Science fiction: cyberpunk / biopunk

Book SynopsisGlen Runciter is dead.Or is he?Someone died in the explosion orchestrated by his business rivals, but even as his funeral is scheduled, his mourning employees are receiving bewildering messages from their boss. And the world around them is warping and regressing in ways which suggest that their own time is running out.If it hasn''t already.Trade ReviewMy literary hero * Fay Weldon *For everyone lost in the endlessly multiplicating realities of the modern world, remember: Philip K. Dick got there first * Terry Gilliam *One of the most original practitioners writing any kind of fiction, Dick made most of the European avant-garde seem like navel-gazers in a cul-de-sac * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive editions of Philip K. Dick's short stories, containing some of the most defining works in the Science Fiction genreTrade ReviewOne of the most original practitioners writing any kind of fiction * Sunday Times *A fitting tribute to a great philosophical writer who found science fiction the ideal form the expression of his ideas -- The IndependentOne of the most original practitioners writing any kind of fiction. Philip K. Dick made most of the European avant-garde seem naval gazers in a cul-de-sac -- Sunday TimesDick quietly produced serious fiction in a popular form and there can be no greater praise -- Michael MoorcockNo other writer of his generation had such a powerful intellectual presence. He stamped himself no only on our memories but in our imaginations -- Brian Aldiss

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Book SynopsisDays after winning OASIS founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.Hidden within Halliday's vaults, waiting for his heir to find it, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous - and addictive - than even Wade dreamed possible.With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest: a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who'll kill millions to get what he wants.Wade's life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again.______________'Delving back into the universe of OASIS is a nostalgic delight... fans will love returning to Cline's virtual world.' Press Association'Living up to the smash hit Ready Player One - turned into a film by Steven Spielberg - was never going to be easy, but Ernest Cline's wry and savage sequel shows how it should be done... A wild ride. Make this into a movie now.' The Times 'Ernest Cline takes Ready Player One, gives it a software update, adds some more nostalgia and delivers sheer joy in Ready Player Two.' Phil Williams, Times Radio 'A stunning, futuristic thrill-ride, full of nostalgia and wonderful set-pieces. Ready Player Two improves on everything from its predecessor.' Daily Express

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Book SynopsisImmortality can be yours . . . at a pricePermutation city is the tale of a man with a vision - how to create immortality - and how that vision becomes grows beyond his control. Encompassing the lives and struggles of an artificial life junkie desperate to save her dying mother, a billionaire banker scarred by a terrible crime, the lovers for whom, in their timeless virtual world, love is not enough - and much more - Permutation city is filled with the sense of wonder and dread. Can what makes you human be distilled into data? And what happens if you can''t afford to pay?Readers are having their minds blown by PERMUTATION CITY:Egan tells the story masterfully. I can only marvel at how he finds his inspiration for a high-tech tale in an ancient wisdom like Kabbalah, and then proceeds to out-Kabbalah even the Kabbalists with his creativity - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Egan questions what it really means to be human in a way that it''s quite unsurpassed in my mind - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐THIS is why I read SF. THIS is the sense of wonder I''m looking for in a SF story. Forget everything you read about virtual reality, artificial life & consciousness - nothing compares to the concepts and the worldbuilding in this book. This is ultimate postcyberpunk ever - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐I can say without qualification that Greg Egan is the greatest science fiction author I''ve ever read - Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Book SynopsisThe last of the Sprawl trilogy: the AIs of Neuromancer have suffered a traumatized, cataclysmic coming to self-awareness and now haunt cyberspace as voodoo powers.Mona's pimp sells her to a plastic surgeon in New York and she's turned overnight into someone else. The pimp winds up dead. Mona weeps for him. She's a sweet, dumb girl so far.Angie the famous Hollywood stim star has started remembering things. Despite the efforts of studio bosses to keep her in ignorance, Angie will discover who she really is and why she doesn't need to jack into the Matrix in order to enter cyberspace.In the depths of the rustbelt, the ring of steel garbage and toxic waste surrounding the Sprawl, Gentry obsessively seeks the darkest secrets of the Matrix. Seeking rapture.When an impossibly tall and powerful skyscraper of data appears suddenly in the landscape of the Matrix, Gentry is ready for it, Angie is part of it, and Mona is set for overdrive. Rapture is on the agenda for all three, but others greedy

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Book SynopsisA quantum Brave New World from the boldest and most wildly speculative writer of his generation.

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Book SynopsisIsaac Asimov's Robot series from the iconic collection I, Robot to four classic novels contains some of the most influential works in the history of science fiction. Establishing and testing the Three Laws of Robotics, they continue to shape the understanding and design of artificial intelligence to this day.In the vast, domed cities of Earth, artificial intelligence is strictly controlled; in the distant Outer Worlds, colonists and robots live side by side.A Spacer ambassador is found dead and detective Elijah Baley is assigned to find the killer. But with relations between the two cultures in the balance, the Spacers insist that he work with a partner of their choosing a robot partner, R. Daneel Olivaw.Baley has never seen a robot like Daneel before almost indistinguishable from a human and soon, though the Three Laws of Robotics should render the crime impossible, Baley's partner becomes his prime suspect.Trade Review‘One of the classic presentations of the womb-city, metropolis as mother, which has haunted imaginations ever since… The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun are the best books Isaac Asimov ever wrote’The Guardian ‘Isaac Asimov was one of the great explainers of the age…It will never be known how many practicing scientists today, in how many countries, owe their initial inspiration to a book, article, or short story by Isaac Asimov’Carl Sagan ‘Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction’Daily Telegraph ‘Asimov’s career was one of the most formidable in science fiction’The Times

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Book SynopsisThe disturbing post-apocalyptic novel The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, author of The Day of the Triffids and The Kraken Wakes and dramatised on BBC Radio 4.David Strorm''s father doesn''t approve of Angus Morton''s unusually large horses, calling them blasphemies against nature. Little does he realise that his own son, and his son''s cousin Rosalind and their friends, have their own secret abberation which would label them as mutants. But as David and Rosalind grow older it becomes more difficult to conceal their differences from the village elders. Soon they face a choice: wait for eventual discovery, or flee to the terrifying and mutable Badlands. . . The Chrysalids is a post-nuclear apocalypse story of genetic mutation in a devastated world and explores the lengths the intolerant will go to keep themselves pure.''Perfect timing, astringent humour. . . one of the few authors whose compulsive readability is a compliment to the intTrade ReviewPerfect timing, astringent humour . . . One of the few authors whose compulsive readability is a compliment to the intelligence * Spectator *Remains fresh and disturbing in an entirely unexpected way * Guardian *Remains fresh and disturbing in an entirely unexpected way * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the Best of the Masterworks: a selection of the finest in science fiction-What does it mean to be human when you''re part of the machine? Synners are synthesizers - not machines, but people. They take images from the brains of performers, and turn them into a form which can be packaged, sold and consumed. They don''t use the net, they are the net.Everything is automated. Everything is synthetic. But when the technology starts to fail, the terrifying question remains: what is a human?Winner of the 1992 Arthur C. Clarke Award, Synners was Pat Cadigan''s early stories, and cemented her place in the core of the cyberpunk movement, and has even inspired academic works. Lauded for her complex characters and plots, and seen as a stalwart of feminist SF, Cadigan has gone on to win another Clarke and a Hugo for subsequent works.-''Racingly told, linguistically acute, simultaneously pell-mell and precise in

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Book SynopsisPlayer Piano is the debut novel from one of history's most innovative authors, published on Vonnegut's 100th birthday.In Player Piano, the first of Vonnegut's wildly funny and deadly serious novels, automata have dramatically reduced the need for America's work force. Ten years after the introduction of these robot labourers, the only people still working are the engineers and their managers, who live in Ilium; everyone else lives in Homestead, an impoverished part of town characterised by purposelessness and mass produced houses.Paul Proteus is the manager of Ilium Works. While grateful to be held in high regard, Paul begins to feel uneasy about his position - especially after a trip to Homestead. Eventually, Paul makes the decision to rebel against all he's been given, inciting seismic repercussions...'His black logic...gives us something to laugh about and much to fear' New York Times Book ReviewWatch the documentary about his life - Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time - on PrimeTrade ReviewA funny, savage appraisal of a totally automated American society of the future * San Francisco Chronicle *The seeds of his [Vonnegut's] trademarks are here: a satirical eye on the world and deep love for humanity * The Times *

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Book SynopsisOld enemies meet on new worlds in The Line of Polity, the second novel in Neal Asher's popular Agent Cormac series.At the frontiers of human-occupied space, the Miranda space station has been utterly destroyed. Earth Central assigns Agent Ian Cormac to discover the truth, because the alien bioconstruct Dragon seems the most likely culprit.Meanwhile, rebellion is brewing on Masada. The planet’s people are enslaved on the surface, living in fear of their overlords in orbit, who punish transgressions with laser strikes. Leaving their compounds also means death, as monstrous predators roam the toxic wilderness. Civil war looms, while a rebel biophysicist brings lethal Jain technology to this world. Agent Cormac must find out what connects these events, if he is to avert catastrophe.The Line of Polity is followed by Brass Man, the third title in the Agent Cormac series.Trade ReviewA complex, multilayered story of rebels in a slave world trying to qualify for humanitarian aid * Guardian *Asher’s latest rip-roaring space epic makes his previous ventures look like relaxing trips to the local zoo * SFX *Fast paced, intriguing, and brutal * Starburst *

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Book SynopsisThe solar system''s greatest thief is wanted for murder. To prove his innocence, he needs to pull off a heist even he thought was impossible . . .The Quantum Thief is a dazzling hard SF novel set in the solar system of the far future - a heist novel peopled by bizarre post-humans but powered by very human motives of betrayal, revenge and jealousy. It is a stunning debut.Jean le Flambeur is a post-human criminal, mind burglar, confidence artist and trickster. His origins are shrouded in mystery, but his exploits are known throughout the Heterarchy - from breaking into the vast Zeusbrains of the Inner System to steal their thoughts, to stealing rare Earth antiques from the aristocrats of the Moving Cities of Mars. Except that Jean made one mistake. Now he is condemned to play endless variations of a game-theoretic riddle in the vast virtual jail of the Axelrod Archons - the Dilemma Prison - against countless copies of himself. Jean''s routine of Trade ReviewThis is a sci-fi book to read; the world is pieced together masterfully and you get a detective/adventure story all in one. -- Linda Bloduedd * BOOK GIRL OF MUR-Y-CASTELL Blog *

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Book SynopsisAn epic adrenaline-filled space opera, The Human is the final thrilling book in Neal Asher’s Rise of the Jain trilogy.Their enemy seems unbeatable. But humanity is indomitable . . .A Jain warship has risen from a prison five million years old, wielding a hoard of lethal technology. Its goal is to catch their old enemy, the Client, and it will destroy all who stand in its path.Humanity and the prador thought their mutual nemesis – the bane of so many races – was long extinct. But the Jain are back and Orlandine must prepare humanity’s defence. She needs the Client’s knowledge to counter this ancient threat. But is the enemy of your enemy a friend? Earth Central even looks to the prador for alliance. These old enemies must now learn to trust one another, or face utter annihilation. As the Jain warship crosses the galaxy, it seems unstoppable. Human and prador forces alike struggle to withstand its devastating weaponry ­­– far in advance of their own. And Orlandine’s life’s work has been to neutralize Jain technology, so if she can’t triumph, no one can. But could she become what she’s vowed to destroy?'Neal Asher's books are like an adrenaline shot targeted directly for the brain' - John Scalzi, author of the Old Man's War series'Magnificently awesome. Then Asher turns it up to eleven' - Peter F. Hamilton on the first in the trilogy, The SoldierTrade ReviewNeal Asher’s books are like an adrenaline shot targeted directly for the brain -- John ScalziIn this riveting sequel to The Soldier, Asher ramps up the pyrotechnics in the thunderous first salvoes of war . . . This is Asher at the top of his game -- Publishers Weekly starred review on The WarshipThe Soldier provides everything we demand from Asher: a beautifully complex universe where AIs, aliens and post-humans scheme and struggle – magnificently awesome. Then Asher turns it up to eleven -- Peter F. Hamilton on The SoldierA richly imagined, exotic world, nonstop action, and unimaginable stakes - I couldn't put The Soldier down -- Yoon Ha Lee on The SoldierNeal Asher's coruscating mix of epic space opera, weaponised Darwinism and high-stakes intrigue channels the primal flame of deep-core science fiction -- Paul McAuley on The SoldierWith mind-blowing complexity, characters, and combat, Asher’s work continues to combine the best of advanced cybertech and military SF -- Publishers Weekly on The SoldierSpace operatics and Jaco­bean revenge-melodramatics -- Locus Magazine on The SoldierJust when you thought the Polity couldn't get more interesting Neal Asher manages to weave the most awe-inspiring elements of his universe together into an amazing narrative . . . Like a true master Asher hits this one out of the galactic plane . . . a truly mind-blowing start to a new trilogy -- WorldsInInk on The Soldier

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Book SynopsisInfinity Engine is the third and final novel in the Transformation trilogy by bestselling science fiction author Neal Asher, following Dark Intelligence and War Factory.A man battles for his life, two AIs vie for supremacy and a civilization hangs in the balance . . .Several forces now pursue rogue artificial intelligence Penny Royal, hungry for revenge or redemption. And the Brockle is the most dangerous of all. This criminal swarm-robot AI has escaped confinement and is upgrading itself, becoming ever more powerful in anticipation of a showdown.Events also escalate aboard the war factory. Here Thorvald Spear, alien prador, and an assassin drone struggle to stay alive, battling insane AIs and technology gone wild. Then the Weaver arrives - last remnant of a race that died out two million years ago. But what could it contribute to Penny Royal's tortuous plans?And beyond the war factory a black hole conceals a tantalizing secret which could destroy the Polity. As AIs, humans and prador clash at its boundary, will anything survive their explosive final confrontation?'Transcends the borders of morality, existence, and spacetime itself' – Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewAsher completes his Transformation series with this powerful work that transcends the borders of morality, existence, and spacetime itself . . . Asher imagines incredible beings wielding vast alien technologies, devastating space battles, and mind-blowing science, but all ultimately hinges on Thorvald Spear and his very human choices -- Publishers WeeklyMind-bending tech, creatures, and action generate a hot-blooded plot overlaid with a smart coolness of writing that has gained Neal Asher recognition in the SF/F community as one of the strongest space opera authors -- RisingShadowA stunning conclusion to the Transformation series . . . A mind-blowingly brilliant read! -- WorldsinInk

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Book SynopsisIn a world devoid of hope, is revenge the only way out?The Argus Space Station looks down on a nightmarish Earth. And from here, the Committee enforces its despotic rule. It governs a corrupt world, where the poor are starving – and are policed by mechanized overseers wielding identity-reader guns. There are also too many people and too few resources, so the Committee has decided twelve billion people must die. So they prepare to unleash the full power of their Station’s weaponry to make this happen. Alan Saul wakes to this world, confined in a crate bound for a Calais incinerator. He doesn’t know why he’s there; he only remembers pain and his tormentor’s face. And he has company: Janus, a rogue intelligence, who is inhabiting forbidden hardware in his skull. As Janus shows his host a damaged Earth, Saul resolves to discover who he was – and kill his interrogator. Next he will take on the Committee and topple their debased regime.The Departure is the first fast-paced book in the Owner trilogy by acclaimed science fiction author Neal Asher.'Delivers plenty of thrills' – SFX'Fast, dramatic stuff . . . rapid pace, great action, messy consequences' – SFFWorld'I had an absolute blast with this book . . . his work really does get better and better' – FalcataTimesTrade ReviewFast, furious, violent, slightly tongue-in-cheek (I think), and a whole lot of fun that makes 1984 seem like a children’s tea party . . . the start of another promising series from Asher. Go on, dive in, you won’t be disappointed -- British Fantasy SocietyDelivers plenty of thrills, and the climax also sets up a very intriguing status quo for the second volume -- SFXFast, dramatic stuff . . . this is a book with lots of Asher trademarks: rapid pace, great action, messy consequences -- SFFWorldI had an absolute blast with this book . . . his work really does get better and better -- Falcata TimesThe Orwellian intro had me utterly hooked right from the start. I simply couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end -- WorldsInInkAction packed and thrilling, The Departure is a must for all fans of contemporary science fiction who haven’t experienced Asher’s visceral novels before -- We Love This Book

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Book SynopsisNothing has happened. Not yet, anyway. This is how all things begin.Welcome to Apex City, formerly Bangalore, where everything is decided by the mathematically perfect Bell Curve.With the right image, values and opinions, you can ascend to the glittering heights of the Twenty Percent – the Virtual elite – and have the world at your feet. Otherwise you risk falling to the precarious Ten Percent, and deportation to the ranks of the Analogs, with no access to electricity, running water or even humanity.The system has no flaws. Until the elusive “Ten Percent Thief” steals a single jacaranda seed from the Virtual city and plants a revolution in the barren soil of the Analog world.Previously published in South Asia only as Analog/Virtual, The Ten Percent Thief is a striking debut by a ferocious new talent.Trade Review“In the best tradition of dystopian fiction, Analog/Virtual explores issues about class, society, power structures and values. Lavanya Lakshminarayan has skilfully crafted a series of interwoven stories about a frighteningly plausible near future scenario, rooted in the extrapolation of today’s worship of technology and productivity. Spanning multiple points of view, writing styles and character voices, this masterful work of science fiction weaves its individual stories into a complex and engaging whole.” – S.B. Divya, Nebula Award finalist and author of Runtime“Lavanya Lakshminarayan’s debut drops us headfirst into a future Bangalore where a corporation rules the world and humanity seeks security and fulfilment in a thought-policed virtuality. I loved the razor-sharp writing and vivid detailing of her unfolding of the human situations and dilemmas of the Analog–Virtual divide in society. This is fiction playing for the highest stakes – and winning.” – Chandrahas Choudhury, author of Clouds“Productivity is power. The monster under your bed corrects your social opinions. And if you slip too far you might just end up living in the real world… by turns horror, cyberpunk, and biting social satire, Analog/Virtual is a high velocity anthem sung through the shape of things to come.” – Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, Nebula Award finalist and author of The Inhuman Race“Lakshminarayan is a favourite... The Ten Percent Thief is an ambitious novel.” -- The Washington Post“If you ever wondered how Huxley’s Brave New World would look when social media metrics take charge, Lakshminarayan’s Ten Percent Thief gets all the likes and thumbs up for showing us a world no sane person would want to live in. It’s deeply disturbing, but you can’t look away.” -- Wayne Santos“An astonishing, kaleidoscopic journey through the fractured landscape of a future India where cyber-power has created a new system of oppression, this beautifully written novel of imaginative literature serves both as a warning and a source of resurgent hope. Grim, unrelenting, polyphonic and exhilarating.” -- Vandana Singh“The Ten Percent Thief delivers hope, wonder, bleakness, humour and wisdom in equal measure, with unforgettable characters telling a multifaceted story of a future revolution. A complex, dazzling debut.” -- Samit Basu“Immersive and skillfully wrought; a fascinating kaleidoscope of near-future dystopian fiction” -- Stark Holborn“Lakshminarayan’s nuanced dystopian future will leave readers questioning their own relationship with technology and social media as they follow the cookie crumb trail of conformity and dissent through multiple character perspectives. The result is as satisfying as it is clever.” -- Publishers Weekly“A series of taut, Dickian cyberpunk vignettes, always introducing fascinating new protagonists to its intertwining cast of dozens; at its best when lampooning the contemporary worlds of social media, e-sports, app-obsession and the hyper-gamification of everything from art to economic standing. A sparkling debut.” -- Aubrey Wood, author of Bang Bang Bodhisattva“Playful and crushing in equal measure.” -- FanFiAddict“A new masterpiece” -- SciFiNow“Lakshminarayan uses her novel to flawlessly confront constructed binaries built into the very fabric of contemporary society” -- The Fantasy Hive“The Ten Percent Thief is bold and creative, and Lakshminarayan expertly packages a warning that will only get more relevant with time” -- STARBURST Magazine“There are wonders and gizmos within Apex City, but these are stories about people’s lives. This is, punk-like, a collection of rebellions against, and reconsiderations of, the status quo. One of my favourite books of recent years.” -- Jared Shurin, Raptor Velocity“Impressive” -- SFX“Stunning and thought-provoking” -- The British Fantasy Society“Smart, vivid, engaging” -- The Guardian“Lavanya Lakshminarayan breathes new life into dystopia” -- The Washington Post“Deeply thought-provoking and timely” - Grimdark Magazine“The Ten Percent Thief is really terrific; I loved it.” – Dave Hutchinson

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Book SynopsisIn the cold reaches of space, are they sowing the seeds of battle?Alan Saul is now part human and part machine, and our solar system isn't big enough to hold him. He craves the stars, but can't leave yet. His sister Var is trapped on Mars, on the wrong side of a rebellion. And Saul's human side won't let her die. He must leave Argus Station to stage a dangerous rescue – but mutiny is brewing on board.Serene Galahad is the earth’s latest dictator, with its full powers at her disposal – and she’ll do anything to prevent Saul from escaping her grasp. So she musters new warships, ready to unleash a terrifying display of interstellar violence. The previous ship sent to end Saul failed, and is now limping back to earth. One survivor is Clay Ruger, who is holding to ransom humanity’s greatest asset – seeds to rebuild a dying Earth. He’ll give them up if Galahad gives up her life. But will Galahad pay the price, to ensure humanity’s future?Jupiter War is the final book in the Owner trilogy by Neal Asher.‘This dizzying and unusually thoughtful space opera . . . The result is a challenging, extremely satisfying read' – Publishers Weekly‘Expertly ratchets up the narrative tension and excitement with high-tech mayhem and technological razzle-dazzle' – Kirkus ReviewsTrade ReviewThis is a dizzying and unusually thoughtful space opera . . . The result is a challenging, extremely satisfying read -- Publishers WeeklyJam-packed with . . . invention, and just downright, in-your-face, balls-to-the-wall action -- SFFWorldNeal Asher is a real SF professional, and you won’t be disappointed -- EarthianHivemindFast, furious, violent, slightly tongue-in-cheek (I think), and a whole lot of fun that makes 1984 seem like a children’s tea party . . . the start of another promising series from Asher. Go on, dive in, you won’t be disappointed -- British Fantasy Society on The DepartureThe Orwellian intro had me utterly hooked right from the start. I simply couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end -- WorldsInInk on The Departure

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Book Synopsis'Murakami meets Ready Player One' – Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld'A twisted trip through a cool digital wilderness of a mystery. This book sticks to your brain' – Norman Reedus, star of The Walking DeadWhat happens in the game, stays in the game . . . Rabbits is a secret, dangerous and sometimes fatal underground game. The rewards for winning are unclear, but there are rumours of money, CIA recruitment or even immortality. Or it might unlock the universe’s greatest secrets. But everyone knows that the deeper you get, the more deadly the game becomes – and the body count is rising. Since the game first started, ten iterations have taken place . . . and the eleventh round is about to begin.K can’t get enough of the game and has been trying to find a way in for years. Then Alan Scarpio, reclusive billionaire and alleged Rabbits winner, shows up out of nowhere. And he charges K with a desperate mission. Something has gone badly wrong with the game and K needs to fix it – before Eleven starts – or the world will pay the price.Five days later, Scarpio is declared missing.Two weeks after that Eleven begins, so K blows the deadline.And suddenly, the fate of the entire universe is at stake.Rabbits by Terry Miles is an electrifying, compulsive read based on the hit podcast from the Public Radio Alliance – perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Black Mirror.Trade ReviewA twisted trip through a cool digital wilderness of a mystery. This book sticks to your brain. Just read it already -- Norman Reedus, star of The Walking DeadA taut mystery play for a time of conspiratorial madness, a frightening romp that forcefully reminds us of the terrible plausibility of conspiratorial thinking -- Cory Doctorow, author of WalkawayRabbits is a remarkably assured debut, deftly written and laced with intrigue. It combines Haruki Murakami’s slice-of-life surrealness with the thrilling pace and pop-culture throwbacks of Ready Player One. I loved it -- Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the WyldRabbits chases the mysteries at the heart of gaming and popular culture. Cancel your evening plans and follow Terry Miles down the rabbit hole -- Max GladstoneRabbits is an addictive puzzle box of a book that'll have you obsessing over every little detail. Do not start this if you have plans that day – you'll just end up cancelling them -- Rob Hart, author of The WarehouseA fascinating blend of paranoia and plausibility, Rabbits takes gaming to the next level. This ambitious and intricate novel will have you looking over your shoulder – and questioning the results of your next Google search -- Alexandra Oliva, author of The Last OneMiles masterfully combines mystery, danger, and scientific theory to bring the game to life until readers are just as caught up in searching for the next clue as the characters themselves. It’s a wild ride and it proves impossible to put down -- Publishers Weekly starred reviewA twisty, timey-wimey roller coaster that morphs seamlessly from treasure hunt to conspiracy thriller to escape room. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Brilliant, breathless, and full of madness, Terry Miles makes you feel like you’re the one playing the game . . . and facing the consequences if you lose! -- Christopher Golden

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Book SynopsisPolity Agent is the fourth novel in Neal Asher's popular Agent Cormac series.There's danger without and within.Refugees arrive in the Polity from eight hundred years in Agent Cormac’s future. And once they are through, the gate they use is dumped into the sun, as something dangerous and non-human is in pursuit. Cormac soon learns that the Maker civilization they have come from has been destroyed – by alien Jain technology.Orlandine, an augmented human, is studying this lethal tech in Cormac’s timeline. She may manage to harness its power, or it might destroy her. Meanwhile, Cormac is desperate to stamp down on this same technology, but someone or something is spreading it. And just outside humanity’s Polity worlds, something very nasty indeed might just be pulling their strings.Polity Agent is followed by Line War in the action-packed Agent Cormac seriesTrade ReviewOne of the best yet . . . destructive high Space Opera spectacle * Starburst *He’s got a fantastic eye for monsters, writes turbo-charged battle sequences, and can describe cosmic events and alien landscapes with an edge of evocative beauty * SFX *

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Book SynopsisLinguist and scoundrel Sean Wren is in trouble. Again. And this time, his sentence is to salvage the data of the Philosopher Stone experiments from an abandoned, long lost ship—before it explodes in a supernova.But this spaceship isn’t as abandoned as they thought. When Sean arrives with his crew, they discover the place is crawling with monsters, and some of its original residents still lurk in the shadows. Dark secrets are scrawled in languages only Sean can read. Worse, the Ministers, humanity’s greatest oppressors, are also stalking the ship’s empty corridors, seeking the same data.Trapped and with time running out, Sean will have to rely on his wits, his closest friend Benny, the monsters within, and the enemies around him to get out with the riches he was promised.Trade Review“A rollicking page-turner.” -- Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *“A real hold-your-breath novel.” -- FanFiAddict * FanFiAddict *“Fun, fast-paced, cutting-edge, and full of epic twists” -- Library Journal, starred review * Library Journal *“An entertaining romp” -- The Times

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Book Synopsis'Addictive' - THE TIMES 'Marvellously twisty, with the clockwork ingenuity of Agatha Christie' - FINANCIAL TIMES SHARING A BODY CAN BE MURDER Alex, Kate, Mike, Sierra and Ben have spent twenty-five years trapped together. And there's no escape. They share one body, part of humanity's answer to its dangerously spiralling population. After more than two decades of bickering and petty vendettas, the one thing they can agree on is that they need a better host, and so they travel to a Death Park where they can win enough to get them the upgrades that will make the next twenty-five years bearable. But things go very wrong when Kate accepts a dangerous offer, and one of them disappears. Someone is trying to kill off members of the commune. But why? Is one of them responsible? Or is an outsider playing a deadly game? It's hard enough to catch a murderer. It's almost impossible when you might be sharing a body with them... 'Gripping and intriguing on every level' - SARAH PEARSE, author of THE SANATORIUM 'A dazzling, thrilling rollercoaster ride' - ALEX PAVESI, author of EIGHT DETECTIVESTrade ReviewThis thriller is science fiction wrapped in a murder mystery that scrambles and blows your mind... It is an addictive read that will remain with you long after you emerge blinking from the rabbit hole * The Times *My mind is officially blown! This clever, twisty debut really delivers. Gripping, well-written and intriguing on every level -- Sarah Pearse, bestselling author of THE SANATORIUMA marvellously twisty whodunnit [with] the brutal, clockwork ingenuity of an Agatha Christie mystery * Financial Times *A dazzling, thrilling rollercoaster ride: five strangers forced to share a body in a resource-depleted future find themselves caught up in a murder mystery. Full of ideas and excitement, it's a gripping fast-paced read -- Alex Pavesi, author of EIGHT DETECTIVESA pacy, exciting and most unusual crime story * Guardian *The ultimate whodunit conundrum, this amazing concept blew my mind from the start. A thrilling, intelligent read -- Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEALGripping, fast-paced and incredibly original. Five Minds is out of this world in the best possible way -- Allie Reynolds, author of SHIVERGuy Morpuss is set to become a powerhouse in speculative crime. Tense, dark, gritty and high-concept, it's a feast of a book -- Helen Fields, author of A PERFECT CRIMEFive Minds spearheads an exciting new trend in speculative fiction, with a mind-stretching and irresistible premise deftly spun into a twisty, page-turning action-thriller. Clever, cool and thoroughly entertaining -- Philippa East, author of LITTLE WHITE LIESConsider my single mind blown! An astonishing and original concept, deftly executed. This novel cries out for a screen adaptation -- David Jackson, bestselling author of CRY BABYA whip-smart, searing debut with a story which grinds into the mind like cursed clockwork. I really loved it -- Matt Wesolowski, author of SIX STORIESA brilliantly inventive, pacy debut with a great premise. A Maze Runner type world of complex death games and riddles that keep you guessing to the very end. If you liked The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, you'll love this -- Eve Smith, author of THE WAITING ROOMSFascinating and inventive. A brilliantly original concept, thrilling and surprising but also thoughtful and heartbreaking -- Catherine Cooper, author of THE CHALETPart Bladerunner part Agatha Christie, this mind-bending pacy debut gives a whole new meaning to the locked-room mystery. Five Minds deserves to be huge -- Imran Mahmood, author of YOU DON'T KNOW METhrilling dystopian sci-fi meets twisty murder mystery in this mind-bendingly original debut. Five Minds is nothing short of a cross-genre masterpiece -- Adam Christopher, author of EMPIRE STATEAmazingly addictive. A wicked, twisty blend of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Blade Runner and even a pinch of Rollerball -- Kate Griffin, author of KITTY PECK AND THE MUSIC HALL MURDERSI loved Five Minds - the worldbuilding of Gibson with the pace of The Running Man. A fantastic ride and a brilliant debut! -- Tim Glister, author of RED CORONAFive Minds literally blew my mind, with a stunning concept that takes you on a terrifying trip with five souls crammed into one body, every one of them a suspect. Devoured in 24 hours, and will take some dislodging from the top of my 'best reads of 2021' pile -- Robert Scragg, author of WHAT FALLS BETWEEN THE CRACKSExtraordinary. Mindblowing, original and fiendishly clever. I'll be thinking about this book for a very long time -- Victoria Selman, author of SNAKES AND LADDERSA gripping, clever and innovative story: this book sucked me into its dark, futuristic world where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. The ending left me reeling! A fantastic debut -- Louise Mumford, author of SLEEPLESSAfter a few pages I was hooked into a new world, manned by workers, andis, hedonists and communes. Imagine an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, The Hunger Games, Sophie's Choice and a whodunit under one cover. I loved it and wouldn't be surprised if it gets optioned for a movie -- Jenny O'Brien, author of FALLEN ANGELI loved the brilliant, brain-grabbing Five Minds. An extraordinary concept with a spanking crime mystery at its heart -- Chris Lloyd, author of THE UNWANTED DEADThink The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle meets Running Man. So intelligent and yet so easy to read. Totally recommend -- S.E. Moorhead, author of WITNESS XInventive, innovative and imaginative. Five Minds was a trip that had me thrilled and terrified in equal measure. Utterly mind-bending -- J.M. Hewitt, author of THE NIGHT CALLERSmart world-building, fantastic near-future ideas, and an ingenious structure that kept the tension at a peak for chapter after chapter -- Dan Malakin, author of THE REGRETHigh stakes and the dark corners of the human psyche: Five Minds is a fascinating extrapolation of society and a claustrophobic, deft whodunit -- Patrick Edwards, author of RUIN'S WAKEA real feat of the imagination: wildly original and a thrilling read -- Louisa Scarr, author of LAST PLACE YOU LOOKFiendishly clever and dashed with humour. You're pulled into a world that is fully immersive. One of the most original books I've ever read -- Chris McDonald, author of A WASH OF BLACKThe perfect blend of speculative fiction and crime. I couldn't stop turning the pages -- Lia Middleton, author of WHEN THEY FIND HERClever, twisty, insightful. It reminded me of a cross between Michael Marshall Smith and Iain M. Banks, and that at its best sci-fi raises themes that shine a light back on contemporary world through a great story. Brilliant -- James Mylet, author of LEXImaginative, twisty and brilliantly fun. I loved each of the expertly-drawn characters and their journey through a world where time is everything. Guy Morpuss has crafted a deliciously devourable tale that will have you on the edge of your seat -- Lynsey James, author of JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

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Book SynopsisSet in a lethal waterworld where sudden death is a way of life, The Skinner is the first novel in the far-future Spatterjay series by Neal Asher.The savage ocean planet of Spatterjay draws visitors with very different agendas. Erlin is immortal and seeks a reason to keep living. Janer hosts a hive mind, which paid him to find this planet. And Keech is an agent of Earth who’s been dead for seven hundred years – but still hunts a notorious criminal.On Spatterjay’s vast waterscapes, only the Old Captains risk the native life forms and their voracious appetites. However, they are now barely human. And somewhere out there Keech’s target – the Skinner – runs wild. Keech pursues the Skinner for atrocities committed in a centuries-past war, fought with the alien Prador. But one of these Prador is fast approaching Spatterjay to exterminate witnesses to his own war crimes. And he won’t spare its visitors.Continue the science fiction adventure with The Voyage of Sable Keech and Orbus.Trade ReviewHis easy style and intriguing plot make for a great story that treats the reader as an adult -- The TimesCrammed full of inventive technology, organic and artificial intelligence, horrible monsters, and a thick mesh of story lines -- SFXAn exhilarating tour through one of the most ingeniously, elaborately deadly worlds since Harry Harrison invented Death World -- LocusHurtles along at a high-octane clip . . . In sum: a blast -- Kirkus

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Book SynopsisWar Factory is the second novel in the Transformation series, a no-holds-barred adventure set in Neal Asher's popular Polity universe. One seeks judgement, another faces damnation and one man will have his revenge . . .Thorvald Spear is losing his mind as he drowns in dark memories that aren't his own. Penny Royal, rogue artificial intelligence, has linked Spear with the stored personalities of those it's murdered. And whether the AI seeks redemption or has some more sinister motive, Spear needs to destroy it. He feels the anger of the dead and shares their pain. As Spear tracks the AI across a hostile starscape, he has company. Sverl, an alien prador, has been warped by Penny Royal and hungers to confront it. But will the AI's pursuers destroy each other or hunt it together? Sverl's prador enemies aren't far behind either. They plan to use his transition to prove human meddling, triggering a devastating new war. Clues suggest Penny Royal's heading for the defective war factory that made it. So allies and enemies converge, heading for the biggest firestorm that sector of space has ever seen. But will Spear secure vengeance for his unquiet dead?Continue the action-packed adventure with Infinity Engine.'Asher ventures into some terrifying minds and incredible space battles in this tangled but heart-pounding sequel' – Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewAsher ventures into some terrifying minds and incredible space battles in this tangled but heart-pounding sequel, which achieves a rare success in depicting truly non-human forms of intelligence -- Publishers WeeklyThis new novel has all the things I loved in Dark Intelligence, but extended and improved: more action scenes and more spectacular battles, deeper characterization, wider focus . . . Asher has done a tremendous work with War Factory -- SenseofWonderWar Factory contains everything that is good about Asher’s writing. It’s thoughtful, yet action-packed, and adds layer upon layer to an already deep setting that is the Polity . . . Nobody does science fiction like Neal Asher, and War Factory is yet more proof of that. -- SFFWorld

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Book SynopsisThe This is the new social media platform everyone is talking about. Allow it to be injected into the roof of your mouth and it will grow into your brain, allow you to connect with others without even picking up your phone. Its followers are growing. Its detractors say it is a cult. But for one journalist, hired to do a puff-piece interview with their CEO, it will change the world forever.Adan just wants to stay at home with his smart-companion Elegy - phone, friend, confidante, sex toy. But when his mother flees to Europe and joins a cult, leaving him penniless, he has to enlist in the army. Sentient robots are invading America, but it seems Adan has a surprising ability to survive their attacks. He has a purpose, even if he doesn''t know what it is.And in the far future, war between a hivemind of AIs and the remnants of humanity is coming to its inevitable end. But one woman has developed a weapon which might change the course of the war. It''s just a pity sTrade ReviewAn utterly bonkers, structurally ambitious novel about love, immortality, and the technological singularity...The This isan accessible, frequently funny novel. * Locus Magazine *Ambitious and fragmentary. [The This is] fascinating...5 stars! * SFX Magazine *Sci-fi's most outrageous experimentalist...The Times' Book of the month. * The Times *Adam Roberts is easily the most interesting active science fiction author. He is the 21st century's equivalent of John Brunner - endlessly innovative. [The This is] intensely clever. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *

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Book SynopsisDO NOT SURRENDER CONTROL.'Mindwalker is a cinematic gut punch of action and espionage. Sharp-edged, tense and thrilling, you'll be holding your breath until the last page' Tasha SuriEighteen-year-old Sil Sarrah is determined to die a legend. But with only twelve months left before the supercomputer grafted to her brain kills her, Sil's time is quickly running out. In the ten years she's been rescuing field agents for the Syntex corporation - by commandeering their minds from afar and leading them to safety - Sil hasn't lost a single life. And she's not about to start now. But when a critical mission goes south, Sil is forced to flee the very company she once called home.Desperate to prove she's no traitor, Sil infiltrates the Analog Army, an activist faction working to bring Syntex down. Her plan: to win back her employer's trust by destroying the group from within. Instead, she and the Army's reckless leader, Ryder, uncover a horrifying truth that threatens to undo all the good she's ever done.With her tech rapidly degrading and her new ally keeping dangerous secrets of his own, Sil must find a way to stop Syntex in order to save her friends, her reputation - and maybe even herself.'The thrill ride of a lifetime' Kat Dunn'Pure adrenaline shot straight into your veins' Jesse Q. Sutanto 'Utterly enthralling' Saara El-Arifi 'This book will leave you breathless' Vaishnavi Patel'Ridiculously thrilling' Claire Winn 'A vibrant thrill ride from start to finish!' Meg LongTrade ReviewMindwalker is a cinematic gut punch of action and espionage. Sharp-edged, tense and thrilling, you'll be holding your breath until the last page * Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne *Utterly enthralling with no time to catch your breath, Dylan plunges you into an unforgiving world full of tech, secrets and government control. With a plot that doesn't let you go and characters you don't want to let go, Mindwalker is aptly titled-it will continue to live in my mind rent free * Saara El-Arifi, author of The Final Strife *Mindwalker is pure adrenaline shot straight into your veins. The story grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go, and by the end, you'll be begging for another book from Dylan! On a deeper level, it's also a wildly important read that takes an incisive look at issues of consent. A must-read for both fans of sci-fi and those who think they don't like sci-fi! * Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of The Obsession and Dial A for Aunties *Deftly balancing break-neck action with reflections on consent, mortality, and what legacy we choose to leave behind, Mindwalker is here to grab you by the throat and pitch you head first into the thrill ride of a lifetime. Buckle up, kids, Sil Sarrah is a heroine for the ages * Kat Dunn, Author of Dangerous Remedy *Mindwalker is a brilliant rollercoaster of a ride for those who love sci-fi, those who are new to it, and everyone in between. Packed with incredible action and thought-provoking commentary, this book will leave you breathless * Vaishnavi Patel, author of Kaikeyi *Ridiculously thrilling. Mindwalker is an explosion of everything I love in sci-fi: breakneck pacing, badass characters, stunning twists, and a teched-out world. Buckle up and hang on * Claire Winn, author of City of Shattered Light *A vibrant thrill ride from start to finish! Dylan's sparkling debut is full of instant character favorites paired with a wickedly vivid, tech-filled world of intrigue, romance, and nonstop action. This story has something for everyone-it's truly the sci-fi fix I've been dying for! * Meg Long, author of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves *Mindwalker is the fast-paced, smart and surprising sci-fi of your dreams. Dylan's writing is masterfully commercial, her characters are complex and compelling; it's impossible to stop reading once you've started * Sarah Underwood, author of Lies We Sing to the Sea *Mindwalker is the most exciting book I've read this year. It starts fast and just gets faster! Kate Dylan's debut is expertly crafted and reads like a high-budget TV show waiting to happen. I can't wait to read more from her * Ben Oliver, author of The Loop *A thrilling, fast-paced page-turner. The worldbuilding is inspiring - utterly inventive, intricate, and wonderfully believable. Definitely a must-read for all sci-fi fans * London Shah, author of The Light at the Bottom of the World *Mindwalker is everything I love in YA SciFi: a fierce protagonist fighting the odds in a world just beyond our own, quick-witted banter, a mysterious rebel love interest, and a ticking clock. Pure adrenaline! * Emily Thiede, author of This Vicious Grace *Action-packed, whipsmart, and chrome shiny, Mindwalker combines deep questions about consent and technology with a propulsive plot and fascinating (if terrifying) near future world * L. R. Lam, Sunday Times bestselling author of Dragonfall, Goldilocks and Shattered Minds *MINDWALKER is a cyberpunk near-future tale filled with action and thrills which I thoroughly enjoyed ... combining a fast-paced story with some consideration of ethical issues around corporate propaganda, manipulation and fully informed consent. It is well-written, easy to read and holds the reader's attention to the end * BSFG Newsletter *Kate Dylan's thrillingly fast-paced, futuristic and original sci-fi debut might fall into the YA category, but it holds plenty of appeal for just about anyone who loves action-packed Marvel-esque plots, quick-witted banter and intriguing characters with murky morals * Culturefly *This SF YA debut boasts pin-sharp characterisation and nail-biting, swift-paced action * Guardian *Well written, with strong central characters, plenty of action and constant page-turning suspense * ParSec *This engaging, fast-paced story is set in a believable dystopian world in which most of humanity has been destroyed * Kirkus Starred Review *Christmas gift guide: 'It's hard to stop reading this high-tech, high-concept thriller' * The i *What to Read: 'This book could revive the dystopian genre and I will be flying the flag for that' * Stellar Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT!'' It is many years since God sent the Tribulation to punish the forebears for their sins, and in the rural settlement of Waknuk David Strorm''s father decries any and all blasphemies against nature. Little does he realise that David and his cousin Rosalind, have their own secret aberration which would label them as mutants. But as they grow older it becomes more difficult to conceal their differences from the village elders. Soon they face a choice: wait for eventual discovery, or flee to the terrifying and mutable Badlands. . .''An outstanding success'' New York Times Trade ReviewPerfect timing, astringent humour . . . One of the few authors whose compulsive readability is a compliment to the intelligence * Spectator *Remains fresh and disturbing in an entirely unexpected way * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis2093, Neo York. A dystopian technological marvel, where concrete high-rises brim with holographic neon, as gilded mob bosses, flashy CEOs, and famous vid-stars all strive to consolidate their power over the masses. And while the rain reflects the neon, it never washes away the grime and filth of the streets. Welcome to a world of synth-jazz and cybernetics, where the status quo grinds down the hard-working man and vat-grown clone alike. Whether you're the redemption-seeking gangster, the one good cop in a corrupt system, or the gene-modded musician trying to make it big, you'll be trying to get by in a city that just doesn't care. Epic fight scenes take centre stage in this game of stylised, high-octane bloodshed. Jump straight into the action with a unique ruleset designed to deliver a cinematic, neon-noir experience, as the spotlight focuses on the brutal showdowns that will define you or leave you face-down in the dirt. So get ready to give them hell, as the sultry notes of t

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Book SynopsisArtificial intelligence in 100 stories. To ready us for the inevitable, here are 100 of the best short stories ever written – most of them by humans – about artificial intelligence. Simon Ings has assembled anthropomorphic cyborgs and invertebrate AIs, thuggish metal lumps and wisps of manufactured intelligence so delicate that if you blink you might miss them in the new overlord of all robot literary compendiums. It's Alive! is about inventors and their creations. Following the Money drops robots into the day-to-day business of living. Owners and Servants considers the human potentials and pitfalls of owning and maintaining robots. Changing Places looks at what happens at the blurred interface between human and machine minds. All Hail the New Flesh waves goodbye to the physical boundaries that once separated machines from their human creators. Succession considers the future of human and machine consciousnesses – in so far as we might have one. With 100 stories spanning an order of magnitude more pages, Simon Ings's We, Robots is the new overlord of all robot literary compendiums. Welcome it.Trade ReviewWe, Robots is the new cyborg overlord of literary compendiums... The scope and variety of this short story collection is impressive' * Independent *A glorious delve into the many guises of robots and artificial intelligences. This book is a joy and a triumph. Recommended most highly, and definitely one of my books of the year * SFF World *Simon Ings goes into orbit as a science fiction master * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisNo one can outrun the past in Brass Man, is the third novel in Neal Asher's popular Agent Cormac series.Imperfectly resurrected by Jain technology, Mr Crane is back from the dead. The brass killing machine is haunted by a violent past he can’t fully forget or truly remember. He seeks to heal his shattered mind as his new master, an old biophysicist enemy of Agent Cormac, sets him on an improbable mission: to hunt a dragon on the frontier world of Cull.On Cull, each day is a struggle for survival. Ferocious insectile monsters roam the volatile planet. And the low-tech human settlers are desperate to reach their ancestors’ starship – orbiting tantalisingly out of reach. An entity calling itself Dragon assists them, but what are its real motives, and why is the biophysicist really here? Cormac must find the answers, and face multiple threats to the Polity.Brass Man is followed by Polity Agent, the fourth book in the Agent Cormac series.Trade ReviewImaginative, energetic and insane * SFX *Trademark Asher . . . the links it establishes leave one wanting much, much more * Starburst *Compelling reading . . . Asher has become a resounding and distinctive voice in British SF * SFRevu *

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Book SynopsisIn Neal Asher's The Technician, the Theocracy has been dead for twenty years, and the Polity rules on Masada – but it is an order that the rebels of the Tidy Squad cannot accept, and the iconic Jeremiah Tombs is top of their hitlist.Its secrets could mean our survival . . .On the savage planet of Masada, one of the native aliens is spreading terror through the human population. It creates sculptures from its victims’ remains, earning it its nickname: the Technician. And only Jeremiah Tombs has survived an encounter. This sent him mad, but he may have learned something key to humanity’s survival – if he lives to remember it. Jeremiah was a member of a brutal regime, now deposed, and a radical sect still wants its revenge. The Technician buried something in Jeremiah’s mind about the alien Atheter, an entire race that committed suicide. However, in seeking to understand their disappearance, we may somehow be attracting the same fate. And to unlock Jeremiah’s secrets, Polity operatives must keep him alive.Trade ReviewThe Technician is no doubt one of the best new novels I have read this year. It's got a fantastic inner journey with fast-paced alien-world action. * Cybermage *I know that when a tale from him arrives that I’m going to get a story that I absolutely love. * Falcata Times *Neal Asher's books are like an adrenaline shot targeted directly for the brain -- John Scalzi on The SoldierMagnificently awesome. Then Asher turns it up to eleven -- Peter F. Hamilton on The Soldier

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Book SynopsisOrbus continues the adventure of Captain Orbus in Neal Asher's high-octane, science fiction Spatterjay series.A cold war is turning white hot.Old Captain Orbus commandeered a ship to flee Spatterjay, desperate to escape the violent planet. Orbus’s alien enemy, the Prador Vrell, is also moving on. The Spatterjay virus mutated him into something even more dangerous. And he’s hunting the Prador King himself – who sought to kill him, to bury the secret of their similar transformations.Orbus and Vrell clash in the Graveyard, a lawless zone where the Prador have seized a key space station. Official action by humanity or Prador would end peace, as a centuries-long cold war simmers. So Earth commands Orbus to destroy the station, even as the King recruits a monster to exterminate Vrell. But their actions will awaken an intelligence that annihilated civilizations, as it stirs after five million years . . .Trade ReviewAsher delivers a satisfying space opera full of adrenaline highs . . . Fast-paced fun -- SFXRail-guns rattle off, pulse rifles fire out shots and explosions ring out. This is what Asher does best -- SciFiNowIt is, like all of Asher’s work, brilliant fun -- DeathrayOrbus hits every nail on the head, every time. Neal has not only delivered an excellent, enthralling and action-packed story, but probably his most accomplished and enjoyable novel to date. I honestly can't recommend this one highly enough -- Walker of Worlds

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Book SynopsisReturning to the universe of Revenger, award-winning author Alastair Reynolds delivers another thrilling tale set among the stars.Trade ReviewPirates in space, full of peril and high-jinks... This is a novel that's elegantly plotted, full of surprises and, as first time round, rip-roaring fun. * SFX MAGAZINE *Reynolds is easily one of the modern masters of science fiction... addictive, page-turning stuff. * STARBURST *This is a story to break hearts and make you turn pages. It's great stuff; pick it up, you'll want to know what happens next. * SF AND F REVIEWS *Much of the fun of these books comes from the construction of a far, far-future space-opera... the mapping of Age of Sail tropes onto space travel is just the start... Nevertheless, at the centre of this baroque masquerade party resides a sober consideration of what it might mean to go off adventuring, what it might cost. * LOCUS MAGAZINE *

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Book SynopsisSome it kills. Others it transforms. See beyond the illusion. CHICAGO, 1928. The Great War has been over for years, and a brave new world forged. With it, Liam's world has transformed as well. He grow up poor, but now works for one of the richest families in Chicago, reaping the benefits of his friendship with the family's son and heir. Now he's at Club Artemis: a palace of art-deco delights and debauchery, filled to bursting with the rich and beautiful. And tonight they're all drinking one thing. Absynthe. The green liquor rumoured to cause hallucinations, madness – even death. While gilded youths sip the viridescent liquid, their seemingly perfect world is crumbling. Their absynthe is no mere folly: some it kills, others it transforms. But in Liam something different has taken place: he can see the world without its illusion. And it isn't the perfect world the government want people to believe... 'Bellecourt's sci-fi debut is complex, ambitious, and sweeping in scope.' Publishers Weekly 'A complex feat of world-building that raises evergreen questions of truth and power with dizzying verve.' Daily MailTrade ReviewSet in a lushly depicted alternate Roaring '20s distinguished by futuristic technology... Bellecourt's sci-fi debut is complex, ambitious, and sweeping in scope * Publishers Weekly *Absynthe drew me in with impeccable worldbuilding and nuanced characters, but it's the exquisite pacing that kept me completely engrossed in this richly imagined yarn -- Jason M. Hough, New York Times bestselling authorA heady, addictive cocktail of retro-futurism and high-stakes thriller, Absynthe is fantastical sci-fi at its very best -- Adam Christopher, author of Empire State and Made to KillJazz age speakeasies and biological warfare makes this a fresh and original addition to the alternate history sci-fi space. Pacific Rim meets Captain America, in magnificent art deco steampunk style -- Lauren James, author of The Loneliest Girl in the UniverseA complex feat of world-building that raises evergreen questions of truth and power with dizzying verve * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisShadow of the Scorpion is a standalone prequel to Neal Asher’s explosive Agent Cormac series.Some secrets are too hard to bear . . . Following the human vs prador war, Ian Cormac signs up with Earth Central Security. He’s sent out to restore order on worlds devastated by alien bombardment. But he learns humanity can be far more dangerous – even those closest to him. Amidst the tragic ruins left by wartime atrocities, Cormac discovers in himself the cold capacity for violence. It’s a quality that’ll make him one of Earth’s top agents. Haunted by childhood memories of a sinister scorpion-shaped war drone, and the burden of losses he doesn’t remember, he’ll discover some hard truths. These will set him on a course of vengeance, where he’ll have to use all his hard-won skills just to stay alive.Trade ReviewThe Shadow of the Scorpion skillfully combines graphic action and sensitive characterisation and is Asher's most accomplished novel to date * Guardian *A powerhouse cocktail of lurid violence, evocative world-building and typically grotesque monsters, but it’s amazing how much emotion he’s also layered into what could have been a simplistic SF potboiler. Asking difficult questions while still delivering plenty of full-tilt adventure and widescreen action, this is top-notch stuff from an author well and truly at the top of his game * SFX *Ian Cormac is, it seems, here to stay in the collective consciousness of sci-fi literature… Thoroughly enjoyable stuff * SciFiNow *Full of giant explosions on alien worlds. It's also a well-plotted exploration of the way violence destroys everything, even memory * Io9 *The novel manages to raise some interesting points about what it means to be human in a society where the lines between man and machine have blurred: robots are capable of emulating emotions and humans may be technologically augmented and live indefinitely. When it is possible to have traumatic memories erased from the human brain, the novel questions the wisdom of doing so and suggests that memories and pain shape our psyche * The Book Bag *

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Book SynopsisThe Voyage of the Sable Keech returns to Neal Asher's water-bound world of Spatterjay, teeming with bizarre characters and gruesome monsters.Taylor Bloc is a walking dead man, determined to live again. He also wants adulation, power and control – and will do anything to get them. Of Bloc’s kind, Sable Keech alone has achieved resurrection. So Bloc will retrace Keech’s journey across Spatterjay’s wild seas, with his crew of killers, to grasp his secret.Erlin wanted solitude to understand her eternal life, until an attack prompts her own strange journey. And Janer returns, with forbidden weaponry. He must stop an agent controlled by a hive mind with a death fixation. But a wider crisis will overshadow personal missions. In the deeps, an alien Prador is stirring, horribly transformed by Spatterjay’s immortality virus. And an enemy ship would destroy the planet to keep this secret.Continue the science fiction adventure series with Orbus, or start at the beginning with The Skinner.Trade ReviewAs always, Asher is unparalleled at creating this unique and dangerous environment . . . as exhilarating as his previous books -- Good Book GuideHighly entertaining and brilliantly imagined -- SF RevuIdeas, jokes and puns splatter his pages -- GuardianGleeful use of technology... there is much to enjoy' -- SFFWorld

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Book SynopsisDark Intelligence is the first novel in the Transformation series, a no-holds-barred adventure set in Neal Asher's popular Polity universe.One man will transcend death to seek vengeance. One woman will transform herself to gain power. And no one will emerge unscathed . . .Thorvald Spear wakes in hospital, where he finds he's been brought back from the dead. What's more, he died in a human vs. alien war that ended a whole century ago. But when he relives his traumatic final moments, he finds the spark to keep on living. That spark is vengeance. Trapped and desperate on a world surrounded by alien Prador forces, Spear had seen a rescue ship arriving. But instead of providing backup, Penny Royal, the AI within the destroyer turned rogue. It annihilated friendly forces in a frenzy of destruction, and, years later, it's still free. Spear vows to track it across worlds and do whatever it takes to bring it down.Isobel Satomi ran a successful crime syndicate. But after competitors attacked, she needed more power. Yet she got more than she bargained for when she negotiated with Penny Royal. She paid it to turn her part-AI herself, but the upgrades hid a horrifying secret. The Dark AI had triggered a transformation in Isobel that would turn her into a monster, rapidly evolving into something far from human.Spear hires Isobel to take him to the Penny Royal AI's last known whereabouts. But he cheats her in the process and he becomes a target for her vengeance. And as she is evolves further into a monstrous predator, rage soon wins over reason. Will Spear finish his hunt, before he becomes the hunted?Continue the action-packed adventure with War Factory and Infinity Engine.'Asher rocks with XXX adrenaline while delivering a vivid future' – David Brin, author of the Uplift trilogyTrade ReviewAsher rocks with XXX adrenaline while delivering a vivid future -- David BrinWhat Asher delivers here is state-of-the-art SF on so many levels . . . a compelling, smart read -- LocusOne of his best works so far . . . Asher is a modern master of Sci-Fi -- StarburstBeautifully paced . . . does just as well as at slam-bang action scenes as at painting frightening pictures . . . This is space opera at a high peak of craftsmanship -- Publishers Weekly starred reviewBlends large portions of horror and mystery into an SF tale of revenge and redemption . . . a complex and satisfying work -- Library Journal starred reviewAn exciting, intricate, and unabashedly futuristic story rife with twists and turns . . . Asher returns to his popular far-future series, Polity Universe, with another fast-paced space opera filled with his trademark technological marvels and elaborate world building -- BooklistHardboiled, fast-paced space opera epic . . . Asher's books are similar to the world of Iain M. Banks' Culture universe, but the Polity is arguably a much darker and more vicious environment – and all the better for it -- TheRegisterDark Intelligence is an imaginative, epic space opera that manages to present a dark future universe full of vibrant spaceships, people, creatures and intelligence. Highly enjoyable and highly addictive -- SFBookAs you all should know, Neal Asher is one of Britain's leading science fiction authors, best known for his Polity universe series. Dark Intelligence has everything science fiction needs, and much, much more -- TheBookPlankPerpetually on the knife's edge, and this constant tension works wonders for creating a page-turning atmosphere. It's a damningly gripping and infecting book -- Upcoming4A superb novel and Asher has an amazing talent for world-building, for writing larger-than-life characters, for weaving gripping plots and for imagining exotic alien races and wonderful technologies. Huge ships! Big weapons! Space battles! Ground battles! Treason! Revenge! This is New Space Opera at its best -- SenseofWonder

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Book SynopsisA gripping introduction to the world of Peter F. Hamilton’s Commonwealth Saga, Misspent Youth is set in the near-future, over three hundred years before Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained. For fans of Iain M. Banks and Stephen Baxter.Jeff Baker is granted the gift of eternal youth. However, it’s not all it seems . . .It is 2040 and, after decades of research, we can finally rejuvenate a human being. At seventy-eight years old, Jeff Baker – renowned inventor and philanthropist – has given the world much of his creative genius. He’s therefore selected as first choice for this gift.At first, rejuvenation feels like a miracle. Until the glow begins to fade. Personal relationships start to break down and the world waits for more brilliant new work. Living the dream will come at a cost, but can Jeff pay the price?‘The owner of the most powerful imagination in science fiction’ – Ken Follett, author of The Pillars of the Earth‘Hamilton handles massive ideas with enviable ease’ – GuardianTrade ReviewThe owner of the most powerful imagination in science fiction -- Ken Follett, author of The Pillars of the EarthThe phrase “modern master of science fiction” is not to be lightly bestowed. Peter F. Hamilton has earned it -- John Scalzi, author of The Kaiju Preservation SocietyHamilton handles massive ideas with enviable ease -- GuardianWe’ve said it before but let’s say it again: nobody does BIG SF quite like Hamilton -- SFX

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Book SynopsisHey, you. Yes, you. Put this grimy, beautiful, devastating, hilarious, screaming, writhing, all-out post-apocalyptic girl-buddy-road-warrior-lost princess-techno-thriller in your face and read it right now. It is every kind of badass' Laini Taylor, NYT bestselling author of STRANGE THE DREAMER and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogyA thrilling new series from Jay Kristoff, internationally best-selling author of The Nevernight Chronicle and The Illuminae Files.It's just another day on the Scrap: lose the last of your credits at the WarDome, dodge the gangs and religious fanatics, discover you can destroy electronics with your mind, stumble upon the deadliest robot ever builtWhen Eve finds the ruins of an android boy named Ezekiel in the scrap pile she calls home, her entire world comes crashing down. With her best friend and her robotic sidekick in tow, she and Ezekiel will trek across deserts of irradiated glass, battle cyborg assassins, and scour abandoned megacities to save the oTrade Review‘Kristoff's vivid world of grit, metal, and technology evokes all the senses, and his characters every emotion. This is a breathless, action-packed exploration of what humanity really means’Marie Lu, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of WARCROSS and THE YOUNG ELITES ‘Fierce friendships, brutal heartbreak, and the question of what makes us who we are–in the midst of a seriously awesome and terrifying post-apocalyptic world–make LIFEL1K3 your next favorite book. Trust me’Kiersten White, NYT Bestselling Author of AND I DARKEN ‘I'd like to live in the vivid and raw world of LIFEL1K3, if only I wasn't certain it would kill me. Jay Kristoff delivers an utterly unique and entirely brilliant story with his signature punch-to-the-gut writing that will leave you bruised but longing for more’Beth Revis, NYT bestselling author of STAR WARS: REBEL RISING and the Across the Universe trilogy

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Book SynopsisThe day has finally come for eight-year-old Kwame to start NkonyaaSchool and learn magic! With engaging black-and-white artwork onevery page, kids won't be able to put down this magical, action-packedadventure.

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Book Synopsis_____________________AN UNEXPECTED QUEST. TWO WORLDS AT STAKE. ARE YOU READY? Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday's vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous- and addictive- than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest- a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who'll kill millions to get what he wants. Wade's life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance. Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again. _____________________Praise for Ready Player One:'Enchanting . . . Willy Wonka meets The Matrix.' USA Today'An addictive read . . . part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance, and all heart.' CNN'Delightful . . . the grown-up's Harry Potter.' HuffPost'As one adventure leads expertly to the next, time simply evaporates.' Entertainment Weekly'Gorgeously geeky, superbly entertaining, [and] spectacularly successful.' Daily Mail'A smart, funny thriller that both celebrates and critiques online culture.' San Francisco Chronicle'A geek fantasia, '80s culture memoir and commentary on the future of online behavior all at once.' Austin American-Statesman

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed author of Darktown comes the most visionary crime novel since Minority Report.''It''s rare to find a thriller with such a fantastic and original concept. I was gripped'' --- Anthony HorowitzIn a world where a global event has blinded every person on the planet, one detective seeks a murderer who should not, cannot, exist.Seven years ago, everyone in the world went blind in a matter of months. Technology helped people adjust to the new normal, creating a device that approximates vision, downloading visual data directly to people''s brains. But what happens when someone finds a way to manipulate it and change what people see?Homicide detective Mark Owens has been on the force since before The Blinding. When a scientist is murdered, and the only witness insists the killer was blacked out of her vision, Owens doesn''t believe her - until a similar murder happens in front of him. With suTrade ReviewIt's rare to find a thriller with such a fantastic and original concept. I was gripped. * Anthony Horowitz *An exceptional mystery and seamless interwoven it this new world he has realised. The result is incredible. Easily my book of the year so far. * M. W. Craven *This terrific mix of noir and sci-fi delivers an exciting and cautionary crime novel of what may be our not-so-distant future. * Ace Atkins *An exciting page-turner that's also full of sharp writing and thought-provoking ideas. Mullen fuses science fiction and a detective story into a stylish and entertaining novel. * Charles Yu *The world of this story is brimming with imagination and raises alarming questions about our own near-term future. Attention Black Mirror fans: This is your next book! * Jason Rekulak *Mixing the genres of crime and science fiction, this is assured writing . . . Fans of William Gibson as well as crime fiction will find The Blind Spots an exciting and thought-provoking read * Crime Time *A tremendous crime-SF hybrid, a brilliantly conceived story impeccably told. * Booklist *[An] excellent near-future mystery. Fans of P.D. James's Children of Men will be enthralled. * Publishers Weekly *Two guns - I mean thumbs - up * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisWorld War Terminus had left the Earth devastated. Through its ruins, bounty hunter Rick Deckard stalked, in search of the renegade replicants who were his prey. When he wasn't 'retiring' them with his laser weapon,he dreamed of owning a live animal - the ultimate status symbol in a world all but bereft of animal life.Then Rick got his chance: the assignment to kill six Nexus-6 targets, for a huge reward. But in Deckard's world things were never that simple, and his assignment quickly turned into a nightmare kaleidoscope of subterfuge and deceit - and the threat of death for the hunter rather than the hunted ...Trade ReviewOne of the most original practitioners writing any kind of fiction, Dick made most of the European avant-garde seem like navel-gazers in a cul-de-sac * Sunday Times *My literary hero * Fay Weldon *For everyone lost in the endlessly multiplicating realities of the modern world, remember: Philip K. Dick got there first * Terry Gilliam *A masterclass in sci-fi wonderment * Empire *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD, and shortlisted for the NEBULA, SYNNERS is a classic of cyberpunk fiction.

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Book Synopsis'Murakami meets Ready Player One' – Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld'A twisted trip through a cool digital wilderness of a mystery. This book sticks to your brain' – Norman Reedus, star of The Walking DeadWhat happens in the game, stays in the game . . . Rabbits is a secret, dangerous and sometimes fatal underground game. The rewards for winning are unclear, but there are rumours of money, CIA recruitment or even immortality. Or it might unlock the universe’s greatest secrets. But everyone knows that the deeper you get, the more deadly the game becomes – and the body count is rising. Since the game first started, ten iterations have taken place . . . and the eleventh round is about to begin.K can’t get enough of the game and has been trying to find a way in for years. Then Alan Scarpio, reclusive billionaire and alleged Rabbits winner, shows up out of nowhere. And he charges K with a desperate mission. Something has gone badly wrong with the game and K needs to fix it – before Eleven starts – or the world will pay the price.Five days later, Scarpio is declared missing.Two weeks after that Eleven begins, so K blows the deadline.And suddenly, the fate of the entire universe is at stake.Rabbits by Terry Miles is an electrifying, compulsive read based on the hit podcast from the Public Radio Alliance – perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Black Mirror.Trade ReviewA twisted trip through a cool digital wilderness of a mystery. This book sticks to your brain. Just read it already -- Norman Reedus, star of The Walking DeadA taut mystery play for a time of conspiratorial madness, a frightening romp that forcefully reminds us of the terrible plausibility of conspiratorial thinking -- Cory Doctorow, author of WalkawayRabbits is a remarkably assured debut, deftly written and laced with intrigue. It combines Haruki Murakami’s slice-of-life surrealness with the thrilling pace and pop-culture throwbacks of Ready Player One. I loved it -- Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the WyldRabbits chases the mysteries at the heart of gaming and popular culture. Cancel your evening plans and follow Terry Miles down the rabbit hole -- Max GladstoneRabbits is an addictive puzzle box of a book that'll have you obsessing over every little detail. Do not start this if you have plans that day – you'll just end up cancelling them -- Rob Hart, author of The WarehouseA fascinating blend of paranoia and plausibility, Rabbits takes gaming to the next level. This ambitious and intricate novel will have you looking over your shoulder – and questioning the results of your next Google search -- Alexandra Oliva, author of The Last OneMiles masterfully combines mystery, danger, and scientific theory to bring the game to life until readers are just as caught up in searching for the next clue as the characters themselves. It’s a wild ride and it proves impossible to put down -- Publishers Weekly starred reviewA twisty, timey-wimey roller coaster that morphs seamlessly from treasure hunt to conspiracy thriller to escape room. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Brilliant, breathless, and full of madness, Terry Miles makes you feel like you’re the one playing the game . . . and facing the consequences if you lose! -- Christopher Golden

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Book SynopsisAnna Senoz is a brilliant young scientist, working towards her PhD and a bright career when she makes a discovery that could change the world of genetics forever.The ''Transferred Y'' chromosome, however, isn''t as welcomed by her peers, or the wider society. Anna is forced to choose between her dedication to her discovery, the progress of her career, and her responsibilities to her family. Does scientific integrity mean speaking out against the naysayers? Are the potential ramifications of her discovery too wide-reaching for her to risk pursuing it?Winner of the 2004 Philip K. Dick award, Life examines society''s fixation on biological sex, the struggles of women in STEM, and the pressures placed upon them by families, colleagues and friends alike. Perfect for fans of alternate histories and near-future feminist SFF, like The Handmaid''s Tale and Vox.

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Book SynopsisBook two of the thrilling new series by internationally bestselling author of The Nevernight Chronicle and the Illuminae FilesEvery kind of badass' Laini TaylorAfter a battle that broke hearts, minds, and bodies, two friends find themselves on opposite sides of the same quest.Shattered by the discovery that she is not at all who or what she believed, Eve joins forces with her new siblings'. Meanwhile, Lemon finds a sense of belonging perhaps even love in an enclave of other genetic deviates.But with friends and enemies, heroes and villains, wearing interchangeable faces, nothing is as it seems. Soon, Eve and Lemon are racing against each other to find a missing girl whose DNA may hold the key to saving or destroying their broken world.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR LIFEL1K3: ‘Hey, you. Yes, you. Put this grimy, beautiful, devastating, hilarious, screaming, writhing, all-out post-apocalyptic girl-buddy-road-warrior-lost-princess-techno-thriller in your face and read it right now. It is every kind of badass’Laini Taylor, bestselling author of STRANGE THE DREAMER and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy ‘Kristoff's vivid world of grit, metal, and technology evokes all the senses, and his characters every emotion. This is a breathless, action-packed exploration of what humanity really means’Marie Lu, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of WARCROSS and THE YOUNG ELITES ‘Fierce friendships, brutal heartbreak, and the question of what makes us who we are–in the midst of a seriously awesome and terrifying post-apocalyptic world–make LIFEL1K3 your next favorite book. Trust me’Kiersten White, NYT Bestselling Author of AND I DARKEN ‘I'd like to live in the vivid and raw world of LIFEL1K3, if only I wasn't certain it would kill me. Jay Kristoff delivers an utterly unique and entirely brilliant story with his signature punch-to-the-gut writing that will leave you bruised but longing for more’Beth Revis, NYT bestselling author of STAR WARS: REBEL RISING and the Across the Universe trilogy

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