Children of Ruin

The portrayal of alien life feels so unique and layered—I'm curious whether the author drew from real scientific theories or pure imagination. How did that influence the world-building?

I loved the depth but found some sections a bit dense. Was that intentional to emphasize the scientific themes or just part of the storytelling style?

The book seems to suggest evolution is a universal process. What implications does that have for how we see life in the universe, in your opinion?