Ijon Tichy, Lem's Candide of the Cosmos, encounters bizarre civilizations and creatures in space that serve to satirize science, the rational mind, theology, and other icons of human pride. Line drawings by the Author. Translated by Michael Kandel. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book

“[Stross] has the ability to superimpose an intriguing take on contemporary events over an imaginative story peopled by bizarre characters.” – The Kansas City Star A G2 star doesn’t just explode—not without outside interference. So the survivors of the planet Moscow, which was annihilated in just such an event, have launched a counterattack against the most likely culprit: the neighboring system of New Dresden. But New Dresden wasn’t responsible, and as the deadly missiles approach their target, Rachel Mansour, agent for the interests of Old Earth, is assigned to find out who was. Opposing her is an unknown—and unimaginable—enemy. At stake is not only the fate of New Dresden but also the very order of the universe. And the one person who knows the identity of that enemy is a disaffected teenager who calls herself Wednesday Shadowmist. But Wednesday has no idea what she knows…

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

On the planet of Majipoor, Valentine struggles to reclaim his birthright when he realizes that he is the true Coronal, Lord Valentine, who has been drugged, physically altered, and replaced on the throne

The first book in the Galactic Empire series, the spectacular precursor to the classic Foundation series, by one of history's most influential writers of science fiction, Isaac Asimov His name was Biron Farrill and he was a student at the University of Earth. A native of one of the helpless Nebular Kingdoms, he saw his home world conquered and controlled by the planet Tyrann--a ruthless, barbaric Empire that was building a dynasty of cruelty and domination among the stars. Farrill's own father had been executed for trying to resist the Tyrann dictatorship and now someone was trying to kill Biron. But why? His only hope for survival lay in fleeing Earth and joining the rebellion that was rumored to be forming somewhere in the Kingdoms. But once he cast his lot with the freedom fighters, he would find himself guarding against treachery on every side and facing the most difficult choice of all: to betray either the woman he loved or the revolution that was the last hope for the future.

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

An historical fantasy with bite. This debut novel from Naomi Novik is set in the Napoleonic period and layers history with imagination and fantasy by adding the Dragon Air Force to the battle for England.

Galaxy Science Fiction hit the scene in1950 edited by H. L. Gold and quickly became the leading science fiction magazine of its time. Galaxy gave a home to writers that didn't fit into Astounding and F&SF, and readers rejoiced. In this first Galaxy Science Fiction Super Pack we bring you more than five hundred pages of fiction. These are the stories that helped Galaxy Magazine carve it's name on the Mount Rushmore of Science Fiction. If you enjoyed this book, you'll want to search on "Positronic Publishing Super Pack" and check out all our other Super Packs! Doorstep by Keith Laumer The Chasers by Daniel F. Galouye Blueblood by Jim Harmon Bad Memory by Patrick Fahy Beach Scene by Marshall King The Reluctant Heroes by Frank M. Robinson Kreativity for Kats by Fritz Leiber Perfect Answer by L. J. Stecher Jr., Dumbwaiter by James Stamers The Ignoble Savages by Evelyn E. Smith Angel's Egg by Edgar Pangborn Survival Type by J.F. Bone Misbegotten Missionary by Isaac Asimov The Business, as Usual by Jack Sharkey No Substitutions by Jim Harmon Prime Difference by Alan E. Nourse Delay in Transit by F. L. Wallace My Lady Greensleeves by Frederik Pohl A Little Journey by Ray Bradbury Med Ship Many Murray Leinster Spoken for by William Morrison A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber Contagion by Katherine MacLEAN Pen Pal by Milton Lesser Delayed Action by Charles Vincent De Vet ... and it Comes out Here by Lester del Rey

When the Enterprise answers a distress call and finds a single survivor from an attack by the fierce Borg, the crew little realizes that the survivor's quest for revenge threatens the entire galaxy

“Harry Turtledove [is] probably the best-known practitioner of alternate history working today.”— American Heritage The year is 1915, and the world is convulsing. Though the Confederacy has defeated its northern enemy twice, this time the United States has allied with the Kaiser. In the South, the freed slaves, fueled by Marxist rhetoric and the bitterness of a racist nation, take up the weapons of the Red rebellion. Despite these advantages, the United States remains pinned between Canada and the Confederate States of America, so the bloody conflict continues and grows. Both presidents—Theodore Roosevelt of the Union and staunch Confederate Woodrow Wilson—are stubbornly determined to lead their nations to victory, at any cost. . .

The universe of the mind is a limitless expanse of wonders, filled with worlds and secrets that cannot be fully explored within the pages of a single novel. Avid readers of science fiction have long appreciated the myriad joys of returning to fictional galaxies already experienced. In Far Horizons, a variable "Who's Who" of science fiction's most beloved and highly honored writers once again revisit the remariable worlds they created and made famous. Perhaps the greatest concentration of science fiction talent ever in one volume, this unprecedented masterpiece reopens vast empires of imagination and adventure to new explorations and appreciations. It is a major SF event, sure to bring unparalleled joy to the hearts of serious fans everywhere.

Step into a world where time zones are tribes and loyalty is everything. "Eastern Standard Tribe" by Cory Doctorow, once lost to the sands of time, is now brilliantly restored and republished by Alpha Editions. This captivating novel, out of print for decades, is a collector's item and a cultural treasure, meticulously revived for today's and future generations. In a near-future society where global connectivity is both a blessing and a curse, protagonist Art struggles with the chaos of his dual life as a consultant and a secret agent for the Eastern Standard Tribe. Doctorow weaves a thrilling narrative that explores the complexities of trust, identity, and the relentless pursuit of happiness in a hyper-connected world. This edition is not just a reprint; it's a beautifully restored classic that promises to engage casual readers and collectors alike. With its unique blend of humor, insight, and suspense, "Eastern Standard Tribe" is a timeless exploration of the human condition in the digital age. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of literary history that challenges the boundaries of time and technology.

A team of space archaeologists makes an astonishing discovery about an ancient alien race in this science fiction tale from "a master of his craft" ( Los Angeles Times ). Graduate student Tom Rice is thrilled to embark on his first deep-space archeological expedition. He is part of a team from Earth, venturing out in search of artifacts from a civilization that ruled the universe many millennia ago. Called the High Ones, the members of this long-gone society left tantalizing clues about their history and culture scattered throughout space. One such clue, a "message cube" containing footage of the ancient ones, is more interesting than all of the others combined. It seems to indicate that the High Ones aren't extinct after all--and just like that, Tom Rice's archeological mission has become an intergalactic manhunt, one filled with ever-increasing danger that will send the explorers hurtling headlong into the greatest adventure--and peril--of their lives.

Will Barrent had no memory of his crime . . . but he found himself shipped across space to a brutal prison-planet. On Omega, his only chance to advance himself - and stay alive - is to commit an endless series of violent crimes. The average inmate's life expectancy from time of arrival is three years. Can Barrett survive, escape, and return to Earth to clear his name?

With an introduction by Neil Gaiman: Once a hero, now a pariah, Richard Muller is humanity's last hope Richard Muller was an honorable diplomat who braved unimaginable dangers to make contact with the first-known race of intelligent aliens. But those aliens left a mark on him: a psychic wound that emanates a telepathic miasma his fellow humans can neither cure nor endure. Muller is exiled to the remote planet of Lemnos, where he is left, deeply embittered, at the heart of a deadly maze . . . until a new alien race appears, seemingly intent on exterminating humanity. Only Muller can communicate with them, due to the very condition that has made him an outcast. But will Muller stick his neck out for the people who so callously rejected him? " The Man in the Maze] is courageous, exploring new territory, with one foot in the New Wave camp, but] it is still mindful of its roots. From the past of SF we get the strains of Space Opera, replete with incomprehensible aliens and mysterious artefacts." -From the introduction by Neil Gaiman "One of science fiction's modern masters . . . his words and his work have shaped the whole direction of the field." -Chicago Sun-Times "Robert Silverberg's versatile, skeptical intelligence controls a lavish and splendid imagination." -Ursula K. Le Guin "Done Silverberg's way, science fiction is a fine art." -Associated Press Robert Silverberg is one of science fiction's most beloved writers, and the author of such contemporary classics as Dying Inside, Downward to the Earth, and Lord Valentine's Castle. He is a past president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and the winner of five Nebula Awards and five Hugo Awards. In 2004 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America presented him with the Grand Master Award. Silverberg is one of twenty-nine writers to have received that distinction.

A thrilling Star Trek: The Next Generation adventure featuring Commander Riker, Lieutenant Commander Worf, and the USS Enterprise . Imzadi: to the people of the planet Betazed, including Counselor Deanna Troi of the USS Enterprise , it means “beloved” and denotes that which can never be truly broken. Yet to whom does Deanna’s heart truly belong? Commander William Riker was the first Deanna called Imzadi. Long before they served together on board the Enterprise, they shared a tempestuous love affair back on Betazed. And even now, many years later, Riker will embark on a desperate journey across time and space to save Deanna's life. But Riker is not the only Starfleet officer to capture Deanna’s heart. Lieutenant Commander Worf, the fierce Klingon warrior, is also drawn to Deanna's gentle and caring nature. Brought together by fate, he and Deanna share an unexpected passion that tests the bonds between Troi and Riker—even as a deadly Romulan conspiracy threatens them all!

"We never expected that inventing Star-Drive would lead to this! We were first! Humans invented star drive, bringing light and movement to the galaxy, forging a grand alliance with all races. (Well, most of them.) It seemed the galaxy was ours to lead and to share! Till we met demmies. Oh, they're not so bad. They mean well. Impulsive and exasperating, sure. Often brilliant, cheeky, moronic, volatile, always astonishing... did I mention exasperating? And lucky. Gradually, it dawned on humanity- Hey, that's what we wanted to be! In ancient sci-fi dreams, we pictured ourselves as the impulsive-lucky ones, not wise-patient elders. Only now... ... they reverently call Earthlings "the Ancient Ones." And demmies are having all the fun! Dr. Alvin Montessori is Human Advisor aboard the mostly demmie-crewed star cruiser Clever Gamble, orbiting Oxytocin 41, where something weird is going on. It starts when the crew unreels a humongous hose down to the surface... ... and their first contact team discovers a whole lot of 'something weird.'"--

Armchair Fiction presents extra large editions of classic science fiction double novels. The first novel, “A God Named Smith” is a brilliant essay of the future by renown sci-fi author, Henry Slesar. The kind of people that Smith wanted for his new world was simple: If you believe you have supe¬rior and/or mental capabili¬ties, and are interested in joining other men and women of your caliber in the most important enterprise of hu¬man history, you are invited to write for full details con¬cerning the establishment of a new planetary home for the human race. This is an un¬precedented opportunity to begin life anew on a better world: a world without fault and without end, where Nature is subservient to Man, and Man subservient to God; where beauty and perfection are more important than hate or lust; where Man can live in peace and harmony and eternal Truth. The only problem was that Smith turned out to be something less than a benevolent ruler. The second novel, “Worlds of the Imperium,” is by another great sci-fi veteran, Keith Laumer. It was high intrigue in an alternate universe. For Brion Bayard, the discovery of an alternate world to Earth, where history took a different turn in the road, was not a pleasant experience. When he was kidnapped kicking and screaming, it brought him some startling revelations. Here was a world in which there were identical double personages—¬including a dangerous and most hated dictator named…Brion Bayard! His assignment seemed simple enough. Dressed as the dictator’s double, Brion was to enter the enemy stronghold, kill the dictator, and take his place until law and order could be maintained. Unfortunately, assassination attempts are a mighty tricky deal and things do not always go as planned…

A crewman has been murdered aboard the U. S.S. Trident, and all evidence points to Ensign Janos of the Excalibur. Captain Mackenzie Calhoun is reluctant to accept that Janos, a powerful non-humanoid whom the captain has known and trusted for years, could be a killer, and immediately launches an investigation into the crime. But this troubling murder mystery soon escalates into a full-fledged diplomatic crisis that threatens to pit Calhoun and Captain Elizabeth Shelby against the entire United Federation of Planets -- and the Starship Enterprise™. Meanwhile, the turmoil involving Ensign Janos forces Calhoun to recall his own tempestuous past, his rocky relationship with a young Elizabeth Shelby -- and a long-ago exploit that may have everything to do with the deadly emergency that now confronts them all!