Open and Shut

Prefect Dreyfus Emergency #1.5

by Alastair Reynolds

Have we got a treat for you! We are thrilled to share Open and Shut , an exclusive short story by Alastair Reynolds, today. Step into the futuristic world of Prefect Dreyfus for a fast paced new SF crime story. This is your new SF obsession.

One citizen died a fortnight ago. Two a week ago. Four died yesterday . . . and unless the cause can be found – and stopped – within the next four months, everyone will be dead. For the Prefects, the hunt for a silent, hidden killer is on . .

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Space Opera, Fantasy, Mystery

9 pages, ebook

First published January 5, 2018

About the author

I'm Al, I used to be a space scientist, and now I'm a writer, although for a time the two careers ran in parallel. I started off publishing short stories in the British SF magazine Interzone in the early 90s, then eventually branched into novels. I write about a novel a year and try to write a few short stories as well. Some of my books and stories are set in a consistent future named after Revelation Space, the first novel, but I've done a lot of other things as well and I like to keep things fresh between books.

I was born in Wales, but raised in Cornwall, and then spent time in the north of England and Scotland. I moved to the Netherlands to continue my science career and stayed there for a very long time, before eventually returning to Wales.

In my spare time I am a very keen runner, and I also enjoying hill-walking, birdwatching, horse-riding, guitar and model-making. I also dabble with paints now and then. I met my wife in the Netherlands through a mutual interest in climbing and we married back in Wales. We live surrounded by hills, woods and wildlife, and not too much excitement.

Reviews

[Milda Page Runner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.
It's starts of sweet, then goes grim, then shocking/disturbing and then somehow Reynolds twists it back to sweet again. ^^
It reminded me of Abercrombie's "Made a Monster" in the way author manipulates readers perception.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set after the events in The Prefect, it is a nice interlude between that one and Elysium Fire. We get to see what Dreyfuss and Aumonier are doing and also the insights of two difficult cases with strong ethical vibes both had.

It can be read here: https://www.gollancz.co.uk/2018/01/op...

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story set between the first and second Dreyfus novels. Should be read in chronological order, it gives a glimpse into something that was left open in The Prefect. The story itself is pretty grim.

Can be read for free here: https://www.gollancz.co.uk/news/2018/...

[Skylar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to have a little taste of the Prefect after so many years. This (very) short story shows another part of the dark side of civilization in the Glitter Band. I certainly wished this was longer, but I guess I'll just have to wait a couple more weeks for Elysium Fire.

[Durval Menezes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather small short story set in the immediate aftermath of "The Prefect".

The dynamics is completely different: there's no emergency, no crisis, no big ideas or dramas being played out; instead, just a dialogue between two of the main characters about an unrelated event, with some highlight on the bond between them.

Nice to see them again on such short notice, but it was kind of too sedate and prosaic for my tastes -- to the point that being really short, in this case, was a plus.

If you are a completist and likes to read everything in a series or from an author, go ahead and read it: shouldn't take more than a half-hour, and it's available for free on Gollancz website. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

My rating is an exact 3/5, no rounding up or down necessary.

[5t4n5 Dot Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick little short, bridging the gap between Aurora Rising and Elysium Fire .

Dreyfus is called in by Jane concerning some recent behaviour.   Although this doesn't seem to have anything to do with the main story, it's good in that it gives us a bit more depth to both Dreyfus and Jane, and also their relationship.

Best of all it's free (we like free stuff) and it's also a nice little relaxing break before you go deep diving into the next huge novel in the series, Elysium Fire .

[R. Andrew Lamonica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love it when authors promote their upcoming sequels with a short-story set in the same universe. The fellows who write The Expanse novels are masters of this because they always manage to write something that has substance, but could still be skipped.

I really love Alastair Reynolds' short stories. The Diamond Dogs collection managed to disturb me and yet I couldn't put it down.

So, I was pretty excited about the idea of "Open and Shut". But, then I read it. The best I can say is that it would have served as a good reminder of some of the main characters in this universe. But, since I just re-read The Prefect, I didn't need that reminder.

Oh well.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story. Bridges the gap--a bit--between the first and second Prefect Dreyfus novels. It's set during a visit made by Dreyfus to check on Jane during her recovery from events of the first novel. There's no action to speak of; it's an extended discussion that encompasses the related topics of crime, punishment, and consequences, both to the criminals and to those who impose the sentences. Doesn't really break knew philosophical ground, but it does show how a good writer can illustrate the questions. Worth a read.

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vignette Open and Shut, available for free on the publisher’s website, serves as an epilogue for the novel The Prefect AKA Aurora Rising.

http://www.books.rosboch.net/2018/06/...

[E. Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems a little weird to review a story that's only a few pages long but here we are.

This is the weakest of Reynold's works that I've read so far but it's like a 5 minute read. Do it for the sake of completion or if you liked The Prefect.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25* Not the best short story of Alastair, but a nice one, that develops even more the connection between Jane Aumonier and Dreyfus.

Placed after the end of the Prefect story. Can be read here: https://www.gollancz.co.uk/news/2018/...

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, short first intro to the Prefect Dreyfus universe, can't wait to dig in more!

[Richard Hakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet taster, not too much action!

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. No plot. Just two characters having a chat. The voice felt so different from The Prefect it seemed more like fanfic than the author revisiting characters.

[Woolstar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a brief conversation about lockdown, and what the humans under those conditions descended to. As always, Alastair is interested in how things can go wrong, and how humans deal with that.

[Guillaume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une toute petite histoire.

[Julie T.]

6/20/2021 - OK, pretty interesting part of the Prefect's job.

[Tom Dixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read at https://www.gollancz.co.uk/news/2018/...

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice short interlude

[Stephen Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice little short story following the events of Aurora Rising.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Valerio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading all short stories and novels from Revelation Space universe. Alastair Reynolds knows how to develop an entertaining plot even in the shortest stories... though, this has been the most disappointing...

[William Saeednia-Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always nice to see one of your favourite characters again. A great little (surprise) free short story.

[Colin Murtagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bridging short story between books 1 and 2, Jane and Tom having a chat. It gets quick dark, quite quickly, but does end up a little lighter. It's inconsequential, but won't take long to read