submitted 9 months ago by AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca to c/sciencefiction@lemmy.world

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Just finished my first book of the year, Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I think he's now my favorite author, at least currently writing. He's so good at so many things, from hard SF to fantasy. He's created some really interesting worlds, and populated them with interesting characters.

So far, I've read these books of his (order I read them, not order published):

Children of Time
Children of Ruin
Children of Memory
Made Things
Walking to Aldebaran
Service Model
Shroud
City of Last Chances
Alien Clay

Each of these is a gem. The children of time series has to be an all-time great SF trilogy. If you want my little paragraph of spoiler-free notes on why of them, let me know.

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[-] Eq0@literature.cafe 2 points 9 months ago

I will take the opposing stance.

Of the list, I only read the Children of Time book and it honestly put me off. I found the writing too dry, the characters too unexplored and the narrative too rushed. Stuff was happening at such a fast pace that it was unclear how characters were (emotionally) reacting to it. I found the generational stories particularly off putting, each chapter felt more like a list of facts than a novel. On the other hand, the book was definitely physically long enough, so I wouldn’t want more padding.

After than, I gave up in the whole author.

[-] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 months ago

Huh, I thought it was amazing, and loved the way the characters developed. To each his own.

[-] Eq0@literature.cafe 3 points 9 months ago

I’m glad different books appeal to different people! I’m actually really enjoying this thread of readers having different experiences than me :)

[-] Kellenved@sh.itjust.works 1 points 9 months ago

Tchaikovskys earlier series Shadows of the Apt is a fantasy that follows about a half dozen characters over ten books, if you want some real thick and detailed characters that’s where you’ll find it from him

this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026

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