Science fiction

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Book SynopsisThe iconic bestseller from Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, ''Love The Hunger Games? . . . This prescient novel is a fast-paced and fun read - a harbinger of reality TV - and you''ll root for Ben to outwit the Games Network in this grim fight to the death'' (Today Books, NBC News) - now with a stunning new cover look.It''s not just a game when you''re running for your life.Every night they tune in to the nation''s favourite prime-time TV game show.They all watch, from the sprawling slums to the security-obsessed enclaves of the rich. They all watch the ultimate live death game as the contestants try to beat not the clock, but annihilation at the hands of the Hunters. Survive thirty days and win the billion dollar jackpot - that is the promise. But the odds are brutal and the game rigged. Best score so far is eight days.And now there is a new contestant, the latest Running Man, staking his life while a nation watches.<Trade ReviewMerely by tickling the keys of his word-processor King can make the flesh creep half a world away * The Times *Stephen King is one of those natural storytellers...getting hooked is easy * Frances Fyfield, Express *

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Book Synopsis''Dick''s best work, and the most memorable alternative world tale...ever written'' SCIENCE FICTION: THE 100 BEST NOVELSIt is 1962 and the Second World War has been over for seventeen years: people have now had a chance to adjust to the new order. But it''s not been easy. The Mediterranean has been drained to make farmland, the population of Africa has virtually been wiped out and America has been divided between the Nazis and the Japanese. In the neutral buffer zone that divides the two superpowers lives the man in the high castle, the author of an underground bestseller, a work of fiction that offers an alternative theory of world history in which the Axis powers didn''t win the war. The novel is a rallying cry for all those who dream of overthrowing the occupiers. But could it be more than that?Subtle, complex and beautifully characterized, The Man in the High Castle remains the finest alternative world novel ever written, and a work of profundity and signiTrade ReviewThe most brilliant sci-fi mind on any planet - Rolling StoneThe single most resonant and carefully imagined book of Dick's career - New York TimesHelped shape an entire field of modern fiction: alternate history. It's the definition of genre-defining - GuardianOne of the first examples of what would become Dick s signature style: his stories are complex, featuring regular characters altered by much larger events surrounding them, often influencing their perceptions on reality. - Kirkus ReviewsCalifornia's own William Blake. Visionary and prophet - Daily TelegraphDick's best work, and the most memorable alternative world tale . . . ever written - SCIENCE FICTION: THE 100 BEST NOVELS

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Book SynopsisThe biggest SF series of the decade comes to an incredible conclusion in the ninth and final novel in James S. A. Corey''s Hugo Award-winning Expanse series.NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES FROM AMAZON PRIMEHUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST SERIES''Interplanetary adventure the way it ought to be written'' George R. R. MartinThe Laconian Empire has fallen, setting the thirteen hundred solar systems free from the rule of Winston Duarte. But the ancient enemy that killed the gate builders is awake, and the war against our universe has begun again.In the dead system of Adro, Elvi Okoye leads a desperate scientific mission to understand what the gate builders were and what destroyed them, even if it means compromising herself and the half-alien children who bear the weight of her investigation. Through the wide-flung systems of humanity, Colonel Aliana Tanaka hunts for Duarte''s missing daughter. . . and the shattered emperor himseTrade ReviewThe final instalment of Corey's Expanse series is its strongest yet. It's a thrill ride of a tale, boasting the same kinetic momentum of the first book, with the highest possible stakes and profound emotional resonance. The story is masterfully paced and structured, filled to bursting with some of the genre's best world building . . . This is a deeply satisfying and fitting conclusion to one of the best space opera series in many years * BOOKLIST (starred review) *Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, writing as Corey, stick the landing in their spectacular ninth and final Expanse space opera (after Tiamat's Wrath), set in a future where humanity has begun to expand beyond the solar system . . . This fully satisfying resolution renders the entire series an all-time genre classic * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) *Interplanetary adventure the way it ought to be written * George R. R. Martin on Leviathan Wakes *As close as you'll get to a Hollywood blockbuster in book form * io9.com on Leviathan Wakes *This is the future the way it was supposed to be * Wall Street Journal on Leviathan Wakes *Tense and thrilling * SciFiNow on Leviathan Wakes *

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Book Synopsis''Delivers more than almost anything else within the science fiction genre, Ender''s Game is a contemporary classic'' - New York Times''An affecting novel full of surprises.'' - The New York Times Book Review on Ender''s GameTHE HUMAN RACE FACES ANNIHILATION An alien threat is on the horizon, ready to strike. And if humanity is to be defended, the government must create the greatest military commander in history.The brilliant young Ender Wiggin is their last hope. But first he must survive the rigours of a brutal military training program - to prove that he can be the leader of all leaders.A saviour for mankind must be produced, through whatever means possible. But are they creating a hero or a monster?Discover the bestselling, multiple award-winning classic - a groundbreaking tale of war, strategy and survival.Books by Orson Scott Card:Alvin Maker novelsSeventh SonRed ProphetPrentice AlvinAlvin JourneymanHeartfireThe Crystal CityEnder Wiggin SagaEnder''s GameSpeaker for the DeadXenocideChildren of the MindEnder in ExileHomecomingThe Memory of the EarthThe Call of the EarthThe Ships of the EarthEarthfallEarthbornFirst Formic War (with Aaron Johnston)Earth UnawareEarth AfireEarth AwakensTrade ReviewSome of the most hauntingly brilliant writing of the decade -- INTERZONEAchieves and delivers more than almost anything else within the science fiction genre, Ender's Game is a contemporary classic -- NEW YORK TIMESA gripping tale of adventure in space and a scathing indictment of the military mind -- LIBRARY JOURNALCard has taken the venerable SF concepts of a superhuman and interstellar war . . . and, with superb characterisation, pacing and language, combined them into a seamless story of compelling power -- BOOKLISTAlmost impossible to put down -- LOCUSAn incredible ending that knocks you sideways -- SUNDAY EXPRESSAn undeniable heavyweight . . . This book combines Card's quirky style with his hard ethical dilemmas and sharply drawn portraits. -- NEW YORK DAILY NEWS on ENDER'S GAMEThis is Card at the height of his very considerable powers--a major SF novel by any reasonable standard. -- BOOKLIST on ENDER'S GAMEAlmost impossible to put down * LOCUS *An incredible ending that knocks you sideways * SUNDAY EXPRESS *

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Book SynopsisRead the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – soon to be a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. Half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the uneasy balance of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay. Earth enjoys unprecedented prosperity due to the infusion of Trisolaran knowledge and, with human science advancing and the Trisolarans adopting Earth culture, it seems that the two civilizations can co-exist peacefully as equals without the terrible threat of mutually assured annihilation. But peace has made humanity complacent. Cheng Xin, an aerospace engineer from the 21st century, awakens from hibernation in this new age. She brings knowledge of a long-forgotten program dating from the start of the Trisolar Crisis, and her presence may upset the delicate balance between two worlds. Will humanity reach for the stars or die in its cradle? Praise for The Three-Body Problem: 'Your next favourite sci-fi novel' Wired 'Immense' Barack Obama 'Unique' George R.R. Martin 'SF in the grand style' Guardian 'Mind-altering and immersive' Daily Mail Winner of the Hugo and Galaxy Awards for Best NovelTrade ReviewWildly imaginative, really interesting... The scope of it was immense -- Barack Obama, 44th President of the United StatesThe Three Body epic concludes with sweep and scope and majesty, worthy of Frederik Pohl or Poul Anderson, Scholar Wu or H.G. Wells. The universe is likely to be a rough neighborhood. See just how rough... and how life might still prevail -- David BrinA breakthrough book... a unique blend of scientific and philosophical speculation, politics and history, conspiracy theory and cosmology, where kings and emperors from both western and Chinese history mingle in a dreamlike game world, while cops and physicists deal with global conspiracies, murders, and alien invasions in the real world' -- George R.R. MartinThis is a series that I will always have on my book shelves because of the pleasure it gives to revisit it... Credit is also due to the translator, the extraordinary Ken Liu, for creating a read which enables all the high level concepts to weld with the ongoing epic story' * Strange Alliances *Complex and grandiose... this is a mind-altering and immersive experience' * Daily Mail *The grand scale continues in this third volume... There are many layers to this story, built up and woven together to form an extraordinarily grand tale of mankind's future. This volume brings the trilogy to a grand and satisfying conclusion' * SFCrowsnest *Cixin's trilogy is SF in the grand style, a galaxy-spanning, ideas-rich narrative of invasion and war between humanity and the alien 'Trisolarians' * Guardian *Even what doesn't happen is epic * London Review of Books *The narrative and conceptual momentum of the series takes off at a scale and velocity I couldn't possibly have imagined before reading. The Three-Body trilogy makes insignificance and unknowability and futility seem so spiritually exciting that I felt breathless. I'd join a book club that just discusses it every month for a year * New York Times. *

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Book SynopsisThe science fiction masterpiece behind the cult classic films Bladerunner and Bladerunner 2049.World War Terminus had left the Earth devastated. Through its ruins, bounty hunter Rick Deckard stalked, in search of the renegade replicants who were his prey. When he wasn''t ''retiring'' them with his laser weapon,he dreamed of owning a live animal - the ultimate status symbol in a world all but bereft of animal life.Then Rick got his chance: the assignment to kill six Nexus-6 targets, for a huge reward. But in Deckard''s world things were never that simple, and his assignment quickly turned into a nightmare kaleidoscope of subterfuge and deceit - and the threat of death for the hunter rather than the hunted ...Readers have been blown away by Philip K. Dick:''Now I understand what all the fuss is about. The guy is a visionary . . . Every paragraph launches us forward, demands our attention . . . a classic example of thTrade ReviewOne of the most original practitioners writing any kind of fiction, Dick made most of the European avant-garde seem like navel-gazers in a cul-de-sac * Sunday Times *My literary hero * Fay Weldon *For everyone lost in the endlessly multiplicating realities of the modern world, remember: Philip K. Dick got there first * Terry Gilliam *A masterclass in sci-fi wonderment * Empire *

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Book SynopsisRead the award-winning, critically acclaimed, multi-million-copy-selling science-fiction phenomenon – soon to be a Netflix Original Series from the creators of Game of Thrones. 1967: Ye Wenjie witnesses Red Guards beat her father to death during China's Cultural Revolution. This singular event will shape not only the rest of her life but also the future of mankind. Four decades later, Beijing police ask nanotech engineer Wang Miao to infiltrate a secretive cabal of scientists after a spate of inexplicable suicides. Wang's investigation will lead him to a mysterious online game and immerse him in a virtual world ruled by the intractable and unpredictable interaction of its three suns. This is the Three-Body Problem and it is the key to everything: the key to the scientists' deaths, the key to a conspiracy that spans light-years and the key to the extinction-level threat humanity now faces. Praise for The Three-Body Problem: 'Your next favourite sci-fi novel' Wired 'Immense' Barack Obama 'Unique' George R.R. Martin 'SF in the grand style' Guardian 'Mind-altering and immersive' Daily Mail Winner of the Hugo and Galaxy Awards for Best NovelTrade ReviewA unique blend of scientific and philosophical speculation, politics and history, conspiracy theory and cosmology -- George R.R. MartinWildly imaginative, really interesting... The scope of it was immense -- Barack Obama, 44th President of the United StatesA marvellous mélange of awe-inspiring scientific concepts, clever plotting and quirky yet plausible characters, all conveyed in in a plain style capable of signalling hidden depths * The Times *A milestone in Chinese science fiction * New York Times *The best kind of science fiction -- Kim Stanley RobinsonLiu Cixin's impressive The Three Body Problem won the 2015 Hugo award for best novel, the first time a Chinese writer has taken that prize * Guardian (2015 Books of the Year) *It's a stunning, high-concept, rollercoaster of a novel which offers an intriguing Eastern perspective... this is a trilogy which, like Asimov's Foundation epic, looks set to quickly become an essential science fiction classic' * Starburst Magazine (rating: 9/10) *China has a lively SF scene inaccessible to western audiences until recently, so it's a great pleasure to read this book by Cixin Liu – the country's most popular SF writer – in English. Handled expertly on the terms of the genre, it is seeing this tale played out through a different cultural lens that makes the book fascinating. The translation is exemplary. The book is top-flight SF; smart, informative and engaging * SFX *Hard science fiction at its finest, and fans will appreciate the superb attention to detail that drives this constantly evolving and impressive series * SciFiNow *The writing is superb... The ideas are astounding, real eye-openers that expand the mind and really get the old grey matter going... A stand-out, award-worthy novel and one that deserves a place amongst the science fiction classics' * SF Book Reviews *For a book that makes you think, and holds true to some of the traditional values of SF, this one can't be beat * SFF World Magazine *[The Three-Body Problem and The Dark Forest are] the works of fiction I am most enthusiastic about * Bloomberg *A celebration of science as saviour * The Hindu *This book lives and dies by the quality of its ideas. Fortunately, the many, many different questions posed are fascinating and imaginative and I barreled through this novel right up to its gripping conclusion * Bending Over Bookwards *A book rich in ideas, puzzles and theories but each of them is explained in a way that isn't only accessible but is also absolutely engrossing... The ideas are vast but they are beautifully expressed and, for this, credit must also go to Ken Liu who has done a fantastic job of translating this masterpiece. I loved where The Three Body-Problem took me – it is tense, wondrous and fascinating and I am so ready to read its successor, The Dark Forest, the next in this exciting, original and gobsmacking trilogy' * For Winter Nights *A really fascinating book and I'm delighted that there are two more to come in the series... I'd recommend to readers who want to enjoy the science as much as the story' * SF Crowsnest *A book that you must have read, whether you are a Science Fiction fan or not. Cixin Liu tackles so many different topics from action, thriller and a strong emotional backdrop... I cannot imagine what effort it must have cost to translate such an epic story to English but it paid off really well. A great performance' * The Book Plank *Even what doesn't happen is epic * London Review of Books *Cixin Liu began his massively ambitious trilogy with this dazzling work of SF... Hard to sum up in a few short lines, but one you read it you'll be doing your best to tell everyone else to follow suit' * SciFiNow *

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Book SynopsisThe collected short stories of Cixin Liu, author of the Three Body Problem trilogy (soon to be a major Netflix series). The collection will comprise of stories from:- The Wandering Earth- Hold Up the Sky Collected in a beautiful anthology for the first time.

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Book SynopsisThe book that defined the cyberpunk movement, inspiring everything from The Matrix to Cyberpunk 2077.The sky above the port was the colour of television, tuned to a dead channel.William Gibson revolutionised science fiction in his 1984 debut Neuromancer. The writer who gave us the matrix and coined the term ''cyberspace'' produced a first novel that won the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards, and lit the fuse on the Cyberpunk movement. More than three decades later, Gibson''s text is as stylish as ever, his noir narrative still glitters like chrome in the shadows and his depictions of the rise and abuse of corporate power look more prescient every day. Part thriller, part warning, Neuromancer is a timeless classic of modern SF and one of the 20th century''s most potent and compelling visions of the future. His later work, The Peripheral, has been adapted into a series by Amazon Prime, starring Chloë Grace Moretz. Trade Reviewa ground-breaking success and, along with the ensuing Sprawl trilogy, is responsible for kickstarting the Cyberpunk sub-genre and instilling the concept of cyberspace into the popular imagination, inspiring writers and filmmakers the world over. * Empire *

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Book SynopsisWhen the inhabitants of a peaceful world are conquered by the bloodthirsty yumens, their existence is irrevocably altered. Forced into servitude, the Athsheans find themselves at the mercy of their brutal masters.Desperation causes the Athsheans, led by Selver, to retaliate against their captors, abandoning their strictures against violence. But in defending their lives, they have endangered the very foundations of their society. For every blow against the invaders is a blow to the humanity of the Athsheans. And once the killing starts, there is no turning back.Trade ReviewThe slender book is fairly simplistic, but it's still compelling and thought-provoking. * SFX *It's a compact tale, a masterclass by a powerful writer who fashions a lean narrative where others might have produced a much larger, bloated tome, and yet for all the brevity Le Guin delivers not just a narrative but a believable alien world and society in short yet compelling scenes. * FORBIDDEN PLANET *

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Book SynopsisAn epic story of survival at all odds, now a major Apple TV series. NOW THE NO.1 DRAMA IN THE HISTORY OF AppleTV+, SILO. In a ruined and hostile landscape, in a future few have been unlucky enough to survive, a community exists in a giant underground silo. Inside, men and women live an enclosed life full of rules and regulations, of secrets and lies. To live, you must follow the rules. But some don't. These are the dangerous ones; these are the people who dare to hope and dream, and who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple and deadly. They are allowed outside. Jules is one of these people. She may well be the last. _________________ 'The next Hunger Games' SUNDAY TIMES 'Well written, tense, and immensely satisfying, Wool will be considered a classic for many years in the future.' WIRED 'Howey's Wool is an epic feat of imagination. You will live in this world.' JUSTIN CRONIN 'Wool is frightening, fascinating, and addictive. In one word, terrific.' KATHY REICHS 'Thrilling, thought-provoking and memorable ... one of dystopian fiction's masterpieces alongside the likes of 1984 and Brave New World.' DAILY EXPRESS Silo, No.1 drama in the history of Apple TV as of May 2023.Trade ReviewExhilarating, intense, addictive. A novel you will never forget.Thrilling, thought-provoking and memorable . . . one of dystopian fiction's masterpieces alongside the likes of 1984 and Brave New World. * Daily Express *Well written, tense, and immensely satisfying, Wool will be considered a classic for many years in the future. * WIRED *Wool is frightening, fascinating, and addictive. In one word, terrific. -- Kathy ReichsA thrilling sci-fi novel, equally adept at world-building, pulling the rug out from under its readers, and commenting in classic sci-fi fashion on our own present day. * The Slate *

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Book SynopsisThe epic that began with the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning classic DUNE continues ...Trade ReviewI know nothing comparable to it except The Lord of the Rings * Arthur C. Clarke on Dune *It is possible that Dune is even more relevant now than when it was first published * The New Yorker on Dune *An astonishing science fiction phenomenon * The Washington Post on Dune *One of the monuments of modern science fiction * The Chicago Tribune on Dune *Powerful, convincing, and most ingenious * Robert A. Heinlein on Dune *A novel of extraordinary complexity ... the work of a speculative intellect with few rivals in modern SF * The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction on Dune *A tight mesmerising fabric, interwoven with a potent element of mysticism ... intensely realised * Brian W. Aldiss on Dune *Compelling . . . a worthy addition to this durable and deservedly popular series * New York Times *The vast and fascinating Dune saga sweeps on -- as exciting and gripping as ever * Kirkus reviews *

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Book SynopsisThe first three novels set in Ursula K. Le Guin's famed Hainish universe, together in one volume.Trade ReviewLe Guin writes in quiet, straightforward sentences about people who feel they are being torn apart by massive forces in society - technological, political, economic - and who fight courageously to remain whole' - The New York Times Book ReviewAs good as any contemporary at creating worlds, imaginary or our own . . . Le Guin writes with painstaking intelligence. Her characters are complex and haunting, and her writing is remarkable for its sinewy grace - Time Magazine

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Book SynopsisJohn Scalzi is one of the most popular and acclaimed SF authors to emerge in the last decade. His debut Old Man's War won him science fiction's John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Lock In, and also Redshirts, which won 2013's Hugo Award for Best Novel. Material from his widely read blog Whatever has also earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.Trade ReviewGripping and surpassingly original. It's Starship Troopers without the lectures . . . It's funny, it's sad, and it's true -- Cory DoctorowI enjoyed Old Man's War immensely. A space war story with fast action, vivid characters, moral complexity, and cool speculative physics, set in a future you almost want to live into, and a universe you sincerely hope you don't live in already -- Ken MacLeodJohn Scalzi is the most entertaining, accessible writer working in SF today -- Joe HillScalzi is one of the slickest writers that SF has ever produced * Wall Street Journal *Clever dialogue, fast-paced story and strong characters * The Times *It gladdens the reader's heart . . . great fun * Daily Telegraph *Top-notch. His combat scenes are blood roiling * Washington Post *Astonishingly proficient * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *

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Book SynopsisRebecca Thorne is a Sunday Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestselling author, specializing in fantasy, sci-fi, and romance. She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, hails from sunny Arizona, USA, and uses her ADHD as a superpower to write multiple books a year. When she's not writing (or avoiding writing), Rebecca can be found travelling the country as a flight attendant, hiking with her lovely wife and their dogs, or basking in the sun like a lizard.

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Book SynopsisA man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the real world should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard''s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive? ******Praise for Brandon Sanderson Epic in every sense. -The Guardian on The Way of Kings Brandon Sanderson''s reputation is finally as big as his novels. -The New York Times on Words of Radiance If you''re a fan of fantasy and haven''t read the Mistborn trilogy yet, you have no ex

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Book Synopsis'Deft and supple ... a truly superb tale' Theodore Sturgeon

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Book SynopsisHaving made a miraculous recovery from the grevious injuries he suffered on Davin, Warmaster Horus now leads the triumphant Imperial forces against the rebel world of Isstvan III. An unprecedented alliance between the Sons of Horus, Death Guard, World Eaters and Emperor' Children Legions seems more than capable of overwhelming the paltry mortal defences - indeed, such a display of force seems unneccesary? Putting their own concerns aside, Garviel Loken and his loyal kinsmen lead their companies to the surface only to learn the full, horrifying truth, and the legendary war known as the Horus Heresy begins with the most foul act of betrayal imaginable...

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Book SynopsisFar from Terra, the XVIth Legion continue in the Great Crusade as the 'Sons of Horus'. Putting the debacle with the interex behind him, the Warmaster has become more withdrawnas he struggles to deal with the jealousy of his brother primarchs, and increasingly relies on the council of his advisors as he plans each new campaign. Noble captain Garviel Loken harbours misgivings about the clandestine ways adopted by many of his brethren, but when the Legion is sent to reconquer the moon of Davin, it is clear that Horus has a personal stake in the matter which may have clouded his judgement. With dark forces rising against them, have the pimarch and his warriors been drawn into a trap?

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Book Synopsis''Ursula Le Guin was able to reimagine many concepts we take to be natural, shared, and unalterable - gender, utopia, creation, war, family, the city, the country - and reveal the all-too-human constructions at their centre ... Literature will miss her. There''s no one like her'' Zadie Smith''Le Guin is a writer of phenomenal power'' OBSERVERThrough his dreams, George Orr can make alternate realities real - but who is controlling him?War rages and global warming wreaks havoc on the quality of life everywhere as seven billion people jostle for living space and food. For George Orr, a mild and unremarkable man, the world is overwhelmingly difficult. But George is different: his dreams can change reality - although he has no means of controlling this extraordinary power.Psychiatrist Dr William Haber offers to help, directing George to dream a world without racism. But as ambition gets the better of ethics, no one can predict the devaTrade ReviewLe Guin is a writer of phenomenal power * OBSERVER *Ursula Le Guin was able to reimagine many concepts we take to be natural, shared, and unalterable - gender, utopia, creation, war, family, the city, the country - and reveal the all-too-human constructions at their center ... Literature will miss her. There's no one like her -- Zadie SmithShe is unparalleled in creating fantasy peopled by finely drawn and complex characters * GUARDIAN *Le Guin is one of the singular speculative voices of our future, thanks to her knack for anticipating issues of seminal importance to society * TLS *Her worlds have a magic sheen . . . She moulds them into dimensions we can only just sense. She is unique. She is legend * THE TIMES *I'd love to sit at my desk one day and discover that I could think and write like Ursula Le Guin -- Roddy DoyleA rare and powerful synthesis of poetry and science, reason and emotion * NEW YORK TIMES *[Le Guin had] the heart of a poet who knew all too well the difference between miracle and eureka, revelation and revolution * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *Le Guin's storytelling is sharp, magisterial, funny, thought-provoking and exciting, exhibiting all that science fiction can be * EMPIRE *Ursula Le Guin is a chemist of the heart -- David Mitchell, author of CLOUD ATLASWhen I read The Lathe of Heaven as a young man, my mind was boggled; now when I read it, more than twenty-five years later, it breaks my heart. Only a great work of literature can bridge - so thrillingly - that impossible span -- Michael ChabonLe Guin writes tellingly of different kinds of society . . . and of the individual's response to them * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisHenry Dorsett Case is a low-level hustler, former hack and ''console cowboy'' who crashed and burned. His nerves were damaged and thus cut off from the digital matrix, he slouches through life.Until he meets Molly, an augmented ''razorgirl'', who offers him a deal on behalf of a shadowy man called Armitage. His nerves repaired and matrix access restored, in exchange for a single job. But it''s not so simple - unless he completes the job, sacs of poison will explode inside him and cripple him again. And the job? That might be impossible.The first novel to win the Hugo, Nebula and Philip K. Dick Awards, Neuromancer has become a seminal part of SF history, coining the term ''cyberspace'' and lighting a fuse on the Cyberpunk movement. Part thriller, part warning, it is one of the 20th century''s most potent visions of the future.''A ground-breaking success'' - Empire''Gibson is better than almost anybody at noticingTrade Reviewa ground-breaking success and, along with the ensuing Sprawl trilogy, is responsible for kickstarting the Cyberpunk sub-genre and instilling the concept of cyberspace into the popular imagination, inspiring writers and filmmakers the world over. * Empire *

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_____________________________ ‘A pacey, creepy book that does what any good prequel should... this is unmistakably Stranger Things' – SFX Magazine_____________________________A mysterious lab. A sinister scientist. A secret history. If you think you know the truth about Eleven’s mother, prepare to have your mind turned Upside Down.It's the summer of 1969. The world is changing, and Terry Ives isn't content to watch from the sidelines. When word gets around about an important government experiment, she signs on as a test subject.But behind the walls of Hawkins National Laboratory – and the piercing gaze of its director, Dr Martin Brenner – lurks a dark conspiracy. To face it, she'll need the help of her fellow test subjects, including a mysterious young girl with unexplainable powers. . . _____________________________'Suspicious Minds is the prequel story that fans have been waiting for.' – Kirkus Reviews'You’re left hungry for more, but in the best way possible, as the book manages the balancing act between interconnected prequel and standalone story.' – Cinelinx_____________________________

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Book SynopsisThe strange and wonderful tale of man’s experiences on Mars, filled with intense images and astonishing visions.The classic work that transformed Ray Bradbury into a household name.Trade Review‘The bitter irony of The Martian Chronicles is both stark and shocking’ Guardian ‘As a science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury has long been streets ahead of anyone else’ Daily Telegraph ‘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’ Sunday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe Strugatsky brothers'' poignant and introspective novel of first contact that inspired the classic film StalkerRed Schuhart is a stalker, one of those strange misfits who are compelled by some unknown force to venture illegally into the Zone and, in spite of the extreme danger, collect the mysterious artefacts that the alien visitors left scattered around. His life is dominated by the Zone and the thriving black market in the alien products. Even the nature of his daughter has been determined by the Zone. And it is for her that Red makes his last, tragic foray into the hazardous and hostile depths.Readers can''t stop thinking about Roadside Picnic:''A story of a horrific yet fascinating place, a story of an ordinary and unlikable man just trying to get by, a philosophical interlude on humanity and its significance or lack thereof, of greed and wonder, and the fever dream of the soul scream. It still spe

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Book SynopsisThe second novel of the galaxy-spanning Sun Eater series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe continues down a path that can only end in fire. Hadrian Marlowe is lost. For half a century, he has searched the farther suns for the lost planet of Vorgossos, hoping to find a way to contact the elusive alien Cielcin. He has not succeeded, and for years has wandered among the barbarian Normans as captain of a band of mercenaries. Determined to make peace and bring an end to nearly four hundred years of war, Hadrian must venture beyond the security of the Sollan Empire and among the Extrasolarians who dwell between the stars. There, he will face not only the aliens he has come to offer peace, but contend with creatures that once were human, with traitors in his midst, and with a meeting that will bring him face to face with no less than the oldest enemy of mankind. If he succeeds, he will usher in a peace unlike any in Trade ReviewSpace opera fans will savor the rich details of Ruocchio's far-future debut. - Publisher's Weekly on Empire of SilenceIf you can't decide whether to go for science fiction or fantasy with your first summer read, might we recommend Empire of Silence. - Den of Geek on Empire of SilenceOne of the most enjoyable SF debuts I've read in a long while. Think Dune mixed with Gene Wolfe's Shadow of the Torturer series, but for a contemporary readership... celebrates all of the joy and the sheer enthusiasm of old-fashioned Space Opera. - SFF World on Empire of Silence

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Book SynopsisAn electrifying thriller about species re-engineering run amok, Scales is a great, fast-paced read perfect for fans of Jurassic Park.

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Book SynopsisThe epic that began with the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning classic DUNE continues ...Trade ReviewI know nothing comparable to it except The Lord of the Rings * Arthur C. Clarke on Dune *It is possible that Dune is even more relevant now than when it was first published * The New Yorker on Dune *An astonishing science fiction phenomenon * The Washington Post on Dune *One of the monuments of modern science fiction * The Chicago Tribune on Dune *Powerful, convincing, and most ingenious * Robert A. Heinlein on Dune *A novel of extraordinary complexity ... the work of a speculative intellect with few rivals in modern SF * The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction on Dune *A tight mesmerising fabric, interwoven with a potent element of mysticism ... intensely realised * Brian W. Aldiss on Dune *A fourth visit to distant Arrakis that is every bit as fascinating as the other three -- every bit as timely * Time *

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Book Synopsis''ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANTLY INVENTIVE WRITERS OF THIS, OR ANY, COUNTRY'' INDEPENDENTShortlisted for the Booker Prize, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the Arthur C. Clarke Award, winner of Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year and a BBC Two Between the Covers Book Club pick''Miraculous''SUNDAY TIMES''A masterful feast''EVENING STANDARD''Shamelessly exciting''SPECTATOR''Remarkable''GUARDIAN''Stunning''DAILY MAILA novel of mind-bending imagination and scope from the author of Ghostwritten and Utopia AvenueSouls cross ages like clouds cross skies . . .Six interlocking lives - one amazing adventure. In a narrative that circles the globe and reaches from the 19th century to a post-apocalyptic future, Cloud Atlas erases the boundaries of time, genre and language to offer an enthralling vision of humanity''s will to power, and where it will lead us.*Please note that the end of p. 39 and p. 40 are intentionally blank*PRAISE FOR DAVID MITCHELL''A thrilling and gifted writer''FINANCIAL TIMES''Dizzyingly, dazzlingly good''DAILY MAIL''Mitchell is, clearly, a genius''NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW''An author of extraordinary ambition and skill''INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY''A superb storyteller''THE NEW YORKERTrade ReviewRemarkable . . . it knits together science fiction, political thriller and historical pastiche with musical virtuosity and linguistic exuberance * Guardian *An impeccable dance of genres . . . an elegiac, radiant festival of prescience, meditation and entertainment * The Times *His wildest ride yet . . . a singular achievement, from an author of extraordinary ambition and skill * Independent on Sunday *David Mitchell entices his readers onto a rollercoaster, and at first they wonder if they want to get off. Then - at least in my case - they can't bear the journey to end -- A. S. Byatt * Guardian *A magnificent tour de force * Time Out *A glorious puzzle for the reader . . . Mitchell's storytelling in Cloud Atlas is of the best * Independent *An impeccably structured novel of ideas in many voices -- Literary Editor's Best Books * Observer *A novel of breathtaking ambition and scale, spanning continents, oceans and centuries * Independent *Funny, exciting, imaginative and energetic * Evening Standard *A virtuoso performance . . . deeply impressive * Daily Telegraph *The way Mitchell inhabits the different voices of the novel is close to miraculous . . . No other British novelist, to my mind, combines such a darkly futuristic intelligence with such polyphonic ease -- Robert Macfarlane * Sunday Times *His most accomplished achievement to date . . . a novel in the biggest, most exhilarating sense * Observer *Gloriously inventive and dazzlingly virtuosic * Independent on Sunday *A thrilling ride of a story * Observer *Tremendous . . . one of the most shamelessly exciting books imaginable * Spectator *Stunning . . . One of those rare books that manages to be enormously clever while resisting the temptation to show off * Daily Mail *Reassuringly excellent * Times Literary Supplement *Engrossing * Financial Times *Mitchell writes as though at the helm of some perpetual dream machine, can evidently do anything, and his ambition is written in magma across this novel's every page * New York Times Book Review *This isn't just one brilliant book, it's a collection of six completely different brilliant books * Sunday Independent *Mind-bogglingly good * Elle *One of those how-the-holy-hell-did-he-do-it? modern classics that no doubt is - and should be - read by any student of contemporary literature -- Dave EggersAstonishing . . . essential fiction for the 21st century * Independent *Not just dazzling, amusing, or clever but heartbreaking and passionate, too. I've never read anything quite like it -- Michael ChabonAn intense, arcing colossus of a book whose narrative links, supplied by the voices of six main characters, are spun out into a unified theory of everything: history, human evolution, science, the will to power. The voices span epochs, continents, and genres . . . Mitchell has rightly commanded attention for the sheer breadth and energy of his composition . . . I am moved by (his) talent * Prospect *It takes only a few pages of any part of this masterful feast of a novel to make you want to read the rest * Evening Standard *David Mitchell may well be possessed of genius . . . As well-plotted, entertaining narrative, Cloud Atlas succeeds on many levels. As political and cultural fable, with an unerring humanist sense of the dangerous will to power that lies at the dark heart of man, it's visionary * Irish Independent *As mind-bending in its ideas as it is accessible on the page . . . It pretty much resists hyperbole simply by being better than you'd ever dare hope * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisWITH INTRODUCTIONS BY MARGARET ATWOOD AND DAVID BRADSHAWFar in the future, the World Controllers have created the ideal society. Through clever use of genetic engineering, brainwashing and recreational sex and drugs all its members are happy consumers. Bernard Marx seems alone harbouring an ill-defined longing to break free. A visit to one of the few remaining Savage Reservations where the old, imperfect life still continues, may be the cure for his distress...Huxley's ingenious fantasy of the future sheds a blazing light on the present and is considered to be his most enduring masterpiece.**One of the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**Trade ReviewA fantastical look at the world in the future which made me look differently at the present * Observer *A brilliant tour de force, Brave New World may be read as a grave warning of the pitfalls that await uncontrolled scientific advance. Full of barbed wit and malice-spiked frankness. Provoking, stimulating, shocking and dazzling * Observer *Such ingenious wit, derisive logic and swiftness of expression, Huxley's resources of sardonic invention have never been more brilliantly displayed * The Times *A decade ago we smug inhabitants of the information technology age thought Huxley's socio-biological satire had called history wrong. Then along came stem-cells * James Hawes *Not a work for people with tender minds and weak stomachs * J.B. Priestly *

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Book SynopsisDatonga is a science fiction adventure story which explores the creativity of great scientists. Based on time travel round Gödel loops within the known laws of physics. The power source that makes this possible is discovered by Grace O'Malley in 1984 and rediscovered in the Universal world in 3050 by Hu Song.

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Book SynopsisThree novels that bring the Dune Chronicles, one of the most influential SF series ever written, to its epic conclusion!

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Book SynopsisStephen Baxter''s epic sequence of Xeelee novels was introduced to a new generation of readers with his highly successful quartet, Destiny''s Children, published by Gollancz between 2003 and 2006. But the sequence of novels began with RAFT in 1991.From there it built into perhaps the most ambitious fictitious universe ever created. Beginning with the rise and fall of sub-quantum civilisations in the first nano-seconds after the Big Bang and ending with the heat death of the universe billions of years from now the series charts the story of mankinds epic war against the ancient and unknowable alien race the Xeelee.Along the way it examines questions of physics, the nature of reality, the evolution of mankind and its possible future. It looks not just at the morality of war but at the morality of survival and our place in the universe.This is a landmark in SF.Trade Review'Covering events from the UK to the US, from Australia to Tibet, this is a comprehensive disaster novel that has a very global feel. Perhaps mostly this book is an homage to human survivability - we endure should be our motto. [It] deserves to sit high on the blockbuster shelves.' - SF World on FLOOD.'For once a modern SF book where the central science doesn't need the reader to have memorised advanced quantum theory beforehand. Flood is a superbly enjoyable SF novel, although those living close to the sea may feel a bit nervous after reading it. And before anyone asks, yes, it's better than Waterworld.' - The Wertzone on FLOOD.'Bold, compassionate, exhilarating, wrenching stuff.' - Internet Review of SF.

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Book SynopsisCONSIDER PHLEBASThe war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender.Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction.USE OF WEAPONSThe man known as Cheradenine Zakalwe was one of Special Circumstances'' foremost agents, changing the destiny of planets to suit the Culture through intrigue, dirty tricks or military action.The woman known as Diziet Sma had plucked him from obscur

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

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Book Synopsis14th July 1924: In a Warsaw buried under feet of snow and Russian rule, Benedykt Gieroslawski, a dissolute young Polish mathematician, is roused from his bed by two officials from the Ministry of Winter and dispatched to Siberia in search of his long-exiled father. Boarding the Trans-Siberian Express, Benedykt embarks on an extraordinary journey through a frozen realm, through political, criminal, scientific, philosophical and amorous intrigues to finally stand face to face with something utterly alienThe catalyst for this frosty metamorphosis of 20th Century history is the impact of the Tunguska asteroid, deep in Siberia, in 1908. ICE's meteor is composed from a strange new form of matter that reveals a hitherto hidden relation between the laws of thermodynamics and logic. This connection has a physical manifestation coallessing as quantum apparitions known as Gleissen'. Otherworldly, unknowable, mute these apparitions of ice and frost stalk the land bringing endless winter wherever they venture. As they move through Russia, agriculture collapses and people flock to cities seeking protection from the deadly cold. But in their glacial wake the Gleissen also leave incredible wealth, their black physics' transmuting elements into strange new forms allowing new technologies, industries and economies to prosper. This has drastically altered the global balance of power; the Tsar still rules Russia, the Belle Époque endures, and the First World War never happened. At the heart of it all lies Siberia the Wild East' a magnet for all the political, religious and scientific fevers shaking the world at the dawn of 20th century. It is the crucible where black physics and the cold logic of winter will forge a new history. So why has Benedykt been dispatched by the Ministry of Winter to deepest Siberia to make contact with his exiled father? Is it because Benedict's exiled father has managed, somehow, to communicate with the Gleissen? Or are there other agendas at play?

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Book Synopsis''One of the most significant literary artists of the twentieth century'' JUNOT DIAZ''Octavia Butler was playing out our very real possibilities as humans. I think she can help each of us to do the same'' GLORIA STEINEMOne woman is called upon to reconstruct humanity in this hopeful, thought-provoking novel by the bestselling, award-winning author. For readers of Margaret Atwood, Toni Morrison and Ursula K. Le Guin. When Lilith lyapo wakes in a small white room with no doors or windows, she remembers a devastating war, and a husband and child long lost to her.She finds herself living among the Oankali, a strange race who intervened in the fate of humanity hundreds of years before. They spared those they could from the ruined Earth, and suspended them in a long, deep sleep. Over centuries, the Oankali learned from the past, cured disease and healed the world. Now they want Lilith to lead her people back home. But salvationTrade ReviewOne of the most significant literary artists of the twentieth century. One cannot exaggerate the impact she has had -- Junot DiazButler's prose, always pared back to the bone, delineates the painful paradoxes of metamorphosis with compelling precision * Guardian *A dark, compelling and still horribly resonant time travel story * Independent *[Her] evocative, often troubling, novels explore far-reaching issues of race, sex, power and, ultimately, what it means to be human * New York Times *No novel I've read this year has felt as relevant, as gut-wrenching or as essential... If you've ever tweeted "All Lives Matter", someone needs to shove Kindred into your hand, and quickly * The Pool *Kindred is that rare magical artifact . . . the novel one returns to, again and again * Harlan Ellison *One cannot finish Kindred without feeling changed. It is a shattering work of art * Los Angeles Herald-Examiner *[A] must-read novel * BBC *Everyone should read at least one novel by the grand dame of science fiction, and Kindred is a perfect (and harrowing and disturbing and brilliant) place to start * Refinery 29 *The immediate effect of reading Octavia Butler's Kindred is to make every other time travel book in the world look as if it's wimping out... This is a brilliant book, utterly absorbing, very well written, and deeply distressing. It's very hard to read, not because it's not good but because it's so good * Tor *A searing, caustic examination of bizarre and alien practices on the third planet from the sun * Kirkus *One of the most original, thought-provoking works examining race and identity * Los Angeles Times *Impossible to turn away from once you've devoured the first few pages * Starburst *If you haven't read Butler, you don't yet understand how rich the possibilities of science fiction can be * Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction *Butler's books are exceptional * Village Voice *Few writers in our field are so good at blending page-turners with philosophical questions so seamlessly -- Cory Doctorow

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Book SynopsisThe stunning sequel to Parable of the Sower, the NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling novel.''In the ongoing contest over which dystopian classic is most applicable to our time... for sheer peculiar prescience, Butler''s novel may be unmatched'' NEW YORKER''Octavia Butler was playing out our very real possibilities as humans. I think she can help each of us to do the same'' GLORIA STEINEM---In order for me to understand who I am, I must begin to understand who she was.Asha was born into a broken world. There are many things she needs to know: how her country could embrace a violent, far-right President promising to make America great again, why they turned a blind eye to the suffering - and the truth about her mother.In her journals, Lauren Olamina tells of a great love divided between her young daughter, her community and the revelation that led her to found a new faith that teaches ''God Is ChanTrade ReviewOne of the most significant literary artists of the twentieth century. One cannot exaggerate the impact she has had -- Junot DiazButler's prose, always pared back to the bone, delineates the painful paradoxes of metamorphosis with compelling precision * Guardian *A dark, compelling and still horribly resonant time travel story * Independent *[Her] evocative, often troubling, novels explore far-reaching issues of race, sex, power and, ultimately, what it means to be human * New York Times *No novel I've read this year has felt as relevant, as gut-wrenching or as essential... If you've ever tweeted "All Lives Matter", someone needs to shove Kindred into your hand, and quickly * The Pool *Kindred is that rare magical artifact . . . the novel one returns to, again and again * Harlan Ellison *One cannot finish Kindred without feeling changed. It is a shattering work of art * Los Angeles Herald-Examiner *[A] must-read novel * BBC *Everyone should read at least one novel by the grand dame of science fiction, and Kindred is a perfect (and harrowing and disturbing and brilliant) place to start * Refinery 29 *The immediate effect of reading Octavia Butler's Kindred is to make every other time travel book in the world look as if it's wimping out... This is a brilliant book, utterly absorbing, very well written, and deeply distressing. It's very hard to read, not because it's not good but because it's so good * Tor *A searing, caustic examination of bizarre and alien practices on the third planet from the sun * Kirkus *One of the most original, thought-provoking works examining race and identity * Los Angeles Times *Impossible to turn away from once you've devoured the first few pages * Starburst *If you haven't read Butler, you don't yet understand how rich the possibilities of science fiction can be * Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction *Butler's books are exceptional * Village Voice *Few writers in our field are so good at blending page-turners with philosophical questions so seamlessly -- Cory Doctorow

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Slaughterhouse 5.The human survivors of the nature cruise of the century, are quietly evolving into sleek, furry creatures with flippers and small brains. All other forms of humankind have ceased to exist, made redundant by their prized big brains.Trade Review‘The best Vonnegut novel yet!’ John Irving ‘Beautiful … provocative, arresting reading.’ USA Today ‘A madcap genealogical adventure … Vonnegut is a postmodern Mark Twain.’ The New York Times Book Review ‘A satire in the classic tradition … a dark vision, a heartfelt warning.’ The Detroit Free Press ‘Interesting, engaging, sad and yet very funny … Vonnegut is still in top form. If he has no prescription for alleviating the pain of the human condition, at least he is a first-rate diagnostician.’ Susan Isaacs, Newsday ‘Dark … original and funny.’ People ‘A triumph of style, originality and warped yet consistent logic … a condensation, an evolution of Vonnegut's entire career, including all the issues and questions he has pursued relentlessly for four decades.’ The Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Wild details, wry humor, outrageous characters … Galápagos is a comic lament, a sadly ironic vison.’ St. Louis Post-Dispatch ‘A work of high comedy, sadness and imagination.’ The Denver Post ‘Wacky wit and irreverent imagination … and the full range of technical innovations have made [Vonnegut] America's preeminent experimental novelist.’ The Minneapolis Star and Tribune

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