Review of “THE PREFECT” by Alastair Reynolds – La Factoría

This novel is considered "hard" Science Fiction and is part of the saga Revelation Space by this same author. It tells us a police story set in the society of Shiny Ring, although it can be read independently.

As in the rest of the books, the universe of the Shining Ring is well created and consistent. In it we can find the most curious characters and races. One of these races, which I believe was introduced in the book "Abyss City", is that of the hyperpigs: genetically modified pigs that serve as replacements for human organs, but that have evolved and are eventually classified as a separate race and considered full-fledged citizens. In "The Prefect" we have a hyperpig that performs the functions of the protagonist's assistant. As in his other books, we also have humans who are almost machines (the "Ultas«), and machines that are almost human.

The Shining Ring is made up of a set of human habitats that live in a kind of federation, but in which each habitat has its own rules and creates its own types of society. So Reynolds takes great pleasure in explaining to us different types of cultures and social organizations. If we add to this that Alastair Reynolds studied Physics and Astronomy, and that he worked as an astrophysicist at the ESA (European Space Agency), the book becomes something really interesting and worth reading.