Engines of Reason

Elder Race #2

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Visit a world where sorcery intertwines with science by multiple Hugo nominee Adrian Tchaikovsky in this highly-anticipated sequel to his hugely popular Elder Race.

On a planet where stories govern identity, where science and magic are a merely point of view, a fallen princess, a reluctant wizard, and a precocious child must unravel the past to shape the future.

Betrayal, ancient myths, and the clash of worlds converge in this spellbinding tale of courage, friendship, and self-discovery.

A profound exploration of identity, memory, and discovery from one of science fiction’s most compelling voices.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Novella, Fiction, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, British Literature

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

ADRIAN 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.

Reviews

[Shirin (unavailable) fictional men only]

We will have a sequel... at least!

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what a breath of fresh air. Engines of Reason is probably one of the few sequels that manage to surpass book 1 of a series - and does not fall into the “book 2 trap”.

I have so many thoughts, but mainly I think this is the point where I will admit Nyr - and the series itself has transcended beyond just another good scifi or Murderbot replica, which I know, is a disservice to the author but holy moly this book really breathed itself to life.

I am just in awe of how Adrian Tchaikovsky redefined the voice of Lyn. One of my biggest nitpicks in book 1 was how young Lyn’s perspective was and just was not something I liked reading about - this book is a direct response to my qualms.

We see the cast of Elder Race after a 15 year time jump - and the tone aligns so well with the maturity of the characters. Lyn is no longer the naive little princess - there are layers and layers of maturity and depth in her pov chapters - and oh boy we are finally getting a glimpse in court politics that I craved in book 1.

I love the fact that the idea of matriarchal society is not used simply for the clickbait, but it’s something that is engrained within the culture of the story - and Engines of Reason explores the worldbuilding much more than the its predecessor.

I have always loved Nyr - the anthropologist robot magician diagnosed with clinical depression - hell yeah give me more. This was such a heart warming read and seeing him deal with conflict and all sorts of earthly emotion is such a fun perspective to read from.

We have a new pov chapter from a character called Sendra - who I was surprised by how easy it took for me to like, I don’t often like authors adding new povs in sequels, but Sendra is a great addition to the cast and he is just so nuanced and with the word count of this book - was well delivered.

I also have to comment on the writing style - it was so much more immersive and descriptive , almost atmospheric to the point of somber humor (two very distinct words, but they both fit for the writing of this book) just grabbed me into the world - I finished the book in one go!!!

Thematically, this is what I adore in books, loneliness, odd friendship and pages where the author makes you read between the lines. Makes me wonder what demons live beneath one’s skin, and whisper underneath one’s voice!!!

I am hoping the author did not end the Esha plotline - I wanna know more, I want to read more from this world, so I’m definitely keeping an eye out to the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received advanced reader copy from Goodreads giveaway.

In this sequel, we return to Sophos IV roughly fifteen years after the events of Elder Race. Our questionable anthropologist and reluctant wizard, Nyr, is now teaching the next generation of students, including his brightest pupil, Sara—Lyn's daughter. Despite his profession's strict expectations of noninterference, Nyr continues to become deeply involved in the lives around him, mentoring Sara while shoving his mounting anxieties and unresolved emotions into his Dissociative Cognition System, a neurological Pandora's box that will inevitably demand attention at the worst possible moment.

When a bandit leader gains access to ancient technology and transforms himself into a wizarding warlord, Nyr once again joins forces with Lyn. Together, they must overcome old tensions to confront both the immediate threat and the deeper, strangely familiar danger lurking behind it.

Like its predecessor, Engines of Reason is a wonderfully unique and engaging novella. Tchaikovsky continues to blend science fiction and fantasy through the lens of dramatic irony, as readers vaguely understand the technological reality behind what the inhabitants of Sophos IV perceive as magic. The contrast between humanity's lost scientific legacy and the planet's culture of ritual, prestige, and social pageantry remains endlessly entertaining.

The novella also explores the importance of storytelling: who gets to tell stories, who gets cast as heroes and villains, and how narratives shape culture and power. These themes add surprising depth to an already compelling adventure.

The story again alternates between the perspectives of Nyr and Lyn while introducing a new viewpoint from the aspiring warlord Sendra. Nyr remains my favorite narrator. His self-awareness about his limitations constantly battles with his scholarly instincts, emotional repression, and struggles with language and cultural translation. His internal monologue is consistently hilarious and insightful. Lines such as, "I'm not a wizard; I'm a wizard, or at best a wizard," still make me laugh every time.

We also learn more about Earth and what may have become of it over the past three centuries, expanding the broader mystery at the heart of this world. While enough background information is provided that this novella could probably be read as a standalone, I would strongly recommend reading Elder Race first. The character introductions, relationships, and emotional history established in the first book make the events of this book far more rewarding.

Overall, Engines of Reason is a clever, funny, and thought-provoking continuation of the Elder Race story. Fans of the original novella will find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers will discover an inventive blend of science fiction, fantasy, and metafictional commentary on the stories we tell ourselves and each other.

[archivist alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

first off, thank you to Tor Publishing and the author for an e-ARC to review through Netgalley.

I really enjoyed Elder Race, the first book in this series, and I was thrilled to read this sequel! this story takes place roughly 15 years after the events of the first book, still on the planet of Sophos 4. it continues to be a fun mashup of the fantasy/sci-fi genres, and packs quite a world-building punch in a novella!

plot: as mentioned above, this story takes place about 15 years after the first book. we find our main character, Nyr, fully enmeshed in the dramas of life on Sophos 4. he has joined the royal court of Lannesite as their resident wizard, teaching some of the younger children about magic (science) but trying not to be too meddlesome in affairs of the state. the world has changed since the events of the first book, with Lannesite becoming less friendly with its neighbors, though there has been no further signs of the weird alien invasion returning from book one. against this backdrop of rising political tensions, Nyr is pulled into investigating the rise of a rival "sorcerer" with the help of his old friends Lyn and Esha (and some new faces!) I won't spoil any further events, but I will say that the plot of this story was just as well-paced as the first book and kept me riveted. the story was interesting, and clearly set up what should be an incredible next book in the series. my only difficulty with it was that it is clearly a set up for future work, so we didn't get much resolution! (4/5)

characters: I was so happy to revisit the relationships between all of my favorite characters from the first book! I particularly liked seeing how some of the characters aged - Lyn, for example, was quite young in the events of the first book and now we see her as a grown woman. Nyr is the same funny, reluctant participant in the story, still grappling with depression and his DCS! we are also introduced to some new characters, like Lyn's daughter. she ends up playing a pretty significant role and I wish we had gotten to learn more about her! but I am happy we get some new faces and that I felt invested in them. (4/5)

vibes: like Elder Race, this story is an incredibly fun mash-up of fantasy and sci-fi. even when some of the residents of Sophos 4 begin to "peek behind the curtain" and learn about Nyr's technology and science, they still regard it with wonder. it's an incredibly fun theme to explore and the author does an excellent job of continuing it in this story! I enjoyed the politics and court intrigues of this book even more than the first. but something I missed, which I thought the first book did incredibly well, was the depiction of the "aliens". that creepy, otherworldly depiction of the invading life forces was soooo classic sci-fi. we get a bit of it here but it is significantly toned-down. (4/5)

overall, this book was a solid sequel to Elder Race that nicely tees up what I hope will be a much longer series! I enjoyed learning a bit more about Sophos 4 and the politics of the world. I still have many unanswered questions, but that definitely keeps me wanting more books! Nyr continues to be absolutely hilarious to me and is a very compelling main character. I truly enjoy having the novellas from this series on hand for reading between bigger books, almost as a fun palette-cleanser! so I'm quite pleased with this installment for the series and will be excited for more to come.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bypassing its predecessor, Engines of Reason puts the action, story, and characters of Elder Race into top gear.

If you have read Elder Race, this story takes place 15 or so years after that story, continuing the tale of Nyr and Lyn.

While I enjoyed Elder Race, it didn’t blow me away. But this book I found way more compelling. I was hooked with this one, somewhat because I’m a slut for romance and there was a hint of it here (like the barest hint), but mainly because the story is tighter, the tech/magical component was more detailed, and the stakes were higher. I also loved the political aspect that was very minor in the first book. In fact, half the plot of this book is motivated by politics, which I won’t get into due to spoilers. The book also harkens back to the “Prime Directive” idea of the first book, where Nyr was supposed to remain an aloof anthropologist who only intervened when the people started using the “anachronistic” tech.

The book builds on the ideas of the first one, but doesn’t belabour them. We learn a bit more about the naming conventions (that I thought were a great worldbuilding touch), but where we get the most detail (and fun) is the tech elements that are so high-level, fast-moving, and modded to the body that they feel like magic. A major theme of these books is Arthur C Clarke’s third law of sci-fi “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," and this book plays with it in two ways: a) showing how this can be so, and b) Nyr’s attempts to explain science when it seems like magic to the population. The concepts are meaty, reminding me of the more conceptual (or high-brow) classic sci-fi, like Asimov or Michael Stanwyk.

The characters are a bit tighter in this book too - they can’t carry the story alone, but they have a bit more meat on their bones than in Elder Race. Lyn, perhaps for being older, is more relatable, and don’t worry, the “precocious child” is not annoying; she’s very cute, actually. And we get more Esha!

Another reason I thought this was a step above Elder Race was how funny it was. In Elder Race, Nyr was a sort of sad sack. In this one, he leans fully into being a surly old man, so his bemoaning becomes self-deprecating humour, and there are other lines that are very entertaining.

Overall, this is a lot to say about a novella, but there’s a lot packed into this little book. If you love Elder Race and Tchcovski’s other work, you’ll enjoy this.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engines of Reason picks up several years after the end of Elder Race. I was very happy with the character growth shown in this story, especially in Lyn. She still has flaws, but gone is her naivety and she feels more competent and authoritative in this story, which improved on the first story in my eyes. Nyr remains relatively similar in personality and function with emotional repression, dry and witty inner monologues, and still powerful in terms of his own brand of science/magic; he does open up more by taking on apprentices such as Lyn's daughter. Still a bad anthropologist! Lyn and Nry have had a falling out in the time period between stories, and their relationship feels strained and changed even by the end.

In this installment, Nyr is forced into action again to confront a would-be sorcerer and another possible Elder. I felt this installment included much more action and politicking than the previous novella, and the plot moved quickly throughout. I really enjoyed the idea of stories and myths being propulsive material for action, either good or bad. The ending was sufficient, but I'm not all sure yet how I feel about it. It definitely leaves openings for future works, but I'm still not sure how I feel about where each character is at the end.

My largest complaint from the first novella concerned the intangible and wispy idea that was the demon. I still feel that the demon is somewhat underdeveloped, and while there was a hint of expansion on the demon in the very last chapter, I maintain that the demon is the least understood piece of the story to me and I want a little more - maybe for book 3?

A great evening read for fans of sci-fi novellas, the MC dry wit of Murderbot, and a bit of the introspection of Psalm for the Wild Built. Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novella.

[AltLovesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A wise woman once said, we tell stories about ourselves, and that's what makes us human."

Color me shocked when I was flipping through past favorites of mine and realized that there was a BOOK TWO to this novella I read back in 2024 scheduled to come out this year. I'm not sure I've ever clicked a request button faster on NetGalley.

Welcome to a decade in the future. Nyr is now a jaded court wizard studiously ignoring any and all requests to actually do court wizard-y things, and instead acts more as a teacher for the kids at court, including Lyn's. Lyn herself is doing everything she can to not be at court, and instead is helping the people out with people problems. The two come together, reluctantly, chasing down ancient technology in the wrong hands, from an entirely unlikely and unnerving source.

If you liked the first one, you'll probably like this one more. I like how the author took the main characters from the first book and built on them so well in this one. The plot is neat, tidy, clean, snappy, all sorts of descriptors all saying how well the author manages to use so few pages to convey so much meaning and depth. Rather than having, essentially, two different cultural POVs for the same event like the first book (something I liked, actually), Lyn and Nyr are all on the same wavelength in this book, so things can progress without seeing it from two different angles.

It's just a well-developed, fun book that I think improves on just about everything I liked from the first book. Leaves me with questions that, now that a sequel is on the table, make me wonder if maybe we'll get a book 3 as well?

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

At least 15 years have passed since the events of Elder Race. Nyr, now court magician of Lannesite, tutors Lyn's children. When a new sorcerer rises who commands ancient machines, Lyn and Nyr find something much worse has been unearthed.

"I am going to claim my inheritance, and those who stand with me shall be lords of the world."

This was a fantastic sequel, dropping us right back into the world of Sophos 4. Even though time has passed, it feels like we never left. Lyn and Nyr have really grown as characters and I loved seeing them in new environments. Nyr still has his humour which was one of my favourite aspects of the first book.

"Ulmoth come again, they say. Lord of a monstrous host."
"I mean, I hope he is. If he's just some thug in a funny hat I'll not be best pleased. A wizard's time is valuable."

I have nothing but praise for the first book in this series but I think I loved the sequel even more. It was incredibly atmospheric at times and paced so well. The story packs so much into so few pages and I don't want to spoil too much, but I loved the direction it went in. Very creepy and thought provoking, I really hope it continues to be explored in the next book!

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the wizard is an evil tyrant who must be overthrown; sometimes the witch is a wicked upstart who must be put down. No narrative model for the pair of them just getting on, apparently.

If Elder Race was about how perspective impacts our worldview, then Engines of Reason is about the familiar narratives we cling to in order to make sense of that world.

And man, what a cool way to tell that story.

There were times throughout this that I felt a little too slow to understand what the heck was going on. It didn't help that our characters didn't quite know either. Tchaikovsky's writing just sort of oozes an intelligence that stretches my brain a bit past my comfort zone, but then Nyr would drop some of his signature mildly-depressed wit and I'd be right back in again.

This was a great little sequel that delivered some really interesting world building and politicking for such a small page count. I'm looking forward to tackling some of Tchaikovsky's longer works!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ARC!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engines of Reason is a great follow-up to Elder Race. It picks up years after the events of the first book and follows Nyr and Lyn who have both aged and changed in circumstance greatly since the first book. It continues to explore similar themes but with the added layer of the interim years and all that life that has been lived by our characters in that time. We learn much more about the world and the structure of society as we learn about what has transpired while we've been away from them. The addition of a new POV character gives us more information about Nyr, who we've only seen through Lyn's eyes to this point as well as a look at the wider world. I really enjoyed this second installment and hope to see more in the future.

[Brooke Nichols Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced copy I received through a Goodreads Giveaway.

This was a perfect follow up to the initial installment Elder Race, I didn’t realize it would be a series of novellas but was so pleased when I received notification that I won an advanced copy. Elder Race was my gateway into Adrian Tchaikovsky’s books. Engines of Reason was perfect in my opinion, a follow up with the original characters several years later with a new otherworldly challenge. Perfectly written and short, I couldn’t have asked for more. I hope this will have a follow up as I have fallen in love the characters and plot lines. Perfect mix of fantasy and sci fi.

[Emily Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book 2 novella. I thought it was a lot better than book 1. Book 1 felt to me like it could have been expanded and explored a little. This one felt more complex and complete. This one also had more unexpected turns. While book 1 was a book that I could put down for days at a time and come back to later, this one was a single-sitting book that kept me engaged. I did take off one star for not liking the ending, though. I don't think this book should be a stand-alone read. Read book 1 first.

[Alyssa {fyrebookdragon} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more 4.5/5.

A good continuation. Didn't *quite* life up to the first one, but still enjoyed being back with the characters since they're such short stories. Nyr is definitely my favorite. His internal struggle is always relatable. I just wish I had his DCS system, to be able to "turn off" your feelings to handle at a later time. That's some important wizardry.

This wrapped up nicely while also leaving room for another.

[keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it! Not quite as interesting as its predecessor, I think but a nice continuation. It's got a little bit of the middle book in a series problem where some of it is really clearly set up for another installment, but if I can trust anyone to fulfill that it's Tchaikovsky so it's hard to be too mad.

[Tory White · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Really good. Really entertaining. Great world building. The story kept moving and had some intrigued. If I had one complaint, and it’s a nit pick, it’s that the character voices aren’t very distinct. But it read very smoothly and held my interest the whole way. Found myself constantly wanting to return to this book.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid follow up to the first book in the series. I enjoyed the world building and the further development of these characters.

Thanks to Edelweiss, the publisher, and the author for the advanced readers copy.

[Claudette Gabbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'm feeling this book or not. I have noticed that it's not quite holding my attention. I will finish it, as it's a very short book.

You can read my full review here: https://rottiegirl-2.blogspot.com/202...

[Mariko1988]

1/09/26

[myself]

insanely excited for this sequel. i won't go in expecting anything- i adore Elder Race, and i'm hard to please- but i am welcoming this with open arms, nonetheless.

[B.]

Only from the library

[nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Engines of Reason by Adrian Tchaikovsky, ARC provided by NetGalley

“We must be careful what we become when we seek to change things. An old principle of physics: if you push, you yourself are pushed in turn.”

While I didn’t love book one (Elder Race), Engines of Reason sloughs off the previous installment’s shortcomings to deliver a compelling and heartfelt book about identity, perception, and knock-on effects stemming from isolationism. Looking forward to the sequel.

Thank you again to NetGalley.

[Jack Kelley]

A sequel to Elder Race? Count me in. 12/28/25