Clypsis


Jeffrey A. Carver - 1987
    Share the dream of Mike Murray as he makes his way from the racing pit to the cockpit of the universe's most dangerous and exhilarating challenge.Roger Zelazny and Jeffrey A. Carver launch a sensational series with technical blueprints of the racing ships by visionary automotive designer Hayashi.A Byron Preiss Book

The Dark Side of the Sun


Terry Pratchett - 1976
    Librarian Note: An alternative cover for this ISBN can be found here Dom Salabos had a lot of advantages.As heir to a huge fortune he had an excellent robot servant (with Man-Friday subcircuitry), a planet (the First Syrian Bank) as a godfather, a security chief who even ran checks on himself, and on Dom's home world even death was not always fatal.Why then, in an age when prediction was a science, was his future in doubt?

Treasure Planet


Hal Colebatch - 2014
    “Ah, the wealth o’ the treasure planet be beyond the dreams of Man or the hopes o’ Kzin!” On Wunderland, a generation after Liberation, memories of the bloody kzin conquest and Occupation have faded, and men and kzin live largely in peace. But the fabulous treasure of the kzin pirates, hidden on a distant world, remains a magnet for freebooters. Young Peter Cartwright and his kzinrett friend Marthar receive information and map from a most unlikely source and soon themselves fighting the most ruthless pirates in Known Space for an unimaginable prize.About the Man-Kzin War Series:“[The Man-Kzin Wars series is] excellent . . .gripping . . .and expands well on Larry Niven’s universe. . . .” –Locus

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon


Spider Robinson - 1977
    Pull up a chair, grab a glass of your favorite, and listen to the stories spun by time travelers, cybernetic aliens, telepaths...and a bunch of regular folks on a mission to save the world, one customer at a time.Callahan's Crosstime Saloon contains the following stories, virtually all of which were published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact: * "The Guy With the Eyes" * "The Time-Traveler" * "The Centipede's Dilemma" * "Two Heads Are Better Than One" * "The Law Of Conservation of Pain" * "Just Dessert" * "A Voice is Heard in Ramah..." * "Unnatural Causes" * "The Wonderful Conspiracy"

Tales From Gavagan's Bar


L. Sprague de Camp - 1953
    The authors patterned them after Lord Dunsany's "Jorkens" stories. The Gavagan's stories are widely considered classics.Contents:· Preface · pr · Elephas Frumenti [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Win/Spr ’50 · The Ancestral Amethyst [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Aug ’52 · Here, Putzi! [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · More Than Skin Deep [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Apr ’51 · Beasts of Bourbon [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Oct ’51 · The Gift of God [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Win/Spr ’50 · The Better Mousetrap [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Dec ’50 · No Forwarding Address [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · The Untimely Toper [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Jul ’53 · The Eve of St. John [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · The Love Nest [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · The Stone of the Sages [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · Corpus Delectable [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · The Palimpsest of St. Augustine [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · Where to, Please? [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Weird Tales Sep ’52 · Methought I Heard a Voice [“When the Night Wind Howls”; Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Weird Tales Nov ’51 · One Man’s Meat [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Sep ’53 · My Brother’s Keeper [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · A Dime Brings You Success [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · Oh, Say! Can You See [“Ward of the Argonaut”; Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Fantastic Universe Jan ’59 · The Rape of the Lock [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Feb ’52 · Bell, Book, and Candle [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Fantastic Universe Oct ’59 · All That Glitters [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · Gin Comes in Bottles [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Tales from Gavagan’s Bar, Twayne, 1953 · There’d Be Thousands in It [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss * · The Black Ball [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Oct ’52 · The Green Thumb [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Feb ’53 · Caveat Emptor [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss Weird Tales Mar ’53 · The Weissenbroch Spectacles [Gavagan’s Bar] · ss F&SF Nov ’54

Agent to the Stars


John Scalzi - 2004
    There's just one problem: They're hideously ugly and they smell like rotting fish. So getting humanity's trust is a challenge. The Yherajk need someone who can help them close the deal. Enter Thomas Stein, who knows something about closing deals. He's one of Hollywood's hottest young agents. But although Stein may have just concluded the biggest deal of his career, it's quite another thing to negotiate for an entire alien race. To earn his percentage this time, he's going to need all the smarts, skills, and wits he can muster.

Robots vs. Fairies


Dominik ParisienJohn Scalzi - 2018
    Robots vs. Fairies is an anthology that pitches genre against genre, science fiction against fantasy, through an epic battle of two icons. On one side, robots continue to be the classic sci-fi phenomenon in literature and media, from Asimov to WALL-E, from Philip K. Dick to Terminator. On the other, fairies are the beloved icons and unquestionable rulers of fantastic fiction, from Tinkerbell to Tam Lin, from True Blood to Once Upon a Time. Both have proven to be infinitely fun, flexible, and challenging. But when you pit them against each other, which side will triumph as the greatest genre symbol of all time?There can only be one…or can there?

How Dark the World Becomes


Frank Chadwick - 2013
    His parents came to this rock figuring to make it big, only to find that they’d been recruited as an indentured labor force for alien overlords known as the Varoki.Now a pair of rich young Varoki under the care of a beautiful human nanny are fleeing Peezgtaan, and Sasha is recruited to help.  All things considered, he’d rather leave the little alien lordlings to their fate, but certain considerations—such as Sasha’s own imminent demise if he remains—make it beneficial for him to take on the job. But Sasha discovers his simple choice has thrust him into the midst of a political battle that could remake the galactic balance of power and save humanity from slow death by servitude.  Now all he has to do is survive and keep his charges alive on a hostile planet undergoing its own revolution. But it’s the galaxy that had better watch out.  For now the toughest thug in Crack City has gotten his first taste of real freedom. He likes it, and wants more. The stunning debut of a nonstop science fiction noir thriller from legendary game creator Frank Chadwick.About How Dark the World Becomes:“How Dark the World Becomes is a crackling debut novel that speaks of great things to come! It's whip-smart, lightning-fast and character-driven—in short it has everything required to be totally satisfying. Highly recommended." –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of Assassin’s Code“. . . [a] far off, hard scrabble intergalactic underworld . . . fast-paced intergalactic adventure full of far-flung alien intrigue.”—Astroguyz " . . . thrilling space adventure . . . I was reminded of Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedict novels and Mark L Van Name's Jon & Lobo adventures."—SFCrowsnest

Impossible Places


Alan Dean Foster - 2002
    . . .NASA Sending Addicts to Mars! It was the most insane idea in the annals of space travel--and the only one that would work.Diesel Dream Sometimes on dark, lonely highways dreams do come true, and this trucker's hope was the best one of all.Sideshow Flinx hadn't a clue about the alien dancer, but Pip knew trouble when she saw it.Empowered A magnificent male discovers the not-so-super part about being a superhero.The Question A bold adventurer determines to solve one of life's profound mysteries. . . . and fifteen other amazing stories!

Lord of the Fantastic: Stories in Honor of Roger Zelazny


Martin H. GreenbergBradley H. Sinor - 1998
    In the groundbreaking Amber books, he turned to fantasy, creating one of the most beloved series of all time.Sadly, Roger Zelazny was taken from us too soon. But his genius blazes on—not only in his own enduring fiction, but also in the work of fellow authors influenced by his example and touched by his friendship. Now twenty-five of those writers—including some of the most acclaimed names in SF and fantasy—come together to pay tribute to Roger Zelazny with original stories evoking the magic and wonder of his own best work.

Lythande


Marion Zimmer Bradley - 1986
    But the power of an Adept was always bound to a Secret, and whoever discovered this sorcerer's Secret could steal away the Blue Star power, leaving the Adept defenseless, fit only for death.And Lythande's secret was perhaps the most dangerous of all, setting the mage apart from all humanity, forcing Lythande to war against spell beast, sorcerer, thief, swordsman, and the magic of the gods themselves.…As an added bonus, Lythande includes a special guest appearance by Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Vonda N. McIntyre.Contents:The Secret of the Blue Star • (1979) • novelette by Marion Zimmer BradleyThe Incompetent Magician • (1983) • novelette by Marion Zimmer BradleySomebody Else's Magic • (1984) • novelette by Marion Zimmer BradleySea Wrack • (1985) • novelette by Marion Zimmer BradleyThe Wandering Lute • (1986) • novelette by Marion Zimmer BradleyLooking for Satan • (1981) • novella by Vonda N. McIntyre

Interesting Times: The Play


Stephen Briggs - 1995
    Opposing him, though, is the evil and manipulative Lord Hong and his army of 750,000 men.Oh?Rincewind is also aided by Twoflower - Discworld's first tourist and the author of a subversive book, about his visit to Ankh-Morpork, which has inspired the rebels in their struggle for freedom.The book is called "What I Did On My Holidays".

The Cyberiad


Stanisław Lem - 1965
    Ranging from the prophetic to the surreal, these stories demonstrate Stanislaw Lem's vast talent and remarkable ability to blend meaning and magic into a wholly entertaining and captivating work.

Cobra Slave


Timothy Zahn - 2013
    At the center of action on Cobra world Aventine: the legendary Moreau clan. In times of war, the Cobras are necessary, yet in times of peace they are often reviled by those they have saved. Now the Cobras have resisted a second invasion of the alien Troft forces, and forced the Troft to a stalemate ‑‑ and even converted some thoughtful Troft into uneasy allies against their kin.Yet all is not well in the human sector of the galaxy. A supposed sister empire, the Dominion of Man, threatens the Cobra worlds with what is, in effect, enslavement, as it moves to consolidate power over all the Cobra worlds. The plan on Aventine: to extort from the Moreau family the location of the home planet of a mysterious human ally that may be more powerful than the Dominion: the Qasaman empire. Meanwhile, Cobra Merrick Moreau is on a secret mission of his own to a world of humans enslaved by Troft masters. It is a world of barbaric cruelty where human are slave chattel to Troft gamblers. There the Troft force whole villages, even children, into life and death struggles served up for Troft entertainment.But the totalitarian Dominion of Man and the Troft game‑masters are in for a rude surprise: Cobras are not merely technological marvels. They are far more. For within each Cobra, bred by close family ties and hard testing in battle, there beats the heart of a warrior and the burning conviction that a Cobra will be slave to no one. Rebellion is at hand, and once again, Cobras lead the fight for freedom.

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fiction and Illusions


Neil Gaiman - 1998
    and anything is possible. In this, Gaiman's first book of short stories, his imagination and supreme artistry transform a mundane world into a place of terrible wonders -- a place where an old woman can purchase the Holy Grail at a thrift store, where assassins advertise their services in the Yellow Pages under "Pest Control," and where a frightened young boy must barter for his life with a mean-spirited troll living beneath a bridge by the railroad tracks. Explore a new reality -- obscured by smoke and darkness, yet brilliantly tangible -- in this extraordinary collection of short works by a master prestidigitator. It will dazzle your senses, touch your heart, and haunt your dreams.