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The Venging: Stories
by Greg BearHailed by readers and critics alike, The Venging has been described as an &“excellent collection&” and its author praised as &“one of the freshest writers to break into the science fiction field in many a year.&” This is the first published collection of short stories by one of the foremost voices in science fiction today. This significant volume contains many characters and situations that later evolved into their own novels. &“Mandala&” features technologically perfect cities that eject their sinful human occupants, a premise that can be found at the root of Bear&’s later novel, Strength of Stones. In &“Hardfought,&” Bear brilliantly handles the classic science fiction dilemma of human communication with aliens. Other stories include &“The Wind From a Burning Woman&” in which a woman holds the world hostage by controlling a giant asteroid; &“Scattershot,&” in which the inhabitants of many universes meet in an undefined limbo space; and the Nebula Award finalist &“Petra,&” a story of a world where chaos rules, stone moves, and the mind controls reality.
The Venom Trees of Sunga
by L. Sprague deCampTortured IntellectualKirk Salazar, devout intellectual, had quite been looking forward to his field research on Sunga. He aimed to discover how the stump-tailed, semiarboreal kusis lived without being injured within the venom tree forest. A fascinating topic!His thesis would have progressed splendidly, save for one thing. A certain lack of financing necessitated that he travel through Sunga with a tour group. Much against his will, he soon became embroiled with a conglomeration of characters even more peculiar than Sunga's natural wonders.First there were the hard-core tourists, always pushing and complaining, desperate to glimpse the rare, birdlike zutas. Worse the Cantemir - a man lewd, rude and dangerous - who had struck a deal with the native Chief to destroy the whole Sunga forest for lumber! But most formidable was Alexis Ritter. She was the high priestess of a Sunga cult dedicated to chastity. But she sure seemed to have a use in mind for Salazar's body!Doggedly Salazar pursued his research through ambushes, sex, and even attempted murder. A determined intellectual does not give up easily - even if he has to go to extremes to defend his thesis!
The Venom of Luxur
by J. Steven YorkSecond of three epic trilogies set in the legendary world of Conan the Barbarian. Cursed with an unspeakable power, Anok Wati, the heretic of Set, has unknowingly unleashed a hideous evil. And unless he can find the hero within himself, and destroy a god given flesh, all of Hyboria will be enslaved.
The Venus Belt (North American Confederacy #2)
by L. Neil SmithTwo universes weren't enough--the Federalists wanted them all! More than 150,000 women had been kidnapped--they vanished without a trace. No ransom demands. That was in the crime-ridden, bureaucracy-stifled "main" world of 1999. In the freedom-loving alternative universe of the North American Confederacy, however, crime was not a problem. Would-be criminals didn't survive very long. Suddenly, all hell broke loose across the Probability Broach that separated the two universed--kidnapping, murder, intrigue. Detective Win Bear's closest friend vanished... then Featherstone-Haugh, the urbane gorilla who headed the Confederacy... then Win's wife... then his assistant. With mindless--but lethally effective--assassins on his trail, Bear had a dozen cases to solve--and a universe to save along the way.
The Venus Collection: Venus of Dreams, Venus of Shadows, and Child of Venus (Venus)
by Pamela SargentThe Nebula Award–winning author’s “masterful SF trilogy” is a multigenerational epic of human colonists terraforming the second planet from the sun (Publishers Weekly). Often compared to Kim Stanley Robinson’s acclaimed Mars trilogy, the three novels gathered here comprise the complete Venus saga by the author of The Shore of Women, “one of the genre’s best writers” (The Washington Post). The Venus Project—making the planet’s atmosphere habitable for humans—spans centuries and determines the fates of multiple generations. Venus of Dreams: Iris Angharads, a determined, independent woman, sets herself one massive goal: to make the poison-filled atmosphere of Venus hospitable to humans. She works day and night to realize her dream, with only one person sharing her passion, Liang Chen. It seems impossible to make Venus, with its intolerable air and waterless environment, into a paradise, but Iris succeeds. And in doing so, she also creates a powerful dynasty, beginning with her first born, Benzi Liangharad. Venus of Shadows: The Venus Project calls upon the strongest and most courageous to create a prosperous world in the dismal wilderness of Venus. Those who demonstrate the skill and passion to embark on this adventure must transform the barren planet in the midst of political and cultural unrest. When Risa and Benzi, children of Iris, find themselves in opposing forces on the battlefield, it is their love and perseverance that will determine the destiny of the new world. Child of Venus: Mahala Liangharad, a true child of Venus, conceived from the genetic material of the rebels and brought to birth only after their deaths, is seen as a beacon of hope in a colony still ravaged by the aftereffects of civil war. But her world is being torn apart by a drive for independence from Earth by the Venus colonists and rumors of a secret plan developed by the “Habbers,” cybernetically enhanced human dwellers of a mobile asteroid. A mysterious call from deep space offers Mahala a chance to fulfill her own destiny, along with the terrifying possibility of losing touch with everything she has ever known and loved.
The Venus Trap
by Evelyn E. SmithOne thing Man never counted on to take along into space with him was the Eternal Triangle—especially a true-blue triangle like this! Evelyn E. Smith is best known as the author of the Miss Melville mysteries. From 1952 to 1969 she wrote dozens of science fiction and fantasy short stories that appeared in magazines such as The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Galaxy, Super Science Fiction, and Fantastic Universe. Her stories were witty, well written, often humorous, and always unforgettable.
The Venus Venture
by Patricia Fanthorpe Lionel Fanthorpe John E. MullerMan has already entered space and lived to tell the tale. Science Fiction is on the verge of being overtaken by science fact. Tomorrow is here . . . today. The space age is no longer the dream of the writer or the hope of the scientist. It has already dawned. Man is galloping towards the stars. The roaring hoofs of the rockets are beating out the trail to Infinity. There will be no turning back. Boundless possibilities stretch out before us. Endless opportunities beckon us. Will we use them for good or ill? Space holds a million unknown factors. We are like children plunging into a vast ocean and striking out bravely for an unseen shore, the shore of the unexplored land. As we swim into the future we tell ourselves stories about the wonders that lie ahead of us. This is one of those stories.
The Venusian Gambit: Book Three Of The Daedalus Series (Daedalus Ser. #3)
by Michael J. MartinezIn the year 2135, dangerous alien life forms freed in the destruction of Saturn's moon Enceladus are making their way towards Earth. A task force spearheaded by Lt. Cmdr. Shaila Jain is scrambling to beat them there while simultaneously trying to save crewmember Stephane Durand, who was infected during the mission to Saturn and is now controlled by a form of life intent on reopening a transdimensional rift and destroying the human race. But Jain doesn't realize that the possessed Stephane has bigger plans, beaming critical data to other conspirators suspiciously heading not for Earth, but for Venus...In 1809-a Napoleonic era far different from our own-the French have occupied England with their Corps Eternélle, undead soldiers risen through the darkest Alchemy. Only the actions of Lord Admiral Thomas Weatherby and the Royal Navy have kept the French contained to Earth. But the machinations of old enemies point to a bold and daring gambit: an ancient weapon, presumed lost in the jungles of Venus.Now, Weatherby must choose whether to stay and fight to retake his homeland or pursue the French to the green planet. And Shaila must decide if it's possible to save the man she loves, or if he must be sacrificed for the good of two dimensions. In the dark, alien jungles of Venus, humanity's fate in both dimensions hangs in the balance-forcing past and present to once again join forces against an ancient terror.
The Verdant Passage (Dark Sun: Prism Pentad #1)
by Troy DenningReturn to the deserts of the Dark Sun world!A maverick statesman, a half-elf slave girl, and a man-dwarf gladiator band together to face off against the vile magic of a sorcerer-king who's spent a thousand years draining the world of Athas of its precious life-force.In 1991 best-selling author Troy Denning introduced the world to the post-apocalyptic world of Athas, and almost twenty years later it remains one of the most talked-about and fan-requested settings in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. These deluxe trade paperback reissues will introduce a whole new generation to the magic-blasted deserts of the Dark Sun world!From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Verdigris Pawn
by Alysa WishingradA JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION! A boy who underestimates his power. . . A girl with a gift long thought lost . . . A Land ready for revolution . . . The heir to the Land should be strong. Fierce. Ruthless. At least, that’s what Beau’s father has been telling him his whole life, since Beau is the exact opposite of what the heir should be. With little control over his future, Beau is kept locked away, just another pawn in his father’s quest for ultimate power. <p><p> That is, until Beau meets a girl who shows him the secrets his father has kept hidden. For the first time, Beau begins to question everything he’s ever been told and sets off in search of a rebel who might hold the key to setting things right. Teaming up with a fiery runaway boy, their mission quickly turns into something far greater as sinister forces long lurking in the shadows prepare to make their final move—no matter what the cost. But it just might be Beau who wields the power he seeks . . . if he can go from pawn to player before the Land tears itself apart.
The Vermilion Emporium
by Jamie PactonThe heart-wrenching story of The Radium Girls meets the enchanting world of Howl&’s Moving Castle in a story of timeless love and deadly consequences.It was a day for finding things...On the morning Twain, a lonely boy with a knack for danger, discovers a strand of starlight on the cliffs outside of Severon, a mysterious curiosity shop appears in town. Meanwhile, Quinta, the ordinary daughter of an extraordinary circus performer, chases rumors of the shop, the Vermilion Emporium, desperate for a way to live up to her mother&’s magical legacy.When Quinta meets Twain outside of the Emporium, two things happen: One, Quinta is sure she&’s infatuated with this starlight boy, who uses his charm to hide his scars. Two, they enter the store and discover a book that teaches them how to weave starlight into lace.Soon, their lace catches the eye of the Casorina, the ruler of Severon. She commissions Quinta and Twain to make her a starlight dress and will reward them handsomely enough to make their dreams come true. However, they can&’t sew a dress without more material, and the secret to starlight&’s origins has been lost for decades. As Quinta and Twain search the Emporium for answers, though, they discover the secret might not have actually been lost—but destroyed. And likely, for good reason.A powerful and romantic adventure set in a whimsically magical world. The Vermilion Emporium shines a light into the darkest spaces. It&’s about healing in a world shrouded with despair and discovering a spark of magic when you need it most.
The Vertical City
by Javier TorrasThe Vertical City transports us to a dystopian and terrifying future in which the history and the critical capacity of citizens have been nullified. However, a group of people strive to maintain human dignity and fight against the urban totalitarianism of the Great Families that base their social privilege on the supposed purity of blood. The new civilization dwells in endless skyscrapers built for man by the natural disasters that ravages the mainland. Men and women coexist in an alienated society that does not question the past, the present or the future; the cohesive element that allows them to move forward is fear ... fear of the unknown, of the different. Fear of mestizos. All the inhabitants of the Vertical City have 'pure' blood, while the mestizos have been abandoned in the subsoil, under the millions of tons that feed the new social order. The story reflects on the interest of others to climb and the need for others to descend, a constant intrigue full of games of power, revenge and hatred. It is a constant adventure to illuminate the unknown, rediscover the past to be able to face the future. With a climbing plot and full of surprises, this novel combines elements of science fiction with the adventure to carry out an unexpected ending in which no one is who he seems to be.
The Very Best Of Fantasy And Science Fiction: Anthology
by Gordon Van GelderCollecting more than two dozen stories that appeared for the first time in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction-the premiere speculative fiction magazine-this extraordinary anthology celebrates sixty years of top-notch genre fiction. Many of these highly acclaimed, award-winning authors’ careers were jump-started by their appearances in Fantasy & Science Fiction.
The Very Best of H.P. Lovecraft
by H. P. LovecraftThe very best from the master of horror. Be very afraid...
The Very Best of the Best: 35 Years of The Year's Best Science Fiction (Year's Best Science Fiction)
by Gardner DozoisFor the first time in a decade, a compilation of the very best in science fiction, from a world authority on the genre.For decades, the Year's Best Science Fiction has been the most widely read short science fiction anthology of its kind. Now, after thirty-five annual collections comes the ultimate in science fiction anthologies. In The Very Best of the Best, legendary editor Gardner Dozois selects the finest short stories for this landmark collection, including short fiction from authors such as Charles Stross, Michael Swanwick, Nancy Kress, Greg Egan, Stephen Baxter, Pat Cadigan, and many many more.
The Very Black
by Dean EvansAnders was pretty sure he was going to die. No one had yet flown the new-style jet job and lived to tell the tale. A story both chilling and heart-warming that shows us how bravely the human equation can operate when the chips are stacked against it.
The Very First Damned Thing
by Jodi TaylorA Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Ever wondered how it all began?It's two years since the final victory at the Battersea Barricades. The fighting might be finished, but for Dr Bairstow, just now setting up St Mary's, the struggle is only beginning.How will he assemble his team?From where will his funding come?How can he overcome the massed ranks of the Society for the Protection of Historical Buildings?How do stolen furniture, a practical demonstration at the Stirrup Charge at Waterloo, students' alcohol-ridden urine, a widowed urban guerrilla, a young man wearing exciting knitwear, and four naked security guards all combine to become the St Mary's of the future? Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' 'Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked' 'A tour de force'
The Very First Damned Thing (A\chronicles Of St. Mary's Short Story Ser.)
by Jodi TaylorA Chronicles of St Mary's short story that is sure to entertain. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. Ever wondered how it all began?It's two years since the final victory at the Battersea Barricades. The fighting might be finished, but for Dr Bairstow, just now setting up St Mary's, the struggle is only beginning.How will he assemble his team?From where will his funding come?How can he overcome the massed ranks of the Society for the Protection of Historical Buildings?How do stolen furniture, a practical demonstration at the Stirrup Charge at Waterloo, students' alcohol-ridden urine, a widowed urban guerrilla, a young man wearing exciting knitwear, and four naked security guards all combine to become the St Mary's of the future? Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun' 'Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked' 'A tour de force'
The Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon (Papillon #1)
by A. N. KangPapillon is a very fluffy kitty. So fluffy that he's lighter than air! His owner tries to weigh him down, but Papillon just wants to fly. One particularly sunny day, he floats right out the window! Exploring the wide world is exhilarating, but it's also a little scary. Will his new friend, a bird, be able to help him find his way home? Whimsical art and airy text come together seamlessly in this delightful debut by A. N. Kang.
The Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon (Papillon Ser. #1)
by A. N. KangPapillon is a very fluffy kitty. So fluffy that he's lighter than air! His owner tries to weigh him down, but Papillon just wants to fly. One particularly sunny day, he floats right out the window! Exploring the wide world is exhilarating, but it's also a little scary. Will his new friend, a bird, be able to help him find his way home?Whimsical art and airy text come together seamlessly in this delightful debut by A. N. Kang.
The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1: Magic Marks the Spot
by Caroline CarlsonPirates Magic Treasure A gargoyle? Caroline Carlsons hilarious tween novel The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1: Magic Marks the Spot is perfect for fans of Lemony Snickets Series of Unfortunate Events and Trenton Lee Stewarts Mysterious Benedict Society. Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for thirty-seven minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors, and she already owns a rather pointy sword. Theres only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags. But Hilary is not the kind of girl to take no for answer. To escape a life of petticoats and politeness at her stuffy finishing school, Hilary sets out in search of her own seaworthy adventure, where she gets swept up in a madcap quest involving a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesnt exist, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous--and unexpected--villain on the High Seas. Written with uproarious wit and an inviting storyteller tone, the first book in Caroline Carlsons quirky seafaring series is a piratical tale like no other.
The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #2: The Terror of the Southlands
by Caroline Carlson Dave PhillipsMore pirates, more magic, and more adventure in the second book of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series! Caroline Carlson brings the unceasing wit, humor, and fun of the first book in the series, Magic Marks the Spot, to this epic sequel. Fans of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and Trenton Lee Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society will love this quirky tween series and hope to join the VNHLP just like Hilary!Hilary Westfield is now a bona fide pirate, but when her daring, her magical know-how, and even her gargoyle don't convince the VNHLP that she's worthy of her title, the Terror of the Southlands, she sets off with her crew on a High Seas adventure. But then Miss Pimm disappears and Hilary decides to find the missing Enchantress and protect the magic of Augusta.
The Very Secret Agent
by Mari WolfPoor Riuku! . . . Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
by Sangu MandannaShe found magic in the most unlikely of places.The House in the Cerulean Sea meets Practical Magic in this cosy, heartwarming, and uplifting magical romance about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family - and a new love - changes the course of her life.As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon has lived her life by three rules: hide your magic, keep your head down, and stay away from other witches. An orphan raised by strangers from a young age, Mika is good at being alone, and she doesn't mind it . . . mostly.But then an unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches, and Mika jumps at the chance for a different life.Nowhere House is nothing like she expects, and she's quickly tangled up in the lives and secrets of its quirky, caring inhabitants . . . and Jamie, the handsome, prickly librarian who would do anything to protect his charges, and who sees Mika's arrival as a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat. As Mika finds her feet, the thought of belonging somewhere starts to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and soon Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect the found family she didn't know she was looking for . . .'Witty, witchy, and wonderfully romantic' India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels'A perfect comfort read' Stephanie Burgis, author of Scales and Sensibility and Snowspelled'Absolutely charming, adorably witty' Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches'A bewitching tale of found family, magic, and the power of love' Award-winning author Suleikha Snyder'The cozy magical romance you've been waiting for' Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
by Sangu Mandanna&“This is one of my coziest reads of the last year, and I find myself thinking about its enchanted setting all the time.&”−Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling authorA warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life. As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don&’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she&’s used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he&’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat. As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when peril comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn&’t know she was looking for....