It was a joy to get into a spacefaring story once again. Nice not to be dealing with the endless wizard fantasy or the newfangled vampire fiction. In this story a powerful family puts long-lived clones out into the galaxy to carry out mercantile endeavors on behalf of the family. Spanning milennia. A great story and a fairly good mystery.

To be released at the July 2009 BookCrossing Meetup in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

Caught at the November 2009 Saturday Bookcrossing Meetup. Thank you!

Edit, summer 2010:

Great science fiction. I didn't much get into this author's first novel, but according to many reviews, this one is kind of a breakthrough, different from previous novels, and many would say better (although there's always the contingent that likes the original style best). I loved the ending part -- how would robots fight? this author's imagination gives us a fascinating picture.

Released at the 2010 North America Unconvention in Boston, on the book buffet.

Happily picked up from the Book Buffet in Boston. In fact, so happily that it was the first book i chose for the train ride home to Minnesota.

Reynolds is an author I'm just getting started on, and respect immensely; his _Revelation Space_ trilogy really knocked my socks off. I didn't think this was as good. One thing I liked about the trilogy was the way wildly different plot strands all got folded in at the end, in astounding but logical ways. This one left some loose ends (or so it felt to me).

On the other hand, Reynolds is such an absolutely wonderful writer that you just about can't stop yourself from reading - and enjoying - whatever he's put in front of you. And agree with Nillabreen that the battle between the robots was surprising but well-thought-out. In fact, the description of the aftermath is my strongest visual memory of the book.

I have to think about where and when to release this - it's WAY too good to leave in some random coffee shop where it may never be claimed and appreciated. Hmm, maybe it's not too early to start collecting books for BC in DC, and this would certainly be a great way to start.

Handed to gypsysmom. From her delight at discovering Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction book store, she's clearly the type of intelligent reader who can properly appreciate this book.

I'm so pleased that JudySlump612 thought to pass this book on to me on my recent trip to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Alastair Reynolds is a completely new writer to me although I see he has been published since 1990. I really love the fact that he worked for the European Space Agency before turning to writing full-time.

Like JudySlump612 I started to read this book immediately after I received it but I suspect it will take me longer to read it. I have to sleep some time plus the dogs and the husband demand to be fed and then there's that work thing. I'm loving it so far which means that I will certainly have to try to find his Revelation Space trilogy. I'll report back when I finish reading the book.

Just to clarify my last JE which made it sound like JudySlump612 had nothing to do but read the book. I am sure she is at least as busy as I am when she is at home. However she had a nice train ride in which to read before she got home whereas I had an hour long flight and then I was back in the thick of things. Not enough time to read a 400+ page book but I'm doing my best.

It's been a long while since I was so totally caught up in a story. This book has it all -- space drama, machine intelligence, murder, love -- in a time span that boggles my imagination.

The Gentian Line is a family of 1000 clones of a woman named Abigail Gentian. Actually that's a mistake as there were only 999 clones and Abigail inserted herself to make the 1000th person. Each clone took a space craft and explored the Milky Way galaxy. Every two hundred thousand years they reunite to share stories and become reacquainted. The clones normally travel alone but two of them, Campion and Purslane, are lovers and travel together although in separate ships. They know they are going to be late for the thirty-second reunion and, since they will arrive together, they know everyone is going to figure out their close relationship. They could be censured for this but would rather that than part. Along their travels this time they have picked up a few guests. One is a being that has to stay in a cabinet that provides all of his needs (Dr. Meninx) and another is a robot who suffers from amnesia (Hesperus) and others are rescued prisoners. When Campion and Purslane finally get to the reunion world they find out that almost all of their fellow Gentians have been killed. A few have managed to get to safety but no-one knows who did this or why.

The bulk of the book is devoted to unravelling that mystery and there's far to much to be able to summarize it. You'll just have to read it for yourself. I promise you it will be worth it.

I know another Winnipeg BookCrosser that this book would be perfect for. As JudySlump612 has said it's way to good to wild release.

Picked this up from Gypsysmom at our last get together. Definitely looks like one I'll enjoy! Thanks!