Three Big Fat Books, over 1800 pages all together. That’s what I read when I tackled Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “The Final Architecture” series. I’m always a little wary of novels that include “reference” sections of dozens of characters, worlds, species, and space ships. In this case, my wariness was justified.
Shards of Earth (2021) opens the series with a massive space battle between mostly humans and a moon-sized space craft with an Architect inside that will rebuild a planet while killing the billions of inhabitants. The only defense humans have is a group of “Intermediaries”–surgically modified navigators who can pilot space ships through unspace. One of the Intermediaries (or Ints) is Idris Telemmier who actually connects with an Architect and ends the battle. But, after 50 years, the Architects are back to “remake” more worlds.
Idris is the key character in all three books. However, Tchaikovsky bulks up the story with subplot after subplot. Things start to slip out of control in Book #2, Eyes of the Void (2022) when more conspiracies spring up. You’d think with the fate of the inhabited planets are stake, the various groups would unite to save themselves. But, no. All the various alien groups also maneuver for leverage and advantage against an awesome opponent like the Architects.
Lords of Uncreation (2023) introduces more plots that swirl around The Eye–a working alien device that might turn the tide against the might Architects. Idris has the ability to search for secrets in unspace that may provide the solution to defeating the Architects. However, when the conclusion arrives, it’s ho-hum.
Was it worth reading 1800+ pages to conclude with disappointment? I’m not a happy camper.
Shards of Earth: GRADE: B
Eyes of the Void: GRADE: C
Lords of Uncreation: GRADE: C–
Thank you, George, for reading so I don’t have to. I do remain wary of massive, doorstop science fiction series of late.
Jerry, I was sucked in by the many laudatory reviews of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s works. Yes, he has talent, but Tchaikovsky needs a Good Editor.
Ditto. I think I’d have quit after book one, if I started it at all.
Any Big Orange updates? Inquiring minds want to know.
Jeff, no news about Big Orange. I’m guessing my fix-it guy is waiting for a new gas tank. Supply chain problems delay everything! Fortunately, our neighbor Johnny has been snow blowing our driveway for us. The weather-guessers claim we aren’t going to get any snow today or tomorrow.
Whew!
Jeff, if the predictions come true, we will be experiencing 20 degrees and more next week–but still freezing. We’re supposed to get some snow mid-week so I’m hoping Big Orange returns by then.
Believe it or not, they are actually predicting 32 degrees here tomorrow morning! Your sister must be freezing where she is.
Jeff, my sisters in Florida–Merritt Island and Clearwater–and my sister in Tucson, AZ all complain about their “cold” weather. They need to revisit ZERO degrees to experience real cold weather!
” . . . a massive space battle between mostly humans and a moon-sized space craft.” With fond memories of Doc Smith and Ed World-Wrecker Hamilton, I’m tempted — but not to the tune of 1800+ pages (or 600+ per book?), especially given your reasoned judgment. I think fondly of the old days of DAW, Dell, and Berkley paperbacks that usually ran 160-180 pages. Weather-wise, the worst we got in Austin this week was a day of ice glaze and overnight lows in the 20s, probably balmy in Buffalo terms.
Fred, to get to the massive space battles with fond memories of Doc Smith, you have to read a lot of Blah, Blah, Blah. Whether it’s Austin or Buffalo, icy glaze and 20 degree temps are No Fun!
Yes, the daily grind of 5-24 F is pretty tiresome…it;s been an annoying January, to say the least
Todd, our weather is predicted to improve next week but we’re back to a projected 8 degrees next Saturday!
Not that I would have read those books in the first place, but your analysis scared me off! I worry more about your sister in Clearwater, FL! That is the headquarters of the Scientology Organized Crime Family! Don’t let her get sucked in to that destructive cult!
Bob, my sister in Clearwater, FL has gone on over 100 cruises! She spends most of her time traveling aboard ships. She, like me, has ZERO interest in Scientology.
The Van Vogt Twist Every 800 words adapted to bloat-trilogy writing…not attractive, no.
Todd, the disappointing aspect of this trilogy is that the story, characters, and plot declined book by book.