‘Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days’ Explores the Grimness of Revelation Space

Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days (2003) by Alastair Reynolds collects two novellas set in the Revelation Space universe. Each story is has its own identity, yet they share elements in common that bind them together well. Short, sharp, and at times brutal Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days captures the reader’s attention and never lets go.

When Richard Swift receives an offer from an old friend to explore an alien artefact on the edge of human space he knows he should turn it down. But Richard can never rejct such a challenge. On the barren planet of Golgotha the blood spire defies all attempts at understanding its mysteries. Or the reason it exists at all. As Richard and his team work their way through the spire the mystery not only deepens but becomes more dangerous.

On the isolated ocean world of Turquoise, Naqi works studying the Pattern Jugglers. Naqi hopes to become part of the Moat project when two things happen. A lighthugger is approaching and her sister Mina dies. For the two years it takes the lighthugger to arrive Naqi continues her work but always in her thoughts is the memory of her sister. When the lighthugger arrives Naqi is given the job of escorting around the Moat. Naqi has her suspicions about the Ultra crew but the truth is not what she expects.

The stories of Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days are not closely related in plot or characters. However, they share the unifying theme of deception and betrayal. Reynolds uses this theme to tell personal stories set against the background of greater events. And he tells them well.

Like all of Reynolds stories Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days is full of technical marvels and wonderful ideas. However, this isn’t what makes his stories great. It is the characters and their hold on the reader that makes Reynolds’ stories so good. This collection is no exception.

In Diamond Dogs the protagonist, Richard Swift, is portrayed as a bored dilettante, at first. First impressions can be decieving, though. It becomes quickly apparent that Richard has hidden depths and talents. Reynolds writes his characters with a level of reality that makes their actions, whether logical or illogical, feel real. It’s Reynolds grasp that people, no matter their motivations, cannot be fully understood that puts his stories on a level beyond the ordinary.

Alastair Reynolds

Turquoise Days is no different. Naqi is a character full of regret over the death of her sister. Like many people that blame themselves for such things her grief colours her actions in both obvious and subtle ways. Whether Naqi realises this or not.

Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days has Reynolds’ trademark action. Intense and violent, often in surprising ways, each story uses this to drive the plot without wallowing. Reynolds’ action is vivid and engaing but used to colour events but is not the focus.

Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days offers an excellent introduction into Reynold’s Revelation Space universe for the uninitiated and a deeper look for existing fans. These stories are dark and unsettling but entertain as well. Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days is a treat all readers whether an SF fan or not.

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