Reviews

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

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susnpusn's review

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adventurous challenging informative mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

grahamclements's review against another edition

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5.0

Magnificient science fiction. Set way into a future where humanity has all but been destroyed due to their destruction of Earth's environment and wars. The only survivors are on an ark, carrying thousands of humans in cryostasis. They are looking for a new home.

One other human has survived, from back when their was a technological empire. She has been terraforming a planet in preparation for seeding with monkeys who would then be uplifted by a nanovirus. But things go wrong. The monkeys don't survive. But spiders too. Spiders that evolve. Spiders that become as intelligent as humans. Spiders who develop their own unique technology.

The humans on the Ark discover the spider planet. They want to settle on it. Its creator doesn't want anything to do with them.

The story is told in jumps in time as the spiders evolve and the humans devolve. The spiders have their own problems with ants. Meanwhile the humans on the Ark spend much of the time at war with themselves.

Tchaikovsky's portrayal of the spiders evolutions is so well thought out. It is mesmerising in its detail. While his devolution of humanity shows the progression we seem to be currently on. This is very original science fiction. Loved it. Children of Time stands alone as a novel, but there are sequels.

mmoran's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

4.0

jovanafinlebrun's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Absoluut een aanrader. Ik was erg benieuwd naar het einde, maar het stelde niet teleur. Compleet opgebouwd verhaal met opbouwende spanning werkende naar een climax, dit inclusief diepgang en intrigerende uitgewerkte ideeen. Geen vijf sterren omdat de opbouw wel erg uitgebreid was. Ik ga zeker het vervolg lezen.

bethr's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This novel kept surprising me. I couldn’t predict the ending, but it was excellent. Audiobook narration also excellent.

Content Warnings

maggienack's review against another edition

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It’s an interesting concept and gets great reviews, but there are no characters to connect with. I just don’t care about anyone. The humans are whiny and disagreeable. The spiders are calculating creatures, but not compelling.