Children of Time
A major standalone entry point into Adrian Tchaikovsky's best-known science fiction sequence.
Author guide
Adrian Tchaikovsky
Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading before becoming a professional author in 2007. His fiction often explores intelligence, alien awareness, ecology, and social change across epic science fiction and fantasy settings.
science fictionfantasy
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Empire in Black and Gold
The opening book of Shadows of the Apt and the best place to start that series.
Shards of Earth
The first Final Architecture novel and a strong entry point to his space opera.
The Tiger and the Wolf
The opening Echoes of the Fall novel and a good introduction to the series' setting.
City of Last Chances
The first Tyrant Philosophers novel and the natural starting point for that sequence.
Dogs of War
A self-contained-feeling bioform novel that works well as an entry to his near-future SF.
Elder Race
A widely accessible novella and the start of a short science-fantasy sequence.
Walking to Aldebaran
A compact standalone novella that makes an easy first read.
Service Model
A standalone novel that showcases his robot-centric speculative fiction.
Made Things
A short, accessible fantasy novella with a prequel available if you want more.
Read in order
Books by series
novel series · ongoing
Children of Time
A science fiction sequence about humanity, spiders, and the evolution of intelligence on a transformed world.
novel series · complete
The Final Architecture
A space opera sequence following Idris and humanity's struggle against the Architects.
novel series · unknown
Service Model
A standalone sequence centered on a robot worker who begins to question its programming.
- 1 Service ModelAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 2024
novel series · ongoing
Elder Race
A science-fantasy sequence about technology, story, and the tension between them on an alien world.
novel series · ongoing
The Tyrant Philosophers
A fantasy sequence about the Palleseen, imperial conquest, resistance, and the cost of order.
- 1 City of Last ChancesAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 2022
- 2
House of Open WoundsAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 2023
- 3 Lives of Bitter RainAmazon ↗
Book 2.5 · novella · 2025
- 4
Days of Shattered FaithAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 2024
- 6
Pretenders to the Throne of GodAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 2026
- 5 The Heart of the ReproachAmazon ↗
short_story · 2025
novel series · complete
Shadows of the Apt
An insect-inspired epic fantasy series of empire, invention, espionage, and war.
- 1 Empire in Black and GoldAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 2008
- 2
Dragonfly FallingAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 2009
- 3
Blood of the MantisAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 2009
- 4
Salute the DarkAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 2010
- 5
The Scarab PathAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel · 2010
- 6
The Sea WatchAmazon ↗Book 6 · novel · 2011
- 7
Heirs of the BladeAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 2011
- 8
The Air WarAmazon ↗Book 8 · novel · 2012
- 9
War Master's GateAmazon ↗Book 9 · novel · 2013
- 10
Seal of the WormAmazon ↗Book 10 · novel · 2014
novel series · unknown
Dogs of War
A bioform science fiction sequence about engineered soldiers, loyalty, and personhood.
novel series · complete
Echoes of the Fall
A fantasy sequence of shapeshifters, clan politics, prophecy, and war in the north.
collection series · complete
Terrible Worlds: Destinations
Standalone novellas set in perilous far-future or fantastical destinations.
collection series · complete
Terrible Worlds: Revolutions
Standalone novellas about upheaval, war, and broken systems.
collection series · unknown
Terrible Worlds: Innovations
A speculative fiction line about survival, power, and strange new systems.
collection series · unknown
Made Things
A gaslamp fantasy sequence about crafted companions and hidden magic.
collection series · complete
Expert System
Novellas following Handry as he survives and learns the rules of a strange world.
novel series · unknown
After the War
Interconnected fantasy set in the aftermath of a world-shaping conflict.
collection series · unknown
Monstrous Little Voices
A linked set of Shakespeare-inspired fantasy tales and novellas.
shared universe · unknown
The Afterblight Chronicles
A post-apocalyptic shared universe of survival fiction.
- 1 The Bloody DelugeAmazon ↗
Book 15 · novella · 2014
collection series · unknown
Myriad Lands
An anthology series of fantasy set in varied, imaginative worlds.
- 1 Myriad LandsAmazon ↗
Book 2 · anthology · 2016
collection series · unknown
Inferno! (2018)
Black Library's relaunched anthology series of Warhammer fiction.
- 1 Inferno! Volume 6Amazon ↗
Book 6 · anthology · 2021
Outside the series
Standalone and other books
-
Alien ClayAmazon ↗novel · 2024
-
ShroudAmazon ↗novel · 2025
-
Cage of SoulsAmazon ↗novel · 2019
-
The Doors of EdenAmazon ↗novel · 2020
-
Guns of the DawnAmazon ↗novel · 2015
-
SpiderlightAmazon ↗novel · 2016
-
Green City WarsAmazon ↗novel · 2026
- Human ResourcesAmazon ↗
short_story · 2025
-
Day of AscensionAmazon ↗novel · 2021
- The Private Life of Elder ThingsAmazon ↗
anthology · 2016
- The Other Side of NeverAmazon ↗
anthology · 2023
- Solaris Rising 2Amazon ↗
anthology · 2013
- The Best of Adrian TchaikovskyAmazon ↗
collection · 2026
- Avatars IncAmazon ↗
anthology · 2020
- Consolation SongsAmazon ↗
anthology · 2020
- Of Shadows, Stars, and SabersAmazon ↗
anthology · 2025
- The House on the Old CliffsAmazon ↗
novella · 2021
- Preaching to the ChoirAmazon ↗
novella · 2026
- Dracula: Rise of the BeastAmazon ↗
anthology · 2018
- Once Upon a ParsecAmazon ↗
anthology · 2019
- Story Behind the BookAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2014
- Evil is a Matter of PerspectiveAmazon ↗
anthology · 2017
- Shakespeare vs. CthulhuAmazon ↗
anthology · 2016
- Reading Between the LinesAmazon ↗
short_story · 2013
- Inferno! A Warhammer 40,000 CollectionAmazon ↗
anthology · 2021
- Dark CurrentsAmazon ↗
anthology · 2012
- LightAmazon ↗
anthology · 2022
- Tor.com SamplerAmazon ↗
anthology · 2016