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The Lionwolf scrolls conclude in this epic fantasy adventure set in a snowbound world where redemption and revenge collide The powerful mage Thryfe gropes through the steel-white snows that have covered the huddles of ruins, abandoned villages, and casualties of the White Death. He is searching for the stunning witch Jemhara, but his magic mirror can only see her past, not her present, and the sorcerer fears that a mad force abroad on the ice-locked earth is keeping them apart. At last, he finds Jemhara in the rebuilt town of Kandexa. Their impassioned and bizarre love rekindles, resulting in the birth of a boy with red hair, blue eyes, and golden skin: He is Lionwolf reborn from the land of the dead. But the vicious dark lord Zzth has been burning under the sea, waiting for the moment of his inevitable return, planning for mutilation, destruction, and frigid ruin. Views: 148
From Publishers WeeklyFirst published to wide acclaim in Russia in 1996, the intriguing first Labyrinths of Echo novel introduces readers to protagonist, narrator and pseudonymous author Max Frei. Max, a self-described classic loser, stays up all night and sleeps during the day. His erratic sleeping habits turn out to be a blessing when a dream brings him to Echo, an otherworldly city inhabited by magicians, where he is named the Nocturnal Representative of the Most Venerable Head of the Minor Secret Investigative Force. After training to shed his terrestrial habits, Max's investigative intuition quickly makes him one of the city's most revered—and feared—men, and soon he's taking on midget murderers and rescuing bewitched sea captains. Gannon's translation preserves the book's quintessentially Russian wit and makes it easily accessible to English-speaking fantasy mystery fans. (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review"The whole effect is like a collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Gilbert and Sullivan-cheerfully noirish and disturbingly satirical." - Library Journal "I've never looked forward to the publication of a book more than I did Max Frei's The Stranger...a fantastic book."-_January Magazine_ "_The Stranger_ is a hugely enjoyable mix of madcap mirth and fantastical adventure." -_California Literary Review_
Views: 148
It's been nearly 200 years since the collapse of the Confederacy, the last government to claim humanity's colonies. So when signals come in revealing lost human colonies that could shift the power balance, the race is on between the Caliphate ships and a small team of scientists and mercenarys. But what awaits them all is a threat far beyond the scope of any human government. Views: 148
There is a song you dare not sing - a melody that you dare not play, a concerto that you dare not hear: It is called a Song of Power. It is a gateway to another world - a gate that will lock behind you as you pass, barring you from the Earth forever. Resist at all cost. For it is a world of great danger and great beauty - and it is not good to be human in the Realm of the Sidhe. Views: 148
7 remarkable stories, newly revised for this collection, showcase the award-winning talents of one of the 21st century's finest writers of speculative fiction Whether penning science fiction (Moving Mars, Queen of Angels, War Dogs), alternate history (the Mongoliad series with Neal Stephenson), or fantasy (Sleepside, The Infinity Concerto), Greg Bear tells stories that engage the reader's intellect while gripping the imagination. His short fiction is no exception. Beyond the Farthest Suns takes readers to the far end of the universe and the borders of scientific understanding. The volume includes: · "The Way of All Ghosts," set in the bestselling universe of Eon and Eternity; · "The Venging," which takes a group of desperate fugitives fleeing alien dominance down into the awesome gateway of a black hole; · "The Fall of the House of Escher," in which a... Views: 148
Archaeologist Brandon Thackeray and his rival, Miles "Klicks" Jordan,
use his time-ship to travel back to the age of the dinosaurs and
discovers the truth about their extinction and uncover a truth beyond
the scope of any scientific theory involving some mysterious blue
creatures from Mars. Views: 148
Moving Mars is a story of human courage and love set within the greater saga of a planetary liberation movement. Mars is a colonial world, governed by corporate interests on Earth. The citizens of Mars are hardworking, but held back by their lack of access to the best education, and the desire of the Earthly powers to keep the best new inventions for themselves. The young Martians -- the second and third generations born on Mars -- have little loyalty to Earth, and a strong belief that their planet can be independent. The revolution begins slowly, but will grow in power over decades of political struggle until it becomes irresistible. Told through the eyes of an extraordinary character, Casseia Majumdar, a daughter of one of Mars' oldest, most conservative Binding Multiples, Moving Mars is Greg Bear's brilliant conception of the human colonization of the red planet, with lovingly painted details and a grand historical sweep, embellishing an audacious scientific speculation. Greg Bear sold his first short story, at the age of fifteen, to Robert Lowndes's Famous Science Fiction. Since then, he has written some twenty novels. A winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards, Bear is married to Astrid Anderson, and they, and their two children, live near Seattle, Washington. A Hugo Award NomineeWinner of the Nebula Award for Best NovelShe is a daughter of one of Mars's oldest, most conservative Binding Multiples—the extended family syndicates that colonized the red planet. But Casseia Majumdar has a dream of an independent Mars, a notion born in the student protests of 2171. During those brief days of idealism she had forged bonds of friendship and hatred that set the stage for an astonishing revolution on Mars.Charles Franklin was also caught up in those days of passion and youth. A brilliant physicist, and Casseia's first love, Franklin is so dedicated to science that he seeks to link his mind to the most advanced artificial intelligence in the solar system. Doing so will cost him a lifetime with the lovely Casseia, but will teach him the secrets of space and time. “Nebula Award winner Bear has long been known for novels of stunning scientific extrapolation and high literary quality . . . This new novel of Mars is his finest yet. Bear follows the unlikely career of Casseia Majumdar of the Majumdar Binding Multiple (a sort of cross between an extended family and a corporation) as she goes from lukewarm student activist to president of the fledgling Federal Republic of Mars. Beginning as a coming-of-age story, with Casseia encountering corruption as well as courage and determination in a student uprising, the narrative then becomes a fine, taut and realistic political novel, as Casseia travels to Earth as part of an ambassadorial retinue, and later serves as second in leader Ti Sandra's push for Martian unification. As conflict heats up between upstart Mars and Mother Earth, Bear introduces a wildly intriguing hard-science idea, and the novel spins into a tense science fiction thriller. Bear offers a fast-moving plot; realistic, appealing characters; a vividly imagined future Earth awash in 'tailored microbes,' nanotechnology and dirty dealing; and the most believable evocation of the workings of politics and science in any recent science fiction novel.”—Publishers Weekly "Bear's Mars is one of the most vividly realized of the recent body of areological novels . . . He has the gift of implying a whole background with high-resolution but subtly-signaled background details."—Locus"No one spins out ideas like Greg Bear. He explores the very frontiers of possibility, weaving tapestries of wonder. And yet, all of Bear's ideas, all the adventure and action, don't half compare to his finest creation yet—that treasure of a Martian, Casseia Majumdar!"—David Brin"Great characters, science, cultures, action. Moving Mars brings together all the things that make science fiction wonderful."—Vernor Vinge“In 2171, Mars inhabitants are grouped in extended family businesses that sometimes compete, sometimes cooperate, and resist the imposition of a central authority. But Earth is forever trying to impose its will upon Mars; and so young politician-to-be Casseia of the old and powerful Majumdar family—following a brief and painful affair with ambitious, brilliant physicist Charles Franklin—will travel to Earth with her uncle Bithras to negotiate with the powers that be. Unexpectedly, the talks fizzle; worse, Casseia learns that Earth has infected Mars's artificial-intelligence 'thinkers' with virus-like 'evolvons.' With Earth now openly hostile, Mars must present a united front, and Casseia is elected Vice President. She realizes that what has alarmed Earth are the discoveries of Charles Franklin: his physics of 'descriptors' allow the alteration or 'tweaking' of matter and energy within the absolute-zero Bell Continuum. In practical terms: instantaneous communications, the ability to fry remote targets instantaneously, even the moving of entire planets! Earth attacks by activating the evolvons that sabotage Mars's thinkers, producing chaos. Charles Franklin's team retaliates, and the attack ceases. Clearly, though, this is just the first phase of a struggle that must result in Mars's subjugation—or its leaving the solar system altogether.”—Kirkus Reviews“Revolution is not a new concept as colonies grow more independent from their mother countries. Bear, author of The Wind from a Burning Woman, uses this scenario as the backdrop for Moving Mars with great success. Combining hard science with colonial naiveté, he weaves an epic story of Mars, the colony, against the technologically superior but culturally remote mother Earth. When a staggering scientific breakthrough occurs on Mars, the 'Terries' scurry to regain control of their Martian 'Rabbit.' The chaotic political conditions of the Martian republic do not enhance the colonists position, and their leaders find themselves up against more than they bargained for. Frantically trying to gain a base of support from their constituents, they are backed against the wall by the theft of their technology by Earth. Forced to make a monumental decision that changes the future of Mars forever, the colonial leaders embark upon the ride of their lives. This production is well narrated and effective.”—Roxanna Herrick, Washington University Library, St. Louis, Library Journal“Nebula Award winner Bear has long been known for novels of stunning scientific extrapolation and high literary quality from his early novel Blood Music to his more recent Queen of Angels. This new novel of Mars is his finest yet. Bear follows the unlikely career of Casseia Majumdar of the Majumdar Binding Multiple (a sort of cross between an extended family and a corporation) as she goes from lukewarm student activist to president of the fledgling Federal Republic of Mars. Beginning as a coming-of-age story, with Casseia encountering corruption as well as courage and determination in a student uprising, the narrative then becomes a fine, taut and realistic political novel, as Casseia travels to Earth as part of an ambassadorial retinue, and later serves as second in leader Ti Sandra's push for Martian unification. As conflict heats up between upstart Mars and Mother Earth, Bear introduces a wildly intriguing hard-science idea, and the novel spins into a tense science fiction thriller. Bear offers a fast-moving plot; realistic, appealing characters; a vividly imagined future Earth awash in 'tailored microbes,' nanotechnology and dirty dealing; and the most believable evocation of the workings of politics and science in any recent science fiction novel."—Publishers Weekly Views: 148
Genevieve has secrets that no one knows. In Rome she can be whoever she wants to be. Her neighbors aren't nosy; her Italian is passable; the shopkeepers and restaurant owners now see her as a local, and they let her be. It's exactly what she wants. One morning, after getting groceries, she returns to her 500-year-old Trastevere apartment. She climbs to the very top of the staircase, the steps narrowing the higher she goes. When she gets to her door, she puts down her bags and pushes the key into the lock . . . . . . and the door swings open. It's unlocked. Sometimes she doesn't lock it because Rome is pretty safe. But Genevieve knows she locked the door this morning. She has no doubt. What if someone is in her apartment, waiting for her: She should leave, call the police. But she doesn't. Instead, she goes in. The apartment is empty, and exactly as she left it . . . except for the box on her kitchen table. A box that definitely wasn't there this morning. A... Views: 147
Bill Waltham has a sneaking suspicion that a few important details were purposely withheld from him when he receives his assignment to the planet Dilbia. At first, the project - to teach the planet's bear-like inhabitants basic agricultural skills - seems a straightforward, though boring, undertaking for a young engineer on the rise. But Bill immediately senses a very keen hostility from the Dilbians toward interfering humans. And in trying to solve a major crisis on the planet, he finds himself involved in a knock-down, drag-out brawl that has all the undertones of a David-and-Goliath battle revisited. Views: 147
