Alien Clay

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky

Narrated by: Ben Allen

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

From Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky comes a far-future epic that confirms his place as a modern master of science fiction, in which a political prisoner must unlock the secrets of a strange and dangerous planet.

The planet of Kiln is where the tyrannical Mandate keeps its prison colony, and for inmates, the journey there is always a one-way trip. One such prisoner is Professor Arton Daghdev, xeno-ecologist and political dissident. Soon after arrival, he discovers that Kiln has a secret. Humanity is not the first intelligent life to set foot there.

In the midst of a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem are the ruins of a civilization, but who were the vanished builders and where did they go? If he can survive both the harsh rule of the camp commandant and the alien horrors of the world around him, then Arton has a chance at making a discovery that might just transform not only Kiln, but distant Earth as well.

This audiobook edition includes an exclusive interview between Ben Allen and Adrian Tchaikovsky.

©2024 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2024 Orbit

Critic reviews

“Enthralling, epic, immersive, and hugely intelligent.”—Stephen Baxter

“Adrian Tchaikovsky: king of the spiders, master worldbuilder, and asker of intriguing questions. His books are packed with thought-provoking ideas (as well as lots of spiders; did I mention the spiders?). One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction.”—Christopher Paolini

“Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shards of Earth is one of the most stunning space operas I’ve read this year....Tchaikovsky’s world building is on glorious display as he throws all manner of spaceships, creepy aliens and strange technology into a delicious sci-fi soup. It’s dense, it’s funny, it’s exciting, it’s touching and it’s perfect for someone looking for a space opera built on a grand scale.”—BookPage (starred review)

Bleak and amazing

Unlike Children of Time, it took me a while to get into this book. At times very bleak, but not to the point where I wanted to quit. The main characters had depth with flaws and all. Five stars all around!

“Science fiction is politics”
The 10 minute interview at the end of the book is worth a listen.
There are many people that would benefit from reading this book. Especially NOW during this time of politics and authoritarianism.

Loved this

Where I found children of time to be a slow start though ultimately very rewarding, this hooked me right from the start. It has a lot to say about the world of here and now from a remote and alien vantage point. There was a moment in the middle where I felt a bit lost and thought maybe I had missed something but it all worked out. Really compelling characters, layered and flawed and relatable even in the most unknowable circumstances, except that we come to know them through Tchaikovsky’s marvelous writing which transports and transcends. Well narrated too. Grateful for the audiobook.

A. T. is unstoppable!

yet another novel where he creates a novel world and explore big themes. This book, and service model cements his ability to destroy common tropes and remove any expectation of where the story is going shortly after the first few chapters. the story's end is extremely satisfying as well!

“Familiar unique”

I say that in my title because the author takes a familiar trope and bends, spins, accentuates it to become as much about people-their strengths, weaknesses, fears of the unknown - as the alien world itself. Don’t get me wrong, his world building here is unique to any sci fi I’ve read…can’t say more or will give away too much but I suspect readers will be fascinated by what he imagined-so unique.

exceptional writing

Brilliant! in addition Brilliant! plus Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! and Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! also Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! penuptimally Brilliant! Brilliant!

Worth the read.

I really enjoyed Alien Clay, both the story and the narration. Another great book by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This is a stand alone novel but I do hope in the future there'll be a sequel.

Quote - "Just because the tyrant dresses like a clown doesn’t mean he’s funny."

Tchaikovsky Does It Again

I loved everything about this book. Fantastic world building by Tchaikovsky as per usual. Ben Allen's narration was gripping. Very good read.

Like Watching for Aliens or Clay to Dry

The premise of Alien Clay is ostensibly interesting, but the story is fundamentally laborious.

I was excited for an AT novel about rebellion in a penal colony on an alien planet. Sounds cool, right? Regrettably, it's just cold. 88% of the story is mired in interminable wordiness and repetition. More regrettably, it's written in the first person (I generally find that annoying), from the perspective of a protagonist who's pointedly long-winded, radically pessimistic and cynical, contemptuous of everything, and a chronic complainer. If AT condensed this 14-hour novel into a 3-hour novella, then I would've enjoyed it – the insurrection at the end is compelling, but certainly not worth suffering the first 11 hours.

AT Is an exceptionally creative, outstanding writer. And Ben Allen is a brilliant narrator. Nevertheless, I recommend skipping Alien Clay and (re)listening to Shadows of the Apt, Children of Time, and Shards of Earth.

Interesting ideas, but sooo long winded

This is my first time listening / reading the author. Writing style is incredibly long winded. The events in the book are interesting, but man oh man, does it take forever to get through even the smallest of advancements in the story. This book could have been a 3 page short story.