
Halcyon Years
A gripping new murder mystery set on a spaceship from the million-copy bestselling 'mastersinger' of science fiction
Alastair Reynolds(Author)
Gollancz (Publisher)
Published on 30. October 2025
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-3996-1176-3 (ISBN)
Description
A superb new noir/science fiction fusion from the 'mastersinger of space opera' (The Times) and the creator of the beloved Revelation Space universe - strap in for a gripping murder mystery . . .
Yuri Gagarin is a private investigator, who picks up small cases from his local community, runs into trouble with the local police, and generally ekes out a living as best he can. He's aboard the Halcyon - a starship, hurtling through space, carrying thousands of passengers with thousands more sleeping the journey away.
Only his usual investigative work - catching cheating spouses, and small time con artists - is about to take a turn. He's hired by a mysterious woman called Ruby Red to look into a death in one of Halcyon's most elite families . . . and then warned off the case again by a second mysterious woman called Ruby Blue. Caught between the two, he's about to be embroiled in a murder mystery in which - at any moment - he could be the latest victim.
Gripping, fast-paced fun this is a classic noir mystery with a science fiction twist, which will keep you guessing, and on the edge of your seat, to the end.
Halcyon Years is a fresh new masterpiece from the undisputed master of science fiction - unmissable for fans of classic SF like Asimov and Philip K. Dick as well as new TV smash hits like Silo and Severance.
Yuri Gagarin is a private investigator, who picks up small cases from his local community, runs into trouble with the local police, and generally ekes out a living as best he can. He's aboard the Halcyon - a starship, hurtling through space, carrying thousands of passengers with thousands more sleeping the journey away.
Only his usual investigative work - catching cheating spouses, and small time con artists - is about to take a turn. He's hired by a mysterious woman called Ruby Red to look into a death in one of Halcyon's most elite families . . . and then warned off the case again by a second mysterious woman called Ruby Blue. Caught between the two, he's about to be embroiled in a murder mystery in which - at any moment - he could be the latest victim.
Gripping, fast-paced fun this is a classic noir mystery with a science fiction twist, which will keep you guessing, and on the edge of your seat, to the end.
Halcyon Years is a fresh new masterpiece from the undisputed master of science fiction - unmissable for fans of classic SF like Asimov and Philip K. Dick as well as new TV smash hits like Silo and Severance.
Reviews / Votes
A hugely entertaining film noir pastiche set on a generational spaceship * SFX * Alastair Reynolds is a genre adventurer . . . Halycon Years is a novel composed of nested mysteries and riddles * Locus *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3996-1176-3 (9781399611763)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Alastair Reynolds
Halcyon Years
A gripping new murder mystery set on a spaceship from the million-copy bestselling 'mastersinger' of science fiction
E-Book
10/2025
Gollancz
€7.99
Available for download
Person
Alastair Reynolds was born in Barry, South Wales, in 1966. He studied at Newcastle and St Andrews Universities and has a Ph.D. in astronomy. He stopped working as an astrophysicist for the European Space Agency to become a full-time writer. REVELATION SPACE, PUSHING ICE and HOUSE OF SUNS were shortlisted for the ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD; REVELATION SPACE, ABSOLUTION GAP, DIAMOND DOGS and CENTURY RAIN were shortlisted for the BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION AWARD and CHASM CITY won the BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION AWARD.
You can learn more by visiting voxish.tripod.com.
You can learn more by visiting voxish.tripod.com.