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Shards of Earth

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Narrated by: Sophie Aldred
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Publisher's summary

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, 50 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.

©2021 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2021 Orbit
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What listeners say about Shards of Earth

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another great story by Tchaikovsky

While very different from the children of time, it has the same amazing world building and writing. It is a more character focused story, but it work amazingly. looking forward to the next one!

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

I will complete this ... I will, I will, I will.

First time though - dropped it like a hot rock at 20%. Back at it again, after a hiatus. Narrators variety of voices are getting better. Lots of important detail in here, if you don't pay attention you will get left behind.

Will post an update once I slug on through.

OK ... made it 4 hrs, chapter 10 ... figured out why I can't stand this narrator. She sounds like Katherine Kellgren, who reads Bloody Jack (which is really funny) ... SO - I'm done.

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The best story and characters I ever listen to

Great story start to finish. I look forward to more stories about all the characters

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1 person found this helpful

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terrific 👌😁

I'm hooked. another winner. awesome from beginning to end. great performance, great story, great! more please!

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great!

Is a very cerebral book that caught my attention pretty qquickly. characters, story and performance were all great as the pace of the story was quick and yet world building. can't wait for the inevitable sequel.

definitely recommend!

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Brilliant

One of the most creative sci fi novels I've ever read! Great world building, interesting universe. Well written. Cant wait for book 2 in this series.

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Fantastic Space Opera

Great book, beautifully read. An eclectic but loyal crew finds itself in the middle of the politics of a galaxy, trying to save humanity from an alien threat. Inventive and suspenseful. If you like the Expanse books, this should be right up your alley.

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FANTASTIC

Adrien Tchaikovsky is just the most incredible communicator of larger than life concepts. I've now read (listened) to Children of Time, Children of Ruin and now Shards of Earth. All of them the most engrossing and complete stories with believable characters and impossibly complex ideas that are stretched to the limit of the human imagination. All relying heavily on science and philosophy while not starting into the inaccessible.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE REST OF THIS SERIES!!

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A grand story of aliens, cultures and conflicts to stretch the imagination

The narrator masterfully portrays the attitudes and emotions of many flavors of human, aliens, and machines. She and the author guide the audience through the grand turns of the story. Of course Tchaikovsky’s humor adds a delightful touch to the action and drama.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Bug AT fan, fantastic pulp sci-fi

Love AT’s work at worldbuilding and characterization. Read/listened through all 3 children of time novels, dogs of war, just starting Bear Head. This maintains AT’s writing skills, and is more of an adventure thriller instead of a heady-introspective work. It’s a fleshed out universe of politics, aliens, and factions at odds with each other with some classic cosmic-mysticism. Enjoyable!

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