It’s no secret that Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favourite sci-fi authors. So naturally this book was an instant click for me. Blending science fiction with fantasy, Tchaikovsky creates a lush and unusual story with lots of heart.

A friend of mine described this as being a perfect book for fans of Star Trek, and she was so right. This novella is an excellent take on the “technologically primitive culture meets an advanced culture”, but with much more sensitivity than the trope usually receives. The particular strength of this book that made this trope work was Tchaikovsky’s use of language — Nyr is often trying to find the right words to make himself understood in Lynesse’s language and while they understand each 0ther, often things don’t translate in quite the way he expects. It takes the language of science and turns it into the language of myth and magic, and the author uses this is some very clever ways.

The book is split into two perspectives. Lynesse is the unimportant fourth daughter of royalty — she is seen as being childish and holding onto stories of heroes and monsters for far too long. She’s a strong and assured character, but has wobbles in her confidence due to the expectations placed on her and the way she steps outside of the boundaries set for her. She’s a really wonderful foil to Nyr — a man who she believes is a wizard from an ancient civilisation. In reality, Nyr is a chronically depressed, lonely anthropologist who was left behind when his comrades went back to Earth. He is from the more “advanced” civilisation, but leans heavily on Lynesse’s knowledge and fierceness to navigate the world he finds himself in.

I couldn’t recommend this book more highly to anyone who is a fan of a first contact story (although this book isn’t strictly about first contact), and anyone who loves a fish-out-of-water story. Tchaikovsky continues to knock it out of the park when it comes to novellas, and I am always eager to see what he will write next.

4.5 out of 5 stars