Shards of Earth (The Final Architecture #1)

carol.

Rating: really liked it
Sooner or later, Adrian Tchaikovsky is going to make me learn to spell his name. His output rivals Sanderson's, but his willingness to explore more worlds, without the same meticulous detail that tends to bog down other authors, makes him fascinating to me. Children of Time was one of my favorite books of 2020, and while Shards of Earth doesn't rival it, I found it  compelling. 

An exceptionally long 'Prologue' is the lynchpin between two characters that we will follow the rest of the book. It begins: "In the seventy-eighth year of the war, an Architect came to Berlenhof." Tchaikovsky is generally of the immersion school of sci-fi; he will give you the details, but you need to assemble the pieces, and the Prologue is no exception. There's a lot of ideas dropped here, but the main one is that the unfightable and unknowable Architects are remodeling life as they encounter it, and to date, no one has been able to establish contact. This moment in time will be pivotal, and both Solace and Idris Telemmier will play major roles. Solace is a soldier in the Heaven's Sword Sorority, "the Parthenon. Humans, for a given value of human. The engineered warrior women who had been the Colonies' shield ever since the fall of Earth." Idris is a Colonial and part of the newest 'weapon' deployed against the Architects.

The Prologue is a meaty piece of sci-fi, and I confess, after investing in it, I wanted it to continue. It was a version of The Expanse, tv show), space battle style, with human players against crushing odds in a complicated and only partially understood universe. Unfortunately, as the Prologue ends we get foreshadowing that the investment in world-building is about to pay uncertain dividends: "Thirty-nine years after that, they woke Solace from cold storage one more time and said her warrior skills were needed." Thus the epic space battle turns into a new book, that of a contentious crew of salvagers caught up in galactic events.

If you've followed me more than a few minutes, you know I've been on a sci-fi binge, and the crew-of-misfits in space seems to be one that I gravitate to. Between The Expanse (the show!!) and Suzanne Palmer's Finder series, I've been enjoying the outer reaches of the galaxy, at least after humanity has solved that pesky distance-spanning/lifespan issue. So when I say the rest of the story felt largely familiar, I'm not meaning any insult--it's a subgenre I like. I did hope that Tchaikovsky would bring some of his particular ingenuity, specifically aliens and lifeforms that felt alien, to his version of misfits-in-space. Sadly, it was only near the end where I felt a little bit of that mental frission when I encounter something unique. 

The odd-ball crew of seven contains two alien lifeforms and members of humanity from different Colonies, giving a glimpse into potential alien and cultural weirdness, particularly with Kittering, "a crab-like alien," and Medvig, "an intelligence distributed across a knot of cyborg roaches." Unfortunately, Tchaikovsky is willing to break genre rules about red-shirts, which means that the reader may reach out and connect with the different characters, but that experience may be cut short. Considering that this is the first book in what is presumably a series/trilogy, willingness to remove characters felt like an impediment to reader engagement. Contrast with The Expanse, which created a diverse group of people for the reader/audience engagement and took books to remove traces of their influence if they were removed from the story.

I'll also note there were a couple parts where I felt we were getting a little more fantasy than sci-fi, stretching the realm of genre rules (much like the proto-molecule), so take that for what you will. There's a bit about space travel and the unseen which is supposed to stand in for light speed/warp/etc and occasionally seems more mystical than science (don't argue with me: I know science at that level is mystical. Read this and you'll see what I mean). Reminded me of Anne McCaffery's The Rowan, published in 1990.

On the whole, it was engrossing, literally keeping my focus for four hours of a flight. That deserves a bonus all on it's own.

Many, many thanks to both Netgalley and Orbit for the advance reader copy. Of course all opinions are my own--you ever know me to be a mouthpiece for someone else? Also, of course, all quotes are subject to change. 

Nataliya

Rating: really liked it
2022 BSFA (British Science Fiction Award) winner for Best Novel!
—————

“He was the mote in the mind of God, lost in that labyrinth of mirrors and moving parts.”

No matter what else he writes, Adrian Tchaikovsky will always be known as that guy who wrote about intelligent space spiders in a way that would make even the staunchest arachnophobe root for the crawlies. Well, you’ll be glad to hear that even in this very different space opera/ misfits-space-crew-adventure he still goes for non-humanoid aliens, from kinda-crabs to kinda-clamshells to grafted insectoids to kinda-space worms — to moon-sized worlds-reshaping* artistically inclined “Architects”. The guy can do weird, and do it well.

* Case in point: space flower sculpture formerly known as Earth:



“Earth would always be the same now. Earth was like a flower, forever turned towards the sun. An alien flower whose exemplar might grow in some fecund jungle on a distant world. A thing of creepers and reaching shoots, something more than vegetable, less than animal. Earth’s mantle and crust had been peeled back, like petals whose tips formed spiralling tendrils a thousand kilometres long. The planet’s core had gouted forth into yearning, reaching shapes, formed into rings and whorls, arches, curved arms… A hundred separate processes shaped from the living core of the planet as it writhed and twisted, then was left to cool. A flower twenty thousand kilometres across, splayed forever in full bloom; a memorial to ten billion people who hadn’t made it to the ships in time.”

I love the stories centered on a crew of misfits that form a found family. Misfits in space is even better. There’s something inherently appealing about a ragtag bunch of underdogs on an old but trusty ship that have bonded over years of shared adventures, taking on the world that doesn’t always treat them gently — especially if it also happens to be set in the well-done space opera expanse with its version of faster-than-light travel to a bunch of inhabited worlds and - of course - a looming threat to existence as we know it.

“My newfound surrogate daughter, you do realize we are a crummy little salvage operation here? We are not going to be fighting any star battles while I’m captain.”

Yeah, suuuuuuuuuure you won’t…

It’s definitely has that classic SF feel about it that I loved about Children of Time as well — and it would hold its own against the classics of the genre, being good enough to join that elite club. It may tread the ground already familiar, but in a way that still leaves it fresh and engaging and riveting. You do not need to subvert genre conventions to be memorable and good — but you gotta do more than just coast on the support of genre tropes, and Tchaikovsky does that “more” by being true to his form quite excellent.

“There was a future out there, and it was a terrible one. It included war and whole planets dying in the shadow of Architects. They were living in a fractured galaxy and it must come together, or it would fall into darkness one star at a time.”

(Image credit to hipydeus)

And as always with Tchaikovsky, the worldbuilding - that absolutely essential part of a good SF story - is exquisite and does not rely on countless infodumps but rather dropping you smack in the middle of a huge space battle scene and leaving just enough clues to work things out, trusting that you will catch on quickly. And a bit of politics. And a bit of post-war Balkanization of human space diaspora. And a bit of war. And a bit of space gangsters. And clashes between striving for freedom and perceived duty. And it’s all fun and suspenseful and very much engaging while still very thoughtful and clever, as is customary for Tchaikovsky.

I do love the idea of Unspace as a means of faster-than-light dangerous intra-universe travel. It reminded me of the “immer” in Miéville’s amazing Embassytown - an “unreal” space that only a select few can pilot through, with something(s) that just may lurk out there — and may just choose to reach out and tap you on the shoulder when you least expect it.

“Idris Telemmier reached out into the solitary infinite, like a man feeling for some precious dropped object in a dark room. And somewhere in that sightless expanse, he felt something was reaching back to seize his hand and pull.”

Oh yeah, and it you detest cliffhangers as much as I do, don’t worry — this does not end in one despite being billed as a series opener. It’s a complete book, and although there’s more story to come, it ends at a perfectly satisfying place and is a good standalone.

4.5 stars. It’s a gem. I may not want to visit the mind of an Architect, but I’m happy to take a vacation in the mind of Adrian Tchaikovsky.

“I made a judgement call.”
“A bad one.”
He nodded. “The problem with judgement calls is that they’re only ever good or bad in retrospect.”

——————

My review of the excellent sequel, Eyes of the Void, is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

——————

Also posted on my blog.

Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin

Rating: really liked it
Reread 2022

4.5 Stars- This was awesome, but then again….. it’s Adrian! 😏



Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

Gerhard

Rating: really liked it
This is hands-down one of the best SF space operas I have read in a long, long time. I recently finished ‘To Sleep in a Sea of Stars’ by Christopher Paolini, which makes for an interesting comparison, as both recycle a lot of the well-known tropes of this particular sub-genre.

The one in the Tchaikovsky book I really do not have any fondness for is the concept of ‘unspace’, a kind of Lovecraftian hyperspeed realm inhabited by weird looming entities barely aware of our existence, but that are likely to induce instant madness if they ever turn their cosmic gaze on us poor human spacefarers.

The difference between Paolini and Tchaikovsky as writers is how the latter tackles this particular trope: It becomes an integral part of the nature and reality of the alien Architects, described in the Glossary as “moon-sized entities that can reshape populated planets and ships”. Yes, I am sure the Death Star reference is deliberate, while the Psychic Intermediaries (Ints) is an equally deliberate nod to the Guild Navigators of Dune.

Paolini simply has a tick-list of genre tropes that he dutifully runs through in ‘To Sleep in a Sea of Stars’, which really does not justify its length and rambles on for just one space battle too many. Yes, ‘Shards of Earth’ is also a monster of a book (in various meanings of that phrase), but I was never bored once or even found my attention wandering.

And despite this being the opener in a series, the ending is truly delightful and quite self-contained (as opposed to wanting to hurl your reading device at a wall in frustration, as is so often the case with SF series that end inconclusively as a kind of hook to get you to read the next, and the next…)

Tchaikovsky is one of the best writers of alien species and cultures out there, and ‘Shards of Earth’ is chockablock with some of the weirdest creatures I have ever encountered in SF. These are not the cutesy ugly-but-lovable ones that tend to crowd the Star Wars universe, or the endlessly humanoid variants of Star Trek, bar a few extra bumps on the forehead, nose or a different skin colour … Tchaikovsky’s aliens have a kind of baroque weirdness and gothic grandeur that renders them both inscrutable and utterly fascinating.

What I also respect about Tchaikovsky is that he does not spoon feed the reader. You really have to work at the beginning of this book to ‘get it’. But once you have a basic grasp of the intricacies of the narrative set-up, the reader is in for a truly wild ride that consistently surprises and amazes.

Bradley

Rating: really liked it
So, fanboy here. I've gotta sit down for a moment and tell you something rather important.

This is a freaking awesome space opera, ya'll.

It starts out with an amazing bang-up interstellar battle and ends with one, and every step of the way, in-between, is a gloriously fascinating tale that is parts Becky Chambers-quality characterization, part David Brin Uplift War worldbuilding, and every bit as exciting and vast as Christopher Paolini's To Sleep In a Sea of Stars.

High praise? Indeed. And it comes from an author who consistently writes some of the very best, most original SF in the past decade, without even counting THIS book.

So, is he a superstar? Well, to me, he is. That's why I've sat you down for this little talk to add one little extra bit:

If you haven't read this guy, then WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?

'Nuff said.

Prepare yourself for a massive head-trip across the stars, dealing with massively incomprehensible god-like aliens that are only partially in our 3D space, who like to transform civilized worlds into ART PROJECTS.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Nick Borrelli

Rating: really liked it
Adrian Tchaikovsky has really moved up the ladder for me in the pantheon of great space opera writers. In fact, only the legendary Iain M. Banks ranks above him in my hall of fame of SO authors. But if he keeps writing books like Children of Time, Children of Ruin, and now SHARDS OF EARTH, Banks may be in some serious jeopardy of losing his #1 position. It's also important to mention that Tchaikovsky is an immensely accomplished fantasy author as well.

The thing that I especially love about Adrian Tchaikovsky's books is he always injects a compelling mystery as the focal point of his stories. So not only do you get the mind-blowing science and futuristic technology, but there's also an incredibly intriguing story that keeps you turning the pages to get to the heart of the central mystery. Oh and he never disappoints when it comes to providing one heck of a stunning surprise or two along the way.

SHARDS OF EARTH involves a number of different players that contribute to the depth and beautiful complexity of the overall story. You have humans who have been scattered after a decades old attack on Earth. You also have bio-engineered super humans designed to communicate telepathically with the enigmatic enemy, The Architects, who seemingly appear and disappear without warning. Not to mention other factions like nativists and the even more radical Betrayed, who believe only pure humans are superior and anyone else should be treated with the utmost suspicion and disdain. So there's a lot going on here!

The book really kicks into high gear when a salvage vessel stumbles across something unthinkable floating in Unspace. The discovery causes old fears and questions to arise that maybe the long dormant Architects have once again returned. The ramifications of this possibility could be cataclysmic for what is left of humanity and their allies. But for what reason and purpose have they come back, if indeed they have? This is where SHARDS OF EARTH goes from good to an absolutely breathtaking level and it had me utterly spellbound.

These are the coolest stories in my opinion, especially when it comes to SF. I always find myself sucked into a book that engages me right off the bat with mysterious artifacts or some sort of alien species that eludes discovery but leaves subtle clues as to their origin. It's why I love Jack McDevitt's books and others that explore similar themes. Tchaikovsky has created a superb one here with The Architects, and the nuggets that he feeds you slowly really build the tension for what is to come, both in this book, and future ones to follow.

In addition to The Architects story angle, there is also a fascinating one dealing with political and social clashes with regard to the various factions that I mentioned at the beginning of the review. Much of it stems from what happened to humans after The Architects attacked and how prejudices have gradually developed as a result. It's a keen nod (whether it be intentional or not) to how radicalism can also creep in and poison our own society in today's world.

Just a quick warning, Tchaikovsky never spoon-feeds his readers. There are a ton of high-concept ideas, intricate technology, and moments of real hard science here as well. This isn't a light popcorn SF read by any stretch of the imagination. So concentration (especially in the opening chapters) is essential for getting the most out of this book. But if you do invest the time and attention required, I promise that you will be rewarded, as by the end I was astonished at how brilliantly everything came together and set things up for what should be an amazing sequel.

SHARDS OF EARTH is another outstanding space opera from a real master in Adrian Tchaikovsky. I'm dejected that I don't have the next book in my hands, but I take heart in knowing that the groundwork has been laid for what could be an unforgettable landmark SF series. I'm constantly amazed at how Tchaikovsky keeps churning out these mind-blowing epic stories in so short a time period. The first book in The Final Architects series is just the latest sparkling jewel from an author with a firm grasp on his craft. SF readers across the globe should gobble this one up with much delight.

La Crosse County Library

Rating: really liked it
Review originally published July 2021

4.5 stars/5 stars

Try as I might, I can’t help but be entranced by Adrian Tchaikovsky’s space operas. Immersive and action-packed, worlds-spanning and epic, with a unique cast of misfits tasked with saving the day. I first encountered Tchaikovsky's writing through his "Children of Time" duology (2015, 2019), in which humanity flees a dying Earth in search of a new home.



In the first entry of his newest series, “The Final Architecture,” Shards of Earth (2021), humanity has fled an Earth destroyed by a moon-sized alien intelligence named an “Architect,” for the way it artfully arranged Earth into an otherworldly flower via extreme gravity. (See the front cover if you're curious. I think the artist did a good job visualizing that terrible spectacle. Yes, apparently destroying a planet is an artform for these Architects. Seems psychopathic to me.)



The destruction of Earth is the opening salvo in a war in which humanity faces extinction after a series of devastating Architect attacks on various human colonies throughout the universe. Standing in the way of humanity going the way of the dodo bird are the Parthenon (genetically engineered human women soldiers, basically space Amazons or Valkyries) and the Ints (enhanced humans designed to communicate mind-to-mind with the Architects in an attempt to stop them from their artistic destruction).



It’s 80 years since Earth was destroyed, and veteran Solace, a high-ranking Partheni soldier, is taken out of suspension for a new mission. An Architect hasn’t been seen in a while, so humanity has gotten back to life as normal. Yet, the Parthenon believes in preparing for their return, and they need an Int. Knowing Solace has a history with fellow veteran Int, Indris, her superiors send her on a quest to recruit him to their cause.

Idris has been piloting for a crew of misfits on The Vulture God, and doesn’t want anything to do with his past, or Solace. When Solace joins the crew, the past doesn’t seem to give him a choice.

Especially after the crew finds the wreck of a ship that appears to have been destroyed Architect-style and they’re thrown into a whole mess of intergalactic intrigue and danger. It gets all Indiana-Jones-in-Space when they recover ancient alien artifacts in their quest to find answers, and all of a sudden a whole bunch of people are willing to kill for them.



If you like space operas, read Shards of Earth. How about a story featuring a crew of misfits, consisting of an alien whisperer and pilot extraordinaire, a space Valkyrie, a knife-wielding lawyer, a kick-butt tech savant, an extremely sarcastic mechanic, a crab-like alien who negotiates like a Ferengi, a cyborg collective intelligence, and a tough but loving captain/father figure? If yes, read it! An ending leaving you wanting more? Check! Read it!



Trust me, I think you’ll enjoy it!

-Cora

See also:

Children of Time (2015) by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Skyward (2018) by Brandon Sanderson

Find this book and other titles within our catalog.

Library of a Viking

Rating: really liked it
An epic space opera!

I have been wanting to read more sci-fi in 2021, so I was incredibly excited when I received an arc of Shards of Earth. As some of you might know, I mostly read and focus on Fantasy literature. I haven’t really figured out if the Sci-Fi genre is for me. Tchaikovsky is well-known for his epic space operas, so I was interested in seeing what all the hype is about.

Shards of Earth is the first book in Tchaikovsky’s new series The Final Architects. Shards of Earth is an epic space opera, featuring multiple races of aliens, several different habitable planes, complex cultures and politics, advanced technology, and action-filled starship battles! Shards of Earth starts 50 years after the Earth was destroyed by the architects. Architects are massive creatures that travel through space to reshape or destroy entire worlds. The Architects threatened to wipe out humanity, but then just suddenly disappeared but. Now 50 years later, there is undeniable proof that they might return.

I finally understand why Tchaikovsky is such a popular Sci-Fi author. Tchaikovsky’s ability to create a vast and complex universe is quite astonishing. Shards of Earth has everything a sci-fi reader wants in a space opera. Shards of Earth is set in a universe with fleshed out history, religion, politics and technology, making the story feel believable.

Furthermore, Tchaikovsky ponders ‘what would happen to humanity if we were forced to leave our planet forever?' Shards of Earth tells the story of how humans left the earth, and how humanity was scattered across the whole universe. Tchaikovsky also demonstrates the massive cultural challenges in working with different alien species, in trying to conquer and defeat the ruthless architects.

Unfortunately, I did struggle a lot with reading this book, and this mostly due to my personal preference and experience with the Sci-Fi genre. Shards of Earth feels like it is written to avid fans of the sci-fi genre. I wasn’t prepared for such a complex story, where the reader is introduced to countless new species, planets and scientific terms, such as unspace. The complexity of the story did overwhelm me at times. I feel like I need to reread this book, to truly appreciate what Tchaikovsky has crafted in this book. Fortunately, there is a glossary and a timeline at the back of the book, to help readers keep track of all the names and terminology.

My main criticism is the first 20%. The introduction to this story is incredibly dense, with way too much information for my taste. I do worry that the ‘information dumps’ at the beginning will discourage a lot of readers. The story does pick up after the first 20% and becomes much more character and plot-focused.

In conclusion, Shards of Earth is an impressive space opera with epic world-building, high stakes and an intriguing plot. I absolutely do think that Sci-Fi readers will love this book, but unfortunately, it was not for me. The complexity and the dense introduction did overwhelm me, making it difficult for me to get fully invested in this story. However, I will still give this book a high rating, since I can appreciate that this is a well-written story. If you are a fan of Space Operas then I can highly recommend picking up this book.

3 / 5 stars

A special thanks to UK Tor, BlackCrow and NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Phrynne

Rating: really liked it
Another amazingly good science fiction/fantasy from this talented author. Am I allowed to complain that he writes too many books? I am unable to keep up with all of them but I am very glad I chose to read this book which is the start to a new series.

The Architects of the title are huge entities who appear to be attempting to 'redesign' the planets which are occupied by life forms. Redesigning involves opening and peeling the planet surfaces back like flower petals. Earth has already gone, killing billions of people, and those who fled in time have colonised new planets. Now the Architects are coming for them.

As usual Tchaikovsky drops the reader straight into the action from page one. World building happens along the way. Characters arrive complete on the page and you must wait for their back stories to be filled out at suitable moments. He makes the reader work but it is really worth it. Idris is one of the best characters I have met yet in a sci fi. book. He is an unexpected hero, small in stature and apparently insecure, but he has some very special talents, one of which is being able to make contact with an Architect.

I enjoyed all the characters, especially of course the crew of the Viking God. I liked that the aliens we met were not humanoids. Tchaikovsky is good at imagining the strange. There was a lot of action both on and off planet which was all good. I especially loved the scenes of Idris piloting the ship through Unspace and the way he used it to escape.

It is a long book, just over 500 pages, and it is a book to read slowly to absorb all the facts, but it is also a very difficult book to put down. It is the first in a series, but still finishes really well and is complete in itself. Nevertheless the enemy is still out there, hiding in the depths of space, and one day they will return. I cannot wait!

Jamie

Rating: really liked it
"It had singled out the system's inhabited world, as architects always did. Because they must have their art, and their art demanded death."

Tchaikovsky's first true space opera effort is deftly executed, thrilling and epic. And yet, and yet. I can't help but feel a wee bit of disappointment as I've come to expect the unexpected from him, and Shards of Earth felt mostly conventional and daresay predictable, with many tropes that will feel familiar to long time readers of modern space opera from the likes of masters such as Alastair Reynolds, Peter F. Hamilton, James S.A. Corey, Neal Asher and others. To be clear, it's a terrific story, yet it doesn't push the envelope, especially when it comes to the mind blowing science, as much of his previous sci-fi has. Still, I'm on board for future installments as my curiosity is now piqued to see how the epic mystery at the heart of this ultimate galactic threat evolves and if humanity and its allies, with all their divergent groups and innate xenophobia and bigotry, can transcend their rivalries and get their collective shit together to meet the challenge. Oh, and yes, there are some bugs :)

"There was a future out there. And it was a terrible one. It included war, and whole planets dying in the shadow of architects. They were living in a fractured galaxy. And it must come together, or it would fall into darkness. One star at a time."

K.J. Charles

Rating: really liked it
Hugely enjoyable space opera with chaotic crew of spacers saving the galaxy from alien threat. Nothing wrong with a classic set up, it's all in the execution, and this executes terrifically, with high stakes, genuine jeopardy, wonderfully imagined races and societies, and great characters. Tchaikovsky excels at making complicated worldbuilding feel easy, and this is no exception. A page turner.

Rachel (TheShadesofOrange)

Rating: really liked it
4.0 Stars
From the premise, this sounds like yet another space opera adventure. It has many of the classic tropes like ancient aliens and political upheaval. Yet in the hands of a seasoned author, this science fiction epic was fantastic. 

The story itself is dense, yet very rewarding. Told over multiple perspectives, the plot was complex and intricate. The worldbuilding was equally strong and expansive in scale. I was fascinated by the mysterous Architects. I soaked up every detail about them because I badly wanted to know more about them.

In terms of storytelling, I did find the author's narrative style to be quite detachee, always keeping the reader at a distance from the characters. It's a stylistic choice, but the prose were not completely to my tastes. I often felt like a far onlooker, when I would have preferred to be closer to the characters and their experience

This is definitely one of those books that benefits rereading. This book is long, detailed and complicated. Admittedly I read it twice in order to fully appreciate it. I am looking forwarding to revisiting this one again when the sequel comes out.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Gary

Rating: really liked it
Adrian Tchaikovsky’s penchant for one jaw dropping SFnal idea after another is on full display in Shards of Earth, a new far-future space opera in which humanity – and all sentient life in the galaxy – faces extinction (I kid you not) at the hands of massive alien ships that aesthetically rearrange everything to their liking: everything from starships to entire planets, regardless of (or perhaps, especially) if it is inhabited by billions of living beings.
And if you think that sentence was exhausting, you have no idea what you’re in store for. If you’ve read Children of Time, you know that Tchaikovsky writes as if he is in fierce competition with himself over how many speculative rabbit holes he can swan dive, as well how many big questions from the entire human history of scientific and philosophical thought he can tackle on the way down, all while cramming in as many awe-inspiring alien cultures, knuckle-skinning chases, and explody space battles he can fit between its covers. In other words, literally everything you could ever want from science fiction.

Barbara

Rating: really liked it


This is the first book in 'The Final Architects' series by award-winning science fiction writer Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The story takes place in the distant future when humans have colonized space and encountered many kinds of intergalactic species. The most frightening of these is an entity called an Architect, a creature as big as the moon, with crystalline spikes radiating from its surface.



An Architect appears suddenly over an inhabited world, then quickly reshapes it into a gigantic sculpture, killing everything that lives there. Architects seem unaware they're destroying sentient creatures, almost like humans view gnats.



An Architect destroyed Earth, but humanity still exists on planets and moons elsewhere in the universe. All worlds containing intelligent beings are on high alert, ready to evacuate at a moment's notice, in case an Architect appears in the sky.



Nevertheless, 'sculpturing' by an Architect is so rapid that few can escape, and no weapons - even gravitic drives or mass looms - seem able to stop them.

The first being to successfully interact with an Architect was a human girl called Xavienne Torino. Xavienne's brain could 'connect' with an Architect somehow, and on one occasion Xavienne 'persuaded' an Architect to cease an attack and go away.



Xavienne was dubbed an Intermediary, and an Intermediary Program was started to modify human recruits to mimic Xavienne's abilities. The modification - which consists of genetic manipulation, surgery, and intense conditioning - is so extreme that it kills most trainees.





However a few people get through the Intermediary Program, and several Intermediaries - working together - put a pause in the Architect attacks.

The Intermediaries also have another ability. They're able to guide spacecraft through 'unspace', a dangerous region that permits rapid travel across the universe. Unspace drives almost all creatures insane, and - except for Intermediaries - travelers must be sleeping to get through safely.



As the story opens, there hasn't been an Architect attack in decades, and planets across the universe are engaged in all manner of commerce, import, export, mining, trade, etc. that requires space travel. Thus all societies want Intermediaries.



Of the few existing Intermediaries, all but one are 'leashed' (under binding contracts). The lone 'free' Intermediary, named Idris Telemmier, is a navigator aboard a salvage vessel called the Vulture God, whose crew consists of a handful of humans and aliens.



Any number of organizations, gangs, armies, businesses, politicians and so on - both human and alien - are trying to get their hands (or claws or tentacles or whatever) on Idris....and they'll do ANYTHING to accomplish this goal. Thus everyone seems to be on the lookout for the Vulture God, to get access to the Intermediary.

Idris and the other crew members of the Vulture God are at the center of the story, and we follow their adventures as they crisscross the universe.

One group that wants Idris is the Parthenon, whose members are genetically engineered human women. The females, called Partheni, are among the best fighters in the universe, and they'd like Idris to join their ranks. The Parthenon sends one of its own, a woman called Solace, to recruit Idris, and she (temporarily) joins the crew of the Vulture God to try to persuade him.



On one of it's salvage jobs, the Vulture God finds an object that suggests the Architects are back, and this is the underlying theme of the book.

There's plenty of action in the story, with fighting, shooting, stabbing, stealing, killing, destruction, death, and so forth. There's also plenty of prevarication, scheming, conspiring and negotiation. All this makes for an excellent space saga.



Tchaikovsky does a good bit of world-building in the story, and describes all manner of humans; aliens; societies; civilizations; spaceships; weapons; criminals; soldiers; etc....everything you'd expect in a sci-fi novel.







It can get confusing, but Tchaikovsky helpfully includes a glossary as well as lists of worlds; characters, species; and ships. Best of all the author includes a detailed timeline - an outline that depicts the events in the universe that brought it to it's present state.

I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next novel in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Tor Publishers for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

Montzalee Wittmann

Rating: really liked it
Shards of Earth
(The Final Architecture #1)
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
This book is going in my favorite folder! Wow! Loved it! This is a complex story wrapped in worlds of wonder with the most imaginative characters ever!
I felt like I was there, like I knew each planet and their society. For each world! I felt I knew the characters, and there are plenty, each stood out and I was able to keep them straight because the author made each character so vividly alive!
The many concepts of space and unspace were made comprehensible and it fascinated and terrified me!
I can't wait to read the next book! This has so much going on! Politics, societies and their issues, strange creatures/species, plants, the unknowns, the bond between team mates, the Ints who use their mind to navigate space and unspace and battle the Architects! There is so much more too! Awesome!