"Inhibitor Phase" is described as a “standalone” novel in the Revelation Space Universe (RSU); but is it really? No . . . and yes. Can you read it without reading the other novels and stories in the RSU? Yes . . . and no. As you can tell, this reviewer is conflicted, and mainly because I can’t review it properly without recapping the rest of the works in the RSU.
In the 1990’s, Alastair Reynolds published a short story introducing us to the RSU titled “Dilation Sleep” published in Interzone, a British SF magazine. Most of us on the US side of the pond never heard of it until much later. It would be followed by other short stories set in the same universe, one stretching 40,000 years into the future. Many of these stories are published in the collection “Galactic North and Other Stories.”
In 2000, Mr. Reynolds debut novel “Revelation Space,” the first in a trilogy, blew the doors off the Science Fiction world and introduced a whole new subgenre of SF that later came to be known as “SF Noir:” stories told in the shadows, deep and dark, twisty and demented, with characters pragmatic to the point of cold murder who are just trying to survive in a universe filled with Inhibitors, aka “wolves,” an alien technological creation primed to eliminate advanced star-faring civilizations . . . like humans. The race to avert extinction was on.
Next was “Chasm City,” another standalone in the RSU. Then the rest of the trilogy “Redemption Ark” (my favorite), and “Absolution Gap.” Afterward, two other novels were released in the RSU, the Prefect Dreyfus Emergencies, a duology named “Aurora Rising” and “Elysium Fire.”
Why mention all these? Because "Inhibitor Phase" is a direct sequel to "Absolution Gap" (and the trilogy as a whole), and skillfully includes pertinent details from all of them! The way Mr. Reynolds did this is genius, giving just enough to imbue the action in "Inhibitor Phase" with some context so you don’t HAVE to read the others, and including helpful endnotes to guide the reader through what they might have missed. However, if you don’t read the others, you are missing out on a whole lot of deliciousness and depth of meaning.
All of his works are challenging and not for anyone with ADHD. They require patience, a willingness to read hard SF that won’t violate the known laws of physics, and frequent reference to a dictionary. But, they are all worth the ride!
A ‘standalone” novel should have a beginning, a story line, and a conclusion. But Mr. Reynolds has a difficult time providing satisfying conclusions. It is apparent in all his works. There are three reasons why an author might do this: 1) to leave room for them to return to this universe, knowing they should never tie up all the loose ends; 2) to engage that holiest of grails for an author, the imagination of the reader to fill in the gaps; or 3) they just don’t know how to end a story satisfyingly. Given how skillful this author is in telling the tales, I am leaning hard into the first two reasons. "Inhibitor Phase" is no different.
It follows Miguel de Ruyter as he is kidnapped to join an impossible mission to find an ultimate weapon that might defeat, or at least deter, the “wolves” and give humanity a fighting chance. Meanwhile, those same wolves are on their heals in a desperate scavenger hunt to find all the pieces necessary to build the device required, even if they aren’t sure it will even work. It will take this ruthless band into an anarchic chasm of brutal gangs where they face a horrific space BBQ. It will take them into the photosphere of a star. It will take them into the mind-bending oceans of an alien personality and memory soup. Then into the crushing gravity depths of an ice giant planet similar to Neptune. Will the weapon work? Is it even a weapon? Hmm . . . that ending. It is full of evocative and absolute craziness. The author toys with the first person point of view, which is fun. It is also full of hope, because these hard-boiled characters will never give up.
PARENTS: there are about a half dozen f-bombs in 450 pages; a nude scene that is not described, nor sexual in nature; some sadistic violence (that BBQ); and the overall tone is horrifying and depressing. If your young one is mid-late teens they will likely be able to handle it. The trade off is in expanding their imaginations, vocabularies, and letting them know they should never, ever give up.
"Inhibitor Phase" gets 5 stars because of what it is. Fantastic, dark, and mind blowing. There are issues, to be sure, but it is well worth it if you are so inclined. Oh, and go read the other massive tomes in this series, either before or after this one. You’ll be glad you did.
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The universe was not trying to be cruel or difficult; it was just massively, magnificently indifferent.Highlighted by 99 Kindle readers- “Let me explain something about survival. You do not worry about the third or fourth stepping stone until you have successfully traversed the first and second. Anything beyond them is a diversion of energies away from the immediate moment. And we are in that moment now.”Highlighted by 80 Kindle readers
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Top reviews from other countries
- Marc LeClercReviewed in Canada on February 6, 2025
Another very original concept with a large cast of memorable characters
- DenisReviewed in France on September 10, 2021
An inexhaustible supply of wonders
Such is Reynold's universe ! Strange technologies, lots of action, a rich yet understandable plot, and well worked-out characters. As a sci-fi fan, I am more than satisfied with Alastair Reynolds' latest. Keep it coming !DenisAn inexhaustible supply of wonders
Reviewed in France on September 10, 2021
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