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This was an exciting one! Humanity have started terraforming planets, and seeding them with Earth-life. The goal is to Uplift monkeys to self-consciousness, by fast-tracking evolution with a nanovirus that selects for empathy and intelligence.

The project is all but abondoned when human civilazation violently self-destructs. The nanovirus quietly continues its work, but...acting on spiders(!) instead of monkeys.

We get to follow the spiders as they evolve, and it is a fascinating journey. Their cultural and technological advances sometimes echoes our own, and sometimes diverges in surprising ways.

A parallell subplot deals with an arkship, carrying the last scraps of humanity away from away from a dying Earth, in search of a new home.

Admittedly, Tchaikovsky is better at plotting and worldbuilding than at character portrayals, which can make the book feel a little dry at some times. But the universe he creates is intriguing enough to keep you reading.

The novel seems to take quite a dim view of humanity's chanches as a species to evolve beyond self-destructive violence. But it is not excessively gritty and dark for grittiness own sake (refreshing!). There are moments of personal moral elevation for some of the characters that balances the overall pessismistic view.

All in all, a very worthwhile and thought-provoking read. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.