Elder Race

In Adrian Tchaikovsky's Elder Race, a junior anthropologist on a distant planet is called to aid the local inhabitants in their desperate struggle against a formidable enemy. Lynesse, the underestimated Fourth Daughter of the queen, faces her fears and responsibilities as she seeks to invoke an ancient pact with the Elder sorcerer residing in a long-abandoned tower. However, as she discovers, Elder Nyr's true nature and knowledge may challenge her understanding of the looming threat, blurring the lines between magic and science.