If Homer had written space opera . . . Enthralling, epic, immersive and hugely intelligent. This might be Tchaikovsky's best so far, and that's saying something -- Stephen Baxter, author of the Xeelee Sequence Adrian Tchaikovsky: king of the spiders, master worldbuilder, and asker of intriguing questions. His books are packed with thought-provoking ideas (as well as lots of spiders; did I mention the spiders?). One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction -- Christopher Paolini, author of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and Fractal Noise He writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas -- Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go and A Monster Calls A modern classic of the genre. Imaginative, kinetic, and wire tense. Highly recommended -- Gareth L. Powell, author of Embers of War and Descendant Machine A thoughtful, sweeping space adventure * SFX Magazine * A rip-roaring space opera featuring starship battles, genetically enhanced superhumans and multiple weird and wonderful aliens . . . I can't wait to read the next one * New Scientist * Adrian Tchaikovsky turns the HP Lovecraft dial to 11 as the Vulture God and its mismatched crew (Idris, a Hannilambra alien, a Partheni warrior princess, a lawyer . . .) drop into unspace and (obligatory caps lock here) CONFRONT FORCES BEYOND REALITY * The Times * Tchaikovsky has consolidated his position as the finest purveyor of high-quality space opera around . . . [ Shards of Earth] is deft and clever, expansive and readable, all informed by Tchaikovskys superbly baroque imaginative fecundity * The Guardian *
