Machine Vendetta (The Prefect Dreyfus Emergencies 3) by Alastair Reynolds (book review).
One advantage of creating a unique setting for stories is the freedom to delve into the situation’s history, economics, and politics. The only obstacle is imagination. Science fiction lends itself to this kind of fiction, especially that set in the far future and away from the constraints of the solar system. When Alastair Reynolds developed his ‘Revelation Space’ reality, he unleashed the potential to follow his creation into the past or the future and populate it with unique characters and technology.
‘Machine Vendetta’ is the third book centred around Prefect Tom Dreyfus. The story takes place before the main ‘Revelation Space’ sequence, during which the ten thousand habitats of the Glitter Band surrounded the planet of Yellowstone. Due to neural implants and algorithms developed by Sandra Voi, each citizen is able to participate in polling and contribute to the democracy of the whole despite each habitat choosing its own lifestyle, however bizarre. Panoply is the organisation that oversees the voting, ensuring that everything is fair. The role of Panoply’s prefects is normally straightforward, though at times situations arise that need them to take drastic action.
The first volume of this series, ‘Aurora Rising’, introduced us to two AIs, Aurora and the Clockmaker, each with distinct visions for the future of the Glitter Band. As that volume concludes, the battle between them remains in check. During volume 2, ‘Elysium Fire’, they are still there, and Aurora is not above giving Dreyfus a little help in solving the current problem. When ‘Machine Vendetta’ commences six years later, a shift in the status quo is imminent, drawing Dreyfus and his team into it. It starts with a prefect, Ingvar Tench, acting out of character. She diverts to a habitat in which a civil war is going on. It is not the habitat she thought she was going to. Someone has hacked the systems in her ship.
A few years earlier, a group of Panoply scientists worked on Project Catopsis, the aim of which was to capture the rogue AIs. Realizing that the system wouldn’t function and would likely worsen the situation, they halted the program. Dreyfus kills Tench and rushes to retrieve her body. It is implied that she may have witnessed something that could pose a threat to the group that has secretly restarted the Catopsis project. She then discovers that her daughter, Hafdis, has expressed a desire to join Panoply. Simultaneously, individuals who harbor resentment towards those responsible for creating hyperpigs launch attacks on several habitats. These are intelligent chimaeras made of blended pig and human DNA. One of Dreyfus’s trusted aids is Sparver Bancal. Dreyfus, Sparver, and Thalia Ng undertake most of the investigations. It puts them all in danger and pits them against the secretive group that is still illegally developing Catopsis. They have to uncover it, stop it and bring to justice those who are killing innocents.
From the start, this is fast-paced and action-packed. The novel’s meticulous construction ensures that every element serves a purpose. Even though it stands alone, the reader will derive greater pleasure from unraveling the intricate threads woven throughout all three books. This is a fitting ending to this sequence.
It may be worth noting that Alastair Reynolds has recently been appointed Honorary President of the Birmingham SF Group.
Pauline Morgan
September 2024
(pub: Gollancz, 2024. 374 page hardback. Price: £25.00 (UK). ISBN: 978-0-5750-9080-4)
check out website: www.gollancz.co.uk/titles/alastair-reynolds/machine-vendetta/9780575090828/
