Children of Ruin

Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky continues the gripping saga begun in the award-winning Children of Time. In this thrilling sequel, Tchaikovsky crafts a compelling tale of exploration, discovery, and the haunting legacy of our past.

Millennia before the events of Children of Time, ambitious human scientists embarked on a terraforming venture, transforming distant planets into new homes for Earth's future generations. One such world, named Nod, became the focal point of this monumental effort. During the process, scientists uncovered the presence of alien life, but their mission was clear: replace Nod's native ecosystem with elements of Earth's biosphere, preserving their memory amid the stars.

However, Earth's grand empire ultimately crumbled, and the grand terraforming plans were forgotten. On Nod, the ancient experiment continued in isolation, and something alien and ancient lay dormant, waiting to be awakened.

Centuries later, the remnants of humanity, now allied with the intelligent and ambitious spider species introduced in Children of Time, detect faint, fragmented radio signals emanating from the distant stars. Driven by curiosity and hope, they launch an exploratory mission to uncover the source of these enigmatic transmissions, possibly reconnecting with long-lost kin from Earth.

But when their exploration vessel arrives on Nod, they disturb a lethargic, alien presence. This ancient force, awakened from its long slumber, poses a perilous threat that may jeopardise not only the mission but the future of both human and spider civilizations.

Sweeping in scope and rich with vivid, imaginative detail, Children of Ruin masterfully intertwines themes of survival, identity, and the unforeseen consequences of human action. Tchaikovsky's brilliant storytelling and keen exploration of complex relationships grounded in science fiction elevate this novel to an extraordinary new height.

Join this epic journey through space and time, and discover what awaits when humanity’s past reaches out from the darkness of the cosmos.