Science fiction

Book Synopsis ''A great mix of British properness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun'' ***** BOOK 11 IN THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING CHRONICLES OF ST MARY''S SERIESFor fans of Richard Osman''s Thursday Murder Club, Jasper Fforde and Doctor Who.I would have trusted this man with my life. Until a couple of days ago, anyway.You know what they say - hope for the best, but plan for the worst.Max is quite accustomed to everything going wrong. She''s St Mary''s, after all. Disaster is her default state. But with her family reunited and a jump to Bronze Age Crete in the works, life is getting back to normal. Well, normal for St Mary''s. And then, following one fateful night at the Tower of London, everything Max thought she knew comes crashing down around her.Too late for plans. The worst has happened. And who can Max trust now? Readers love Jodi TayloTrade ReviewTakes readers on a carnival ride through laughter and tears with a bit of time travel thrown in for spice - Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewA true page-turner - SF RevuI've never seen time travel handled this way. I like it - wethenerdy.com[An] appealing cast of characters... [with] with plenty of humour, lots of action, and even a touch of romance - Library Journal

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Book Synopsis''Wonderfully written and a real page turner. Christina tells a story equally as well as Barbara Erskine'' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader reviewFeatures an exclusive bonus short story!Brimming with romance, adventure and vivid historical detail, Christina Courtenay does for the Vikings what Diana Gabaldon''s Outlander and Clanlans does for Scottish history.''The Queen of Timeslip Romance has done it again! A romantic and compelling read - a total page turner'' SANDY BARKER''A brilliantly written timeslip that combines mystery and romance into a compelling and vividly imagined story'' NICOLA CORNICK''I LOVED Tempted by the Runes. Christina Courtenay is guaranteed to carry me off to another place and time in a way that no other author succeeds in doing'' SUE MOORCROFT...............................................Born centuries apa

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Book SynopsisRogue Stars is a character-based, science fiction skirmish wargame, where players command crews of bounty hunters, space pirates, merchants, prospectors, smugglers, mercenary outfits, planetary police, and other such shady factions from the fringes of galactic civilization. Crews can vary in size, typically from four to six, and the character and crew creation systems allow for practically any concept to be built. Detailed environmental rules that include options for flora, fauna, gravity, dangerous terrain and atmosphere, and scenario design rules that ensure that missions are varied and demand adaptation and cunning on the parts of the combatants, make practically any encounter possible. Run contraband tech to rebel fighters on an ocean world while being hunted by an alien kill-team or hunt down a research vessel and fight zero-gravity boarding actions in the cold depths of space--whatever you can imagine, you can do.Table of ContentsForeword / Introduction / The Rules / Characters / Crews / Scenarios / Campaigns

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Book SynopsisHyper-reality. The area between the thriving mass of humanity known as the Sprawl and the digital refuge of Cyberspace. This is your playground. As a Showrunner, you can see and manipulate the flow of digital data through the real world for you, reality is limitless.Welcome to Reality's Edge, a skirmish wargame set in a dystopian cyberpunk future, where players take on the roles of Showrunners mercenary hackers who lead small teams of trusted operatives and disposable freelancers. Funded by shadow backers, the Showrunners accept jobs from faceless clients for profit, glory, and better chrome always better chrome.Battles take place in the concrete jungle known as the Sprawl, but Showrunners must remain wary of the threat posed by Cyberspace. Hacking is pivotal to the game, with data nodes, robots, machines, and even enemy chrome presenting potential targets for a cunning Console Cowboy. In an ongoing campaign, each skirmish offers you the opportunity to earn experience a

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Book SynopsisA fast-playing game of mecha skirmish combat in the post-apocalyptic ruins of Earth. In the blasted, radiation-scorched, wastelands of the Earth''s surface, towering mecha do battle, defending the interests of one of the few remaining arcology governments, providing security for wilderness outposts, or seeking out loot and supplies as a mercenary company. With detailed rules for designing and customizing your mecha, from size and propulsion type to payload and pilot skills, and a campaign system that allows pilots to gain experience and skills as they patrol the shattered Earth, Gamma Wolves is a fast-playing game of post-apocalyptic mecha warfare.

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Book SynopsisA science fiction roleplaying game of exploration, isolation, and survival in a dark and dangerous universe.Space is a hell of a thing but you need to be sure that this is what you want. Like, what you really want. The idea of space exploration to further the frontiers of mankind is noble, but let''s not kid ourselves--it''s really all about furthering the profit margins. There''s money to be made and out there is the place to make it, but you hear all kinds of stories equipment malfunctions, strange discoveries, crewmembers going insane... You''ll be out there in the reaches, alone, for months or years, breathing recycled air and drinking recycled water, with nothing but a few feet of metal and shielding between you and certain death.Are you sure this is what you want? Crew Orientation Briefing***Those Dark Places is a rules-light, story-focused roleplaying game about the darker side of space exploration and the people whTrade ReviewA game with feeling, which holds one enormous advantage over the Alien RPG * RPG.net *There is undeniably some catharsis to be found in its steel corridors, and the mysteries your find between the stars are all the more fulfilling for it. * Tabletop Gaming Mag *The Ana-Sin-Emid Report is nasty, weirdly creepy, and short. It is easy to run as a one-shot or add to an existing campaign, and should provide one or two sessions of play. * rlyehreviews *Fantastically produced, beautifully written. * GMS Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Player's Section Gamemaster's Section Adventures

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Book SynopsisCrosstalk is a smart, brilliant and endearing romantic comedy comparable to Sliding DoorsTrade ReviewA lightweight, sci-fi romcom satire for the 21st century, firing broadsides at our dependency on hi-tech gadgetry and social media. * GUARDIAN *A sci-fi flavoured thriller... A biting satire of 21st century capitalism... But mostly, it's a romance. One of those slushy ones, where you can see the ending coming a mile away, but still find yourself rooting for the couple to look past their superficial differences and just snog already. * SFX *Clever, delightful, and at all times very entertaining. Well worth a read. * SCIFINOW *A fun read in which the phenomenon of telepathy is given a convincing scientific gloss. * MORNING STAR *

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Book SynopsisDuring the Decade of Plagues, pandemics brought civilization to a standstill. The only way out was the Aspis chip: a wearable mRNA vaccine factory, able to immunize you against new viruses on the fly. But not everyone wanted it. They created an open alternative: Darkome, an underground community of biohackers modifying their own genes and bodies.Inara came of age in a Darkome village - but only an Aspis could keep her rare cancer in check, updating her immune system at a pace with her cancer''s evolution. Accepting it went against everything Darkome stood for. She had to choose between her community and her life.Now Inara''s Aspis appears to have malfunctioned. She can edit her own DNA to be stronger, faster, smarter. It could be the genetic breakthrough of the millennium, but only if she can figure out how it works . . . and to stay ahead of those who will stop at nothing to possess her secret. Pursued by Aspis, Darkome radicals and the government, her new abilities

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Book SynopsisThe awe-inspiring follow up to The War of the Worlds, which expands H.G. Wells'' classic story while remaining true to his vision,/h3>It has been 14 years since the Martians invaded England. The world has moved on, always watching the skies but content that we know how to defeat the Martian menace. Machinery looted from the abandoned capsules and war-machines has led to technological leaps forward. The Martians are vulnerable to earth germs. The Army is prepared.So when the signs of launches on Mars are seen, there seems little reason to worry. Unless you listen to one man, Walter Jenkins, the narrator of Wells'' book. He is sure that the Martians have learned, adapted, understood their defeat.He is right.Thrust into the chaos of a new invasion, a journalist - sister-in-law to Walter Jenkins - must survive, escape and report on the war.The Massacre of Mankind has begun.Read what everyone is saying about The MTrade ReviewStephen Baxter is arguably Wells's current representative on Earth. * BBC INSIDE SCIENCE, RADIO 4 *Stephen Baxter, a bright star in the British firmament of science fiction. * THE TIMES *I can't think of another living writer more deserving of the "official heir of Wells" tag than Baxter. * GUARDIAN *Admirers of Wells will find much to like in this affectionate and entertaining tribute. * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *Baxter has cleverly extrapolated Wells' themes and incorporates scientific theories of the day. * FINANCIAL TIMES *An ingenious work by a perceptive admirer. * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *It's exciting, tense, and more than big and clever enough to be something of a triumph. * SFX *A welcome expansion of the War Of The Worlds story, and one that delights. * SCIFINOW *A novel that's both an audacious exercise in alternative history... and a hugely exciting adventure. * SFX *A Terrific, powerful, hugely-readable novel. * STARBURST *Massacre is a well thought out and worthy extension of War. * THE BOOK BAG *The Shade of Wells must be applauding. * THE WALL STREET JOURNAL *An enjoyable novel which captures the style and flavour of the original. * THE SOCIALIST WORKER *

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The return of the famous shared-world superhero books created and edited by George R. R. Martin, author of A GAME OF THRONESWhen an alien virus struck the Earth decades ago, it spawned a new breed of superhuman men and women. Those with useful mutations were known as Aces, those with deformities as Jokers. Now, in New York's Jokertown, a savage street war has broken out between the Mafia and a gang known as the Shadow Fists. A courageous band of Aces must go underground to wage a war against the powers of the criminal netherworld. Edited by George R.R. Martin and including a story by him, this volume also features stories from Roger Zelazny, Pat Cadigan, Melinda M. Snodgrass and many more.

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Book SynopsisHumanity has been overrun, and has surrendered Earth. The enemy have infected us. The end is near...Trade ReviewRewarding and with a dash of interstellar politics that echo our own reality and would not be amiss in contemporary spy thrillers. * CRIME TIME *Exodus is full throttle, rip-roaring space opera, with a side helping of virtual reality and biotech. * POPULAR SCIENCE *Lamb shares Hamilton's ability to sustain a breakneck narrative where you always want to rush ahead and see what happens next. hugely promising * SFX *Roboteer hits the ground running...Lamb handles the politics without resorting to info dumps and in Will has created a sympathetic and well-rounded hero * The Guardian *Lamb's got so many ideas that they almost spill off the pages, and telling the story from both sides is a smart way of balancing the argument * Sci-Fi Now *Alex Lamb has crafted a terrific debut novel. If the subsequent volumes are as good as this one then Lamb will surely be prominent in many an SF fan's bookcase * Starburst Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA prescient and chilling climate change thriller set on the harsh landscape of Antarctica from one of the best science fiction writers of the present dayThe great geoengineering projects have failed.The world is still warming, sea levels are still rising, and the Antarctic Peninsula is home to Earth''s newest nation, with life quickened by ecopoets spreading across valleys and fjords exposed by the retreat of the ice.Austral Morales Ferrado, a child of the last generation of ecopoets, is a husky: an edited person adapted to the unforgiving climate of the far south, feared and despised by most of its population. She''s been a convict, a corrections officer in a labour camp, and consort to a criminal, and now, out of desperation, she has committed the kidnapping of the century. But before she can collect the ransom and make a new life elsewhere, she must find a place of safety amongst the peninsula''s forests and icy plateaus, and evade a criminal gang that Trade ReviewA thrilling chase-cum-travelogue through a beautifully depicted Antarctic wonderland... an impressively vast story in a short punchy novel. * GUARDIAN *It is one of the best post-climate change novels yet written - and one of McAuley's best books. * SFX MAGAZINE *A chase thriller set in late 21st-century Antarctica that combines elements of Jack London,J.G. Ballard and William Gibson. A significant contribution to writing about the anthropocene. * THE ECONOMIST *McAuley is a nature poet of imaginary lands . * LOCUS *A haunting and engaging piece of science fiction that is every bit as good a piece of writing as the best literary fiction. * POPULAR SCIENCE *Austral combines a solid science scenario with a taught thriller in an all too plausible future. For an SF reader, or indeed any reader that considers matters beyond the day after tomorrow, what is there not to like? * CONCATENATION *Austral is a beautifully written novel, which portrays in stark and stunning terms the new frontier of Antarctica. * FOR WINTERS NIGHTS *Deeply sad and tender. * James Bradley, author of Clade *Cli-fi transcendent.An exquisite human story set on an undiscovered continent of our near future.Austral may be McAuley's best yet. And the best near-future novel yet written.Paul McAuley has quickened science fiction. The future has changed. * Stephen Baxter *The excitement of a new country appearing right here on Earth, a real possibility that is quite fascinating in itself, is doubled down here by way of a thrilling kidnap-and-rescue plot that ranges across this beautiful new landscape, showing how we will soon be not only terraforming Earth, but finding new ways to take care of each other. It's a vivid example of science fiction at its best. -- Kim Stanley Robinson, author of RED MARSOh boy, it's a good one. A cracking setup; great writing; great pacing; a genuinely fresh narrative voice, and for once - hooray! - a male author writing a complex, first-person female narrator who is neither a broflake's wet-dream, nor a wooden stereotype. Austral is big, strong, powerful, and yet with real vulnerabilities; a flawed and relatable heroine with agency, feelings and spirit. And to cap it all, Austral is fat - genetically edited to be fat in a way that enhances her strength and endurance, and in the context of her race, is only ever mentioned as a positive. Halleluia. It can be done. -- Joanne Harris, author of THE GOSPEL OF LOKIBleakly beautiful, Austral is both a finely-honed character study and a powerful evocation of landscape and change, delivered with icy clarity. This is the kind of fiction we will need as the Anthropocene takes hold. -- Alastair ReynoldsA beautifully worked tale of post-environment collapse Antarctica, and a genetically-tweaked cold-adapted woman's attempt to escape. As ever McAuley writes superbly: his prose is always elegant without being showy, expressive and clear without ever being pedestrian. And he's capable of gorgeous descriptive vividness. Plus: rounded characterisation and a tremendous command of tension and pace . . . There's something deceptively simple about Austral: you read it quickly, and it lives in your head for a long time after. * Adam Roberts *

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Book SynopsisThe Scattered Pearls Belt is a string of habitats under tight military rule . . . where the powerful have become all too comfortable in their positions, and their corruption. But change is coming, with the arrival of Quynh: the mysterious and enigmatic Alchemist of Streams and Hills.To Minh, daughter of the ruling prefect of the Belt , Quynh represents a chance for escape. To Hoà, a destitute engineer, Quynh has a mysterious link to her own past . . . and holds a deeper, more sensual appeal. But Quynh has her own secret history, and a plan for the ruling class of the Belt. A plan that will tear open old wounds, shake the heavens, and may well consume her.A beautiful exploration of the power of love, of revenge, and of the wounds of the past, this fast-paced, heart-warming space opera is set against a backdrop of corruption, power and political scheming in the far reaches of the award-winning Xuya universe.

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Book SynopsisAn ancient fairytale, a contemporary heroine - and a cracking good read.Trade ReviewA haunting, engrossing story with a unique aura of its own. Alex Bell's remarkable debut is original, cleverly plotted and so well written the pages just flew by - Raymond Khoury on THE NINTH CIRCLE

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Stranger Things and Ready Player One, The God Game is a brilliantly plotted science-fiction thriller about a VR game in which the stakes are impossibly high: if you die in the game, you die in real lifeTrade ReviewA dark, edgy thriller * Tom Perrotta, New York Times bestselling author of The Leftovers *A gripping page-turner * Elif Batuman, author of Pulitzer Prize finalist The Idiot *Smart, propulsive and gripping, The God Game is an ambitious thriller and a terrifying examination of what could - and probably already is - happening in the world of artificial intelligence * Harlan Coben, #1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author *Like an episode of Black Mirror written by Stephen King. It reminded me in parts of Stand By Me meets Ready Player One - a wildly original thriller with heart * John Marrs *Tension and turmoil add up to high stakes suspense and a plot that will make you wonder if all this stuff is real. Danny Tobey absolutely kicks butt and takes names in this gem of a thriller * Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author *With a pace that is fast but not too fast . . . and a story that keeps the reader in a constant state of suspense, the book is sure to appeal to SF readers, gamers, and anyone who enjoys a well-plotted, well-told thriller * Booklist *Great characters, a novel concept, and scary set pieces. * KIRKUS *Fans of AI run amok should relish this one. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *Apt and modern * SciFiNow *Tobey brilliantly captures the immersive, claustrophobic atmosphere of the malign game and its addictive allure for a collection of flawed and needy characters * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisFrom Elizabeth Bear comes a near-future tale about a woman who was engineered for combat in a world that's running out of time.Trade ReviewA gritty and painstakingly well-informed peek inside a future we'd all better hope we don't get * Richard Morgan, author of Altered Carbon *A remarkable SF writer who's leaving many of her contemporaries in the dust * SFReviews *What Bear has done in Hammered is create a world that is all too plausible . . . an unnerving peek into a future humankind would be wise to avoid * SciFi.com *A tightly plotted page-turner. The noir universe [Bear] creates is as hard-edged as the people who inhabit it * SFRevu *A tense, involving and character-driven read . . . a doozy of a ride * New York Review of Science Fiction *A roller coaster of a good thriller * SF Crowsnest *

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Book SynopsisElizabeth Bear's near-future trilogy concludes with the fate of the world in the palm of Jenny Casey's artificially reconstructed hand . . .Trade ReviewA gritty and painstakingly well-informed peek inside a future we'd all better hope we don't get - Richard Morgan, author of Altered Carbon, on HammeredA remarkable SF writer who's leaving many of her contemporaries in the dust - SFReviewsWhat Bear has done in Hammered is create a world that is all too plausible . . . an unnerving peek into a future humankind would be wise to avoid - SciFi.com on Hammered

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Book SynopsisTHE MOST WANTED REBELS IN THE GALAXY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN SAVE ITAfter an ambush leaves the Novantae resistance in tatters, the survivors scatter across the galaxy. Wanted by two great empires, the bounty on any rebel''s head is enough to make a captor filthy rich. And the Seven Devils? Biggest score of them all. The Devils take refuge on Fortuna where Ariadne gets a message with unimaginable consequences: the Oracle has gone rogue. The AI has developed a way of mass programming citizens into mindless drones. The Oracle''s demand is simple: it wants its daughter Ariadne back at any cost. Time for an Impossible to Infiltrate mission: high chance of death, low chance of success. The Devils will have to use their unique skills, no matter the sacrifice, even if that means teaming up with old enemies. Their plan? Get to the heart of the Empire. Destroy the Oracle. Burn it all to the ground.Trade ReviewSeven Mercies is a worthy successor to its equally magnificent predecessor and an enthralling culmination to its sprawling yet intimate narrative. * Starburst Magazine *Lam and May's follow-up to Seven Devils further explores the characters while keeping the action and emotional stakes high. * Library Journal *A riveting plot and super-sharp dialogue * The Sunday Post *A fun and entertaining romp. * Tor.com *

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Book SynopsisThe fifth and final instalment in the GAP sequence: Stephen Donaldson''s fascinating universe peopled with characters of a passion and intensity only he could create.As the conflict between humankind and the Amnion heads for crisis, Morn Hyland, the cyborg Angus Thermopyle and the survivors on board the crippled starship Trumpet must return from deep space to Earth. Their mission is to prevent all-out war with the aliens, which would leave humanity to pay a terrible price.But the Amnion react with swift fury, and suddenly Earth is threatened with fiery destruction ...Trade ReviewDonaldson combines detailed character analyses and some perverse plot twists with the stuff of standard space opera, and this unusual mixture raises the story far above the average - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Book SynopsisThis Golden Age Masterwork contains ten selected short stories from the master of pulp, Murray Leinster, including the Hugo Award-winning novella "Exploration Team"

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Book SynopsisVakov Fukasawa is a Reaper. An elite soldier injected with a dangerous drug called stormtech: the DNA of a genocidal alien race, the Shenoi. It makes him stronger, faster, more aggressive. At a price.A price that, if the House of Suns cult isn''t stopped, all of humanity will have to pay.Vakov saved his estranged brother from the cult and killed their leader. Now they want his head on a spike, and they''re hunting him and his friends down to get it, while continuing their mission to awaken the Shenoi and plunge the galaxy into mindless violence and chaos. There''s a dangerous journey ahead, but Vakov and his misfit crew of eccentric aliens, troubled bounty hunters and rogue hackers will take any risk to stop the alien awakening. Only there''s one risk Vakov hasn''t shared: the one he himself poses. He got a terrifying glimpse of the Shenoi in the depths of interstellar space, and the violent nightmares he''s suffered since suggest their DNA isn''t just inside his bod

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Book SynopsisMore than a century has passed since Liliath crept into the empty sarcophagus of Saint Marguerite, fleeing the Fall of Ystara. But she emerges from her magical sleep still beautiful, looking no more than nineteen, and once again renews her single-minded quest to be united with her lover, Palleniel, the archangel of Ystara. A seemingly impossible quest, but Liliath is one of the greatest practitioners of angelic magic to have ever lived, a genius at making icons to summon angels, and supremely adept in forcing them to do her bidding.Liliath already knew that most of the inhabitants of Ystara died from the Ash Blood plague or were transformed into beastlings, and she herself led the survivors who fled into neighbouring Sarance. Now she learns that angels shun the Ystaran''s descendents. If they are touched by angelic magic, their blood will become ashes, or they will turn into beastlings. They are known as Refusers, and can only live the most lowly lives.But LiliatTrade ReviewGarth Nix sets the standard for Fantasy * Leigh Bardugo *A swashbuckling adventure . . . and the most original magic I've seen in years * Joe Abercrombie *Garth Nix is one of the best world-builders in fantasy. * BRANDON SANDERSON *Angels are called, and swords are swished and there are jealousies and romances galore in this riotous romp. * DAILY MAIL *An exciting adventure full of intrigue and action while portraying women in power in a refreshingly casual way. * KIRKUS REVIEW *Vivid characters, who jump off the pages. Each of the young people has his or her own interesting back stories, and their growing relationships, as they try to figure out just how they are connected, steals the show. But there are plenty of embellishments that enhance the more personal aspects of the story: scary beastlings, brutal battles, and the harnessed power of angelic magic . . . and kudos to fantasy stalwart Nix for a story with gender and racial equality, a fact that is shown but not discussed, because it shouldn't have to be. * Booklist *A unique magical system based on angel summoning and icons, deft characterization and an affectionate rendering of Dumas's style will delight fans of swashbuckling romance * Publishers Weekly *Angel Mage is wholly entertaining and likely to stay with readers for quite a while after they've finished. And it is simply wonderful to see so many bad-ass intelligent, talented, magical women prop up the world and threaten to take it down. * SHELF AWARENESS *

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Book SynopsisA thrill-packed adventure from the pen of SFWA GRAND MASTER Harry Harrison.Trade ReviewFast-moving and very funny - Evening StandardTruly breathtaking - Times Literary SupplementEndlessly inventive and studded end to end with laugh-out-loud hilarity. What Terry Pratchett has done for fantasy, Harry Harrison did resoundingly for SF. His Stainless Steel Rat storms the barricades of po-faced Golden Age SF with laughing gas grenades and rams an explosive charge right up its complacent rock-ribbed arse.

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Book SynopsisWhat happens when the internet comes alive? An SF thriller of terrifying possibilities.Trade ReviewWildly thought provoking - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review

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Book SynopsisTHE SAFETY OF INTECH''S RESIDENTS IS PARAMOUNT.INSURRECTION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.Tanta and Cole may have stopped the mass murder of InTech''s residents, but the cost was severe. Despite their efforts, Harlow 2.0 - the update to InTech''s mind-based operating system - fed out. Now its citizens are compliant zombies, and Tanta and her crew are trapped underground.All except for Fliss, who has no system to update. She alone can go outside, and it''s Fliss the crew are relying on to help get them out.For only then can they dismantle the damage Harlow 2.0 has done. If Tanta, Cole and InTech''s residents are to truly be free, it needs to be destroyed. But Tanta knows that task will put her on a collision course with the corporation that raised her, her oldest friends, and the woman who was once her soulmate.And this last mission might ask more of her than she''s able to give.''Deft satire'' New Scientist''A whip-smaTrade ReviewDeft satire * New Scientist *Immersive and intense . . . Thoroughly enjoyable in all its thrills, spills, twists and turns: I personally cannot wait for the next Inscape instalment from Carey * Buzz Mag *Like its predecessor, Outcast is a whip-smart science fiction thriller with real depth. Conspiracies, revelations and more tension than you could wave a big stick at ensure this series continues to deliver on every level. * The Eloquent Page *Outcast is a sleek, smart, fast paced and hugely enjoyable SF thriller with two really stand-out lead characters. We have a fascinating story exploring corporation's greed and ruthlessness, the power of mind control and the morality of doing the right thing. I raced through this and had a great time apart from knowing I've a while to wait for the next book. Firmly cementing Carey as a writer to watch in the genre. Strongly recommended! * Runalong The Shelves *Inscape came along at the beginning of 2021 and blew my socks right off! And now at the beginning of 2022 we have Outcast, the second one in the series. And guess what, that blew my socks off too * Fantasy Book Nerd *Breathtaking * The Eloquent Page *

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Book SynopsisThree extraordinary people in some most extraordinary times:It''s Dissolution Summer and as the United Kingdom prepares to break up into separate nations, the Counterculturals have gathered for a festival where everything''s allowed. Among them is a talented little brat called Fiorinda, rock and roll princess by birth, searching for her father, the legendary Rufus O''Niall. Instead, she finds Ax Preston, the softly spoken guitarman with bizarre delusions about saving the country from the dark ages. Together with Sage Pender, techno-wizard king of the lads, they join the pop-icon team that''s supposed to make the government look cool.Rock Legends. True Romance. A stunning fantasy about England.

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Book SynopsisIn the year 2038, the earth has been ravaged by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Retroviruses run rampant through humanity. Economic disaster has destabilised the world, the US has undergone a socialist revolution, and the balance of power has changed.Then the aliens arrive.With no clear understanding of the visitors'' intent, factions form, including the anti-alien group White Queen, working to turn humans against these extra-terrestrial tourists. Caught in the middle is Johnny Guglio, an American exile whose only fault was living near the landing site, and Braemar Wilson, a cutthroat reporter who will do whatever she needs to get ahead of the story. And for better or for worse, it seems being caught in the middle is the best place for them to uncover the truth.Winner of the 1991 James Tiptree Jr. Award, WHITE QUEEN is the first in Gwyneth Jones'' critically acclaimed Aleutian Trilogy.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect companion to Lauren Oliver's New York Times bestselling Delirium trilogy about forbidden love, revolution and the power to choose.Trade ReviewPraise for the Delirium Trilogy -- :Lauren Oliver is the rising star of young adult fiction * The Sunday Times *Amazing, unputdownable! * Grazia *Lauren Oliver masterfully creates new worlds and characters that leave the reader little choice but to be swept up and away. * New York Journal of Books *Lauren's Oliver's futuristic vision, set in an alternate but recognisable America, is chillingly realised. * Marie Claire *

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Book Synopsis''Great characters, fine writing, totally engrossing'' STEPHEN KING It might have been the end of days. Instead it was the beginning of something shockingly new.They called the comet Cain, after the astronomer who discovered it. It passed 500,000 miles from Earth. We were spared planetary destruction and granted a light show like no other.But, one year later, Earth span into the debris field left by the comet and a meteor storm struck. Roads, buildings and even a small town were annihilated.The meteors impacted heavily around the dying mining town of Northfall, Minnesota. It was the night of a mysterious double murder, the deed overshadowed by the discovery that the burning remains of the rock contained an unknown substance more precious than gold: the Ninth Metal. And with that discovery, everything changed.Benjamin Percy is an award-winning novelist, celebrated comic books writer and author of the WolTrade ReviewPraise for THE NINTH METAL * : *When Benjamin Percy publishes a novel, I have got to read that novel. THE NINTH METAL continues his streak of thrilling, incisive genre bending goodness. It's a sci-fi novel, a crime novel and a super-hero novel, too. Audacious and intelligent and exactly what I was dying to read * Victor LaValle, author of The Changeling *Ben Percy will serve you the impossible-and by the end of every chapter, you will believe it and feel it as truth. Whether you choose to think of him as the Elmore Leonard of rural Minnesota or the Stephen King of Science Fiction, Percy-with his extraordinary and unrelenting eye-dishes up humanity like some kind of otherworldly blue plate special, at once deeply familiar and wildly new * Margaret Stohl, No. 1 New York Times Bestselling Author *Take one part dystopia, one part sci-fi, two parts apocalypse, then ride them roughshod through a bleak and bloody western, and it still wouldn't get close to what Ben Percy does here, which is blow open the core of humanity's dark heart * Marlon James, Booker Prize winning author of Black Leopard, Red Wolf *The plot is dynamic, featuring multiple viewpoints as well as corporate malfeasance, spooky cults, and family drama. This sounds complicated, and it is, but all of these moving parts work together due to strong characterization, especially the cheery rookie police officer Stacie Toal. The action is vivid without being too graphic, contributing to an overall cinematic feel. While the novel comes to a satisfying conclusion, this is the first book in an anticipated trilogy * Booklist *Debris from a comet drops a fabulously valuable new metal . . . turning it into a bloody, brawling boomtown. Great characters, fine writing, totally engrossing * Stephen King *Wildly entertaining * Publishers Weekly *A propulsive thriller that drops plenty of hints about a bigger picture to be discovered. Fast-paced and gripping, this will make you eager for the next in the Comet Cycle * Sci-Fi Bulletin *Percy's novel is a clever amalgamation of speculative fiction and family drama, of supercharged characters and regular folk, encompassing various viewpoints in a highly cinematic narrative. * Star Tribune *There's mystery and intrigue and a heavy dose of the Midwest in this book, which bills itself as a modern gold rush * Science Friday *The engine of the novel, first of a trilogy, has a lot of moving parts but Percy keeps them all meshing nicely together with sinewy prose and strong characterisation * Financial Times *It's a fast-paced book, full of gritty drama, surprising revelations that don't stray too far into incredulity, complex character dynamics and multiple layers of plot. It was great fun to read and had a real meteoric impact * ParSec *Reads like Stephen King, mixed with Lee Child with a dash of Marvel's Jessica Jones. I couldn't put it down * Concatenation *There's mystery and intrigue and a heavy dose of the Midwest in this book, which bills itself as a modern gold rush * Science Friday *

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Book Synopsis''Totally engrossing'' - STEPHEN KING on The Ninth Metal THE FINAL BOOK IN PERCY''S CRITICALLY CLAIMED COMET CYCLE SERIES!The comet, Cain, came from beyond our solar system, its debris containing elements unknown. Now, in the isolated region of Fairbanks, Alaska, the skies shift and stretch as an interstellar dust cloud seeds the atmosphere. When a plane shudders its way through pulpy, swirling, bruise-shaped clouds, lit with sudden cracks of lightning, the sky opens and the aircraft vanishes...but only for a minute.When the flight lands, everyone on board and in the community will be changed forever. Chuck Bridges, a local DJ and conspiracy theorist, was on board and later reported dead to his family, but not before proclaiming that something inside the clouds was speaking to him. Now his son, Theo, must chase down answers to the mystery his father unlocked. He''ll find himself at odds with Sophie Chen, an agent with a shaTrade ReviewPercy offers intriguing theoretical physics, a penetrating analysis of human greed, and deeply sympathetic characters. This standout combination of science and psychology is sure to wow SF fans. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *An excellent continuation of the Comet Cycle * SciFi Bulletin *

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Book SynopsisThe explosive sequel to The Extraordinaries by USA Today bestselling author TJ Klune.Nick landed himself the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, but with new heroes arriving in Nova City it''s up to Nick and his friends to determine who is virtuous and who is villainous. Which is a lot to handle for a guy who just wants to finish his self-insert bakery AU fanfic.''Is it possible to fall in love with someone''s imagination? If so, consider me fully smitten. TJ Klune creates worlds where fear and threat can be conquered by kindness, and a tender, queer heart is more valuable than any weapon or power'' David Levithan''Flash Fire is a perfect sequel...Klune beautifully blends romance, action, coming-of-age, and real-world issues, all grounded in a protagonist that feels as real as your best friend'' Lauren Shippen, author of The Infinite Noise''Uproariously funny!'' Sophie Gonzales, author of Only Trade Review** Praise for TJ Klune **TJ Klune is a master storyteller * The Mary Sue *The Extraordinaries was the distraction I needed from a terrible world and I loved it for it. I definitely recommend it, if you're in the need for some good, light-hearted fun that doesn't take itself too seriously with just a dash of angst * Wild Heart Reads *The most down-to-earth book about superheroes I've ever read. I laughed, I cried, and I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it * Mason Deaver, bestselling author of I Wish You All the Best *This razor-sharp book is half love letter to fandom, half self-aware satire, and wholly lovable * Sophie Gonzales, author of Perfect on Paper *Klune plays with superhero genre tropes and fan-fiction clichés with the skill of a true fan - completely aware of their ridicuousness but in love with them anyway * Kirkus Reviews *Klune's signature mix of humor and heart-shredding angst make this another unforgettable reading experience. I can't wait to read it again, and again * The Novel Approach on Ravensong *If you're looking for a book to read and then reread several times before the next Spider-Man movie releases, this will be perfect * BuzzFeed *Hand to teens involved in fandom, writers of fanfiction, lovers of superhero stories, and queer romance readers * School Library Journal *TJ Klune is doing powerful work that inspires and impresses. He is a gift to our troubled times, and his novels are a radiant treat to all who discover them * Locus *

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Book SynopsisEver since Martin Banks and his fellow computer geeks discovered that reality is just a computer program to be happily hacked, they've been jaunting back and forth through time, posing as medieval wizards and having the epic adventures that other nerds can only dream of having. But even in their wildest fantasies, they never expected to end up at the mercy of the former apprentice whom they sent to prison for gross misuse of magic and all-around evil behavior.Who knew that the vengeful Todd would escape, then conjure a computer game packed with wolves, wenches, wastelands, and assorted harrowing hazardsand trap his hapless former friends inside it? Stripped of their magic powers, the would-be wizards must brave terrifying dangers, technical glitches, and one another's company if they want to see Medieval Englandand their favorite sci-fi movies on VHSever again. Can our heroes survive this magical mystery torture? Or will it only lead them and their pointy hats into more peril

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Book SynopsisFirstborns rule society. Secondborns are the property of the government. Thirdborns are not tolerated. Long live the Fates Republic.On Transition Day, the second child in every family is taken by the government and forced into servitude. Roselle St. Sismode’s eighteenth birthday arrives with harsh realizations: she’s to become a soldier for the Fate of Swords military arm of the Republic during the bloodiest rebellion in history, and her elite firstborn mother is happy to see her go.Televised since her early childhood, Roselle’s privileged upbringing has earned her the resentment of her secondborn peers. Now her decision to spare an enemy on the battlefield marks her as a traitor to the state.But Roselle finds an ally—and more—in fellow secondborn conscript Hawthorne Trugrave. As the consequences of her actions ripple throughout the Fates Republic, can Roselle create a destiny of her own? Or will her Fate override everything

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Book SynopsisRoselle faces a mind-reeling showdown with the deep state agent controlling her psyche in the Wall Street Journal bestselling conclusion to the Secondborn series. Roselle St. Sismode is many things: victim of a conspiracy, unwilling host of an ever-evolving mind algorithm, spy for a rebel army, and heir to the Fate of Swords. As a warrior, she’s also the anticipated main event at the Secondborn Trials. When the opening ceremonies erupt in chaos, Roselle is abducted by a sadistic agent with a diabolical plan: transform Roselle into a mind-controlled assassin to topple society. But a rogue scientist has implanted Roselle with a genius technology that is far more powerful. It renders her untouchable. Faster. Stronger. And maybe immortal. With her enhanced abilities come the highest stakes yet, as Roselle confronts shifting realities at every turn as well as her own mother’s stunning betrayal. Racing against time with a determined resistance group, can Roselle overthrow the forces of destruction and reclaim the most valuable of commodities—her humanity?

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Book SynopsisIt has been almost three years since a mysterious natural disaster left the Earth submerged beneath the oceans, and still the sole survivors cling desperately to life aboard their flotilla. When they learn of a secret government facility located deep below the surface, an expedition party headed by Jim, the group leader, and Eva, a former cop, sets out in the hope of uncovering the truth about their drowned planet. But when the ragtag submarine crew, riven by discord, united in distrust, finally arrives at the underground bunker, the scene that awaits them offers more questions than answers. What happened here to incite such shocking acts of violence? Who is responsible—and where are they now? Jim and Eva are determined to follow the trail through to its dangerous end. But the farther they venture, the more sinister their world becomes. How high up does the conspiracy really go?

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Book SynopsisShe’s felt it before…the fear of losing control. And it’s happening again. In the near future, an aggressive and terrifying new form of dementia is affecting victims of all ages. The cause is unknown, and the symptoms are disturbing. Dr. Gillian Ryan is on the cutting edge of research and desperately determined to find a cure. She’s already lost her husband to the disease, and now her young daughter is slowly succumbing as well. After losing her funding, she is given the unique opportunity to expand her research. She will travel with a NASA team to a space station where the crew has been stricken with symptoms of a similar inexplicable psychosis—memory loss, trances, and violent, uncontrollable impulses. Crippled by a secret addiction and suffering from creeping paranoia, Gillian finds her journey becoming a nightmare as unexplainable and violent events plague the mission. With her grip weakening on reality, she starts to doubt her own innocence. And she’s beginning to question so much more—like the true nature of the mission, the motivations of the crew, and every deadly new secret space has to offer. Merging thrilling science-fiction adventure with mind-bending psychological suspense, Wall Street Journal bestselling author Joe Hart explores both the vast mysteries of outer space and the even darker unknown that lies within ourselves.

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Book SynopsisThe SFWA Grand Master’s award-winning collection “combines a richly textured multicultural background with incisive storytelling” (Library Journal). In Skin Folk, with works ranging from science fiction to Caribbean folklore, passionate love to chilling horror, Nalo Hopkinson is at her award-winning best, spinning tales like “Precious,” in which the narrator spews valuable coins and gems from her mouth whenever she attempts to talk or sing. In “A Habit of Waste,” a self-conscious woman undergoes elective surgery to alter her appearance; days later she’s shocked to see her former body climbing onto a public bus. In “The Glass Bottle Trick,” the young protagonist ignores her intuition regarding her new husband’s superstitions—to horrifying consequences. Hopkinson’s unique pacing and vibrant dialogue sets a steady beat for stories that illustrate why she received the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Entertaining, challenging, and alluring, Skin Folk is not to be missed. Praise for Nalo Hopkinson and the World Fantasy Award–winning Skin Folk “Hopkinson’s prose is vivid and immediate.” —The Washington Post Book World “An important new writer.” —The Dallas Morning News “Her descriptions of ordinary people finding themselves in extraordinary circumstances ring true, the result of her strong evocation of place and her ear for dialect.” —Publishers Weekly “A marvelous display of Nalo Hopkinson’s talents, skills and insights into the human conditions of life, especially of the fantastic realities of the Caribbean . . . Everything is possible in her imagination.” —Science Fiction ChronicleTrade Review“Hopkinson’s prose is vivid and immediate.” —The Washington Post Book World “An important new writer.” —The Dallas Morning News “Caribbean folklore informs many of the 15 stories, ranging from fabulist to mainstream, in this literary first short-fiction collection from Nebula and Hugo awards-nominee Hopkinson. Her descriptions of ordinary people finding themselves in extraordinary circumstances ring true, the result of her strong evocation of place and her ear for dialect. . . . Though marketed as science fiction, this collection should hand-sell to fans of multicultural fiction.” —Publishers Weekly “This 15-story collection is a marvelous display of Nalo Hopkinson’s talents, skills and insights into the human conditions of life, especially of the fantastic realities of the Caribbean. She displays the complexities of the seven deadly sins . . . and perhaps those of the seven deadly virtues. Everything is possible in her imagination.” —Science Fiction Chronicle

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the thrilling science-fiction epic Children of Time, winner of the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award.They thought we were safe. They were wrong. Four years ago, two girls went looking for monsters on Bodmin Moor. Only one came back. Lee thought she’d lost Mal, but now she’s miraculously returned. But what happened that day on the moors? And where has she been all this time? Mal’s reappearance hasn’t gone unnoticed by MI5 officers either, and Lee isn’t the only one with questions. Julian Sabreur is investigating an attack on top physicist Kay Amal Khan. This leads Julian to clash with agents of an unknown power – and they may or may not be human. His only clue is grainy footage, showing a woman who supposedly died on Bodmin Moor. Dr Khan’s research was theoretical; then she found cracks between our world and parallel Earths. Now these cracks are widening, revealing extraordinary creatures. And as the doors crash open, anything could come through.'Inventive, funny and engrossing, this book lingers long after you close it' - Tade Thompson, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of RosewaterAdrian Tchaikovsky is the author of Children of Time, Children of Ruin and many other novels, novellas and short stories. Children of Time won the Arthur C. Clarke award in its 30th anniversary year. Trade ReviewFull of sparking, speculative invention . . . The Doors of Eden is a terrific timeslip / lost world romp in the grand tradition of Turtledove, Hoyle, even Conan Doyle. If you liked Primeval, read this book -- Stephen BaxterThe Doors of Eden shows a combination of tight, evocative prose combined with erudition. In a story whose scope is the broad canvas of the history of all life in the universe, Tchaikovsky manages to zoom in on human moments without breaking a sweat. Inventive, funny and engrossing, this book lingers long after you close it -- Tade ThompsonWhat a ride . . . talks like big-brained science fiction and runs like a fleet-footed political thriller -- John ScalziWith The Doors of Eden, Tchaikovsky has created a fantastic and highly imaginative new genre: evolution SF -- Peter F. HamiltonUnlike anything I've read in a very long time, and all the better for it . . . Tchaikovsky is clearly at the top of his game right now -- James OswaldAs all right thinking people know, Adrian is the best . . . But this, my friends, is the best of the best -- Ian McDonaldTchaikovsky’s world-building is some of the best in modern sci-fi and now he has made an enchanting multiverse of parallel Earths -- New ScientistAll underpinned by great ideas. And it is crisply modern – but with the sensibility of classic science fiction. Asimov or Clarke might have written this -- Stephen Baxter on Children of RuinYou know you’re in for a ride. . . This book thoroughly engaged me. Children of Ruin is a humdinger of a book I enjoyed immensely -- Neal Asher on Children of RuinIf you only ever take one book recommendation from me, take this one. It is an astounding book. The breadth of Adrian's imagination is ASTONISHING. I literally cannot stop telling people about it -- RJ Barker on Children of RuinBreathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers -- Gareth Powell on Children of RuinBrilliant science fiction and far-out world-building -- James McAvoy on Children of TimeChildren of Time is a joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human -- Patrick Ness on Children of TimeAddictively brilliant! -- John Gwynne on The Tiger and the Wolf

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1909, Beatrice the Sixteenth: Being the Personal Narrative of Mary Hatherley, M.B., Explorer and Geographer is the debut feminist science fiction novel by Irene Clyde. Mary Harthereley is lost. After being struck by a camel’s hoof, Mary finds herself thrown into an alternate plane of existence some five hundred years in the past. Discovered by people of the local province, she is escorted into the Kingdom of Armeria ruled by Queen Beatrice the Sixteenth. Welcomed by the inhabitants, Mary is introduced to a rather progresive society wherein there is no gender, divorce or carnivores and is taken in by their concept of “conjux,”—lifetime partnerships based on romantic love and companionship rather than sex. Finding herself growing fond of the kingdom, Mary uncovers deception and plot as a war threatens to upend all that the Armerias hold dear. Professionally typeset with a beautifully designed cover, this edition of Beatrice the Sixteenth is a classic of feminist science fiction literature, reimagined for modern readers.

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