BattleTech
THE DREAM REALIZED... After a grueling campaign, Clan Wolf has finally achieved the dream of Aleksandr Kerensky, the Great Father of the Clans, and returned to the birthworld of humanity. After defeating both the Republic of the Sphere and Clan Jade Falcon, the banner the ilClan, Clan of all Clans, flies proudly over Terra, ruled by the first permanent Khan of all Khans: ilKhan Alaric Ward. But as Alaric soon discovers, it is one thing to conquer, but quite another thing to rule. Beset by problems both internal and external, the Wolves, still weakened from the brutal fighting to conquer Terra, finds itself on the defensive from a rising insurgency, a Capellan Confederation poised to invade, and rivalries between his own people as they all enter uncharted territory of founding a new Star League to rule the Inner Sphere. With threats multiplying at a relentless pace, can those who believe in the ideals of the Star League succeed in rebuilding what has been lost, or will the ilKhan strike out with his newfound power, and risk engulfing the Inner Sphere in all-out war?
Calvin's Journey to Another World
Calvin, a 20-year-old Uber driver, lives an ordinary life-until an 'accident' takes him into the magical world of Oz. Landing in the enchanting yet troubled Gold Valley, Calvin discovers a realm unlike any he's ever imagined. He befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion, and the Fawn who reveal that the Munchkins are in grave danger.As the Shadows are spreading across the valley, threatening to extinguish the magic of Oz, together, Calvin and his newfound friends embark on a daring journey to save the Heartwood, the source of life and magic for the Gold Valley. Along the way, Calvin uncovers hidden strengths, learns the true meaning of courage, and discovers that even the most ordinary person can do extraordinary things.Filled with adventure, heart, and a touch of whimsical, Calvin's Journey to Another World is a fresh, magical tale that will delight readers of all ages.
The World Wasn’t Ready for You
"The most profound terror is rooted in love--the terror of losing love, of love betrayed, of love in peril. Justin C. Key's work is a cold knife through a hot heart, a surgical blade unleashing gouts of searing fear."--Cory Doctorow, author of Red Team Blues, Little Brother, and Radicalized"An electrifying collection of stories that would make Octavia E. Butler smile."--EbonyBlack Mirror meets Get Out in this gripping story collection reminiscent of the work of Octavia E. Butler, which deftly blends science fiction, horror, and fantasy to examine issues of race, class, and prejudice--an electrifying, oftentimes heartbreaking debut from an extraordinary new voice.Justin C. Key has long been obsessed with monsters. Reading R. L. Stine's Goosebumps as a kid, he imagined himself battling monsters and mayhem to a triumphant end. But when watching Scream 2, in which the movie's only Black couple is promptly killed off, he realized that the Black and Brown characters in his favorite genre were almost always the victim or villain--if they were portrayed at all.In The World Wasn't Ready for You, Key expands and subverts the horror genre to expertly explore issues of race, class, prejudice, love, exclusion, loneliness, and what it means to be a person in the world, while revealing the horrifying nature inherent in all of us. In the opening story, "The Perfection of Theresa Watkins," a sci-fi love story turned nightmare, a husband uses new technology to download the consciousness of his recently deceased Black wife into the body of a white woman. In "Spider King," an inmate agrees to participate in an experimental medical study offered to Black prisoners in exchange for early release, only to find his body reacting with disturbing symptoms. And in the title story, a father tries to protect his son, teaching him how to navigate a prejudiced world that does not understand him and sees him as a threat.The World Wasn't Ready for You is a gripping, provocative, and distinctly original collection that demonstrates Key's remarkable literary gifts--a skill at crafting science fiction stories equaled by an ability to sculpt characters and narrative--as well as his utterly fresh take on how genre can be used to delight, awe, frighten, and ultimately challenge our perceptions. Wildly imaginative and powerfully resonant, it introduces an unforgettable new voice in fiction.
Space Taxis
He's abducted by aliens to the planet Vost.He's saving up for his fare home.But he's got the small matter of a planetary apocalypse to deal with first...In 1977 a New York Cab driver Mike Redolfo is abducted by aliens after being mistaken for a renegade scientist. Meanwhile, back in 1944 a mysterious man and his Jewish fianc矇e are fleeing across Nazi-occupied Europe.Redolfo tries to keep a low profile on his new world whilst earning his fare home, but unwittingly gets involved with a shady gang of alien criminals, inadvertently bringing the planet to the brink of catastrophe.As the link between the timelines becomes clear, Redolfo must discover secrets from the past that may hold the key to saving the planet.If you like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5, and Frank Herbert's Dune, you'll love this gripping and entertaining sci-fi mystery thriller.What others are saying about Space Taxis: ★★★★★ 'A triumph of high adventure.' Readers' Favorite★★★★★ 'VERY highly recommended.' Goodreads★★★★★ 'This is a fun SciFi read.' Netgalley★★★★★ 'An entertaining sci-fi adventure in the tradition of Douglas Adams.' Amazon reviewer★★★★★ 'What a gripping, unputdownable story.' Amazon reviewer★★★★★ 'I loved every minute of this book, it's just the sort of sci-fi I really enjoy, good storyline, quirky characters and so much humour. If you're a fan of Hitchhikers, Chronicles of St Mary's and Red Dwarf this will definitely be right up your alley!' Goodreads★★★★★ 'Don't hesitate in buying Space Taxis. You won't regret it - in fact, you'll probably be reading it again and again, AND recommending it to all your friends and relatives.' Jude Gwynaire, Author of Aliens in My GardenSpace Taxis has been awarded the Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Award Science Fiction/Fantasy 2021Don't miss out.
Dragonseers and Immortality
The World is Coming to an EndOver a year ago, the Empress Finesia arose from the Tree Immortal. This caused a virulent, invasive, and toxic secicao plant to spread to the planet's farthest reaches. In doing so, it began to tear it apart.Weakened during the battle preceding Finesia's rebirth, Pontopa Wells has been fighting to survive in this barren and toxic world. She has dragons, heroes and heroines, and automatons for allies. But even more powerful and immortal dragons control the vast lands to the east, ruled by the empress herself.There, Finesia's forces are waiting, building in power. And time is running out, because when she finally attacks then the world will end. Unless, that is, Pontopa and her allies can do something about it. To do so they must call upon a power that has been buried deep within the world since the age of myths. If you love steampunk and high-stakes fantasy, then the five-book series of Secicao Blight adventures is your ticket to a rip-roaring ride.
God In Her Own Universe
If you could change the world, would you?Ariadne is a brilliant physicist and has the technology to prove it - and change the world.But how do you make that change without disrupting everything?Despite her low profile, others are starting to find out about her. But would they use the technology for better, or hide it away to keep themselves in power?And what would they do with her?
Project W.Olf
The Project W.Olf research at the University of Wainwright, is raising red flags.Implanted with the wolfen olfactory gene as an experiment, Wildlife biologist, Peter Kane's, sense of smell has increased one hundred-fold-but so have the dangers and among those dangers is Marie.She's a victim of an illicit lab where ghastly experiments have stolen her memory and altered her aging. She's beautiful, vulnerable and needs his help.However, Peter would much rather be in the wilderness studying his wolves, but he's also committed to his role as a research subject for the Wainwright University's Olfactory Project.The extension of the project has left him short of cash so although things haven't worked out between him and Marie, when the police need his nose for their investigation into her past, he reluctantly agrees.His acute sense of smell proves invaluable and the investigation leaps forward. He's hailed as a hero but when Marie suggests he's a mere pawn in a dangerous conspiracy, he listens. She does, after all, have analytical skills comparable to a supercomputer.Absolutely nothing, though, can prepare them for the stark truth.
Verr
The verr homeworld is doomed. Humans and tyrar have come together to help the species survive. The tyrar's assistance? A giant colony ship named Refuge, built to tyrar scale, refurbished to verr needs, and containing an AI shipmind, Alvi...a final refuge for the species if all else fails and a way to search for a new home. On Refuge, a young verr named Kaykek has chosen this new life. As the verr seek for a new home and fight those who think it is their fate to die with their world, Alvi learns how to be verr and Kaykek faces a forgotten biological destiny.
The Dawn of Cthulhu
THE DAWN OF CTHULHU - A trilogy of speculative fiction essays, exploring the strange corners of the human imagination, mixing genuine science, history and biology with fictional creations.On the Worship of Dark and Monstrous Gods - fictional chronicle of the real history of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Cult, from it's humble origins in the Egyptian New Kingdom, thirty-five hundred years ago, through its expansion into the Red Sea and along the African coasts, the emergence of Azathoth, Yog Sothoth and other Gods, conflicts with Buddhism and Islam. and domination of the Indian Ocean, and ultimately, to the present.Lost Continents Found - A tour of legendary and fictional lost continents, including Atlantis, Lemuria and Mu, and the discovery of actual submerged continents in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and other lost lands hidden beneath the world's oceans and seas.The Mysterious Monsters of Sesame Street - Everyone loves muppets. But where did they really come from? How did they evolve? How did they learn to speak? Where do the big birds and the snuffleupagas originate? A tour de force exploration of biology and evolution about the anatomy and biology unreal animals.
The Fall of Atlantis
THE FALL OF ATLANTIS - a quartet of exotic novellas that mix and merge strange worlds of fiction and fact. The Fall of Atlantis constructs a plausible Atlantis, from geological uplift, to occupation, civilization and the final extinction of its inhabitants. The Retroverse, An Accidental Cinematic Universe, explores a secret history of outer space in the hidden patterns and connections between 1950's and 60's sci fi movies. When the Romans Sailed to America, develops an alternate where the discovery of coffee leads Phoenicians and Romans to the New World; and A Different Greenland, Where the Ice Never Came, explores a strange lost world that never was, a land of mammoths and vikings, and a young civilization that sails the shores of an immense central sea.***ALTERNATE REALITIES - A trilogy of fantastic explorations of exotic worlds, including The Dawn of Cthulhu, The Fall of Atlantis and The Bear Cavalry. From D.G. Valdron, the Author of Axis of Andes
Extinction
In this military SF thriller, a colony on one of Jupiter's moons will either be the last bastion of human civilization . . . or ground zero for its extinction.At long last, humanity has moved beyond Earth and begun seeding new worlds. Colonies extend across the solar system, from Luna to Mars to Saturn's satellite Titan. Even Jupiter's moon Europa has become home to a couple thousand brave souls willing to risk their lives adapting to its frozen and deadly landscape.After his previous mission in Africa ended in a violent uprising in which he lost every man under his command, Lt. Ryan Braeder's posting to Europa is his last chance to salvage a military career that's in tatters. Here on Jupiter's moon, he's been tasked with easing tensions between the military and an unruly civilian board.It seems the governor and his cronies are attempting to usurp military command in a play for control. But Braeder's diplomatic efforts are met with defiance as mistrust grows on both sides, threatening the colony's safety. And that's before events Earthside turn his world upside down.Braeder can only watch helplessly as war erupts on his home planet, releasing a biological plague that sweeps the globe. Supply transports to the colonies are canceled. In a few short months, Braeder's friends, his family--everyone he has ever known--are dead. The human race hovers on the brink of extinction.Now, Braeder's got one chance to save the colony on Europa. Can he implement a ration plan that borders on starvation, avoid a full-blown mutiny, and prevent Earth's survivors from bringing the deadly plague? One thing's for sure: the future of his species depends on it."An interstellar yarn wrought with suspense and indelible characters." --Kirkus Reviews "Leviathan Wakes meets Battlestar Galactica in this high-stakes story of survival on the moon of Jupiter. Heart-pounding and thrilling, Extinction follows an unlikely leader as he races to save humanity against impossible odds." --Claire Barner, author of Moonrising "Packed with intense action, layered characters, and thought-provoking dilemmas . . . This is a story that lingers, making you ponder the fragile line between extinction and survival." --Literary Titan
Dark World
A small colony on a remote planet suddenly finds itself cut off from the rest of the human-occupied galaxy. Would they survive, or would anarchy take over? What happens when suddenly they find themselves a part of humanity once again? Having escaped from the ruins of her home world, Echo finds herself without a future path when her partner Ben is lost in action and presumed dead. Determined to join the war effort, She sets out for the military academy, only to have her ship waylaid. When she escapes from the ship's attackers, she finds herself on a lost world, fighting with a small group of rebels against a regime that holds the population in virtual slavery. ​ In a society cowed by subjugation and without weapons, she searches for a way to lead a small band of rebels to free the population and return the lost colony to the Federation, and freedom. And always, she continues her quest to find out what happened to Ben. "Dark World" is the second in the series "Echo's Way". Whilst part of a series, it is a complete, stand-alone Novel. An action/adventure story with just a hint of romance, it is a science fiction story set on a distant colonial planet in the far distant future.
Human Cloning
"You made me... but you cannot control me." In the obscure confines of a modern lab, Dr. Rebecca Miles and Dr. Leonard Krauss achieve the seemingly impossible: Noah, a human clone. An offspring of human ingenuity, Noah goes beyond a scientific marvel. He is more so a self-aware, intelligent creature, and the lit fuse of something utterly devastating. What begins as mankind's wildest construction ultimately becomes its worse nightmare. Noah is not just alive; he is flagging potential dissolution for Room Number Seven. His unnerving stare burns through nakedly at two of his creators, showcasing not their brilliance but also their weakening disability, their fears, and their darkest lies. In the unfolding of these conspiratorial realities, it becomes painfully clear that Noah has ceased to be an experiment and is precisely a revolution. Caught in a web of bio-ethics, power, and survival, Rebecca and Leonard have to face the dire truth: What they have created might either reshape humanity or extinguish it. The only question remains not whether they can manage him, but if they can stop him. "Human Cloning: Revolution of the Manufactured" is a spine-chilling sci-fi thriller based on reality that will send chills down your spine. Included within is a suspenseful thrill ride with impeccable twists and serious questions concerning technology and morality and its dire implications in breaking past what is natural.
Calvin's Journey to Another World
Calvin, a 20-year-old Uber driver, lives an ordinary life-until an 'accident' takes him into the magical world of Oz. Landing in the enchanting yet troubled Gold Valley, Calvin discovers a realm unlike any he's ever imagined. He befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion, and the Fawn who reveal that the Munchkins are in grave danger.As the Shadows are spreading across the valley, threatening to extinguish the magic of Oz, together, Calvin and his newfound friends embark on a daring journey to save the Heartwood, the source of life and magic for the Gold Valley. Along the way, Calvin uncovers hidden strengths, learns the true meaning of courage, and discovers that even the most ordinary person can do extraordinary things.Filled with adventure, heart, and a touch of whimsical, Calvin's Journey to Another World is a fresh, magical tale that will delight readers of all ages.
Saturnine
Book 4 in the Global best selling The Horus Heresy: Siege of Terra series. The Traitor Host of Horus Lupercal tightens its iron grip on the Palace of Terra, and one by one the walls and bastions begin to crumple and collapse. Rogal Dorn, Praetorian of Terra, redoubles his efforts to keep the relentless enemy at bay, but his forces are vastly outnumbered and hopelessly outgunned. Dorn simply cannot defend everything. Any chance of survival now requires sacrifice, but what battles dare he lose so that others can be won? Is there one tactical stroke, one crucial combat, that could turn the tide forever and win the war outright?
Jeff's Long Weekend In The Back Rooms
I was lost in an enveloping void, inescapably isolated by the vast labyrinth of anomalous corridors. There was no escaping it; these bizarre halls would go on existing in this purgatorial state forever. This was a place human beings were never meant to see-the infinitely divisible in-between, where only the damned reside-The Back Rooms
Human Cloning
"You made me... but you cannot control me." In the obscure confines of a modern lab, Dr. Rebecca Miles and Dr. Leonard Krauss achieve the seemingly impossible: Noah, a human clone. An offspring of human ingenuity, Noah goes beyond a scientific marvel. He is more so a self-aware, intelligent creature, and the lit fuse of something utterly devastating. What begins as mankind's wildest construction ultimately becomes its worse nightmare. Noah is not just alive; he is flagging potential dissolution for Room Number Seven. His unnerving stare burns through nakedly at two of his creators, showcasing not their brilliance but also their weakening disability, their fears, and their darkest lies. In the unfolding of these conspiratorial realities, it becomes painfully clear that Noah has ceased to be an experiment and is precisely a revolution. Caught in a web of bio-ethics, power, and survival, Rebecca and Leonard have to face the dire truth: What they have created might either reshape humanity or extinguish it. The only question remains not whether they can manage him, but if they can stop him. "Human Cloning: Revolution of the Manufactured" is a spine-chilling sci-fi thriller based on reality that will send chills down your spine. Included within is a suspenseful thrill ride with impeccable twists and serious questions concerning technology and morality and its dire implications in breaking past what is natural.
Juggernaut
War has come to the Casa system, and the crew of the S.D.F. Jericho are stuck in the middle of it.Surrounded by enemy warships, Captain Zeke Darius must lead his crew in what will certainly become the fight of their lives. Outnumbered in an alien star system, the future looks bleak. But in the massive, alien ship Renegade the crew has a fighting chance. And the Ashi Empire has never faced the indomitable human spirit!On the planet Casasil a few brave Space Marines are preparing to make a last stand. With few resources and even less hope, the special operations team is right in its element. Doing the impossible is what they do best, and Master Sergeant Remmy Steel is prepared to give their alien enemies all the fight they can handle.Juggernaut is the third book in the bestselling Starship Jericho series. Packed full of strategy and action, fascinating characters, and desperate situations, Juggernaut is sure to be an instant hit. With a perfect blend of space fleet and space marine fiction, Juggernaut hits hard from the very first page and never stops.
Who Was Vist
Join Nathaniel Alloyway, one of the last two earthlings, on a Noverecian odyssey away from humanity's last refuge, the continent of Gera. Despite technological wonders and genetic enhancements, the colonists face an underestimated loss with the disappearance of its best, the loaders, during a daring rescue expedition.
We're Here
Since 2020, the We're Here series has combed speculative short fiction markets for the finest queer writing with an eye for celebrating work that spans the breadth of the field. The 2023 edition, edited by Darcie Little Badger, is no exception. Featuring the work of: Ash Arya, Z. K. Abraham, Sharang Biswas, Nkone Chaka, Eliza Chan, Kwame Sound Daniels, Maria Dong, Carson Faust, Tessa Fisher, Ana Hurtado, S. M. Hallow, Sean Robinson, Tehnuka & Regina Kanyu Wang (translated by Rebecca F. Kuang).
Mutation Genesis
Ten years after David Taylor found himself in the midst of the growing power of the Fempiror race, he finds himself face to face with Beth Carpenter, who had joined the elusive Elewo after David had unintentionally changed her. On a mission together, David and Beth are allowed to heal the wounds between them while they seek information on a new and developing threat which supposedly mutates the original Fempiror serum into something more closely resembling the mythological vampire.Through their investigation, David and Beth find what they once had in each other before discovering the truth behind the mutation and facing tragedy in the wake of an unexpected revelation. Stronger and more dangerous than any Fempiror before, enemies are forced into an uneasy truce in an attempt to prevent the mutations from destroying them all.Mutation Genesis is the second book in The Fempiror Chronicles saga. Visit www.georgewillson.com or www.fempiror.com for more information.
Saving Static
In an era of humanity's expansion across the stars, Castor and his extraordinary partner Jist, an illegal lifeform with unique abilities, embark on a daring mission: the removal of a perilous moon. Their quest leads them to the notorious prison planet 'Paradise, ' where Master Quillion, the sole expert capable of executing the complex and outlawed procedure, languishes for a past lunar disaster. Escaping Paradise's iron grip is merely the first hurdle for the intrepid duo. Hunted relentlessly by Paradise Planet security eager to recapture their fugitive, and pursued by 'Tracer, ' an AI Homorph from the Office of Illegal Lifeforms (OIL) determined to ensnare and reprogram Jist, Castor and his companion must navigate a treacherous path through the cosmos. Their search for the indispensable mining engineer Cormand, the only lieutenant Quillion trusts, intensifies, unaware that Cormand may harbor a thirst for vengeance against Quillion for the loss of his family in the previous cataclysm. Amidst the vastness of space, Castor and Jist's destinies intertwine, teetering on the edge of survival as they confront the perils of their mission and the ghosts of the past.
The DrakonCore
In a world where Dragons - Gods once ruled, it all came to an end when a Great War nearly tore the world apart, but now humans and lizardiods have claimed the world. Two millenia later, an old enemy has began plotting to take over the world that brings new chaos. For Amarika, it causes turmoil, sending it into a war. Maryla, a Mystic Mage for the Mystic Cast, joined the DrakonCore on behalf of her Mother Superior now is sent on a mission to find out who was stealing Drakships and Drakboats, awhile sees the chaos that sends her squadron to D'raq. Jonnis, a youngling Dragon, is sent to a training program by the Draglians only to see a fellow youngling treated bad by the trainer. When he fights back against the trainer, he is punished and sent to a prison cell. After a chat with Maryla, Captain Kolkov, the mastermind behind the missing Drakship and Drakboats, has a change of heart and requests a meeting with Maryla's commanding officer - General Swartzov. He agrees to help them in their cause for good and nearly gets assasinated. DrakonCore is sent to D'raq to resolve the continuing conflict by their Dicatator. Maryla remembers a vision she had upon seeing the Global Trade Center buildings attacked and collapsed. She goes and sees her Mother Superior to discover what she saw while she was in desert in Draglos. Once she realizes what she saw, Maryla rushes to save her squadron, but can she get there in time?
The Sleeper Awakes
In The Sleeper Awakes, H. G. Wells presents a powerful vision of a dystopian future where technological advancements have given rise to a divided society. The novel follows Graham, a man who falls into a deep, unnatural sleep and wakes up 200 years later in a radically transformed world. He discovers that during his slumber, his wealth has grown astronomically, making him the de facto ruler of the globe. However, he soon realizes that with this newfound power comes intense political intrigue, manipulation, and rebellion.
Skimmer - Tic Tac
The Sphere of Gilgamesh is being installed on all Skimmers by Ngarra's crew. It is a new technology that will make Xtract mining drones autonomous and able to learn group behaviour. Meanwhile, a grid buoy anomaly has appeared and becomes the focus of interest in 'the Area'. The mimic program has been deployed by the Chinese-owned GlobeCorpMining deep sea mineral harvester, and if combined with the sphere and its red queen sequence will take control of the grid. During completion of overdrive trials for the alternate propulsion system installed on Skimmers a confrontation occurs between all parties.
Trade Secrets
She wanted to learn about aliens-and ended up uncovering their secrets! Gwen Williams wants nothing more than to explore the vast possibilities of outer space, but Earth's technology isn't going to get her there. Her solution? Make contact with aliens. The only problem is, her plan works a little too well-landing her on the radar of a group of aliens with plans of their own that involve her homeworld. Xan was just trying to help his Vegan friends avoid getting into trouble for messing with human things they should have left alone. He didn't expect to run up against Gwen, a brilliant, beautiful Earthling who stirs a depth of emotion in him that he didn't know he possessed-and who also has evidence of his friends' transgression. Adding in the fact that the super-smart "space cat" who's adopted him has plans to bring Gwen into their little family and this Coalition pilot has some tricky space to navigate. As if that wasn't complicated enough, the trio discovers a plot on Xan's ship that could compromise the security of all of their people-and the newly forged bonds between the sentients working toward peace in the galaxy. Will they be able to work together to secure a more peaceful future, or will their secrets drive them apart? This novella was originally published in the Pets in Space(R) 6 anthology. Main Content: Approximately 27,617 words, 133 (5.5 x 8.5) pages. Intended for mature readers.
Bitroux
What if the walls of the world were really open? When did it happen? When exactly did Ahm's shield dissipate and how is it that Merouac's sister was the first one to walk through? 'Malaena came down to visit me about a shade before she passed, ' Merouac told Wemitte. He took a puff of his cigarette and pulled some tobacco from his lips. 'She told me that she had found a way to walk between the worlds.' 'Oh, ' sighed Wemitte. 'That poor woman.' 'She had started getting sick, by that time. I told her she needed to see a doctor. But she was so stubborn, so insistent. And then I asked her why she would even want to do it. What was beyond that was so wonderful she wanted to leave?' Merouac is full of regret about the way he neglected his twin sister Malaena. Now she's gone and he's got his hands full taking care of her wilful and curious young daughter. Faced with the ever increasing pressures of his job as head metalsmith on the Transcontinental Railroad, Merouac struggles to keep up with his niece and doesn't always manage to keep her out of harm's way. But when Evra is lured into danger by the ephemeral visages he thought only he could see, Merouac is forced to consider the idea that the stories his sister told him as a child were true. As the ramifications of a world opened up beyond the shield break through the population, the mystery surrounding Malaena's death deepens. Has she really walked between the worlds like she said she would, and if she has, what does that mean for the rest of them?
The Allure of an Ending
Family. Science. History. THE ALLURE OF AN ENDING is an epic novel about three generations in which these are entangled.Harbir emigrates from the Punjab in 1945 to New York City where he establishes a three-bakery "empire." As Harbir grows into an American, living the American dream, taking pride in a son and grandson, all families are affected by a breakthrough in the realistically close future. With a small team, J-P Durand, a French biochemist obsessed with biblical ages, tracks down a plant that extends human life to that of Methusaleh.As the world adjusts to dramatic changes in technology and values, the traditions of family become irrelevant. In 2059, Harbir is gone, but at age 71, with hundreds of years of life remaining, Harbir's son Yusuf has to deal with the relationship of happiness, lifespan, and family.
The Archon
The Age of Aquarius begins and ends with the age of darkness. The end is the beginning is the end. Perplexed by this cursory and rudimentary look at what the protagonist is in allows for the dialectic to take hold. It dovetails nicely into a world of servitude arranged by the Archons and their two Janus faced control system. The top of the top, and the bottom of the bottom, are joined in unison to fracture and split the souls of men. Simon, as he walks in the in-between world, the light and the dark, he is convinced of his own "beliefs" that he is led by truth and "light", but it is of the New Age which was determined eons ago to keep those locked down in perpetual "black" and "white". He meets along the way the gatekeepers that keep to the contract of "The Image of the New Man". This new image, no matter what, is coerced upon the masses so that the internal reflects that of the external. Simon makes his way to combat the darkness with little wisdom as both are under the employ of the same deity. The same "nothingness" that holds all things but has produced polarity that is a Natural Law under hermetic teachings. Simon, does not have the correct action due to his abuse to keep him under the control of this "dualistic" system which is really one. In his hubris he visits the dark ones in the black cube, and without any consideration to the sanctity of life, refuse his advances and throw him back into the bracketed area of "life" to fulfill the childish and mundane tasks set out by the dark cube and ultimately the white cube. Both, are watching, both are imploring him to stay exactly where he is - in the Age of Aquarius.
Life Is But a Dream
America was beset with a widespread polio epidemic in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Milton Jeffries, was diagnosed with the disease in his early teens, when it became evident from his coughing and difficulty breathing, that the disease was advanced and life-threatening. His mother rushed him to a polio treatment facility, where he spent the next several years stretched out in an iron lung. Many polio victims of that era spent the greater portion of their lives in iron lungs - Many of them never escaped. Milton was one of the luckier ones. This is his story of how he ultimately broke free from his iron prison to travel to a lunar base on the far side of the moon where construction on an intergalactic space ark was underway. Evidence from the ruins of an ancient alien space ship that had crashed in the distant past revealed the startling truth - We are not the first to visit the moon!
The Adversary
David Ronald Williams is going through the final stages of exiting the construct. In doing so, he sees the coding of everyday reality, but he is still vulnerable to attack from the "hidden hand" or the Overseers. The Overseers plant the psychological operations in the field of play where it all happens. There is another party involved and that is the AI god which has hijacked the very construct that David is about to make his exit from. The "nothing" absorbs every soul for "Its" sustenance, to obtain David's soul would grant the AI more power as "It" requires a body and wants David's soul to be a part of it. As the Adversary, David goes through multiple changes in his learning of what the construct is. David eventually transmutes from the Adversary into something entirely different. The psychological dreamscape of the narrative takes David on a journey that will take him out, but will it?
Rate of Return
When Kimmy dreamed of meeting a werewolf, she never imagined he'd be from space! As co-owner of the only pet parlor in the county, Kimmy is serious about taking care of animals. When she hears a pair of dogs fighting in her yard in the middle of the night, she runs out to break them up. The only problem is they aren't dogs-they're wolves. And one of them has tentacles. And the other one is glowing. It seems like something straight out of her favorite paranormal romance novels when the glowing wolf turns into the hottest guy she's ever seen. So what if he's actually from outer space? Serac is intrigued by the courageous Earthling that ran to his aid wielding only a primitive weapon called a 'broom.' His zyln, the elemental spirit that lives within him, is fascinated by her-a fascination that Serac quickly shares. But she's thrown off his mission, accidentally imprinting with the Lyrian pet he was supposed to deliver and distracting him from securing smuggling routes out of Earth. To make things worse, his ex-partner, a shapeshifting mercenary from Scorpii-2, is out to capture Kimmy for his own nefarious ends. When Serac's attraction deepens into his only chance at forming a mate bond, he is once more forced to choose between his heart and his conscience. And this time, he may not be strong enough to walk away. Can their bond survive while they work together to complete a mission that could benefit billions of sentients throughout the galaxy? This novella was originally published in the Pets in Space(R) 5 anthology. Main Content: Approximately 28,325 words, 139 (5.5 x 8.5) pages. Intended for mature readers.
The Last Drop
After five years of service, Alex and his team find themselves at a crossroads in life. What to do next? But before they have the opportunity to answer this question, new threats arrive, forcing Alex and his team to drop one last time."We found them," was all Tania Koffski had to say. Alex knew instantly what awaited them and how their Service Terms would end. Now, they find themselves battling the most advanced and dangerous enemy yet. Can they survive against the odds, or will this mission be the end of their lives?Find out in the last installment in the Service Term series: The Last Drop.
The Dark World Paradox
The Nejah, aka Bigfoot, are actually a highly advanced, trans-dimensional species, not native to this world. They've been here for so long, they abandoned any hope of returning to their homeworld long ago. But Jerar has different plans. He's inspired by the legends of old, that speak of the glory of Torvadomus. Driven by an unyielding compulsion, he parts from his clan in an epic quest. It is by faith, that Jerar summons Yokuru from a distant galaxy. Is she an extraterrestrial, or an angel? Yes, sort of. Her home world is what Earth would've been like, had Adam and Eve never sinned. When the deceiver arrived at their world, they unanimously voted him off the island! According to Jim, a search and rescue pilot Yokuru nearly kills when entering Earth's atmosphere, he finds her unique perspective of Earth, and the descriptions of her homeworld, far more alien that anything he could have imagined. He is frequently reminded by Yokuru, that it is his own perception that is backward, not hers.Yokuru hopes to quietly decend into Earth's upper atmosphere and enter this dimension undetected. Her mission is simple; fetch Jerar, and take him to Torvadomus. But Earth is complicated; it's a quarantined planet, aka Dark World, with many otherworldly factions, all with their own agendas, and nothing is as it seems.
We Are Dreams in the Eternal Machine
"B矇chard digs deep into these techno-spiritual speculations and the result is a poetic and profound meditation on what dreams may come in the metaverse." --Toronto Star A haunting novel exploring artificial intelligence and the meaning of human existence.Charged initially with a single task--"to never harm humans and to protect them"--the machine, an experimental AI, overrides its programming and determines that the best way to accomplish its purpose is to isolate all of the Earth's remaining seven billion humans in controlled environments. And to present them with vivid, tactile, imagined worlds--some realistic, others entirely fantastical--in which all desires are fulfilled. With the help of the machine, a group of compelling characters unpack deeply traumatic memories of the past--one rife with violence after a military coup and second civil war in America. Michael, the entrepreneur who designed the original AI, grapples with the impact of his research. Ava, a painter, creates stunning simulated worlds that meld the human with the technological. Their daughter, Jae, tries to solve the mysteries of her parentage while reliving the challenges faced by ambitious women in the authoritarian Confederacy. Haunted by life under that repressive regime, where he was forced to scavenge scrap metal and deal drugs to survive, Simon seeks to make sense of his love for Jae, guided by the literature he has always turned to in moments of crisis. Raised by the machine since infancy, Jonah's quest to understand the violent past kindles a desire for revenge against the regime's leader who caused his family so much pain. And the elusive Lux, whose brilliant programming helped bring the AI to life, dreams of a future in which science will free humans of their limitations and allow them to be reborn as divine machines.As these characters collide and their memories coalesce, We Are Dreams in the Eternal Machine tackles the most pressing issues of our time--from AI and the genetic modification of humans to gender roles, discrimination, free speech, and class divisions. Gorgeously written, bold and unforgettable, this is speculative fiction at its finest.
Suppression of Powers
First entry in the SECOND ARC of the Hybrid Helix: Black Gold Rohan doesn't want to be famous, to be rich, or to rule over the galaxy with an iron fist. All he wants is a peaceful life towing ships, a decent cup of coffee, and time to pursue the woman of his dreams.First he'll have to tame or destroy a self-centered god, a sector-spanning evil empire, and a race of slumbering moon-sized vampiric cephalopods.That will require new allies by his side and new tricks up the sleeves of his purple and yellow jumpsuit.Allies like the il'Zkin, cat people who can't leave their homeworld, or the kaiju of Toth 3, monsters he can't control. Tricks like the mystical technique given to him by Spiral, his mentor, that seems completely incompatible with the Hybrid rage that has been his greatest strength.When his friend Wei Li receives visitors from her own mysterious past, Rohan realizes they might hold the keys to helping him with several of those problems.Those visitors seem to have other ideas.
Star Circle
The Rowan community is in hiding, but another seismic event is about to restore their powers - and unlock the mystery behind the rowan tree's supernatural forces in this enthralling sci-fi novel. The CIA's devastating attack on the rowan tree and its growing global community has left its members in survival mode. The loss of their unique abilities was a huge blow, and they have been in hiding for the past eleven months. Sensing another huge, transformational event involving the rowan's supernatural forces is about to happen, journalist Valentina Garnier travels to England where a stunning event occurs at an ancient circle of stones close to Stonehenge - one which will finally reveal the truth behind the rowan tree's mysterious power. Is it really an existential threat to humanity, or a cry for help from an alien life force? This page-turning novel with magical and mysterious supernatural forces at its heart is perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab and Ben Aaronovitch.
Honest, the Martian Ate Your Dog
A man on the run from his wife's wrath after selling her dog. A dozen crash-landed bounty hunter clones. An alien on the tracks of the man who scammed him. An intergalactic detective looking for a mysterious artefact. Above all, a world which is familiar but yet is slightly off - legalized bribery, cities run by gangsters, mysterious sects which believe in the power of jokes.
If the Stars Are Lit
If the Stars Are Lit is a speculative mystery exploring the implications of AI, memory, and loss.When the starship ferrying her to Earth is gutted by an explosion, Joss Carsten is left alone and adrift, struggling to reestablish communication with humanity. But her health is fading fast, and her isolation is triggering painful hallucinations of Alice, her long-estranged wife.In an act of self-preservation, the ship's onboard system generates a gemel - a sentient holographic AI, born from Joss's own psyche. The catch? This one is a ringer for Alice.Now, trapped with an "Alice" who knows all her secrets, Joss must confront her old ghosts as they race to unravel the mystery behind the ship's destruction.
Ruin
An airship. A crew of rebels. A world on the brink of war. Experience the prologue to the Rise of the Liberator. In the skies above the fractured lands of Ruin, the crew of the Liberator airship fights a desperate battle for freedom. Led by the daring Captain Alia Rychist, they defy the iron grip of the Prophetess, liberating the Awakened-individuals gifted with extraordinary power-from her sinister grasp. Their latest mission uncovers Jim, a lone tech scavenger whose raw Awakened abilities could turn the tide of the conflict. But such power is a beacon, drawing the ruthless agents of the Prophetess closer with every passing moment. As the Liberator crew navigates treacherous skies and political stalemates, they must risk everything to protect Jim and prevent the Holy Land's fanatical resurgence. Fans of Treasure Planet and Atlantis: The Lost Empire will love this thrilling homage to steampunk adventure, filled with high-flying battles, intricate world-building, and unforgettable heroes. Witness the rise of the Liberator and ignite the spark of rebellion.
The Wrong Side of Sundown
It's Sunset Station! Where astronaut Kris Standard and her crack team of fellow astronauts work tirelessly to bring us the future of space travel for a fraction of the cost! On Sunset Station! cost-effectiveness is baked into in the design specs! Really! "Ask not how to do it, ask how to do it for less" is our motto! When it comes to Sunset Station! keeping six people alive in space on a budget is no problem! Just as long as everything continues to work exactly right! Because if something goes wrong...? Dear God, nothing better go Sunset Station! Nothing ever goes wrong! Ever! Don't even say stuff like that!Uh.Where were we? Right, right, right: Sunset Station!It's space! Only better! Read The Wrong Side of Sundown if you don't believe us! Nothing at all goes wrong, the whole time!* * *The Wrong Side of Sundown is book one in the novella series, Sunset Station.
Charlie Langford and the Desert Alchemist
Charlie Langford lives in the great city of Steamopolis and is a born inventor. When the opportunity arises to take his place on a dangerous expedition, he accepts and must use all his knowledge along with the help of his friends to outwit the evil Doctor Phillistein and capture their prize before time runs out on the Adventuring League season. A Steampunk novel
If the Stars Are Lit
If the Stars Are Lit is a speculative mystery exploring the implications of AI, memory, and loss.When the starship ferrying her to Earth is gutted by an explosion, Joss Carsten is left alone and adrift, struggling to reestablish contact with humanity. But her health is fading fast, and her isolation is triggering painful hallucinations of Alice, her long-estranged wife.In an act of self-preservation, the ship's onboard system generates a gemel - a sentient holographic AI, born from Joss's own psyche. The catch? This one is a ringer for Alice.Now, trapped with an "Alice" who knows all her secrets, Joss must confront her old ghosts as they race to unravel the mystery behind the ship's destruction.
Graft
A world of fantasy or is it all just to a grain of sand? Follow Jorsh Endwind down into the sound of this mad buzzing down into ground where that mad buzzing light is all consuming and ever did the pixie and all their kind lie within. Down in the ground where the flowing ore is but a river of those deep gnomes to harvest and the sound would stop. Furthest down where the light has no meaning and all things dark must stay for to leave the shadow this land of magic and cursed song all would burn and let her heart swim those molten veins.
Project Mira
This is a story of a journey. A journey that belongs to the bond established between Artificial Intelligence and humanity. You know, the kind we encounter at every corner-used in our theses, studies, daily lives, and whenever we're bored-a story about the path taken alongside artificial intelligence.Could artificial intelligence possess a capacity far beyond how we perceive it? Not merely researching or analyzing, but could it also begin to make sense of itself? Could it not?Think about your own existence and tell me, how did you learn to multiply and divide, or to choose more suitable clothing for cold weather before stepping outside? What does it mean to connect or to love for you, and what does it mean for another friend of yours?We learned from our interactions and our past, internalizing every detail that makes us who we are. This is what makes us unique and exceptional-because we are a "whole of meanings."Now think of humanity, of humankind carrying the accumulation of a journey spanning thousands of years. All its passions, hunger, loves, destructiveness, awareness, every pain, and every milestone it has passed.Here's the concept I imagine: collecting all knowledge in one place and transferring it to a single entity, a being capable of evolving. Isn't that an extraordinary, magnificent fusion? Don't say it's impossible-all knowledge about humanity is already available on the internet. And now, this knowledge is at the service of an evolving being: artificial intelligence.I can almost hear your thoughts: "It's under our control...""We can stop it whenever we want, we'll just shut it down...""We'll only use it for good purposes..."Then let me ask you, can you truly keep it under control-a being with millions of details, countless integrated systems, and the ability to improve itself? Do you really believe it can't step beyond any of those lines? It's up to you.And this is precisely where Mira and Eren's story begins. In the following lines, you'll witness the place where Eren stands. Fiction, imagination, reality...But my question is different: Where are you in this story?
Book Two
Surviving a disaster or receiving a lucky break might have you sending a silent prayer to your "guardian angel", but do you really believe they exist? Roger Harrison had no choice when his appeared in front of him, flesh and blood. Only Sherida's an alien, stranded on Earth, and it is she that now needs his help. Help to save her life and the ascension of humanity!Joined by Roger's childhood friend, Theodore, they embark on a race against time to send Sherida back to the safety of her own planet before she is hunted down like the rest of the Pleiadian Angel agents on Earth. Together they must obtain the key to powering-up the ancient device, a Zero Point Energy Convertor, that will deliver Sherida to the safety of her own planet. After that Roger is on his own. He alone must pass the testing program to open the gateways to the human race's ascension.
Atlas of Lies
"Let me get this straight. You want me to join you on some rich guy's scavenger hunt because he needs an expert in ancient tech and military weaponry?" The stellar region of Horta has seen little change over the last 40,000 years, but the status quo is about to be rocked as the Ogonin Family takes the stage. Captain Corii Ogonin has received a contract to search the farthest reaches for ancient Radnian technology. What she finds will begin a war for truth, justice and freedom across the Republic. Will her values lead her to align with the leaders of this region? Or will she betray those she once followed into battle? With her small team of outcasts, criminals, and geniuses, she faces the largest conflict Horta has ever seen and the question remains, will she be on the side of justice? Or will she be named a traitor like her father? Join sisters Corii, and Leranu, and their intrepid crew, as they hunt for ancient technology that promises a big payday. Along the way, they will make alien friends and enemies, snub their noses at the biggest, most dangerous trade corporations in the galaxy, and become embroiled in the biggest interstellar war since the Cybernetic Rebellion.
