Revelation SpaceRevelation Space
Score Modern
What it's about
Nine hundred thousand years ago, something wiped out the Amarantin civilization just as it was about to reach space. Scientist Dan Sylveste allies with the cyborg crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity to solve the riddle, while a killer closes in on him.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's big, dark space opera built on an ancient mystery.
You'll love it if you liked
Hyperion
A Fire Upon the Deep
A Deepness in the SkyGood to know
It's dark, idea-packed space opera.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller33 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #197 of the 333 science fiction books we rank
- #310 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #1057 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #2017 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Revelation Space worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,017 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Revelation Space about?
Nine hundred thousand years ago, something wiped out the Amarantin civilization just as it was about to reach space. Scientist Dan Sylveste allies with the cyborg crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity to solve the riddle, while a killer closes in on him.
How long does it take to read Revelation Space?
About 15 hours (596 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Revelation Space?
If you liked it, try Hyperion by Dan Simmons, A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge or A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge.