The Children of Time series

The "Children of Time" series by Adrian Tchaikovsky explores the rise of intelligent civilizations over vast timescales. It begins with humans attempting to uplift a dying planet's native spiders, leading to the emergence of highly intelligent spider species. Meanwhile, humanity faces decline and rebirth across different worlds, with themes of evolution, coexistence, and the persistence of life. The series examines how advanced societies evolve, adapt, and sometimes clash, emphasizing the unpredictable and resilient nature of life shaped by both scientific progress and natural evolution. It blends science fiction with thoughtful reflections on civilization and intelligence.