Alien Clay is a thrilling far-future adventure by acclaimed Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The planet of Kiln is where the tyrannical Mandate keeps its prison colony, and for inmates the journey there is always a one-way trip. One such prisoner is Professor Arton Daghdev, xeno-ecologist and political dissident. Soon after arrival he discovers that Kiln has a secret. Humanity is not the first intelligent life to set foot there.

In the midst a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem are the ruins of a civilization, but who were the vanished builders and where did they go? If he can survive both the harsh rule of the camp commandant and the alien horrors of the world around him, then Arton has a chance at making a discovery that might just transform not only Kiln but distant Earth as well.

Praise for Adrian Tchaikovsky:

'Brilliant science fiction and far-out world-building' - James McAvoy

'One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction' - Christopher Paolini

'Tchaikovsky's world-building is some of the best in modern sci-fi' - New Scientist

About the Author

Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, has practised law and now writes full time. He's also studied stage-fighting, perpetrated amateur dramatics and has a keen interest in entomology and table-top games.

Adrian is the author of the critically acclaimed Shadows of the Apt series, the Echoes of the Fall series and other novels, novellas and short stories. Children of Time won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award, Children of Ruin and Shards of Earth both won the British Science Fiction Award for Best Novel and The Tiger and the Wolf won the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel.

Reviews
Adrian Tchaikovsky: king of the spiders, master world-builder 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
[Adrian Tchaikovsky] writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas -- Patrick Ness
A thoughtful, sweeping space adventure -- SFX Magazine on Shards of Earth



Book Information
ISBN 9781035013746
Author Adrian Tchaikovsky
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Tor
Publisher Pan Macmillan