Adrian Tchaikovsky
Adrian Tchaikovsky | |
|---|---|
 At MCM Comic Con London, May 2025 | |
| Born | 1972 (age 53–54) Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, England |
| Education | University of Reading |
| Occupations | Author and legal executive |
| Children | 1 |
| Writing career | |
| Language | English |
| Period | 2008 – present |
| Genres | Fantasy and science fiction[1] |
| Subjects | Zoology and psychology |
| Notable works | Shadows of the Apt series Children of Time |
| Notable awards | Arthur C. Clarke Award (2016) Hugo Award for Best Series (2023)[a] |
| Website | www |
Adrian Czajkowski (spelt as Adrian Tchaikovsky for his books; born June 1972) is a British fantasy and science fiction author. Heavily influenced by the natural world, his books frequently deal with themes of artificial intelligence and alienness, often in the context of non-human characters. He is best known for his series Shadows of the Apt, and for his Hugo Award-winning[a] Children of Time series.[2]
Tchaikovsky has received numerous awards for his work. Children of Time was awarded the 30th Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2016. Author James Lovegrove described it as "superior stuff, tackling big themes – gods, messiahs, artificial intelligence, alienness – with brio".[3]
Biography
[edit]Adrian Czajkowski was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire in June 1972.[4] He is of Polish descent.[5] He cites the natural world as an early influence, along with naturalists such as Gerald Durrell and David Attenborough, and he was fascinated by the Natural History Museum. "From there", he says in interview, "wanting to understand the behaviour – the minds – of the nonhuman started to take precedence."[6]
He studied zoology and psychology at the University of Reading although he eventually became disillusioned with the content of the course.[6] He then qualified as a legal executive.[7] He was employed as a legal executive for the Commercial Dispute Department of Blacks, Solicitors, of Leeds[8] until late 2018 when he became a full-time writer.[7]
Tchaikovsky's first foray into writing was in 1996 when he submitted several stories for publication in Xenos magazine. In the early 2000s, he won Xenos's annual competition with the short story The Roar of the Crowd, only for the magazine to fold pre-publication.[9]
In 2008, after Tchaikovsky had spent fifteen years trying to get published, his novel Empire in Black and Gold was finally published by Tor Books (UK) – an imprint of Pan Macmillan – in the United Kingdom.[10] The series was later published in America by Pyr Books. Tchaikovsky expressed the desire that the Polish editions of his novels feature the original Polish spelling of his surname,[11] but these too used "Tchaikovsky".[12]
On 23 January 2019, Tchaikovsky was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts by the University of Lincoln.[13]
Writing career
[edit]Tchaikovsky revealed the basis of Shadows of the Apt in an online essay entitled "Entering the Shadows" at Upcoming4.me.[17]
Whilst studying at the University of Reading, he managed a role-playing game named Bugworld. The game concerned the story of the insect-people of the Lowlands threatened by the encroaching Wasp Empire. From this original scenario, the entire series of books grew.[18]
Tchaikovsky still uses role-playing games to help develop his stories, but now also uses live action role-playing, which assists in describing the numerous action and battle sequences in his books. He has previously been involved with the LARP game Empire.[19]
Tchaikovsky has regularly expressed his intention regarding the Shadows of the Apt series not to make technology better than magic,[20] or vice versa: "This is another key element, really: the magic/tech divide is a concept that turns up here and there in fantasy, but usually one side is good (mostly magic) and the other (dirty polluting tech) is bad. With the world of the kinden, they're basically both as bad as the people who use them, whether it's blood sacrifice in a Mantis-kinden grove or the Wasp Empire's city-levelling weaponry."[21]
In 2025, with Emma Newman, he launched a new podcast, Starship Alexandria. In this the presenters alternate presenting a work (novel, film, comic book) for the other to read and judge whether the work should be preserved for posterity.[22]
Themes
[edit]Themes in Tchaikovsky's books include: "the frailties of human bureaucracy and the difficulty we have in seeing beyond the human perspective,"[23] and "the terrible things we do to each other and the dogged resistance offered by the victim-participants in the vile mills of misery that are totalizing governments and wars of aggression."[24] Critics have commented positively on his "definitive" depiction of alien civilizations[25] and his treatment of "huge themes about belief, artificial intelligence, legacy, discovery, alienness and much more."[26] In an interview with Jon Sutton for the British Psychological Society, Tchaikovsky says that "Human perception of time is one of the biggest limitations of being human," and that this shortcoming lies behind many current problems, such as climate change.[27]
Awards and nominations
[edit]Tchaikovsky has received the following literary awards and nominations:
| § | Indicates a declined award |
|---|---|
Film adaptations
[edit]In June 2025, Universal Pictures acquired the rights to adapt Saturation Point. Cynthia Erivo and Michael Bay were attached as producers. Minnie Schedeen was set to write the script, which will be her debut as a screenwriter.[60]
Bibliography
[edit]Novels
[edit]Shadows of the Apt
- Novels
- — (1 January 2008). Empire in Black and Gold. Tor Books. ISBN 9780230736467.
- — (3 March 2009). Dragonfly Falling. Tor Books. ISBN 9780230704152.
- — (7 August 2009). Blood of the Mantis. Tor Books. ISBN 9780230704169.
- — (5 February 2010). Salute the Dark. Tor Books. ISBN 9780330511445.
- — (6 August 2010). The Scarab Path. Tor Books. ISBN 9780330511452.
- — (4 February 2011). The Sea Watch. Tor Books. ISBN 9780330511469.
- — (7 October 2011). Heirs of the Blade. Tor Books. ISBN 9780230756991.
- — (2 August 2012). The Air War. Tor Books. ISBN 9780230757004.
- — (1 August 2013). War Master's Gate. Tor Books. ISBN 9780230757011.
- — (3 July 2014). Seal of the Worm. Tor Books. ISBN 9780230770010.
- Tales of the Apt (short story collections)
- — (11 July 2016). Spoils of War. NewCon Press. ISBN 9781910935217.
- — (24 April 2017). A Time for Grief. NewCon Press. ISBN 9781910935460.
- — (10 April 2018). For Love of Distant Shores. NewCon Press. ISBN 9781910935712.
- — (23 October 2018). The Scent of Tears. NewCon Press. ISBN 9781910935934.
Children of Time
- — (4 June 2015). Children of Time. Tor UK. ISBN 9781447273288.
- — (14 May 2019). Children of Ruin. Tor UK. ISBN 9781509865857.
- — (24 November 2022). Children of Memory. Tor UK. ISBN 9781529087178.
- — (17 March 2026). Children of Strife. Tor UK. ISBN 9781035057788.
Echoes of the Fall
- — (11 February 2016). The Tiger and the Wolf. Tor UK. ISBN 9780230770065.
- — (10 August 2017). The Bear and the Serpent. Tor UK. ISBN 9781509830220.
- — (5 April 2018). The Hyena and the Hawk. Tor UK. ISBN 9781509830268.
Bioforms
- — (2 November 2017). Dogs of War. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781786693884.
- — (7 January 2021). Bear Head. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781800241541.
- — (3 June 2025). Bee Speaker. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781035901456.
The Tyrant Philosophers
- Main novels
- — (8 December 2022). City of Last Chances. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781801108423.
- — (7 December 2023). House of Open Wounds. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781035901388.
- — (5 December 2024). Days of Shattered Faith. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781035901524.
- — (12 February 2026). Pretenders to the Throne of God. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781035914975.
- Forthcoming: — (9 February 2027). The Grave of Perfection. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781035915040.
- Novellas
- — (14 October 2025). Lives of Bitter Rain. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781035911448.
- — (27 May 2021). Shards of Earth. Tor Books. ISBN 9781529051889.
- — (3 May 2022). Eyes of the Void. Tor Books. ISBN 9781529051933.
- — (2 May 2023). Lords of Uncreation. Tor Books. ISBN 9781529051988.
Standalone novels
- — (2013). Spiderlight. Aethernet. ISBN 9780765388353.[c]
- — (12 February 2015). Guns of the Dawn. Tor UK. ISBN 9780230770034.
- — (4 April 2019). Cage of Souls. Head of Zeus. ISBN 9781788547246.
- — (18 August 2020). The Doors of Eden. Orbit Books. ISBN 9781509865888.
- — (28 March 2024). Alien Clay. Orbit Books. ISBN 9780316578967.
- — (4 June 2024). Service Model. Tordotcom. ISBN 9781250290281.
- — (27 February 2025). Shroud. Tor Books. ISBN 9781035013791.
- — (3 June 2026). Green City Wars. Tor Books. ISBN 9781250290335.
- Forthcoming: — (9 March 2027). The Eighth Face. Orbit Books. ISBN 9780316587471.
- — (1 February 2022). Day of Ascension. Black Library. ISBN 9781800260917.
- — (26 October 2024). "On the Shoulders of Giants". On the Shoulders of Giants and Other Stories. Black Library. ISBN 9781836090014.[d]
- — (14 November 2025). Starseer's Ruin. Black Library. ISBN 9781836093718.
Multi-author series
- — (1 July 2014). The Bloody Deluge. The Afterblight Chronicles. Abaddon Books. ISBN 9781849977647.
- — (24 July 2018). Redemption's Blade. After the War. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781781085790.
Novellas
[edit]- — (17 June 2018). The Expert System's Brother. Tordotcom. ISBN 9781250197566.
- — (26 January 2021). The Expert System's Champion. Tordotcom. ISBN 9781250766397.
Terrible Worlds
- Revolutions
- — (7 November 2017). Ironclads. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781781085684.
- — (12 May 2020). Firewalkers. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781781088487.
- — (15 March 2022). Ogres. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781786185280.
- Destinations
- — (18 May 2019). Walking to Aldebaran. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781781087060.
- — (2 March 2021). One Day All This Will Be Yours. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781781088746.
- — (28 March 2023). And Put Away Childish Things. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781786188793..
- Transformations
- — (30 March 2024). Saturation Point. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781837861743..
- — (11 August 2026). Preaching to the Choir. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781837867301.
- Innovations
- — (12 August 2025). The Hungry Gods. Solaris Books. ISBN 9781837865512..
Elder Race
- — (16 November 2021). Elder Race. Tordotcom. ISBN 9781250768728.
- — (1 September 2026). Engines of Reason. Tordotcom. ISBN 9781250388292.
Standalone Novellas
- — (5 November 2019). Made Things. Tor Books. ISBN 9781250232991.
- — (12 June 2021). The House on the Old Cliffs. BOTH Press. ISBN 9781913603045.
Short stories
[edit]- — (31 August 2014). "Where the Brass Band Plays". In Edwards, Jan; Barber, Jenny (eds.). The Alchemy Press Book of Urban Mythic 2. Alchemy Press. ISBN 9780957348998.
- — (7 October 2014). "The Final Conjuration". In Moore, David Thomas (ed.). Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets: An Anthology of Holmesian Tales Across Time and Space. Abaddon Books. ISBN 9781781082225.
- — (14 March 2017). "Shadow Hunter". Grimdark Magazine. Shadows of the Apt. No. 1.
- — (4 September 2023). "The Long and Hungry Road: A Tyranids Short Story". Warhammer 40,000. Black Library. ASIN B0CG98YV51.
- — (30 April 2025). Harris, Lee (ed.). "Human Resources". Service Model. Illustrated by George Wylesol. Reactor. ISBN 9781250375933.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
Collections
[edit]- — (2 September 2013). Feast and Famine. NewCon Press. ISBN 9781907069543.
- —; McDonald, Keris; Gauntless, Adam (3 September 2016). The Private Life of Elder Things. Alchemy Press. ISBN 9781911034025.
- — (28 February 2026). The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky. Subterranean Press. ISBN 9781645243120.
Critical studies and reviews of Tchaikovsky's work
[edit]- The Doors of Eden
- West, Michelle (July–August 2020). "Musing on Books". F&SF. 139 (1&2): 88‒94. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020.
Notes
[edit]- 1 2 3 Tchaikovsky has since disavowed the award due to the subsequent controversy regarding that year's Hugo ballot.[43]
- ↑ Alien Clay was originally nominated for the 2024 BSFA Award for Best Novel, but was removed from the ballot at the request of the author.
- ↑ Originally published in 2013 as a serial in Aethernet; later published in 2016 by Tor Books.[61]
- ↑ Tchaikovsky's work is a novella included in a multi-author anthology
References
[edit]- ↑ "Summary Bibliography: Adrian Tchaikovsky". www.isfdb.org.
- ↑ Tomio, Jay (26 September 2008). "Bug Out with Adrian Tchaikovsky Before Children of Time". Nekoplz. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- 1 2 Flood, Alison (24 August 2016). "Arthur C Clarke award goes to Adrian Tchaikovsky's novel of 'universal scale'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ↑ Clute, John (13 June 2022). "Tchaikovsky, Adrian". In Clute, John; Langford, David (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (4th ed.).
- ↑ "About the author : Shadows of the Apt".
- 1 2 Tabler, Beth (7 March 2021). "Interview - Adrian Tchaikovsky". BEFOREWEGOBLOG. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- 1 2 "Adrian Tchaikovsky: From Star to Star". Locus. Vol. 88, no. 5. 9 May 2022.
- ↑ "Who's Who?" (PDF). www.lawblacks.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ↑ "Clarkesworld Magazine - Science Fiction & Fantasy". Clarkesworld Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ↑ "Adrian Tchaikovsky interview". Archived from the original on 9 November 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ↑ Tchaikovsky, Adrian (30 March 2008). "The Long Good Lunch". Empire Rising. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012.
However, as the possibility of the Polish rights being sold seems extremely viable, there is an epilogue to this tale of Frankish ignorance, for in Poland, one would strongly assume, I may finally see my name in print in its unadulterated form.
- ↑ "Imprerium Czerni i złota – Adrian Tchaikovsky" (in Polish). Rebis. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
- ↑ "First nursing associates graduate among 1,000 students in Lincoln". The Lincolnite. 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ↑ "Pan Macmillan author page". Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ↑ Tchaikovsky, Adrian (2010). The Scarab Path. Tor Books. ISBN 978-0-330-51145-2.
- ↑ Wright, Jonathan (September 2009). "Meet a Brit author in the vanguard of the new heroic fantasy..." SFX Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ↑ "Story behind Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky – Entering the Shadows". Upcoming4.me. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
- ↑ "Story behind Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Entering the Shadows - Upcoming4.me". 6 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ↑ "Profound Decisions – Empire". www.profounddecisions.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ↑ See Magic in fiction
- ↑ "Interview with Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Shadow of the Apt series". www.londoncalling.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ↑ Starship Alexandria, retrieved 10 December 2025
- ↑ Brooks, Robin (6 June 2024). "'Service Model' by Adrian Tchaikovsky: A Book Review". GeekDad. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ↑ "Russell Letson Reviews House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky". Locus Online. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ↑ Hamilton, Peter F. (24 June 2020). "Top 10 books about remaking the future". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ↑ Insider, WIRED. "29 of the Best Science Fiction Books Everyone Should Read". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ↑ "'Human perception of time is one of the biggest limitations of being human'". BPS. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ↑ "2014 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "2016 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "Announcing the 2017 British Fantasy Award Winners". Tor.com. 1 October 2017..
- ↑ "Announcing the 2019 BSFA Award Winners". Reactor. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ Andrew Liptak (18 June 2020). "Announcing the 2020 Arthur C. Clarke Award Shortlist". Reactor. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "2019 and 2020 Sidewise Awards Winners". Locus. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ "Announcing the Nominees for the 2021 Philip K. Dick Award". Reactor. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ "2021 BSFA Award Winners". Locus. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- 1 2 "2022 BSFA Awards Winners". Locus. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ "2022 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ "Le Guin Prize for Fiction Shortlist". Locus. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "2022 Dragon Awards Winners". Locus. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ↑ "2022 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ↑ "2023 BSFA Awards Winners". Locus. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ "2023 Dragon Awards, Julie Award, and Mike Resnick Memorial Award Winners". Locus. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ Tchaikovsky, Adrian. "A Statement on the 2023 Hugo Awards". adriantchaikovsky.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ↑ "The 2023 Hugo Award Winners Are Here". Gizmodo. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- 1 2 "2023 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "2023 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "2023 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- 1 2 "2024 BSFA Awards Winners". Locus. 21 April 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- 1 2 "2024 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ↑ "Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "2024 Dragon Awards Ballot". Locus. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- 1 2 3 "2025 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- 1 2 "2025 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 21 June 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ↑ Molly Templeton (3 April 2025). "Brenda Peynado's Time's Agent Wins the 2025 Philip K. Dick Award". Reactor. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ↑ "2025 Clarke Award Shortlist". Locus. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ↑ "The Reading List". RUSA Update. 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- 1 2 "2026 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Hugo, Lodestar & Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. 31 August 2026. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
- ↑ Yon, Mark (29 September 2026). "AWARDS: Brian W Aldiss Award 2026 Nominees Announced". SFF World. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- ↑ Vanessa Armstrong (30 June 2025). "Cynthia Erivo & Michael Bay to Adapt Adrian Tchaikovsky's Saturation Point". Reactor. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Yon, Mark (6 September 2025). "Spiderlight by Adrian Tchaikovsky". SFF World. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
External links
[edit]
