Children of Time: Volume 1

This disdain I have for this book can only be garnered by an idea so brilliant matched only with an execution so predictable and poor, that what began as admiration and interest ended in a strong feeling of betraya by the author. I kept waiting, suffering through human characters so shallow in build that I had to make sure I had not gotten pulled into reading some YA science fiction, for a reveal that was promised to truly wow me. I kept asking, "am I almost there?" just keep reading a little further. I was an idiot and waited and waited without any sort of revelation to match my desire. The spiders were interesting at first but as they continue to evolve they became less like spiders and more like humans dressed as spiders. By the end of the story a perpetrate of feet so ludicrous it had me shaking my head in disbelief. I hated, hated, hated this book by the end. I seriously doubt I will never read another of Tchaikovsky's novels.

Very good hard SF with lots of humanity; lags a bit in the middle Quite a few fascinating ideas here, well written and intricately plotted. Almost too many ideas, with not enough happening around them, in some of the midsection where I felt it bogged down a bit, but made up for by the beginning and especially the end.

Loved this book! Really fun sci-fi, and specifically found the story of creative evolution of a species very well thought out and intriguing. Tchaikovsky has a way with writing interesting worlds, and doesn't fail here. I did find the storyline about the arkship a tad tedious at times, but overall loved the story and thought the growing tension of all the storylines was built up very well