Alien Clay Audiobook By Adrian Tchaikovsky cover art

Alien Clay

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Alien Clay

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Narrated by: Ben Allen
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About this listen

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
Adventure First Contact Hard Science Fiction Space Opera Science Fiction
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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)

What listeners say about Alien Clay

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Thought provoking mystery

Another great novel by Tchaikovsky. I really enjoyed the mystery and thought it all fit together very well.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This might be my favorite book of the year.

Tchaikovsky is fast proving himself to be the Heir to the dynasty of the science fictions grand masters.

I was a different person when I started this story... I'm still me, but I'm more now.

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Mind broadening.

Narration was excellent. This story was different than the the sci-fi stories that I’ve read. An interesting twist that helps to broadens one’s mind .

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Super good!

Loved it, usually I listen exclusively while wood working or at the gym but this one was so exciting and fresh I had to finish in days. My house is soooo clean now because I couldn’t stop listening and was searching for remedial tasks so I could focus on it. I love a good uprising story!

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"Boschian chimera"

They used a great voice actor to record this story. The author has a great sense of humor. It is a solid conceit for a sci fi story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Not much happens

Quite repetitive. No real plot. More of an idea than a novel. Not really his best.

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Good, not a ton of action

Very cerebral and focused on internal monologue a bunch. For being a story about a hostile aliens world, there wasn’t a lot of alien-related content but lots about living under a fascist regime. Well written though.

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Another win!

This was an excellent shorter read that goes deep but resolves nicely. I was particularly happy with the philosophical bend at the end and felt the potential for more was nicely seeded.

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Best of the best

Everything I love about this author, in perfect form. If you enjoyed this, I also recommend Cage of Souls

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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.

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2 people found this helpful