Shards of Earth

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky

Narrated by: Sophie Aldred

The Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of Children of Time brings us an extraordinary space opera about humanity on the brink of extinction, and how one man's discovery will save or destroy us all.

The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . .

Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade him in the war. And one of humanity's heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.

After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, enhanced humans such as Idris. In the silence of space they could communicate, mind-to-mind, with the enemy. Then their alien aggressors, the Architects, simply disappeared—and Idris and his kind became obsolete.

Now, fifty years later, Idris and his crew have discovered something strange abandoned in space. It's clearly the work of the Architects—but are they returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy hunting for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, that many would kill to obtain.

Critic reviews

"Children of Time is a joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human."—Patrick Ness on Children of Time

"Brilliant science fiction and far out world building"—James McAvoy on Children of Time

"This is superior stuff, tackling big themes - gods, messiahs, artificial intelligence, alienness - with brio."—Financial Times on Children of Time

"Inventive, funny and engrossing, this book lingers long after you close it"—Tade Thompson, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Rosewater on The Doors of Eden

"Full of sparking, speculative invention . . . The Doors of Eden is a terrific timeslip / lost world romp in the grand tradition of Turtledove, Hoyle, even Conan Doyle. If you liked Primeval, read this book"—Stephen Baxter on The Doors of Eden

"What a ride . . . talks like big-brained science fiction and runs like a fleet-footed political thriller"—John Scalzi on The Doors of Eden

"With The Doors of Eden, Tchaikovsky has created a fantastic and highly imaginative new genre: evolution SF"—Peter F. Hamilton on The Doors of Eden

Always a solid narration

Good storyline but you have to invest the time and attention. Science is great and psychology is raw and disinterested.

Please add a glossary of people and places, please!

A wonderful book, great story, very talented narrator.

The beginning was a bit dry, but I’ve come to expect that in space operas. I just wish someone would have told me that info, so I could get to it sooner! I’m a space opera junkie.

And just like every other space opera, there are too many names, too many aliases, too many long names that sound like each other. I couldn’t get past the first pages of Tolstoy for the same reason.

Please, I’m begging you, please get us a glossary!

Troupes but only the good ones

I had no idea what to expect but I was surprised. A fun adventure book with good characters and excellent development. The Sci fi troupes got really heavy at times for a seasoned Sci fi enthusiast but it didn't take much away from the book. do recommend 👌

Good story; good narrator

Very Firefly-esque, but without being derivative. Characters are great. Only knock is that the writing is occasionally repetitive, with the same facts/incidents being retold multiple times (each time as if they were new revelations), but I enjoyed the book very much. Just wasn't quite as tight as Children of Time.

Great start to a series.

Took a while for me to get into it but once it gets rolling I really enjoyed it.