Children of Time - Feb 2022

[Allan]

Opening up a buddy read thread for Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Rebecca & I will be starting it for February, but anyone else who's interested, feel free to join in!

[Kalin]

If you decide to continue to the sequel, I'll join you for that one. I bought it but haven't read it yet.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

I'm tempted to re-read, for this one is really good, but Feb is such a short month... I'll see if I squeeze it

[Gabi]

Tbh, I'm tempted to re-read as well.

[Rebecca]

Do it!!

[Gabi]

:D I've got it on audio, so I can put it in whenever. I wanted to introduce it to my boys in our morning reads, but we certainly won't finish "Oathbringer"/"Dawnshards"/"Rhythm of War" in two weeks XD.

[Liz]

I'm tempted to read it, it's on my bucket list.

[Allan]

My library copy just came off hold, so I will have it on hand to start reading on February 1. I'm wrapping up a couple other reads in the next few days, so I'll be good to go.

[Allan]

I'll be starting this tonight or tomorrow, if anyone wants to join in.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Allan wrote: "I'll be starting this tonight or tomorrow, if anyone wants to join in."

I plan to join this month, but I planned after 15th to read all monthly reads I haven't finished earlier

[Gabi]

I'll be there. I just have to suffer through the rest of "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" then Children of Time is my next audiobook.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Gabi wrote: "I'll be there. I just have to suffer through the rest of "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" then Children of Time is my next audiobook."

When I've read To Your Scattered Bodies Go in my teens I enjoyed it immensely - it was so unlike Soviet SF, there are real people I knew of and the whole setup was so unique...

[Gabi]

Just started and I already feel a lot better now! (sorry, Oleksandr, but that book was horrible for me ^^').
I love the egomaniac Dr. Kern!

[Allan]

Oleksandr wrote: When I've read To Your Scattered Bodies Go in my teens I enjoyed it immensely - it was so unlike Soviet SF, there are real people I knew of and the whole setup was so unique..."

I had the same experience as Z and read the first 3-4 books of the series. It was very different & he managed to sustain it for a couple more books. Then the theme got old & I lost interest.

[Rebecca]

I'll start towards the end of the week!

[[deleted user]]

Hi all, I am new to the group and I would love to read this one, but I have to much on my plate this month and the next I fear. I will keep an eye out for #2 if you decide to read that one as well as a buddy read, then I could join in and read them both.

[Gabi]

What fascinates me again - and what initially was the reason that I was drawn to this book and later on to the author himself - is that AT doesn't fall pray to anthropomorphising his arthropode protagonists.

[Rebecca]

I'm about 15% into the book and liking it, but I am always fine with putting the book down after I read a chapter - its not a page turner for me. I am still really excited for the worlds to collide (which they must, right?) and all that that will entail. I'm not sure why I'm not devouring it. In the larger SF&F group discussion some folks said it was the writing that put them off (but they still read to the end because the story was so good). I can't say that is the case for me, perhaps I'm just having a slow reading week.

[Allan]

My issue too. I started too many books and work has been incredibly busy, so my paper reading has been really limited. Insomnia helps a little, haha. It’s one of those times where I feel like I’m running in sand. But I finished the Watchmen graphic novel today and I’m very near two others, so I should be able to get it moving this weekend.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Rebecca wrote: "I'm about 15% into the book and liking it, but I am always fine with putting the book down after I read a chapter - its not a page turner for me. "

It'll get better! I think that maybe the beginning just dropped too much info on a reader, for at least I hasn't been initially impressed, but grew into it

[Rebecca]

It is getting better, but guys, its really slow going. I've only had about 30 min to read every day since I started so it could just be my own fault.

I am absolutely fascinated by the descriptions of the spider and ant societies. There is so much material here to work with I'm glad he continues the story after this first book.

[Kalin]

It is a slower read, I think. The spider society chapters were fascinating but often left me feeling exhausted so I wouldn't rush through many chapters at a time - read one, put it down, come back later. I loved it though.

[Rebecca]

Yes, that is exactly how I feel Kalin. I'm at about 75% of the way though and incredibly impressed by the writing and plot, so unique and innovative. However, this has dominated my reading for almost two weeks, I can't get past it to anything else!

I don't love how the Holsten chapters seems to always start with him (and therefore the reader) confused and our of the loop. It's jarring. But I think those chapters have been my favorite, but the spider chapters are the most interesting. (view spoiler)[The Holsten/Lain embryo was such a shock, and I'm really looking forward to how that is carried forward. Their relationship (which I see as friends with benefits) is a lovely, novel addition to the story. I like that its not romantic or angsty, it just is. (hide spoiler)]

Regarding the spider and Messenger relationship (view spoiler)[I'm quite surprised by Kern's reaction to finding out that they are spiders. I had a hope that Kern would be a mediator between the spiders and humans to coexist on the green planet. But its looking like she will side with the spiders. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

I can see how the amount of evolutionary biology information in the book can be overwhelming. For me it was more like a beacon. I have been looking for so long for biology centered SF that does not anthropomorphise non-human species that this book came like an answer to my prayers when I first read it. I have yet to meet anything equal to it.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

I am re-reading it. A interesting quirk of memory (view spoiler)[about Gilgamesh and 'other humans' I remembered only that they were, but the evolution of spiders I recalled strongly and vividly (hide spoiler)]

[Allan]

I’m at about 20% and really liking it. With the spiders, it has Deepness in the Sky vibes. The human part reminds me of something else, but I can’t place it. Easy to read, I’m enjoying the prose. I read Elder Race not long ago, my first Tchaikovsky, and this style is similar. I’ve meant to read more of his on recommendations from here, but this cements it.

[Rebecca]

I finished it this weekend, what an amazing saga. I found myself skimming a bit of the internal dialogue of some characters towards the end - but the end was so good. I'll wait to you to finish Allan before getting into spoilers. I also loved the prose, there were some really beautiful lines that I'm going to hunt down and save to my GRs profile.

While I loved this story, my reading experience was less than ideal. As I mentioned before, it was a bit of a slog (similar to Kalin's experience). I can't remember the last time this happened to me. Maybe with Wheel of Time? I really can't recall, but its quite strange to love a story while at the same time finding myself avoiding picking it back up.

[Allan]

Spoil away, Rebecca! I’m halfway through but I don’t care if anything gets spoiled.

I haven’t found it a slog at all, my issue has been splitting my attention between too many books. But I’ve been trying to focus better lately though! I really like his prose though.

[Allan]

It's been slow going because of life interference with reading, but I'm about to finish it. It's been excellent all the way through. I did not find it lagging at all.

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

I did not get through this book the first time. So I might try again, but not right now.

[Allan]

I finished it and loved it. One of the better books I've read in awhile.

[Rebecca]

Awesome Allan, I'm going to give Elder Race a read this month and maybe try Children of Ruin as well since my library has it.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Allan wrote: "I finished it and loved it. One of the better books I've read in awhile."

Yes, a great book!