I share some brief opinions on Slow Bullets, a short story by science fiction writer Alastair Reynolds, published by Tachyon
Publications.
From the author of the
Revelation Space series comes an interstellar adventure of war, identity,
betrayal, and the preservation of civilization itself.
A vast conflict, one
that has encompassed hundreds of worlds and solar systems, appears to be
finally at an end. A conscripted soldier is beginning to consider her life
after the war and the family she has left behind. But for Scur—and for
humanity—peace is not to be.
On the brink of the
ceasefire, Scur is captured by a renegade war criminal, and left for dead in
the ruins of a bunker. She revives aboard a prisoner transport vessel.
Something has gone terribly wrong with the ship.
Passengers—combatants
from both sides of the war—are waking up from hibernation far too soon. Their
memories, embedded in bullets, are the only links to a world which is no longer
recognizable. And Scur will be reacquainted with her old enemy, but with much
higher stakes than just her own life.
This
is just going to be a quick review here as Slow
Bullets is only a short story, but it’s a very good one. Alastair Reynolds is
an author who has put out some consistently brilliant hard sci-fi work, be it Blue Remembered Earth or Revelation Space, and the Slow Bullets looks at an intriguing
original universe, merging several themes together and putting a strong female
lead, named Scur, at the heart of the conflict, and exploring her capture by a
renegade war criminal who hasn’t yet heard about a ceasefire.
If
you’re looking to explore Alistair Reynolds’ work but are worried about
investing in a full length novel, Slow
Bullets is perfect. It’s a quick read and offers a very accessible story to
new readers, not feeling like most of the hard science fiction that Reynolds
normally writes. The short is unpredictable and enthralling, and the lead
character, Scur, is a likeable and well developed protagonist. Reynolds manages
to weave a compelling and engaging science fiction short far better than a few
full length novels that I’ve read recently, with everything falling into place
to work perfectly. It’s amazing how, given the short pagecount, Reynolds is
able to develop and expand the world, and blends everything together very well
indeed.
Slow Bullets is a confident read from Reynolds that will please fans and
newcomers alike, and hopefully it will draw in new readers and encourage them
to explore more of the writer’s work. Highly Recommended.
VERDICT: 8/10
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