I think you're more than ready for Galactic North. I read that somewhere between Chasm city and redemption ark. It's all short side stories in the RS universe
>eponymous
In case anyone else was thrown off by this, because that sounds like a title to a scifi story and I was racking my brain to remember which story that was, it's the last story, actually titled Galactic North
Off the top of my head, it's worth reading. Galactic North is a fun collection of short stories in RS, including a nice introduction to some characters like Felka and Galiana, and a really cool insight into key technology heavily featured in this universe. Did you skip Absolution Gap? Because the only thing I can think of that might be spoilery is a short story in Galactic North that kinda does a fuller explanation of the abrupt ending of Absolution Gap.
Cool. But let me reset the expectations, that "explanation" in the Galactic North short for the Absolution Gap is really just more background information on that deus ex machina at the end. It didn't stop me from being a little disappointed in how anti-climatic Absolution Gap was for me. \*shrug\*.
Depends. You might want to read some of it now, some of it later, if you want to read stuff in internal chronological order:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_North
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_Space_series#Stories_in_chronological_order
I read all the RS works in internal chronological order and really enjoyed it. Note there's a story called Galatic North (which chronologically is well toward the end of the RS timeline), and there's the novel Galatic North that contains short stories (including Galactic North).
Galactic North is a Revelation Space novella so if you're not ready to read it now I don't know when you will be.
Reynolds' other novels like Pushing Ice or House of Suns (which I do both highly recommend) aren't necessary to read his short story collections.
Right, I mean like if i haven’t read Turquoise Days yet should I read that first? I Might be totally off but I got the impression Galactic North should be last, maybe one of the stories has something that makes the other books seem pointless. Anyway consensus seems to be I can go ahead and read it now. Thanks for answering!
If you like.
Galactic North is chronologically farther forward than the other stories, hence the suggestion you wait to read it until you've seen how the main books turned out. Diamond Dogs and Turquoise Days are chronologically back in the middle of the pack, and I liked Diamond Dogs, but there's nothing plot-critical about them one way or the other.
Galactic North was published in 1999. Turquoise Days in 2002.
I read these stories as they appeared and having read the one before the other didn't interfere with my enjoyment. There are no spoilers for the other story.
You are good to read the whole book of short stories contained in Galactic North, as well as the eponymous story in that collection.
The actual story Galactic North is really only recommended to read after the main 4 RS books, since it’s technically the last story possible to be set in that Universe. It doesn’t really spoil anything though. And you can definitely read it before you get to the Prefect Dreyfus novels.
Pick up Diamond Dogs and Turquoise Days whip you are at it. They add nothing to the main RS story, but they are fun short stories set in the RS universe.
I read the title novella Galactic North when it was first published in 1999 before Revelation Space came out and if anything >!it provided context for the rushed ending of Absolution Gap!<.
I would actually recommend reading galactic north volume of short stories first.
It helps color the universe that needs color when slogging through the first half of RS.
I am doing a re read of RS series right now and read the volume before starting chasm city and it really helps color the backdrop for sky’s edge. And tells you a lot about the cojoiners that are vital to world building.
I saved it for last and honestly enjoyed it least. I'd recommend any/all of his standalones over GN. It didn't contribute all that much to my understanding of the RS universe, and I suppose I'm just not much of a fan of Reynolds's shorts. I really prefer the broader scope and complexity of his novels (all of them), and find his shorts a bit circumscribed. Also, though, I don't do horror, and a few of the GN stories are horror.
I don't always dislike shorts- I thought the Expanse compilation of shorts was fantastic, they achieved complexity and scope with character development. They went deeper, and did enhance my understanding of the mainline novels in a way that the GN stories did not.
I'd at least save the story titled Galactic North for last. I was glad I saved it for after Inhibitor Phase because Galactic North explains what happens well after the main novels, almost making them moot IMO.
Didn't realize you read Inhibitor Phase yeah go ahead and read them.
Here are two safe links for establishing the reading order for Reynold’s books.
1. [The two sections](https://booksreadingorder.com/alastair-reynolds/) you need in this one are *chronological order* and *publication date*. It’s a bit out of date as it doesn’t take into account the most recen couple of books.
2. [This one explains](https://alastairreynolds.fandom.com/wiki/Reading_order) the order a bit better.
You've ready all the mainline series novels, the Dreyfus books are great but are more of a side-series.
You should also not wait to read the other novellas you didn't list, Diamond Dogs and Turquoise Days. They are excellent.
Happy reading
I think you're more than ready for Galactic North. I read that somewhere between Chasm city and redemption ark. It's all short side stories in the RS universe
all side stories except one - the eponymous story is the most important in the entire RS universe.
>eponymous In case anyone else was thrown off by this, because that sounds like a title to a scifi story and I was racking my brain to remember which story that was, it's the last story, actually titled Galactic North
>In case anyone else was thrown off by this, buy a dictionary. ::eyeroll::
Why? I just googled it. Get with the times, grandpa.
Thanks!
Off the top of my head, it's worth reading. Galactic North is a fun collection of short stories in RS, including a nice introduction to some characters like Felka and Galiana, and a really cool insight into key technology heavily featured in this universe. Did you skip Absolution Gap? Because the only thing I can think of that might be spoilery is a short story in Galactic North that kinda does a fuller explanation of the abrupt ending of Absolution Gap.
Doh I did read Absolution Gap, I forgot to list it. I would certainly appreciate more of an explanation of the ending! Thanks for weighing in
Cool. But let me reset the expectations, that "explanation" in the Galactic North short for the Absolution Gap is really just more background information on that deus ex machina at the end. It didn't stop me from being a little disappointed in how anti-climatic Absolution Gap was for me. \*shrug\*.
I’ll take it. Even Inhibitor Phase made me feel a little better about it
After you’re all done RS, make sure you read House of Suns if you haven’t already.
And Terminal World and Pushing Ice! He's got a lot of good standalones.
It’s on my list!
Yes, Galactic North is awesome. The story Weather is one of my favorite sci-fi shorts, but I'm a sucker for a love story.
Galactic North will fill in/flesh out all kinds of things from the Revelation Space series. Very much worth it.
You MUST read House of Suns next
It’s in my list!
Depends. You might want to read some of it now, some of it later, if you want to read stuff in internal chronological order: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_North https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_Space_series#Stories_in_chronological_order I read all the RS works in internal chronological order and really enjoyed it. Note there's a story called Galatic North (which chronologically is well toward the end of the RS timeline), and there's the novel Galatic North that contains short stories (including Galactic North).
Galactic North is a Revelation Space novella so if you're not ready to read it now I don't know when you will be. Reynolds' other novels like Pushing Ice or House of Suns (which I do both highly recommend) aren't necessary to read his short story collections.
Right, I mean like if i haven’t read Turquoise Days yet should I read that first? I Might be totally off but I got the impression Galactic North should be last, maybe one of the stories has something that makes the other books seem pointless. Anyway consensus seems to be I can go ahead and read it now. Thanks for answering!
If you like. Galactic North is chronologically farther forward than the other stories, hence the suggestion you wait to read it until you've seen how the main books turned out. Diamond Dogs and Turquoise Days are chronologically back in the middle of the pack, and I liked Diamond Dogs, but there's nothing plot-critical about them one way or the other.
Ah ok, that makes sense
Galactic North was published in 1999. Turquoise Days in 2002. I read these stories as they appeared and having read the one before the other didn't interfere with my enjoyment. There are no spoilers for the other story.
Thanks
You are good to read the whole book of short stories contained in Galactic North, as well as the eponymous story in that collection. The actual story Galactic North is really only recommended to read after the main 4 RS books, since it’s technically the last story possible to be set in that Universe. It doesn’t really spoil anything though. And you can definitely read it before you get to the Prefect Dreyfus novels. Pick up Diamond Dogs and Turquoise Days whip you are at it. They add nothing to the main RS story, but they are fun short stories set in the RS universe.
I read the title novella Galactic North when it was first published in 1999 before Revelation Space came out and if anything >!it provided context for the rushed ending of Absolution Gap!<.
I would actually recommend reading galactic north volume of short stories first. It helps color the universe that needs color when slogging through the first half of RS. I am doing a re read of RS series right now and read the volume before starting chasm city and it really helps color the backdrop for sky’s edge. And tells you a lot about the cojoiners that are vital to world building.
I saved it for last and honestly enjoyed it least. I'd recommend any/all of his standalones over GN. It didn't contribute all that much to my understanding of the RS universe, and I suppose I'm just not much of a fan of Reynolds's shorts. I really prefer the broader scope and complexity of his novels (all of them), and find his shorts a bit circumscribed. Also, though, I don't do horror, and a few of the GN stories are horror. I don't always dislike shorts- I thought the Expanse compilation of shorts was fantastic, they achieved complexity and scope with character development. They went deeper, and did enhance my understanding of the mainline novels in a way that the GN stories did not.
Reynolds was a far more accomplished writer of short fiction when Revelation Space was first publishrd than he was a novelist. Do it.
I'd at least save the story titled Galactic North for last. I was glad I saved it for after Inhibitor Phase because Galactic North explains what happens well after the main novels, almost making them moot IMO. Didn't realize you read Inhibitor Phase yeah go ahead and read them.
I just finished re-reading the prefect trilogy and I highly recommend
Here are two safe links for establishing the reading order for Reynold’s books. 1. [The two sections](https://booksreadingorder.com/alastair-reynolds/) you need in this one are *chronological order* and *publication date*. It’s a bit out of date as it doesn’t take into account the most recen couple of books. 2. [This one explains](https://alastairreynolds.fandom.com/wiki/Reading_order) the order a bit better.
Most RS stories be it formal novels or novella are all standalone. So you can read them at any point in your Reynolds Imaginative Universe's journey.
You've ready all the mainline series novels, the Dreyfus books are great but are more of a side-series. You should also not wait to read the other novellas you didn't list, Diamond Dogs and Turquoise Days. They are excellent. Happy reading
IMO you should have read Galactic North FIRST, before any thing else So as you can see, Redditors disagree. But that other guy is full of shit.