Page Break Podcast Episode 57: Adrian Tchaikovsky

The fifty seventh episode of my podcast Page Break is now out! In this episode, my guest is the prolific, award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Adrian Tchaikovsky.

Adrian is known for his early epic fantasy, Shadows of the Apt, and for his lauded Children of Time series, the third book of which should be out by the time this podcast airs. He’s also got the brand-new stand-alone City of Last Chances and a whole massive backlist of novel and short stories.

Adrian and I chat about his early career in the British legal system, our experiences transitioning to full time authors, and the way external conditions affect our writing. We talk about Adrian’s interest in zoology and the role insects have played in his writing, as well as the tropes in epic fantasy that irritate us. We also touch on propaganda, tribalism, and human psychology.


Page Break with Brian McClellan is a collection of casual conversations between me and fellow creative professionals—like two friends sitting down over lunch to discuss career, craft, family, and hobbies.

Authorhood is a quiet sort of minor fame where the person behind the words is often obscured by the works they’ve created. I aim to use this podcast to find out more about my friends and colleagues.

Look forward to weekly conversations with creators like TV writer/producer Joseph Mallozzi, epic fantasy author Robin Hobb, science fiction author Pierce Brown, Twitch streamer Mark Hulmes, and many more!

Casey BlairComment