Alien Clay

There is no doubt that Tchaikovsky is a prolific author - I'm counting at least 38 novels and many novellas and short stories. Every few months, there seems to be a new book on the horizon. But that regularity of releases doesn't seem to impact the quality of his writing or the sharpness of his vision. Having read most of his previous works, it's clear he not only continues to develop his talents but has begun experimenting with different writing styles. Alien Clay is no exception. Written from a first-person perspective, majoritively from the viewpoint of rebel Professor Arton Daghdev. Daghdev is sent to the hostile prison planet of Kiln after his political views get him in trouble with a harsh, authoritarian government (known simply as The Mandate) that removes any dissidents and thoughts different from the official dogma. He's an academic, specializing in ecology and biology, and under different circumstances, he might consider this a trip of a lifetime, not as a convict, though.

It takes 30 years for the automated prison ship to arrive and then purposefully disintegrate as it reaches the Kiln atmosphere, reviving and dispersing its previously frozen human cargo as it breaks up. Those who survive the re-entry find themselves with a deferred death sentence in a hostile and alien environment. They are treated as little more than slaves and work to grow and protect the colony. At the same time, those with more important job titles try to unravel its many secrets.

Life on Kiln is distinct from that found elsewhere, with a blurred line dividing flora and fauna, which also appear to be symbiotic. Despite Daghdev's early attempts, it seems impossible to create any form of classification, limited as humanity is to its narrow definitions. Some of these lifeforms seem a little perilous too; luckily, Daghdev's credentials as a bonified academic with knowledge of ecology and biology initially allow him to serve as Dig support, which, in reality, is little more than lab support but still a far cry from the more dangerous roles outside the safety of the base. Given Dagdev's expertise, there is some hope that he might be able to solve the mystery of some local artifacts that have so far eluded any explanation. Covered with writing of unknown origins, they don't seem to be the creation of any lifeform they have encountered. So just who built them, and what the hell is their purpose? It isn't long before Daghdev gets dragged back into revolutionary politics, and things start to turn for the worse, he finds himself on the frontline, carrying out the most dangerous jobs, thrust out into the strange alien jungle, and witnessing those artifacts first-hand.

Tchaikovsky does a good job of crafting the main character, Daghdev. He is well fleshed-out, although not altogether likable, and hardly a hero in anyone's eyes. The author does provide some justification, so it's at least possible to empathize with him. After all, they are all living in an authoritative and oppressive regime, even more so than most countries of present times. The supporting characters are not fleshed out quite as much, but I think that's more the effect of the first-person viewpoint than anything else. One other character that shines as brightly as the protagonist is the setting itself, arguably the most well-crafted, complete, and vibrant character in the novel. It's interesting to see how the author's style translates from the third person to the first; it feels different. Not better or worse, just different. There is still the sharp and dry humour, the clever writing, and the immense vision for all things biological and otherwise scientific. One of these differences is how we, as the readers, get to learn about the world around Daghdev. We experience the awe, the splendor, and indeed the horror as the protagonist does, and that creates a solid feeling of immersion in a way you don't always get with other perspectives.

The book's themes are pretty near the surface and obvious, lacking in subtlety, although still better presented than many. The harsh, crippling, and destructive doctrine of the Mandate clashes sharply with the organic symbiotic alien planet. The ending is somewhat predictable, but the enjoyment is in the journey, and it's a wild ride. Of course, being a Tchaikovsky story, the description of a truly alien environment is, without doubt, the most impressive part of this book. The anarchic and turbulent ecosystem defies rational classification and expounds on the idea that life will exist in stranger forms elsewhere in our universe. His exploration of symbiosis, much more varied than any creature on Earth, is fascinating. It's written in a way that the non-scientist can easily absorb too though, you don't need a background in biology to take part in this discussion.

Putting all these things together makes Alien Clay the most Tchaikovsky book yet.