‘Bee Speaker’ - Book 3 of the ‘Dogs of War’ series by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

I loved reading Dogs of War & Bear Head so couldn’t wait to get my head into this next instalment in the series. The events in Dogs of War & Bear head’s story pickup right after the other, however Bee Speaker move the time line forward a little over 200 years into the Future. Wherein Earth has become a Dystopian wasteland devout of almost all technology & Mars has thrived after the events at the end of Bear Head. But seemingly out of nowhere Mars receives a call for Help & perhaps naively a small group of Bio-enhanced Martians, of whom just want to Help, answer Earths & perhaps more importantly, Bee’s, Call.

In Adrian Tchaikovsky’s usual fashion, his imagination is once again free to run wild & provides yet another stellar addition to my growing pile of read books.

Is it perfect?? The cold answer here is No. it’s a great story for sure, but I have to admit I found some parts to be… repetitive is the only way to put it. Unfortunately this is more a byproduct of the style in which the tale is told. Bee Speaker is written from the perspective of every main character telling their own side of the events as they happen & this inherently means we get a Lot of overlapping story. Had this been the only issue I would not have had recourse to really mention it. However there are far to many occasions wherein the action is interrupted with, seemingly, unnecessary info dumps of past events or previously mentioned information. It doesn’t ruin the book overall but I did find it harder to maintain gripped interest in reading it at times.

If you have invested time into Dogs of War & Bear Head this is definitely a must read book. The continuance of the story, despite moving forward 200+ years, has been expertly done while adding a Mad Max/War of the worlds type touch to the series. It’s an excellent addition just missing out on five stars solely due to the at times repetitiveness of the writing.

Thank you to #NetGalley #HeadOfZeus #BeeSpeaker for allowing me the privilege and honour of this ARC ebook of ‘Bee Speaker’ by Adrian Tchaikovsky to read & review.

The comments & opinions above are solely my own & are reflective of my experience reading this book.

Este es el primer libro de Adrian Tchaikovsky que he leído este año, seguramente no será el último, pero nunca dejará de sorprenderme la extraordinaria capacidad de este autor para publicar de forma constante y con un nivel medio de calidad bastante elevado. Bee Speaker es la tercera parte de la serie Dogs of War, de la que ya comentamos la homónima Dogs of War y Bear Head.


El autor decide volver a poner el foco en la Tierra, ofreciéndonos una mezcla entre Cántico por Leibowitz y Fallout, exponiendo el ocaso de la civilización, donde solo en pequeños reductos se guarda todavía algo de la tecnología de antaño. Es un libro eminentemente pesimista, que juega con distintos puntos de vista y que puede llegar a resultar confuso en ocasiones, pero creo que esto es un efecto buscado por el escritor para exponer de forma cruda el funcionamiento de una inteligencia distribuida en ciernes, un poco como Elly Bangs en Unity.

En un tono más serio que en las entregas anteriores, veremos cómo las bioformas se han de adaptar a un mundo decadente, donde la supervivencia no está para nada garantizada. Me gusta muchísimo cómo habla de los bunkers de los preparacionistas multimillonarios, cuya principal preocupación no era solo sobrevivir, si no conseguir que la subyugación de los guardaespaldas a los que contrataron como protección sea indiscutible, de forma que no quepa el menor atisbo de rebelión. La “solución” que ofrece Adrian es algo previsible, pero no por ello deja de tener consecuencias desastrosas. Recuerda, ligeramente, a la idea de Derek Kunsken y sus homo puppets. Tampoco se queda corto con su crítica al machismo recalcitrante que parece el inevitable destino de la humanidad, controlada por la testosterona.

La nueva bioforma basada en los animales de sangre fría me parece todo un descubrimiento, con su capacidad para regular la temperatura que la hace tan versátil como imprevisible, y sus diálogos interiores tan volubles como variable es su carácter. Es un elemento desequilibrante en la narrativa que aporta los mejores momentos de la novela.

Definitivamente, la serie va mejorando conforme vamos teniendo nuevas entregas. No sé si Tchaikovsky tiene intención de continuarla, pero desde luego que estaré la primera de la fila para leerlo si decide hacerlo.

I love this author and I find some of his books resonate more with me than others. I hadn’t read the 2 previous novels in the series. I loved the ideas in this book and it didn’t quite draw me in. Would definitely appeal to many readers. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the punisher for an ARC.

Interesting and thought-provoking sci-fi, as you'd very much expect from Tchaikovsky! Personally, I wouldn't count it among my favourites of his, but due wholly to personal preference (and how much I loved Elder Race) not any lack of quality in the writing or execution. If you're looking for a series that will make you examine humanity as you know it, this is the one.

Having read and absolutely loved dogs of war and merely enjoyed bearhead i wasn’t sure this book was needed; and to be honest even after reading it im not sure, the author has a mind that is unfathomable, how he conceives and writes these tales is beyond me, as with bearhead i enjoyed this but its not as good as Dogs

Yessss.

"A Canticle for Leibowitz" meets messy first-contact meets AI superpower thriller.

This is definitely my favorite of the trilogy. I actually wasn't in love with the previous two, but I'll devour anything Tchaikovsky puts out and I'm glad I stuck around for this one. As usual, I immediately cared about the characters (Cricket!!!), wanted to learn more about the world, and got tangled up in the plot like the proverbial cat with a ball of wool. I didn't want it to end.

I know A.T. churns out books like crazy, but...more, please.

Bee Speaker by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a gripping and thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the resilience of humanity, the power of cooperation, and the consequences of our actions on the planet we call home. With its richly imagined world-building, complex characters, and high-stakes plot, this book is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction and ecological storytelling.

The story is set in a future where Earth has been ravaged by countless environmental disasters and conflicts, leading to the collapse of global human society. Meanwhile, Mars has thrived, thanks to the cooperation of engineered humans, animals, and Bees—an outlawed distributed intelligence. When a desperate signal from Earth reaches Mars, a consortium of Martian work crews embarks on a mission to return to their ancestral home and offer aid. However, what they find on Earth is far more perilous and unpredictable than they could have imagined.

One of the standout features of Bee Speaker is its intricate and immersive world-building. Tchaikovsky paints a vivid picture of a post-apocalyptic Earth, where nature has reclaimed much of the land, and the remnants of human civilization are scattered and struggling to survive. The contrast between the desolate beauty of Earth and the engineered efficiency of Mars is stark and compelling, adding depth to the narrative.

The characters are equally well-drawn, with each member of the Martian crew bringing their own skills, perspectives, and flaws to the mission. The protagonist, whose connection to the Bees adds a unique layer to the story, is a particularly compelling figure. Their journey of self-discovery and their growing understanding of the complexities of Earth’s plight add emotional weight to the narrative.

The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The stakes are high, with the Martian crew facing not only the physical dangers of a hostile environment but also the moral dilemmas of their mission. The themes of environmental stewardship, the consequences of human actions, and the importance of cooperation are explored with nuance and depth, making this more than just a science fiction adventure.

Thematically, Bee Speaker delves into the resilience of humanity and the power of collective action. The novel also explores the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and the potential for harmony between humans and technology. These themes are handled with a light touch, making them accessible to a wide range of readers while still offering food for thought for more seasoned science fiction fans.

If there is a minor critique, it is that some of the secondary characters could have been further developed to add more depth to the story. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise well-crafted and engaging novel.

Bee Speaker is a standout addition to Adrian Tchaikovsky’s body of work, offering a compelling blend of science fiction, ecological commentary, and human drama. It is a story that will resonate with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

A thought-provoking and thrilling science fiction novel, Bee Speaker is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction, sci-fi and ecological storytelling.