I've been struggling with Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space for so many years... I don't know why, but I've never finished the first chapter. I don't know if it's the pace of the characters, and I do love the main theme (archaeology, space exploration, etc).
You're right, it is a slow pace. I, for one, am actually very tired of books where something blows up on page 2 and everyone runs around like chickens trying to decide what to do.