Opening with a bewildering and exciting planetfall in which snatches of memories come back to main character Professor Arton Daghdev, Alien Clay is taking no prisoners (somewhat ironically). “Dropping you into the action” doesn’t get much more literal than this, with characters whose names we’ve only just read in the dramatis personae offed dispassionately, Tchaikovsky making clear early on that Daghdev and his fellow prisoner’s lives are worth little in the eyes of the Mandate.

Those who are familiar with Tchaikovsky’s work will doubtless have noted some common themes recurring here; the Mandate, for example, have more than a little in common with the perfection-obsessed Palleseen of City of Last Chances, both rigid authoritarian regimes that provoke rebellion from the principal characters. Here, however, we get a much more focussed view of the rebellion, as everything is shown from the perspective of Daghdev rather than a sprawling list of players. As rebellion-centric as Tchaikovsky’s work sometimes is, it can’t be said that he’s just going over the same ground, as he’s always finding new angles to come at these subjects from. And, of course, there are the unique worlds he creates to set these revolutions on.

And what a wonderful world Kiln is. Little more than a stay of execution for most inmates, its persistent ecosystem wants nothing more than to find its way inside them and get comfortable, with predictably unpleasant results for them. Its wildlife are chimeric hybrids, composite creatures formed of a number of unique and highly specialised individual organisms working together. It’s chop-shop biology, essentially, and it’s this more than anything else that makes Alien Clay really unique. It’s brilliantly constructed world building at almost a cellular level, resulting in something which feels genuinely alien. Curiosity at what combination of mouths, eyes and tentacles Tchaikovsky is going to come up with next is almost enough to keep readers turning the pages by itself.

On top of all this though is the mystery of just who built the ruins dotting the surface of Kiln. Daghdev is perfectly placed to solve this mystery, his background as a xeno-ecologist meaning he is more capable than anyone else on the planet of providing some insight into the identities of the vanished builders. He’ll need help on the way though, in the form of a memorable supporting cast. There’s Primatt, leader of the bioscience team, walking the tightrope between the Mandate’s orthodoxy and unfettered science - or unorthodoxy - with increasing difficulty, the straitjacket beliefs of the regime rendering meaningful discovery challenging, if not downright impossible. Then there’s Keev, leader of one squad of the misleadingly jauntily named “Excursions.” They’re charged with heading off into the wilderness of Kiln to clear newly discovered ruins, a job with a staggeringly low life expectancy, justifying his grizzled and pragmatic attitude. Essentially, it’s as colourful and likeable a cast of characters as Tchaikovsky has ever assembled.

Even if some of its later revelations aren’t quite as dramatic as some might expect, this hardly detracts from another memorable and enjoyable story from a rightly revered master of genre fiction. This is a cautionary tale of lurking authoritarianism, as winningly and witheringly satirical as ever, with worldbuilding par excellence. It’s consistently thought-provoking too, and is sure to satisfy existing fans and attract plenty of new ones.

Another masterpiece from Tchaikovsky, transporting us to a world where all is not quite what it seems. Those who are sent there are either seeking answers or simply trying to survive. Thank you for this title.

"Alien Clay" propels readers into a thrilling far-future adventure, skillfully crafted by the acclaimed Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author, Adrian Tchaikovsky. Set on the planet Kiln, a prison colony under the rule of the tyrannical Mandate, this novel introduces Professor Arton Daghdev, a xeno-ecologist and political dissident whose journey to Kiln unveils a hidden secret.

As Arton explores the harsh and unforgiving terrain of Kiln, he stumbles upon the remnants of a vanished civilization, buried within a ravenous and chaotic ecosystem. The discovery raises profound questions about the planet's history and its place in the cosmos—questions that may have far-reaching consequences for both Kiln and Earth.

Tchaikovsky's narrative weaves a gripping tale of survival, intrigue, and exploration. The juxtaposition of the brutal rule of the camp commandant with the otherworldly horrors of Kiln's ecosystem creates a tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Arton's quest for knowledge and the potential transformation of two worlds adds depth to the storyline, inviting readers to contemplate the mysteries of the universe.

The novel stands out not only for its compelling plot but also for Tchaikovsky's ability to immerse readers in a vividly imagined and intricately detailed world. The blend of science fiction elements, ecological themes, and political intrigue creates a narrative that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.

"Alien Clay" is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction who appreciate a thought-provoking exploration of alien landscapes, interspecies relationships, and the consequences of human actions. Tchaikovsky's storytelling prowess shines through, delivering a tale that is as captivating as it is intellectually stimulating, making this novel a worthy addition to the genre.

I have only recently read Children of Time so I was excited to receive Alien Clay prior to it hitting shelves. This book, for me, had its highs and lows.
Tchaikovsky is a master at world building, and the reality of the worlds he creates is astounding.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I was slightly perplexed by this book. I did like the concept and the imaginative aspects of Kiln biology, but I was also stuck by how similar the concept is to the author's earlier work Cage of Souls, both feature a rebel academic with an interest in ecology sent to prison. Having read the earlier work, it felt somewhat less original to me. However, I would imagine that those who have not read Cage of Souls would enjoy it more, as would those who really enjoy hard science fiction. Unfortunately, not one of the author's best works for me personally.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for this review.

Another outing for the prolific and genre-straddling Adrian Tchaikovsky, and another inventive imagined alien biota. This is a gripping novel of first contact on a distant planet, albeit made by humans who are living under the cosh of a dystopian far future polity, the Mandate. What if you were a scientist working under such a régime? You have to make your findings fit with the dominant ideology of the Mandate (think: American Taliban Manifest Destiny) — or suffer the consequences.

This is what happens to Arton Daghdev, too much the scientist to be orthodox and eventually swept up by the authorities and transported to the new Australia: the planet they call Kiln.
On Kiln are the apparent remnants of an alien civilisation, and a work camp populated by his fellow dissidents and the mediocre scientific team who were considered expendable enough to send there.
But surrounding these ancient ruins, the prisoners and the brutal security guards is a biosphere that is trying to kill them.

This deadly biosphere reminded me of the excellent Bios by Robert Charles Wilson, which is set in a similar dystopian far future and is highly recommended.

The problem for the scientists on Kiln is that nothing they are finding fits with the Mandate, so they have to produce fiction instead of science and remain far from a breakthrough. The camp commandant thinks Daghdev, the known dissident, will be brave enough to uncover the actual truth.

I enjoyed this. For the first half I was ready to give it five stars, but I did start to find the sardonic and cynical narrative voice slightly irritating in the way it withheld information and never quite came to the point. I guess this technique might be seen as a reflection of the slightly nebulous solution to the central mystery: an idea just out of reach of mere human minds. On the other hand, it did start to feel like repetitive waffle. So I subtract a star for not getting to the point a few too many times. I wonder if this is a side effect of the author's prolific output. The man clearly has more ideas than there is time to get them all on paper.

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s return to SF after the excellent Final Architecture series is a distinct change of scale and pace. It’s set entirely (well, 99.9%) on one planet instead of a vast cosmic canvas, but it also lacks that series’ pace and discipline. The story meanders and is just a little bit too baggy - it feels like a novella that has burst its banks. On the plus side, the world feels convincingly alien, the xenobiology that is the main focus of the book is never less than interesting and the chief villain has some sides to his character that lift him out of stock baddy territory. It’s a decent read on its own terms, but it’s definitely mid-tier Tchaikovsky that doesn’t reach the heights of Children Of Time or the Final Architecture.

Very fun, I love hard sci-fi and this was right up my alley. The worldbuilding was great and I loved the concept of the different planets, the story was very unique and managed to keep you interested throughout the novel. I wish there had been a little less philosophical musing and more actual plot, and I wanted more science and actual details on everything regarding the world. The story very much happened inside the mind of the main character, which was fine, but I would have liked it even more if it had been a little more action-packed. Still a good read if your into your hard sci-fi novels.

I read this in 3 days. Possibly one of my favourite books by this author, as he manages to push characters to their limit in a desperate, hard labour camp on a slightly habitable mining colony. Adrian always tinkers with hard sci-fi which often soars above my head but I always continue because he is an exceptional writer & I end up firmly back on the rails of comprehension. This book has a wintry, chilled feel & subtle imprints of The Gulag Archipelgo as the plot begins to elucidate on the characters ideological flaws & how they feel about each other once they stop dancing in the halls of academia & become part of the mining colonies hierarchy. It is a vicious book & a charmed one. Bloody loved it. Five stars. Thanks to NG & the Publisher.

Just wow!! This is the first of Adrian's books I've read although I have Shards of Earth and Children of Ruin on my TBR list. I'm blown away by Alien Clay. At first I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but the story drags you in and won't let go. The world building is fantastic. The whole tale is so well written that its totally believable even though you know its sci-fi ... or is it?! There are plenty of twists and turns. Just when you've got all your ducks in a row about where the story is going, Adrian tells you to put them in a circle! Simply outstanding.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in return for an honest review.