Humanity’s golden age of technological and scientific advancement reaches its peak when Dr. Avrana Kern, a brilliant and ambitious scientist, embarks on an audacious project to terraform a distant planet. The goal is to create a new Eden, complete with primates genetically engineered to evolve rapidly into an intelligent species. However, disaster strikes when a faction of humanity—opposed to Dr. Kern’s work—sabotages the project, triggering a catastrophic collapse of human civilization. The experiment goes horribly wrong: instead of primates, the evolutionary virus lands on the planet’s native population of jumping spiders, accelerating their development in ways no one could have anticipated.

As human civilization crumbles, Dr. Kern’s ship is left orbiting the planet in an automated state, with only her consciousness preserved in the ship’s AI systems. Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, the spiders begin their slow but extraordinary journey toward intelligence. Over generations, the virus accelerates their cognitive abilities, social structures, and technological advancements, allowing them to overcome evolutionary hurdles that might have taken millions of years under natural conditions.

Through the perspective of several spider generations, represented by evolving iterations of key figures like Portia and Bianca, we witness their struggles and triumphs as they develop into an advanced civilization. Their society is built upon a matriarchal order, intricate web-based communication, and a deeply communal sense of cooperation. They battle against threats such as primitive, aggressive ant species and internal conflicts over resources, all while making startling scientific discoveries, including the ability to manipulate their environment in ways that mimic human technological advancements.

In parallel, remnants of human civilization continue to drift through space aboard the last great ark ship, the Gilgamesh, led by a desperate and fractured society. As their ancestors’ homeworld perished, these refugees searched for a habitable planet, clinging to the vestiges of their once-great empire. Their voyage is filled with strife, conflict, and the struggle to maintain both technological knowledge and social cohesion. Centuries pass, and their search for a new home leads them to Dr. Kern’s world—the only surviving terraformed planet in existence.

But when the human refugees arrive, they are met with an unexpected challenge: the planet is no longer theirs to claim. The evolved spider civilization, unaware of humanity’s plight, sees them as an invading force. Dr. Kern’s AI, still orbiting the planet, initially perceives the humans as inferior to her intended experiment, dismissing their claim to the world. The stage is set for a climactic confrontation between an intelligent arachnid species and a desperate remnant of humankind.

What follows is a gripping and intense struggle between two species, each with their own right to survival. The humans, weakened by their long, harrowing journey, are faced with a choice: attempt to conquer the planet by force or find a way to coexist with its unexpected inhabitants. Meanwhile, the spiders, despite their alien biology, grapple with their first major encounter with another sentient race, forcing them to reconsider their worldview and the very nature of intelligence and cooperation.

As tensions rise, an unlikely bridge is formed between the two species. Through careful observation and shared learning, the humans begin to understand the spider’s intricate society, while the spiders—guided by their most visionary leaders—realize that humanity is not merely a threat, but a potential ally. In a breathtaking climax, both species must decide whether to engage in mutual destruction or forge a new path together.

Children of Time is a masterfully crafted epic that challenges readers to think about evolution, intelligence, and the fragility of civilization. With its rich storytelling, fascinating characters, and deeply philosophical undertones, Adrian Tchaikovsky delivers one of the most unique and compelling science fiction novels of the modern era.