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Shards of Earth
The Final Architecture (Related to this series)
- Author
- Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrator
- Sophie Aldred
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 27 May 2021
- Run Time
- 18 hours 42 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Genre
- Science fiction: space opera, Science fiction: aliens / UFOs, Science fiction: space exploration, Hard science fiction, War, combat and military adventure fiction
- Rating
- 4.2 (6 reviews)
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What to expect
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.
The series is read by Sophie Aldred (Doctor Who)
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
The breathtaking Final Architecture trilogy continues in book two, Eyes of the Void.
Critics Review
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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
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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 To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and Fractal Noise
-
He writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas
Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go and A Monster Calls
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A modern classic of the genre. Imaginative, kinetic, and wire tense. Highly recommended
Gareth L. Powell, author of Embers of War and Descendant Machine
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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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
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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
User Reviews
Book 4.2
Narration 4.8
-
5.0 5.0
Since an audiobook lives or dies by its narration, I'd first like to say that Sophie Aldred plays a blinder, giving distinct voice to a large cast, making some complex characters sympathetic and one or two very punchable. There were one or two slips of character voice that should have been caught by producer/editor but they were barely noticeable.
As to the story, characters are well drawn and the set dressing of Tchaikovsky's vision of the future is distinctive and interesting. A lot of the overarching story and even some of the smaller beats will have fans of Mass Effect feeling a distinct sense of deja vu, but never to the extent that it feels derivative. (Besides, all the really enjoyable parts of Mass Effect, like a story of unusual crewmates achieving wider perspectives, mutual respect and understanding through a shared fight for survival, are here too, so why complain?) In summary, pleasant surprise even if you feel you've seen everything sci-fi has to offer, sequels already wishlisted.aitd90 2024-11-12 -
4.0 5.0
At last. A space opera with legs.
Fantastic characterisation by the reader.robinh 2024-02-29
Details
- Author
- Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Narrator
- Sophie Aldred
- Duration
- 18 hours 42 minutes
- Release Date
- 27 May 2021
- ISBN
- 9781529051926
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Science fiction: space opera, Science fiction: aliens / UFOs, Science fiction: space exploration, Hard science fiction, War, combat and military adventure fiction
- Rating
- 4.2(6 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.8(6 reviews)
Synopsis
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.The series is read by Sophie Aldred (Doctor Who)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 NoisePraise 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 McAvoyThe breathtaking Final Architecture trilogy continues in book two, Eyes of the Void.
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