Shroud
books by Adrian Tchaikovsky
An utterly gripping story of alien encounter and survival from Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Children of Time.They looked into the darkness and the darkness looked back . . .New planets are fair game to asset strippers and interplanetary opportunists – and a commercial mission to a distant star system discovers a moon that is pitch black, but alive with radio activity. Its high-gravity, high-pressure, zero-oxygen environment is anathema to human life, but ripe for exploitation. They named it Shroud.Under no circumstances should a human end up on Shroud’s inhospitable surface. Except a catastrophic accident sees Juna Ceelander and Mai Ste Etienne doing just that. Forced to stage an emergency landing, in a small, barely adequate vehicle, they are unable to contact their ship and are running out of time. What follows is a gruelling journey across land, sea and air. During this time, Juna and Mai begin to understand Shroud’s dominant species. It also begins to understand them . . .If they escape Shroud, they’ll face a crew only interested in profiteering from this extraordinary world. They’ll somehow have to explain the impossible and translate the incredible. That is, if they make it back at all. One of the reasons this book resonates with readers is its emphasis on relatable experiences. Even within a fictional framework, the situations and emotions portrayed feel familiar. This relatability helps bridge the gap between the story and the reader’s own perspective. Many readers appreciate how the book gradually builds toward its conclusion without rushing. Key ideas are given space to develop, ensuring that the ending feels earned rather than abrupt. This thoughtful resolution contributes to overall satisfaction.