The most imaginative alien biology in modern science fiction

Adrian Tchaikovsky always delivers incredible biology but really outdid himself with this one, creating a whole alien ecology that feels fundamentally different to our own but still feels scientifically grounded.

The protagonist is sarcastic narrates the thoughts and feelings of an exiled academic who failed to be the kind of revolutionary he wanted to be on dictatorship earth.

Perhaps what is most terrifying is not the Elephant's Dad who stampedes through the forest, or the cackling infected researcher who hoots and laughs in the night, but the fact that the human society known as the Mandate feels as though it really could lie in our real world future.

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1984 Meets Avatar

Great protagonist, great story. Almost a hypothetical solution fulfilling communism, only solved in fantasy horror.

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Alien meets Avatar, meets 1984

What happens if you take Alien, Avatar, and 1984, put them together, and shake them well? You end up with a one-of-a-kind alien world, a mixture of fear, awe, and hope so thrilling and fascinating that it is unputdownable.

One might say that not much happens in the book, BUT if you are searching for something extraordinary alien, highly imaginative, and thought-provoking, this is the book for you.

For my part, it is like having an old wish fulfilled: since I first saw Alien I found myself trying to change my position, like I could see hidden angles and explore more of that massive derelict ship full of dormant Xenomorph eggs.
Surely, that ship had a full story to tell... too bad that it was so infested, that the expedition was a disaster... no time to explore there...
Alien Clay gave me the chance to explore... without the terror of the Xenomorphs.

Yet, the alien life form on Kiln carries a lot of unknown danger, so much so that for a while I was afraid that some gruesome monsters would burst out from the humans trapped there...
But there is beauty and mystery too...

I will listen to it again!

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what stood out most:

Felt a boot on my throat the whole time. And really liked the flora and fauna in the book.

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Another interesting Adrian Tchaikovsky book!

The first 3/4 of the book were excellent and interesting with characters which were fun to listen to and a developing story.

However, later I found thr story and key developments in it weren't explained amazingly and felt like they clashed with earlier points a little bit.

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Interesting life on this planet

Totally absorbed into this alien world - fascinating concept with political themes to boot. For me it was a little of Journey to the centre of the Earth meets 1984! Only in space! Loved it! Would read it again.

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Another excellent title

Tchaikovsky has a lot to say about authoritarianism and he does so very eloquently. He's refreshingly unsubtle about the parallels one can draw between what biology can teach us and how life is not a zero sum game. I'd heartily recommend staying to listen to the interview at the end.

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This was bloody brilliant!

Tchaikovsky fully getting wild with biology and anthropology with some anarcho-communism and anti-fascism thrown in for good measure.

In many ways it feels laser focused to my interests.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but not necessarily a huge amount more than the ideas, buf it was still great

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Not my favourite

I finished this book but almost gave up part way through. The grim narrative, on a distant planet amongst political prisoners was fairly slow paced. A decent storyline just about kept me listening.

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Psychologic and Sociologic effects of isolation vs connection

It makes you see loneliness and empathy in a different light. How our limits of communication and connection results in fear. This fear is the building block of authoritarian regimes. It makes us less than human. While connection makes us more then human, a community. How much is too much though?

I loved the ending, it satisfies you but also keeps you questioning. It is a stand-alone book and it does conclude the story neatly. A second book is possible but not a must.

I loved how accurate the science is in the story. It's not magic in disguise, it doesn't even provide shortcuts for the plot's sake like having a quick way to space travel. Though I like those stories as well, a pure science fiction hits different.

I loved the main character's scientist mind that keeps being curious in extreme situations without being unrealistic. It was quite satisfying to read the dynamic between him and the commandant. And I loved the comment the writer made on it in the interview which you can listen at the end of the book.

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2 people found this helpful