Shards of Earth: First in an extraordinary space opera trilogy, from the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award (The Final Architecture, 1)

The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . .

From the author of Children of Time, winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, Shards of Earth is the first high-octane, far-future space adventure in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture trilogy.

Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade his mind in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.

Eighty years ago, Earth was destroyed by an alien enemy. Many escaped, but millions more died. So mankind created enhanced humans ­such as Idris - who could communicate mind-to-mind with our aggressors. Then these ‘Architects’ simply disappeared and Idris and his kind became obsolete.

Now, Idris and his crew have something strange, abandoned in space. It’s clearly the work of the Architects – but are they really returning? And if so, why?

Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy as they search for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value – and many would kill to obtain it . . .

‘Enthralling, epic, immersive and hugely intelligent’ – Stephen Baxter, author of the Xeelee Sequence

‘One of the most interesting and accomplished writers in speculative fiction’ – Christopher Paolini, author of Fractal Noise

Praise for Adrian Tchaikovsky:

‘He writes incredibly enjoyable sci-fi, full of life and ideas’ – Patrick Ness

‘Thoughtful, sweeping space adventure’ – SFX

‘Brilliant science fiction’ – James McAvoy

The breathtaking Final Architecture trilogy continues in book two, Eyes of the Void.