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So I just finished this book by Alastair Reynolds. I would first like to mention that this was my first book by Alastair Reynolds and I will say I liked it.
The book is set in a universe where there are various families called "Line" consisting of clones called Shatterlings. These shatterlings are clones of specific individuals from millions of years in the past, from an era where humans lived in the Golden Hour. The Golden hour being the space around the sun having diameter of one light hour. The book focuses on a specific Line known as the Gentian Line, which consists of 1000 clones of Abigail Gentian.
Back in the golden hour it was decided by individuals of great families to make clones of themselves and spread them across the galaxy to further the reaches of humanity and explore the known universe. So these Shatterlings travel the galaxy in their highly advanced ships collecting data about the known universe. The shatterlings have lifespans of million of years and are equipped with technology which is as good as magic. They can move stars, terraform planets and bend time to their benefit. They roam around the galaxy recording the rise and fall of species, sentient and non-sentient, occasionally doing business with some of highly advanced species.
The book starts with Purslane and Campion, two gentian shatterlings, closing a deal with a species of Centaurs for repairing a stardam. This being their last stop before heading to the Periodic Gentian Reunion. The Gentian Line meets after each circuit of the galaxy to exchange memories and consolidate their troves of data, but Purslane and Campion are late to this reunion party. The shatterlings soon discover that the planet on which the reunion was being held has been ambushed by the House of Suns with the intention of wiping out the whole Line. All of the shatterlings are killed except for some remaining 52 including them.
The story is about why the Gentian line is being targeted and what are the motives of the house of suns. The book does a great job at setting up a premise which is gripping, but after some 200 pages the story becomes a drag. The part till the regrouping of the remaining Gentian shatterlings is bang on, but after that, till the last 100 pages, the book simply limps forward. The book also does not make an effort at explaining the emergence of various species like the machine people (who are sentient machines), and absurdly advance technologies like the Statis caskets (which can change subjective time as compared to objective time). There are likeable characters like Shatterlings Purslane and Campion, one of the machine people with amnesia called Hesperus, and the magnificent ship, Silver Wings of the Morning, which keep it all interesting till the end despite the drag.
The climax of the story is an interstellar chase sequence where the secrets are revealed. I liked the ending of the book. The book reveals the naivety of humankind amidst so much expansion and technological development and shows the difference between being a human and being truly sentient. The book ends on an emotional note exploring the concept of revenge and love.