the same frenzied imaginative space as Philip K. Dick or A. E. Van Vogt’ M. John Harrison, Guardian

  ‘He is taking the stuff of space opera and making it into something new … the most exciting space opera writer working today’ Locus

  Alastair Reynolds was born in Barry, South Wales, in 1966, and studied at Newcastle and St Andrews Universities. He has a Ph.D. in astronomy and works part-time as an astrophysicist for the European Space Agency. His ‘Revelation Space’ series, Revelation Space, shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke and the BSFA Awards, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap, shortlisted for the British Science Fiction Award, and his SF thrillers, Chasm City, winner of the British Science Fiction Award, and Century Rain, are all Gollancz bestsellers.

  Also by Alastair Reynolds from Gollancz:

  Chasm City

  Revelation Space

  Redemption Ark

  Absolution Gap

  Century Rain

  Pushing Ice

  Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days

  Galactic North

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Praise for Alastair Reynolds

  About the Author

  Also By Alastair Reynolds

  Revelation Space

  Chasm City

  Redemption Ark

  Absolution Gap

  Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days

  Galactic North

  The Prefect

  Copyright

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Praise for Alastair Reynolds

  About the Author

  Also By Alastair Reynolds

  Revelation Space

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  ONE - Mantell Sector, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, Delta Pavonis system, 2551

  TWO - Aboard a lighthugger, interstellar space, 2543

  THREE - Cuvier, Resurgam, 2561

  FOUR - Carousel New Brazilia, Yellowstone, Epsilon Eridani, 2546

  FIVE - Carousel New Brazilia, Yellowstone, Epsilon Eridani, 2546

  SIX - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546

  SEVEN - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546

  EIGHT - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546

  NINE - Mantell, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, 2566

  TEN - Approaching Delta Pavonis, 2564

  ELEVEN - Approaching Delta Pavonis, 2565

  TWELVE - Sky’s Edge, 61 Cygni-A, 2483 (simulated)

  THIRTEEN - Resurgam Orbit, 2566

  FOURTEEN - Mantell, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, 2566

  FIFTEEN - Mantell, North Nekhebet, 2566

  SIXTEEN - North Nekhebet, 2566

  SEVENTEEN - Rendezvous Point, Resurgam, 2566

  EIGHTEEN - Resurgam Orbit, 2566

  NINETEEN - Delta Pavonis system, 2566

  TWENTY - Approaching Cerberus/Hades, 2566

  TWENTY-ONE - Approaching Cerberus/Hades, 2566

  TWENTY-TWO - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-THREE - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-FOUR - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-FIVE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-SIX - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-SEVEN - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-EIGHT - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-NINE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  THIRTY - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  THIRTY-ONE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  THIRTY-TWO - Approaching Cerberus Surface, 2566

  THIRTY-THREE - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2566

  THIRTY-FOUR - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2566

  THIRTY-FIVE - Cerberus, Interior, 2567

  THIRTY-SIX - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2567

  THIRTY-SEVEN - Cerberus Interior, 2567

  THIRTY-EIGHT - Cerberus Interior, 2567

  THIRTY-NINE - Cerberus Interior, Final Chamber, 2567

  Chasm City

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  EPILOGUE

  Redemption Ark

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  EPILOGUE

  Absolution Gap

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  Dedication
>
  PROLOGUE

  ONE - Ararat, p Eridani A System, 2675

  TWO - Lighthugger Gnostic Ascension, Interstellar Space, 2615

  THREE - Lighthugger Gnostic Ascension, Interstellar Space, 2615

  FOUR - Ararat, 2675

  FIVE - Ararat, 2675

  SIX - Ararat, 2675

  SEVEN - Approaching Hela, 2615

  EIGHT - Hela, 2727

  NINE - Hela Surface, 2615

  TEN - Hela, 2615

  ELEVEN - Hela, 2727

  TWELVE - Hela, 2727

  THIRTEEN - Ararat, 2675

  FOURTEEN - Ararat, 2675

  FIFTEEN - Ararat, 2675

  SIXTEEN - Ararat, 2675

  SEVENTEEN - Hela, 2727

  EIGHTEEN - Ararat, 2675

  NINETEEN - Ararat, 2675

  TWENTY - Hela, 2727

  TWENTY-ONE - Ararat, 2675

  TWENTY-TWO - p Eridani 40, 2675

  TWENTY-THREE - Hela, 2727

  TWENTY-FOUR - Ararat, 2675

  TWENTY-FIVE - Ararat, 2675

  TWENTY-SIX - Hela, 2727

  TWENTY-SEVEN - Ararat, 2675

  TWENTY-EIGHT - Ararat, 2675

  TWENTY-NINE - Ararat, 2675

  THIRTY - Ararat, 2675

  THIRTY-ONE - Near Ararat, 2675

  THIRTY-TWO - Hela, 2727

  THIRTY-THREE - Near Ararat, 2675

  THIRTY-FOUR - Interstellar Space, Near p Eridani 40, 2675

  THIRTY-FIVE - Hela, 2727

  THIRTY-SIX - Interstellar Space, Near Epsilon Eridani, 2698

  THIRTY-SEVEN - Interstellar Space, Epsilon Eridani, 2698

  THIRTY-EIGHT - Hela, 2727

  THIRTY-NINE - Hela Surface, 2727

  FORTY - Hela Surface, 2727

  FORTY-ONE - Hela, 2727

  FORTY-TWO - Hela, 2727

  FORTY-THREE

  FORTY-FOUR

  FORTY-FIVE

  FORTY-SIX

  FORTY-SEVEN

  FORTY-EIGHT

  FORTY-NINE

  FIFTY

  EPILOGUE

  Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  Dedication

  DIAMOND DOGS

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  TURQUOISE DAYS

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  Galactic North

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  Dedication

  GREAT WALL OF MARS

  GLACIAL

  A SPY IN EUROPA

  WEATHER

  DILATION SLEEP

  GRAFENWALDER’S BESTIARY

  NIGHTINGALE

  GALACTIC NORTH

  AFTERWORD

  The Prefect

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  Dedication

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  Copyright

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  ONE - Mantell Sector, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, Delta Pavonis system, 2551

  TWO - Aboard a lighthugger, interstellar space, 2543

  THREE - Cuvier, Resurgam, 2561

  FOUR - Carousel New Brazilia, Yellowstone, Epsilon Eridani, 2546

  FIVE - Carousel New Brazilia, Yellowstone, Epsilon Eridani, 2546

  SIX - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546

  SEVEN - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546

  EIGHT - En Route to Delta Pavonis, 2546

  NINE - Mantell, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, 2566

  TEN - Approaching Delta Pavonis, 2564

  ELEVEN - Approaching Delta Pavonis, 2565

  TWELVE - Sky’s Edge, 61 Cygni-A, 2483 (simulated)

  THIRTEEN - Resurgam Orbit, 2566

  FOURTEEN - Mantell, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, 2566

  FIFTEEN - Mantell, North Nekhebet, 2566

  SIXTEEN - North Nekhebet, 2566

  SEVENTEEN - Rendezvous Point, Resurgam, 2566

  EIGHTEEN - Resurgam Orbit, 2566

  NINETEEN - Delta Pavonis system, 2566

  TWENTY - Approaching Cerberus/Hades, 2566

  TWENTY-ONE - Approaching Cerberus/Hades, 2566

  TWENTY-TWO - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-THREE - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-FOUR - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-FIVE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-SIX - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-SEVEN - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-EIGHT - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  TWENTY-NINE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  THIRTY - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  THIRTY-ONE - Cerberus/Hades, Delta Pavonis Heliopause, 2566

  THIRTY-TWO - Approaching Cerberus Surface, 2566

  THIRTY-THREE - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2566

  THIRTY-FOUR - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2566

  THIRTY-FIVE - Cerberus, Interior, 2567

  THIRTY-SIX - Cerberus/Hades Orbit, 2567

  THIRTY-SEVEN - Cerberus Interior, 2567

  THIRTY-EIGHT - Cerberus Interior, 2567

  THIRTY-NINE - Cerberus Interior, Final Chamber, 2567

  ONE

  Mantell Sector, North Nekhebet, Resurgam, Delta Pavonis system, 2551

  There was a razorstorm coming in.

  Sylveste stood on the edge of the excavation and wondered if any of his labours would survive the night. The archaeological dig was an array of deep square shafts separated by baulks of sheer-sided soil: the classical Wheeler box-grid. The shafts went down tens of metres, walled by transparent cofferdams spun from hyperdiamond. A million years of stratified geological history pressed against the sheets. But it would take only one good dustfall - one good razorstorm - to fill the shafts almost to the surface.

  ‘Confirmation, sir,’ said one of his team, emerging from the crouched form of the first crawler. The man’s voice was muffled behind his breather mask. ‘Cuvier’s just issued a severe weather advisory for the whole North Nekhebet landmass. They’re advising all surface teams to return to the nearest base.’

  ‘You’re saying we should pack up and drive back to Mantell?’

  ‘It’s going to be a hard one, sir.’ The man fidgeted, drawing the collar of his jacket tighter around his neck. ‘Shall I issue the general evacuation order?’

  Sylveste looked down at the excavation grid, the sides of each shaft brightly lit by the banks of floodlights arrayed around the area. Pavonis never got high enough at these latitudes to provide much useful illumination; now, sinking towards the horizon and clotted by great cauls of dust, it was little more than a rusty-red smear, hard for his eyes to focus on. Soon dust devi
ls would come, scurrying across the Ptero Steppes like so many overwound toy gyroscopes. Then the main thrust of the storm, rising like a black anvil.

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘There’s no need for us to leave. We’re well sheltered here - there’s hardly any erosion pattering on those boulders, in case you hadn’t noticed. If the storm becomes too harsh, we’ll shelter in the crawlers.’

  The man looked at the rocks, shaking his head as if doubting the evidence of his ears. ‘Sir, Cuvier only issue an advisory of this severity once every year or two - it’s an order of magnitude above anything we’ve experienced before.’

  ‘Speak for yourself,’ Sylveste said, noticing the way the man’s gaze snapped involuntarily to his eyes and then off again, embarrassed. ‘Listen to me. We cannot afford to abandon this dig. Do you understand?’

  The man looked back at the grid. ‘We can protect what we’ve uncovered with sheeting, sir. Then bury transponders. Even if the dust covers every shaft, we’ll be able to find the site again and get back to where we are now.’ Behind his dust goggles, the man’s eyes were wild, beseeching. ‘When we return, we can put a dome over the whole grid. Wouldn’t that be the best, sir, rather than risk people and equipment out here?’

  Sylveste took a step closer to the man, forcing him to step back towards the grid’s closest shaft. ‘You’re to do the following. Inform all dig teams that they carry on working until I say otherwise, and that there is to be no talk of retreating to Mantell. Meanwhile, I want only the most sensitive instruments taken aboard the crawlers. Is that understood?’

  ‘But what about people, sir?’

  ‘People are to do what they came out here to do. Dig.’

  Sylveste stared reproachfully at the man, almost inviting him to question the order, but after a long moment of hesitation the man turned on his heels and scurried across the grid, navigating the tops of the baulks with practised ease. Spaced around the grid like down-pointed cannon, the delicate imaging gravitometers swayed slightly as the wind began to increase.

  Sylveste waited, then followed a similar path, deviating when he was a few boxes into the grid. Near the centre of the excavation, four boxes had been enlarged into one single slab-sided pit, thirty metres from side to side and nearly as deep. Sylveste stepped onto the ladder which led into the pit and moved quickly down the side. He had made the journey up and down this ladder so many times in the last few weeks that the lack of vertigo was almost more disturbing than the thing itself. Moving down the cofferdam’s side, he descended through layers of geological time. Nine hundred thousand years had passed since the Event. Most of that stratification was permafrost - typical in Resurgam’s subpolar latitudes; permanent frost-soil which never thawed. Deeper down - close to the Event itself - was a layer of regolith laid down in the impacts which had followed. The Event itself was a single, hair-fine black demarcation - the ash of burning forests.