Troika (original 2011; edition 2011)

by Alastair Reynolds (Author)

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160	7	170,598	(3.67)	7
"Troika tells the story of men and women confronting an enigma known as the Matryoshka, a vast alien construct whose periodic appearances have generated terror, wonder, and endless debate. During its third "apparition" in a remote corner of the solar system, a trio of Russian cosmonauts approach this enigma and attempt to penetrate its mysteries. What they discover - and what they endure in the process - forms the centerpiece of an enthralling, constantly surprising narrative. Troika is at once a wholly original account of First Contact and a meditation on time, history, and the essentially fluid nature of identity itself. Suspenseful, erudite, and gracefully written, it is a significant accomplishment in its own right and a welcome addition to a remarkable body of work" -- dust jacket cover.… (more)

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Member:	Khimaera
Title:	Troika
Authors:	Alastair Reynolds (Author)
Info:	Subterranean (2011), Edition: First, 104 pages
Collections:	Your library
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Troika by Alastair Reynolds (2011)

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Originally published in Godlike Machines, and also available in the collection, Beyond the Aquila Rift.

The story starts with an escapee from a mental hospital in Siberia desperately trying to reach the local town.

The escapee was one of three cosmonauts sent to investigate an alien vessel that had appeared in the solar system years before.

The story bounces back and forth between the escapee trying to reach someone in town and when he was a cosmonaut at the alien vessel.

Quite a good twist in the tail of this one as well.

Another good novella from Alastair, a master of short fiction as well as the super long stuff too.

Next up on Alastair's timeline will be Sleepover. (

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5t4n5 | Aug 9, 2023 |

Surprisingly weak for Reynolds. Too much tell (from the "show don't tell" law) and a clumsy rhythm. Too slow in some parts, too fast when it really mattered. The idea wasn't that impressive either (but not bad either). Perhaps this is an early work for him? (

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milosdumbraci | May 5, 2023 |

Hrollvekjandi framtíðarsaga þar sem auðlindir og fjárskortur veldur því að jarðarbúa megna vart að senda geimför til stjarna lengur. Síðasta tilraunin er þó gerð til að nálgast smíðað fyrirbæri sem birtist óvænt í sólkerfinu á sporbraut um sólu. Aðrar verur hafa augsýnilega byggt fyrirbærið en ógerlegt hefur verið að komast að leyndarmálum þess fyrr en 3 geimfarar frá Nýju Sovétríkjunum tekst það og komast að leyndarmáli sem hryllir þá og heillar. Vel skrifuð og með óvæntu plotti. (

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SkuliSael | Apr 28, 2022 |

This is a short Science Fiction novel (or novella or whatever it may be called) that starts with a man escaping from a mental asylum in a future Soviet Union and nearly freezing to death in the cold Russian (Soviet) winter. The man was part of a mission to investigate an alien artifact that had appeared in the solar system and now he's kept locked in.

This story just didn't hit any chords for me. I wonder if I'm immune to Alastair Reynolds? (

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bratell | Dec 25, 2020 |

This novella is departure from the far-future grand scale stories Reynolds has become known for, instead focusing on a single life-changing encounter recounted by it’s main character, Cosmonaut Dimitri Ivanov. While I found the ending to be rewarding with its revelation into the nature of the alien artifact McGuffin, the road leading to it seemed as long and cold as the one Ivanov hitchhikes into Zvezdniy Gorodok in the opening pages. There is some interesting tension created by the looming threat from the Neo-Stalinist government in pursuit of Ivanov, but surprisingly little offered in the narrative portions set in space. There are also some very satisfying questions of identity reminiscent of Reynold’s novel “Chasm City”. (

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SciFi-Kindle | Apr 24, 2014 |

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Is contained in

Beyond the Aquila Rift: The Best of Alastair Reynolds by Alastair Reynolds

Godlike Machines by Jonathan Strahan

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Hugo Award (Nominee – Novella – 2011)

Locus Award (Finalist – Novella – 2011)

Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (Finalist – 2011)

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▾Book descriptions

"Troika tells the story of men and women confronting an enigma known as the Matryoshka, a vast alien construct whose periodic appearances have generated terror, wonder, and endless debate. During its third "apparition" in a remote corner of the solar system, a trio of Russian cosmonauts approach this enigma and attempt to penetrate its mysteries. What they discover - and what they endure in the process - forms the centerpiece of an enthralling, constantly surprising narrative. Troika is at once a wholly original account of First Contact and a meditation on time, history, and the essentially fluid nature of identity itself. Suspenseful, erudite, and gracefully written, it is a significant accomplishment in its own right and a welcome addition to a remarkable body of work" -- dust jacket cover.

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