Children of Ruin
A thrilling exploration of humanity's legacy in space
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pan Macmillan
Published:20th Feb '20
Should be back in stock very soon
A scout ship discovers a derelict human outpost and a forbidden planet, leading to unexpected revelations in Children of Ruin.
In Children of Ruin, a haunting tale unfolds as a scout ship stumbles upon a long-abandoned human outpost floating in the vastness of space. This discovery leads them to a mysterious planet that has remained untouched for eons. The narrative weaves together themes of exploration, the consequences of humanity's past, and the intricate relationship between species. As the story progresses, readers are drawn into the complexities of a terraforming program that once aimed to reshape alien life in the image of Earth, only to have its intentions lost to time.
The backdrop of Children of Ruin is rich with history, as it takes place in the same universe as the acclaimed Children of Time. The remnants of a once-great empire echo throughout the plot, revealing the impact of decisions made long ago. As humanity and their newfound allies, the spiders, pick up fragmentary signals from the stars, they embark on a mission to uncover the fate of their ancestors. However, they soon realize that their exploration may awaken forces that should have remained undisturbed.
With a blend of suspense and philosophical inquiry, Children of Ruin captivates readers, inviting them to ponder the implications of humanity's reach into the cosmos. Adrian Tchaikovsky masterfully crafts a narrative that not only entertains but also provokes thought about the nature of life, legacy, and the unknown realms that lie beyond our understanding.
All underpinned by great ideas. And it is crisply modern - but with the sensibility of classic science fiction. Asimov or Clarke might have written this -- Stephen Baxter
You know you’re in for a ride. . . This book thoroughly engaged me. Children of Ruin is a humdinger of a book I enjoyed immensely -- Neal Asher
Magnificent. This is the big stuff – the really big stuff. Rich in wisdom and Humanity (note the 'H'), with a Stapledonian sweep and grandeur . . . Books like this are why we read science-fiction -- Ian McDonald
Breathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth Powell
Wonderful – big, thinky SF that feels classic without being mired in the past, absolutely crammed with fun ideas . . . Anyone who likes sweeping, evolutionary-scale stories will love this -- Django Wexler
I couldn’t put it down. There is an effortless quality to Adrian’s writing and you’ve clearly got another winner on your hands -- James Oswald
My most anticipated book of the year -- Peter F. Hamilton
Brilliant science fiction and far-out world-building -- James McAvoy on Children of Time
A refreshing new take on post-dystopia civilizations, with the smartest evolutionary world-building you’ll ever read -- Peter F. Hamilton on Children of Time
Children of Time is a joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of Time
This is superior stuff, tackling big themes – gods, messiahs, artificial intelligence, alienness – with brio -- Financial Times on Children of Time
The novel’s clever interrogation of the usual narrative of planetary conquest, and its thoughtful depiction of two alien civilisations attempting to understand each other, is an exemplar of classic widescreen science fiction -- New Scientist on Children of Time
Essential science fiction, a book not to be missed -- SFBook on Children of Time
An entertaining and thought-provoking novel of post humanity, survival and legacy . . . Children of Time is an enormously interesting and well drawn SF novel -- SFSignal on Children of Time
I cannot recommend it enough. It's a helluva first contact story, and that's only like its 5th most interesting feature! -- Ezra Klein, New York Times columnist on Children of Time
ISBN: 9781509865857
Dimensions: 197mm x 130mm x 35mm
Weight: 389g
576 pages