Science fiction: aliens / UFOs

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD FINALIST 2022Drink down the brew and dream of a better Earth.Skyward Inn, within the high walls of the Western Protectorate, is a place of safety, where people come together to tell stories of the time before the war with Qita.But safety from what? Qita surrendered without complaint when Earth invaded; Innkeepers Jem and Isley, veterans from either side, have regrets but few scars.Their peace is disturbed when a visitor known to Isley comes to the Inn asking for help, bringing reminders of an unnerving past and triggering an uncertain future.Did humanity really win the war?This is Jamaica Inn by way of Jeff Vandermeer, Ursula Le Guin, Angela Carter and Michel Faber, a beautiful story of belonging, identity and regret.Trade Review“Skyward Inn is an experience. Whiteley is a strong voice in speculative fiction and readers will be delighted and unsettled by her novels for years to come.” -- The Nerd Daily -- Kibby Robinson * The Nerd Daily *"Whiteley takes the reader on a cryptic journey of trust, identity and knowing your place in the world." -- Starburst Magazine -- Fred McNamara * Starburst Magazine *"There are some books that are simply beautiful. And Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley is one of those." -- Libri Draconis * Libri Draconis *"Whiteley's trademark subtle surrealism shines." -- Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *"A melancholy and compellingly weird tale of identity in crisis." -- SFX -- Will Salmon * SFX *“Skyward Inn feels like an instant classic of the genre.” -- The Guardian -- Lisa Tuttle * The Guardian *"Rarely has a writer who is not Philip K. Dick had so much fun building a world only to take it apart." -- LA Times -- Noah Berlatsky * LA Times *"When it comes to misdirection, Aliya Whiteley is the very devil." --The Times -- Simon Ings * The Times *The Times SF Book of the Month * The Times *"Whiteley explores questions of identification, attachment and belonging, tying everything together in a wonderfully surreal and weirdly uplifting denouement." -- The FT -- James Lovegrove * The FT *"Skyward Inn is a quietly disarming and beautiful book that masterfully blends literary conventions with science fiction." -- Dark Matter Magazine -- Alexander Pyles * Dark Matter Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThis is a dramatic reinvention of the very first Doctor Who novel from 1963 and the hundreds of novels that followed, but few can claim to have surpassed its powerful storytelling and unique atmosphere. Written by Doctor Who's first story editor, David Whitaker and lavishly illustrated by acclaimed comic book artist Robert Hack.Adapted from Terry Nation's first Dalek story, DOCTOR WHO AND THE DALEKS sees Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright caught up in the flight through time and space of the mysterious Doctor and his granddaughter Susan. They travel in the TARDIS to the planet Skaro, where they strive to save the peace-loving Thals from the evil intentions of the hideous Daleks. Can they succeed? And if they do, will Ian and Barbara ever again see their native Earth?This is the ultimate edition of an iconic novel - a deluxe volume that embraces both proud tradition and modern innovation to present the drama of a Dalek dystopia as you've never seen it before...

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Book SynopsisTwo Ships. One Chance To Save The Future.Fleeing the final days of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven’s freighter the Jonah breaks down in a strange rift in deep space, with little chance of rescue—until they encounter the research vessel Gallion, which claims to be from 152 years in the future.The Gallion’s chief engineer Uma Ozakka has always been fascinated with the past, especially the tale of the Fortunate Five, who ended the war with the Felen. When the Gallion rescues a run-down junk freighter, Ozakka is shocked to recognize the Five's legendary ship—and the Five's famed leader, Eldric Leesongronski, among the crew.But nothing else about Leesongronski and his crewmates seems to match up with the historical record. With their ships running out of power in the rift, more than the lives of both crews may be at stake...Trade Review"In Under Fortunate Stars, Ren Hutchings has written a space opera that is close and personal in its conflicts and, at the same time, wide-reaching in its scope. This is destined to be one of the breakout science fiction novels of 2022." -- Michael Mammay, Author of the Planetside series"Under Fortunate Stars is an immensely fun space opera adventure, chock full of surprises and wonderful characters, laced through with humor and heart. Fans of Becky Chambers and Valerie Valdes will love this." -- John Appel"Under Fortunate Stars combines a richly drawn world, complicated characters, and a time-travel plot that unwinds forward and backward, with stakes both massive and intensely personal." -- K. Eason, author of Nightwatch on the Hinterlands"Questions of fate, predetermination and stepping into history are cleverly wrapped in an engrossing time travel tale." -- Paul Simpson, Sci-Fi Bulletin"Under Fortunate Stars takes familiar themes of time travel, interspecies conflict, and ensemble crews to spin a wholly original and compulsively readable story. Ren Hutchings’ first novel is exciting, funny, truthful – and a thoughtful account of the necessity of trusting both ourselves and strangers to secure our future and live in peace." -- Una McCormack"Under Fortunate Stars is a perfect novel featuring my favorite time-travel paradox. Ren Hutchings weaves together a tapestry of past and present with a deft hand in this tender space opera about two crews doing everything they can to build peace out of the ashes of war. This is an absolute must-read for anyone needing a little hope." -- K.B. Wagers, author of Hold Fast Through the Fire"A fun, puzzle box of a mystery!" -- Megan E. O'Keefe, author of Velocity Weapon"If the Guardians of the Galaxy crashed the Foundation... A twisty, enthralling space-time opera. Fortunate readers, and a future star." -- Stephen Baxter“One of the best books I’ve read this year.” -- Gareth L. Powell“Boasting a heart full of hope, captivating characters you can’t help but root for, and a breathless, high-octane mystery, Under Fortunate Stars is the kind of space opera we need right now.” -- Karen Osborne"Rifts in time and space, humour and a cast of compelling characters. An electrifying mix of wild ideas, vivid far futures and good fun." -- Eeleen Lee"An engrossing mystery gene-spliced with a thrilling sci-fi adventure, Under Fortunate Stars feels like a newly unearthed classic that’s miraculously stood the test of time. Driven by a cast of complex characters who deepen with every new layer of the mystery revealed, it builds to a thrilling, head-spinning climax. Reading it is like being sucked into a mysterious time rift, and you’ll love every lost moment." -- SJ Whitby, author of the Cute Mutants series"Smart, slick, and mind-blowingly twisty, Under Fortunate Stars pits a memorable ensemble cast against impossible odds: fragile timelines, fifth-dimension science, and explosive politics. Woven with crackling wit, this is an unmissable debut." -- Claire Winn, author of City of Shattered Light"Hutchings lovingly fuses a sprawling cast of charmingly flawed characters and a plot with many moving parts into a smooth and satisfying whole." -- Publishers Weekly“An engaging space saga with time-travel twists, and a compelling look at how past and future are created by not only by those who live it but those who record it.” -- Library Journal (Starred Review) * Library Journal *“An engrossing interstellar escapade with appeal for fans of Becky Chambers, Alex White, and S.K. Dunstall.” -- Booklist * Booklist *Library Journal Debut of the Month * Library Journal *“An entertaining, engrossing read.” -- Buzzfeed * Buzzfeed *‘A deeply human book’ -- Locus * Locus *“Ren Hutchings has earned comparisons to Becky Chambers, Alex White, and S.K. Dunstall” -- Den of Geek * Den of Geek *

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Book SynopsisFrom the pages of UK comic Valiant - a series of amazing text stories featuring the strangest hero of all time!Accidental exposure to a form of natural radiation had caused scientist Jason Hyde's eyes to turn colourless and emit blue rays which gave him the power to see through solid objects and to read the thoughts of human beings. Hyde has dedicated his life to investigating strange phenomena and protecting the world from all manner of abnormal threats!From giant sentient spiders to a warlike race of subterranean humanoids, Jason Hyde is the Earth's only hope!

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Book SynopsisThe action-packed official adaptation of Alien: Isolation and a revealing look into the lives of Ellen Ripley and her daughter, Amanda Ripley.THE OFFICIAL VIDEO GAME ADAPTATION--AND MUCH MORE!From birth, Amanda Ripley's life is riddled with hardship. Her parents live on the edge of poverty, so her mother--Ellen Ripley--seeks off-world contracts that lead to a position aboard the commercial hauler Nostromo. Then when the deep-space vessel disappears, Amanda passes into adulthood focused on discovering one thing.WHAT HAPPENED TO ELLEN RIPLEY?Amanda's quest pulls her into the underbelly of society, where few can be trusted. On Luna she meets someone who seems the exception--Private Zula Hendricks of the Colonial Marines but their relationship is short-lived. Just as Amanda appears to hit rock bottom... a lead appears.To follow it, she must travel to the remote Sevastopol Station. There she hopes to find the answers she seeks. But the station is in ruins, and death stalks the corridors in the form of a deadly alien the likes of which she never could have imagined.

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Engines of Light series that began with COSMONAUT KEEP and DARK LIGHT reaches its staggering conclusion in ENGINE CITY.For ten thousand years the varied races of the Second Sphere lived in peaceful co-existence, building their civilisations under the gaze of the ever-vigilant cometary minds. But then the cosmonauts of the Bright Star came. And with them they have brought a revolution ... For one of the Bright Star's crew has warned that an invasion of the Second Sphere is imminent and has armed the ancient city of Nova Babylonia against it. Another cosmonaut thinks he's the very man to lead the invasion. The new regime of Nova Babylonia is certain it can withstand the alien onslaught. Whether it can defend itself against Matt Cairns is a question only the gods can answer ...Find out more about this and other titles at www.orbitbooks.co.ukTrade ReviewDistinctive, politically challenging, both tantalizing and satisfying -- KIRKUS REVIEWSFor my money, Ken MacLeod is the current champion of the very smartest kind of New Space Opera... every variation on his themes produces something worth re-reading. -- LOCUSRarely does a book demand so much of the reader-and then deliver. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLYMacLeod's inventiveness, verbal playfulness, and bloody-minded irony never flag for a moment. -- LOCUSKen's books are always a delight to read ...I heartily recommend the entire series to anyone who has not yet begun them. As anyone who has read Ken's earlier work, such as the STAR FRACTION or the CASSINI DIVISION will know he creates excellent novels full of SF for the more demanding reader, venturing into the effects of new technologies and ideological and political ways of thinking, elevating the novels way above the normal 'space opera * level (fun as they are). Absorbing and fascinating, I couldn't stop reading this.’ *THEALIENONLINE * 'The modern-day George Orwell’ *SFX * 'A hectic ride, through slaloms of audacious complexity, irreverent ingenuity and paradox as purposeful as it is playful’ *GUARDIAN * ‘Magnificent … a series you’d be wise to follow from the start’ *

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Book Synopsis'Thought-provoking and entertaining, this highly original first-contact story should please any science fiction reader.' - School Library Journal'Mind-expanding science fiction at its best; it is no surprise that it has been shortlisted for all the main science fiction awards.' - THE TIMESThe great sunliner 'But the Sky, My Lady! The Sky!' is nearing the end of a four-hundred-year journey. A ship-born generation is tense with expectation for the new system that is to be their home. Expecting to find nothing more complex than bacteria and algae, the detection of electronic signals from one of the planets comes as a shock. In millennia of slow expansion, humanity has never encountered aliens, and yet these new signals cannot be ignored. They suspect a fast robot probe has overtaken them, and send probes of their own to investigate.On a world called Ground, whose inhabitants are struggling into the age of radio, petroleum and powered flight, a young astronomer searching for distant planets detects an anomaly that he presumes must be a comet. His friend, a brilliant foreign physicist, calculates the orbit, only to discover an anomaly of his own. The comet is slowing down ...Reminding us that the universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we CAN imagine, LEARNING THE WORLD is a stunning novel of exploration, discovery and Mankind's destiny amongst the stars.Books by Ken MacLeod:Fall RevolutionThe Star FractionThe Stone CanalThe Cassini DivisionThe Sky RoadEngines of LightCosmonaut KeepDark LightEngine CityCorporation Wars TrilogyDissidenceInsurgenceEmergenceNovelsThe Human FrontNewton's WakeLearning the WorldThe Execution ChannelThe Restoration GameIntrusionDescentTrade ReviewAs always with this deeply political writer, the book is chock-full of well-done extrapolation concerning the political and economic workings of his various societies. This is contemporary SF at its best. -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)Thought-provoking and entertaining, this highly original first-contact story should please any science fiction reader. -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALMacLeod continues to dazzle readers with vividly rendered landscapes of technological splendor and fascinating yet plausible visions of humanity's future. -- BOOKLISTMind-expanding science fiction at its best; it is no surprise that it has been shortlisted for all the main science fiction awards. * THE TIMES *A charismatic, inventive story of space travel and discovery * SFX *A beautiful piece of stylish writing. . . Gripping and convincing * STARBURST *Ken MacLeod outdoes himself with Learning the World. . . don't miss this one * ANALOG *

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