Reynolds has the unfortunate habit of breaking off more than he can chew in shorter works. So short stories (and novellas) have fascinating concepts and are well written, but you're left with a lot of questions and vagueries. I also have not read nearly enough of the Revelation Space books (because I've read two only) to appreciate the stories from that literary universe.

Like with all short story collections, not all stories are created equal, but it was overall enjoyable.

I really enjoy the writing style of Alastair Reynolds. He knows how to craft an intelligent story and creates very realistic science fiction. Most of the stories in this collection hit the ground running with little build up or introduction, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it tends to get the story moving quickly and sets a good pace to keep the reader engaged. My favorites here are "Magic Bone Woman" and "Open and Shut". This is a solid collection of well done sci-fi.

Thanks to NetGalley, and to Subterranean Press for putting out yet another excellent story collection and providing the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very good collection, mostly science fiction but with a dab of horror thrown in. Common themes include: interplanetary colonies, telepresence robots, transhumanism, and communication with non-human intelligences -- you know, all the fun stuff. There's a welcome throwback feeling to a lot of them, back to the Arthur C. Clarke days of human colonies on places like Mercury and Venus being an inevitable, unremarkable thing (even if Reynolds's solutions for habitation there are somewhat updated from the expectations of the 1950s).

Reynolds does an excellent job of making you feel that there is much more going on in the worlds of each story than you see (in several cases, because they are taking place in the pasts or backgrounds of other of his novels) but as someone who has only read one of his other books I never felt like I was missing something important. I only really understood that we were dealing with a spinoff story a couple times because I know the next book by him on my list is called <i>Chasm City</i> and that's the setting for two of them (although the story notes afterword -- something I always love, in a collection -- makes it clear that several more are also working with pre-existing settings). It's a skill.

Individual story ratings:
Belladonna nights 4
Different Seas 4
For the Ages 3
Visiting Hours 4.5
Holdfast 3
The Lobby 3.5
A Map of Mercury 4
Magic Bone Woman 4.5
Providence 3
Wrecking Party 5
Sixteen Questions for Kamala Chatterjee 2
Death's Door 2
A Murmuration 5
Open and Shut 4.5
Plague Music 4
Night Passage 3.5
AVERAGE RATING: 3.72

Between each story in this collection, I had to pause, set aside my ereader, and let the full weight soak in before diving in to the next piece. These are not lighthearted tales - each story has a soul, a past, and a future encompassed in a very few pages. Alastair Reynolds is the master of leaving you wanting more without feeling like any bit is rushed or clipped. Some universes I recognized, some were brand new, but all were deeply developed. Ever since reading Diamond Dogs, I have devoured any and all Alastair Reynolds short stories, and every single entry in Belladonna Nights is a four- or five-star read for me. Perfect for a cloudy fall night when you want to feel a little somber, but a little hopeful too.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"I would have been one dancer among thousands, struggling for recognition. But as a physicist I was already a singular, bright churning talent."

This is a really solid collection of science-fiction short stories. The themes were cohesive, the writing had a really consistent style, and you could tell how practiced of a writer Reynolds is. Unfortunately, they aren't really for me. Reynolds has a writing style that reminds me vaguely of Robin McKinley, where the reader just gets plopped into a story with no explanations. I can read these stories just fine with fantasy, but with sci-fi I admit I need a little more context.

That said, I think a lot of readers will love this.

Reynolds is very prolific, pretty well known after so many productive years, and writes great short stories. This is solid collection with a good variety. Recommended to scifi fans.

Thanks very much for the free review copy!!

Belladonna Nights and Other Stories by Alastair Reynolds- 16 stories by Alastair Reynolds. My favorite would be the titled story, an original, "Belladonna Nights", as the "Thousand Nights" series, including "House of Suns" has always been my favorite of Reynolds works. Subterranean Press actually asked him to write that story to be included here. As with most anthologies there are some gems and the accompanying warts, but this collection is rather stuffed with gems.