human-survival
The struggle for humanity to endure and find purpose in a vast, empty universe, as exemplified by the characters' reactions to their long journey and the potential discovery ahead.
2 chapters across 1 book
Children of Time (2015)Adrian Tchaikovsky
In this chapter, Holsten Mason awakens from a long period of suspended animation aboard the ark ship Gilgamesh, only to discover that nearly two thousand years have passed. He learns from Isa Lain, the chief engineer, that a signal has been detected, prompting a sense of urgency and potential hope for humanity's survival as they prepare to investigate its origin.
In this chapter, Commander Guyen decides to leave the green planet under the care of Doctor Avrana Kern while plotting a new course for the Gilgamesh to explore other systems. The crew grapples with the implications of their choices, including the potential dangers of their new destination, and they encounter a mysterious and threatening creature through a drone's feed, challenging their understanding of the world they are leaving behind.