They thought they’d found refuge. But paradise became a prison. This Sunday Times bestselling science-fiction adventure from Adrian Tchaikovsky plunges readers into a terrifying new frontier following the events of Children of Time. Experience epic adventure, first contact scenarios, and deep explorations into the nature of intelligence among the stars.

Millennia ago, a maverick terraforming team altered a distant planet. Generations later, scientist Alis discovers the abandoned outpost while orbiting the world. After disaster strikes her research vessel, she is left stranded with only Cato, the belligerent mantis-shrimp captain, and Kern, the ship’s AI. To rescue a missing crewmate, Alis and Cato must descend into the planet's wilderness, confronting the terrifying horrors the ancient terraformers left behind—and potentially facing a greater threat from their last surviving crewmate.

Key Features & Themes

• Continuation of the acclaimed science fiction saga that began with Children of Time.
• Features themes of epic adventure, first contact, and the definition of intelligence.
• Story centers on scientist Alis, the mantis-shrimp captain Cato, and the ship's AI, Kern.
• Explores the consequences of ancient, unchecked terraforming projects.

Specifications

This is the Main Market edition of the novel, presented in paperback format.

• Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
• Publisher: Tor
• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• Print Length: 704 pages
• Publication Date: October 29, 2026
• Reading Age: 18 years and up
• ISBN-10: 1035057808
• ISBN-13: 978-1035057801
• Dimensions: 130 x 36 x 197mm (13 x 3.6 x 19.7 cm)
• Weight: 683 g

Dive into the next chapter of Tchaikovsky's masterful universe where survival depends on understanding alien intelligence and confronting the ghosts of humanity's past experiments.