Ahoy there mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
walking to aldebaran (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
Title: walking to aldebaran
Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Publisher: Rebellion / Solaris
Publication Date: TODAY !!! (hardback/e-book)
ISBN: 978-1781087060
Source: NetGalley
I have been meaning to try Adrian Tchaikovsky’s work for ages now, so when I saw this beautiful cover I took a chance. Turns out this 140 page story deals with first contact through the dark humor of Gary the astronaut.
An alien rock was discovered out in Oort Cloud and Gary was one of the astronauts sent to explore this amazing find. Of course disaster strikes and Gary is separated from his team and is lost inside the artifact. The story is told from alternating sections of Gary’s present and Gary’s perspective on the discovery of the artifact and how he ended up in his predicament. The problem? Gary seems a just a bit insane.
I actually really enjoyed Gary’s unreliable narration. It did take me a minute to get absorbed into the story because Gary’s modus operandi is a rather scattered approach of putting his thoughts together. But I wanted desperately to know more about the artifact and how it works. So I kept reading and found that I loved following Gary on his rather desperate journey. I was both entertained and horrified by poor Gary.
Turns out there are way more questions than answers. Also the physics of place kinda hurt me noggin. But I very much enjoyed the expedition and the silly ending. This was fun. I will certainly be picking up more works by Adrian Tchaikovsky in the future. Arrrr!
Side note: “Aldebaran” from the title is the fourteenth brightest star in our sky and is known as the “Eye of Taurus.” The name derives from the Arabic for “the follower.” Cool!
Goodreads has this to say about the novel:
My name is Gary Rendell. I’m an astronaut. When they asked me as a kid what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said, “astronaut, please!” I dreamed astronaut, I worked astronaut, I studied astronaut.
I got lucky; when a probe sent out to explore the Oort Cloud found a strange alien rock and an international team of scientists was put together to go and look at it, I made the draw.
I got even luckier. When disaster hit and our team was split up, scattered through the endless cold tunnels, I somehow survived.
Now I’m lost, and alone, and scared, and there’s something horrible in here.
Lucky me.
Lucky, lucky, lucky.
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Captain's Quarters 
I adore Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time and from how you describe this story it sounds like it’s got a few similarities! I tried to read his fantasy book The Tiger and the Wolf and just couldn’t get into it so gave up… which is weird because I presumed I’d love it too. Anyway, this one sounds more up my alley!
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Recently, I tried to read some really science-y science fiction in a book called We Are Legion: We Are Bob. I think my head almost exploded. I wonder if readers what more hard-core science in the science fiction thanks to books like The Martian.
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Ah that book. I will link to the review below which has both me thoughts as well as those of the first mate. I don’t mind some hard-core science in me reading. The Martian had science that was accessible. Physics and I are not friends so if it has too much I be lost. It cannot be too much theory. Arrr!
x The Captain
https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/22/abandon-ship-we-are-legion-we-are-bob-dennis-e-taylor/
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Great review, Cap – and many thanks for bring this one to my attention – because for some reason, this one has slipped through and I haven’t read it! I’m delighted you enjoyed this and very much hope you go on to equally enjoy his longer fiction:))
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This one is so fun. I am pretty sure ye will be delighted by it. I just bought his dogs of war as the first foray into the longer fiction. I be excited. Arrr!
x The Captain
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I’ve been meaning to read Tchaikovsky’s work, too. Maybe this would be a better place to start than the trilogy I had been eying before.
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I am currently trying to read the standalones for authors that I haven’t read. The series shakedown is still in progress and so I don’t want to commit to any more series if I can help it at the moment. Of course if I love the standalones then all bets are off. This story is quirky and seems to be a good indication of his style. I will soon be reading one of his longer works so time will tell.
x The Captain
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That’s a really good point. I’ve been trying to ignore how many series I have on the go, because I got too overwhelmed last time I did a series wrap-up post. But the problem with that is that I’m not paying attention to which series I need to finish… I guess it’s time I did another series post to remind myself to work on them. 😉 Standalones are a good way to get a feel for an author without getting roped into another series, though. Good call.
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I currently be working on the “finished series I haven’t even started list” and a) it’s so long despite the weeding, and b) I was amazed at how practically all of them are new to me authors. I think some I am hesitant to start because I don’t know if the author will work for me. It’s kinda a mess. But with 80 active series that I be working through, I have to TRY to be picky. Even if it is not working at the moment. Arrr!
x The Captain
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I guess trying to be picky is a good thing… but 80 active series? Wow. That’s a lot.
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I need to try out this author’s works also. This one might be a good place to start.
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I liked this story enough to want to get some of his longer works. I think the next will be one of his standalones.
x The Captain
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Tchaikovsky’s on my list to read this year for sure. Not sure why I’ve waited so long😊
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I don’t know why I waited so long either since a lot of the crew loves his stuff. I mean to read a novel of his by the end of the summer. Arrr!
x The Captain
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