Publishers Weekly
04/11/2022
Tchaikovsky again shines with his suspenseful second Final Architecture space opera (after Shards of Earth). The Architects, moon-size alien entities who destroyed Earth 50 years prior, have returned, and Idris, a genetically enhanced Intermediary able to traverse the void of unspace, is one of the few capable of communicating with them. After learning that the architects are slaves to an unknown force that commands them to destroy planets, Idris makes for the planet Arc Pallator to investigate the ruins left by the ancient Originator race, the only artifacts known to repel the Architects. He’s then kidnapped by a cyborg, a parasitic alien, and a mad scientist and brought to the irradiated planet Criccieth’s Hell, which houses the only known functional Originator laboratory. As an Intermediary, Idris alone can use an ancient Machine left by the Originators to peer into the unspace—where he makes a startling discovery about the relationship between the Architects, the Originators, and unspace itself. Meanwhile, the Parthenon, a cloned race of militant women, work to understand their connection to the Intermediaries. Tchaikovsky’s intelligent worldbuilding captures the essence of classic space opera, with an intricate plot that whisks readers along on a humorous, sometimes convoluted, but always memorable adventure. Series fans will be eager for more. Agent: Simon Kavanagh, Mic Cheetham Agency. (May)
From the Publisher
"Tchaikovsky’s artistry is focusing on a few key, well-wrought characters facing impossible odds in keeping Idris safe while allied races turn against each other. This is space opera on the grand scale of Alastair Reynolds and Stephen R. Donaldson, leavened by humor and remarkable world building."—Booklist
"Tchaikovsky again shines with his suspenseful second Final Architecture space opera (after Shards of Earth)....Tchaikovsky’s intelligent worldbuilding captures the essence of classic space opera, with an intricate plot that whisks readers along on a humorous, sometimes convoluted, but always memorable adventure. Series fans will be eager for more."—Publishers Weekly
"[Tchaikovsky's] inventive world-building gets a chance to shine."—Polygon, "The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2022"
Praise for The Final Architecture:
“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) “Dazzlingly suspenseful...Tchaikovsky’s intricately constructed world is vast yet sturdy enough to cradle inventive science, unique aliens, and complex political machinations. With a mix of lively fight scenes, friendly banter, and high-stakes intrigue, this is space opera at its best.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Tchaikovsky writes space opera on a grand scale, creating a massive, complex, vividly realized future environment...He guides the reader through this endlessly intriguing universe with a rock-steady sure hand. Fans of space opera should leave the book in breathless anticipation of the second installment in the trilogy.” —Booklist
—