Green City Wars

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Philip Marlowe meets Redwall in this superior adult noir tale, where all the characters are animals, fighting for survival in the city underneath the humans.

In the solar cities of the future, the humans relax in the sun and the animals work in the shadows. Genetically engineered Little Helpers, serving humanity—unseen, unheard.

Meet Skotch. Racoon, P.I.—Yours for a few buttons as long as the job isn't too illegal, whatever that means.

A mouse has gone missing. Normally this wouldn't raise any hackles, nor any alarms, but this mouse has something that everyone seems to want, though nobody appears particularly eager to say what that something is.

The fee is good—perhaps too good. Certainly not something Skotch can easily turn down.

If only Skotch can work out where the mouse is hiding, what he's hiding, and why his secrets are upsetting a lot of animals caught up in the Green City wars.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, Noir

432 pages, ebook

Expected publication June 23, 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

[Tori Tecken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Tchaikovsky proves his inventiveness and unapologetic ability to genre blend within fantasy and science fiction with this gritty noir crime story narrated by a lab rat... or raccoon, rather.
The concept was intriguing and well-thought out, as I've come to expect from Tchaikovsky's writing kitchen. The characters took me a little while to immerse with, and it wasn't until about halfway through the book that I was well and truly hooked and invested in the outcome of the story. Skotch slowly endeared himself to me, and the surrounding factions of creatures are fascinating. A fresh twist on the "mutation" trope.
I did feel like the themes came through a little heavy-handed toward the end, but overall still stayed focused on the story and characters. I think the animalistic side of the characters was portrayed in an interesting way and didn't push too far over the boundary into humanoid. Also, Lulu the pigeon must be protected at all costs, and I'll be taking no questions about that statement at this time.
Overall, fascinating concept and grounded character immersion, and another unexpected genre blend from Adrian Tchaikovsky! I look forward to see what he cooks up next.

[keegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

** A copy of this book was provided by the publisher **

Really dug this but I recommend not reading it in a single six hour stretch like I did! The labeled sections work pretty well as episodes which fits the pulp detective stylings of the story, so I recommend maybe reading one section a day to give yourself some time to think on the ideas the book is presenting and the central mystery of the whole thing.

[MikaReadsFantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Green City Wars is a noir tale that drops readers into a gritty underworld of bioengineered animals struggling to survive beneath human society. When a seemingly ordinary mouse goes missing, raccoon private investigator Skotch reluctantly takes the case and quickly discovers that the stakes are far higher than they first appear.

The worldbuilding is one of the novel’s strongest elements. Tchaikovsky crafts a detailed and unsettling dystopia where animals depend on a manufactured drug to maintain their intelligence, forming a shadow society that mirrors and exploits human systems. The social and moral tensions that arise from this setup are compelling and thoughtfully explored.

Skotch is an engaging protagonist on paper, with a classic detective edge, though I found it difficult to fully connect with him. The story moves at a measured pace, though the long journey through competing factions can feel a bit drawn out at times. The central mystery kept me intrigued, particularly the question of why the missing mouse mattered so much, and the resolution was satisfying.

I listened to the audiobook version, and John Pirhalla’s narration was excellent. His voice felt especially well suited to Skotch, and he brought distinct personality to the wider cast.

Some of the terminology is presented in German, which I found distracting at times. Still, the novel’s strong thematic core and immersive setting make it a memorable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian Tchaikovsky is a consummate world builder. In this noir-tinged sci-fi/fantasy, we're on a planet that humans have designed to suit their purposes. They have created genetically advanced animals to be the city's workers, street cleaners, waiters, etc., oblivious to the side effects created by their actions. Enter Skotch, a raccoon who has a knack for finding things. In this case, he's been asked to find a mouse for a fee he can't refuse. What follows is a mystery novel that takes us through the animal underworld until Skotch discovers why the mouse is important. It's then that he must decide what type of future he wants.
It's a faster-paced, urban Watership Down with more grit and action (and no rabbits, if I recall correctly). Escape into this Green City and enjoy the journey!
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and # NetGalley for early access to #GreenCityWars for review purposes. It won't be published until 23 June 2026, but mark your calendar for this exciting book. I quite enjoyed it.

[Kent Fairbourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written book with a fun and creative premise. The animal underworld and all of its intricate workings were well developed and explained. I really came to like and root for Skotch and Lulu!

Wondering if you’d enjoy this book? My thoughts, if you liked Scalzi’s Starter Villain you’d like this one. Totally different books, but similar vibe.

* I received an early copy of this book from the publisher *

[Ryan Engle · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 than 3 but I think rating it two is too harsh. I found Skotch the raccoon to be a disengaging character. Thrown into a massively complex world, the novel is more about the intricacies of the world rather than classic “gum-shoe”-style story the plot seems to suggest. This is the first time I’ve read an Adrian Tchaikovsky novel, but I unfortunately found him to be more interested in the world he created rather than the characters he’s populating. I think a lot of people will enjoy this, especially hardcore sci-fi nerds who just want to get lost in complexity and minutiae. But those looking to get read about complexities of a character might not be as interested. Would have loved this if it was more closer to Dresden.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

detective noir meets sci fi!! full of weird lil guys, amazing.

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if you took Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and mixed it in a blender with Watership Down or Redwall then tossed in a bit of noir crime thriller? Well, your result would be Green City Wars.
This was fun, humorous and really entertaining.

[Keneil B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Tor for the ARC on this. I love Tchaikovsky’s toying with sentient animals since Children of Time. I like how this book does the same thing, the interesting ways animals act and are personified if given human level intelligence. This book was a fun read. Didn’t grab me the way Children of Time did, but it was a fun detective, but animals, kind of book. Would love to read more in this world. I like to think this is Earth before Children of Time. I feel that there could have been a bigger “wow” factor of plot twist in the end to really sell it to me.

[BookishKB]

🔎🦝 Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky 🦝🔎

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

🧩 What to Expect
• Animal detective lead
• Futuristic city
• Noir mystery
• Genetically engineered animals
• Class divide
• Political conflict
_ _ _
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo (John Pirhalla)
📅 Pub Date: June 23, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

[CadmanReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Green City Wars expecting a quirky noir mystery featuring talking animals, but Adrian Tchaikovsky delivered something way deeper and more ambitious. The idea of a raccoon private investigator searching for a missing mouse already sounded fun. Still, the story quickly unfolds into a dark, layered sci-fi noir regarding exploitation, class systems, and survival beneath humanity’s so-called utopia.

The worldbuilding was easily my favorite part. Humans live comfortably in “green cities” while genetically engineered animals quietly do all the labor underground, forming their own factions, gangs, economies, and power struggles hidden from human eyes. Every species feels distinct, with instincts and behaviors woven naturally into the story. Skotch, the raccoon PI, is cynical, flawed, and endlessly entertaining to follow, while the supporting cast adds so much personality and chaos to the world. The balance between gritty detective fiction, action, humor, and social commentary worked incredibly well for me.

The audiobook production elevated the story even further. John Pirhalla absolutely nailed the narration, making this world feel completely alive. Every character had a unique voice, accent, cadence, and traits, making the large cast easy to follow. From Skotch’s weary noir-style narration to the eccentric side characters, Pirhalla brought so much texture and energy to the performance that it usually seemed like a full-cast production. The different accents and vocal mannerisms added a lot to the atmosphere, especially with the German-inspired terminology and noir tone. He balanced the humor, tension, and emotional moments perfectly, making both the ridiculousness and the darker themes land equally well. Even scenes that could have felt silly on paper became immersive and cinematic through the narration.

Overall, Green City Wars was one of the most creative audiobooks I’ve listened to in a while. It’s strange, funny, gritty, and surprisingly thoughtful all at once, and I’d absolutely read more stories set in this world.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

He’s just a little guy on a mission. Our main character is a sentient raccoon 🦝 so we are immediately off on the right foot. As a matter of fact there are a lot of furry feet in this book because it’s all about what happens when you give critters sentience. And I’m about that.

Skotch has many seedy underworld contacts and misadventures. I kept picturing these wacky conversations. Picture it, a raccoon having a chat with a rat mad scientist. If you are looking for a scifi mystery with a fox, pigeon, rats, squirrels, and a raccoon up to mischief, this book is for you.

I listened to it as an audiobook which made it harder to keep track of the German words. You may prefer it as a regular book. However, the narrator, John Pirhalla, is the same narrator who did the Mickey 17 books, and I think he was the perfect choice for narrating a raccoon detective. I’m glad I chose the audiobook even with the smattering of German words.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Michael S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A secret world exists beyond the human world in Green City Wars, a humorous, uplifting story.

Note: My review is based on the audiobook ARC/ALC, so please excuse any character names that may be spelled incorrectly.

First, I have to admit a love of uplift stories. That is, where one species increases the intelligence of other species. In this unique spin on the topic, humanity has raised animals to be better workers, making human life easier. This simple premise seems plausible enough. But, to make the animals smart enough to perform work, they become intelligent enough to have their own hopes and dreams.

So naturally, those animals battle each other. Squirrels in turf wars, cats were overpowered by human designers who preferred them, and mice are doomed to be workers.

In Green City Wars, we follow Skotch, a former soldier turned detective. Oh, and Skotch is a raccoon who has to battle against his instincts and sometimes gives in to let the animal out.

This work features a range of characters, from former allies to warring factions to deadly adversaries. It is almost overwhelming how many characters there are. My advice is to embrace the madness and follow Skotch as he has had the most eventful day since the Warriors tried to get home.

4 1/2 stars. It is a great fun read. Or, in my case, listen: John Pirhalla is a fantastic narrator and had me picturing Skotch as Mickie Six in a few sentences. Flippant, funny, and yet far deeper than it first appears. Green City Wars was a lovely experience.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character in this novel is an animal who, as the author says, "has a reputation for dishonesty, roguishness, sharp dealing. He [Skotch] can only imagine how much easier that would make everything, if it were actually true. Who the hell has a use for a faithful raccoon?"

This novel is brain food of the best quality. I hadn't read any of Adrian Tchaikovsky's works before. That's about to change.

I received an advance from Tor.

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

This is my second Book/Series from this author and all I can say is, oh to live a day in Mr. Tchaikovsky’s head. His world building is truly on another level. I admit, I might not have absorbed most of it, however I can still appreciate the incredible scope of it all.

In this world, animals are genetically altered to handle all the dirty work, do all the unappealing jobs that humans don’t want anything to do with, making them out of sight-out of mind. But the animals must have a constant supply of a drug called plangent, if not, they become “dumb”. We follow Skotch, a raccoon private investigator, who takes on a case in reference to a missing mouse. However, there might be more to this mouse than ‘ol Skotch signed up for.

You can instantly tell that this story was extremely thought out. I never felt like I wasn’t in the mind of an animal. Skotch is the perfect gumshoe noir type detective between his monologuing and the way he speaks/tells the story. I honestly pictured Nicholas Cage voicing him. A majority of his monologuing ends up being the brunt of world building and it was a bit long winded at times, making it very overwhelming. The mystery aspect also seemed to take a back seat because of this. The pacing and action was fast though, which I enjoyed. It really fit the narrative to the fact that these animals lives are so short.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quirky, thought-provoking story. Mr. Tchaikovsky certainly knows how to write a complex philosophical book. Even when the main character is a raccoon addicted to coffee.

Thank you to Tor Books for the gifted physical arc!

[Michelle Parent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a really intriguing premise with cities designed so humans don't have to work and with enhanced animals handling everything instead. The only rule: animals must not interact with humans. It's a unique setup that immediately pulled me in.

I especially enjoyed Skotch, the raccoon detective investigating a missing mouse. He was a fun and engaging super raccoon to follow. I listened to the audiobook, which was well done, with a strong cast that brought the world and characters to life.

The beginning hooked me, and the ending delivered, but the middle dragged a bit and felt like a slog at times, making it harder to stay fully engaged. That said, the world building and overall concept were strong enough to keep me invested.
l'd rate this around a 3.5, closer to a 4. Despite some pacing issues, it's still worth picking up for the creativity and memorable characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for my ARC copy of the audiobook and my honest review.

Expected Publishing date: June 23, 2026.

[Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An R-rated, noir-style Zootopia while also having the feel of the Duck Detective game somehow. A weird but altogether perfect amalgamation of everything I didn’t know I needed in a futuristic sci-fi novel. The characters are at once wholesome and hilarious. The plot utterly ridiculous and action packed. *Chef’s Kiss*

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is for the audiobook read by John Pirhalla.

Humans have created an eco-friendly utopia for themselves; all they need to sustain it is an underclass of genetically engineered animals to do all the work. Skotch, a raccoon and PI, has been hired to find a mouse who may be able to upend the entire system.

There is a lot of exposition in this book, all of which is necessary to establish the world and explore issues like treatment of vulnerable groups, class distinctions, exploitation of animals, and the ethics of scientific advancements; however, the exposition seemed to go on forever when I was listening to the book and I often found myself losing the story. Fortunately I was also approved for the ebook on NetGalley, and was able to read to myself at a much faster pace and not lose track of the story.

Narrator

John Pirhalla has a pleasant, clear voice and conveys emotion well. I think he did a good job voicing the different characters.

I'm giving the audiobook three stars due to the aforementioned exposition issue rather than the three and a half I rated the ebook.

Received via NetGalley.

[Max]

Cute and fun! The premise has some really interesting kernels to think on in it. Not anything amazing to rave about but thoroughly enjoyable.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrian Tchaikovsky's science fiction novels often contain animal characters, and this book is almost completely populated with critters. The book is set at a future time, when humanity has decided to live green. Utopian cities leave no carbon footprint, and people live in beautiful enclaves and have professional careers.



To maintain the infrastructure of the cities, scientists have genetically enhanced animals, collectively called Gerhiners. The Gerhiners include squirrels, rats, mice, raccoons, possums, turtles, birds, amphibians, and others. The critters do all the blue collar and service jobs, such as trash disposal, waste management, water reclamation, plumbing, appliance repair, cooking, cleaning, and so on.



The animals are very intelligent, have language, and are imbued with the imperative, 'Rule One: No Contact With Humans'. Thus much of the animals' work goes on underground and/or during the night.



To keep control of the animal workers, scientists built in the need for a substance called 'plantgent'. Each creature must have periodic infusions of plantgent to maintain their intelligence. Without plantgent, the critters' thinking gets fuzzy and their memory fades. Moreover, as an incentive to work, the animals' get paid in a currency called buttons.



One thing the human researchers didn't foresee was that the animals would emulate the baser instincts of humanity. Thus the beasties form gangs; set up syndicates; become criminals; run protection rackets; build weapons; have wars; and more - all without the knowledge of the people around them.



The main character in this story is a coffee-loving raccoon called Skotch, who lives under a green city called Neuwein-Grundstadt.



Skotch once worked in the trash disposal unit of the Uzco Guild, which is run by a huge snapping turtle called Benson. Skotch left Uzco to become a freelance private investigator, and his detective work has flush and fallow periods. Thus Skotch sometimes lacks buttons to buy plantgent ampoules, and he needs both as the book opens.

As luck would have it, Skotch's old boss, the snapping turtle Benson, offers the raccoon a job. Benson wants Skotch to find a mouse named Dr. Meece, and bring the little squeaker to Uzco. Benson gives Skotch an advance - plantgent and buttons - and Skotch starts his search.



Initially, the raccoon reaches out to critters who 'owe him one' to learn Dr. Meece is at a country club/restaurant that employs mice as cooks and waitstaff (a novelty situation that permits contact with humans). The mice collect all the people's leftovers, which are processed and sold to Gerhiners - and squirrel gangs take a big cut.

As it happens, Skotch arrives at the country club amidst a gang war between red squirrels and gray squirrels (distinguished by their red and gray bandanas), both of whom want the food sideline.



During the ruckus, Skotch sees Dr. Meece fleeing from a mouse-size chemistry lab in the back room and gives chase.



Dr. Meece escapes, and Skotch learns the mouse is a brilliant scientist who's being pursued by just about every group in Neuwein-Grundstadt, most of whom want to kill him. Skotch is a raccoon with a conscience, and he wants to know WHY Dr. Meece is a wanted mouse. Is the squeaker formulating a nerve poison or biological weapon to kill humanity? Or is he making something salutary?



Most of the novel follows Skotch as he has one dangerous adventure after another while trying to catch Dr. Meece AND learn what the small rodent is doing. In the course of the tale, several of Skotch's friends and acquaintances are killed and Skotch finds himself attacked with knives; pistols; bee sting guns; teeth; claws; stomping feet; etc.



Skotch's two most dangerous enemies are a weasel stoat called Szerky and an enhanced cat named Tybelle, both of whom think Skotch knows the whereabouts of Dr. Meece, and want to squeeze the information out of him.



At one point, Skotch is a hair's breadth away from being fed into a huge food processor by a cadre of animals desperate to locate the little chemist, and convinced Skotch knows more than he's telling.



Skotch does have some allies, especially a pigeon called Lulu, who belongs to a human journalist. Lulu is a researcher for the scribe, and goes around 'interviewing' the animals in Neuwein-Grundstadt for her owner's articles. Lulu makes it her mission to protect Skotch because he owes her a story about Dr. Meece. Lulu provides the story's light relief as she talks incessantly and tries to question every animal she meets, including gang members.



Besides mimicking human warmongering, the animals imitate human religion. For instance, some animal groups worship a prophet called Jeff and practice 'Jeffism', centered on community, cooperation, and self-help.



By the book's finale, we know about Dr. Meece's work and the outcome of his research, and it's a very satisfying revelation.

To me, Tchaikovsky's picture of (at least) some intelligent animals going to the dark side is realistic. Human history is rife with wars over religious and philosophical differences; territory; resources; money; hatred; bigotry; self-interest; and on and on. So why wouldn't smart critters go the same route?



The story is a relatively straightforward action thriller, but the number and variety of characters is legion, and remembering them all takes a bit of concentration. Still, I enjoyed the book, which is imaginative and fun. Highly recommended.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by John Pirhalla, who does an excellent job, especially with the different animal languages and Tchaikovsky's made-up words.

Thanks to Netgalley, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[suveah · Rating 3 out of 5]

i would say maybe closer to a 3.5 but otherwise a pretty good read!

[Jubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you MacMillian Audio and NetGallery for the ALC.
Overall a 3.5/5 star for me. 🌟
The characters being all animals was a pretty cool take, and them living underground trying to stay away with encountering humans was an interesting premise unless they were a “pet”. The narrator did a great job of embodying the characters, he had made it really enjoyable to listen too.
The reason why I say 3.5 stars is because the language used sometimes felt out of place, or to complex for what was happening, and the plot in some parts of the book was all over the place, then it came back to the plot.

[Lachlan Finlayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Readers who have enjoyed sci-fi work from this author will not be disappointed. His imagination continues to amaze me. The worlds he creates and the characters he populates them with are awe-inspiring. The reader of this book may need to pause and reflect to take everything in. Beyond this fantastic world, the plot is compelling and the key characters engaging. Cross-species relationships are explored and are surprisingly warm and meaningful. Or else violent and deadly !

Skotch, our protagonist, is a racoon. We see the world through his eyes and understand events from his point of view. He is multifaceted. A funny, cynical and sarcastic freelance investigator. An ex-corporate employee. Something of a loner. Certainly a survivor. The reader will warm towards him and wish him well.

He lives and works in Neuwien, a ’Green City’ in middle Europe. A Utopia for humans who lead a free and easy life where bioengineered animals perform all the tasks humans do not want to do. Agricultural work but also city work which is often dirty and messy, behind the scenes, literally underground or in the lush vegetation humans enjoy throughout the city. Multi-purpose vegetation, providing solar power, hiding plumbing or wiring and providing an out-of-sight pathway that allow busy animals to move around surreptitiously. There is a very important pact between animals and humans, known as Rule One. The animals stay out of the way of humans. Out of sight, Out of mind. Any interaction is considered a faux-par. Awkward. To be avoided whenever possible.

Skotch is a smart, thoughtful racoon. But that really depends on access to plangent. A drug that is provided to the animals by the humans, in return for the services provided. Without this drug, the animals gradually loose their brainpower. Their ability to think clearly, manage complex tasks, and perform work in order to survive. Life can be tough in the Green Cities.

This is the world Skotch inhabits. He knows everyone, directly or through his connections. When we meet him, his income and supply of plangent is running low. He needs work if he wants to acquire plangent, eat and drink coffee. Although bioengineered for a specific task, he has an unofficial hack to enhance and enjoy some additional pleasures. A caffeine hack. In his opinion:

“…coffee is wasted on humans, who can barely smell it…”

Via his contacts from when he was a corporate employee, he gets a special task. Find a missing mouse; the lowest rung on the Neuwein animal hierarchy. Skotch is going to be well-remunerated if he find a mouse, known as Dr Meece. An amount disproportionate to the usual value of a missing mouse. Skotch cannot figure out why “the little squeaker” is so important. In his quest, he comes across others who are also looking for Meece. Some seek the mouse alive. Others do not. This is the journey we undertake with Skotch. We wish him well for he is a lone racoon in a dangerous environment.

The plot has something of a film-noir vibe. Dark, nocturnal, hidden man-made and animal-made environments. Populated almost entirely by animals, although the occasional human makes a cameo appearance. And the animals are a cross-section of society. The good, the bad, the ugly. Many animals have been able to innovate and organise, an unintended consequence of their enhanced brainpower, thus allowing them to live largely outside and somewhat independent of the humans. As Skotch reflects:

“Put a few thoughts in an animal’s head and apparently one of the first things they invent for themselves is criminality.”

Tchaikovsky builds wonderful environments in his books and always populates them with compelling, engaging characters. Particularly Skotch; He is feisty, funny, cynical, sarcastic and so very likeable.

Beyond survival, Skotch has deeper almost philosophical thoughts about his life:

“… engineering gives animals a more human sense of time. Meaning they can regret the past and fear the future, two facilities that Skotch feels aren’t exactly great quality of life upgrades from his base species’ state of natural innocence..”

I love some of the word-play Tchaikovsky uses such as when a couple of hired-heavyweights (actually quite small animals, but it’s all relative) ‘invite’ Scotch to accompany them to visit their boss:

“The pair don’t quite frog-march Skotch out of the Bärenhaus. But then, given that a whole class (of animal workers) are amphibians, the phrase is reckoned bad taste.”

Tchaikovsky must have had fun with the dialogue. This is book that reminds me in some ways of Sue Burke’s work. The ‘Semiosis’ series and ‘Dual Memory’. Sentience in unexpected places. If those books left you wary of bamboo and elevators, ‘Green City Wars’ will leave you cautious around pretty much anything with more than two legs or wings !

The plot moves fast, new characters come and go and return. Some are good guys, others clearly bad guys. Many are in-between with the possibility to go either way. Some are annoying ! But lovable. Skotch builds cross-species friendships, alliances and relationships. Some are quite unexpected. Moving and tender. Although one slinky, supple femme-fatale is almost flirtatious, an unknown quantity and potentially dangerous. She is one of many who is also after “the little squeaker”. We discover deeper aspects of Skotch as he goes about finding Meece.

“Almost everyone else with any influence wanted Meece dead …On the other side of the scales…was basically just the feeble weight of Skotch’s conscience, a thing he hadn’t even been engineered to have.”

As well as using humour throughout the plot Tchaikovsky cleverly introduces the occasional weird human character reference than turns out to be a real person. Rube Goldberg anyone ? I had to google. Alphonse Mucha ? Another I had to google. Monty Python is channeled when Skotch refers to one of the many rag-tag alliances:

“It’s the Revolutionary People’s Front of Neuwein !”

A Martin Luther reference is subtle; the careful reader will smile at this moment of levity at a time of excitement and danger. I enjoy discretionary side trips to wikipedia. Truth is so often stranger than fiction. ‘Green City Wars’ is a little reminiscent of Mia Dalia’s ‘Estate Sale’ in this respect.

I could continue with examples of humour, inventiveness, imagination and more. But I won’t spoil it for readers. The plot is satisfying. The ending exciting and memorable. Slightly darker than I expected. A time of deeper thoughts and reflections for many. Allies and enemies are all a bit jumbled. What emerges is a yearning for something better in this enslaved bioengineered world. There is a lot of sadness but also elements of affection, respect and friendship to give the impression or at least the possibility of a better life for some.

Beyond the plot, the character Skotch is a wonderful creation. Elements of tenderness, affection, loyalty and pride somehow coexisting alongside his underlying Racoon instincts and behaviours. In addition to Skotch, the manmade, animal-enhanced world of Neuwein is the heart and soul of this book. On the surface a Utopian environment. Behind the scenes, an unimaginable but fantastic world. A world in which few humans:

“…have the faintest idea just how tangled and nasty things have become, behind the scenes. Which is just as well. If humans became more aware of what they’d inadvertently created, that would be the biggest ever breach of Rule One.”

I didn’t want this book to end. I started to pause and read slowly to extend my pleasure. It doesn’t seem the sort of book that could develop into a series, so this is my one chance to experience Neuwien and a cast of amazing animals with their intriguing relationships.

I wish the publishers great success with this book. Another fine addition to Adrian Tchaikovsky’s body of work.

[Saif Shaikh | Distorted Visions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley.

Rating: 🦝🐦🐁🐢😼

Since this is an ARC, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s creativity soars to new heights (or rather sinks to new depths) as he explores a world below our own — through the eyes of a genetically enhanced… raccoon private investigator? A story that fuses the noir aesthetics of thriller fiction with the genius of Tchaikovsky’s science-fiction and his expertise with the animal world proves yet again, why this author should be a must-read for one and all!

I make absolutely no apologies that Adrian Tchaikovsky has skyrocketed to the top of my author lists in the science fiction and fantasy spaces. I have dug my grubby lil’ paws into an entire slew of his novels, both series and standalones, in both science-fiction and fantasy spaces. Furthermore, I have reviewed several of his books here, with core praise always heaped upon the sheer force of creative spread that is possible from one man’s mind! His ability to create intriguing “what if?” scenarios with a seemingly simple premise, which blooms into a dense and well-thought-out world is a talent I am in constant awe of.

In the standalone novel, Green City Wars, Tchaikovsky asks, “What if the little animals we rarely notice, had their own underworld activities?”, and created a sci-fi noir-action thriller from that premise. The story is told through the eyes of Skotch, a freelance private-investigator raccoon, just trying to make ends meet, grabbing at every button, scrambling for every ampoule of plantgent (the chemical required for enhanced animals to maintain their heightened intelligence). Skotch is drawn into a city spanning conspiracy when he is tasked with finding a hyper intelligent mouse, Dr. Mees, who is close to a breakthrough that would shake the very foundations of the animal (and human world).

In Green City Wars, Tchaikovsky pulls out every card from the noir-thriller deck and adapts it to the animal world; the femme fatale (stoat weasel), a lovable sidekick (recorder pigeon), a darkened police chief (snapping turtle), an assassin for hire (cat), and a whole spectrum of underworld elements filled with rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and of course mad anarchist parrots (because why not!?). Every trope of competing underworld mob factions set against the tapestry of an ongoing turf war (between red and gray squirrels) sets the stage on which Skotch must stretch every inch of claw, whisker, if he hopes to save his own fur.

While each character is expertly crafted, it is the relationship between the down-on-his-luck Skotch, and the lovable (but very annoyingly chatty) pigeon Lulu. Their relationship has an emotional heft which is surprisingly deep in a world full of dark whimsy.

The author’s immense creativity stems from a firm foundation (as well as extensive research) into his animals of choice, with little mannerisms unique to each species making the entire world and characters more believable. His fusion of science-fiction elements with gene-editing, and other futuristic tech makes adds a new dimension to the standard noir fiction fare. Surprisingly, Green City Wars actually made me look up and learn new facts about the species featured. Tchaikovsky’s ability to weave in facts and slang (trash-panda, and waschbar/wash-bear, and Herr Bandit as slurs for the raccoon Skotch, led to me learn that raccoons are called “wash bears” because of their tendency to rinse their food in running water!)

Tchaikovsky also blends in real issues central to the future-punk spaces like corpotocracies, oligarchies, corrupted monopolies, organized crime syndicates, labor changes due to technical advancements, genetic enhancement and pharmaceutical control, but you know… with rodents!

I thoroughly enjoyed Green City Wars, but had minor quibbles with the story that held it from a five-starrer. My major grouse was that the entire plot felt like Skotch being dragged from one location to another, faced with yet another character kingpin of their domain, before he was lugged around to the next, with very little agency. I wish Skotch displayed a little more ingenuity and controlled the events unfolding in the narrative, rather than merely being dragged along by the skin of his tail from one capricious situation to the next! The story also has a Germanic background, with many words being taken from German to supply the lore of this world. While I have functional knowledge of the language, I can see this being a wee bit esoteric for those entirely stranger to the language and its references.

As a final note, I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by John Pirhalla. Pirhalla’s ability to create different voices with unique mannerisms for the racoons, frogs, stoat weasels, pigeon, parrots, mice, squirrels, rats, etc. giving them voices we can easily attribute both to their native species, but also their roles made me stop to grin and chuckle at several moments in Green City Wars.

I wish Green City Wars was not a standalone novel. Tchaikovsky has created such a unique world with interesting characters with this work. I would eagerly gnaw at many more juicy stories of Racoon Private Investigator Skotch!

Read this review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions

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[rachel x]

"Philip Marlowe meets Redwall in this superior adult noir tale, where all the characters are animals, fighting for survival in the city underneath the humans."

does this man sleep??

[Blake C]

Redwall in the blurb and it's about a noir detective Raccoon? I'll be there day one

[Lysandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC! The review is personal and unaltered by external factors.

5/5

“Green City Wars” by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a scifi cyberpunk novel set in the urban jungle neopunk age of the genre. It has a neonoir setting, with the main mystery of the novel being the search for a specific doctor who hides several secrets. Our main character, Skotch, serves not only as the main perspective but also as the unveiler of secrets, being the private eye tasked to solving the case. “Green City Wars” charms through its world-building not in the sense that the plotline or lore is something novel, but through the extremely fun twist of bioengineering — in this world, the working class has been replaced by “little helpers”, animals with human intelligence which can only be maintained through the usage of a specific substance. Again, it is nothing out of the ordinary, but the fact that the characters are not human is an incredibly fun twist. Through the extremely well thought and planned details in every single description, one can tell Tchaikovsky had a lot of fun writing this. The novel twist combined with the author’s clear enthusiasm towards the worldbuilding makes the book even more fun than it was perhaps planned out to be.

I genuinely don’t want to spoil anything so I will say only that the little helpers’ own social stratification and class manifestation, their varied beliefs regarding everything from life to philosophy, along with their living requirements and own quarters is incredibly fun and wittingly created. This is my first book by Adrian Tchaikovsky and I can easily tell why he is such a stable of the scifi genre. Incredible attention to detail, so much so that it made me think of both Herbert and Tolkien’s writing styles at times. Exquisite execution. The fact that the location is also the equivalent of a German city was also fun and new to see, as generally scifi novels don’t have such a location. I like the branching out from the regular western locations very much.

The neonoir private eye plot is what you expect it to be — wittingly written, with a lot of dry humour, relatively slow until the twists and turns come to surface. Personally I did not mind the slow pace, because I have enjoyed the worldbuilding extremely; I would recommend this book more to when one is interested in a new world twist for to me that was the highlight.

Skotch is a well-written and planned out protagonist; maybe it is the forever girl in me, but I enjoyed his progression in my vision from the absolutely adorable raccoon to the complex individual whose feeling of belonging constantly hangs. He is part of and apart, and the romanticism of the issue surfaces in a way which reminded me quite nostalgically of the manner in which Gimli presents himself. Naturally, Skotch is also smooth, sarcastic and too smart for his own good, as any capable private eye is. I absolutely loved him from start to finish.

The prose is classical neonoir — it has a gritty yet lyrical diction, the narration is subjective, and it has the atmospheric exposition done thoroughly. It was particularly fun to see such a writing style in an urban jungle neopunk setting, especially from the perspective of a character that is not human, cyborg or robot/ai. The characters’ dynamics and relationships stood out from the writing standpoint; they all felt extremely real and palpable. And, I repeat myself, Tchaikovsky had a lot of fun writing this — it’s clear as day from the very first chapter. A personal side comment, the presentation of humans as titans was incredibly funny to me, that entire sequence of events was absolutely enchanting. The resolution was good.

Lastly, I would recommend “Green City Wars” to fans of “Red Rising”, “Psycho Pass”, “Blade Runner” and perhaps even “The Library Trilogy”. The original twist of bioengineering made this novel particularly fun, reminding me of the twists of those series in particular.

As a side note, I was keen on reading Adrian Tchaikovsky’s works for a while but had no idea where to start. I saw this book as a standalone and thought to myself that it could be a good introduction to the author’s style and works — and it was! Consequently, I would also recommend this novel to those in a situation similar to my own, as you won’t regret it.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m generally quite happy to pick up an Adrian Tchaikovsky book based on his name alone, but I’ll admit that “raccoon PI” was an extra selling point for this one.

This is set in the not-too-distant future in the city of Neuwien (that’s “new Vienna” for those who don’t speak German) (it’s me, I don’t speak German). Neuwien, and many other cities like it, were built to replace the old urban areas, with an overriding focus on sustainability. Part of any city, of course, is the unglamorous infrastructure. The sewers need to be kept flowing, the trash needs to be picked up, the electrical grid needs to be maintained. What could be a greener solution than training up the smaller creatures that always go along with dense human settlements? A little genetic engineering to make them smart enough to do the tasks and to listen to instructions from humans on the rare occasions they’re necessary, and presto! You’ve got a self-sustaining system, no need for humans to even think about those difficult, dangerous, dirty jobs.

Except for a few emergent quirks that humans, for the most part, are unaware of. Give a creature the intelligence to manage sustainable wastewater treatment and understand language, and they’ll use that intelligence in other ways as well. An entire complex society emerged, kept largely hidden from humans: Rule One is “don’t do anything the humans will notice.” Most of the uplifted animals are part of corporations or guilds, taking care of their own and doing the tasks needed to keep Neuwien functioning. But others have formed criminal gangs running protection rackets, or radical anarchist communes who want to bring the system down, or freelancers like our protagonist the raccoon Skotch, who scrapes a living as an investigator.

Tchaikovsky has clearly read a bunch of noir novels; Skotch is a classic gumshoe of the Sam Spade tradition. He’s “invited” to come to talk to his ex-corporate boss by a few thugs, and given a job: there’s a mouse that is somewhere in Neuwien, recently arrived from the countryside, and Skotch is supposed to bring him in alive. With little choice in the matter, and he needs to get paid anyway, so Skotch sets out. Soon a bunch of different factions have approached Skotch to talk to him about the mouse, with varying degrees of politeness, including the requisite femme fatale (a stoat/weasel hybrid in this case: a very deadly predator, but a very enticingly slinky one). There’s much more going on than Skotch knows, and everyone assumes that Skotch knows more than he does. And above all they all want to make sure if and when Skotch finds the mouse, he brings the mouse to *them* and not anyone else. All very familiar to anyone who’s read noir novels.

And here’s where Tchaikovsky’s skill as a sci-fi author comes into play. Usually in “animals as people stories” (Redwall, Wind in the Willows, etc) the intelligent animals are, quite simply, people with animal shapes. Tchaikovsky put a lot of thought into keeping them as animals. Part of the reason Skotch went freelance is that raccoons are inherently ornery, and don’t do well as corporate drones. The bottom-of-the-food-chain creatures like mice and rats are quick to flee anytime they are startled; predators like cats or stoat/weasel hybrids tend to attack; the engineered parakeets are completely mad and happy like that.

And not all lives are valued equally. A mouse might live for a year or so, and units of “mausgelt” is how animal lives are measured. A mouse is worth one mausgelt; a rat is worth two; a relatively big creature like Skotch might be worth 15 or 20. There’s a lot of implications in uplifting animals to sentience, and Tchaikovsky thought them through thoroughly.

Bingo categories: Non-human Protagonist [hard mode]; Published in 2026

My blog.

[Mer Mendoza (Merlyn’s Book Hoard) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I full on devoured this book in two days. I admit I am a sucker for a good talking animal story and this one hit the spot. Skotch is a freelance private investigator. He is also a bio-engineered raccoon developed to serve humanity as a Little Helper behind the scenes of urban life in a green city. Most of the animals live and work in what are essentially company towns, for company scrip used at the company stores (under other more Germanic terminology here, that I, as an audiobook listener will not attempt). Skotch went freelance, unsatisfied with his life and work as a servant of the company, but that comes with it’s own perils in the green cities, as only the formally and properly employed animals have a consistent access to plangent (sp? Forgive this audiobook listener), the drug that lets them stay intelligent. Without it, they slip back down to being just animals again.

I’ve looked through some of the other reviews and have seen multiple comparisons to Richard Adam’s Watership Down, and I see where they are coming from, but I’d raise you one better and compare it to his lesser-known novel The Plague Dogs(or it’s animated adaptation). If I go down that road, though, there is a long history of animal fiction that has me half tempted to set up a little self-study “curriculum” and do some companion reads after this. I somewhat recently re-read Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys, which was a good intro to science fiction that focuses on the traumatic repercussions of artificially increasing intelligence that cannot be sustained permanently, an man named Charlie and a mouse named Algernon have their brains super-charged for a brief brilliant moment, before watching that light fade from them. Think of Green City Wars as a distant future where Charlie’s tragedy is told from the mouse Algernon’s perspective instead, over and over again where countless animals see lucidity and intelligence fading from them every day, beholden to the drug that grants them just a little bit longer before they “go dumb” and the desperate (and intricate) socio-economic structures these almost-human animals build around themselves to stave off the loss of sentience. If you start at Flowers for Algernon and The Plague Dogs, you might take a turn toward Felidae by Akif Piricci (or it’s animated adaptation) to have another dark, gritty animal noir (cat detective on the hunt for a serial killer), or Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien(or it’s animated adaptation) for a little bit more of the lab-rats-made-smart vibes. You could then stop and rest with George Orwell’s Animal Farm (though please, this time, skip the animated version), even though I suspect you’d find your self on the other end of the communism/socialism debate than you’d land on in Green City. I would even suggest landing on Martha Wells’ series, Murderbot Diaries, to round things off because Murderbot isn’t a talking animal story (sadly), but it offers some really great philosophizing on what it means to be human when your intelligence and sentience theoretically comes from somewhere outside of yourself. If humans made you the way you are, and you are not human, how do you define your sense of self?

Some of the imagery in Green City Wars was so spectacular that I expect it will stick with me for some time, especially Mad Parrot Alley, where the feral parrot populations, some bio-engineered and some not, interbreed and fade in and out of sentience as opportunity permits loose and too-smart and never smart enough.

The audiobook has a good solid narrator too. One of my favorite reads of the year so far.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 /5 - Many thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Copy!

A big question looms after the world reaches its sustainability goals economically and ecologically. Who would ever do all the stinky dangerous jobs that those without other options used to? As it turns out, science has an answer! Animals.

Genetically enhanced critters now perform dredge work. Clearing away trash, fixing electrical wires, sewage maintenance, field work, no humans required! What better use for populations that are already swarming in the city's dark corners to begin with? Except, isn't there always a hitch?

Self awareness splits barriers held up between different species by nature. That hunter-prey calculation has to go way down to start. Mingling leads to otherwise strange friendships and collaborations. Another logical step? No, not unionizing. Racketeering. Career shifts.

One raccoon ditches his given gig to try out investigation. Need some information dug up? Lost something? Someone? He's your beast, with the rep and track record to back the claim. Which is how Skotch finds himself in his current predicament. Sure, it's a little bizarre someone would want to find a mouse. They're a dime a dozen with a short life span. The reward is ludicrous for an otherwise standard case. At least it seems until the job turns into a city wide chase with Skotch now as much of a target as his mark. Old and new alliances both of friends and foes are hot on his tail.

Tchaikovsky is an author who will always deliver an entertaining or thought provoking story. Usually both. “Green City Wars” leans more towards the first with it's furry film noir meets summer action blockbuster vibe. But it's not without its deeper commentary.

We're introduced to the city and all the ways it functions, above and underground, through character interactions and Skotch's musings bit by bit. No massive info dumps to build the world.
And what a cast it is! Snarky to sweet, captures the charm we associate with cozy stories and those aimed at younger audiences while tackling concepts that appeal to an older crowd.

The author plays with expectations from other common twists to dangle the reader as much as the protagonist. In a rather cheeky move, Tchaikovsky even effectively uses miscommunication. Skotch doesn't brood over solutions himself or ignore miss more obvious answers. He's begs absolutely everyone just to tell him what's going on. It's almost preemptively poking fun at plot twists that lead to grand antagonist monologues.

On the surface is some low hanging fruit topics. The exploitation and undervaluing of venerable people being the most obvious. Even the existence of a world that's solved many of the man made dangers and problems we currently face could be seen as contrite to some. Below that the book tackles a core argument against tackling necessary changes. In the short breathes between action lies a lot of philosophy concerning nature vs. nurture and the evolution of culture, society, and self.

This was a playful excursion revolving around a substantial nucleus. Both humorous and heartfelt, I challenge anyone not to find a character they at least find endearing. Setting aside the fact that you're dealing with animal forms, this couldn't possibly be a more human story.