In the aftermath of a war that has devastated the nation, a traveling storyteller borrows the jacket of a long-dead postal worker and is transformed unwittingly into a symbol of hope for America's future.

Hostile aliens take an Earth colony hostage in this New York Times -bestselling hard science fiction adventure by the author of Startide Rising . Although they were uplifted and given full sapience, the Bururalli clearly weren't ready to run a planet, almost wrecking Garth. As a "salvage world," it was given to despised Earthlings, assigned to reclaim it from the brink. Many senior Galactics--leaders of the Five Galaxies--hoped humanity would fail. But now Garth is peacefully surging back, tended by human and neo-chimpanzee colonists. Meanwhile, enemies desperately seek some way to coerce Earthclan, looking for a possible answer to the secret of the Progenitors. One of them--the Gubru avian race--prepares to invade and hold hostage defenseless Garth. With Earth itself under attack by other militant forces, no relief is coming for the embattled colonists. If they are to survive, they have no choice but to band together, improvise, and learn the tactics of guerilla warfare. This book features a new introduction by the author. Winner of the Hugo Award "An exhilarating read that encompasses everything from breathless action to finely drawn moments of quiet intimacy. There is no way we can avoid coming back as many times as Brin wants us to, until his story is done." -- Locus "Shares all the properties that made Startide such a joy. The plot fizzes along . . . and there are the wonders of the Galactic civilizations (which have all the invention and excitement that SF used to have)." -- Asimov's Science Fiction "The Uplift books are as compulsive reading as anything ever published in the genre." -- The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

David Brin and Gregory Benford come together again to issue a new edition of their bold collaboration about our near human future in space, planting our boots . . . and staking our destiny . . . on becoming the People of the Comet. Prescient and scientifically accurate, Heart of the Comet is known as one of the great "Hard SF" novels of the 1980s. First published in 1986, it tells the story of an ambitious manned mission to visit Halley's Comet and alter its orbit, to mine it for resources. But all too soon, native cells- that might once have brought life to Earth-begin colonizing the colonists. As factions battle over the comet's future . . . and that of Earth . . . only love, courage and ingenuity can avert disaster, and possibly spark a new human destiny. Tremendously imaginative . . . a breathtaking effort from two of science fiction's brightest stars. - The San Diego Union

"Under the caverns of Mercury, Expedition Sundiver prepares for the most momentous voyage of history. A journey into the boiling inferno of the sun.. to seek our destiny in the cosmic order of life." -- Back cover.

Albert Morris is a private investigator. Actually, he's lots of private investigators, in a near future when anyone can send forth copies of themselves . Cheap, clay duplicates fulfill every legal task or illicit whim. It's a world of several billion real people - that also throngs with disposable dittos . And you would do it, too. With several cases on the go at once, it's crucial that a P.I. keep track of his many selves! But when Albert takes on a ring of bootleggers making illegal copies of a famous actress, he stumbles on a secret so explosive it triggers open warfare across Dittotown. A secret that might throw this delicately balanced world into chaos. Welcome to a shadowy world of kiln-baked golems, where memory itself is suspect and the line between life and death may no longer exist. Kiln People takes you to a future as thrilling as it is terrifying. A 2003 Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel.

A once peaceful planet of refugees faces complete annihilation in this hard science fiction sequel to Brightness Reef . Book Two in the Uplift Storm Trilogy It's illegal to occupy the planet Jijo, but six castaway races have managed to coexist there for some time. They've successfully hidden from watchful law enforcers of the Five Galaxies--until now . . . After making an amazing discovery far away--a derelict armada whose mere existence triggered interstellar war--the Terran exploration vessel Streaker and its crew of humans and dolphins arrive at Jijo in search of sanctuary from the Galactic forces out to destroy them. But they were followed. As behemoth Galactic starships descend upon Jijo, heroic--and terrifying--choices must be made. Together, human and alien settlers must choose whether to fight the invaders or join them. The crew of the Streaker , meanwhile, discovers something that just might save Jijo and its inhabitants . . . or destroy every last one of them. "Well paced, immensely complex, highly literate . . . Superior SF." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "An imaginative drama of excitement and wonder . . . The sheer virtuosity of the prose alone makes this book worth reading." --SF Site

Prepare for a harrowing ride through the universe by the New York Times -bestselling author of Startide Rising and The Postman. Book Three in the Uplift Storm Trilogy The peaceful existence of six outcast races on Jijo has ended. Ancient enemies, the Jophur, have discovered them, preparing to subject the refugees to their dark, perverted plans. The Jijoans' only hope is the same ship that accidently led their foes to the planet. The Earthship Streaker , with its crew of uplifted dolphins and a human commander, must somehow lure the Jophur into a chase through space . . . into the unknown. And then into the weird . More than just the fate of Jijo--or that of distant Earth, also suffering a deadly siege--hangs in the balance. Some believe a terrifying prophecy is about to come true, one that involves Streaker 's trove of artifacts coveted by factions throughout all Five Galaxies. As countless white dwarf stars verge on unexpected explosion, all sentient life in the universe appears to be at risk unless someone can save them. Praise for the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Uplift Saga "The Uplift books are as compulsive reading as anything ever published in the genre." -- The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction "An extraordinary achievement." --Poul Anderson, award-winning author of Tau Zero ,on Startide Rising "An exhilarating read that encompasses everything from breathless action to finely drawn moments of quiet intimacy." -- Locus on The Uplift War "Tremendously inventive, ambitious work." -- Kirkus Reviews on Brightness Reef

Strange visitors throw a planet of refugees into chaos in this science fiction adventure by the author of New York Times bestseller The Uplift War . Book One in the Uplift Storm Trilogy Centuries ago, the Buyur race abandoned Jijo. Now off-limits to settlers, it's warded by guardian machines who will protect the planet until the Institutes of the Five Galaxies declare Jijo ready--in another million years--for new civilization. But mere laws and guardians can't keep out the desperate. Clandestine bands of "sooners" have sneaked down to the lonely planet. Six intelligent races--all refugees--have bickered . . . then built a new society in the wilds of Jijo, hidden beneath forest canopies. Together they live in harmony--and in fear of the day their illegal colony will be discovered and judgment from the Five Galaxies will rain down upon them. One day a strange starship finally does appear on Jijo. But its owners do not bring law or judgment. Only dire secrets. And they'll do whatever it takes to keep them . . . This book features a new introduction by the author. Hugo Award Finalist "A captivating read . . . Brightness Reef leaves you looking forward to more. It's a worthy addition to what promises to be a great science fiction series." -- Star Tribune "Brin is a skillful storyteller. . . . There is more than enough action to keep the book exciting, and like all good serials, the first volume ends with a bang." -- The Plain Dealer "A universe that's immensely appealing, leaving readers hungry for more of this exciting, epic adventure." -- Publishers Weekly "Tremendously inventive, ambitious work." -- Kirkus Review s "A timely, science fictional contemplation of the refugee experience."-- Santa Fe Reporter

Bestselling, award-winning futurist David Brin returns to globe-spanning, high concept SF with Existence. Gerald Livingston is an orbital garbage collector. For a hundred years, people have been abandoning things in space, and someone has to clean it up. But there's something spinning a little bit higher than he expects, something that isn't on the decades' old orbital maps. An hour after he grabs it and brings it in, rumors fill Earth's infomesh about an "alien artifact." Thrown into the maelstrom of worldwide shared experience, the Artifact is a game-changer. A message in a bottle; an alien capsule that wants to communicate. The world reacts as humans always do: with fear and hope and selfishness and love and violence. And insatiable curiosity. This edition of the book is the deluxe, tall rack mass market paperback.

From Hugo and Nebula winning author David Brin comes this extraordinary collection of tales and essays about the near and distant future, as humans and other intelligences encounter the secrets of the cosmos - and of their own existence. In The Giving Plague, a virus, transmitted by blood donation, begins to change humanity. In Dr. Pak's Preschool, a woman discovers that her baby has been called to work while still in the womb. In Natulife, a married couple finds their relationship threatened by the wonders of virtual reality. In Sshhh... the arrival of benevolent aliens on Earth leads to frenzied madness as humans rush to conceal their secret 'talent.' In Bubbles, a sentient starcraft reaches the limits of the universe - and dares to go beyond. What happens when an urban archaeologist discovers a terrible secret under the landfills of Los Angeles? Will there still be a purpose for "biologicals" when cybernetic humans become mighty and smart? Come explore these and another dozen startling and provocative tomorrows with a modern master of science fiction. Table of Contents The Giving Plague Myth Number 21 Dr. Pak's Preschool Detritus Affected The Dogma of Otherness Piecework Natulife Science vs. Magic Sshhh... Those Eyes What to Say to a UFO Bonding to Genji The Warm Space Whose Millennium? Bubbles Ambiguity What Continues...And What Fails... The New Meme

What may we become? How will we endure? The future is a daunting realm, filled with real and imagined perils. So enter it prepared! Here are vivid tales about possible tomorrows, from the keen eye and colorful pen of David Brin, a modern master of speculative fiction. Visit a chillingly plausible tomorrow, when prisoners may be sent to asteroidal gulags. Or might prisons vanish and felons roam, seeing only what society allows? Suppose, amid lavish success, we gain the superpower to fly! Will we even appreciate it… or will we find new reasons to complain? In "Mars Opposition," you'll experience an alien invasion like no other, confronting humanity with a stark and terrible choice… followed by several more tales of conquest from beyond, each of them wildly different. On the other hand, might fantastically potent new beings emerge out of ourselves, as revealed in "Chrysalis”? Featuring guest appearances by Gregory Benford, Jules Verne, and Galileo, this adventure takes you beyond the very singularity in “Stones of Significance,” pondering what could happen after humans are like gods. And “Reality Check” asks one of you readers – just one of you – to wake up! Tomorrow awaits. We can face it and prevail. So long as our stance is brave INSISTENCE OF VISION.

The essential companion to one of the most celebrated science fiction series of all time. Beginning with the novel Sundiver , David Brin introduced one of the most inventive, thought-provoking, and richly-imagined universes in all of science fiction. Now, Brin collaborates with acclaimed artist Kevyn Lenagh to present the definitive guide to the societies, technology, and species of his epic, award-winning series. Written as a handbook for Terran field agents, Contacting Aliens offers a detailed and comprehensive look at Uplift 's many alien races--from the friendly Tymbrimi to the warlike Tandu, the wise Kanten to the reptilian Soro, and the bureaucratic Hoon to the manipulative Thennanin. Readers will discover fascinating information about their physiology, psychology, and history; their clans and alliances; and their shifting attitudes toward Earth and its representatives. The volume also includes a history of Earth's contact with the Civilization of Five Galaxies, a look at its institutions, languages, and customs, plus a timeline of momentous events going back three billion years. Contacting Aliens is an essential reference work for Uplift fans, filled with never-before-seen illustrations that reveal the keys to the ambitious vision and bold speculation of the Uplift universe.

"Some Math Club nerds have got a real live alien! They're hiding it in a basement rec room!" High School junior Mark Bamford doesn't believe the silly rumor. For one thing, here in the town of Twenty-Nine Palms? California homes don't have basements! Besides....A stranded alien? Seriously? Can we say c-l-i-c-h-e? Movie rip-off? Can't the math geeks think up a better hoax?But then... Why are black vans from the super-secret Cirocco Corp cruising all over town, searching for something? Mark and his pal Alexandra decide to do some investigating of their own. Only, where can they turn for help? The skateboarding "X" crowd? The varsity climbing team? It's not like their social circle is an elite spy force!Perhaps though... with home grown ingenuity... a little sleight of hand-okay, call it double-dealing, whatever.... The truth isn't just 'out there.' It may be right next door.Now available in full length for the first time - winner of the Hal Clement Award for YA fiction - comes the first book in a series about young humans confronting an age-old theme-that of strangers from beyond-giving it new shape, guided by the deft hand of one of science fiction's modern masters.

An insightful, quicksilver romp through Brin's own mind. In the 20 essays, short stories, and little wonders in this book, David will take you from the worlds of Galileo Galilei and Jules Verne, through thoughtful explorations of Orwell and Tolkien, and on into tomorrows that just may happen.

Interstellar kidnapping... or opportunity? A thousand teens and their teachers were stunned when the alien Garubis yanked Twenty-Nine Palms High School right out of California's Mojave desert, plopping it into a jungle many light years away. It was supposed to be a "gift"-a new settlement for humanity. But tell that to Mark, Alexandra, Barry and Sophie when strange parasites attack... and they don't know what to eat... and the island of Earth-buildings runs out of water! Some claim to have spotted strange tool-users in the forest. Are the Garubis back? Or is this some other possible alien menace? Whatever the skyjacked teenagers and their small number of adult companions face, they will need guts, ingenuity, hard work... and luck! But maybe the worst threat will come from the former students themselves. From basic human nature.