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*''Thalric'': Wasp-kinden. Thalric starts the series as a major in the Rekef, which is the [[secret service]] of the Wasp Empire. However his allegiances vary throughout the series more than any other character.
*''Thalric'': Wasp-kinden. Thalric starts the series as a major in the Rekef, which is the [[secret service]] of the Wasp Empire. However his allegiances vary throughout the series more than any other character.
*''Totho'': Halfbreed artificer and [[Unrequited love]]r of Cheerwell Maker. Totho is the inverter of the snapbow which significantly changes the course of the war. This introduces the recurring theme of the [[Arms Race]].
*''Totho'': Halfbreed artificer and [[Unrequited love]]r of Cheerwell Maker. Totho is the inverter of the snapbow which significantly changes the course of the war. This introduces the recurring theme of the [[Arms Race]].

====Magic v Technology====

Tchaikovsky has regularly expressed his intention in this [[fantasy]] series not to make [[science]] better than [[magic]], or vice versa: ''This is another key element, really: the magic/tech divide is a concept that turns up here and there in fantasy, but usually one side is good (mostly magic) and the other (dirty polluting tech) is bad. With the world of the kinden, they’re basically both as bad as the people who use them, whether it’s blood sacrifice in a Mantis-kinden grove or the Wasp Empire’s city-levelling weaponry.''<ref>http://londoncalling.com/show/interview-with-adrian-tchaikovsky-author-of-shadow-of-the-apt-series#BLYtJLufO5KYWjVZ.99</ref>


=== ''Portia's Children'' ===
=== ''Portia's Children'' ===

Revision as of 18:20, 8 October 2014

Adrian Czajkowski
BornWoodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
OccupationAuthor and Legal Executive
LanguageEnglish
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Reading
Period2008 - Present
GenreFantasy
SubjectZoology and Psychology
Notable worksShadows of the Apt series.
Website
shadowsoftheapt.com

Adrian Czajkowski (spelled as Adrian Tchaikovsky in his books) is a British fantasy author. His best known work is the Shadows of the Apt series.[1] Tor Books has announced it would publish a new science fiction book by Tchaikovsky after Shadows of the Apt has finished.[2]

Biography

Adrain Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. He studied Zoology and Psychology at the University of Reading. He then qualified as a Legal Executive. He is currently employed as a Legal Executive in the Commercial Dispute Department of Blacks, Solicitors, Leeds.[3] He now lives in Leeds with his wife and son.[4][5][6]

After fifteen years of trying to get published Tchaikovsky obtained his first break in 2008.[7] That year Empire in Black and Gold was published by Tor (UK) – an imprint of Pan Macmillan – in the United Kingdom. The series was later picked up for publication in America by Pyr Books. He has stated in his blog, that he chose to publish under the name Tchaikovsky, as the spelling of his given name could have caused potential difficulties for American and British readers in both spelling and pronunciation. This is a common marketing approach in both UK and US publishing industries, where the publishers feel a name should be altered to help sales. Subsequently the American and German editions of the book and its sequels were published under the same name. Tchaikovsky expressed desire that the Polish editions of his novels be printed under his real name,[8] but these too used "Tchaikovsky".[9]

Bibliography

Shadows of the Apt series

Setting

The series is set in a hypothetical universe populated by different "kinden". Each kinden is a fictional race of humans, named after (and having certain characteristics of) an insect. Kinden are typically divided into two categories: "Apt" and "Inapt". The Apt do not have magical abilities, but are able to understand, use and design mechanical devices. The Inapt have varying amounts of magical abilities, but cannot use mechanical devices, even those as simple as latches. The series focuses on the attempted conquest of the Lowlands by the Wasp-kinden empire.

Live Action Role Play

Genesis of the Apt

Tchaikovsky revealed the story behind the Shadows of the Apt in an online essay entitled Entering the Shadows at Upcoming4.me.[10] Whilst studying at the University of Reading he ran a Role-playing game called Bugworld. Bugworld told the story of the insect-people of the Lowlands, under threat from the encroaching Wasp Empire. From this original scenario the entire series of books subsequently grew.

Tchaikovsky still uses Role-playing games to help construct his stories, but now this is Live action role-playing which assist in describing the numerous action and battle sequences in his books. Adrian is currently involved with the LARP game Empire.[11]

Novels

The list of novels in the series is as follows:[12][13]

  • Empire in Black and Gold (2008), ISBN 978-0-230-73646-7
  • Dragonfly Falling (2009), ISBN 978-0-230-70415-2
  • Blood of the Mantis (2009), ISBN 978-0-230-70416-9
  • Salute the Dark (2010), ISBN 978-0-330-51144-5
  • The Scarab Path (2010), ISBN 978-0-330-51145-2
  • The Sea Watch (2011), ISBN 978-0-330-51146-9
  • Heirs of the Blade (2011), ISBN 978-0-230-75699-1
  • The Air War (2012), ISBN 978-0-230-75700-4
  • War Master's Gate (2013), ISBN 978-0-230-75701-1
  • Seal of the Worm (2014), ISBN 978-0-230-77001-0

Principal Characters in Shadows of the Apt

  • Stenwold Maker: Beetle-kinden spymaster and statesman. The character is pivotal to the entire series and was created back in the "Bugworld" game. Stenwold Maker runs a network of spies throughout the Lowlands. He is based at Collegium the city of learning and the series starts with him warning of the growing dangers from the Wasp Empire when no one else is listening.
  • Tisamon: Mantis-kinden Weaponmaster. This character is the most savage warrior in the series with a tortured past.
  • Tynisa: Halfbreed daughter of Tisamon and part of his tortured past.
  • Cheerwell Maker: (Che) Beetle-kinden, niece of Stenwold Maker. Cheerwell Maker is a rather bumbling character (because she is "inapt") who nevertheless becomes a key player in the series.
  • Thalric: Wasp-kinden. Thalric starts the series as a major in the Rekef, which is the secret service of the Wasp Empire. However his allegiances vary throughout the series more than any other character.
  • Totho: Halfbreed artificer and Unrequited lover of Cheerwell Maker. Totho is the inverter of the snapbow which significantly changes the course of the war. This introduces the recurring theme of the Arms Race.

Magic v Technology

Tchaikovsky has regularly expressed his intention in this fantasy series not to make science better than magic, or vice versa: This is another key element, really: the magic/tech divide is a concept that turns up here and there in fantasy, but usually one side is good (mostly magic) and the other (dirty polluting tech) is bad. With the world of the kinden, they’re basically both as bad as the people who use them, whether it’s blood sacrifice in a Mantis-kinden grove or the Wasp Empire’s city-levelling weaponry.[14]

Portia's Children

Portia's Children is a science fiction novel, planned for release by Tor Books in summer 2015.[2][needs update]

Short Stories

  • Feast and Famine in Solaris Rising 2 Solaris Books, 2013, ISBN 978-1-78108-087-0

References

  1. ^ Tomio, Jay (26 September 2008). "On the Spot at BSC – Adrian Tchaikovsky interview". BookSpotCentral. Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Pagan, Bella (14 January 2014). "New Book Deal: Tor Acquires Science Fiction From Established Fantasy Author". Tor Books Blog. Tor Books. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  3. ^ http://www.lawblacks.com/Portals/43/pdf/WhosWho.pdf
  4. ^ "Pan Macmillan author page". Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  5. ^ Tchaikovsky, Adrian (2010). The Scarab Path. Tor Books. ISBN 978-0-330-51145-2.
  6. ^ Wright, Jonathan (September 2009). "Meet a Brit author in the vanguard of the new heroic fantasy…". SFX Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Adrian Tchaikovsky interview
  8. ^ Tchaikovsky, Adrian (30 March 2008). "The Long Good Lunch". Empire Rising. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. However, as the possibility of the Polish rights being sold seems extremely viable, there is an epilogue to this tale of Frankish ignorance, for in Poland, one would strongly assume, I may finally see my name in print in its unadulterated form. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Imprerium Czerni i złota - Adrian Tchaikovsky" (in Polish). Rebis. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  10. ^ "Story behind Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Entering the Shadows". Upcoming4.me. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  11. ^ http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire;jsessionid=17t6iey5fj5mj?0
  12. ^ "Adrian Tchaikovsky". Pan Macmillan. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  13. ^ Tchaikovsky, Adrian (3 February 2013). "Bibliography". Shadows of the Apt (blog). Pan Macmillan. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ http://londoncalling.com/show/interview-with-adrian-tchaikovsky-author-of-shadow-of-the-apt-series#BLYtJLufO5KYWjVZ.99

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