What do you think?
Elder Race #2
Engines of Reason
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.
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.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
Adrian Tchaikovsky
198 books20.1k 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 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 21, 2026
I enjoyed Engines of Reason quite a bit more than the previous book, Elder Race. The story felt more compelling, with additional pieces of its mysterious world - full of wizards, witches, demons, princesses, brigands and robots - gradually coming into focus. There’s something I find deeply alluring about its setting, where the remnants of ancient, buried technology and those who are able to wield it are perceived as magical by a contemporary feudal type society whose heritage has been lost to the ages. Thematically, Tchaikovsky explores how traditional roles, societal expectations, personal experience and even mythology can shape and even ossify our own inner narratives, giving the story a thoughtful undercurrent beneath its more overt mysteries.
September 7, 2026
Are we the stories we tell about ourselves, or the stories others tell about us? That is the central question in this creative, emotional return to Sophos IV, thirty years after the events of the last novella. As usual, the writing is reflective and charming in equal measure, with more sincerity and less snark but a dry, often self-deprecating wit, all the same. Tchaikovsky again balances between the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, letting characters live in their own worlds, their experiences and understanding shaping what kind of story they are in, what kind of story they are telling. We move across character POVs in each chapter, which keeps the story brisk and moving. The Nyr chapters are all told in first-person narration, bringing us into his wearied, wise world, his world of magic and physics and technology shaping how we understand what is happening. The other chapters are written in a close third-person, setting the narrative import apart from each other, locating the reader in the scientific while refusing to eschew the fantastical. The tone of the writing, including the type of humor, how aspirational vs. reflective it is, and so on, changes according to the different character POVs, which is subtle and effective. It makes the whole world feel much more multi-dimensional, and it reminds us that there are mysteries beyond science and technology.
The story smartly rotates around a single event, and yet it gives every character within that event some backstory, some history, enough to make them feel complete and allow the narrative room to breathe. It feels focused and direct but never rushed, which in turn makes the pages fly by. We get to check in with all the characters from the previous novella and meet some new characters, testing what our characters think they know about themselves and about the world. The themes it is navigating are straightforward but profound. It isn’t a simple struggle between science and technology, but instead it is a struggle to understand what our place is in the world. All the characters think they know themselves; they have written out a script for who and how they are and they follow it. But the world conspires to show them that they can be more than they have circumscribed themselves to be, and in fact maybe they need to be more than that. We all have myriad stories within us, some precise and measurable, others fantastic and beyond belief. This story asks us what needs to happen for us to recognize that, and to break free from habit to embrace whatever stories are needed, swapping from one to the next as required, to care for others and become the best version of ourselves that we can be.
The story is fun, direct, and reflective. It will be nigh impenetrable if you haven’t read the previous novella, even though he does skillfully fill in the details of what happened, but those feel more like reminders than substitutes for reading the story. The story doesn’t have quite the tension the first one does, just due to the nature of its structure, but it has emotional and physical stakes not just for our characters but for the whole world they live in. It reads quickly and feels light and springy, not as heady or heavy as some of Tchaikovsky’s other work, yet I found myself thinking about it quite a bit after finishing it. The ideas are simple, and he states the heart of the story in the prologue (The first words of the story are, literally: “A wise woman once said, we tell stories about ourselves, and that is what makes us human.”). This allows us to sit with this idea as we watch the story unfold, which is quite a rewarding experience.
(Rounded from 3.5)
The story smartly rotates around a single event, and yet it gives every character within that event some backstory, some history, enough to make them feel complete and allow the narrative room to breathe. It feels focused and direct but never rushed, which in turn makes the pages fly by. We get to check in with all the characters from the previous novella and meet some new characters, testing what our characters think they know about themselves and about the world. The themes it is navigating are straightforward but profound. It isn’t a simple struggle between science and technology, but instead it is a struggle to understand what our place is in the world. All the characters think they know themselves; they have written out a script for who and how they are and they follow it. But the world conspires to show them that they can be more than they have circumscribed themselves to be, and in fact maybe they need to be more than that. We all have myriad stories within us, some precise and measurable, others fantastic and beyond belief. This story asks us what needs to happen for us to recognize that, and to break free from habit to embrace whatever stories are needed, swapping from one to the next as required, to care for others and become the best version of ourselves that we can be.
The story is fun, direct, and reflective. It will be nigh impenetrable if you haven’t read the previous novella, even though he does skillfully fill in the details of what happened, but those feel more like reminders than substitutes for reading the story. The story doesn’t have quite the tension the first one does, just due to the nature of its structure, but it has emotional and physical stakes not just for our characters but for the whole world they live in. It reads quickly and feels light and springy, not as heady or heavy as some of Tchaikovsky’s other work, yet I found myself thinking about it quite a bit after finishing it. The ideas are simple, and he states the heart of the story in the prologue (The first words of the story are, literally: “A wise woman once said, we tell stories about ourselves, and that is what makes us human.”). This allows us to sit with this idea as we watch the story unfold, which is quite a rewarding experience.
(Rounded from 3.5)
May 23, 2026
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.
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.
August 28, 2026
I spent all 200 pages trying to diagnose what felt so wrong to me about this novella, and I think it comes down to middle child syndrome - something I would have NO way of knowing until the end where it sets up a clear direction for the rest of the series. Elder Race was a PERFECT one-shot about depression and finding meaning in life, while also having a really fun human science in space magic vibe. This is like everything that SciFi does too much of (colonized become the colonizer/Earth meddling in alien affairs) without offering any kind of hook beyond a stay tuned for next time!!!!! ending. I do love Nyr, Lyn and the child Sara was such a fun add so I will keep reading but only begrudgingly.
September 2, 2026
Roughly 15 years have passed. Those years brought many troubles. During that time Lynesse has gone from young adult to middle aged. For Nyrgoth it hasn't been really any time at all watching her develop since childhood. He hasn't changed in the intervening years. Has she? With age comes maturity, physically, if not emotionally. When the stories we tell about ourselves don't adapt to our circumstances, problems arise. This novella is about the narrative that each character has developed that explains their life. That's true for every character, not only those whose perspective we see. Each has their own way of responding to the external influences trying to change their internal narrative. Most of them fall into maladaptive behaviors: denial, delusion, paranoia, hatred, obsession, and depression. There's still hope yet for them all though.
This borderline novella is told through alternating chapters of Lyn, Nyr, and Sendra. Sendra is both an antagonist and comedic relief. I found the humor to be mildly amusing. He makes for a fine addition. Despite having three POVs in this relatively short book, I feel that it was a good length that accomplished what it needed to with both the characters and plot.
I was surprised when I first saw this. I didn't expect there to be a sequel. I don't know that there needed to be one. The first book did very well as a standalone and now it's lost that distinction. Anyone can of course not continue and leave it as such though. Should I have? Possibly so. I've rated this 3 stars. I like characters, the plot, the humor, the length, and just about everything about it. So what's the problem? The thematic content saps much of my enjoyment. This is yet again a personal issue. For more details on that, read the commentary afterwards. Those who don't have personal hang-ups about whatever will find this to be a good follow-up. The ending definitely sets it up for there to be more to come, with potentially a far more expansive scope.
This borderline novella is told through alternating chapters of Lyn, Nyr, and Sendra. Sendra is both an antagonist and comedic relief. I found the humor to be mildly amusing. He makes for a fine addition. Despite having three POVs in this relatively short book, I feel that it was a good length that accomplished what it needed to with both the characters and plot.
I was surprised when I first saw this. I didn't expect there to be a sequel. I don't know that there needed to be one. The first book did very well as a standalone and now it's lost that distinction. Anyone can of course not continue and leave it as such though. Should I have? Possibly so. I've rated this 3 stars. I like characters, the plot, the humor, the length, and just about everything about it. So what's the problem? The thematic content saps much of my enjoyment. This is yet again a personal issue. For more details on that, read the commentary afterwards. Those who don't have personal hang-ups about whatever will find this to be a good follow-up. The ending definitely sets it up for there to be more to come, with potentially a far more expansive scope.
September 6, 2026
I’m a space wizard now. Wubba lubba dub dub.
September 27, 2026
A worthy sequel to Elder Race, which was honestly a major relief after a string of utter sequel fails for me with Tchaikovsky's various sci-fi worlds.
Tchaikovsky has a very distinctive prose style with this series which feels much more elegant and considered than just about everything else of his I've read, which is apt given one of the major themes around language use/translation across cultures.
I enjoyed the propulsiveness of this novella which picks back up a handful of years after Elder Race and throws us right into a compelling plot with a new POV character added to the mix whom I found to be a great addition.
I felt just as invested in the returning POVs as I remember being a bunch of years back when I last spent time with them, and I feel like they're two of Tchaikovsky's most distinctive character creations who just feel so fully realized in three dimensions. Tchaikovsky has these characters doing a lot of emotional introspection in a way that I find gripping rather than cheesy or melodramatic, and I think the slim size of these books really works in the favor of this approach so it never feels tiring or repetitive. The prose/voice work and character writing here are definitely the main draws.
I'm not sure the final showdown and resolution fully worked for me which is why I went with 4 stars instead of the 5 which I had handed out to Elder Race with no reservations, which had felt like a truly fully formed and satisfying story in 200 pages. This one felt more like it was intentionally leaving room for a sequel to follow, and without giving any spoilers away it's hard to discuss this whole antagonist situation but I just never clicked with the way the conflict unfolded and semi-resolved.
It was quite an engaging read though on the whole and hopefully a sign that all is not lost for me with Tchaikovsky's new sci-fi writing.
Tchaikovsky has a very distinctive prose style with this series which feels much more elegant and considered than just about everything else of his I've read, which is apt given one of the major themes around language use/translation across cultures.
I enjoyed the propulsiveness of this novella which picks back up a handful of years after Elder Race and throws us right into a compelling plot with a new POV character added to the mix whom I found to be a great addition.
I felt just as invested in the returning POVs as I remember being a bunch of years back when I last spent time with them, and I feel like they're two of Tchaikovsky's most distinctive character creations who just feel so fully realized in three dimensions. Tchaikovsky has these characters doing a lot of emotional introspection in a way that I find gripping rather than cheesy or melodramatic, and I think the slim size of these books really works in the favor of this approach so it never feels tiring or repetitive. The prose/voice work and character writing here are definitely the main draws.
I'm not sure the final showdown and resolution fully worked for me which is why I went with 4 stars instead of the 5 which I had handed out to Elder Race with no reservations, which had felt like a truly fully formed and satisfying story in 200 pages. This one felt more like it was intentionally leaving room for a sequel to follow, and without giving any spoilers away it's hard to discuss this whole antagonist situation but I just never clicked with the way the conflict unfolded and semi-resolved.
It was quite an engaging read though on the whole and hopefully a sign that all is not lost for me with Tchaikovsky's new sci-fi writing.
September 20, 2026
Elder Race was the first Tchaikovsky book I read, and it was a pretty strong introduction to his writing. I was a bit surprised at seeing Elder Race getting a sequel as I didn't really feel like it needed one, but I think Engines of Reason largely justifies its existence. I do think it's weaker than Elder Race. It doesn't share the interesting framing device that book has, and the pacing is a bit messy. I had a fair amount of fun with it though, and Tchaikovsky was able to add quite a lot of mystery in the second half of the story. The character work is pretty good, but not outstanding. I wonder what these books would look like in full-length novels.
September 7, 2026
The surprise sequel to one of my most enjoyable reads of 2021, I found this book unnecessary and unengaging. The whole 174 pages felt like one continuous conversation the main character is either having out loud or with himself in his head. The world-building was a whole lot of tell with no show. I felt zero investment in any of the characters. I think this could've been a lot better had it been given much more page space and an expanded plot.
The first book did so well because it was all about the discovery of the main character being from a high tech age walking into a medieval world and the conflict of an antagonist commandeering old tech that only main character could stop. This plot couldn't harness that same novel feeling from the first and the conflict felt unearned and unserious.
Don't get me wrong, I love Tchaikovsky's writing and will continue to read most of his work but man did this one feel like an unnecessary entry. It's like someone at the publishing house just read the first book last year and forced Tchaikovsky into a hasty sequel. At least this gave me a good opportunity to practice my speed-reading.
The first book did so well because it was all about the discovery of the main character being from a high tech age walking into a medieval world and the conflict of an antagonist commandeering old tech that only main character could stop. This plot couldn't harness that same novel feeling from the first and the conflict felt unearned and unserious.
Don't get me wrong, I love Tchaikovsky's writing and will continue to read most of his work but man did this one feel like an unnecessary entry. It's like someone at the publishing house just read the first book last year and forced Tchaikovsky into a hasty sequel. At least this gave me a good opportunity to practice my speed-reading.
September 5, 2026
We return to the world of Elder Race some years later. This is almost the extent of what I took away from this story. Sorry, this was a bust and I almost DNFd it halfway through. The audio just went over my head and I could not take this in.
I don‘t know if it really was the audio or if the story just did nothing for me. I will have to reread this in print to make that distinction. Maybe before the sequel to this comes out?
For now: I had problems telling the characters apart, I could not figure out what was going on for much of the narrative. Nyr is back and Lynesse. More about that in the next novella?
🗼🗼¾☆☆
I don‘t know if it really was the audio or if the story just did nothing for me. I will have to reread this in print to make that distinction. Maybe before the sequel to this comes out?
For now: I had problems telling the characters apart, I could not figure out what was going on for much of the narrative. Nyr is back and Lynesse. More about that in the next novella?
🗼🗼¾☆☆
Want to Read
September 27, 2026See my GR friend Jamie's 4-star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Excerpt:
"There’s something I find deeply alluring about its setting, where the remnants of ancient, buried technology and those who are able to wield it are perceived as magical by a contemporary feudal type society whose heritage has been lost to the ages."
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Excerpt:
"There’s something I find deeply alluring about its setting, where the remnants of ancient, buried technology and those who are able to wield it are perceived as magical by a contemporary feudal type society whose heritage has been lost to the ages."
September 6, 2026
Adrian Tchaikovsky has a way of world building that is truly unique. We see that in every series he's written and we see that again here, even in novella form. He's taken what he started in Elder Race and launched it into a whole new plane of the elliptical.
September 15, 2026
Absolutely unnecessary sequel to a great novella. We get the same characters having the same internal doubts and still unable to fully communicate their feelings.
September 17, 2026
3.5 rounded up. Elder Race is peerless, there was no way the sequel would stand up and it didn't, but I'm now hopeful for more in this world (just not anything like what Elder Race was).
July 28, 2026
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.
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.
August 30, 2026
I absolutely adored Elder Race, Tchaikovsky’s initial entry into this novella series. However, at the end I felt like all the threads had been wrapped up pretty nicely, so I was interested (and a little trepidatious to see how Tchaikovsky would approach a return to this world.The world of Elder Race is a detailed and thoughtfully constructed world, and getting to see a little more of it was my favorite part of Engines of Reason. “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” A good quote but also a favorite trope of mine, and one I rarely get to see. I love when you get a book with mixed perspectives, one of whom is seeing magic and the other technology.
This planet was a colony, but many centuries have passed, and dynasties have risen and fallen, since the original colonists first stepped foot on it. The technology of the past has faded into myth, legend, and stories for children of wizards and monsters. Nyr, anthropologist second class, is a later wave of visitors from earth. Sworn to observe but not intervene. But to the citizens of Lannesite, he is Nyrgoth, the wizard, aloof in his tower, who sometimes aids them in times of great strife.
This book picks up 15 years after the events of Elder Race, and, without spoiling too much, those events did not stabilize the political situation. This book was in the tradition of Elder Race. If you liked it (as I did) I think it’s a fair guess that you will enjoy this one, as I did. I found the ending ever so slightly less satisfying of an emotional payoff, but still a wonderful expansion to a favorite world of mine.
Recommended for fans of Enchantress from the Stars, and The Raven Tower.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
This planet was a colony, but many centuries have passed, and dynasties have risen and fallen, since the original colonists first stepped foot on it. The technology of the past has faded into myth, legend, and stories for children of wizards and monsters. Nyr, anthropologist second class, is a later wave of visitors from earth. Sworn to observe but not intervene. But to the citizens of Lannesite, he is Nyrgoth, the wizard, aloof in his tower, who sometimes aids them in times of great strife.
This book picks up 15 years after the events of Elder Race, and, without spoiling too much, those events did not stabilize the political situation. This book was in the tradition of Elder Race. If you liked it (as I did) I think it’s a fair guess that you will enjoy this one, as I did. I found the ending ever so slightly less satisfying of an emotional payoff, but still a wonderful expansion to a favorite world of mine.
Recommended for fans of Enchantress from the Stars, and The Raven Tower.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
September 5, 2026
I'm going to keep this a 4, even though I could have maybe rounded up. The necessity of the novella is to move fast, and so a few of the themes from the first book are somewhat abandoned. This is fine, and the new POV is fine, and the speed is fine.
I just think AT works better when the material has a little time to breathe. But...then he can sometimes go too far!
Too much about AT and not enough about this book. Nyr and Lyn get a little time jump and the story moves quickly yet again. It's a clever use of the time jump, to skip right on past events that can be one or two sentences later. In a novella, this really changes the characters off screen and we are left to adjust to them just as we thought we knew them before.
AT has another set of novellas that I enjoyed which somewhat have similar storylines, The Expert System books. These are more ready for the mainstream than those, but lose some of the bonkers fun that might appeal to certain readers. It feels like we're becoming more and more human here all the time, which leaves me just a little worried about any future entries. But let's be real, I'll definitely be reading them.
Also, anyone think there's a chance these could be tied to the Children of Time books?
I just think AT works better when the material has a little time to breathe. But...then he can sometimes go too far!
Too much about AT and not enough about this book. Nyr and Lyn get a little time jump and the story moves quickly yet again. It's a clever use of the time jump, to skip right on past events that can be one or two sentences later. In a novella, this really changes the characters off screen and we are left to adjust to them just as we thought we knew them before.
AT has another set of novellas that I enjoyed which somewhat have similar storylines, The Expert System books. These are more ready for the mainstream than those, but lose some of the bonkers fun that might appeal to certain readers. It feels like we're becoming more and more human here all the time, which leaves me just a little worried about any future entries. But let's be real, I'll definitely be reading them.
Also, anyone think there's a chance these could be tied to the Children of Time books?
September 5, 2026
This sequel occurs many years after the original book, Elder Race. There's a new sorcerer who has control of some amazing creatures and is conquering kingdoms right and left, and he's coming for the nation of Lannesite. Nyr knows there's no real magic involved, and thinks that a bumpkin has stumbled into some old machinery from the early Earth colony. But it's more complicated than that, and his hubris almost gets him killed. Fortunately, he still has his friend Lyn, despite what happened in the last book.
Tchaikovsky is ratcheting up the complexity and the backstory, and the ending makes it clear that this isn't the final story in this series.
Tchaikovsky is ratcheting up the complexity and the backstory, and the ending makes it clear that this isn't the final story in this series.
September 11, 2026
Engines of Reason once again delivers on the theme of magic vs. technology and how the stories we tell about the world, and ourselves, shape our perception. The novella also makes good use of the setting defined in Elder Race, though it is very much its own story and style. Even better, Engines of Reason keeps the good prose, reasonable pace, and quality characterization of the original. My one complaint is that Elder Race was a better standalone work, whereas Engines of Reason is clearly setting up for another sequel.
September 2, 2026
I enjoyed this, but not as much as ELDER RACE. I wanted it to focus on Nyr, who I loved in the first book, but it’s more of an ensemble story. Demons, magicians, elders, and bandits. A lot happens, a lot more remains to be explained. If there’s a third book, I’ll read it.
September 28, 2026
Good sequel to the first book, but didn't hook me as well as the first. The story is really more about the characters than the plot, which can be done well but this felt more lopsided than compelling.
September 25, 2026
I liked Elder Race bettttttter but this was still great
September 4, 2026
I'm amazed at how much Adrian Tchaikovsky can cram into a short story or novella. He really knows how to grab your attention and get you invested in the characters even though the book is only a few hours long. And, he managed to write a compelling & gripping story that is both Sci-Fi and fantasy.
I was a fan of the first book in this series, Elder Race and this follow up didn't disappoint.
I was a fan of the first book in this series, Elder Race and this follow up didn't disappoint.
September 4, 2026
The premise of the whole series is that technology is disguised as magic. But this book muddies them so much that, it doesn't feel like magic or technology and it just doesn't work.
Also, the world building is just very messy. Too much politics with no real stakes. Made up country names, popping up and disappearing.
The book doesn't lean in any direction enough for me to care about any of it. The magic isn't real. The technology isn't real. The countries aren't real. The wizard isn't real. Instead of being a convergence of so many different things, it ends up being nothing and then a lot of mumbo jumbo taken seriously.
Also, the world building is just very messy. Too much politics with no real stakes. Made up country names, popping up and disappearing.
The book doesn't lean in any direction enough for me to care about any of it. The magic isn't real. The technology isn't real. The countries aren't real. The wizard isn't real. Instead of being a convergence of so many different things, it ends up being nothing and then a lot of mumbo jumbo taken seriously.
September 2, 2026
I want to say this is a story about what happens after the “and they lived happily ever after” but that’s not the kind of story that Elder Race was in the first place. It IS a bit of a “no good deed goes unpunished” kind of story. But mostly, it’s a story like Peter S. Beagle’s “Sooz” in The Way Home and Premee Mohamed’s The Butcher of the Forest. It’s the kind of story where, after the monster has been defeated, life goes on, and then someone has to do it all over again. Because there’s always another monster – or another villain – or something like both – coming over the horizon and somebody’s going to have to deal with it.
Whether they want to or not.
At the same time, this is a story about, well, the power of story. The power of a persistent narrative to push, pull and if necessary force characters to fit into tropes and archetypes – even if they’re just people who happen to be in its way. Much like Alix E. Harrow’s Fractured Fables series, where every world in the multiverse is shoehorning some poor girl into filling the role of Sleeping Beauty whether any of them want to or not.
This is Sophos IV, a lost human colony that long ago forgot the technology that brought their ancestors to a world that could never support the industry that brought them there. But a world where old social structures and even older stories wrapped themselves around their descendants.
Most of all, this is the world where a disregarded princess followed a myth to the tower of a legendary sorcerer so that he could save her people from a demon. And because it actually worked once, someone expects it to work again – with the same cast of characters.
Even though the sorcerer can’t really do magic, the demon wasn’t really a demon, and the princess isn’t a princess any longer. But the danger is real, and Elder Nyrgoth and his former apprentice Lynesse are going to have to get over themselves and everything they ever fought over so they can fight together once more.
This time for good. Or at least, hopefully, for enough good to make a difference.
Escape Rating A-: I picked this up because I enjoyed the previous book, Elder Race. I have to admit that I was not expecting a sequel – so this was a delightful surprise to see. And also to read.
The first book was such a fascinating take on several SFnal concepts. This is a lost colony story, so Lynesse’s people are our descendants – but they’ve forgotten where they came from. Nyr’s people, on the other hand, are also our descendants, but from a later diaspora. His people are scholars, who came to study Lynesse’s people and how they adapted to their world. Nyr is the only one of those scholars left. (Nyr’s situation is similar to the Archaeologist’s mission in The Mulai and that part of their respective assignments have each gone about as well as the other. In other words, not very.)
They’re both misfits. They need each other but can’t communicate well because the gap between their perspectives is SO vast. Which is where the whole power of stories comes in. Her people can only conceive of Nyr as a wizard or sorcerer. And there’s a place in their legends for that even though he knows he’s a fraud. She’s his apprentice, but she’s also, honestly, his only friend and connection to the living. Which he screws up royally (literally) because there’s also a narrative about a mentor being unwilling to share their apprentice’s time and attention. (There’s no romance, there’s no hint, it’s not even the point. But any relationship can go wrong and theirs definitely did.)
But the narrative still needs them. It has places for a wizard, it has places for a demon, it has places for court mages and rebellious princesses, and that’s the story they’re stuck in. Because there is an enemy, and there is a rapacious tyrant, and there is a need for someone to reset the board. And they’re the only ones who are outsiders enough to do it.
What makes the story work isn’t the quest, exactly, this time around. It’s the characters and the relationships and the shared history – which is repeating – and the insider/outsider perspectives on all of it.
This is a story where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s also a story that doesn’t stand alone – it needs the story that came before it, Elder Race, in order for the Engines of Reason – which aren’t precisely engines and often don’t have nearly as much reason as would be helpful – to make sense and have resonance.
But it’s all DEFINITELY worth a read.
Originally published at Reading Reality
Whether they want to or not.
At the same time, this is a story about, well, the power of story. The power of a persistent narrative to push, pull and if necessary force characters to fit into tropes and archetypes – even if they’re just people who happen to be in its way. Much like Alix E. Harrow’s Fractured Fables series, where every world in the multiverse is shoehorning some poor girl into filling the role of Sleeping Beauty whether any of them want to or not.
This is Sophos IV, a lost human colony that long ago forgot the technology that brought their ancestors to a world that could never support the industry that brought them there. But a world where old social structures and even older stories wrapped themselves around their descendants.
Most of all, this is the world where a disregarded princess followed a myth to the tower of a legendary sorcerer so that he could save her people from a demon. And because it actually worked once, someone expects it to work again – with the same cast of characters.
Even though the sorcerer can’t really do magic, the demon wasn’t really a demon, and the princess isn’t a princess any longer. But the danger is real, and Elder Nyrgoth and his former apprentice Lynesse are going to have to get over themselves and everything they ever fought over so they can fight together once more.
This time for good. Or at least, hopefully, for enough good to make a difference.
Escape Rating A-: I picked this up because I enjoyed the previous book, Elder Race. I have to admit that I was not expecting a sequel – so this was a delightful surprise to see. And also to read.
The first book was such a fascinating take on several SFnal concepts. This is a lost colony story, so Lynesse’s people are our descendants – but they’ve forgotten where they came from. Nyr’s people, on the other hand, are also our descendants, but from a later diaspora. His people are scholars, who came to study Lynesse’s people and how they adapted to their world. Nyr is the only one of those scholars left. (Nyr’s situation is similar to the Archaeologist’s mission in The Mulai and that part of their respective assignments have each gone about as well as the other. In other words, not very.)
They’re both misfits. They need each other but can’t communicate well because the gap between their perspectives is SO vast. Which is where the whole power of stories comes in. Her people can only conceive of Nyr as a wizard or sorcerer. And there’s a place in their legends for that even though he knows he’s a fraud. She’s his apprentice, but she’s also, honestly, his only friend and connection to the living. Which he screws up royally (literally) because there’s also a narrative about a mentor being unwilling to share their apprentice’s time and attention. (There’s no romance, there’s no hint, it’s not even the point. But any relationship can go wrong and theirs definitely did.)
But the narrative still needs them. It has places for a wizard, it has places for a demon, it has places for court mages and rebellious princesses, and that’s the story they’re stuck in. Because there is an enemy, and there is a rapacious tyrant, and there is a need for someone to reset the board. And they’re the only ones who are outsiders enough to do it.
What makes the story work isn’t the quest, exactly, this time around. It’s the characters and the relationships and the shared history – which is repeating – and the insider/outsider perspectives on all of it.
This is a story where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s also a story that doesn’t stand alone – it needs the story that came before it, Elder Race, in order for the Engines of Reason – which aren’t precisely engines and often don’t have nearly as much reason as would be helpful – to make sense and have resonance.
But it’s all DEFINITELY worth a read.
Originally published at Reading Reality
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The sequel to Tchaikovksy’s science-fantasy blend Elder Race is finally with us after many long years in the form of Engines of Reason, and the war between magic and technology continues!
This ARC review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
Score: 3.25/5
After reviewing many… many books written by prolific author Adrian Tchaikovsky (this would be the third… this year!) I can safely say that I am among the ranks of Tchaikovsky fanatics. His sheer range of imagination and ability to craft entire worlds from intriguing themes should be taken apart and studied. In the Elder Race series, the author springs off Clarke’s Law, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic!” and creates a charming duology of novellas from that simple premise.
Elder Race introduced readers to the world of Sophos IV, a planet at the far reaches of Earth’s colonized world. The only survivor of Earth’s advanced scientists, Nyrgoth has watched a new generation of humans emerge and flourish on this far-flung planet. This post-colonial society has evolved into its own version of medieval feudalism mirroring fantasy worlds we have come to know and love. To the people of Sophos IV, Nyr, in his lonely tower, among his advanced Earth technology, is nothing short of a wizard wielding magic! The last survivor of the Elder Race.
In the sequel, Engines of Reason, Nyr’s technology-masked-as-magic dominance is threatened when a new force emerges, also mysteriously able to access Nyr’s ancient-Earth tech and positions themselves as an antagonist to Sophos IV’s new monarch. Returning to help Nyr fend off this threat is Lys Fourth Daughter, the rebellious sister of the new monarch and savior of the planet in the events of Elder Race.
Engines of Reason is a quick novella that proceeds at a nifty clip, deepening the lore of Sophos IV, the precarious political balance between the tenuous new queen and her subjects, while also fleshing out Nyr and Lys’ relationship giving the novella a depth that belies its format. While the plot itself is reasonably straightforward and predictable, it is at the fringes of the worldbuilding that Tchaikovsky weaves his true magic of narrative storytelling. He explores reactive governance and monarchical over-reach in a balanced way without devolving into dark fantasy tyranny, and puts more focus on the commoners, caught between the powers of might, magic, and technology.
I enjoyed Engines of Reason as a continuation of the ideas laid out in Elder Race and am glad that the author decided to revisit this world, which had and still has many more stories to tell!
At the end of the day, we all worship at the Altars of science, hope for the Wonders of Magic, but are ultimately driven by the Engines of Reason.
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley.
Read this review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
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This ARC review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
Score: 3.25/5
After reviewing many… many books written by prolific author Adrian Tchaikovsky (this would be the third… this year!) I can safely say that I am among the ranks of Tchaikovsky fanatics. His sheer range of imagination and ability to craft entire worlds from intriguing themes should be taken apart and studied. In the Elder Race series, the author springs off Clarke’s Law, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic!” and creates a charming duology of novellas from that simple premise.
Elder Race introduced readers to the world of Sophos IV, a planet at the far reaches of Earth’s colonized world. The only survivor of Earth’s advanced scientists, Nyrgoth has watched a new generation of humans emerge and flourish on this far-flung planet. This post-colonial society has evolved into its own version of medieval feudalism mirroring fantasy worlds we have come to know and love. To the people of Sophos IV, Nyr, in his lonely tower, among his advanced Earth technology, is nothing short of a wizard wielding magic! The last survivor of the Elder Race.
In the sequel, Engines of Reason, Nyr’s technology-masked-as-magic dominance is threatened when a new force emerges, also mysteriously able to access Nyr’s ancient-Earth tech and positions themselves as an antagonist to Sophos IV’s new monarch. Returning to help Nyr fend off this threat is Lys Fourth Daughter, the rebellious sister of the new monarch and savior of the planet in the events of Elder Race.
Engines of Reason is a quick novella that proceeds at a nifty clip, deepening the lore of Sophos IV, the precarious political balance between the tenuous new queen and her subjects, while also fleshing out Nyr and Lys’ relationship giving the novella a depth that belies its format. While the plot itself is reasonably straightforward and predictable, it is at the fringes of the worldbuilding that Tchaikovsky weaves his true magic of narrative storytelling. He explores reactive governance and monarchical over-reach in a balanced way without devolving into dark fantasy tyranny, and puts more focus on the commoners, caught between the powers of might, magic, and technology.
I enjoyed Engines of Reason as a continuation of the ideas laid out in Elder Race and am glad that the author decided to revisit this world, which had and still has many more stories to tell!
At the end of the day, we all worship at the Altars of science, hope for the Wonders of Magic, but are ultimately driven by the Engines of Reason.
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley.
Read this review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
Threads
September 8, 2026
Star Rating: 5 stars
Date: 9/6/26 – 9/8/26
Date: This is the 2nd book to Elder Race so this will not be an in-depth review to avoid spoilers.
Elder Race was one of the very first things that I read by Adrain Tchaikovsky and it started my love of the troupe of forgotten history turning to myth and legend and then being rediscovered for good or ill, which is now my favorite troupe and one of my auto buy/auto like things if I hear or find out it’s in a book or series. I was excited about him continuing the story, although I was a little confused about what direction he was going to take. I shouldn’t have worried because like always, Tchaikovsky knocked it out of the park, taking the narrative in an interesting way, that although you didn’t consider it, makes perfect sense for the narrative.
But to take a step back, let me give a short synopsis of this story because my gushing about it isn’t going to make sense otherwise. Elder Race opens with Lyn, who desperate to save her people from a “demon” travels to the “wizard’s” tower to implore him to help them. However, our wizard isn’t a wizard and there is much more going on with this narrative that is slowly revealed over time. It is a book that blends the lines of science fiction and fantasy, like Terry Brooks’s Shannara, so if you like that kind of narrative, then you’ll probably like this too. Engines of Reason picks up where Elder Race leaves off and takes the ideas established in Elder Race to new heights.
This book focuses a lot on myth and legend and its place in society, especially how a society will use it to try and explain the world that they find themselves in. Lyn’s people exist in a world that is filled with objects or “magics” that they don’t understand, and they have ancestral memories of “arks” bringing them here to this world, but they have lost the knowledge to truly define what that means. We, the readers, learn about and experience this dissonance through a myriad of different perspectives, both ones that know what is actually going on, ones that are discovering it, and ones that know just enough to use and manipulate those stories to get what they want and we see how this dissonance would not only affect these people knowingly and unknowingly, but also how it can be manipulated, for both good and ill, to progress culture further.
I really loved how this book expanded on and developed the ideas in Elder Race more, and I wouldn’t be mad if he was to make this an actual series, but with his nods to his other works, he doesn’t actually have to because we have seen and explored these ideas already in different ways across his whole catalog. They’re just my favorites so I always want more! 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 9/6/26 – 9/8/26
Date: This is the 2nd book to Elder Race so this will not be an in-depth review to avoid spoilers.
Elder Race was one of the very first things that I read by Adrain Tchaikovsky and it started my love of the troupe of forgotten history turning to myth and legend and then being rediscovered for good or ill, which is now my favorite troupe and one of my auto buy/auto like things if I hear or find out it’s in a book or series. I was excited about him continuing the story, although I was a little confused about what direction he was going to take. I shouldn’t have worried because like always, Tchaikovsky knocked it out of the park, taking the narrative in an interesting way, that although you didn’t consider it, makes perfect sense for the narrative.
But to take a step back, let me give a short synopsis of this story because my gushing about it isn’t going to make sense otherwise. Elder Race opens with Lyn, who desperate to save her people from a “demon” travels to the “wizard’s” tower to implore him to help them. However, our wizard isn’t a wizard and there is much more going on with this narrative that is slowly revealed over time. It is a book that blends the lines of science fiction and fantasy, like Terry Brooks’s Shannara, so if you like that kind of narrative, then you’ll probably like this too. Engines of Reason picks up where Elder Race leaves off and takes the ideas established in Elder Race to new heights.
This book focuses a lot on myth and legend and its place in society, especially how a society will use it to try and explain the world that they find themselves in. Lyn’s people exist in a world that is filled with objects or “magics” that they don’t understand, and they have ancestral memories of “arks” bringing them here to this world, but they have lost the knowledge to truly define what that means. We, the readers, learn about and experience this dissonance through a myriad of different perspectives, both ones that know what is actually going on, ones that are discovering it, and ones that know just enough to use and manipulate those stories to get what they want and we see how this dissonance would not only affect these people knowingly and unknowingly, but also how it can be manipulated, for both good and ill, to progress culture further.
I really loved how this book expanded on and developed the ideas in Elder Race more, and I wouldn’t be mad if he was to make this an actual series, but with his nods to his other works, he doesn’t actually have to because we have seen and explored these ideas already in different ways across his whole catalog. They’re just my favorites so I always want more! 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!
September 27, 2026
Good, but not nearly as good as the first book. I'm blown away by the reviews that claim it's better than the first. Yes, we get an expanded view of the world (which is why it's two stars not one), but there was zero character development and the plot felt entirely unnecessary.
The first book was so compelling because the main plot - the fight against the "demon" or whatever it was, was not actually the main point of the book. The bigger point was Nyr's journey from doing what he felt he should - stay apart, stay asleep and wait for a message from Earth - to doing what he needed to do - become friends with the locals and live as part of the world. It was a powerful look at depression and a character coming to terms with reality and making a change in his life for the better.
There was no subtext in this sequel. I feel like Tchaikovsky tried for a subplot by forcing a sort of conflict between Lyn and Nyr, but it felt contrived and shallow, and extremely disappointing because it showed Lyn had not changed AT ALL from the first book. In fact she went backwards. She's a little immature in the first book but that's understandable. One imagines that she grew up a little by facing the fact that reality isn't always as wonderful and easy as the stories she loves. But in the 15 years between the first book and this one she didn't mature at all?? The "problem" is so thin - she runs away from court because she can't face Nyr after it turns out her husband is a loser. So she didn't actually grow up at all? Yes, she has a little more knowledge courtesy of Nyr teaching her how to command the robots and giving her some high tech toys. But she's literally no different than she was in the first book.
Nyr is still a fun and interesting character, but he has no further development here. Same with Esha, and she has far less screen time than she deserves. The new characters were meh. The story was far too short to actually develop them into fully fleshed out characters.
And a big gripe I have is there was too much contemporary slang. Variations on "gaslighting" were used several times, and the line "Honestly, my expression is probably so patronizingly Well, actually that she'd be justified in killing me on the spot." while funny, completely took me out of the story. This is supposed to be set in a completely different time and place and modern slang and references to current internet culture just don't fit. Whatever editor let all that through did not do Tchaikovsky any favors.
Overall this sequel was a big disappointment. Maybe this is mostly just bridge story syndrome, and now that it's pretty obvious there will be more to this series, perhaps the next (last?) book will be better. I'm not very hopeful though.
The first book was so compelling because the main plot - the fight against the "demon" or whatever it was, was not actually the main point of the book. The bigger point was Nyr's journey from doing what he felt he should - stay apart, stay asleep and wait for a message from Earth - to doing what he needed to do - become friends with the locals and live as part of the world. It was a powerful look at depression and a character coming to terms with reality and making a change in his life for the better.
There was no subtext in this sequel. I feel like Tchaikovsky tried for a subplot by forcing a sort of conflict between Lyn and Nyr, but it felt contrived and shallow, and extremely disappointing because it showed Lyn had not changed AT ALL from the first book. In fact she went backwards. She's a little immature in the first book but that's understandable. One imagines that she grew up a little by facing the fact that reality isn't always as wonderful and easy as the stories she loves. But in the 15 years between the first book and this one she didn't mature at all?? The "problem" is so thin - she runs away from court because she can't face Nyr after it turns out her husband is a loser. So she didn't actually grow up at all? Yes, she has a little more knowledge courtesy of Nyr teaching her how to command the robots and giving her some high tech toys. But she's literally no different than she was in the first book.
Nyr is still a fun and interesting character, but he has no further development here. Same with Esha, and she has far less screen time than she deserves. The new characters were meh. The story was far too short to actually develop them into fully fleshed out characters.
And a big gripe I have is there was too much contemporary slang. Variations on "gaslighting" were used several times, and the line "Honestly, my expression is probably so patronizingly Well, actually that she'd be justified in killing me on the spot." while funny, completely took me out of the story. This is supposed to be set in a completely different time and place and modern slang and references to current internet culture just don't fit. Whatever editor let all that through did not do Tchaikovsky any favors.
Overall this sequel was a big disappointment. Maybe this is mostly just bridge story syndrome, and now that it's pretty obvious there will be more to this series, perhaps the next (last?) book will be better. I'm not very hopeful though.
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