Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
We're all familiar with the common science fiction idea of "First Contact" - humans reaching out into the cosmos and meeting a new alien race, trying to establish a connection with something completely new. But what must First Contact be like for the aliens? What if First Contact happens by accident, with something so alien to humans that communication is almost impossible?
These are the questions Tchaikovsky tackles in his newest novel. Like many of his previous sci-fi books, he starts with a far-future dystopian version of Earth. Humans have spread to other planets and solar systems, but the whole system is highly capitalistic and ruthless. People vie for jobs on spaceships because those are the most rewarding. Juna and Mai, our main characters, are some of these lucky few. Mai is an engineer and Juna is an assistant and go-between for all the other crew members. Without spoiling too much, they find themselves stranded on a planet that is caught in eternal darkness, where the environment is so hostile that they have to stay within their shuttle at all times. And there are creatures out in the dark.
With Shroud, Tchaikovsky creates a tense and terrifying story of survival. But he also weaves in a story of exploration and curiosity, of two species that couldn't be more different from each other and yet have to find a way to communicate. The plot is full of ups and downs, horrifying encounters and moments of peace, as Mai and Juna try to escape the planet. I loved the world-building and the characters and the story had me reading for hours.
Like a lot of Tchaikovsky's work, this is a long book. The ending feels earned because it takes so darn long to get there. But it is worth it. I really enjoyed this one.
I recommend this book to sci-fi fans and horror fans alike.
Elice
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