- Table View
- List View
Scores
by John CluteFor nearly 40 years John Clute has been reviewing science fiction and fantasy. As Scores demonstrates, his devotion to the task of understanding the central literatures of our era has not slackened. There are jokes in Scores, and curses, and tirades, and apologies, and riffs; but every word of every review, in the end, is about how we understand the stories we tell about the world. Following on from his two previous books of collected reviews (Strokes and Look at the Evidence) this book collects reviews from a wide variety of sources, but mostly from Interzone, the New York Review of Science Fiction, and Science Fiction Weekly. Where it has seemed possible to do so without distorting contemporary responses to books, these reviews have been revised, sometimes extensively. 125 review articles, over 200 books reviewed in more than 214,000 words.
Scornful Stars (Breaker of Empires #3)
by Richard BakerRichard Baker continues his new military science fiction series, Breaker of Empires, with vivid space battles and elements of politics and cultural heritage, picking up where Valiant Dust and Restless Lightning have led.Now a captain, Sikander Singh North commands the destroyer Decisive, assigned to Zerzura, a haven for piracy and the next playing-board in the Great Game. The Aquilan Commonwealth and the Empire of Dremark vie for the allegiance of local ruler Marid Pasha, a competition with stakes that reach far beyond the sector's pirate-infested limits. Sikander must stop the pirate attacks while charting his course between the ambitions of Marid Pasha, a dubious alliance with a shipping magnate, and the inexperience of Decisive’s crew...a situation that only grows more complicated when an old enemy returns.Breaker of EmpiresValiant DustRestless LightningScornful StarsAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Scorpica (Five Queendoms, The #1)
by G.R. MacallisterA centuries-long peace is shattered in a matriarchal society when a decade passes without a single girl being born in this sweeping epic fantasy that&’s perfect for fans of Robin Hobb and Circe.Five hundred years of peace between queendoms shatters when girls inexplicably stop being born. As the Drought of Girls stretches across a generation, it sets off a cascade of political and personal consequences across all five queendoms of the known world, throwing long-standing alliances into disarray as each queendom begins to turn on each other—and new threats to each nation rise from within. Uniting the stories of women from across the queendoms, this propulsive, gripping epic fantasy follows a warrior queen who must rise from childbirth bed to fight for her life and her throne, a healer in hiding desperate to protect the secret of her daughter&’s explosive power, a queen whose desperation to retain control leads her to risk using the darkest magic, a near-immortal sorcerer demigod powerful enough to remake the world for her own ends—and the generation of lastborn girls, the ones born just before the Drought, who must bear the hopes and traditions of their nations if the queendoms are to survive.
The Scorpio Races
by Maggie StiefvaterSome race to win. Others race to survive. It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.
Scorpion: A Novel
by Christian Cantrell&“An exceptional, fast-paced thriller featuring a tech-empowered assassin whose pattern and objective you&’ve never seen before, chased by a heroine with tenacious grit.&”—David Brin, author of The Postman and ExistenceQuinn Mitchell is a nine-to-five spy—an intelligence analyst for the CIA during the day, and a suburban wife and mother on evenings and weekends. After her young daughter is killed in a tragic accident, sending her life into a tailspin, Quinn hopes to find a new start in her latest assignment: investigating a series of bizarre international assassinations whose victims have been found with numeric codes tattooed, burned, or carved into their flesh. As Quinn follows the killer&’s trail across the globe, always one body behind, she begins uncovering disturbing connections between the murders—and herself. Every lead she tracks down in pursuit of the assassin brings Quinn one step closer to the Epoch Index, a mysterious encrypted message discovered in the archives of the Large Hadron Collider. Its origins are unknown and decrypting it is beyond even the CIA. Yet nothing else can possibly link together a slew of unsolvable murders, an enigmatic and sophisticated serial killer who always seems to be three steps ahead, a quirky young physics prodigy whose knowledge extends well beyond her years, and, underlying everything, the inescapable tragedy of Quinn&’s own past. Discovering the meaning of the Epoch Index leads Quinn to a shocking twist that shatters everything she thought she knew about the past, the future, and the delicate balance of right and wrong that she must now fight to preserve.
Scorpion (Mayfly #2)
by Jeff SweatIn Scorpion, the sequel to Jeff Sweat's YA futuristic thriller Mayfly, Jemma, Lady, and Pico all left the Holy Wood to seek answers to the End, and when they find the Old Guys—the only adults to have survived the original wipeout of everyone over the age of seventeen—they think they've found help at last.But there's a lot the Old Guys aren't telling them. In fact, some of them don't seem interested in solving the End at all and just want Jemma and her friends to leave. Meanwhile, war is brewing among the tribes of the rest of the Children. Jemma's old home has fallen into disorder, and is far from prepared for battle. It won't be long before the fighting reaches Jemma and the Old Guys, if they even live to see it.
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms)
by Amélie Wen ZhaoIn a world at war with demons, one girl will face the ultimate test when she is forced to enter into an ancient, deadly competition for the chance to save her mother's soul… before she loses her forever. From the New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Throne of Glass.Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn&’yīng&’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.Àn&’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn&’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn&’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù&’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn&’yīng.The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn&’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she&’s falling for or if he&’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.
The Scorpion Queen
by Mina FearsPrinting with sprayed edges for a limited time! Uprooted meets Children of Blood and Bone in this dark fantasy inspired by a Malian fairy tale about a princess whose suitors are challenged to gruesome trials.Deep within the imperial palace at Timbuktu, Amie has suffered a devastating loss. Once the daughter of a prosperous salt merchant Amie’s life was cruelly overturned in a matter of months. At sixteen, Amie now finds herself disinherited, framed for a scandalous crime, and forced to serve Princess Mariama of Mali. Her father, Emperor Sulyeman, has created a series of impossible trials for his daughter's suitors. When they fail, he publicly boils them alive, littering Mariama’s path to marriage with ninety-nine corpses.At first, Amie’s life at court is drudgery—the chores are difficult, the servants despise her, and Princess Mariama is prone to mood swings—but the more she learns about the princess's circumstances, the closer the two girls become. Amie and her intended, Kader, plan to escape Timbuktu and make a new life far away from the shadow of death that has fallen upon the emperor’s court, but she finds herself increasingly drawn to the princess in ways she doesn’t understand. When a mysterious discovery forces her hand, she must choose between fleeing with the boy she loves or helping the princess to end the trials forever. Amie will need to draw on all of her strength and courage to make the perilous journey through the desert to seek the aid of an exiled god in a final, desperate attempt to take charge of her own destiny.
The Scorpion Rules (Prisoners of Peace)
by Erin BowThe children of world leaders are held hostage in an attempt to keep the peace in this &“slyly humorous, starkly thought-provoking&” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) novel.Greta is a Duchess and a Crown Princess. She is also a Child of Peace, a hostage held by the de facto ruler of the world, the great Artificial Intelligence, Talis. This is how the game is played: if you want to rule, you must give one of your children as a hostage. Start a war and your hostage dies. The system has worked for centuries. Parents don’t want to see their children murdered. Greta will be free if she can make it to her eighteenth birthday. Until then she is prepared to die with dignity, if necessary. But everything changes when Elian arrives at the Precepture. He’s a hostage from a new American alliance, and he defies the machines that control every part of their lives—and is severely punished for it. His rebellion opens Greta’s eyes to the brutality of the rules they live under, and to the subtle resistance of her companions. And Greta discovers her own quiet power. Then Elian’s country declares war on Greta’s and invades the prefecture, taking the hostages hostage. Now the great Talis is furious, and coming himself to deliver punishment. Which surely means that Greta and Elian will be killed...unless Greta can think of a way to break all the rules.
Scorpion Shards (The Star Shards Chronicles #1)
by Neal ShustermanSix teens struggle to discover the source of their strange and horrific abilities in this first book of The Star Shards Chronicles.Dillon has the terrifying power to create massive amounts of destruction with the slightest tweak of his will. Deanna is so consumed by fear, it has become like a black hole, drawing to her the very things that terrify her. Then, when the glare of a supernova sixteen light-years away illuminates the night sky, they have a vision: There are six of them out there, all teenagers, and all suffering from supernatural afflictions that disfigure their bodies and souls. Only by finding one another will the six ever be strong enough to defeat these mysterious forces that, bit by bit, are devouring their souls from the inside out. Acclaimed author Neal Shusterman “combines personal quest, horror, and science fiction into an absorbing exploration of good and evil, guilt, forgiveness and personal responsibility” (VOYA) in this thrilling start to a riveting trilogy. Originally published by Tor Fantasy in 1995.
Scorpion Strike: Series 2 Book 2 (Team Hero Ser. #6)
by Adam BladeX-Men meets Beast Quest at the school for superheroes! An epic new adventure series from bestselling author Adam Blade - with amazing comic-book style illustrations. General Gore's evil poison is spreading throughout the underground city of Tavnar. Jack, Danny and Ruby must descend into its dark depths before the whole population is infected ...There are FOUR thrilling adventures to collect in this series - don't miss out! Book 1: Fight for the Hidden City, Book 2: Scorpion Strike, Book 3: Falcon of Fury, Book 4: Rise of the Shadow SnakesAnd don't forget Adam Blade's other series: Beast Quest and Sea Quest
Scorpion Strike: Series 2 Book 2 (Team Hero #6)
by Adam BladeX-Men meets Beast Quest at the school for superheroes! An epic new adventure series from bestselling author Adam Blade - with amazing comic-book style illustrations. General Gore's evil poison is spreading throughout the underground city of Tavnar. Jack, Danny and Ruby must descend into its dark depths before the whole population is infected ...There are FOUR thrilling adventures to collect in this series - don't miss out! Book 1: Fight for the Hidden City, Book 2: Scorpion Strike, Book 3: Falcon of Fury, Book 4: Rise of the Shadow SnakesAnd don't forget Adam Blade's other series: Beast Quest and Sea Quest
Scorpion's Kiss: An Accidental Zodiac Story (The Accidental Zodiacs)
by Cherron RiserFollow the music. The case called to Serina like none of the others she had worked on. After ten years working at the Zodiac Enforcement Agency, going from desk job to being an agent, she had finally found the case that made her mind spin. Not much was known about her target other than the sound of music from the scene of his crimes. The songs told a story, and Serina had every intention of hearing the end. Through time and space, Serina chased her Music Man. Each scene created more questions than answers until it became an obsession—a mystery she would do almost anything to solve. The attacks seemed like more than malice, and Serina wanted to find the answer, even if it meant skirting a little closer to the forbidden edge. She could handle it, and when she found him, he would taste her Scorpion’s Kiss. An Accidental Zodiacs Novel About the Accidental Zodiac shared world: There are three types of Zodiacs: The Sinless who live life in goodness and light, their blue auras shining like beacons of hope. The Wanderers, their purple essence telling others they walk a fine line between good and evil. Then there’s The Fallen, the evil. The ones who use their powers to enhance their lives at any cost.
Scorpius Rising (The Scorpius Syndrome)
by Rebecca ZanettiFor Nora Medina it started when she was yanked off a gorgeous Hawaiian beach, still in her bikini top, and onto her ex-husband's government jet. A microbiologist doesn't see a lot of emergency extractions, but marriage to Deacan Devlin McDougall taught her plenty about adrenaline. Nora knows it's more than their unfinished business that has brought the sexy, maddening Scot back into her life. But she'd never have guessed this.As a soldier of fortune, Deke has seen too much by any standards. But the terrifying bacterium sneaking through the highest halls of power isn't his kind of battle. All he can do is keep close to his brilliant, fiery Nora and fight like hell to keep her safe. Because if he lets her get sucked down by the horror that's coming, he'll never get another chance at her heart . . . "Thrilling post-apocalyptic romance at its dark, sizzling best!" --Lara AdrianPreviously published in On The Hunt.
The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Accidental Witch #3)
by Annette BlairHe sought his birthright Long ago, Rory MacKenzie's Scottish ancestor lost the bewitching woman he loved and regretted it forever. Before he died, he sent her his greatest work of art, a beautifully carved unicorn, as a token of his eternal devotion. Now, Rory is determined to reclaim the unicorn and restore his clan to glory. She fought her birthright Like all the women in her family, Victoria Cartwright has inherited the key to the mysterious wardrobe in the family attic. Legend says that only the girl who possesses the magic of her ancestor can reveal the treasure within. But Vickie refuses to believe she is any sort of enchantress. They both got more than they bargained for... When Vickie unexpectedly opens the wardrobe, the unicorn makes her dreams come true - until the handsome Rory shows up with his own plans for the unicorn, and for Vickie...
Scott Westerfeld: Leviathan Trilogy
by Scott WesterfeldAll three books in Scott Westerfeld's around-the-world, steampunk, adventure trilogy, now collected together in one ebook bundle!
Scottish Magic
by Hannah Howell Stobie Piel Elizabeth Ann Michaels Mandalyn KayeJourney across time and place to a land of crags and castles shrouded in mist and lore...where haunting sounds of bagpipes can be heard drifting on the wind and where night brings passion and enchantment. Welcome to Scotland and to the legend of the noble clan called the MacLachlans, whose destiny is entwined with the magic that rules these tempestuous Highlands. Savor four stories of breathtaking romance set in a land where love is the most powerful magic of all... A handsome laird meets his match in Stobie Piel's LILY. Although she is responsible for the curse that has haunted Duncan MacLachlan since birth, Lily has always watched over him...and loves him with all her heart. But she has never allowed him to see her...until one fateful day. Unaware of who Lily really is, Duncan loses his own heart to the fey beauty. Sworn to make her his, his passion will be put to the ultimate test when Lily becomes a pawn in a battle between good and evil that can only be won by love itself. Hannah Howell's ISBEL introduces an ethereal beauty who possesses the gift of sight, a legacy that flows through the MacLachlan blood. Her sensual dream of a tall, black-haired warrior turns passionately real when he steps off the battlefield and into her life. She knows it is her destiny to heal him and to desire him. But first he must learn to trust this bewitchingly beautiful woman who offers him nothing but the magical passion of her love. Destiny and desire become one in FAERIE PRINCESS. Elisabeth Ann Michaels' tale of the cerulean-eyed Krista, who possesses a special gift passed down from the very first MacLachlan bride. When she meets the enigmatic Prince Alexi, he makes her burn with unaccustomed fire. But Alexi is a rogue, a seducer...and a man about to discover love with a woman whose capricious charm holds a magic all its own. beyond time in Mandalyn Kaye's BENEATH THE MIDNIGHT SKY. Every one hundred years, Stuart MacLachlan awakens from his enchanted slumber to end the curse placed on his cherished love, Laren Campbell. But now he has only five days to solve the legendary faerie riddle...or surrender to the darkness forever. Enter a world that is magnificent and wild, where desire rides on the winds of destiny...and where passion knows no bounds. Journey to Scotland of long ago...and find love.
The Scottish Rose
by Jill JonesA modern American myth-buster finds the magic of love in seventeenth-century Scotland in this unique and “truly spectacular” romance (Romantic Times). Taylor Kincaid has made a career of debunking myths and legends as the host of her own TV show. When she inherits property in Scotland near a storied archway of sea stones called Ladysgate, she’s determined to disprove the incredible tales of locals who have disappeared through it. Despite the warnings of brawny sea captain Duncan Fraser, Taylor insists on setting sail toward Ladysgate. But when a vicious storm strikes, she is thrown overboard, with Captain Fraser close behind her. Together, they come to grips with the inconceivable—they have somehow ended up in 1651. Taylor and Duncan soon find themselves thrust into a desperate plot to save the Scottish crown, sword, and scepter amid imminent peril. And as they attempt to re-cross the centuries, they risk losing not only their lives, but the love they’ve found in a time long past. “Jill Jones continues to carve out a most unique and extraordinary niche for herself with her completely captivating and unusual novels.” —RT Book Reviews
Scoundrel: The Blades of the Rose (The Blades of the Rose #2)
by Zoe ArcherThe Blades of the Rose are sworn to protect the sources of magic in the world. But the work is dangerous--and they can't always protect their own. . . Ready For Action London Harcourt's father is bent on subjugating the world's magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn't bothered to tell her so. He's said only that he's leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity--unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day. Risking It All Bennett is a ladies' man, when he's not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London's father. Sometimes, he's a ladies' man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again--but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart. . .
The Scoundrel Falls Hard: The Duke Hunt (Duke Hunt #3)
by Sophie JordanNew York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan is back with the enchanting third book in the Duke Hunt series about a marriage of convenience between a fierce female blacksmith and a handsome scoundrel.A devil’s bargain burns the hottest….For years, fiercely independent Gwen Cully has worked as the village blacksmith, keeping her family’s business going. But when a local rival threatens her livelihood, Gwen has nowhere to turn ... until a devastatingly handsome fugitive takes shelter in her shop and sparks fly. Unrepentant rogue Kellan Fox’s entire existence has been a dangerous game of deception that leads him into a fight for survival—and straight into the arms of a tall, fiery beauty. When Gwen protects him from an angry mob of villagers, Kellan sees the perfect solution to both their troubles. A marriage—in name only—that will last a single year. Only a marriage of convenience can’t hide their searing attraction. It glows hotter than Gwen’s forge and reaches deep below the tempting mask Kellan wears for the world. With every sizzling glance and scorching kiss, Gwen surrenders more of herself to the molten passion she finds in Kellan’s strong embrace. But can she ever truly trust her heart to a scoundrel?
The Scoundrel Worlds
by Chris BunchSkyball - popular, challenging, violent . . . and the greatest sport in the universe. Two opposing worlds are neck and neck in the championships, and lately the game's been a killer. It's up to the mercenaries of Star Risk, Ltd., to keep the two sides galaxy-friendly.The Star Risk team put their lives on the line again . . . for the money, of course. If they don't get killed themselves.
The Scoundrel Worlds: Book Two of the Star Risk Series
by Chris BunchSkyball - popular, challenging, violent . . . and the greatest sport in the universe. Two opposing worlds are neck and neck in the championships, and lately the game’s been a killer. It’s up to the mercenaries of Star Risk, Ltd., to keep the two sides galaxy-friendly.The Star Risk team put their lives on the line again . . . for the money, of course. If they don’t get killed themselves.
The Scoundrel Worlds
by Chris BunchSkyball is popular, challenging, and violent. In other words, the greatest sport in the universe. The mercenary team of Star Risk, Ltd. has been hired to watch it. . . closely. Two opposing worlds are neck and neck, and lately the game's been a real killer. Riots, murder, a real madhouse for loyal fans. It's up to Star Risk to keep it galaxy-friendly. Good luck to them. They don't stand a sporting chance.
Scoundrels: A Blackguards Anthology (Blackguards #2)
by Melanie MeadorsStealing into shadows. Coveting coin...and blood. No one is safe from the schemes of those who lurk in the city's underworld-those who prey on the weak and naive. Within these pages lie tales of intrigue and murder, thievery, and revenge, by bestselling and award-winning authors like Bradley P. Beaulieu, Jean Rabe, Lian Hearn, Anton Strout, and many more!
Scoundrels: Star Wars (Star Wars - Legends #103)
by Timothy ZahnNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • To make his biggest score, Han's ready to take even bigger risks. But even he can't do this job solo.Han Solo should be basking in his moment of glory. After all, the cocky smuggler and captain of the Millennium Falcon just played a key role in the daring raid that destroyed the Death Star and landed the first serious blow to the Empire in its war against the Rebel Alliance. But after losing the reward his heroics earned him, Han&’s got nothing to celebrate. Especially since he&’s deep in debt to the ruthless crime lord Jabba the Hutt. There's a bounty on Han's head—and if he can&’t cough up the credits, he&’ll surely pay with his hide. The only thing that can save him is a king's ransom. Or maybe a gangster&’s fortune?That's what a mysterious stranger is offering in exchange for Han&’s less-than-legal help with a riskier-than-usual caper. The payoff will be more than enough for Han to settle up with Jabba—and ensure he never has to haggle with the Hutts again.All he has to do is infiltrate the ultra-fortified stronghold of a Black Sun crime syndicate underboss and crack the galaxy&’s most notoriously impregnable safe. It sounds like a job for miracle workers . . . or madmen. So Han assembles a gallery of rogues who are a little of both—including his indispensable sidekick Chewbacca and the cunning Lando Calrissian. If anyone can dodge, deceive, and defeat heavily armed thugs, killer droids, and Imperial agents alike—and pull off the heist of the century—it&’s Solo&’s scoundrels. But will their crime really pay, or will it cost them the ultimate price?BONUS: Includes the novella Winner Lose All.