Science fiction: apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic

Book Synopsis“Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story” –Analog SFReclaimed Earth Book 2In the year 2737, Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations.Tem, the nine-year-old son of a ringstation anthropologist and a Happdal bow-hunter, wants nothing more than to become a blacksmith like his uncle Trond. But after a rough patch as the only brown-skinned child in the village, his mother Car-En decides that the family should spend some time on the Stanford ringstation. Tem gets caught up in the battle against Umana, the tentacle-enhanced Squid Woman , while protecting a secret that could change the course of humanity and civilization.The Guardian, the sequel to the The Sky Woman, is a story of colliding worlds and the contested repopulation of a wild Earth.FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.Trade Review“Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story”

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Book Synopsis“Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story” –Analog SFReclaimed Earth Book 2In the year 2737, Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations.Tem, the nine-year-old son of a ringstation anthropologist and a Happdal bow-hunter, wants nothing more than to become a blacksmith like his uncle Trond. But after a rough patch as the only brown-skinned child in the village, his mother Car-En decides that the family should spend some time on the Stanford ringstation. Tem gets caught up in the battle against Umana, the tentacle-enhanced Squid Woman , while protecting a secret that could change the course of humanity and civilization.The Guardian, the sequel to the The Sky Woman, is a story of colliding worlds and the contested repopulation of a wild Earth.FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.Trade Review“Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story”

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Book SynopsisBook 3 in the Reclaimed Earth series, praised by Analog SF, Compelling Science Fiction, Cemetery Dance and more! Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations, as well as in a few isolated traditional communities on Earth. Jana, a young Sardinian woman, is in line to become the next maghiarja (sorceress) by way of an ancient technology that hosts a community of minds. Maro, an ambitious worldship artist, has designs to use the townsfolk as guinea pigs in a brutally invasive psychological experiment. Jana must protect her people and lead them into the future, while deciding whom to trust amongst possible ringstation allies. FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePressTrade ReviewPraise for book 1 and 2 in the Reclaimed Earth series: “Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story.” — Analog SF "A wonderfully entertaining debut novel." — Compelling Science Fiction "...wildly imaginative and totally entertaining. J.D. Moyer, you have yourself a new fan." — Cemetery Dance "The Sky Woman scores on so many points. Great characters (I include the ostensible bad guy Adrian), several intertwining complex stories, a highly imaginative future Earth for a setting and the possibility of exciting future instalments." — Whiskey with my Book "The Sky Woman is an interesting blend of historical and sci-fi elements, that really brings a rather unique voice to the genre." — In Libris Veritas

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Book SynopsisBook 3 in the Reclaimed Earth series, praised by Analog SF, Compelling Science Fiction, Cemetery Dance and more! Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations, as well as in a few isolated traditional communities on Earth. Jana, a young Sardinian woman, is in line to become the next maghiarja (sorceress) by way of an ancient technology that hosts a community of minds. Maro, an ambitious worldship artist, has designs to use the townsfolk as guinea pigs in a brutally invasive psychological experiment. Jana must protect her people and lead them into the future, while deciding whom to trust amongst possible ringstation allies. FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePressTrade ReviewPraise for book 1 and 2 in the Reclaimed Earth series: “Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story.” — Analog SF "A wonderfully entertaining debut novel." — Compelling Science Fiction "...wildly imaginative and totally entertaining. J.D. Moyer, you have yourself a new fan." — Cemetery Dance "The Sky Woman scores on so many points. Great characters (I include the ostensible bad guy Adrian), several intertwining complex stories, a highly imaginative future Earth for a setting and the possibility of exciting future instalments." — Whiskey with my Book "The Sky Woman is an interesting blend of historical and sci-fi elements, that really brings a rather unique voice to the genre." — In Libris Veritas

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Book SynopsisBook 3 in the Reclaimed Earth series, praised by Analog SF, Compelling Science Fiction, Cemetery Dance and more! Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations, as well as in a few isolated traditional communities on Earth. Jana, a young Sardinian woman, is in line to become the next maghiarja (sorceress) by way of an ancient technology that hosts a community of minds. Maro, an ambitious worldship artist, has designs to use the townsfolk as guinea pigs in a brutally invasive psychological experiment. Jana must protect her people and lead them into the future, while deciding whom to trust amongst possible ringstation allies. FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePressTrade ReviewPraise for book 1 and 2 in the Reclaimed Earth series: “Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story.” — Analog SF "A wonderfully entertaining debut novel." — Compelling Science Fiction "...wildly imaginative and totally entertaining. J.D. Moyer, you have yourself a new fan." — Cemetery Dance "The Sky Woman scores on so many points. Great characters (I include the ostensible bad guy Adrian), several intertwining complex stories, a highly imaginative future Earth for a setting and the possibility of exciting future instalments." — Whiskey with my Book "The Sky Woman is an interesting blend of historical and sci-fi elements, that really brings a rather unique voice to the genre." — In Libris Veritas

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Book SynopsisIn 2023, the Accelerated Regeneration Compound (ARC) was created: a serum that stimulates regrowth of human tissue – and which quickly drew notice from the United States government. In 2035, 'Project Golem' was created: Five genetically augmented super-soldiers, imbued with ARC…Twenty years later, the world is finally beginning to recover from the effects of the 'Turmoil': a near-apocalyptic collision of terrorist attacks, brushfire wars, economic collapse, industrial accidents, and internal disorder and uprisings across the globe. Here and there, rumors circulate of 'giants in black' who fought against the worst violence – and then suddenly disappeared, hidden or dead.Cut off from the Project, a small group of surviving Golems has spent the past five years in hiding. In that time, they have been seeking out others of their kind, trying to bring them together in a community all their own. They know nothing of their lives before the Project – if those even existed.Now, however, two of them are setting out on a journey to find answers. But the truth of their origins goes far deeper than they could ever believe. And there are some in the covert world they left behind who will kill to keep this truth buried…

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Book Synopsis'In A Song for a New Day, liberty and creative endeavour are compromised by political and socioeconomic reality. Pinsker presents a frighteningly real near-future US [and] movingly charts Rosemary's coming-of-age story as her world and Luce's collide' Guardian BEFORE Luce is on the road. Success is finally within grasp: her songs are getting airtime; the venues she's playing are getting larger. But mass shootings, bombings and now a strange contagion are closing America down around her... AFTER Rosemary is too young to remember the Before. She's grown up in a world where proximity to others is not only unusual, it is also illegal. Life as she knows it is entirely online, virtual. But now she's on the road, in the real world, searching for something that, until a few weeks ago, she never knew existed.Trade ReviewSarah Pinsker has written a wonderful epic about music, community, and rediscovering the things that make us human -- Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the SkyThe combination of technothriller, rock-and-roll novel, and rebellion in a dystopian world make for a riveting, sweet, funny, angry, gorgeous read -- Cory Doctorow, author of WalkawayA compelling book about the importance of music – and any sort of art – in a world where it seems like the least essential thing. This is an expertly drawn post-catastrophe world peopled by compassionately written characters -- Ann Leckie, author of Ancillary MercyAn all-too plausible version of the apocalypse, rendered in such compelling prose that you won't be able to put it down... A lively and hopeful look at how community and music and life goes on even in the middle of dark days and malevolent corporate shenanigans' -- Kelly Link, author of Get it TroubleWoven through Pinsker's meticulously crafted future of technology-enabled isolation and corporate-consumerist powerlessness is a stirring anthem against the politics of fear. A dazzling tale told in multiple voices, with not a single note out of place. This is the lyrical protest song that we have always needed, perhaps more so now than ever -- Ken Liu, author of Grace of KingsCements Pinsker's status as a rising star in the world of speculative fiction... A gorgeous novel that celebrates what can happen when one person raises her voice' * Kirkus Reviews *This excellent debut novel by Nebula winner Pinsker establishes her as an astonishingly impressive writer of day-after-tomorrow SF... This tale of hope and passion is a remarkable achievement' * Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW* *In A Song for a New Day, liberty and creative endeavour are compromised by political and socioeconomic reality. Pinsker presents a frighteningly real near-future US... Pinsker movingly charts Rosemary's coming-of-age story as her world and Luce's collide' * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PHILIP K. DICK AWARD The baker's dozen stories gathered here turn readers into travellers to the past and the future, and explorers of the weirder points of the present. The journey is the thing as Pinsker weaves music, memory, technology, history, mystery, love, loss, and even multiple selves on generation ships and cruise ships, on highways and high seas, in murder houses and treehouses. They feature runaways, fiddle-playing astronauts and retired time travellers. Weird, wired, hopeful, haunting, and often beautiful, Sarah Pinsker's stories cast a searching light on human nature. But what the heart wants is not always right, or easy. Praise for Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea: 'Simply wonderful... Each story is generous and original' KAREN JOY FOWLER 'An auspicious start to what promises to be one wild ride of a literary career' KIRKUS 'Stories that are as delightful and surprising to pore through as they are introspective and elegiac' PUBLISHERS WEEKLYTrade ReviewThis collection of stories is simply wonderful. Each story is generous and original; as a collection, the tales are varied, but with recurring themes of memory and music through-out. Pinsker has emerged as one of our most exciting voices. I love this book completely -- Karen Joy Fowler, author of We Are All Completely Beside OurselvesIn her debut collection, widely lauded author/musician Pinsker zips through road trips, space ships, speculative futures, and parallel presents with stories that are equal parts hard-wired sci-fi theory and hard-traveling rock-and-roll attitude... In the speculative tradition of Ursula K. Le Guin or Kelly Link but with her own indomitable voice front and center. An auspicious start to what promises to be one wild ride of a literary career' * Kirkus Reviews *This beautiful, complex debut collection assembles some of Nebula winner Pinsker's best stories into a twisting journey that is by turns wild, melancholic, and unsettling... The stories are enhanced by a diverse cast of LGBTQ and nonwhite characters. Pinsker's captivating compendium reveals stories that are as delightful and surprising to pore through as they are introspective and elegiac' * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *

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Book SynopsisA return to the world of This Alien Shore, set in the second age of stellar colonization. When deep-space travel altered the genes of the first interstellar colonists, Earth abandoned them. But some of the colonies survived, and a new civilization of mental and physical 'Variants' has been established, centered around clusters of space stations known as the outworlds. Now the unthinkable has happened: a suicide assault has destroyed the life-support system of a major waystation. All that is known about the young men responsible is that in their last living moments they were receiving messages from an uninhabited sector of space, and were playing a virtual reality game. Two unlikely allies have joined forces to investigate the incident: Ru Gaya, a mercenary explorer with a taste for high risk ventures, and game designer Micah Bello, who must find the parties responsible for the attack in order to clear his name. From the corridors of a derelict station lost to madness to an outlaw stronghold in the depths of uncharted space, the two now follow the trail of an enemy who can twist human minds to his purpose, and whose plans could bring about the collapse of outworld civilization. Praise for C. S. Friedman: 'In interweaving the many threads of her narrative, Friedman has created a potent metaphor for the toleration of diversity' – NEW YORK TIMES 'In many ways, C. S. Friedman's work reminds me of William Gibson's – unique settings, complex and fascinating (though not necessarily likeable) characters, cool ideas and technology, a smart and savvy style' – FANTASY LITERATURE 'There is so much of interest here and rather than spend paragraph after paragraph describing it all, which I could easily do, I will simply tell you to read it. It is a great book and well worth your time' – WORLDS WITHOUT ENDTrade ReviewA story that has something very real to say about virtual addiction * SF Crowsnest *This book works perfectly well as a stand-alone... A good fast-paced space opera. The story works well and the progress from one discovery to the next feels unforced and credible. The characters of Ru and Micah are likeable and their skills complement each other... A pleasurable quick read' * Birmingham SF Group *PRAISE FOR THIS ALIEN SHORE: 'C.S. Friedman borrows some big ideas from writers like Cordwainer Smith, Frank Herbert, and Samuel R. Delaney, and runs with them. Instead of stumbling under the burden, she succeeds in making the material her own' New York Times. 'Friedman keeps her tale moving at a vigorous pace that's boosted through an abundance of well-chosen details... It is likely to hold readers' interest tenaciously' Publishers Weekly. 'Once again Ms. Friedman offers us great richness in both concept and detail, ingeniously weaving together two strong plotlines and piquant characters into a superior reading experience' Romantic Times. 'A wide-ranging, action-packed space opera. This Alien Shore is guaranteed to entertain those who like to be swept up in an adventure with lots of characters, dangers, and revelations' * Science Fiction Chronicle *

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Book Synopsis'Like Ursula K. Le Guin rewriting The Lord of the Flies for the quantum age' NPR 'Cixin Liu is the author of your next favourite sci-fi novel' WIRED Eight years ago and eight light years away, a supermassive star died. Tonight, a supernova tsunami of high energy will finally reach Earth. Dark skies will shine bright as a new star blooms in the heavens and within a year everyone over the age of thirteen will be dead, their chromosomes irreversibly damaged. And so the countdown begins. Parents apprentice their children and try to pass on the knowledge they'll need to keep the world running. But the last generation may not want to carry the legacy of their parents' world. And though they imagine a better, brighter future, they may not be able to escape humanity's dark instincts...Trade ReviewA unique blend of scientific and philosophical speculation, politics and history, conspiracy theory and cosmology -- George R.R. MartinA marvellous mélange of awe-inspiring scientific concepts, clever plotting and quirky yet plausible characters * TLS *Wildly imaginative, really interesting... The scope of it was immense' -- Barack ObamaChina's answer to Arthur C. Clarke * New Yorker *A milestone in Chinese science fiction * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe year is 2159. Generations of consumption ruined our world, eventually leading to a total collapse of society. England has separated into near feudal territories. The Bowles Territory in the South has managed to achieve a stable peace, based around security and food production. But their peace is threatened by the appearance of one of the final Warlords, General Noah Hill of the New English Army. He strives to re-unite England into a vicious dictatorship under his command. As the General prepares to invade this peaceful territory, can those struggling to rebuild prevent falling under his power? Will England continue its descent into feudalism or will it bounce back and prevail?

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Book Synopsis'When the rains fell, the world burned...' After a childhood spent in the foster care system, failed PhD student Amy Weston attracts trouble wherever she goes. Acid rain is destroying London's trees, brain lesions are turning once-harmless pets into killer dogs, and her new work colleague, Professor Joel Harket, is the most infuriating man she has ever met. But when the media continue to insist that autumn has simply come early, and humans begin to experience the same symptoms as the killer dogs, Amy must work alongside Joel in order to convince the world of the seriousness of the situation, before it is too late. From the UN Air Health summit in Beijing to the abandoned tunnels beneath the city of London, Amy and Joel search for answers to prevent the end of the world, and as Nelson's Column crumbles and zombie-like 'howlers' wreak havoc worldwide, they discover that the only way to survive the apocalypse is to set aside their differences... and learn to trust each other.

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Book SynopsisNOW THE NO.1 DRAMA IN THE HISTORY OF APPLE TV+The much anticipated prequel to bestseller Wool that takes us back to the beginnings of the silo. In a future less than fifty years away, the world is still as we know it. Time continues to tick by. The truth is that it is ticking away.A powerful few know what lies ahead. They are preparing for it. They are trying to protect us.They are setting us on a path from which we can never return.A path that will lead to destruction; a path that will take us below ground.The history of the silo is about to be written.Our future is about to begin.________________'We have been mesmerised with Hugh Howey's silo stories since we first laid eyes on book one in the trilogy...' Grazia Daily'An epic feat of imagination. You will live in this world.' Justin Cronin

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An epic story of survival at all odds, now a major Apple TV series. NOW THE NO.1 DRAMA IN THE HISTORY OF AppleTV+ In a ruined and hostile landscape, in a future few have been unlucky enough to survive, a community exists in a giant underground silo. Inside, men and women live an enclosed life full of rules and regulations, of secrets and lies. To live, you must follow the rules. But some don't. These are the dangerous ones; these are the people who dare to hope and dream, and who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple and deadly. They are allowed outside. Jules is one of these people. She may well be the last. _________________ 'The next Hunger Games' SUNDAY TIMES 'Well written, tense, and immensely satisfying, Wool will be considered a classic for many years in the future.' WIRED 'Howey's Wool is an epic feat of imagination. You will live in this world.' JUSTIN CRONIN 'Wool is frightening, fascinating, and addictive. In one word, terrific.' KATHY REICHS 'Thrilling, thought-provoking and memorable...one of dystopian fiction's masterpieces alongside the likes of 1984 and Brave New World.' DAILY EXPRESS Silo, No.1 drama in the history of Apple TV as of May 2023.

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Book SynopsisWith tales from the more plausible end of the SF spectrum, where Time can be stretched, other worlds discovered, aliens encountered and quantum realms explored, everything has a strong spine of real-world science. Celebrating the enduring spirit of hard science fiction this new anthology is a tribute to Compelling Science Fiction magazine whose publisher Joe Stech is the foreword writer and consulting editor of the stunning new collection of stories from contemporary and classic authors. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Pauline Barmby, Ramsey Campbell, P.A. Cornell, Leah Cypess, Deborah L. Davitt, Jonathan Ficke, Voss Foster, Ana Gardner, Adam Godfrey, Larry Hodges, K. Kitts, Geoffrey A. Landis, Elaine Midcoh, Marshall J. Moore, Mike Morgan, Michael Penncavage, Lina Rather, Jude Reid, C.M. Shevlin, H.G. Silvia, Douglas Smith, David Tallerman, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Brian Trent, and Marie Vibbert. These appear alongside classic stories by authors such as Ray Cummings, Otis Adelbert Kline, Garrett P. Serviss and H.G. Wells. Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

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Book Synopsis'"The Judging Eye" is an incredibly smart and smart ass title to a book that deceives in being Bakker's most straight forward read. How Bakker continues to move Kellhus in mysterious ways is something I can't wait to witness more of' - BookSpotCentral'Exquisitely intelligent and beautifully written...this is fantasy with muscle and brains, rife with intrigue and admirable depth of character, set in a world laden with history and detail.' - Steve Erikson, author of Gardens of the MoonA score of years after he first walked into the histories of Men, Anasûrimbor Kellhus rules all the Three Seas, the first true Aspect-Emperor in a thousand years.Wielding more power than even the greatest sorcerer, Kellhus now leads a holy war deep into the wastes of the Ancient North, intent on destroying the stronghold of Golgotterath and preventing the Second Apocalypse.Meanwhile his wife and consort, Esmenet, struggles to rule not only his vast empire, but their murderous children as well. And Achamian, who lives as a Wizard in embittered exile, undertakes a mad quest to uncover the origins of the Dûnyain.But Achamian, of all people, should know that one must be very careful what one seeks . . .First he was the Prince of Nothing, then the Warrior-Prophet. Now Anasurimbor Kellhus is the Aspect-Emperor. But is he a living god . . . or a demon from hell?Books by R Scott Baker:Prince of Nothing TrilogyThe Darkness That Comes BeforeThe Warrior-ProphetThe Thousandfold ThoughtAspect-EmperorThe Judging EyeThe White Luck WarriorThe Great OrdealThe Unholy ConsultNovelsNeuropathDisciple of the DogLight, Time, and GravityTrade ReviewThis book marks a triumphant return for the most philosophical and literary epic fantasy writer around. -- THE WERTZONE(Bakker) presents a literary and philosophical depth largely absent from the genre...shows maturity as an author and demonstrates why his name belongs among the best epic fantasy authors -- NETHSPACEThe worldbuilding is once again head and shoulders above what is currently the norm in today's fantasy market. The evocative narrative is rich in details, and the Middle Eastern setting continues to be a joy to discover... It's R. Scott Bakker writing at the top of his game -- PATAS FANTASY HOTLIST"The Judging Eye" is more accessible to the average reader without sacrificing the depth that gained Bakker so much acclaim. A powerful start to a new trilogy -- CINEMARATTY[Bakker] clamps his hand over yours and simply does not let go...Amid the cluttered shelves of the Epic Fantasy genre, Bakker is a name that stands out among not just the new writers in the crowd but established and recognized names. -- SFFWORLDThe entire series is going to set a new standard for fantasy writers everywhere. -- THE ALIEN ONLINE

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Book Synopsis'Science fiction's freshest new writer...MacLeod is a fiercely intelligent, prodigiously well-read author who manages to fill his books with big issues without weighing them down.' - SALON'Engaged, ingenious, and wittily partisan, Ken MacLeod is a one-man revolution, SF's Billy Bragg.' - Asimov's SFEllen May Ngwethu is a young woman with centuries of experience, no morality and the true knowledge. The world she knows is about to end.The Cassini Division, elite defence force of the Solar Union, sends her on a search for the man whose knowledge could save it. A search that takes her from space to the ruins of London, and back; from the margins of her socialist-anarchist world to its most dangerous edge. The Division's orbital forts around Jupiter are the front line in a centuries-long conflict with post-human AIs, whose intentions are unknown but whose powers once extended to shattering Ganymede and building a wormhole bridge to the far future. Their radio-borne viruses blanket the Solar System, keeping most of its resources from humanity's grasp.But are the post-humans less hostile than they seem?The acclaimed third novel from one of the genre's most exciting new talents.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 ReviewA rare but successful fusion of hard SF, space opera and serious political speculation -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLYDeliciously ironic, brilliantly imagined, MacLeod's witty and intelligent yarn packs a tremendous wallop. More, please! -- KIRKUS REVIEWSA brilliant novel of ideas, frequently funny, always ingenious. Ken MacLeod brings dramatic life to some of the core issues of technology and humanity. -- VERNOR VINGEFascinating...The kind of high-spirited and thought-provoking romp through the solar system unseen since the heyday of John Varley. And it reads at lightning speed. -- ROBERT CHARLES WILSONThis man's going to be a major writer. * Iain M. Banks *Prose sleek and fast as the technology it describes...Watch this man go global. * Peter F. Hamilton *Great sci-fi. * FOCUS *MacLeod still writes with charm and wit. * SFX *

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Book SynopsisThis is a science fiction short story for all ages. After an apocalyptic event that leaves the world in a state of devastation, a boy called Aki lives alone in a giant robot, unable to go out because of the poisoned air. For years the robot walks the earth, through barren wastelands, searching for the New Place, where Aki might be able to live outside. Aki does not know what, or who, he will find there. Greta Thunberg, climate change activist, has said: "You say you love your children above all else ..." Aki's parents loved him above all else, but they could not save him from losing everything that had been familiar to him.

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Book SynopsisJellyfisherman Dhiraj Om is struggling to make ends meet, so when a highly valuable pleasure robot called Naomi ends up adrift in his nightly North Sea catch, an opportunity to make some quick money presents itself. Trouble is, she's highly illegal, and her owner, underworld kingpin Agarkka D'Souza, doesn't take kindly to his things being stolen. What''s more, he will do anything to get her back. Man O'War is a taut science fiction thriller set in a London where cutting-edge companies vie for market space with cut-throat black market operations, and around the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, a wild frontier land on the Niger Delta where one of the world's most powerful oil conglomerates is apparently under threat from dissident rebels.

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Book SynopsisJellyfisherman Dhiraj Om is struggling to make ends meet, so when a highly valuable pleasure robot called Naomi ends up adrift in his nightly North Sea catch, an opportunity to make some quick money presents itself. Trouble is, she's highly illegal, and her owner, underworld kingpin Agarkka D'Souza, doesn't take kindly to his things being stolen. What''s more, he will do anything to get her back. Man O'War is a taut science fiction thriller set in a London where cutting-edge companies vie for market space with cut-throat black market operations, and around the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, a wild frontier land on the Niger Delta where one of the world's most powerful oil conglomerates is apparently under threat from dissident rebels.

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Book SynopsisAfter ten years in a Zen monastery, Proteus knows it's time to leave. A troubled, solitary man, he knows what he seeks is not to be found sitting in meditation. His problem is that, during his time at the monastery, he's discovered something strange inside his mind: the ability to connect with a mysterious, silent, metallic spherical object he calls Mosquito. His connection to this possibly extraterrestrial object, which seems to dwell on an existential plane of its own, gives Proteus a flimsy sense of purpose. So when Mosquito abruptly disappears one day, Proteus can't bear the loss, and he sets off in pursuit of answers. Thus starts a surreal, philosophically maddening quest for meaning. Chasing the elusive Mosquito leads Proteus to in-between worlds where things do not quite hold together, and where the living and the dead must learn to live in and out of the boundaries of time. The further he gets from sanity, the closer he comes to something that may turn out to be wisdom. Playful but unapologetically challenging, New People of the Flat Earth is a breathtakingly original novel that defies categorisation or summary.

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Book SynopsisIn a world ravaged by climate change, a young woman's job of enforcing Britain's one-child policy is compromised when she discovers an illegal sibling on the ministry hit list, and that sibling is hers… `A tightly paced plot set in an all-too imaginable future … a page-turning, thought-provoking read´ Jo Callaghan ‘With echoes of V for Vendetta, ONE serves as a stark warning, challenging societal norms and individual sacrifices in the face of adversity’ SciFi Now Book of the Month ‘Pleasingly terrifying’ New Scientist `A terrifying vision of a global climate emergency, a jaw-dropping government conspiracy and some truly devastating twists … one hell of a speculative thriller´ Tom Hindle ––––––––––––––––––– One law. One child. Seven million crimes… A cataclysmic climate emergency has spawned a one-child policy in the UK, ruthlessly enforced by a totalitarian regime. Compulsory abortion of 'excess' pregnancies and mandatory contraceptive implants are now the norm, and families must adhere to strict consumption quotas as the world descends into chaos. Kai is a 25-year-old `baby reaper´, working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. If any of her assigned families attempt to exceed their child quota, she ensures they pay the price. Until, one morning, she discovers that an illegal sibling on her Ministry hit-list is hers. And to protect her parents from severe penalties, she must secretly investigate before anyone else finds out. Kai's hunt for her forbidden sister unearths much more than a dark family secret. As she stumbles across a series of heinous crimes perpetrated by the people she trusted most, she makes a catastrophic discovery that could bring down the government … and tear her family apart. ––––––––––––––––––– `Eve Smith is a master storyteller for our troubled times´ Simon Conway `Chillingly plausible … both thrilling and deeply moving´ Philippa East `All too convincing and scientifically plausible … as much a warning as an entertainment´ Paul E. Hardisty `Amazing, beautiful writing, jam-packed with clever ideas´ Helen Fitzgerald `Gripping, frightening and deep … a very brilliant, masterful book´ Sarah K. Jackson `Simmering with great intelligence and insight that never fails to be terrifyingly and thrillingly plausible´ James Goodhand `A visionary storyteller´ Awais Khan `A gripping and pacy thriller set in an all too plausible and terrifying future´ David Beckler `Meticulously crafted, no detail is overlooked … so authentic it doesn't feel speculative at all´ Sarah Sultoon `Raises troubling issues about the balance between saving the planet and our individual human rights … brilliant!´ Guy Morpuss `Pulse-pounding and heart-rending in equal measure, this book is a tour-de-force´ Louise Mumford `A powerful warning and a gripping thriller´ Greg Mosse `A chilling, poignant novel that holds a mirror up to our world … sensational´ Vikki Patis `Gripping and unsettling´ Shen Yang `Compulsive and addictive´ Adam Simcox `Another taut and terrifying thriller from Eve Smith´ Louise Swanson `A terrifying, yet plausible read. Too scary to imagine in reality, and yet…´ Heather Fitt `Horrifying and gripping in equal measure … a jaw-dropping glimpse of the catastrophe around the corner … Astonishing´ Lucy Martin

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThree years ago, the sun began to die. In a desperate attempt to reignite the failing star, the United States had joined the rest of the planet in unloading its nuclear arsenal at the flickering ember. The missiles burst from silos in Wyoming and Bangladesh, cocooning the earth in tendrils of smoke as they began their two-and-a-half year journey into space. When they finally reach their target, it’s thirty degrees in July and getting colder. Lisa and her husband, Guy, sit shivering on a Southern hilltop, watching as humanity’s last hope at survival shimmers faintly...and then disappears below the horizon. A group of militant rebels called the Minutemen take advantage of the ensuing chaos to knock out power grids, cloaking the freezing earth in near darkness. Seizing control. To escape this ruthless new world order, Lisa and Guy join a reluctant band of refugees crossing the snow-covered South in search of shelter and answers. From an icy parking lot in Atlanta to the Minutemen’s makeshift headquarters at Asheville’s Biltmore Estate, only one thing is certain: in a world with little light, nothing is guaranteed—least of all survival.Ember is the 2016 winner of the South Carolina First Novel Prize as judged by novelist Bridgett M. Davis.Trade Review"With fascinating concept and a shocking twist, Ember is an eerie apocalypse that will keep you guessing until the end." -- Katherine Arden"Against a haunting, apocalyptic southern landscape, and with a panoply of rich characterizations, this beautiful novel is a cautionary tale about the power-hungry who rise from the ashes of a lost and dying world. With page-turning twists, the writer makes us care deeply about the small band of survivors making their way against violence and fear and the unknown – toward a brave new world. Emberbegins with a small, glowing flame of intrigue and originality, then grows into a fireball of dazzling plot and prose, bursting into a literary tour de force." -- Bridgett M. Davis"Ember burns with imagination and wrestles with chaos, and combines these two to create a visionary novel of a world gone mad, where the line between good and bad is smeared with gray, and hopeful points of light rage against the darkness." -- Michael Farris Smith

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