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Orbit

Alien Clay

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Description

"A staggering, alien vision of deepest solidarity." – Esquire, Best of the Year. 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. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orbit


Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 17, 2024


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316578975


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 74


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 1.09 x 8.25 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #65,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #165 in Alien Invasion Science Fiction #264 in Space Operas #431 in Science Fiction Adventures


#165 in Alien Invasion Science Fiction:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • New and exciting planet to explore.
Format: Paperback
This will give you good ideas of what it might be like on a planet with more complex and faster evolving biology than Earth has. Humans have made it to the planet Kiln and treat it as a reasearch and prison planet. Very cool and unexpected things happen with great detail. It was so fun to read. I love the ending. If you like imaging what other planets in the Milky Way are like you should read it. Probably my second favorite book by Tchaikovsky after Chilren of Time. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2025 by Amazon Customer
    • Great book except for use of pronoun “they” for some characters
Format: Kindle
This should be a five-star review. Excellent plot and creative ideas. However, the author insisted on using “they” as the third person singular pronoun for at least one of the characters. This makes reading clunky. When “they” attack, is it the character that goes by “they” or a group that is attacking. It’s really hard to follow and, to me, obnoxious. I don’t think that a narrator 30 light years from earth, confined to a labor camp on a very alien and dangerous planet, is really going to care about offending someone instead of using “he” or “she.” I hope this insanity among sci-fi authors is coming to an end. It’s making some potentially classic stories like this one a lot less readable. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2026 by Andrew Neitlich
    • Classic theme - solving the mystery of alien life on an alien planet
Format: Kindle
This book had quite a memorable opening scene as Professor Arton Daghdev and other prisoners are unceremoniously dropped out of an interstellar craft in a plastic bubble on a harrowing flight down to the surface of the alien planet Kiln below. Those that survive the drop are hurriedly picked up by prison guards before they can be attacked by native flora and fauna. Thus marks the beginning of Daghdev's new life on this seemingly hell-hole of a planet. But Daghdev is given somewhat special treatment by the Commandant as he hopes the Professor can shed some light on the ruins found on the planet presumably built by long dead intelligent aliens. This is yet another exiting, thoughtful and compelling story by Adrian Tchaikovsky. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025 by Richard Irwin
    • Prison planet, interstellar dystopia, and alien life
Format: Kindle
After loving this writer's "Children of Time" trilogy, I came to this book with high expectations, but found it lacking. Except for the main character, all the other characters are flat. The alien biology is based on ideas from his previous books. The dystopian interstellar 'empire' that he describes is interesting and the fascist government is a warning for our times. As in other books, he is not always open to the reader about what is going on so we do get surprises while reading. Summary: a decent book with some interesting plot twists and characters, but not the writer's best . ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2025 by Bharti
    • Good story though somewhat predictable at times.
Format: Kindle
Adrian writes a good story. He creates fascinating worlds with characters that are well developed and often thought provoking. This story is no different there. We have our main character who is a political prisoner and highly educated academic being sent to a death colony of a planet to be forced labor. The trip takes decades, the prisoners sent through the atmosphere like the disposable fodder they are onto a world that appears to actively hate them and seeks to destroy them by whatever means necessary. On top of that the Warden is a rather sadistic individual who fancies himself an academic. Since the majority of other prisoners are also academics and even if they escape they are lightyears from home with no real exit plan we have the makings of a quandary. While some parts of the plot are predictable, the strange science of the planet itself is fascinating in the thought provoking way of the authors that explores humanity, sentience and freedom of thought. It really is a good book and while not in the league of others Adrian has written it definitely deserves a place on the shelf. Thank you netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book so I can write an honest review. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024 by RavenousReader
    • Loved it
Format: Kindle
This book is awesome! I found it to be fascinating, insanely creative, well structured, etc. It may sound corny but it was an experience.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2026 by SparkleChick
    • Amazing blend of sci fi and horror
Format: Kindle
Awesome read, impossible to put down. Terrific story telling. Wonderful world building, compelling characters, evocative imagery. And many dashes of genuine humor- that somehow don't distract from the overall story and feel. Well done man!!
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2026 by Leper Khan
    • good ideas, meandered about
Format: Kindle
Great start. Interesting local. Good character development. Then got bogged down as though author paid by the word. Much like those movies that would’ve been really good if they were just 30min shorter. It’s no “Children”, but an ok-good read.
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2025 by G

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