Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
WOW. Ok, I did not know what I was getting into, but was very interested in the premise. And I freaking loved this book. Truly creative and unique Sci-Fi, this book mixes evolutionary biology, quantum entanglement, spy thriller, philosophical treatise... with an incredible cast of characters including queer and neuroatypical reps! I mean... these are all buzzwords for me and if they sound good to you I really recommend. I am so looking forward to picking up everything else by this author because he really does a great job bringing everything I love the most about SF right into the spotlight!
Netgalley.
Bullet points:
* Tchaikovsky is a “will read anything” author for me.
* This has parallel worlds and is mostly science fiction.
* Lots of evolutionary biology. If evolutionary speculation and analysis of how life on our world could have evolved differently isn’t your jam, this probably isn’t for you.
* If you always wanted to know what the world could look like if there were more lemurs or giant centipedes, this is for you.
* lesbians, trans characters and more diversity.
* Possibly a bit on the nose politically, but not more so than Children of Time.
Full review:
Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my must-buy authors. He effortlessly moves between science fiction and fantasy, and he makes it look easy. His vast imagination is mindblowing, and his ideas always turn into fascinating thought experiments.
Unlike Children of Time, Doors of Eden probably isn't considered hard science fiction since it deals with parallel worlds and some of what slips through the cracks and into our world is beyond what we can possibly imagine.
Those familiar with Tchaikovsky's work won't be surprised to hear that there's an immense amount of evolutionary biology within these pages. And some of the creatures have far too many legs.
Let me be blunt: if evolutionary speculation and the analysis of how life on our world could have evolved differently isn't your jam, then this book is not for you. If, however, you enjoy evolutionary thought experiments and always wanted to know what the world would look like if there were more lemurs or giant centipedes, then pick Doors of Eden up right now!
Tchaikovsky delivers a very diverse cast. I always enjoy reading about lesbian and trans characters that feel fleshed out and three-dimensional.
I'd argue that Doors of Eden is possibly a bit on the nose politically. Tchaikovsky's worldviews basically drip from the pages, but I'd say the same is true for Children of Time and its sequel.
While the plot and especially the many parallel worlds are complex, Doors of Eden never feels overwhelming. My knowledge of science is a tad lacking to say the least, yet Tchaikovsky never lost me. It's a compelling read and despite its size I read it in two days because I simply didn't want to put it down.
I recommend this book to everyone who has an interest in parallel worlds and sometimes stands in front of the mirror wondering how different the world might look today if evolution had gone a different way. (Yes, yes, I do that. Poor mirror probably thinks I'm a bit...odd.)
I mean the New Scientist reviewed it and that is not the place I usually look for my next read.
Basically: read this! It's one hell of a ride!
Bullet points:
* Tchaikovsky is a “will read anything” author for me.
* This has parallel worlds and is mostly science fiction.
* Lots of evolutionary biology. If evolutionary speculation and analysis of how life on our world could have evolved differently isn’t your jam, this probably isn’t for you.
* If you always wanted to know what the world could look like if there were more lemurs or giant centipedes, this is for you.
* lesbians, trans characters and more diversity.
* Possibly a bit on the nose politically, but not more so than Children of Time.
Full review:
Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my must-buy authors. He effortlessly moves between science fiction and fantasy, and he makes it look easy. His vast imagination is mindblowing, and his ideas always turn into fascinating thought experiments.
Unlike Children of Time, Doors of Eden probably isn't considered hard science fiction since it deals with parallel worlds and some of what slips through the cracks and into our world is beyond what we can possibly imagine.
Those familiar with Tchaikovsky's work won't be surprised to hear that there's an immense amount of evolutionary biology within these pages. And some of the creatures have far too many legs.
Let me be blunt: if evolutionary speculation and the analysis of how life on our world could have evolved differently isn't your jam, then this book is not for you. If, however, you enjoy evolutionary thought experiments and always wanted to know what the world would look like if there were more lemurs or giant centipedes, then pick Doors of Eden up right now!
Tchaikovsky delivers a very diverse cast. I always enjoy reading about lesbian and trans characters that feel fleshed out and three-dimensional.
I'd argue that Doors of Eden is possibly a bit on the nose politically. Tchaikovsky's worldviews basically drip from the pages, but I'd say the same is true for Children of Time and its sequel.
While the plot and especially the many parallel worlds are complex, Doors of Eden never feels overwhelming. My knowledge of science is a tad lacking to say the least, yet Tchaikovsky never lost me. It's a compelling read and despite its size I read it in two days because I simply didn't want to put it down.
I recommend this book to everyone who has an interest in parallel worlds and sometimes stands in front of the mirror wondering how different the world might look today if evolution had gone a different way. (Yes, yes, I do that. Poor mirror probably thinks I'm a bit...odd.)
I mean the New Scientist reviewed it and that is not the place I usually look for my next read.
Basically: read this! It's one hell of a ride!
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My first Tchaikovsky book and I will definitely be reading more. Excellent.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some beautiful moments, e.g., “a single-cell creature might see its drop of water as a vast and eternal ocean, even as the sun comes out of the clouds to dry it up”. A bit repetitive at the end when a heavy-handed method is used to illustrate a basic concept. Didn’t manage to make me care much about characters as people.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher, thank you so much, all opinions are my own.
This book was something totally new to me, I do read and enjoy science-fiction but this was like completely down the science-fiction rabbit hole and it took me a little minute to get all my thoughts together and really understand it and be able to enjoy it. I am definitely going to reread this one because I think I missed a lot and my brain just couldn't cope with all the info and science and maths, which is a shame but I did really enjoy it.
This book is set in our world, only there isn't only that. Imagine that there are parallels universes/Earths were everything we know evolved and died on earth is still living and thriving in their own present reality, along with so many other things, all brought together by one same thing, I know, it's mind-boggling, but it's what this book is and I just have to applaud the author for his intelligence and how he pulled it off. For a while there, I was really wondering what was going on and if I was enjoying it, but then things started to click together, I suddenly got it and started loving it.
It's a very dense book, it's intense, complex, engaging, you need to be invested and concentrate fully, but it is an amazing, brilliant book and I really enjoyed it.
The characters were all really believable, relatable, palpable and I really enjoyed them, they helped me really come to terms with everything happening in this book! The pacing was a tad off for my liking, it had some "essay" like chapters that were very hard for me to get into at the start, but then as I said, everything kind of fell into place and I totally got IT! I have to say, this book is really unique.
I gave this book 4 stars, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend to sci-fi fans, I will need to reread it soon and definitely delve into more works by this author!
This book was something totally new to me, I do read and enjoy science-fiction but this was like completely down the science-fiction rabbit hole and it took me a little minute to get all my thoughts together and really understand it and be able to enjoy it. I am definitely going to reread this one because I think I missed a lot and my brain just couldn't cope with all the info and science and maths, which is a shame but I did really enjoy it.
This book is set in our world, only there isn't only that. Imagine that there are parallels universes/Earths were everything we know evolved and died on earth is still living and thriving in their own present reality, along with so many other things, all brought together by one same thing, I know, it's mind-boggling, but it's what this book is and I just have to applaud the author for his intelligence and how he pulled it off. For a while there, I was really wondering what was going on and if I was enjoying it, but then things started to click together, I suddenly got it and started loving it.
It's a very dense book, it's intense, complex, engaging, you need to be invested and concentrate fully, but it is an amazing, brilliant book and I really enjoyed it.
The characters were all really believable, relatable, palpable and I really enjoyed them, they helped me really come to terms with everything happening in this book! The pacing was a tad off for my liking, it had some "essay" like chapters that were very hard for me to get into at the start, but then as I said, everything kind of fell into place and I totally got IT! I have to say, this book is really unique.
I gave this book 4 stars, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend to sci-fi fans, I will need to reread it soon and definitely delve into more works by this author!
3.5….I loved the beginning and end but the middle dragged a bit. I love the theme of tolerance and acceptance woven through this speculative fiction.
*I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review of this book*
I have heard nothing but great things when it comes to the Adrian Tchaikovsky and I have been meaning to read his books for a while now, so I was so glad when I came across this book, The Doors of Eden, on NetGalley. It is so strange for me to want to read and request a book like this, simply because of its content, it’s heavy sci-fi content, which is usually the last thing I would choose to read. However, I am so glad that I did because it’s the time of read I have been craving lately.
I requested the audiobook version of this book, which I am thankful for, as the sheer size of this book made it so much easier for me to get into, as a practical newbie when it comes to both Sci-Fi and Adrian Tchaikovsky’s work. This book had me hooked from the very first chapter, from the mystery of the events within the story, to the intriguing and different characters throughout the book.
The characters within this book are created brilliantly and make this book for me, as only a great cast of characters can. Each of those have their own well developed backgrounds within the story, never feeling out of place and each add something to the book, whether they are likeable characters or not. You get to meet so many, not all of which are from Earth, and those who are not from Earth and not Human, may be some of my favourite within this world, possibly because Tchaikovsky got to play around with them a little and it really worked. Some were blunt and funny, maybe without knowing it, and I love that!
The story and plot of this is poor genius and one that would’ve gone over my head and made me not look twice at it a year ago, because of how heavily Sci-Fi it is, with parallel Earths. The plot and how it is written and comes together is done so smoothly, it’s poor brilliant. I found myself listening to this, staying awake until early hours into the morning to see its conclusion, needing to see how this story ended, becoming quite captivated. The ending left me wanting more, left me with questions, but left me hoping that Tchaikovsky is going to come back to this book in the future, which definitely gives me hope.
I have become an easy fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky and I am eager to read one of his other works, knowing how much more love they get.
I have heard nothing but great things when it comes to the Adrian Tchaikovsky and I have been meaning to read his books for a while now, so I was so glad when I came across this book, The Doors of Eden, on NetGalley. It is so strange for me to want to read and request a book like this, simply because of its content, it’s heavy sci-fi content, which is usually the last thing I would choose to read. However, I am so glad that I did because it’s the time of read I have been craving lately.
I requested the audiobook version of this book, which I am thankful for, as the sheer size of this book made it so much easier for me to get into, as a practical newbie when it comes to both Sci-Fi and Adrian Tchaikovsky’s work. This book had me hooked from the very first chapter, from the mystery of the events within the story, to the intriguing and different characters throughout the book.
The characters within this book are created brilliantly and make this book for me, as only a great cast of characters can. Each of those have their own well developed backgrounds within the story, never feeling out of place and each add something to the book, whether they are likeable characters or not. You get to meet so many, not all of which are from Earth, and those who are not from Earth and not Human, may be some of my favourite within this world, possibly because Tchaikovsky got to play around with them a little and it really worked. Some were blunt and funny, maybe without knowing it, and I love that!
The story and plot of this is poor genius and one that would’ve gone over my head and made me not look twice at it a year ago, because of how heavily Sci-Fi it is, with parallel Earths. The plot and how it is written and comes together is done so smoothly, it’s poor brilliant. I found myself listening to this, staying awake until early hours into the morning to see its conclusion, needing to see how this story ended, becoming quite captivated. The ending left me wanting more, left me with questions, but left me hoping that Tchaikovsky is going to come back to this book in the future, which definitely gives me hope.
I have become an easy fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky and I am eager to read one of his other works, knowing how much more love they get.