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Vail
by Trevor HoyleIn this 'nightmare vision of Britain as a Police State' (Punch) Jack Vail is drawn into a sinister, scheming world populated by the offbeat, the bizarre and the morally corrupt. Jack's wife and daughter are killed in a motorway accident, and now Jack Vail, alone in the world, finds himself in London - but it is not quite the city we know. While his home in the North was stricken with poverty and radiation poisoning, the capital is being consumed by consumerism, media-obsession and moral corruption. Pornography, show business ethics and money-marketing flourish.Is Vail going to be able to sustain his belief in a universal order while he is being engulfed by the growing anarchy surrounding him? In his nightmarish vision of a not-too-distant future, award-winning author Trevor Hoyle vividly reflects the grim mood of 1980s Britain.
Valentina: Soul in Sapphire
by Joseph H. Delaney Marc StieglerIf being human means to experience love, fear, joy... then Valentina is human, but she's also a computer program - the single self-aware being on the vast unliving network.
Valentine Pontifex (Majipoor Cycle #3)
by Robert K. SilverbergPlagued by nightmares of Majipoor besieged by blizzards and earthquakes, Lord Valentine believes these omens signal an encroaching war between his people and the Shapeshifters who once ruled the planet. <P><P> For centuries they have conspired to regain their stolen world and recently, they were discovered impersonating members of the kingdom's inner circle. Since coming to power, Valentine has made peaceful overtures to the Shapeshifters, actions that have many in the royal court questioning his motives and loyalties--and led them to consider removing him from his governing duties so that he may ascend to the higher ceremonial office of Pontifex. <P> But if Valentine accepts the mantle of Pontifex and surrenders his position to his successor-in-waiting, he may be remembered as a leader who evaded his responsibilities--and shattered the peace that has reigned for eight thousand years...
Voyage to the City of the Dead
by Alan Dean FosterFar, far Upriver, where knowledge failed and fable ruled, in a frozen land of demons and monsters, the City of the Dead stood guard over a great treasure. Now the Mai, Delta-dwellers of the planet Horseye, as befitted a race of busy traders and merchants, had a great respect and love for wealth. But, a prudent species, they knew also that danger was, well, dangerous. So their thoughts turned to the Humanx couple, Lyra and Etienne Redowl, impatiently waiting permission to explore the planet. Suddenly bureaucracy was benign, permits permitted and their epic voyage up the most spectacular river chasm in the whole Humanx Commonwealth was underway...
Voyage to the City of the Dead (Humanx Commonwealth)
by Alan Dean FosterFrom a #1 New York Times–bestselling author, a research expedition to an alien planet takes a treacherous turn for married scientists in this sci-fi fantasy. As the first humans granted permission to explore Tslamaina, Etienne and Lyra Redowl should have been ecstatic. The planet&’s massive river valley is like no other in the known universe, with three intelligent species living along its waters—a dream expedition for the geologist–anthropologist duo. But the intolerable climate makes their research arduous, as does the growing tension between them. Fortunately, the husband-and-wife team are well prepared for their adventure, with a state-of-the-art hydrofoil and the assistance of the native inhabitants. But nothing could have prepared them for the dangers they encounter as they make their way to the river&’s source. &“One of the most consistently inventive and fertile writers of science fiction and fantasy.&” —The Times (London)
Voyager in Night (Age of Exploration #2)
by C. J. CherryhThe ship in view was like nothing human-built, a disc cradled in a frame warted with bubbles of no sensible geometry. The generation vanes, if that was what those projections were, stretched about it in a tangle of webbing as if some mad spider had been at work, veiling that toadish lump in gossamer. Lightnings flickered multicolor in the webs and reflected off the warted body, a repeated sequence of pulses. Lindy, on her own, facing the leviathan, sent out a pulse. No. Negative. Reverse. Keep away from us.The bogey kept coming, but slower, feather-soft for something of its power, as if it drifted.
West of Eden (Eden Series #1)
by Harry HarrisonFirst book in the Eden series, where humans and dinosaurs coexisted.
West of Eden: Eden Book 1 (Eden)
by Harry HarrisonIn this brilliant acclaimed novel dinosaurs still rule the Earth. The cosmic catastrophe that ended the Age of the Dinosaurs 65 million years ago never happened. The evolution of the great reptiles continued, climaxing with the Yilanè, the most intelligent and advanced race on Earth. But when the onset of a new Ice Age forces them to cross the ocean to explore and colonize a vast contingent, they clash violently with a savage new breed of mammal that they have never before encountered. Mammals that walk erect, hunt and use crude stone tools - and weapons . . .
Who Made Stevie Crye?
by Michael BishopFor Mary Stevenson Crye, a beautiful young housewife, life had been wonderful. Loving husband, two delightful children, meaningful existence in a small Southern community. Then it all fell apart: with the sudden, unexpected death of her husband, Stevie must struggle to earn a living as a free-lance writer. When her typewriter - the sole economic support for her surviving family - breaks down, Stevie begins to receive demonic messages through the machine, the prelude to a living nightmare of satanic emissaries, ghouls from beyond the grave, and the revelation of an unrequited curse over the Crye household. For Mary Stevenson Crye, the nightmare is about to begin . . .
Wings of Omen: Storm Season, The Face Of Chaos, And Wings Of Omen (Thieves' World® #6)
by John Brunner Joe Haldeman Philip José FarmerSixth in the magical, action-packed shared-world series: &“Thieves&’ World® has grown into a real presence in the fantasy genre&” (Fantasy-Faction). Under the rule of a humanoid race, the city of Sanctuary finds itself divided. Rebels and assassins stalk the shadows, bringing chaos to the streets—which is nothing new to the lawless locals. But even they will have to put aside their differences to unite against their common enemy. An accomplishment easier said than done in a city where everyone is out for themselves . . . Stories by Chris and Janet Morris, Robin W. Bailey, Diana L. Paxson, Diane Duane, C. J. Cherryh, Andrew J. Offutt, Lynn Abbey, and Robert Lynn Asprin add to the legend and lore of this &“surprisingly rich and deep world&” (Book Riot). &“In the sixth book of the collection, the friction between the residents of Sanctuary and the invading Beysib heats up and makes for some exciting reading . . . Offutt&’s character Shadowspawn gets some good coverage, and a few fresh new characters also get some play . . .&” —Fantasy-Faction &“&‘The Hand That Feeds You&’ [by Diane Duane] is one of the best stories in the entire collection to date.&” —brianbookreviews.blogspot.com
Wizard's Eleven
by Sheri S. TepperThe son of Mavin Manyshaped is back.Let the Players of the True Game beware.A giant stalks the mountains. The Shadowpeople gather by the light of the moon. The Bonedancers raise up armies of the dead. And the Wizard's Eleven sleep, trapped in their dreams.Players, take your places. The final Game begins.
World's End
by Joan D. VingeBZ Gundhalinu, police officer of the Hegemony, member of the elite "tech" class of the ruling planet Kharemough, left the planet Tiamat before the Stargate closed, cutting himself off forever from the simple barbarian girl who gave him back his sense of self worth. Moon Dawntreader Summer is now the Summer Queen, and BZ knows he can never again be her lover.
Yendi (Vlad Taltos #2)
by Steven BrustVlad Taltos, the assassin-mobster triggers a mob war against another mob boss who is moving into his territorial turf. As the mob war escalates, Vlad finds a deeper plot that could threaten the entire Empire.
Yorath the Wolf
by Cherry WilderYorath, the son of a royal prince, was born with a deformity that marks him for death. The court physician saves him by convincing his family that he died shortly after birth and takes him to a distant forest where he thrives, unaware of his birthright and the dark prophecy that looms over him. But as he grows to manhood, Yorath can't avoid being drawn into the violent conflict that plagues the land. Becoming a soldier, he rises through the ranks until he becomes a reluctant combatant in the struggle for the throne. Even as Yorath wields the power of a kingmaker, the ways of the court are as much anathema to him as the brutality of war. If he is ever to escape the violence and machinations he so despises, he has but one choice: He must confront his heritage or lose the land he has come to love and the peace he so cherishes.
1984
by George OrwellA PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick With extraordinary relevance and renewed popularity, George Orwell&’s 1984 takes on new life in this edition. &“Orwell saw, to his credit, that the act of falsifying reality is only secondarily a way of changing perceptions. It is, above all, a way of asserting power.&”—The New Yorker In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be. Lionel Trilling said of Orwell&’s masterpiece, &“1984 is a profound, terrifying, and wholly fascinating book. It is a fantasy of the political future, and like any such fantasy, serves its author as a magnifying device for an examination of the present.&” Though the year 1984 now exists in the past, Orwell&’s novel remains an urgent call for the individual willing to speak truth to power.
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
by Jules Verne Judith Conaway Gino D'AchilleProfessor Aronnax and his crew become prisoners of Captain Nemo, an adventurous underwater explorer. Will the professor and his crew ever escape, or will they travel the world with the crazy captain for the rest of their lives?
A Daring Proposition
by Jennifer GreeneLeigh Sexton is desperate to have a baby, and Brian Hathaway would be the perfect bio-dad. One of Chicago's most notorious playboys, Brian is no family man, which suits Leigh just fine. An heiress and successful CPA, she is more than capable of raising a child alone. Now all she has to do is work up the nerve to ask Brian to impregnate her...artificially. Leigh has no interest in conceiving the old-fashioned way, despite how her heart races whenever she's near him.Brian is intrigued by Leigh's request. He's not into commitment, even with a woman as attractive as Leigh, but he's also not the type to make a deposit and then disappear. If he goes along with her scheme, he's got one demand of his own: marriage before conception. He agrees to keep things clinical-he can get sex elsewhere-but having a wife at home will keep the husband-hunters at bay.It seems like the ideal compromise-until they start falling in love.Previously published.61,000 words
A Deadly Game of Magic
by Joan Lowery NixonSeeking shelter from a fierce Texas storm, four teens are trapped inside a strange house as unwitting players in a magician's evil games. The phone goes dead. A plaster head suddenly appears. A disembodied hand taps the mantel. Then the magic turns even more sinister, leading inevitably toward murder.
A Mirror for Observers
by Edgar Pangborn Peter S. BeagleIn their attitude towards the Planet Earth, the Martians had long been divided into two camps: the Observers, benevolent meddlers in human affairs; & the rebellious Abdicators, who sought the Earth's collapse. But it wasn't until the extraordinary matter of the Earth-Boy, Angelo Pontevecchio, that the enmity between these two factions came to a definite head.<P> It started as a contest of wills, waged between two opposing Martians for the soul of a single human child. Before the end, it threatened all life on both Earth & Mars.
A Perfect Vacuum
by Stanislaw LemIngenious essays from &“a Jorge Luis Borges for the Space Age, who plays in earnest with every concept . . . from free will to probability theory&” (The New York Times Book Review). In A Perfect Vacuum, Stanislaw Lem steps outside of his fictional comfort zone to try his hand at reviewing the literature of others. The only catch is this: None of these books have actually been published—or even written—he just made them up. These sixteen satirical and brilliantly insidious commentaries on non-existent books cover the gamut of unconventional writing techniques: from a Joycean review that doggedly dissects every word to a critique that is written entirely in negatives to an analysis presented in fragments for the reader to assemble as he or she likes. Along the way, Lem presents his trademark examinations on topics ranging from modern art to computer technology to philosophy. At once a disarming delight and a clever mental exercise, A Perfect Vacuum lends credence to the assertion that Lem is &“Harpo Marx and Franz Kafka and Isaac Asimov rolled up into one and down the white rabbit&’s hole&” (Detroit News).
A Rebel In Time (Tor Science Fiction Ser.)
by Harry HarrisonCan history be changed?Can the South still win the War Between the States?Colonel McCulloch thinks so...and his gold, his gun, and some very special blueprints stand behind him to help him prove it.Sargeant Harmon is a black man who hopes not...and only his readiness, ingenuity, and wit stand behind him to help him stop it.In the corridors of contemporary Washington and on the fields where Civil War battles have yet to be fought, these two men take each other on--and the winner will determine the course of history...At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
A Rebel in Time
by Harry HarrisonColonel McCulloch was up to no good. That was becoming very clear indeed. He had stashed away a quarter of a million dollars in gold, and was a prime suspect in a couple of murder cases.But secret agent Troy Harman can find no trace of his whereabouts. McCulloch has vanished into thin air.When Harman visits the research station where McCulloch worked as security chief, he realises the awful truth.To follow McCulloch, to try to put an end to his insane mission - Troy Harman has to embark on a strictly one-way trip . . .
A Rumor of Angels
by Marjorie B. KelloggReality is in the eye of the beholder.After six years in a maximum-security prison, political dissident and photographer Jude Rowe will take freedom at whatever price it is offered. She's naturally suspicious of the authorities' deal--liberation from the Wards in exchange for her service on the paradise planet of Arkoi. A parallel world to the overpopulated and environmentally depleted Terra, Arkoi has enough open land and raw materials to revitalize a dying Terra, making it a playground for scientists and a resort for the ultra-rich. The Terran colony spreads like a blight, pushing at its boundaries, subjugating Arkoi's improbably small and seemingly primitive native population, and threatening to destroy a world that has existed unchanged for centuries. Yet, every Terran expedition past the colony's borders has ended in death or insanity, spurring rumors of Others and Dark Powers lurking beyond the ring of mountains called the Guardians.Now, accompanied only by an enigmatic Arkoi guide, Jude is forced to set out on her own daring expedition. What she discovers about Arkoi, the colony, and herself, will radically alter her mission and the dangerously entwined fates of Terra and Arkoi. What lies outside the mountains has claimed the lives and minds of many, while consumption and conservation clash in the valley below. Do the Guardians protect...or imprison?
A Tiger for Malgudi
by R. K. NarayanA venerable tiger, old and toothless now, looks back over his life from cubhood and early days roaming wild in the Indian jungle. Trapped into a miserable circus career as 'Raja the magnificent', he is then sold into films (co-starring with a beefy Tarzan in a leopard skin) until, finding the human world too brutish and bewildering, he makes a dramatic bid for freedom. R. K. Narayan's story combines Hindu mysticism with ripe Malgudi comedy, viewing human absurdities through the eyes of a wild animal and revealing how, quite unexpectedly, Raja finds sweet companionship and peace.