Children of Time
Children of Time, Book 1
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
3 more
More Recommenders
“#DezBookChallenge Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (circa 2015) An epic book about a dying Earth, people are leaving, and there’s a plan to keep some of them safe and the human race flourishing elsewhere however, things don’t quite pan out how they should. | @kclemson I adore this book | @rem Oh that’s the spider one huh Love that book, so unusual”
Source →“#DezBookChallenge Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (circa 2015) An epic book about a dying Earth, people are leaving, and there’s a plan to keep some of them safe and the human race flourishing elsewhere however, things don’t quite pan out how they should. | @kclemson I adore this book | @rem Oh that’s the spider one huh Love that book, so unusual”
Source →“#DezBookChallenge Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (circa 2015) An epic book about a dying Earth, people are leaving, and there’s a plan to keep some of them safe and the human race flourishing elsewhere however, things don’t quite pan out how they should. | @kclemson I adore this book | @rem Oh that’s the spider one huh Love that book, so unusual”
Source →Recommended by 5 notable people, including Book Recommendations (43 Books) and Adrienne Porter Felt
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Reading Profile
Should I read this?
An expansive science-fiction survival story that positions the last human refugees against the moral and practical hazards of settling a new world. The book feels cinematic and speculative: it raises persistent questions about who gets to inherit a planet while keeping stakes high. Its chief strength is presenting large, consequential dilemmas that stick with you after a chapter; its chief limitation is scope—readers who want tight, intimate plotting may find the pacing sprawling and the thematic repetition wearing after a while.
Read this if...
- •an engineer with limited free time looking for a weekend-long, immersive sci-fi novel because you want big-picture ethical dilemmas tied to survival stakes
- •a book-club organizer seeking a discussion-ready choice because the book poses clear questions about ownership and responsibility of a new world
- •a grad student taking a break from coursework who prefers sweeping, speculative reads that reward sustained attention rather than fast-paced thrillers
Skip this if...
- •you'll likely put it down when the narrative widens into long stretches of worldbuilding or speculative argument — that is the main lose interest moment for readers who want tight momentum
- •annoying if you prefer cozy, character-focused domestic scenes instead of high-stakes, idea-heavy plotting
- •lose interest if repetition bothers you — thematic questions about who deserves a planet and how to survive them recur and can feel reiterated rather than resolved
A race for survival among the stars... Humanity's last survivors escaped earth's ruins to find a new home. But when they find it, can their desperation overcome its dangersWHO WILL INHERIT THIS NEW EARTHThe last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancesto...
Before You Buy
Reading Specifications
Difficulty:hard
Audience Fit
- an engineer with limited free time looking for a weekend-long, immersive sci-fi novel because you want big-picture ethical dilemmas tied to survival stakes
- a book-club organizer seeking a discussion-ready choice because the book poses clear questions about ownership and responsibility of a new world
- a grad student taking a break from coursework who prefers sweeping, speculative reads that reward sustained attention rather than fast-paced thrillers
- you'll likely put it down when the narrative widens into long stretches of worldbuilding or speculative argument — that is the main lose interest moment for readers who want tight momentum
- annoying if you prefer cozy, character-focused domestic scenes instead of high-stakes, idea-heavy plotting
- lose interest if repetition bothers you — thematic questions about who deserves a planet and how to survive them recur and can feel reiterated rather than resolved
Check formats, pricing, and availability options for Kindle, physical print, or audiobooks directly.
View available editions on AmazonKey themes
Why recommended
Recommended by 8 sources and appears in Space Opera, Most Recommended Books, and Science Fiction.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Seb LeeDelisle
“#DezBookChallenge Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (circa 2015) An epic book about a dying Earth, people are leaving, and there’s a plan to keep some of them safe and the human race flourishing elsewhere however, things don’t quite pan out how they should. | @kclemson I adore this book | @rem Oh that’s the spider one huh Love that book, so unusual”
View sources (3) ▾80%
Appears In
Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider Dune by Frank Herbert. Recommended by 30 sources.
“Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune immerses you in a feudal interstellar empire where noble houses clash over the universe's most valuable resource. The narrative weaves political intrigue, messianic prophecy, and ecological adaptation. Useful if you want a richly realized world that explores power and human potential. Its density and extensive inner monologue can feel slow; you may find yourself bogged down by the sheer volume of invented terminology and the occasional preachy tone.”
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How recommendation signals are reviewed
Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.