Adrian Tchaikovsky

Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of the most exciting and prolific science fiction and fantasy writers working today. With a remarkable ability to move between genres, scales, and ideas, he has established himself as one of the defining voices of twenty-first-century speculative fiction — and a favourite among audiobook listeners. Born Adrian Czajkowski in 1972 in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, he later adopted the anglicised version of his surname for publication. He studied Zoology at the University of Reading and Law at the University of Leeds, and his scientific background is evident throughout his fiction, which is filled with rigorously imagined ecosystems, alien biologies, and evolutionary concepts. His first published series, Shadows of the Apt, is an epic ten-book fantasy set in a world where different human civilisations have evolved alongside insect species, each "kinden" taking on characteristics of their insect totem. The series — beginning with Empire in Black and Gold — ran from 2008 to 2014 and built a dedicated fanbase. But it was Children of Time, published in 2015, that brought Tchaikovsky international recognition. The novel — about the evolution of intelligent spiders on a terraformed planet — won the Arthur C. Clarke Award and became a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Its sequel, Children of Ruin (2019), expanded the scope to intelligent octopuses, and Children of Memory (2022) completed the trilogy. The series is a staggering achievement in science fiction, exploring consciousness, evolution, and what it means to be intelligent with a depth and imagination that few authors can match. Tchaikovsky writes at an extraordinary pace, publishing multiple books a year across different genres and settings. His other notable works include Shards of Earth and its sequels (space opera on a grand scale), Cage of Souls, Elder Race, and numerous novellas. His range is remarkable — from far-future science fiction to steampunk fantasy to intimate character studies. The audiobook editions of his novels have been particularly successful, with narrators including Mel Hudson delivering performances that bring his richly imagined worlds to vivid life. Children of Time is frequently cited as one of the best science fiction audiobooks available, and many fans discovered Tchaikovsky through the audio format. Adrian Tchaikovsky lives in Leeds with his family. He is a keen live-action role-player and board gamer, and his enthusiasm for ideas — biological, philosophical, and speculative — powers every book and audiobook he produces.