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The War at the Beginning of Time | Revelation Space

2023-06-29 Entertainment
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Quinn's Ideas
Quinn's Ideas
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Description

Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series stands as a masterpiece within the realm of space opera, captivating readers with its expansive world-building and mind-bending science fiction concepts. In this video, we embark on a deep exploration of yet another intriguing concept from this series—an enigma that delves into the early stages of cosmic civilization within the vast expanse of the universe. Brace yourself as we unravel the mysterious origins of an ancient race of lifeforms, whose existence now lingers only in the form of scattered machines spanning the galaxy, designed with one sole and devastating purpose. However, I must issue a word of caution: this video contains some significant spoilers for the intricate lore of the Revelation Space Saga. If you are averse to having any aspect of this captivating series spoiled for you, I implore you to click away. However, if spoilers don't deter you or if you have already delved into the gripping narrative of at least the first book, then join me on this journey of discovery. Let us embark upon our odyssey by delving into the very fabric of the universe itself. In the cosmic overture, there existed the singularity—a point of infinite density that held within it the entirety of existence. In an awe-inspiring instant, a matter of “plank” time, this singularity expanded exponentially, swiftly encompassing the size of our solar system and then spiraling outward to encompass the entirety of our galaxy. As this cosmic symphony unfolded, particles of matter and antimatter were released, engaging in a cataclysmic dance of annihilation upon collision. Yet, in the cosmic scales of fate, matter emerged triumphant, for it possessed a slight advantage over its antimatter counterpart, that being that there was simply slightly more matter than antimatter. Thus, the surviving matter laid the foundations for the intricate tapestry of our universe, persisting through the eons to the present day. This primal clash of matter and antimatter marked the genesis of the first war—a conflict that reverberated throughout the corridors of time. However, the universe is not solely a stage for astrophysics; it holds much more within its vast tapestry. Within the pages of the Revelation Space series, we learn of the Dawn War—a conflict of unprecedented magnitude that reverberated across the Milky Way galaxy. No galactic war in the billion years that followed could ever hope to rival its monumental scale and profound impact. The Dawn War extended its vast tendrils across countless civilizations, stretching its shadowy grip to encompass myriad worlds. Its ferocious embrace endured for an inconceivable span of time, leaving no involved party unscathed and many civilizations entirely erased from existence. As the cosmic sands of time ebbed and flowed, an uncountable number of beings and cultures were lost to the eternal obscurity of forgotten history. 👽 Please consider supporting this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ideasoficeandfire or PAYPAL - https://paypal.me/QuinnsIdeas?locale.x=en_US 🎙️ The New Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gGFeUtuzPE&t=6s 🎨 Art: 🎵 Music: https://www.youtube.com/@JamezDahlMusic 📚 Get These Books! https://amzn.to/4441cHp Quinn's Discord: https://discord.gg/uGx4WsjVCZ FOLLOW QUINN ON TWITTER: Twitter: https://twitter.com/IDEASOFICE_FIRE I NOW HAVE A SUBREDDIT: https://www.reddit.com/r/IdeasofIceandFire/ Quinn's New Graphic Novel: https://www.quinnhoward.net/theliebehindthestar Buy Quinn's Comic Books: https://www.quinnhoward.net/shop Quinn's Website: https://www.quinnhoward.net Like me on Facebook!: https://www.facebook.com/IOIAF 🎥 Mentioned Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em5gZ5T5KwM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjoICDmv4oM 🎬 Other Playlist Three-Body Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUfIzEhovpQJ2ENiNvJoOD2A H.P. Lovecraft Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUcMoc_ZljrDbgrRi3x_CLYD Hyperion Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUfgKLf-CBr5VCC2xM0qX8Xh Dune Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUdsgN_vFaZmfjc6bXxPqajV Foundation Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUeQMsBkZJ72aIIG8nR-No6J Feel free to leave a comment like and subscribe! Thanks For Watching!

Top Comments (10)

@Dr.Gainzzz 2023-06-29

Finally a new Quinn video, you’ve quickly become one of my new favorite channels on YouTube dude keep it up.

492 11 replies
@mrg3241 2023-06-30

What I liked the most from Revelation Space, was the ship Nostalgia for Infinity. Described as ancient and "stupidly huge", Reynolds really nails how such a ship would have an incredibly complex history in a sub-lightspeed civilization. Way too much to handle for its crew of 5, the majority of the ship has become unfamiliar territory. Most of its cavernous sections have fallen into disrepair, some places quarantined entirely from threats that are beyond the crew's ability to excise, and you may even find a ghost or two in some of the operating systems. It's a wild, dangerous untamed jungle as much as it is a ship.

425 17 replies
@jasoncarto 2023-06-30

This channel holds a special place in my heart as being one of the few channels still dedicated to the underrated and underappreciated art of science fiction.

153
@QuinnsIdeas 2023-06-29

I am currently correcting the audio error at: 5:14 and at 6:49! Youtube's built-in editor is a bit slow! Thank you all so much for watching! Check out my new podcast, The Cosmic Chronicles, for an audio glitch-free experience! :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gGFeUtuzPE

142 26 replies
@DanielSolis 2023-06-29

To me, the most sorrowful parts of the Revelation Space series are the few holdover aliens that survived the early days. They're usually the last of their kind, doomed to be surrounded by beings that they don't understand and don't understand them. I'm thinking of the solitary Grub in Yellowstone, or the craven Amarantin survivors hiding in the Shrouds, or the burrowing ice-worms acting as neurons for a glacially slow brain.

106 5 replies
@codyross5364 2023-06-29

Dude. So glad you’re doing these. Even the worst of Reynolds is just wild. Compared to the other hard space opera authors he’s like a whale among minnows.

96 3 replies
@J_CtheEngineer 2023-06-29

Revelation space was the first real sci-fi series I read based on a friends recommendation. And it’s held onto my attention ever since. I rarely stop thinking about it. John Lee (the narrator) is also the voice of sci-fi for me in audio books. His narration style brings me right back into the universe.

50 1 replies
@ThrottleKitty 2023-06-29

Can i just say, i like your selection of music and your narrative voice in these videos so much It just sets the perfect atmosphere for the subject matter

35
@jewittm 2024-03-05

Revelation space doesn’t get nearly the recognition it deserves, its ideas bounce around in so many major scifi franchises these days

24
@albin2232 2023-09-23

Nobody does what you do better, because nobody even tries to do what you. You are hands-down the best source of content related to Science Fiction.

6

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