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The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky
Not yet published
Expected 28 Feb 26Hungry ants that want to reconstruct the world in their own image. Occult investigations into private clubs. A philosopher’s attachment to his beloved pet. A new definition of battlefield archaeology.
What the homunculi do when the wizard’s away. A trans-dimensional theatre troupe. Murder by flower-arrangement. The infectious consequences of a fairytale wedding.
A magician conjures Sherlock Holmes. What happens when the mining robots mine, but not for you. The ultimate polycule. What is the groppler and why does it gropple?
In this collection is a veritable treasure trove of short fiction from the award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky, covering all corners of the genre from science-fiction to fantasy to the plain weird. Over thirty tales from across the breadth of his career, from the depths of space through broken futures, from the haunted shadows of the modern day to fantastical magic worlds, including the author’s commentary on the selection.
What the homunculi do when the wizard’s away. A trans-dimensional theatre troupe. Murder by flower-arrangement. The infectious consequences of a fairytale wedding.
A magician conjures Sherlock Holmes. What happens when the mining robots mine, but not for you. The ultimate polycule. What is the groppler and why does it gropple?
In this collection is a veritable treasure trove of short fiction from the award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky, covering all corners of the genre from science-fiction to fantasy to the plain weird. Over thirty tales from across the breadth of his career, from the depths of space through broken futures, from the haunted shadows of the modern day to fantastical magic worlds, including the author’s commentary on the selection.
624 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 28, 2026
5 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Tchaikovsky
191 books17.4k followersADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 16, 2025
Adrian Tchaikovsky has been near the top of my TBR for years. He has multiple series I’m interested in but somehow I haven’t read him at all. His short story collection was a good all around introduction to him!
My main takeaway is the author is brimming with ideas. The wide array collected here covers the span of his career and everything from speculative fiction to high fantasy to alien sci fi. Loved The Casebook of Walther Cohen, four short stories that play off the homes detective trope except that he’s a psychic & solves supernatural mysteries. The Fall of Lady Sealight was beautiful, disturbing and I’m still thinking about what it had to say thematically. It also is one of the few stories where the form really fit the story. Although so much was packed in it could have been full length too!
This collection is going to work best for people who already love the authors work. If you’re hungering to read everything he’s ever published this is for you! For those who are interested in the form of short story’s or novelettes I think there are more interesting collections out there (see Bora Chung). Tchaikovsky doesn’t play with the form or tackle anything too deep in most of the stories. None of them were bad but I wasn’t particularly hooked in by most of them…
My main takeaway is the author is brimming with ideas. The wide array collected here covers the span of his career and everything from speculative fiction to high fantasy to alien sci fi. Loved The Casebook of Walther Cohen, four short stories that play off the homes detective trope except that he’s a psychic & solves supernatural mysteries. The Fall of Lady Sealight was beautiful, disturbing and I’m still thinking about what it had to say thematically. It also is one of the few stories where the form really fit the story. Although so much was packed in it could have been full length too!
This collection is going to work best for people who already love the authors work. If you’re hungering to read everything he’s ever published this is for you! For those who are interested in the form of short story’s or novelettes I think there are more interesting collections out there (see Bora Chung). Tchaikovsky doesn’t play with the form or tackle anything too deep in most of the stories. None of them were bad but I wasn’t particularly hooked in by most of them…
November 11, 2025
Wow. Never before in my long life have I ever read an author's collection of short fiction in which all the stories were interesting and I'd rate them 4-5 stars. No boring ones, no 'meh' ones, just great fiction from both fantasy and science fiction genres.
The stories are separated into categories such as Dystopian, Fantasy I (I think it was called 'low fantasy' but can't remember for sure) and II, Weird stories that don't fit neat categories and Science fiction. Each section has at least 6 stories so there's a lot of good fiction here.
I'll do a more thorough edit later but the standouts that I remember are:
A Dystopian story where a young girl soldier in the lowest squad, scouts, where there's something like a 50% chance of even making it back alive, finds what she calls a hat but the reader discovers is a helmet with advanced tech still active and linked to a satellite.
In Fantasy I we are treated to three stories involving a traveling acting troupe.
"Family Business" is a standout story.
In Science Fiction one standout is "Wars of Worldcraft".
Sorry, that's all I can remember off-hand. My memory has deteriorated in my old age (I'm actually not 'that' old but I'm starting to feel old) and stuff that in the past would be no problem to recall now are adrift in my brain somewhere. Either that or some of my synapses are on strike. When I have time (and brain power to think) I'll edit this.
The stories are separated into categories such as Dystopian, Fantasy I (I think it was called 'low fantasy' but can't remember for sure) and II, Weird stories that don't fit neat categories and Science fiction. Each section has at least 6 stories so there's a lot of good fiction here.
I'll do a more thorough edit later but the standouts that I remember are:
A Dystopian story where a young girl soldier in the lowest squad, scouts, where there's something like a 50% chance of even making it back alive, finds what she calls a hat but the reader discovers is a helmet with advanced tech still active and linked to a satellite.
In Fantasy I we are treated to three stories involving a traveling acting troupe.
"Family Business" is a standout story.
In Science Fiction one standout is "Wars of Worldcraft".
Sorry, that's all I can remember off-hand. My memory has deteriorated in my old age (I'm actually not 'that' old but I'm starting to feel old) and stuff that in the past would be no problem to recall now are adrift in my brain somewhere. Either that or some of my synapses are on strike. When I have time (and brain power to think) I'll edit this.
October 13, 2025
[Blurb goes here]
I've stated before that Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite authors. In this collection of short stories the world-building, plot, and characters are expertly interlaced to offer the reader amazing adventures written with his unique storytelling skill.
Each tale showcases his relentless search for cosmic truth and his insight into today's problems, all while being set hundreds of years away on different planets that share the familiar human hubris. Don't get me wrong, he's not preachy; he states facts and outlines paths to reachable solutions with an optimistic voice.
If you're a fan of crazy, insightful sci-fi and fantasy tales, don't let this collection get away.
Thank you for the advanced copy!
I've stated before that Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite authors. In this collection of short stories the world-building, plot, and characters are expertly interlaced to offer the reader amazing adventures written with his unique storytelling skill.
Each tale showcases his relentless search for cosmic truth and his insight into today's problems, all while being set hundreds of years away on different planets that share the familiar human hubris. Don't get me wrong, he's not preachy; he states facts and outlines paths to reachable solutions with an optimistic voice.
If you're a fan of crazy, insightful sci-fi and fantasy tales, don't let this collection get away.
Thank you for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a wonderfully vast collection of short stories by Adrian Tchaikovsky. There are all kinds of genres in here - fantasy, sci-fi, weird, mystery, and others - that are of varying length. Some may have appeared elsewhere (like Precious Little Things) but it’s my belief many have not been easily accessible or had not yet been published.
I’d also like to mention: there is a lot here. The value for this collection is crazy good.
Here are my personal ratings, along with a short little reason why five star reads were categorized as such.
Before that, want to thank Subterranean Press for the eARC. It has not influenced my rating.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where the Dead People Are - good narrator voice, liked the “ghost” AI component and archeology
The Fall of Lady Sealight - really interesting world, nice action, I’d read a full length book
Coat Like Bright Fire - pretty short but wildly intriguing to me. Almost written in a poetic way.
The Face of the King - interesting and a bit mind-bendy. I liked it a lot.
Crossed Gates - I am aligned with how a train ride can sometimes bring about madness.
Where the Brass Band Plays - Nice little mystery with a memorable character (Walther)
This Blessed Union - little horror’ish story that was interesting
The Groppler’s Harvest - my favorite. Great world and characters. Would love a full-length novel of this!
Gods of the Ice Planet - Enjoyed the structure of this one the most. Compelling!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Children of Dagon
Charlie’s Ant - clever
The Binds That Tie
Ancien Regime
The Coming of the Cold - very lyrical and whimsy
Pipework - Walther Cohen mystery I particularly liked
The Final Conjuration
Precious Little Things
Low Energy Economy
Wars of Worldcraft
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Red Sky in the Morning
21st Century Girl
Oannes, From The Flood
The Roar of the Crowd
Dress Rehearsal
Difficult Times
The House on the Old Cliffs
Fragile Creation
The Language of Flowers
Speak, Friend, And Enter
The Collectors
Goblin Autumn
⭐️⭐️
The Mouse Ran Down
Family Business
Not a Cat Person
Lost Soldiers
⭐️
Sandra and Me
The Dissipation Club
I’d also like to mention: there is a lot here. The value for this collection is crazy good.
Here are my personal ratings, along with a short little reason why five star reads were categorized as such.
Before that, want to thank Subterranean Press for the eARC. It has not influenced my rating.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where the Dead People Are - good narrator voice, liked the “ghost” AI component and archeology
The Fall of Lady Sealight - really interesting world, nice action, I’d read a full length book
Coat Like Bright Fire - pretty short but wildly intriguing to me. Almost written in a poetic way.
The Face of the King - interesting and a bit mind-bendy. I liked it a lot.
Crossed Gates - I am aligned with how a train ride can sometimes bring about madness.
Where the Brass Band Plays - Nice little mystery with a memorable character (Walther)
This Blessed Union - little horror’ish story that was interesting
The Groppler’s Harvest - my favorite. Great world and characters. Would love a full-length novel of this!
Gods of the Ice Planet - Enjoyed the structure of this one the most. Compelling!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Children of Dagon
Charlie’s Ant - clever
The Binds That Tie
Ancien Regime
The Coming of the Cold - very lyrical and whimsy
Pipework - Walther Cohen mystery I particularly liked
The Final Conjuration
Precious Little Things
Low Energy Economy
Wars of Worldcraft
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Red Sky in the Morning
21st Century Girl
Oannes, From The Flood
The Roar of the Crowd
Dress Rehearsal
Difficult Times
The House on the Old Cliffs
Fragile Creation
The Language of Flowers
Speak, Friend, And Enter
The Collectors
Goblin Autumn
⭐️⭐️
The Mouse Ran Down
Family Business
Not a Cat Person
Lost Soldiers
⭐️
Sandra and Me
The Dissipation Club
October 14, 2025
This story collection is a great showcase of Tchaikovsky's range and talent. :) I've only ever known him from his sci-fi books, so it was fun to read his fantasy and slipstream, as well. As a writer myself, I particularly enjoyed the way he finished most of his stories.
My favourites in this collection are "Where the Dead People Are" and "Family Business." Both of them have enough potential and worldbuilding to be expanded into a full-length novel, if not more. Many of these stories don't appear anywhere online, so if you liked any of Tchaikovsky's many, *many* novels, treat yourself to this collection - and enjoy the ride!
Kudos to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My favourites in this collection are "Where the Dead People Are" and "Family Business." Both of them have enough potential and worldbuilding to be expanded into a full-length novel, if not more. Many of these stories don't appear anywhere online, so if you liked any of Tchaikovsky's many, *many* novels, treat yourself to this collection - and enjoy the ride!
Kudos to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
3.5 for sure. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This is a really good introduction to Adrian Tchaikovsky for people who dont know where to start (like me) or are unsure if his stuff is going to be too dense for them. These stories are sometimes only a couple pages long but incredibly dense and thought through. He has some really interesting ideas about sci-fi that he blends with his thoughts on socioeconomic realities which makes me want to see what his more fleshed out books explore.
I will say that this book was veerrrry long, especially with how short some of the stories were there are so many packed in here, so it's definitely better for a on and off read when you want a couple short stories rather than all in one go.
This is a really good introduction to Adrian Tchaikovsky for people who dont know where to start (like me) or are unsure if his stuff is going to be too dense for them. These stories are sometimes only a couple pages long but incredibly dense and thought through. He has some really interesting ideas about sci-fi that he blends with his thoughts on socioeconomic realities which makes me want to see what his more fleshed out books explore.
I will say that this book was veerrrry long, especially with how short some of the stories were there are so many packed in here, so it's definitely better for a on and off read when you want a couple short stories rather than all in one go.
November 23, 2025
I don’t have a long review or anything for this one, it’s a great short story collection showing the breadth of capability Tchaikovsky has. Pretty much every single story is worth reading. It reminds me of the old Gene Wolfe short story collections in the best way.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
October 28, 2025
I love that we get essentially a restrospective on Tchaikovsky's short story writing career, and I love even more that Subterranean goes out of their way to collect short stories that you might not have necessarily read from an author prior to this and gets them all in one place. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews