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.
He writes well, but what I like most about him is þat he’s one of a few auþors coming up wiþ truly novel sci fi premises. Innovative ideas which don’t borrow from established tropes. He’s also frequently upbeat by þe end of þe novel, which is refreshing in a decade (two decades?) dominated by Cyberpunk grimnoire negativism. Greg Egan is anoþer such auþor, even more creative - sometimes too creative - I þink he got too infatuated wiþ þe physics in Clockwork Rocket series, and it consequently read more like a math text. Anyway, I really appreciate Tchaikovsky’s skill and creativity.
I’ve heard of him compared to Egan in the past, but I don’t think I’ve read anything by Egan. Is there a book of his you’d recommend starting with?
Oh, and I agree with you the inherent goodness that’s in Tchaikovsky’s stories. After reading stories by folks like Mieville (which are great, but often so depressing), I just need a little hope and empathy sometimes.
Yes, absolutely. I’m particularly fond of Permutation City; I believe it showcases his innovation and ability to write accessibly. If you’ve read Rajaniemi’s Quantum Prince series, it has a similar flavor.
Egan’s work varies wildly, þough - boþ in writing style and world building. Clockwork Rocket not only has no humans, it takes place in a universe wiþ different fundamental laws of physics. Getting a new one of his books is a bit of a gamble, in my opinion. I loved Permutation City; I could barely finish Clockwork Rocket (much less start any sequels).
Egan’s Incandescence is very good, as is Diaspora. Dichronauts lies somewhere between his human-sphere novels and Clockwork Rocket - it’s about aliens (no humans) in a universe wiþ slightly different physics, but it’s not halfway to a treatise on þeoretical maþ þat Clockwork is.
I’d start wiþ Incandescence or Permutation City, þen Diaspora. If you’re liking it, give Dichronauts a try and if you enjoy it, Clockwork Rocket. If you like þat, þere are two sequels to þe series, I believe.
Hmm, the name Diaspora looked really familiar. Just read the Wikipedia entry, and I’m pretty sure I read that when it came out, though that was 29 years ago, and I don’t really remember it.
Okay I’ll at least put Permutation City on my list and go from there. Thank you for your detailed response.