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The Prefect

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The Prefect

By: Alastair Reynolds
Narrated by: John Lee
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About this listen

Tom Dreyfus is a Prefect, a law enforcement officer with the Panoply. His beat is the multifaceted utopian society of the Glitter Band, that vast swirl of space habitats orbiting the planet Yellowstone, the teeming hub of a human interstellar empire spanning many worlds. His current case: investigating a murderous attack against one of the habitats that left 900 people dead, a crime that appalls even a hardened cop like Dreyfus. But then his investigation uncovers something far more serious than mass slaughter---a covert plot by an enigmatic entity who seeks nothing less than total control of the Glitter Band. Before long, the Panoply detectives are fighting against something worse than tyranny, in a struggle that will lead to more devastation and more death. And Dreyfus will discover that to save what is precious, you may have to destroy it.

©2008 Alastair Reynolds (P)2011 Tantor Adventure Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera

Critic Reviews

"A fascinating hybrid of space opera, police procedural and character study.... This is solid British SF adventure, evoking echoes of le Carre and Sayers with a liberal dash of Doctor Who." ( Publishers Weekly)
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New characters in a old location. To experience the glitter band at its zenith is captivating. The density of the world's reynolds builds is fantastic. Another series I will have to continue. Great book.

Another great story

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Easier on the brain than the revelation space series. still awesome. good references to the rest of the revelation universe.

epic space cop precedural

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One of Reynold's best. An amazingly detailed and complex society at its zenith. Superb.

Great story, well told!

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The best to date in the series. A fine balance - science, fiction and character arcs.

A compelling story superbly read

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The title gives no indication of just how great a science fiction novel this is. Set in the same universe as Revelation Space, Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap, this book follows the the Panoply police force in there efforts to resist an evil Alpha Level being. It’s so well written and presented.

Almost the perfect Science Fiction novel

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A great way to end a series in a sort of epilogue-ic way. As a standalone story within the universe, it's fantastic, like Chasm City. As a continuation from Absolution Gap, it serves mostly to tie up loose ends from that main plot line.

And go John Lee! Voice as smooth as butter, best reader out there.

Fantastic

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Loved the story. Really fun sci fi ideas. Good plot with some fun twists. Good narration.

Loved the story. really fun sci fi ideas

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Not sure if it was a little slow or if I was just being impatient as the story to unfolded. A cloak and dagger story that will keep you guessing as to who and what will happen next.

Good continuation of the story

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Great hard sci-fi, neo-noir detective story. I wouldn't expect anything less from Alistair Reynolds. Great narration as well, the accents are refreshing and Dryphus's voice is perfectly fitting.

Fresh hard sci-fi, neo-noir story.

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Really enjoyed the story, there is a strong mystery and whodunnit conspiracy which becomes quite epic. Very elaborate and rewarding narrative. Found some bits a bit ghastly and vile compared to his other books, perhaps a little gratuitous. As usual I wish we knew more about the skin-deep characters.

Great Reynolds and Ive read a few

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