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Cover of The Chronoliths by Robert Charles WilsonThe Chronoliths
Modern · Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy

The Chronoliths

by Robert Charles Wilson
2001 · 324 pages · Fiction
50.9Must-Read
Score Modern
Critics' pick
≈ 8 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

In 2021, a huge stone monument suddenly appears in Thailand, celebrating a military victory that will take place twenty years in the future, by a mysterious conqueror named Kuin. More monuments start appearing around the world, and Scott Warden, a software designer who witnessed the first, is drawn into the mystery.

Why it's worth reading

It was a Hugo finalist. It's a thoughtful, unsettling science fiction novel.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's character-driven.

By the numbers

50.9Must-Read Score
  • Readers0 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics25 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller7 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Hugo Award finalist (2002)

Reads as

Dark, Thought-provoking, Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

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Quick answers

Is The Chronoliths worth reading?

Yes. It was a Hugo finalist. It ranks #2,811 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 50.9 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Chronoliths about?

In 2021, a huge stone monument suddenly appears in Thailand, celebrating a military victory that will take place twenty years in the future, by a mysterious conqueror named Kuin. More monuments start appearing around the world, and Scott Warden, a software designer who witnessed the first, is drawn into the mystery.

How long does it take to read The Chronoliths?

About 8 hours (324 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The Chronoliths?

If you liked it, try Blind Lake by Robert Charles Wilson, Spin by Robert Charles Wilson or The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter.