On 3/30/24 1:11 AM, Titus G wrote:
The Prefect Dreyfus Emergencies series.
Book 2 Elysium Fire
Just brilliant. The only arguments for 4 rather than 5 stars were:
I was tricked by the absence of clues as to the difference between past
and present in the early stages. (I might have missed something?)
My suspension of disbelief didn't cope with Public opinion seeming too
one eyed but far too easily swayed, not just in one habitat but
throughout the Glitter Band. It also didn't cope too well with
quickmatter, matter that responds to your will, can operate
independently following instructions or be a semi permanent fixture such
as the floor which will instantly grow chairs if you will it to or
recognise rubbish or tipped out cold coffee and break such down to basic elements. (Where they go from there is not revealed.)
I was annoyed when the brother's names were unnecessarily confused at
the end of the book.
But they were minor matters as the plot was brilliantly complicated with
many remarkable dark events, the characters of the prefecture are
probably a little too perfect* but the pace and tension were constant
and exaggerated by the frequent interweaving of different activities or
plot threads within chapters. Brilliant.
* I am aware of Dreyfus's major imperfection which is spoiler material
but would the other more perfect policeman sacrifice their life to
preserve evidence perhaps to reveal the truth of horrendous crimes
committed by a dying within minutes psychopathic murderer?
Thanks for this - I'm looking forward to pretty much any Reynolds I
haven't read yet, but I may well seek the Prefect Dreyfus stories sooner.
Tony
--- MBSE BBS v1.0.8.4 (Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (3:633/280.2@fidonet)