Science Fiction Sci-Fi Books

Book SynopsisSome hot property Mal's crew desperately need another payday, but not desperately enough to transport a Blue Sun flightcase to Badger, no questions asked, when the area is swarming with Alliance spacecraft equally keen to regain the stolen property. Yet Jayne refuses to miss out, and sneaks the case aboard Serenity. Lucid dreams Within hours of secreting the case Jayne suddenly finds himself back on the Cobb homestead with his brother Matty miraculously cured of the damplung. Wash is at the controls of the highest-spec cruiser money can buy, the billionaire head of a 'verse-spanning business empire. All of the crew but River are soon immersed in vivid hallucinations of their deepest desires, while their bodies lie insensible on the ship. Fantasies gone sour Wash's empire begins to crumble; the Cobb ranch is under attack by merciless bandits. As everyone's daydreams turn nightmare, Serenity floats on a crash course towards a barren moon, with only River standing between the crew and certain oblivion.Trade Review"The Ghost Machine is a delight from page one right on through to the end. The heart of one of my favorite franchises continues to beat strong in the Titan Books series of novels, and I am eager for more." - Nerds on Earth "Lovegrove ends up creating something that's really clever, and gives a new look at some very familiar characters." - Grimdark Dad

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Book SynopsisA poignant and brilliant sequel to Dandelion Wine from the author of Fahrenheit 451In Green Town Illinois, Douglas Spaulding is in the midst of a small civil war with the old pitted against the young in this, the second book in Bradbury's semi-fictionalised account of his childhood. As the school board's figure of authority Mr Calvin C. Quartermain attempts to outwit the boys at every turn, their antics increase and become ever more daring and mischevious. Once the shadow of winter draws across Green Town, the boys quickly realise that their enemy is not so much the senior members of their own community, but rather time itself which is ever ebbing away, just beyond the reach of their most daring trick yet: a bold attempt to sabotage the town's clock.Trade Review'It is impossible not to admire the vigour of his prose, similes and metaphors constantly cascading from his imagination.” Spectator "Almost no one can imagine a time or place without the fiction of Ray Bradbury…" The Washington Post 'Bradbury has a remarkable range of intensity and vision' Sunday Times 'The sheer velocity of his words is an apocalyptic torrent which sweeps the reader on' Independent ‘No other writer uses language with greater originality and zest. he seems to be a American Dylan Thomas – with dsicipline’ Sunday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe hit prequel comics adaptation of the legendary science fiction epic from NY Times bestselling authors Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson continues!Spanning from Arrakis to Wallach IX, formative moments from major characters’ past in the Dune universe come to light driven by the ruthless machinations of House Harkonnen! Chaos ensues across planets with tense rescue missions, impossible choices, meanwhile events on Ix turn explosive, and Bene Gesserit plotting finally comes to fruition. As the Harkonnens brutality abounds on Arrakis, Liet and Warrick are pitted against each other in the name of love, Leto finds himself in a fateful meeting elsewhere, and Duncan takes a significant step toward who he’s destined to be... The tension rises in the thrilling prequel adaptation by authors Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson, artist Fran Galán (Creepshow), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (Fissure), where deadly choices and conflicts will shape the future of Arrak

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Book SynopsisA SOLDIER''S MISSION IN A WORLD GONE TO HELL: SURVIVE, RESCUE, REBUILDThis is the destiny of those who stand for others. Their honour will be bought in blood and pain.The Camp Ryder Hub is broken. Captain Lee Harden is nowhere to be found, and his allies are scattered across the state, each of them learning that their missions will not be as easy as they thought. Inside the walls of Camp Ryder, a silent war is brewing between those few that still support Lee''s vision of rebuilding and the majority who support Jerry''s desire for isolation. But this war will not remain silent for long. And in this savage world, everyone will have to make a choice.This is the fourth book in the bestselling Remaining series, telling a gritty tale of survival, perseverance and the fight to get back what has been lost.Trade ReviewSurvival horror at almost its very best ... Molles and Orbit are certainly onto a winner in a series that deserves to be seen by genre fans be it online or on paper The Book Bag These are my current favorite post-apocalyptic zombie novels! ... I love how this series builds fantastic characters and poses them with and against one another in super believable situations. I can believe this future...The action is detailed and vivid Boing Boing Anxiety and building desperation fuel this debut zombie thriller ... Sharply targeted sentences depict an acutely human action hero who wrestles his anxiety ... Molles's precise construction gives readers ample reason to return Publishers Weekly A well written, taut adventure novel with characters that definitely make a mark SF Crowsnest

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Book SynopsisA MASTERFUL COLLECTION OF TWENTY-FIVE SHORT STORIES FROM THE INIMITABLE AUTHOR OF SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5, KURT VONNEGUT 'Vonnegut is George Orwell, Dr Caligari and Flash Gordon compounded into one writer...a zany but moral mad scientist' Time A diabolical government asserts control by eliminating orgasms. A scientist discovers the secret to unlocking instant happiness, with unexpected consequences. In an America where everyone is equal every which way, a tennage boy plans to overthrow the system. Welcome to the Monkey House gathers together twenty-five of Kurt Vonnegut's short stories from the 1950s and 1960s. Shot through with Vonnegut's singular humour, wit and bewilderment at humanity, this is a collection that celebrates a true master of short-form fiction.Trade ReviewA joyous ragbag of a collection * Observer *After Vonnegut, everything else seems a bit tame * Spectator *One of the master alchemists of modern American fiction * Sunday Times *A cool writer, at once throwaway and passionate and very funny * Financial Times *A brilliant wacky ideas-monger * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'Robert Jackson Bennett deserves a huge audience' - Brent Weeks, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Prism.Do the dead sleep soundly in the land of death - or do they have plans of their own?Nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award 2016.A generation ago the city of Voortyashtan was the stronghold of the god of war and death, the birthplace of fearsome supernatural sentinels who killed and subjugated millions. But that was then. Now the god is dead and the city lies in ruins, a wasteland of sectarian violence and bloody uprisings.So it makes perfect sense for General Turyin Mulaghesh, foul-mouthed hero of the battle of Bulikov, rumoured war criminal, ally of embattled Prime Minister Shara Komayd, to be exiled here - but she's not just eking out her days in this hellhole till retirement. She's on one final mission, to find a Saypuri secret agent who's gone AWOL.The trouble is, that this old soldier isn't sure she's still got what it takes to be the hero . . .A triumphant return to the world of A City of Stairs.'Loud, bold and uncompromisingly ambitious' - Upcoming4.meTrade ReviewAstonishingly good . . . a deep, powerful novel that's worth reading and rereading * Publishers Weekly, starred review *One of the smartest second world fantasies out there and has some of the most memorable characters in recent memory * Wes Chu, The Chicago Review of Books *Magnificent . . . City of Blades does everything a really good sequel should. If anything, it's a better book than its predecessor * Tor.com *Surpasses its predecessor in almost all aspects . . . loud, bold and uncompromisingly ambitious and I wholeheartedly recommend it even if you haven't read City of Stairs * Upcoming4.me *Does [City of Blades] live up to the Locus, World Fantasy, British Fantasy and GoodReads Choice Awards-nominated City of Stairs? Allow me to answer with an emphatic yes . . . Robert Jackson Bennett is one of the most talented authors writing in SFF today and this is his finest work to date' * Fantasy-Faction *Robert Jackson Bennett deserves a huge audience. This is the book that will earn it for him. A story that draws you in, brilliant world building, and oh my God, Sigrud. You guys are going to love Sigrud. * Brent Weeks, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Black Prism on City of Stairs *Building beautifully upon the richly detailed world introduced in the first book of the series, Bennett serves a stew of fantasy and adventure with a healthy dose of humor and a ladle full of violence * Library Journal, starred review *Like the very best speculative fiction, City of Blades immerses readers in a made-up world, only to force us to take a harder look at the real one * Booklist *Richly detailed and expertly plotted. A grand entertainment * Kirkus *City of Blades is bolder and harder hitting in almost every aspect . . . perfection. This one gets a full five stars and my hearty recommendation * Bibliosanctum *City of Blades has really left an impression and however much I try to write I feel like I can't do the book enough justice. It is so much more than just another Fantasy novel with gods, war and mystery * Draumr Kopa *Bennett's most powerful book yet - an examination of deeper issues within an enthralling adventure fantasy tale as sharply crafted as any of the titular blades. 9/10 * Sci-fi Bulletin *In a word, City of Blades is perfection. * The Bibliosanctum *A superior work of secondary world epic fantasy . . . I would recommend City of Blades, and its predecessor, to anybody looking for an example of cutting edge, subversive and self-aware epic fantasy . . . I sincerely hope this will be a landmark trilogy that . . . will have a rippling effect on the epic fantasy genre for years to come. * SFFWorld *An outstanding example of fantasy literature * Speculating on SpecFic *City Of Stairs worked, primarily, for one big reason: The world Bennett had created was just awesome. [City of Blades] feels no less rich, no less realised . . . Read this first and then, if you fall just as hard for the world as I have, go back and read Stairs to get your fill of all the strangeness and wonderment * NPR.org *Just as powerful as the first, and even stronger in significant ways . . . among the best novels of 2016 * SF Signal *Hooked me from the first chapter and kept me reading at a frantic pace. I can honestly say I enjoyed it even more than the first * The Speculative Herald *

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Book SynopsisFrom the international bestselling author of the Hugo and Nebula award-winning The Windup Girl, comes an electrifying thriller set in a world on the edge of collapse.WATER IS POWERThe American Southwest has been decimated by drought, Nevada and Arizona skirmish over dwindling shares of the Colorado River, while California watches.When rumors of a game-changing water source surface in Phoenix, Las Vegas water knife Angel Velasquez is sent to investigate.With a wallet full of identities and a tricked-out Tesla, Angel arrows south, hunting for answers that seem to evaporate as the heat index soars and the landscape becomes more and more oppressive. There, Angel encounters Lucy Monroe, a hardened journalist who knows far more about Phoenix''s water secrets than she admits, and Maria Villarosa, a young Texas migrant who dreams of escaping north to those places where water still falls from the sky.As bodies begin to pile upTrade ReviewThis is the best kind of science fiction. An intense thriller and a deeply insightful vision of the coming century, laid out in all its pain and glory. It's a water knife indeed, right to the heartAnyone can write about the future. Paolo Bacigalupi writes about the future that we're making today, if we keep going the way we are. It makes his writing beautiful . . . and terrifyingThese days are coming, and as always fiction explains them better than fact. This is a spectacular thriller, wonderfully imagined and written, and racing through it will make you think - and make you thirsty - Lee ChildThe Water Knife is a noir-tinged, apocalyptic vision of the near-future: What will the world be like, and how will we live in it? Bacigalupi already seems to live there. Once I started, I couldn't put it down - Kelly LinkBacigalupi is a worthy successor to William Gibson - Time

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Book SynopsisRob Grant and Doug Naylor were part of the gestalt entity known as Grant Naylor, which created and wrote the Emmy award-winning series Red Dwarf for BBC television. Together they were head writers for Spitting Image in the mid-eighties, and together they wrote two novels, Red Dwarf (1989) and Better Than Life (1991). Since 1994 they have been pursuing separate careers, and each has written a bestselling Red Dwarf novel; Doug's Last Human was published in 1995, Rob's Backwards was published in 1996. All these books are available in Penguin and have sold over 1.7 million copies.

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Book SynopsisTwenty of the finest science fiction short stories from one of the genre's greatest writers, Isaac Asimov.

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Book SynopsisAn official tie-in edition of Philip K. Dick''s dazzling speculative novel to accompany the new TV series, executive produced by Ridley Scott. Philip K. Dick''s acclaimed cult novel gives us a horrifying glimpse of an alternative world - one where the Allies have lost the Second World War. In this nightmare dystopia the Nazis have taken over New York, the Japanese control California and the African continent is virtually wiped out. In a neutral buffer zone in America that divides the world''s new rival superpowers, lives the author of an underground bestseller. His book offers a new vision of reality - an alternative theory of world history in which the Axis powers were defeated - giving hope to the disenchanted. Does ''reality'' lie with him, or is his world just one among many others?''The most brilliant science fiction mind on any planet''Rolling Stone''Dick''s finest book, and one of the very best science fiction novels ever published''<Trade ReviewThe most brilliant sci-fi mind on any planet * Rolling Stone *California's own William Blake. Visionary and prophet * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''Unquestionably one of the brightest-burning talents in the constellation of science fiction'' The New York TimesWritten under the pseudonym James Tiptree Jr., the pioneering and outlandish tales of Alice B. Sheldon are some of the greatest science fiction short stories of the twentieth century, telling of dystopian chases, alien sex and the loneliness of the universe.''What her work brought to the genre was a blend of lyricism and inventiveness, as if some poet had rewritten a number of clever SF standards and then passed them on to a psychoanalyst'' Brian Aldiss''Feminist dystopian fiction owes just as much to this woman - who wrote as a man - as Margaret Atwood'' Vox

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRobot's technical proficiency and ontological ambitions could be compared to those of Lem at his best, and its author, like Lem, considered himself less an sf writer than a prose-writing philosopher of metaphysical inclinations. With its powerful vision of a society of slaves controlled and abused by a mysterious Mechanism and a stimulating theory of Superbeings, Robot was almost immediately recognized as an instant classic which catapulted Snerg to the rank of Poland's best sf authors * Science Fiction Encyclopedia *

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Book SynopsisAt a New York City Wedding, on a sweltering summer night, four people are trying to get their lives started.Yun has everything he''s ever wanted, but somehow it''s never enough.Emory is finally making her mark, but feels the shame more than the success.Andrew just wants to be honest, but had lied to himself his whole life.Fin can''t resist falling in love, but can''t help wrecking it all either.Then the four of them watch as one of the guests sits down and never gets back up. Soon it''s happening everywhere. Is it an illness or a choice?Because how can anyone be happy in a world where the only choice is to feel everything - or nothing at all?Trade ReviewA dark, addictive novel * Red *Intense, twisty and beautifully written . . . unique * Daily Mail *Extraordinary -- Emily St John Mandel on THE LAST

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Book Synopsis ''Autonomous is to biotech and AI what Neuromancer was to the internet'' NEAL STEPHENSON ''Something genuinely and thrillingly new'' WILLIAM GIBSON ''Holy hell. Autonomous is remarkable'' LAUREN BEUKESWINNER OF THE 2018 LAMBDA AWARD FOR SFFSHORTLISTED FOR THE NEBULA AWARD 2018SHORTLISTED FOR THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT 2018Earth, 2144. Jack is an anti-patent scientist turned drug pirate, traversing the world in a submarine as a pharmaceutical Robin Hood, fabricating cheap medicines for those who can''t otherwise afford them. But her latest drug hack has left a trail of lethal overdoses as people become addicted to their work, doing repetitive tasks until they become unsafe or insane. Hot on her trail is an unlikely pair: Eliasz, a brooding military agent, and his indentured robotic partner, Paladin. As they race to stop information about the sinister origins of Jack''s drTrade ReviewAutonomous is to biotech and AI what Neuromancer was to the Internet -- Neal StephensonSomething genuinely and thrillingly new -- William GibsonHoly hell. Autonomous is remarkable -- Lauren BeukesBrims and bubbles over with ideas, tenderness and care; my experience of reading it was of wanting to discuss every paragraph I consumed. A brilliant, fascinating debut -- NPREverything you'd hope for from the co-founder of io9 -- Boing BoingThrilling -- Guardian

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Book SynopsisTerry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any. www.terrypratchettbooks.comTrade ReviewA continual delight, with its unexpected conceits and original inventions. And if Mr Pratchett's tongue is frequently in his cheek, his parody of the science fiction idiom is always deft, knowledgeable and good humoured * Oxford Times *

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Book SynopsisEvery now and then, the best person to be the hero . . . is a criminalFrey is the captain of the Ketty Jay, leader of a small and highly dysfunctional band of layabouts. An inveterate womaniser and rogue, he and his gang make a living on the wrong side of the law, avoiding the heavily armed flying frigates of the Coalition Navy. With their trio of ragged fighter craft, they run contraband, rob airships and generally make a nuisance of themselves. So a hot tip on a cargo freighter loaded with valuables seems like a great prospect for an easy heist and a fast buck. Until the heist goes wrong, and the freighter explodes. Suddenly Frey isn''t just a nuisance anymore - he''s public enemy number one, with the Coalition Navy on his tail and contractors hired to take him down. But Frey knows something they don''t. That freighter was rigged to blow, and Frey has been framed to take the fall. If he wants to prove it, he''s going to have to catch the real culprit

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Book SynopsisTwo dystopian satires from one of the most distinguished writers of 20th-century European science fiction. R.U.R. is the work that first introduced the word 'robot' into popular usage.Trade ReviewTwo cautionary (and visionary) tales that show us full well that man is at the top of the evolutionary chain through no real merit of his own. -- Graeme Flory * GRAEME'S FANTASY BOOK REVIEW Blog *

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Book SynopsisMoorcock's Multiverse presents for the first time, definitive editions of Michael Moorcock's most influential work, fully revised and updated by the author.Trade ReviewThe greatest writer of post-Tolkien British fantasy - Michael ChabonA triumph of mature talent and imagination - Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisWith the help of his commanding officer, a genetically engineered ex-soldier fights back against the government that created him and others like him to be expendable slaves...Halvor Cullen, a genetically-engineered and technology implanted ex-soldier, doesn't see himself as a hero. After getting out of the service, all he's interested in is chasing the adrenaline rush his body was designed to crave. Hal knows he won't live long anyway; vat soldiers like him are designed to die early or will be burnt out from relentlessly seeking the rush. His best friend and former CO, Tyce, is determined not to let that happen and distracts him by work salvaging crashed ships in the Edge.Then Hal's ship gets a new crewmember - a hacker-turned-tecker named Vivi. As they become friends, Hal wonders if he's got a chance with a natural-born like her. Then on a job, the crew finds a sphere that downloads an alien presence into their ship... Multiple clashes with the miTrade Review"Smith's debut is rich in detail, full of tension, and packed with characters you won't easily forget.""The Rush’s Edge gives you all the Firefly feels with a dash of Mass Effect for the hell of it. Fantastically entertaining.” "You will root for these heroes and cringe at the evil that brought them together." "We're treated to an array of space dogfights, cyborg assassins, and straight-up street brawls to keep the pages turning well past bedtime.""well-crafted space opera.""A sci-fi saga with equal doses of action, thrills and heart.""Vivid characters, fine action sequences, and thoughtful exploration of prejudices are blended with authority."

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Munhakdongne Novel Award, South Korea's most prestigious literary prize.Cabinet 13 looks exactly like any normal filing cabinet…Except this cabinet is filled with files on the ‘symptomers’, humans whose strange abilities and bizarre experiences might just mark the emergence of a new species.But to Mr Kong, the harried office worker whose job it is to look after the cabinet, the symptomers are a headache; especially the one who won’t stop calling every day, asking to be turned into a cat.A richly funny and fantastical novel about the strangeness at the heart of even the most everyday lives, from one of South Korea's most acclaimed novelists.Translated by Sean Lin HalbertFile Under: Fiction [ 12,000 Cans of Beer Memory Mosaicers  Will Execution Inc. Monkey of All Bombs ]Trade Review"[A] brilliant mosaic novel...These stories straddle the lines between science fiction, fantasy, fairy tale, and acute reality.""Un-su Kim is a tremendous writer""Showcases his sly, surreal, dark humor about all the ways humans are, well, not particularly human.""This charming and fantastical book is sure to introduce Kim to a whole new legion of weird fiction fans, ideal for readers of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian and the works of Haruki Murakami.""Kim deftly juggles both macro-level and micro-level ideas about social roles, purpose, and personal narrative." "What begins as a rather whimsical set of stories turns into a much darker novel, raising issues of difference and acceptance, what people must do to survive, and what is truly monstrous.""Surprising and enchanting""comic, heartbreaking and terrifying."

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Book SynopsisAboard the void ship Orpheus, the last remnants of humanity escaped the end of the universe, thwarted a conspiracy to destroy their home, and - thanks to Security Director Deva Karrell - outwitted a cosmic entity determined to devour them all. Now, alone in the black nothingness beyond reality, they'll face a more familiar monster...each other.Collects INFINITE DARK #5-8

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts bestseller. When a family camping trip takes a dark turn, how far will one mother go to keep her family safe? Struggling with working-mother guilt, Marlene Greene hopes a camping trip in the forest will provide quality time with her three young children—until they see fires in the distance, columns of smoke distorting the sweeping view. Overnight, all communication with the outside world is lost. Knowing something terrible has happened, Marlene suspects that the isolation of the remote campsite is all that’s protecting her family. But the arrival of a lost boy reveals they are not alone in the woods, and as the unfolding disaster ravages the land, more youngsters seek refuge under her wing. The lives of her own children aren’t the only ones at stake. When their sanctuary is threatened, Marlene faces the mother of all dilemmas: Should she save her own kids or try to save them all?Trade Review“Jo Furniss’s debut All the Little Children is unique, gorgeously written, and absolutely terrifying. With all the mystique of a dystopian novel, Furniss deftly explores the idea of ‘sacrificing one for the good of many,’ even when that one is your own child. Utterly compelling!” —Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year “Jo Furniss weaves a terrifyingly realistic story of survival and resilience in her debut novel, All the Little Children. With a story that’s heart-pounding in pace and heart-wrenching in content, this up-and-coming author brings to life the universal plight of parenthood—how do I protect my children? Furniss answers this question and more with a chilling and beautifully woven tale that will keep you up turning the pages and wondering, ‘What if this happened to me?’” —Emily Bleeker, bestselling author of Wreckage and When I’m Gone “What a truly fantastic book. One of my favorites of the year! It’s a feminist version of The Road. Jo Furniss has created a powerful female heroine: a successful career woman, wife, and mother who will do whatever it takes to protect her children. I devoured this novel in one day and [found] myself still thinking about it and Marlene long after I was finished. Jo Furniss’s characters are gripping, and the [plot] is fast-paced and relentless, each chapter leaving you breathless. I’m still reeling from the powerful story and the heart-stopping conclusion of this incredible debut novel.” —Hollie Overton, author of the international bestseller Baby Doll “When the world changes overnight, all that is left is instinct—survival and maternal. This tense, emotional, and wholly absorbing book makes you wonder: What would I do?” —JJ Marsh, author of The Beatrice Stubbs Series “Jo Furniss has written a hauntingly gripping tale layered in lyrical prose. A mother’s quest to save her children after a terrorist attack tests the limits of her endurance and leaves her with an agonizing choice. All the Little Children is a compelling page-turner from start to finish!” —Kylie Brant, author of Pretty Girls Dancing “All the Little Children is a moving, realistic, and suspenseful portrayal of the realities of motherhood. Marlene’s constant struggles with the balancing act of being a working mum take on an urgent meaning in this surreal, postapocalyptic context. This is literally a novel about surviving motherhood.” —Balli Kaur Jaswal, author of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows “A thoroughly original mash-up of mom lit and apocalyptic fiction, All the Little Children is a thrilling ride. Jo Furniss expertly blends heart-racing suspense with moments of genuine emotion—and even dark humor. At last, mothers have an action hero to call their own.” —Elizabeth Blackwell, bestselling author of In the Shadow of Lakecrest “Marlene Greene is a very modern mother and all the more realistic for it. Jo Furniss has the ability to tap into emotions without sentimentality, leaving you thinking long after the story finishes.” —Alice Clark-Platts, bestselling author of Bitter Fruits and The Taken “All the Little Children is one of those books that grips you from the start and never lets go. I was thinking about it long after I’d finished reading. It’s punchy, relevant, and horribly plausible, with a brilliant, flawed, brave narrator. The skillful interweaving of the frustrations of motherhood and the apocalypse makes this different from anything I’ve ever read before. And when I finished it I was crying on a train, and I didn’t care who saw me.” —Emily Barr, award–winning author of The One Memory of Flora Banks, Backpack and The Sleeper

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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 SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAn unexpected offer threatens the bond between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as the two Jedi navigate a dangerous new planet and an uncertain future.A Jedi must be a fearless warrior, a guardian of justice, and a scholar in the ways of the Force. But perhaps a Jedi’s most essential duty is to pass on what they have learned. Master Yoda trained Dooku; Dooku trained Qui-Gon Jinn; and now Qui-Gon has a Padawan of his own. But while Qui-Gon has faced all manner of threats and danger as a Jedi, nothing has ever scared him like the thought of failing his apprentice.Obi-Wan Kenobi has deep respect for his Master, but struggles to understand him. Why must Qui-Gon so often disregard the laws that bind the Jedi? Why is Qui-Gon drawn to ancient Jedi prophecies instead of more practical concerns? And why wasn’t Obi-Wan told that Qui-Gon is considering an invitation to join the Jedi Council—knowing it would mean the end of their partnership? The simple answer scares him: Obi-Wan has failed his Master.When Jedi Rael Aveross, another former student of Dooku, requests their assistance with a political dispute, Jinn and Kenobi travel to the Royal Court of Pijal for what may be their final mission together. What should be a simple assignment quickly becomes clouded by deceit, and by visions of violent disaster that take hold in Qui-Gon’s mind. As Qui-Gon’s faith in prophecy grows, Obi-Wan’s faith in him is tested—just as a threat surfaces which will demand that Master and Apprentice come together as never before, or be divided forever.

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Book SynopsisHumanity's attempt to terraform and colonize Mars goes horribly wrong.In the late 26th century, overpopulation on Earth is reaching the breaking point, and humanity must find new frontiers. The terraforming of Mars has taken centuries but is now complete. The colonization of Mars by humanity is an epoch-making event, but an unintended side effect of the terraforming process unleashes a horror no one could ever have imaginedBeaten by Akari, Shokichi is free from his visions of the past. But suddenly the laboratory the battle took place in self-destructs! Akari is struggling vainly to carry the fallen Hiruma and Shokichi to safety when someone surprising appears. Meanwhile, Hannibal and Samurai Sword confront each other inside a luxury cruise ship, in a battle that will reveal past tragedy and a deadly grudge.

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Book SynopsisStrap in for an epic new WHITE SPACE adventure from the multiple Hugo award winning, and John W. Campbell award winning author.Praise for Elizabeth Bear''Like the best of speculative fiction, Bear has created a fascinating and complete universethat blends high-tech gadgetry with Old World adventure and political collusion'' Publishers Weekly ''This is certainly the best science fiction novel I''ve read in 2019 so far and I look forward to see how Bear develops the characters and her impressively rich universe'' (POPULAR SCIENCE)''Elizabeth Bear is just as comfortable writing steampunk and fantasy as she is hard science fiction, and Ancestral Night, first half of a duology, brims with heady concepts and sleek far-future hardware. There is a mordant wit at work'' (FINANCIAL TIMES)''Awesome, awe-inspiring space opera. Fittingly, it shifts from weighty themes to lighter humour with dexterity, grace and crackling di

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Book SynopsisMankind has conquered space and moved toward the starry heart of the galaxy. Earth is a planet of no importance, riddled with radioactivity by long-forgotten wars.When assassins target his rooms and news arrives that, many light-years away, his father has been murdered, student Biron Farrill flees for his life.Stunned, grief-stricken, and outraged, Biron is determined to uncover the reasons behind his father''s death, and finds himself entangled in a web of deep-space rebellion, espionage, and political intrigue.Asimov's Galactic Empire novels are among the earliest stories by one of the twentieth century's greatest visionaries. Filled with ideas and wonders, they are classic adventures from science fiction's Golden Age.Trade Review‘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 #1 New York Times bestselling author returns with a visionary technothriller about climate changeStephenson's reputation as a sci-fi titan is deserved' Sunday TimesHis most visionary, and timely, book yet' Chicago Review of BooksAbsorbing speculative fiction' GuardianBrilliantly entertaining at science fiction's cutting edge' SFXIngenious and sometimes prophetic' TelegraphNeal Stephenson's sweeping, prescient new novel transports readers to a near-future world where the greenhouse effect has inexorably resulted in a whirling-dervish troposphere of superstorms, rising sea levels, global flooding, merciless heat waves, and virulent, deadly pandemics.One man has a Big Idea for reversing global warming, a master plan perhaps best described as elemental. But will it work? And just as important, what are the consequences for the planet and all of humanity should it be applied?As only Stephenson can, Termination Shock sounds a clarion alarm, ponders potential solutions and dire risks, andTrade Review‘Absorbing speculative fiction’ Guardian ‘Neal Stephenson has never been afraid of engaging with big ideas within genre forms, and Termination Shock might be his most visionary, and timely, book yet’ Chicago Review of Books ‘Brilliantly entertaining… at science fiction’s cutting edge’ SFX ‘Wonderfully human… ingenious and sometimes prophetic… Stephenson has become a totemic figure for 21st century scientific writers’ Daily Telegraph ‘Stephenson’s reputation as a sci-fi titan is deserved’ Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisWill they find the utopian dream – or a galactic nightmare? From Peter F. Hamilton, The Dreaming Void is the first in an epic space opera trilogy. Set in his expansive Commonwealth universe, it is perfect for fans of Iain M. Banks and Stephen Baxter.AD 3580. The Commonwealth has spread its civilization throughout the galaxy. Its citizens are privileged and protected by a powerful navy. And at the galaxy’s centre is the Void, a sealed universe created by aliens billions of years ago. Yet the Void isn’t inert. It’s expanding – and now it wants to make contact.The Void chooses Inigo as its conduit and he channels dreams of a simpler, better life within its bounds. His visions attract followers – determined to seek this utopia. And they’ll cross the Void’s forbidden boundaries to reach it. However, this act could trigger push it to grow beyond all control . . . destroying everything in its path.The Dreaming Void is followed by The Temporal Void in this stunning trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton.Trade ReviewAs epic and far-ranging as his previous bestsellers. Hamilton is the master of widescreen baroque -- GuardianThis is thrilling stuff . . . compulsively readable and abundantly full of ideas -- The TimesThis is a book that arguably nobody else in Brit SF could even have attempted. Epic, multi-stranded, full of wonders -- SFXUnmissable -- StarburstPowerfully addictive . . . and hugely satisfying -- FantasyBookReviewThe Dreaming Void has all the things you hope for from a novel by Peter F. Hamilton . . . Hamilton is capable of superb writing, which you shall find in The Dreaming Void . . . [the] execution is simply wonderful. Hamilton is playing to his strengths. -- The Agony Column

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Book SynopsisNeal Asher takes us on a thrilling ride into interstellar politics and impending war, in this second volume of Rise of the Jain.Their nemesis lies in wait . . . Orlandine has destroyed the alien Jain super-soldier by deploying an actual black hole. And now that same weapon hoovers up clouds of lethal Jain technology, swarming within the deadly accretion disc’s event horizon. All seems just as she planned. Yet behind her back, forces incite rebellion on her home world, planning her assassination.Earth Central, humanity’s ruling intelligence, knows Orlandine was tricked into releasing her weapon, and fears the Jain are behind it. The prador king knows this too – and both foes gather fleets of warships to surround the disc.The alien Client is returning to the accretion disc to save the last of her kind, buried on a ship deep within it. She upgrades her vast weapons platform in preparation, and she’ll need it. Her nemesis also waits within the disc’s swirling dusts – and the Jain have committed genocide before.The Warship is set in Neal Asher's popular Polity universe.'Neal Asher's books are like an adrenaline shot targeted directly for the brain' – John Scalzi, author of Old Man's War and The Collapsing Empire.

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Book Synopsis'This book is xxxxing awesome.' Laini Taylor Asha Grant came to Kerenza to escape her past. Too bad he just caught up with her. Asha survived BeiTech’s initial assault and has been working undercover with the hopelessly outmatched resistance ever since. The last thing she expected to worry about was her ex-boyfriend, Rhys Lindstrom, who just landed planet-side. Is he her way out – or guarantee she never gets off this frozen rock alive? But Asha’s not the only one with problems. Her cousin Kady’s ragtag band of survivors are headed for Kerenza – without enough oxygen to last the journey. Oh, and there might be an insurrection brewing. With BeiTech hurrying to repair their damaged jump gate, and a mass extermination planned for the Kerenza civilians, only a miracle could save them now. And everyone knows that miracles are just statistical probabilities…right? BRIEFING NOTE: From bestselling author duo Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – and select journal entries from Marie Lu – comes the heart-stopping, heartbreaking finale in the trilogy that broke the mould and has been called “stylistically mesmerizing” and “out-of-this-world awesome.”Trade Review'This book is xxxxing awesome.' * Laini Taylor, bestselling author of Daughter of Smoke & Bone and Strange the Dreamer *'Brace yourself. You're about to be immersed in a mindscape that you'll never want to leave.' * Marie Lu, bestselling author of Legend trilogy on Illuminae *'[It] will truly keep your heart pounding and the pages turning.' * Beth Revis, bestselling author of Rebel Rising *'It certainly filled the Battlestar Galactica–shaped hole in my heart.' * Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of The Red Queen on Illuminae *'You're not in for an ordinary novel experience.' * Bustle *'A fantastically fun ride.' * MTV *'A stellar head trip.' * Kirkus *'Riveting.' * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERWhat are you afraid of?In his first-ever Doctor Who novel, Tom Baker’s incredible imagination is given free rein. A story so epic it was originally intended for the big screen, Scratchman is a gripping, white-knuckle thriller almost forty years in the making.The Doctor, Harry and Sarah Jane Smith arrive at a remote Scottish island, when their holiday is cut short by the appearance of strange creatures – hideous scarecrows, who are preying on the local population. The islanders are living in fear, and the Doctor vows to save them all. But it doesn’t go to plan – the time travellers have fallen into a trap, and Scratchman is coming for them. With the fate of the universe hanging in the balance, the Doctor must battle an ancient force from another dimension, one who claims to be the Devil. Scratchman wants to know what the Doctor is most afraid of. And the Doctor’s worst nightmares are coming out to play…

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Book SynopsisA revolutionary and her sworn enemy crash-land on a dying planet and must survive long enough to uncover a deadly, galaxy-spanning conspiracy in the first book of a thrilling new space opera trilogy from the author of the Philip K. Dick-nominated Velocity WeaponTrade ReviewBrimming with unconventional gender dynamics and shifting identities, The Blighted Stars is character-driven science fiction at its best - a taut novel with human questions at its heart -- E. J. Beaton, author of THE COUNCILLORThe Blighted Stars delivers a first-in-series that's smart, incisive, and utterly gripping. Megan E. O'Keefe's masterful storytelling will draw you into a complex, brutal, yet hope-charged world, break your heart, and leave you begging for more -- Rowenna Miller, author of TORNThe Blighted Stars is a delightfully twisty space opera filled with unique worldbuilding and deft explorations of humanity, family and power. Add in a dash of rebellion and a hint of romance and I'm hooked - I can't wait for the next book! -- Jessie Mihalik, author of HUNT THE STARSA brilliantly plotted yarn of survival and far-future political intrigue -- GUARDIAN on VELOCITY WEAPONThe Blighted Stars yields enjoyable adventure full of romantic tension and alien mystery -- WALL STREET JOURNALThe Blighted Stars is everything I want in a book: lots of action, lots of character and lots of heart. Megan E. O'Keefe delights with every page, from her stunning action sequences set on alien planets to her exploration of the twisted pathways taken by the human heart. This is space opera for the ages, wrapped in complicated and delicious layers of family and loyalty and science and love and duty. I couldn't put it down!" -- Karen Osborne, author of ARCHITECTS OF MEMORYSkilfully interweaves intrigue, action and strong characterisation -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on VELOCITY WEAPONA well-written tale of space adventure, underhanded political dealings and AI rights all wrapped up in a fast-paced plot and a well-thought-out world. A must-read for fans of James S. A. Corey and Alastair Reynolds -- THE BOOKBAG on VELOCITY WEAPONThe story's environmental themes are handled very well (O'Keefe gives the reader much to think about without sounding didactic); the characters are lively; and the writing is full of energy. A very promising series launch -- BOOKLISTEmotional arcs and action sequences, vivid worldbuilding and interesting explorations of body printing and corporate servitude provide an immersive story . . . O'Keefe's latest has the intrigue, surprises and high stakes of her previous novels -- LIBRARY JOURNALMegan O'Keefe's new novel begins in the middle of a sudden attack on a spaceship and never once lets up, moving at breakneck speed through danger after deadly danger . . . I know it's a cliché to say 'You won't be able to put it down', but that's exactly the effect The Blighted Stars has on you! Riveting adventure at a rocketing pace, with engaging characters thrown in for good measure! -- Connie Willis, author of DOOMSDAY BOOK

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL FROM WILLIAM GIBSON, THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF NEUROMANCER-----San Francisco, 2017. Clinton''s in the White House, Brexit never happened - and Verity Jane''s got herself a new job.They call Verity ''the app-whisperer,'' and she''s just been hired to evaluate a pair-of-glasses-cum-digital-assistant called Eunice...Only Eunice has other ideas.Pretty soon, Verity realises that Eunice is smarter than anyone she''s ever met. Which is just as well since suddenly some very bad people are after Verity.Meanwhile, in a post-apocalyptic London a century from now, PR fixer Wilf Netherton is tasked with interfering in the alternative past in which Verity and Eunice exist. It appears something nasty is about to happen there - and fixing it will require not only Eunice''s unique human-AI skillset but also a little help from the future.A future that Verity fears Trade ReviewA sensual, remarkably visual ride, vigorous with displays of conceptual imagination and humour * The Guardian *One of the most influential writers around . . . with Gibson's trademark panache, the story rattles along with great pace and suspense * Sunday Times *One of our greatest science-fiction writers * New York Times *Among our most fascinating novelists * Daily Telegraph *His eye for the eerie in the everyday still lends events an otherworldly sheen * New Yorker *One of the most visionary, original, and quietly influential writers currently working * Boston Globe *Gibson is a prophet and a satirist, a black comedian and an astounding architect of cool * Spectator *Engaging, thought-provoking and delightful... [Gibson] can always be counted on to show us our contemporary milieu rendered magical by his unique insights, and a future rendered inhabitable by his wild yet disciplined imagination * The Washington Post *Gibson blurs the line between real and speculative technology in a fast-paced thriller that will affirm to readers that it was well worth the wait * Booklist *Typically visionary, yet plausible and thrilling too * I Paper *If you're one of those who sees Gibson as a visionary, it's time to be scared - the scenarios he's playing with here don't make for comfort reading * SFX magazine *

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Book SynopsisFleeing from the monstrous Honored Matres - dark counterparts of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood - Duncan Idaho, the military genius Bashar Miles Teg, a woman named Sheeana who can talk to sandworms, and a group of desperate refugees explore the boundaries of the universe. Aboard their sophisticated no-ship, they have used long-stored cells to resurrect heroes and villains from the past, including Paul Muad''Dib, in preparation for a final confrontation with a mysterious outside Enemy so great it can destroy even the terrible Honored Matres. And, deep in the hold of their giant ship, the refugees carry the last surviving sandworms from devastated Arrakis, as they search the universe for a new Dune.''Frank Herbert would surely be delighted and proud of this continuation of his vision.'' Dean KoontzTrade ReviewFrank Herbert would surely be delighted and proud of this continuation of his vision. * Dean Koontz *Those who long to return to the world of desert, spice and sandworms will be amply satisfied * The Times *Unique among SF novels . . . I know nothing comparable to it except The Lord of the Rings. * Arthur C. Clarke on DUNE *They lay the foundation of the Dune saga . . . A terrific read in its own right . . . Will inspire readers to turn, or return, to its great predecessor. * Publishers Weekly *A triumphant climax to the history of the Dune universe. * The Bookseller on THE BATTLE OF CORRIN *

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Book SynopsisDark powers have been unleashed across the galaxy. Will the Alchemist be humanity's saviour – or its doom? Following on from The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist is the second epic novel in the Night's Dawn trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton.A seemingly unstoppable force has entered our universe, and we are confronted by our most primal fear. Those who have succumbed to its horror have acquired godlike powers. Yet their actions are far from divine. As they advance from planet to planet, these powerful individuals leave slaughter and mayhem in their wake. The Confederation Navy is dangerously overstretched, as whole worlds fracture and collapse. And a dark messiah prepares to invoke his own version of the final night.In such desperate times, a powerful new weapon could cause yet more terror, but Dr Alkad Mzu is determined to retrieve the Alchemist – and complete her thirty-year-old mission to slay a star. However, as she works to obtain it, others have their own ideas on how to use this ultimate doomsday device . . .The Neutronium Alchemist is followed by The Naked God.Trade ReviewHamilton puts British sci-fi back into interstellar overdrive * Times *Space opera has rarely been dealt with in such majesty . . . inventive, ambitious, and, like the greatest of tumbling acts, leaves you giddy for more * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisA uniquely powerful novel of a society in decay. On a planet whose very nature is a mystery a massive decrepit city is pulled along a massive railway track, laying the line down before it as it progresses into the wilderness.The society within toils under an oppressive regime, its structures always on the point of collapse, the lives of its individuals lived in misery. No one knows where they are going, why they are going or what they will find when they get there.The ending of the novel provides one of the most profound twists in SF.Trade ReviewThe exhilarating zip of the plot, sweeping you along to a conclusion that is thoroughly unexpected. A case study in sleight-of-hand on several levels. - Empire on THE PRESTIGE.A narrative full of twists, turns and revelations. Behind all the surface trickery lies an intelligent and thoughtful novel about the nature of illusion and secrecy. - Observer on THE PRESTIGE.

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Book SynopsisPart SF thriller, part interstellar adventure, part noir crime, CENTURY RAIN is as astonishing bestseller from Alastair ReynoldsThree hundred years in the future, Verity Auger is a specialist in the archaeological exploration of Earth, rendered uninhabitable after the technological catastrophe known as the Nanocaust. After a field-trip goes badly wrong, Verity is forced to redeem herself by participating in a dangerous mission, for which her expertise in invaluable.Using a back door into an unstable alien transit system, Auger''s faction has discovered something astonishing at the far end of a wormhole: mid twentieth-century Earth, preserved like a fly in amber. Is it a window into the past, a simulation, or something else entirely?CENTURY RAIN is a jaw-droppingly good SF thriller, packed with pace, adventure, brilliant storytelling and with twists that will keep you guessing to the end.

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Book SynopsisThe Consuming Fire by John Scalzi is the dazzling follow-up to The Collapsing Empire, the second in the Interdependency series – a space opera in a universe on the brink of destruction.The Interdependency, humanity’s interstellar empire, is on the verge of collapse. The Flow, the extra-dimensional pathway between the stars, is disappearing, leaving planets stranded. Billions of lives will be lost – unless desperate measures can be taken. Emperox Grayland II, the leader of the Interdependency, is ready to take those measures. But it’s not that easy. There are those who believe the collapse of the Flow is a myth – or an opportunity for them to ascend to power. While Grayland prepares for disaster, others prepare for civil war. A war that will take place in the halls of power, by the altars of worship and amongst the titans of industry as much as between spaceships. Nothing about this power struggle will be simple or easy . . . and all of human civilization is at stake.Continue the space adventure trilogy with The Last Emperox.Trade ReviewProvocative and unexpected * Wall Street Journal *Rousing storytelling and satisfying intrigue . . . An engaging, well-crafted sci-fi drama * SFX on The Collapsing Empire *Political plotting, plenty of snark, puzzle-solving, and a healthy dose of action . . . Scalzi continues to be almost insufferably good at his brand of fun but think-y sci-fi adventure * Kirkus Reviews on The Collapsing Empire *Scalzi builds a fascinating new interstellar civilization in order to destroy it....[The Collapsing Empire is] amusing escapism full of guts and brains -- Ars TechnicaA thrilling novel so in tune with the flow of politics that it would feel relevant at almost any time . . . Balances humour with action throughout the book, and always keeps the plot twists coming * Entertainment Weekly on The Collapsing Empire *

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