Shroud
Ratings6
Average rating4.5
They looked into the darkness and the darkness looked back . . .
An utterly gripping story of alien encounter and survival from Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Children of Time.
They looked into the darkness and the darkness looked back . . .
New planets are fair game to asset strippers and interplanetary opportunists – and a commercial mission to a distant star system discovers a moon that is pitch black, but alive with radio activity. Its high-gravity, high-pressure, zero-oxygen environment is anathema to human life, but ripe for exploitation. They named it Shroud.
Under no circumstances should a human end up on Shroud’s inhospitable surface. Except a catastrophic accident sees Juna Ceelander and Mai Ste Etienne doing just that. Forced to stage an emergency landing, in a small, barely adequate vehicle, they are unable to contact their ship and are running out of time. What follows is a gruelling journey across land, sea and air. During this time, Juna and Mai begin to understand Shroud’s dominant species. It also begins to understand them . . .
If they escape Shroud, they’ll face a crew only interested in profiteering from this extraordinary world. They’ll somehow have to explain the impossible and translate the incredible. That is, if they make it back at all.
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Thankyou to Netgalley and PanMacmillan/Tor for this ARC.
## Ratings
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Initial Draw: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finish Line Feeling: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
## Review
Tchaikovsky is undoubtedly one of the premier authors when it comes to writing from the perspective of different species/cultures. The world he developed in Shroud was just as strong as Children of Time, with similar plot beats and pacing but a completely new species and new hostile environment to live through and contemplate. The way Tchaikovsky writes from the perspective of non-human characters makes you realise how anthropomorphized most sci-fi species are and is a breath of fresh air when it comes to thinking about what could be out there.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time - not because I didn't expect the ending; but, because the pacing was completely on point, always tempting you to know what happens next at every page and every chapter.
I don't really want to go into finer plot points any more because you should definitely just experience it for yourself. Overall if you enjoyed Children of Time or Tchaikovsky's other works relating to alternate species then you will love this one. I can't wait for the sequels to explore this world and species more.
Tchaikovsky has managed to write a book that feels super filmic even though it's basically set in pitch blackness. Lots of exobiology, lots of adventure, lots of drugs, and plenty of corporation bashing - what's not to love?
