A collection of early Asimov short stories, showcasing the development of the author's oeuvre. The title comes from Asimov's breakthrough short story.
CONTENTS:
Nightfall - Astounding, Sept 1941
Green Patches - Galaxy, Nov 1950
Hostess - Galaxy, May 1951
Breeds There a Man . . . ? - Astounding, June 1951
C-Chute - Galaxy, Oct 1951
In a Good Cause - "New Tales of Space & Time", 1951
What If--- - Fantastic, Summer 1952
Sally - Fantastic, June 1953
Flies - F&SF, June 1953
Nobody Here But--- - Star SF #1, 1953
It's Such a Beautiful Day - Star SF #3, 1954
Strikebreaker - Original SF Stories, Jan 1957
Insert Knob A in Hole B - F&SF, Dec 1957
The Up-to-Date Sorcerer - F&SF, July 1958
Unto the Fourth Generation - F&SF, April 1959
What is this Thing Called Love? - Amazing, March 1961
The Machine That Won the War - F&SF, Oct 1961
My Son, the Physicist - Scientific American, Feb 1962
Eyes Do More Than See - F&SF, April 1965
Segregationist - Abbottempo, Book 4, 1967 Views: 627
Delorean Harper has a gym bag full of cash, a new identity, a cabin on the Oregon coast, and a beautiful girlfriend. He also has a small army of assassins on his trail. What his hunters don’t know is that Delorean had his first encounter with a killer when he was twelve years old, and he hasn't forgotten how to take care of himself in a fight to the death.The second in the Delorean Harper series. Delorean Harper has a gym bag full of cash, a new identity, a cabin on the Oregon coast, and a beautiful girlfriend. He also has a small army of assassins on his trail. What his hunters don’t know is that Delorean had his first encounter with a killer when he was twelve years old, and he hasn't forgotten how to take care of himself in a fight to the death.Rejected by the government witness security program for being dangerous and unstable, Delorean is on his own against an El Paso drug cartel who wants to punish him for testifying against one of their top lieutenants. Delorean gets assistance from a sympathetic federal marshal, Eric Fullmeyer, who offers Delorean a new identity and place to live if he'll agree to leave town without starting a shooting war with the cartel. After a heated confrontation in an El Paso bar with a pair of cartel killers, Delorean agrees to Eric Fullmeyer's offer, and Delorean escapes to a remote Oregon beach town to shake the cartel from his trail. He isn't there long before he's asked by Eric Fullmeyer to protect Bonnie, a beautiful woman who has her own problems with the cartel. Keeping her safe isn't easy - the cartel's relentless hunters know Delorean's moves so well that he suspects that the federal marshals are leaking information about his location. As professional killers track Delorean and Bonnie through snowy forests, in small towns, and on isolated beaches, Delorean is forced to become as ruthless as the cartel assassins just to stay alive. This isn't the first time he's had to defend himself against hired killers, though, and he knows how to fight dirty to keep himself and his girlfriend alive.Eventually Delorean's luck runs out when he's ambushed on a secluded beach and Bonnie is kidnapped by the cartel. She's taken back to El Paso and held for ransom. The price of her freedom: Delorean's life. If he wants her back, Delorean's going to have to go to war with the cartel on their home turf of El Paso. Delorean likes his odds. He knows that the most dangerous creation of society is the man who has nothing left to lose. Views: 627
In a fantasy world, a journal is found describing events either real or myth about a nation known only as the Illistarta and how they came to be forgotten. A man once known as Quillis Olgatin is haunted by his guilty secret.Several millennia ago a war raged between the factions of dragonkind. With their world ravaged, the Kaldean Alliance forged the Amulet of Draconic Control and the Tethering Stone, and banished their foes other realms, saving Kalda from utter destruction. Fearing the power of the Amulet, the survivors secreted it away. But now knowledge of the Amulet has resurfaced—and in the wrong hands, war could erupt anew. Over the last thousand years, the humans of Kalda have regressed to a medieval realm; magical objects are scarce and outlawed in certain Kingdoms. Though mages are abundant magical items are precious and often tip the balance of power. Thirsty for power, the necromancers of Soroth often send expeditions to the far reaches of Kalda. On one such search to a remote island ancient texts are discovered detailing the ancient dragon war and the Amulet of Draconic Control. Wary of the find, a warrior must decide whether to deliver them to the necromancers or ally with an old friend–the fate of Kalda rests in his hands. An epic tale in a far off mystical land, The Dragons’ Legacy will send you on a riveting ride fraught with adventure, intrigue and wonder. Views: 626
The year is 2075 AD and India is in control of much of England and Wales. In an act of unbelievable treachery (at least from London’s point of view) the Irish government has sided with New Delhi. England and Wales are being rapidly cleared for Indian colonization and only a few thousand English rebels remain in the mountainous areas.The year is 2075 AD and India is in control of much of England and Wales. In an act of unbelievable treachery (at least from London’s point of view) the Irish government has sided with New Delhi. England and Wales are being rapidly cleared for Indian colonization and only a few thousand English rebels remain in the mountainous areas. These rebels are difficult to flush out and the Indian military is using a mix of Indian commanders and Irish “Hunters” to find the remaining Englishmen. Amitabh Gavaskar is the Indian Military Governor of North West England. Most of his area is clear but there is one valley in the English Lake District that has been giving odd readings on scans done by automated skimmers flying over the area. Amitabh Gavaskar has five brothers serving in the Indian military and his youngest brother Rahul has just been assigned to the North West England district. Rahul Gavaskar’s first assignment will be to take two of Amitabh Gavaskar’s best Irish Hunters and search the valley using a skimmer. They are to land and search the valley on foot if necessary. Amitabh Gavaskar has promised his father faithfully that he will take good care of young Rahul and this should be a good first assignment for him. Rahul Gavaskar’s skimmer lands in the valley and he and the two Irish Hunters exit the vehicle and begin to search the valley. Unbeknownst to them a Chinese weapons system developed in 2047 and capable of firing obsidian ball bearings at a speed of 4,000 kilometers an hour has detected the approach of the men. The Chinese system is currently in standby mode but if it is activated by any of the Englishmen in the valley then Amitabh Gavaskar will have some very bad news to give to his father. An excerpt from “England is the Property of New Delhi” is below:“That tree is artificial,” Gavaskar yelled. “Stop her, she’s almost there.” Dempsey threw himself into the air and came down bodily on top of the woman. He grabbed her wrist with his hand but he was too late, her fingertips touched the tree. “Fingerprint ID confirmed, awaiting your command,” the tree said or to be more precise a Chinese computer buried one hundred and seventy meters below the surface relayed a voice command to the artificial tree. Shane Jennings had reached the woman too and he grabbed hold of her ankles and pulled her away from the tree. Dempsey turned her over and clamped his hand over Emmeline Sanderson’s mouth. She fought Dempsey turning her head from side to side and biting the Irishman as he fought to keep his hand over her mouth. Gavaskar saw blood starting to seep between Dempsey’s fingers. “Weapons system is active, awaiting your verbal command,” the artificial tree said. It spoke first in English and then repeated the words in Mandarin Chinese. Views: 623
A new near-future science fiction novella by John Scalzi, one of the most popular authors in modern SF. Unlocked traces the medical history behind a virus that will sweep the globe and affect the majority of the world’s population, setting the stage for Lock In, the next major novel by John Scalzi.
Free to read here:
http://www.tor.com/2014/05/13/unlocke...
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied. Views: 623
Diane Ackerman's lusciously written grand tour of the realm of the senses includes conversations with an iceberg in Antarctica and a professional nose in New York, along with dissertations on kisses and tattoos, sadistic cuisine and the music played by the planet Earth. "Delightful . . . gives the reader the richest possible feeling of the worlds the senses take in."--The New York Times. (Literature--Classics & Contemporary) Views: 622
In the twenty-third century pioneers have escaped the crowded earth for life in self-sustaining orbital colonies. One of the colonies, Rotor, has broken away from the solar system to create its own renegade utopia around an unknown red star two light-years from Earth: a star named Nemesis. Now a fifteen-year-old Rotorian girl has learned of the dire threat that nemesis poses to Earth's people--but she is prevented from warning them. Soon she will realize that Nemesis endangers Rotor as well. And so it will be up to her alone to save both Earth and Rotor as--drawn inexorably by Nemesis, the death star--they hurtle toward certain disaster. Views: 622
Robot Dreams collects 21 of Isaac Asimov's short stories spanning the body of his fiction from the 1940s to the 1980s----exploring not only the future of technology, but the future of humanity's maturity and growth. From the Bestselling Author of I, Robot “His name is synonymous with all that is best in science fiction.”—The New York Times In a career spanning nearly fifty years, Isaac Asimov—science writer, historian, and futurist—accurately predicted how technological breakthroughs would be developed and utilized, years before they became reality. His foresight envisioned calculators, computerized cars, and advances in the field of robotics in such popular books as I, Robot; Robots and Empire; and The Robots of Dawn. Robot Dreams spans the body of his fiction from the 1940s to the mid-1980s, featuring all of the classic Asimovian themes—from the scientific puzzle and the extraterrestrial thriller to the psychological discourse—presented by the author in an introductory essay. In addition to the title story (a Locus poll winner, and Hugo and Nebula Award finalist), this collection features several of Asimov’s robot tales. A robopsychologist must outwit a machine determined to stay hidden in “Little Robot Lost;” a woman’s talent for “Light Verse” overshadows her true accomplishments with her robot servants; and “The Last Question” presented to computer after computer over a hundred billion years may remain forever unanswered. “Classic science fiction . . . includes many of Asimov’s best.”—Chronicle “The collection gathers 20 of Asimov’s greatest (with Asimov, the word ‘great’ is no mere hyperbole), older short stories, plus one new tale written especially for this book, and an important essay which opens the book.”—Starlog Views: 621
Dr. Carl Sagan takes us on a great reading adventure, offering his vivid and startling insight into the brain of man and beast, the origin of human intelligence, the function of our most haunting legends--and their amazing links to recent discoveries.
"A history of the human brain from the big bang, fifteen billion years ago, to the day before yesterday...It's a delight."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
From the Paperback edition. Views: 620
A powerful story about a man's discovery of faith and identity after his escape from Nazi persecution in Poland, new to Penguin Modern ClassicsFrom the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Penitent is the story of Joseph Shapiro, a disillusioned and aimless man who discovers a purpose to his life through the Jewish faith. Following his journey as he flees Nazi persecution in Poland in 1939, through wealth and a failed marriage in New York, and on to Israel, it charts his transformation from worldly confusion to spiritual certainty in orthodox Judaism. This powerful work is an examination of the nature of faith, the question of identity and the notion of how to lead a good life. Views: 620
"In (Tower Zero) as in his other stories, Nicholls introduces the drug of compulsion - a prescription you cannot get over the counter." (Bruce Pascoe, Editor, 'Australian Short Stories' No. 53). Fifteen short stories to remind us that no life, whether rough or fastidious, is without its extraordinary moments.Piper Justice, 38 years old with gorgeous green eyes and stunning black hair, is miserable. She is supposed to be on holidays, her basement has just flooded and she is feeling unusually lonely and lost.Rob Mossman, 41 years old with a great physique and a gentle nature, is in mourning. He is now a single parent to his 5-year-old daughter Jennie, as his wife Sandra was killed in an accident a year ago. Piper needs a temporary place to live, Rob has a rental unit in his own house. They are both seeking love but, as life will have it, many obstacles block their route to a full relationship. This is part one in a three-part series that sees Piper's pride and mistrust give way to love. Views: 618
If you love the Strikeback series, pre-order the thrilling new book, Red Strike, now. Coming February 2019.
Charles Street was once a highly-respected agent working for MI6, until a terrible mistake cost him his job. Now he's a desperate man, living on past glories and struggling to make ends meet.
Until he makes a discovery that has the power to bring down the new President of the United States.
But when Street tries to cash in on this discovery, he finds himself pursued by a Russian snatch squad.
Strike Back hero John Porter and Regiment renegade John Bald are recruited by their handler to head to Washington, D.C. Their mission: find Street before the Russians.
What begins as a routine exfiltration quickly descends into a brutal struggle and the ex-SAS legends will need to use all of their fighting instincts to stay alive.
It seems someone is desperate to stop Street from going public with the dossier. Bald and Porter face a race against time to protect him.
A startling revelation that leads from the White House to the Kremlin threatens to trigger a new global conflict...
** Views: 618
Goethe’s masterpiece and perhaps the greatest work in German literature, Faust has made the legendary German alchemist one of the central myths of the Western world. Here indeed is a monumental Faust, an audacious man boldly wagering with the devil, Mephistopheles, that no magic, sensuality, experience, or knowledge can lead him to a moment he would wish to last forever. Here, in Faust, Part I, the tremendous versatility of Goethe’s genius creates some of the most beautiful passages in literature. Here too we experience Goethe’s characteristic humor, the excitement and eroticism of the witches’ Walpurgis Night, and the moving emotion of Gretchen’s tragic fate.
This authoritative edition, which offers Peter Salm’s wonderfully readable translation as well as the original German on facing pages, brings us Faust in a vital, rhythmic American idiom that carefully preserves the grandeur, integrity, and poetic immediacy of Goethe’s words. Views: 612
Andrew Harlan is an Eternal, a man whose job it is to range through past and present Centuries, monitoring and, where necessary, altering Time's myriad cause-and-effect relationships. But when Harlan meets and falls for a non-Eternal woman, he seeks to use the awesome powers and techniques of the Eternals to twist time for his own purposes, so that he and his love can survive together. Views: 608
The "HVZA: Hudson Valley Zombie Apocalypse" novels have created a terrifying world where a mysterious parasite has turned ordinary people into killers and cannibals. This short story begins at the onset of the infection, at the region's largest shopping mall, the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY.The "HVZA: Hudson Valley Zombie Apocalypse" novels have created a terrifying world where a mysterious parasite has turned ordinary people into killers and cannibals. This short story begins at the onset of the infection, at the region's largest shopping mall, the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY. Follow the lives of several people as they attend the sale, only to come face to face with their worst nightmares. Some will survive, and some will die, but no one will ever be the same. Views: 607
