IBR - Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Members Starting the BR: Jenny and Sammy
Book: Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky


Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!

[Sammy]

Have just started this one. So far I'm really liking the mish-mash of all the different languages they use. It's like being in my house! 😆

(Tchaikovsky lives in Leeds... I wonder if he once overheard a conversation between myself and my kids, and then used that in his book 😆)

Also, a character named Idris? Anyone have any objections if I picture him looking somewhat like this:



No? didn't think so...

[Jenny]

I just started as well.
Of course I have that image in my head when the name Idris is mentioned.

I was stuck by the description of Earth after it was attacked. The blooming flower, or something? Holy crap.

[Sammy]

I think that that moment is what's shown on the cover, or at least the audio I'm listening to anyway. It does have a kind of flowery look...

[Jenny]

Yeah, I think you are correct. It is just a creepy visual. How the hell did they do that, and why? Is is aesthetically pleasing to the big bad? Using the cosmos as a blank canvas?

I keep getting interrupted, but I am an hour or so in, and I it is coming back to me. Misfits in space!!!!

[Jenny]

"I don't sleep, I don't age, and I don't forget." Holy shit! The things that were done to Idris and others is just appalling.

But, I love getting to know the crew. Snarky, and fun. There are some groups I would love to travel with. Preferably without the looming danger and everything.

I got about a 1/3 in today. Did you finish already before you went to sleep?
I will try to have some more coherent thoughts on the book tomorrow. I was listening to this, and having to relisten to chapters after I had people come in the shop and forgetting to hit pause. Idiot. And, trying to finish Ile-Rien during a lunch break (which I made myself take today!!). At least one is fantasy and the other sci-fi, so my brain could keep them straight!

[Bernadette]

I will be reading but I'm waiting for the book from the library, I'm on the hold list☹️

[Sammy]

Jenny wrote: ""I don't sleep, I don't age, and I don't forget." Holy shit! The things that were done to Idris and others is just appalling.

But, I love getting to know the crew. Snarky, and fun. There are some..."

Same here! I feel so bad for Idris! Especially with the whole mental linkage thing he has going on as well. Poor guy.

I only managed about an hour or so before bed, but have gotten a bit of listening time in today while I was working. I have about 2 hours left, so hopefully should be able to get through the rest before the end of the day.

I'm really enjoying the book, but I have one very burning question...

(view spoiler)[ What in the name of all that's good does a cross between a lobster and a bee look like!?!?! (hide spoiler)]

[Sammy]

Bernadette wrote: "I will be reading but I'm waiting for the book from the library, I'm on the hold list☹️"

Hope you don't have too long a wait! You're welcome to pop back here at any time though, even if we've already finished 😁

[Jenny]

Sammy, regarding your spoiler- I am not a fan of AI yet, so I am not going to run to an app to try to get a picture of that, but, now I want to see some artist interpretations.

[Sammy]

Yeah, I can't be the only one thinking Skynet would be better off staying in the box, lol.

[Jenny]

Skynet killed Kyle Reese! Ok, Skynet also created Kyle Reese, but still! Yeah. I watched Terminator for the umpteenth time recently.

There are some very interesting creatures in this story. Adrian does "other" very very well. I still can't believe he wrote a book that had me rooting for the spiders. That is a good storyteller.
I wonder if it is me, or his writing style, or something else, but I seem to love his sci-fi, but find his more fantasy books somewhat less engaging.

[Sammy]

I'm exactly the same! His sci-fi is great, his fantasy much less so.

Spiders, yes. Also, I used to have a dislike for books told from the POV of an animal, and then I read Dogs of War 😁

[Sammy]

My least favourite part so far though is the (view spoiler)[ Flaying some poor soul alive and having his insides be on the outsides...

I read quite a bit of horror, and have a strong stomach for gore, but Tchaikovsky manages to really get to the sadness of it. I had to switch back to Mockingjay for some light relief 😆 (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

Well, I read Watership Down when I was a kid, so I fell in love with stories about animals. But, that one isn't a story about humans from an animal's pov, just a story about characters who happen to be rabbits.
Dogs of War was wonderful. The other book I really liked with an animal POV, was The Labrador Pact. But, it is heartbreaking, and some people do not love it.

I agree about the horror bit, but reading Mockingjay for some light relief? Bold.

[Sammy]

And done!

Very much enjoyed it, and am looking forward to book 2 (probably later in the week).

The second half especially reminded me of a more adult version of Sanderson's Skyward series. Not sure why. Probably because the Architects remind me of the Delvers in Sandersons books, and then there's the telepatic link thing in both as well.

But man, Tchaikovsky can be mean to his characters...

[Jenny]

I have a couple hours left. I should finish today, barring too many more interruptions.
I cannot fathom having a telepathic link with anything or anyone. I think it would be horrible. I know the thoughts that wander through my head unbidden, and no one else needs to know what they are.

I am loving the descriptions of the flora and fauna they are encountering. Some of it I can picture, and some of it is breaking my brain.

[Sammy]

Ditto. And I wouldn't want to read other people's minds either.

Telepathy is definitely not something I need in my life.