Shards of Earth
First in an extraordinary space opera trilogy, from the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award
Published on 27. May 2021
576 pages
978-1-5290-5191-9 (ISBN)
Description
The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . .
From the author of Children of Time, winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, Shards of Earth is the first high-octane, far-future space adventure in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture trilogy.
Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade his mind in the war. And one of humanity's heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.
Eighty years ago, Earth was destroyed by an alien enemy. Many escaped, but millions more died. So mankind created enhanced humans -such as Idris - who could communicate mind-to-mind with our aggressors. Then these 'Architects' simply disappeared and Idris and his kind became obsolete.
Now, Idris and his crew have something strange, abandoned in space. It's clearly the work of the Architects - but are they really returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy as they search for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, and many would kill to obtain it.
'Enthralling, epic, immersive and hugely intelligent' - Stephen Baxter, author of the Xeelee Sequence
'One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction' - Christopher Paolini, author of Fractal Noise
Praise for Adrian Tchaikovsky:
'He writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas' - Patrick Ness
'Thoughtful, sweeping space adventure' - SFX
'Brilliant science fiction' - James McAvoy
From the author of Children of Time, winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, Shards of Earth is the first high-octane, far-future space adventure in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture trilogy.
Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade his mind in the war. And one of humanity's heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.
Eighty years ago, Earth was destroyed by an alien enemy. Many escaped, but millions more died. So mankind created enhanced humans -such as Idris - who could communicate mind-to-mind with our aggressors. Then these 'Architects' simply disappeared and Idris and his kind became obsolete.
Now, Idris and his crew have something strange, abandoned in space. It's clearly the work of the Architects - but are they really returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy as they search for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, and many would kill to obtain it.
'Enthralling, epic, immersive and hugely intelligent' - Stephen Baxter, author of the Xeelee Sequence
'One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction' - Christopher Paolini, author of Fractal Noise
Praise for Adrian Tchaikovsky:
'He writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas' - Patrick Ness
'Thoughtful, sweeping space adventure' - SFX
'Brilliant science fiction' - James McAvoy
Reviews / Votes
If Homer had written space opera . . . Enthralling, epic, immersive and hugely intelligent. This might be Tchaikovsky's best so far, and that's saying something -- Stephen Baxter, author of the Xeelee Sequence Adrian Tchaikovsky: king of the spiders, master worldbuilder, and asker of intriguing questions. His books are packed with thought-provoking ideas (as well as lots of spiders; did I mention the spiders?). One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction -- Christopher Paolini, author of <i>To Sleep in a Sea of Stars</i> and <i>Fractal Noise</i> He writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas -- Patrick Ness, author of <i>The Knife of Never Letting Go</i> and <i>A Monster Calls</i> A modern classic of the genre. Imaginative, kinetic, and wire tense. Highly recommended -- Gareth L. Powell, author of <i>Embers of War</i> and <i>Descendant Machine</i> A thoughtful, sweeping space adventure * SFX Magazine * A rip-roaring space opera featuring starship battles, genetically enhanced superhumans and multiple weird and wonderful aliens . . . I can't wait to read the next one * New Scientist * Adrian Tchaikovsky turns the HP Lovecraft dial to 11 as the Vulture God and its mismatched crew (Idris, a Hannilambra alien, a Partheni warrior princess, a lawyer . . .) drop into unspace and (obligatory caps lock here) CONFRONT FORCES BEYOND REALITY * The Times * Tchaikovsky has consolidated his position as the finest purveyor of high-quality space opera around . . . [Shards of Earth] is deft and clever, expansive and readable, all informed by Tchaikovsky's superbly baroque imaginative fecundity * The Guardian *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
File size
1,20 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-5290-5191-9 (9781529051919)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, has practised law and now writes full time. He's also studied stage-fighting, perpetrated amateur dramatics and has a keen interest in entomology and table-top games.
Adrian is the author of the critically acclaimed Shadows of the Apt series, the Echoes of the Fall series and other novels, novellas and short stories. Children of Time won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award, and Children of Ruin and Shards of Earth both won the British Science Fiction Award for Best Novel. The Tiger and the Wolf won the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel, while And Put Away Childish Things won the BSFA Award for Best Shorter Fiction.
Adrian is the author of the critically acclaimed Shadows of the Apt series, the Echoes of the Fall series and other novels, novellas and short stories. Children of Time won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award, and Children of Ruin and Shards of Earth both won the British Science Fiction Award for Best Novel. The Tiger and the Wolf won the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel, while And Put Away Childish Things won the BSFA Award for Best Shorter Fiction.
