I’ve just finished reading Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and I devoured it in just a few days. It’s one of those books that grabs your imagination from the start and doesn’t let go until the last page.
Right away, I noticed echoes of some of my favorite sci-fi classics. The most obvious comparison is Vernor Vinge’s A Deepness in the Sky. Both books explore spider civilizations and human interactions with them, along with themes of “uplifting” or “progressors.” But Tchaikovsky’s take felt fresher and less human-centered. His look at how truly alien societies might evolve—socially and biologically—was fascinating and original. While Vinge’s ideas, like the spiders’ hibernation (“the cold sleep”), were clever, Tchaikovsky’s world-building really stood out.
I also saw a strong connection to Clifford Simak’s City. Like Simak revisits the same place across different eras, Tchaikovsky shows the spider city “Great Nest” evolving over time—from primitive tribes to a space-faring civilization. But Tchaikovsky goes deeper into non-human perspectives, giving the story a unique feel.
There were even hints of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series in how the spider society faces and overcomes repeated crises. Yet unlike Asimov’s human-centered saga, these spiders tackle their challenges on their own, without outside help.
TLDR
Children of Time reignited my love for modern sci-fi. It strikes a great balance between being easy to read and intellectually engaging, without drifting into pure space opera—unlike some lighter recent favorites like the Bobiverse series. If you want sci-fi that’s thought-provoking but accessible, this book is a must-read.