LOVED this. One of Tchaikovsky's best standalones!

A colony on an alien planet starts to realize that maybe they haven't given proper respect to the fauna around them.

The ending was impeccable, the mounting dread of the story was great. Highly recommend

The undercurrent of valuable revolution : freedom thrums through this novel .. an arrested political protester, is also a top scientist and the Mandate who runs this prison community - need him - a secret mystery is causing hassles.. in far off mysterious space. Merging minds into one, as an evolutionary, utopian idea arrived at through combining with other humans. The narrator's voice is compelling, and we stay with him throughout (as best we can...sometimes he waxes on). Soaring interior ruminations go on long.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. A master's writing once again, everything was in perfect order. Though it is classified as fiction, you can not lie down and finish in one sitting. I felt that my mind has to be open and full of energy. I had to put down several times to rest.
Technically, no misspellings within the text
Thanks

4.25/5 stars! This is a science-fiction entry by author Adrian Tchaikovsky. This book was so well-written and simultaneously creepy af. It definitely was a book where the reader has to think and intellectualize as they go, but I appreciated this because the payoff was phenomenal.

I really enjoyed this book. The premise is not very original, humans go to an alien planet and have contact with the alien life there. What made this book great for me was the perspective that we end up getting in the book. I think it was very refreshing and very inventive. I love Adrian Tchaikovsky's way of representing the non human entities in his books. I would definitely recommend this book.

alien” is only ever a transient state,

Adrian Tchaikovsky, Alien Clay

A great read sure but not the best of Tchaikovsky's books. Even at 3 stars Alien Clay ranks higher than alot of sci-fi I've read in recent years. Recommend.

I am a big fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky's work and felt like this was another solid entry into his catalogue.

The plot was very interesting and once again made me think about how the human mind works as it comes across things that are alien to it.

This is the first Adrian Tchaikovsky book I’ve read and I can fully understand why people love his writing. As someone who doesn’t tend to read sci-fi that much, I found this easy to read and not that overwhelming with the sci-fi lingo.

I was completely hooked, Alien Clay is full of tension and contains one of my favourite themes: rebellion. I’d absolutely recommend this to any sci-fi fan or even someone who wants to try sci-fi for the first time.

What a weird book! Tchaikovsky seems to have an endless imagination when it comes to playing around with the weirdness of evolution and what life might look like on other planets. Alien Clay is definitely one where he’s pushed further than anything I’ve ever read, and does so in a very interesting context. The book opens with Professor Arton Daghdev – main character and narrator – plummeting towards the planet Kiln as his body is rehydrated after the long transit on the prison ship from Earth. It’s a brutal opening, and also quite entertaining in the way Arton wryly recounts it. But immediately it sets the tone, a hostile existence on a hostile world, a world where the alien life of Kiln is always trying to merge with anything it touches, and that includes the human body. It’s decidedly creepy!

The narrative style reminded me of another of the author’s standalone novels, Cage of Souls, as that too is told by a political prisoner living in an environment where the alien wildlife is an ever-present threat. You can see some of the ideas from Cage of Souls developed further in Alien Clay. And in the same way, having the main character narrate from an unknown future, with frequent phrases that allude to that future and all the revelations that brought him there, drove me onward to discover what would unfold.

It took me about half the book to decide if I liked Arton Daghdev, because though he was a good storyteller, he wasn’t always the best person. In the end, I don’t know if I fully decided, but either way he was incredibly compelling and the plot – of which I will say no more to avoid spoilers – has stuck with me since I finished the book back in March… it’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever read, and I still don’t know how to feel about the ending! But I did have fun reading it, and it was written very well, so I think I’ll just describe it as an experience, and one I think any fan of weird SF should try.

As punishment for rising against an authoritative state, Professor Arton Daghdev is sent to the distant world of Kiln, where he will remain for the rest of his life. Not only does he have to contend with a mysterious sentient alien life, but Daghdev has to juggle the simmering tension of the other prisoners and scientists as well as the brutal regime of the prison.
Written in the first person with a continuous foreshadowing by the main character I found this one difficult to enjoy. Due to the almost jokiness of Professor Daghdev's internal monologue and the casualness of the writing, I did not experience any intensity or tension within the story resulting in not really caring about the main character.
Credit to Adrian Tchaikovsky, the hard science was enjoyable and his ideas are well thought out, but the presentation and the style of writing didn't work for me.

This one was really rather philosophical. Starting with the premise of exoplanet colonization using a prison camp work force kind of situation run by an authoritarian regime that runs Earth. Throw dissident scientists into the mix and you have the initial situation. It quickly diverges as our MC (one of the dissident scientists) discovers there is a lot more to this planet than anyone back on Earth knows.

Another great work from the king of speculative sci-fi, Adrian Tchaikovsky takes us to the world of Kiln where everything and nothing is quite what it seems.

Credit given for non-binary characters within the work, something I am noticing Tchaikovsky does more and more of, and it is good to bring more NB characters to the page.

A book that I enjoyed but not as much as previous ones which has left me feeling disappointed. Such great potential but I just couldn't gel with the characters. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read

I'm not massive fan of sci-fi, but this novel is quite interesting. Written as a sort of a diary. Not exactly easy, fast read, but not bad. Overall 3.5 star.

This was perfectly enjoyable! I liked the sci fi concepts in this a lot but i wish we could get more depth from our characters/ their dynamics. I think it would have strengthened the themes of the novel considerably. I thought the ending was really fascinating, if Tchaikovsky ever revisits this world I would love to see what could happen next in this world.

"Alien Clay" by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a compelling exploration of identity, culture, and survival in an alien world. The story follows a group of humans attempting to establish a colony on an unfamiliar planet, only to encounter unexpected challenges from both the environment and the indigenous alien species. Tchaikovsky's adept storytelling and intricate world-building create a vivid and immersive experience.

The novel excels in its portrayal of the alien species, the Nhskara, whose unique biology and social structures are meticulously detailed. Tchaikovsky masterfully conveys the complexities of inter-species communication and the difficulties in bridging the cultural divide. The interactions between humans and Nhskara are fraught with tension and misunderstanding, highlighting the novel’s themes of coexistence and adaptation.

The protagonist, Dr. Miriam Gray, is a well-developed character whose expertise in xenobiology is crucial to the colony’s survival. Her journey from skepticism to understanding mirrors the broader narrative of humanity’s struggle to find its place in a vast and indifferent universe. The supporting cast is equally compelling, each character bringing their own strengths and flaws to the story, enhancing the richness of the narrative.

Tchaikovsky’s prose is both elegant and accessible, balancing scientific detail with engaging storytelling. The plot is well-paced, with a blend of action, discovery, and introspection that keeps readers engaged throughout. "Alien Clay" is not just a tale of survival, but a profound meditation on what it means to be human in an alien world.

Overall, "Alien Clay" is a thought-provoking and thrilling read that will appeal to fans of hard science fiction and those interested in the complexities of alien encounters. Tchaikovsky’s ability to blend scientific rigor with rich, emotional storytelling makes this novel a standout in the genre.

Did not finish. I read over 40 percent of this book, but found the plot to be slow, The book had an interesting premise, which I found intriguing, however, there was not enough to keep me engaged. Sadly not for me.

Exploration of a strange alien planet, political coup scientific themes this book is a lot of fun. Beautiful concept and the humour adds a nice counter point to themes that are quite heavy.

Thank you so much for this advanced copy,

As always, Adrian Tchaikovsky was one of the best scifi writer. Page turning!

This was fascinating. In terms of personal enjoyment I would probably score it 3 stars but that’s because I’m a complete science ignoramus plus something in my brain just turns off if the science gets too much. I love this author and luckily he writes excellent fantasy too so I’m not short of material! Many thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book.