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This was a really interesting concept. I liked the play on language barriers causing basic ideas of science vs sorcery to be lost in translation but found certain things to be confusing to the reader for this same reason. Mostly I loved Nyr's struggle to remain neutral as an anthropologist vs his desire for purpose and fight against boredom

I really enjoyed this book, attempting to deal with really odd things. Cultural bridges can be difficult to build and misunderstandings can complicate everything. Loneliness and desperation collide here. Monsters are not always malevolent, but sometimes just so different They/you can't imagine what they are or what they want.

A scaled back epic of a novella. Lovely bit of world building and brilliant characters, particularly the anthropologist. Robots, demons, wizards and science along side a tale of struggles and redemption. Brilliant.

A 2022 Hugo Best Novella nominee, this story examines the interactions between an anthropologist who has travelled to a distant planet and the local people who believe his advanced technology is magic. #hugoawards #hugo2022

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I was fascinated by how the author explored language and linguistic differences and used the challenges in communication that arise as an integral part of this story.

The colony world that has forgotten its origins has been done before, & even done before by Tchaikovsky, but the maestro is just so clever at crafting his world & characters that I had a great time with this novella.

We alternate between the perspectives of a warrior princess & the wizard she turns to for help, who is really an anthropologist from old Earth studying her people.

A good read, and the 15th book I‘ve read by Tchaikovsky.

I enjoyed this one but it was not on the same level as Children of Time. It lacked the in depth world building I know the author is capable of and that I love. Also not as much character development as I would have liked. However, I liked the plot and it moved nicely. 3.5⭐

Really interesting science fiction story situated within a fantasy…or perhaps the other way around. Regardless, this one gives you a lot to think about. Centuries ago, Earth sent out anthropologists to observe populations (people who left Earth even earlier) on planets around the universe. On one such planet, a “demon” is terrifying the population & a princess calls on an ancient wizard for help. Fascinating post-technology sociological story.

I will not be distracted by Saturday book mail, I will not be distracted by Saturday book mail, I will no—

The Girl in the Tower actually completes my collection of the hardcover editions of Arden‘s trilogy (one of my favorites ever). The other two are new to me and may in fact have the power to distract me. We‘ll have to see. 🤷‍♀️😂

I absolutely loved this novella. I just started getting back into SFF after a long time away and have discovered what many already know - Adrian Tchaikovsky is an excellent writer. This was the 2nd book of his that I've read and it was lots of fun to read - a blend of both science fiction and fantasy, told in alternating fashion from two different perspectives. If you're doing last minute gift shopping for an SFF fan on your list - go buy it! 😊

Received to review! This was enjoyable, pretty classic in terms of “any sufficiently advanced technology looks like magic“ as a plot, but the fact that the main character is clinically depressed and uses a sort of brain-interface to push his emotions back gave it a bit more originality. It's a bit of a downer in some ways, but I thought it was clever.