Shards of Earth
First in an extraordinary trilogy, from the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award
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4.6 • 111 Ratings
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- £5.99
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
From the author of the thrilling science-fiction epic Children of Time, winner of the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award. Shards of Earth is the first high-octane, far-future space adventure in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture trilogy.
'One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction' – Christopher Paolini, author of Fractal Noise
The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . .
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
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
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Tchaikovsky (Children of Time) launches his Final Architecture series with a dazzlingly suspenseful space opera. A colossal, sentient entity known as an Architect rips Earth apart into a flower shape. As the remnants of humanity flee to colonize other planets, Idris Telemmier is genetically manipulated into an Intermediary supersoldier, capable of reaching his mind out to the Architects. His encounter with the Architects causes them to realize humans are sentient, after which they abruptly vanish. Nearly a century later, Idris, who has not slept or aged since, joins the tight-knit crew of salvage ship Vulture God, craving anonymity among their ranks. After the crew comes across a derelict ship torn into a familiar flower shape, signaling the possibility that the Architects have returned, the discovery creates political opportunity for various factions: the alien Essiel, who protect the worlds under their control; Earth's Council of Human Interests; the alien-hating human Nativists; and the women warriors known as the Parthenon. Now Partheni Solace joins Idris's crew to search the colonized worlds for hints to the Architects' motives. But Solace's true mission is to convince Idris to share the Intermediary technology with the Parthenon. Tchaikovsky's intricately constructed world is vast yet sturdy enough to cradle inventive science, unique aliens, and complex political machinations. With a mix of lively fight scenes, friendly banter, and high-stakes intrigue, this is space opera at its best.
Customer Reviews
An opening, of epic proportions
Tchaikovsky is new to me. Having read everything by Peter F Hamilton and Alastair Reynolds, I wanted to sample someone new, and boy did I find it! This book is impossible to put down, and I cannot wait to read the next instalment. I lack the skill of the wordsmith to convey how good this book is, so I shall just recommend that you read it. I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed.
Great Read
Took me a little while to get in to it...until I accidentally skipped to the back and discovered glossary and other explanatory materials. Very enjoyable new universe, looking forward to next installment