Science Fiction Sci-Fi Books

Book SynopsisFirst published fifteen years ago, shortly after his death, inside this collection are some of the finest short stories of science fiction writing from one of the genre's greatest writers, Isaac Asimov.Isaac Asimov was the Grand Master of the Science Fiction Writers of America, the founder of robot ethics, and one of the world''s most prolific authors of fiction and non-fiction. The Good Doctor''s short fiction has been enjoyed by millions for more than half a century. Now the definitive Asimov collection is underway with Volume One of The Complete Stories.Many of these stories are classics of the genre, and the last, ''The Last Question'', the absolute personal favourite of Asimov himself. Always entertaining and thought provoking, these stories display Asimov''s mastery of the short story form. He remains supreme as the thinking person''s science fiction writer.

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Book SynopsisItalo Calvino''s enchanting stories about the evolution of the universe, with characters that are fashioned from mathematical formulae and cellular structures, The Complete Cosmicomics is translated by Martin McLaughlin, Tim Parks and William Weaver in Penguin Modern Classics.''Naturally, we were all there, - dld Qfwfq said, - where else could we have been? Nobody knew then that there could be space. Or time either: what use did we have for time, packed in there like sardines?'' The Cosmicomics tell the story of the history of the universe, from the big bang, through millennia and across galaxies. It is witnessed through the eyes of ''cosmic know-it-all'' Qfwfq, an exuberant, chameleon-like figure, who takes the shape of a dinosaur, a mollusc, a steamer captain and a moon milk gatherer, among others. This is the first complete edition in English of Italo Calvino''s funny, whimsical and delightful stories, which blend scientific fact, flights of fancy, parody and wordplay to show the strangeness and the wonders of the world. Italo Calvino (1923-1985), one of Italy''s finest postwar writers, has delighted readers around the world with his deceptively simple, fable-like stories. Calvino was born in Cuba and raised in San Remo, Italy; he fought for the Italian Resistance from 1943-45. Among his other works published in Penguin Modern Classics are Italian Folktales, Hermit in Paris, Into the War, The Path to the Spiders'' Nests, Numbers in the Dark, Six Memos for the Next Millennium and Why Read the Classics?If you liked The Complete Cosmicomics, you might enjoy Jorge Luis Borges'' Fictions, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.''The complete and definitive collection ... a masterpiece'' Gilbert Adair, Evening Standard''Dazzling ... a book of revelation'' Tim Adams, Observer ''If you have never read Cosmicomics, you have before you the most joyful reading experience of your life'' Salman Rushdie''A landmark in fiction, the work of a master'' Ursula K Le Guin, GuardianTrade ReviewCalvino was ahead of his time in so many ways that only now is his work widely perceived not as marginal because it is fantasy, but as a landmark in fiction, the work of a master . . . It's a joy to have all the Cosmicomics within one cover, and a handsome cover it is ... Martin McLaughlin's introduction couldn't be better as a guide to these dazzlingly idiosyncratic tales -- Ursula K Le Guin * Guardian *If you have never read Cosmicomics, you have before you the most joyful reading experience of your life -- Salman RushdieThis is classic Calvino, making you think and laugh at the same time -- John Self

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Book SynopsisA woman tries to find her way home in a world decimated by earthquakes, but there are people determined to stop her and harvest her DNA.Alice wakes up in the Los Angeles Quake Zone in 2025 having no idea how she got there. As her memories slowly return, she finds she''s being hunted by several armed groups intent on capturing her alive.At the same time, Este, a survivor of the quakes that destroyed Los Angeles, makes a living as a pathfinder for salvage teams in the city. Este rescues Alice from her pursuers and learns there is something not quite right about her - Alice is convinced it is 2003.Aided by Este''s occasional boyfriend Wilfredo and her dog Casey, Este and Alice try to evade those chasing Alice and discover why they value her so highly, all while trying to reunite her with her family as the earthquakes around the world grow worse.

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Book SynopsisA phenomenon across all formats, this 42nd anniversary paperback omnibus contains the complete Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy in five parts, charting the whole of Arthur Dent's odyssey through space and time. Share and enjoy.Collected together in this omnibus are the five titles that comprise Douglas Adams' wildly popular and wholly remarkable comedy science fiction 'trilogy', introductions to each book, expanded material from the Douglas Adams archives plus a bonus short story, Young Zaphod Plays It Safe, and a special undeleted scene . . .The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyOne Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be rather a lot to cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun. The Galaxy may offer a mind-boggling variety of ways to be blown up and/or insulted, but it’s very hard to get a cup of tea. The Restaurant at the End of the UniverseWhen all questions of space, time, matter and the nature of being have been resolved, only one question remains - 'Where shall we have dinner?' The Restaurant at the End of the Universe provides the ultimate gastronomic experience, and for once there is no morning after to worry about.Life, the Universe and EverythingFollowing a number of stunning catastrophes, Arthur Dent is surprised to find himself living in a hideously miserable cave on prehistoric Earth. However, just as he thinks that things cannot get possibly worse, they suddenly do. An eddy in the space-time continuum lands him, Ford Prefect, and their flying sofa in the middle of the cricket ground at Lord's, just two days before the world is due to be destroyed by the Vogons. Escaping the end of the world for a second time, Arthur, Ford, and their old friend Slartibartfast embark (reluctantly) on a mission to save the whole galaxy from fanatical robots. Not bad for a man in his dressing gown.So Long, and Thanks for All the FishThere is a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. It's not an easy thing to do, and Arthur Dent thinks he's the only human who's been able to master this nifty little trick - until he meets Fenchurch, the woman of his dreams. Fenchurch once realised how the world could be made a good and happy place. Unfortunately, she's forgotten. Convinced that the secret lies within God's Final Message to His Creation, they go in search of it. And, in a dramatic break with tradition, actually find it . . .Mostly HarmlessArthur Dent has settled down on the small planet Lamuella and has embraced his role as a Sandwich Maker. However, his plans for a quiet life are thrown awry by the unexpected arrival of his daughter. There's nothing worse than a frustrated teenager with a copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in their hands. When she runs away, Arthur goes after her determined to save her from the horrors of the universe. After all - he's encountered most of them before.This publishing phenomenon began as a radio drama and now exists in a number of wildly contradictory versions (including a TV series, a movie and a towel) - this version, produced by Douglas Adams' original publisher, is, at least, definitively inaccurate.Trade ReviewOne of the greatest achievements in comedy. A work of staggering genius -- David WalliamsDazzlingly inventive -- Caitlin MoranFizzing with ideas . . . Brilliant -- Charlie BrookerReally entertaining and fun -- John CleeseMuch funnier than anything John Cleese has written -- Terry JonesI know for a fact that John Cleese hasn’t read it -- Graham ChapmanWho is John Cleese? -- Eric IdleReally entertaining and fun -- Michael PalinI haven’t known many geniuses in my life. Some brilliantly smart people, but only a tiny handful would I class as geniuses. I would class Douglas, because he saw things differently, and he was capable of communicating the way he saw things, and once he explained things the way he saw them, it was almost impossible to see them the way you used to see them -- Neil GaimanHitchhiker’s is packed with that unique energy, all barmy and bristling and bold. This book can be witty, iconoclastic, godless, savage, sweet, surreal, but above all, it dares to be silly. Fiercely, beautifully silly -- Russell T. Davies, writer and producer of Doctor Who

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Book SynopsisIn a dystopian future Japan, forty-two junior high school students are outfitted with weapons and bid to kill one another until there is only one left standing.Koushun Takami''s notorious high-octane thriller envisions a nightmare scenario: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan—where it became a runaway best seller—Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world.

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Book SynopsisIn this luminous sci-fi debut, a nonverbal autistic woman refuses to crumble as she stands against a dogmatic society clinging to a centuries-long conflict built on lies.Citadel is the only human city on the alien planet Edalide, ruled by the biweekly tides that bring both deadly danger and much-needed resources. But the drowning waters, constant threat of starvation, and eternal cold aren't the most dangerous challenge. For the Flooded Forest is ruled by demons: monsters from Hell sent by their vengeful god as penance for their ancestors' rebellion. To save their souls and return to their former glory, Citadel must kill every single one.Or so they believe.Olivia lost her lover to the demons almost a year ago. But during a scientific expedition, a chance encounter reveals that the demons are sentient-a startling discovery that would get Olivia executed if she exposed it.Driven by the burning need for answers, Olivia embarks on a dangerous journey into the Forest. There, she must face alien monsters, zealous warriors, and the demons of her own past. But change comes slowly, and always with a price...

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Book SynopsisBefore the unlikely heroes of Final Fantasy XIII banded together, each one had their own story to tell. This series of novellas chronicles the last few days before the Pulse l'Cie changed their lives, providing a deeper look at the characters of the hit game!

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Book SynopsisA long, long time from now, in the valleys of what will no longer be called Northern California, might be going to have lived a people called the Kesh. But Always Coming Home is not the story of the Kesh. Rather it is the stories of the Kesh - stories, poems, songs, recipes - Always Coming Home is no less than an anthropological account of a community that does not yet exist, a tour de force of imaginative fiction by one of modern literature''s great voices.Trade ReviewLyric and luminous . . . a major imaginative vision - The New York Times Book ReviewAn appealing book as well as a masterly one . . . The future world she has created here is awesomely complex - NewsweekThe effect it has on the reader is hypnotic . . . Le Guin has chosen a most original way to reveal this imagined land - People

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Book Synopsis Ancillary Sword is the sequel to Ancillary Justice, the debut which is the only novel to ever win the Hugo, the Nebula and the Arthur C. Clarke Award. Breq is a soldier who used to be a warship. Once a weapon of conquest controlling thousands of minds, now she only has a single body and serves the emperor she swore to destroy.Given a new ship and a troublesome crew, Breq is ordered to the only place in the galaxy she will agree to go: to Athoek station, to protect the family of a lieutenant she once knew - a lieutenant she murdered in cold blood.The Imperial Radch trilogy begins with Ancillary Justice, continues in Ancillary Sword and concludes with Ancillary Mercy. Also available now: Provenance is a stunning standalone adventure set in the same world as Ancillary Justice. NPR calls it ''A fitting addition to the Ancillary world''.Praise for the trilogy:Trade ReviewLeckie proves she's no mere flash in the pan with this follow-up to her multiple-award-winning debut space opera, Ancillary Justice * Kirkus Reviews *Leckie proves she's no mere flash in the pan with this follow-up to her multiple-award-winning debut space opera, Ancillary Justice * Kirkus Reviews *So good, and so unexpected - at once a first-rate space opera and the best science fictional exploration of gender since The Left Hand of Darkness. * Weekend Herald *So good, and so unexpected - at once a first-rate space opera and the best science fictional exploration of gender since The Left Hand of Darkness. * Weekend Herald *

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Book SynopsisThis novel goes back to the origins of the game series, retelling in greater detail the story of Solid Snake in the first MGS game. Solid Snake is a special operations agent with the Foxhound special forces unit. Called in to complete the jobs no one else can, Snake uses a combination of espionage, stealth and ruthlessness to achieve his goals - no matter what the cost. Learn more about Snake as he encounters the Metal Gear armour, his lifelong enemy Revolver Ocelot, and the mystery of Shadow Moses Island ...Trade Review'Without question, Konami's ... Metal Gear Solid 4 is an awesome showcase for the PS3. The visuals are outstanding [and]the overall impression is ... one of unprecedented graphical excellence' IGN 'We can't wait to see more of this increasingly impressive-looking game' Gamespot

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Book SynopsisIn a torrential downpour, former FOXHOUND agent Solid Snake stands on the George Washington Bridge - ready to launch himself to the deck of the U.S.S. Discovery as it passes below. Inside Discovery is a new generation of Metal Gear. But in the next hour, Snake's world explodes. Two years later, a young, unproven agent codenamed Raiden must penetrate the mystery of what went so insanely wrong that night. In a labyrinthine superstructure in New York harbour known as the Big Shell, enemies, allies, secret agents, and double dealers converge. Russian commandos, a cyber Vamp, a long-legged, leather-clad, rifle-bearing beauty named Fortune, a deformed, finely manicured bomber called Fatman, and a mysterious Mister X. Somewhere in the maze, as well, is the President himself - his biometrics coded to a bomb that can take out Manhattan, his loyalties unknown. Now, the rookie Raiden is fighting his way to one discovery after another, including the rebirth of Solid Snake himself and a nightmare organization with a history, a plan, and a terrifying superweapon hidden in plain sight.

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Book SynopsisBOOK 1 IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES''Gripping, thrilling and brutal . . . a masterpiece of suspense'' Publishers Weekly''The zombie novel Robert A. Heinlein might have written'' Sci-Fi MagazineThe year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.Now, twenty years after the Rising, bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives - the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will get out, even if it kills them.Trade ReviewThe zombie novel Robert A. Heinlein might have written * SCI-FI MAGAZINE *Gripping, thrilling and brutal . . . McGuire has crafted a masterpiece of suspense with engaging, appealing characters who conduct a soul-shredding examination of what's true and what's reported * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *FEED is a proper thriller with zombies . . . A taut, well-written story * SFX *Zombie mayhem, political snark and pointedly funny observations -- LOCUSAstonishing . . . a fascinating exploration of the future -- NEW YORK TIMESThis book will absolutely take your breath away . . . the best zombie-themed writing since World War Z -- FRINGE

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Book SynopsisAn expansive, highly imaginative space opera from the multi-award-winning Claire North, perfect for fans of Ann Leckie, Adrian Tchaikovsky and Arkady Martine.

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Book SynopsisA transdimensional anthropologist can’t keep herself from interfering with Earth’s darkest period of history in this brilliant science fiction debut Niccolucio, a young Florentine Carthusian monk, leads a devout life until the Black Death kills all of his brothers, leaving him alone and filled with doubt. Habidah, an anthropologist from another universe racked by plague, is overwhelmed by the suffering. Unable to maintain her observer neutrality, she saves Niccolucio from the brink of death.   Habidah discovers that neither her home's plague nor her assignment on Niccolucio's world are as she's been led to believe. Suddenly the pair are drawn into a worlds-spanning conspiracy to topple an empire larger than the human imagination can contain.File Under: Science FictionTrade Review"In this ambitious and intelligent novel, Palmgren takes the staples of science fiction – post-apocalypse, first contact, interventionism – and integrates them seamlessly, breathing new life into familiar forms. A truly outstanding debut." – NYT bestselling author Una McCormack; "A cast of well-drawn characters and a narrative that is initially tightly focused but rapidly expands to encompass the stars draw the reader into this ambitious tale of intrigue, conspiracy and adventure. Quietus has the trappings of space opera but plays around with so much more; it's an impressive debut that marks the author as one to watch." – Ian Whates, author of Pelquin's Comet; "Palmgren's debut immerses the reader in the rat-infested, plague-ravaged streets of 14th-century Europe then flips the narrative to a dizzying scale as the characters uncover layer upon layer of deception, examining what it is to be human along the way. A fine piece of SF and WTF." – Susan Murray, author of The Waterborne Blade

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisWhen young programmer Alexander Ivanovich Privalov picks up two hitchhikers while driving in Karelia, he is drawn into the mysterious world of the National Institute for the Technology of Witchcraft and Thaumaturgy, where research into magic is serious business. And where science, sorcery and socialism meet, can chaos be far behind?Trade ReviewThe best Soviet SF writers - THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTIONFolktale motifs are masterfully updated to embody in a dark picaresque the black and white Magic of modern alienated science and society - Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

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Book SynopsisOne of the very best must-read SF novels of all time.Trade Reviewyou can see seeds of science fiction's next half century sprinkled throughout its pacy. compulsive narrative * SFX *

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Book SynopsisIn the year 2100, the invention of the Electron Pump - an apparently inexhaustible supply of free energy - has enabled humanity to devote its time and energies to more than the struggle for survival, finally breaking free of the Earth. But the Electron Pump works by exchanging materials with a parallel universe, and such unbalancing of the cosmos has consequences. Humans and aliens alike must race to prevent a vast nuclear explosion in the heart of the Sun - and the vaporisation of the Earth exactly eight minutes later ...

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth look at the making of the hit show, exploring the adventures of the Mandalorian and the Child. This title features in-depth with rare images.

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Book SynopsisVoyager Classics timeless masterworks of science fiction and fantasy.A beautiful clothbound edition of I, Robot, the classic collection of robot stories from the master of the genre.In these stories Isaac Asimov creates the Three Laws of Robotics and ushers in the Robot Age.Earth is ruled by master-machines but the Three Laws of Robotics have been designed to ensure humans maintain the upper hand:1) A robot may not injure a human being or allow a human being to come to harm2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.But what happens when a rogue robot's idea of what is good for society contravenes the Three Laws?Trade Review‘An exciting science thriller…’New York Times ‘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 SynopsisEversion is a superb, original Gothic SF novel. A small group of intrepid explorers are in search of a remote and mysterious artefact. It''s a well-funded expedition, well organised, which is lucky as they''re sailing north of Bergen on the schooner Demeter, searching for a narrow inlet which will lead them to a vast uncharted lake - and their goal--Until disaster strikes.Doctor Silas Coade wakes from disturbing dreams, on the steamship Demeter, in pursuit of an extraordinary find almost too incredible and too strange to believe, secreted within a lagoon in the icy inlets of Patagonia. But as they come in sight of their prize he and the crew see they are not the first to come so far: there is a wreck ahead, and whatever ruined it may threaten them as well--Shaking off his nightmares, Doctor Silas Coade joins his fellow exploders on the deck of the zeppelin Demeter and realises something has already gone dangerously wrong with theirTrade Review[A] wonderfully entertaining puzzle wrapped inside an adventure story * The Guardian *A fabulous and satisfying novel * SF Crowsnest *An excellent adventure that's sure to keep readers on their toes * Publishers Weekly *A fun, character focused bottle mystery that shifts settings like a chameleon walking across a rainbow carpet * The Quill to Live *Entertaining and thought-provoking * Locus *Pirates 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 SynopsisGoodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a masterful epic science fiction novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Inheritance Cycle, Christopher Paolini.'Action-packed SF adventure that zings along at hyperluminal speed' – Peter F. HamiltonKira Navárez dreamed of life on new worlds.Now she’s awakened a nightmare.During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first she’s delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move.As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. First contact isn’t at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human.While Kira faces her own horrors, Earth and its colonies stand upon the brink of annihilation. Now, Kira might be humanity’s greatest and final hope . . .Praise for Christopher Paolini and his work: 'Christopher Paolini is a true rarity' – Washington Post'An authentic work of great talent' – New York Times Book Review'A breathtaking and unheard of success' – USA Today'Christopher Paolini makes literary magic' – PeopleTrade ReviewA powerful piece of SF, with intelligent writing and big ideas -- Adrian TchaikovskyPaolini’s impressive imagination has produced an action-packed SF adventure that zings along at hyperluminal speed, with Kira as one of the most memorable characters of the genre -- Peter F. HamiltonRollicking pace, rapidly developing stakes . . . A fun, fast-paced epic that science fiction fans will gobble up -- Kirkus ReviewsPaolini populates this universe with a large cast of interesting and relatable characters . . . lending the story a sincere emotional depth. Highly recommended for fans of James A. Corey's The Expanse series and for fantasy fans willing to try space opera -- Booklist starred reviewFans of all kinds, one can be sure, will come to question, and stay to explore -- Washington PostGreat space opera with rockets on -- Daily MailAn authentic work of great talent -- New York Times Book Review on Christopher PaoliniA true rarity -- The Washington Post on Christopher PaoliniA breathtaking and unheard of success -- USA Today on Christopher PaoliniPaolini make[s] literary magic -- People on Christopher Paolini

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Book SynopsisWhen Rab was a baby, his mother made a decision which would change his life. She feared he would be sent to work in the hellish mines of Mercury, to eke out his life until he was worn out, all in the name of maintaning the defense of the Solar Sytem. But when her desperate attempt to flee with her 2 year old failed, she took a desperate step to save him. She cut off his hand.Decades later, Rab has been spared the physical hardships he can no longer endure, and is now based on the Mask, the all-encompassing structure which hides the Solar Sytem from alien eyes. And it is during his watch that a spaceship arrives, one which has travelled for a hundred years from a long-forgotten colony planet. If they pierce the Mask, everything humanity has created will be left open to the alien threat. But this strange ship, bearing an offshoot of the species, may bring something else with them. Hope.

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Book Synopsis'Extraordinary . . . Folk is a dazzling talent' Karen Joy Fowler'Wonderfully weird' Daily MailA woman uses dating apps to find a partner, despite the threat posed by 'blots', artificial men more interested in stealing data than dating. A sculptor, trapped in a skyscraper restaurant when a violent coup erupts below, creates a perfect model of the town as it is destroyed. A curtain of void obliterates the world at a steady pace, leaving one woman to decide with whom she wants to spend eternity.Haunting and darkly inventive, the stories in Out There deftly combine science fiction and horror to uncover an unforgettable vision of the absurdity of life in the digital age.'The literary love child of Kafka and Camus and Bradbury penning episodes of Black Mirror' Chang-Rae Lee, author of Native SpeakerTrade ReviewOut There is for readers who consider body horror to be a love language. True romantics will swoon either despite or because of the gore that accompanies these sharp, affable stories . . . Folk's stories have been compared to Shirley Jackson's, and this is most apparent in the way Folk balances her horror with humour. * New York Times Book Review *Kate Folk's short stories are wonderfully weird; playfully pushing the possibilities of plotlines towards the uncanny, creepy and off-kilter, they have a seam of dark humour that illuminates the grotesquery with an unnerving beauty * Daily Mail *A wonderful absurdist collection that explores the vagaries of human connections * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Tightly constructed and spectacularly mind-bending stories that ingeniously pair everyday challenges and outlandish predicaments, ranging from hilarious to terrifying. Folk writes with unnerving matter-of-factness as she veers into Poe- and Shirley Jackson-like horror or turns to the poignantly fantastic in the mode of George Saunders or Kelly Link. * Booklist (starred review) *Kate Folk will be compared to Carmen Maria Machado and Julia Armfield - there are wonderful similarities in the sheer force of her creations, but she's very much her own writer. These stories are funny, scalding and, sometimes, breathtakingly beautiful. -- Sarah Davis-Goff, author of Last Ones Left AliveFifteen extraordinary, through-the-looking-glass tales, containing locked rooms, demanding houses, embodied Russian bots, revolution, and relationships -- all delivered with a side of menace. Wonderfully weird and weirdly wonderful, Folk is a dazzling talent -- Karen Joy Fowler, bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside OurselvesWondrously perverse, often creepy and hilarious, and always sneakily heart-breaking, from the moment you read these tales you'll know you're in the presence of a singularly brilliant vision, one that burns off the scrim of our normal-seeming human customs and operations to reveal the utter bizarreness of this existence. Out There, it turns out, lies very much within. -- Chang-Rae Lee, award-winning author of The SurrenderedDisturbing, alluring, dazzling and creepy, Out There is a riveting collection that keeps you enthralled with every page. -- Claire North, bestselling author of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry AugustKate Folk's stories inhabit otherworldly realms where exquisite language and beguiling characters excavate the very nature of love and existence. -- Adam Johnson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Orphan Master’s SonKate Folk is a formidable writer, a literary swordsmith of feline dexterity, very dark and very funny, equally at home in the magisterial dark and the relentless glare of truth. -- Lisa Locascio, author of Open MeThe stories in this stunning debut are funny, fearless, and moving portraits of life shaped by the ever-widening shadow of technological progress. Folk's imagination is uncanny and arresting. Out There expertly captures the all-too-human experience of longing for lives we may never inhabit, and the final story is a chilling and tender portrait of love that will stick with you long after you finish the book. -- Isle McElroy, author of The AtmospheriansThe lucid, unsettling landscapes in Out There bring our own world into chilly focus through an exquisitely distorted lens. Each one of these amazing stories is a masterclass in eeriness and perception. Kate Folk's imagination is on fire. -- Aysegül Savas, author of White on WhiteAn assortment of stories so sharp and ingenious you may cut yourself on them while reading, like a drawer full of the most beautiful knives. Kate Folk's Out There goes onto my shelf of favorite collections. -- Kelly Link, author of Get In TroubleWry, riveting, and ambitious, Out There is one of those rare collections that manages to be both brilliantly inventive and emotionally resonant. Folk's tilted worlds are hilarious and unsettling-they sit squarely in the spaces where anxiety and exhilaration collide. Full of unforgettable voices and gleeful, exacting prose, this is a sharp and stylish debut from a wildly gifted writer -- Kimberly King Parsons, author of Black Light

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Book SynopsisDr Felix Hoenikker, one of the founding fathers of the atomic bomb, has left a deadly legacy to the world. For he is the inventor of Ice-nine, a lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet. The search for its whereabouts leads to Hoenikker's three eccentric children, to a crazed dictator in the Caribbean, to madness.Trade ReviewOne of the warmest, wisest, funniest voices to be found anywhere in fiction * Daily Telegraph *The time to read Vonnegut is just when you begin to suspect that the world is not what it appears to be. He is not only entertaining, he is electrocuting. You read him with enormous pleasure because he makes your hair stand on end * New York Times *Vonnegut has looked the world straight in the eye and never flinched -- J. G. Ballard

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Book SynopsisThe superb aliens-in-your-head SF sequel to the wildly popular The Rise of Io, by the author of The Lives of Tao seriesWhen Ella Patel's mind was invaded by the Quasing alien, Io, she was dragged into the raging Prophus versus Genjix war. Despite her reservations, and Io's incompetence, the Prophus were determined to train her as an agent. It didn't go well. Expelled after just two years, Ella happily returned to con artistry, and bank robberies. But the Quasing war isn't done with them yet. The Genjix's plan to contact their homeworld has reached a critical stage, threatening all life on Earth. To complete the project they need Io's knowledge - and he's in Ella's head - so now they're both being hunted, again.File Under: Science Fiction [ Brain Slug Hidden Threats Aliens vs Aliens Wrong Place, Right Time ]Trade ReviewPraise for Wesley Chu "The Rise of Io is great ride, and I desperately want a Quasing. The idea of a cosmic cheering section in my own head sounds delightful. Not to mention my Quasing would make me totally boss. Another hit by Wesley Chu." - Melinda Snodgrass, author of the Edge series "Years after a killer debut, Wesley Chu keeps leveling up. Storytelling that seems so effortless you never see the punches coming." - Peter V Brett, bestselling author of the Demon Cycle series "A sleek, bumptious thriller that's strong on action and humour." - Financial Times "A compelling, breakneck action-adventure." - The Guardian "A fast, fun romp, with high stakes and plenty of explosions." - Locus "The Rise of Io is the perfect SF adventure! A scrappy young heroine, an alien civil war, and intrigue aplenty highlight this terrific beginning to Wesley Chu's epic new series. Fans of Pierce Brown's Red Rising take note...Ella is the new SF underdog to root for!" - Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Snowblind and Tin Men "Wesley Chu gets better and better with every book. Action-packed and full of surprises, The Rise of Io is his best work yet." - Richard Kadrey, author of the Sandman Slim series "The India slums after the Alien Wars might seem like a hell of a place to kick off a series, but Chu's explosive storytelling and firecracker new hero make opening The Rise of Io feel like tumbling into an action movie. I'd follow Ella Patel - or Chu - anywhere." - Melissa Olson, author of the Boundary Magic series "Damn, this is a great book. Wesley Chu may have created his best character yet with Ella - a scrappy, savvy street urchin, who he tosses into a world of hidden aliens, political maneuvering, and possible treachery. The Rise of Io is a fun, fast, beautifully written book that grabbed me on page one and didn't let me go." - Peter Clines, author of The Fold and the Ex-Heroes series "A fun, rollicking adventure, with a unique and charming heroine. The Rise of Io gives us a fresh look at the world of Campbell Award Winner Wes Chu's witty, action-packed, globe-trotting Tao series." - Ramez Naam, author of Nexus and the Philip K Dick Award-winning Apex "Wes Chu's meteoric rise to popularity isn't the least bit surprising. He's the freshest voice in science fiction since John Scalzi and James SA Corey, and is leading the charge to revitalize the genre." - Myke Cole, author of the Shadow Ops series

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA superb new noir/science fiction fusion from the ''mastersinger of space opera'' (The Times) and the creator of the beloved Revelation Space universe, strap in for a gripping murder mystery.Yuri Gagarin is a private investigator, who picks up small cases from his local community, runs into trouble with the local police, and generally ekes out a living as best he can. He''s aboard the Halcyon - a starship, hurtling through space, carrying thousands of passengers with thousands more sleeping the journey away.Only his usual investigative work - catching cheating spouses, and small time con artists - is about to take a turn. He''s hired by a mysterious woman called Ruby Red to look into a death in one of Halcyon''s most elite families . . . and then warned off the case again by a second mysterious woman called Ruby Blue. Caught between the two, he''s about to be embroiled in a murder mystery in which - at any moment - he could be the latest victim.Gripping, fast-paced fun this is a classic noir mystery with a science fiction twist, which will keep you guessing, and on the edge of your seat, to the end.A fresh new masterpiece, from the master of science fiction.

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Book SynopsisFor readers of Cormac McCarthy and Justin Cronin, this is the story of one family''s battle for survival in a world where evil has already won. As they fight their way across a dying land, Shay and Cass will do anything to keep their daughter, Hope, alive. The family faces unimaginable dangers as they try to stay together, and stay alive, long enough to reach safety. But when the heart of a dragon starts to beat in Hope''s chest, they fear they''ll lose her to a battle they can''t possibly help her win . . . Critically acclaimed author Peter Higgins has written a richly evocative post-apocalyptic fantasy novel about how, even in the darkest of times, we have so much to lose.Trade Review"Art" emphatically includes fantasy. At least, it does when the fantasy is as exceptional as this [THE WOLFHOUND CENTURY trilogy] - Guardianthe surprises keep on coming ... but quietly and subtly, like a dreaded knock on the door of an apartment in a brutalist concrete tower block in the dead of night [THE WOLFHOUND CENTURY trilogy] - IndependentWell-paced action... This world of a totalitarian state pitted against equally extremist revolutionaries is gripping... a solid page-turner [THE WOLFHOUND CENTURY trilogy] - The SunLike vintage China Mieville, but with all the violent narrative thriller drive of Ian Fleming at his edgiest [THE WOLFHOUND CENTURY trilogy]

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Book SynopsisHiron Ennes is the British Fantasy Award-winning and World Fantasy Award-nominated author of Leech. In their spare time they're a rogue harpist, mad doctor, and avid dog-petter.

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Book SynopsisThe Star Wars High Republic story comes to a conclusion, as the Jedi face off against the Nihil and Marchion Ro.

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Book SynopsisBarry Allen has just woken up in universe where nothing is the way he left it! Writer Geoff Johns (Blackest Night, The Flash: Rebirth) and artist Andy Kubert (Dark Knight III: The Master Race) team up to put The Flash in a race across time to save the universe.When Barry Allen wakes up at his desk, he discovers the world has changed. His mother is alive and old allies are now strangers. It''s a world on the brink of a cataclysmic war – but where are Earth''s Greatest Heroes to stop it? It''s a place where America''s last hope is Cyborg, who’s attempting to gather the forces of The Outsider, The Secret 7, S!H!A!Z!A!M!, Citizen Cold and other new and familiar-yet-altered faces! It''s a world that could be running out of time, if The Flash can''t find the villain who altered the timeline! 

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Book Synopsis'The best Star Wars publication to date . . . [James] Luceno takes Darth Plagueis down the dark path and never looks back.' NewsdayDarth Plagueis: one of the most brilliant Sith Lords who ever lived. Possessing power is all he desires; losing it is the only thing he fears. As an apprentice, he embraces the ruthless ways of the Sith. When the time is right, he destroys his Master-and vows never to suffer the same fate. For like no other disciple of the dark side, Darth Plagueis learns to command the ultimate power . . . over life and death.Darth Sidious: Plagueis's chosen apprentice. Under the guidance of his Master, he secretly studies the ways of the Sith while publicly rising to power in the galactic government, first as Senator, then as Chancellor, and eventually as Emperor.Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious, Master and acolyte, target the galaxy for domination-and the Jedi Order for annihilation. But can they defy the merciless Sith tradition? Or will the desire of one to rule supreme, and the dream of the other to live forever, sow the seeds of their destruction?'Luceno draws on his storytelling skill and prodigious knowledge of the [Star Wars] world . . . to craft a complex tale of ambition and desire.' Library JournalTrade ReviewThe best Star Wars publication to date . . . [James] Luceno takes Darth Plagueis down the dark path and never looks back. * Newsday *Luceno draws on his storytelling skill and prodigious knowledge of the [Star Wars] world . . . to craft a complex tale of ambition and desire. * Library Journal *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAs the bloody Human-Covenant War rages on Halo, the fate of humankind may rest with one warrior, the lone SPARTAN survivor of another legendary battle. This was the desperate, take-no-prisoners struggle that led humanity to Halo - the fall of the planet Reach. Now, for the first time, here is the full story of that glorious, doomed conflict ...Almost on Earth's doorstep, Reach is the last military fortress to defy the brutal Covenant onslaught. But their highest priority is to prevent the Covenant from discovering Earth. The outnumbered soldiers seem to have little chance, but Reach is the secret training ground for the very first 'super soldiers'. Code-named SPARTANs, these bioengineered and technologically augmented warriors are the best - quiet, professional and deadly. As the ferocious Covenant attack begins, a handful of SPARTANs stand ready to wage ultimate war. And at least one of them - the SPARTAN 'Master Chief' - will live to fight another day on a mysterious and ancient artificial world called Halo ...

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST ALL-TIME SERIESThe Foundation series is Isaac Asimov's iconic masterpiece. Unfolding against the backdrop of a crumbling Galactic Empire, the story of Hari Seldon's two Foundations is a lasting testament to an extraordinary imagination, one that shaped science fiction as we know it today.After a long war which saw the First Foundation emerge victorious, the Second Foundation is now believed to be extinct, and all records of planet Earth's existence have been erased.No one suspects that the Second Foundation could still exist. None, except Council member Golan Trevize, who finds himself ordered to leave Terminus, accompanied by historian Janov Pelorat, in order to find it.Yet this quest will lead an unsuspecting Golan further than he could have possibly imagined closer than ever to Earth, where the fate of the whole galaxy awaits him.Trade Review‘One of the most staggering achievements in modern SF’The Times ‘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 SynopsisKafka wants to clean up kaiju, but not literally! Will a sudden metamorphosis stand in the way of his dream?With the highest kaiju-emergence rates in the world, Japan is no stranger to attack by deadly monsters. Enter the Japan Defense Force, a military organization tasked with the neutralization of kaiju. Kafka Hibino, a kaiju-corpse cleanup man, has always dreamed of joining the force. But when he gets another shot at achieving his childhood dream, he undergoes an unexpected transformation. How can he fight kaiju now that he’s become one himself?!With kaiju cataclysms transpiring across Japan, Hoshina heads into battle equipped with Numbers Weapon 10 and soon discovers that wielding the first-ever sentient kaiju weapon won’t be easy. Meanwhile, back in the Oizumi area where Kafka is, six supergiant-class kaiju emerge, worsening an already grave situation. But just as things get dire, some unexpected backup arrives!

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Book SynopsisA deep and meaningful masterpiece of science fiction, full of heart and mind-bending ideas. A true classic, Vonnegut will make you laugh and have you contemplating the meaning of lifeWhen Winston Niles Rumfoord flies his spaceship into a chrono-synclastic infundibulum he is converted into pure energy and only materializes when his waveforms intercept Earth or some other planet. As a result, he only gets home to Newport, Rhode Island, once every fifty-nine days and then only for an hour.But at least, as a consolation, he now knows everything that has ever happened and everything that ever will be. He knows, for instance, that his wife is going to Mars to mate with Malachi Constant, the richest man in the world. He also knows that on Titan - one of Saturn's moons - is an alien from the planet Tralfamadore, who has been waiting 200,000 years for a spare part for his grounded spacecraft . . .Readers love The Sirens of Titan:'A truly exceptional work by a truly exceptional author expressing some exceptionally powerful ideas' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Vonnegut uses the absurd to explore what makes us human . . . I recommend this book for any fan of Vonnegut or [Douglas] Adams' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'The Sirens of Titan is primarily a parody of trashy pulp science fiction novels, a boisterous, chucklesome book . . . In this sense, The Sirens of Titan, twenty years early, precedes and foreshadows (and, I would say, is superior to) Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'There are plenty of space travels in The Sirens of Titan but it isn't a space opera . . . It is a spaced out satire, a cosmic comedy of manners' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I went into this expecting a science fiction/satire but instead I got an emotionally moving story about the meaning of life by none other than one of the greatest writers that ever lived. Period' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Funny until it suddenly becomes creepy, to tell you why would be a spoiler though . . . Vonnegut is only using sci-fi as a platform to tell an allegorical story about life, together with an anti-war and anti-religion themes' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'This is not just one of Vonnegut's best books. It's one of the best books I've ever read' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐Trade ReviewThe Sirens of Titan is a tour-de-force of sci-fi literature * Empire *

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Book SynopsisEdgewood is many houses, all put inside each other, or across each other. It''s filled with and surrounded by mystery and enchantment: the further in you go, the bigger it gets. Smoky Barnable, who has fallen in love with Daily Alice Drinkwater, comes to Edgewood, her family home, where he finds himself drawn into a world of magical strangeness.Crowley''s work has a special alchemy - mixing the world we know with an imagined world which seems more true and real. Winner of the WORLD FANTASY AWARD, LITTLE, BIG is eloquent, sensual, funny and unforgettable, a true Fantasy Masterwork.Winner of the WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL, 1982.Trade ReviewThere are some people - and I'm one of them - for whom life consists only of passing the time between novels by John CrowleyA book that all by itself calls for a redefinition of fantasyI think Crowley is so good that he has left everybody else in the dustAmbitious, dazzling, strangely moving, a marvellous magic-realist family chronicle - WASHINGTON POST

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Book SynopsisThe second original novel in an Alien vs Predator "Rage War" series, continuing from Predator: Incursion as Colonial Marines units are being wiped out-and not by the Predators. This is an attack by organized armies of Aliens.

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Book SynopsisRelive Game of Thrones' Long Night with this official miniature collectible set. Deluxe Collectible: Finely detailed, 3-1/2 inch metal replica of the Valyrian steel dagger wielded by Arya Stark in her fateful confrontation with the Night King Display Stand Included: Proudly display the dagger with the accompanying polyresin stand Book Included: Also includes a 48-page book featuring full-color photos that charts Arya Stark’s journey through Westeros and how she came to possess the dagger A Unique Gift for Westeros Fans: Featured in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, this dagger is perfect for fans of both shows Officially Licensed: An authentic Game of Thrones collectible

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