Научная фантастика
Различные книги в жанре Научная фантастикаMaster of Life and Death
By the 23rd century Earth's population had reached seven billion. Mankind was in danger of perishing for lack of elbow room–unless prompt measures were taken. Roy Walton had the power to enforce those measures. But though his job was in the service of humanity, he soon found himself the most hated man in the world. For it was his job to tell parents their children were unfit to live; he had to uproot people from their homes and send them to remote areas of the world. Now, threatened by mobs of outraged citizens, denounced and blackened by the press, Roy Walton had to make a decision: resign his post, or use his power to destroy his enemies and become a dictator in the hopes of saving humanity from its own folly. In other words, should he become the MASTER OF LIFE AND DEATH?
Falcons of Narabedla
Somewhere on the Time Ellipse Mike Kenscott became Adric; and the only way to return to his own identity was to find the Keep of the Dreamer and loose the terrible FALCONS of NARABEDLA!<P> As originally published in the June, 1957 issue of «Other Worlds» magazine, here is the original version of Marion Zimmer Bradley's classic DARKOVER novel.
Fear and Courage: Fourteen Writers Explore Sime~Gen
Welcome to the first Sime~Gen Anthology written by the fans. This Anthology is a compilation of stories and poetry written by people who have been influenced by the published works of Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah, in such a powerful way that they felt compelled to explore this universe in their own writing. Here are:<P> Forewords, by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah<BR> "Moonlight Sonata," by Mary Lou Mendum<BR> "A Mother’s Choice," by Donna Fernstrom<BR> "Obsession," by Eliza Leahy<BR> "How Far Must I Go?", by William Long<BR> "A Journey Into Demonland," by Mary Lou Mendum and M. Alexis Pakulak<BR> "The Legend of the Creeping Need," by Zoe Farris<BR> "Be Not Afraid," by Marjorie Robbins<BR> "Running on Selyn Alone," by D.H. Aire<BR> "Blood Taint," by Katherine X. Rylien<BR> "More Than Meets the Eye," by R. K. Hageman<BR> "The Box," by Laurie Pollack<BR> "Prelude and Fugue in Four Choices," by Mary Lou Mendum<BR> "Shadows," by Zoe Farris<BR> "Vincent of the Gate," by R. K. Hageman<BR> "Destiny," by N. Eileen O’Neill<BR> "Three Milestones in the Founding of Cordona Territory," by Mary Lou Mendum<BR> "A Short Life," by Eliza ambrov Halwyn<BR> "Controller’s Dilemma," by Marjorie Robbins and K. L. Schaefer<BR> "The Gift of Alauno Light," by Andrea Alton<P> What is Sime~Gen? For those of you who are reading this book without previous experience of this expansive universe here is a brief introduction:<P> Sime~Gen is a series of novels written by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah. It is set in a future where humans have mutated into two subspecies. Simes, who go through a brief but dramatic change at puberty and Gens, whose change, while just as dramatic, is invisible to the naked eye.<P> The outward sign of the Simes' change is development of tentacles on their forearms, four strong and flexible «handling» tentacles and two smaller tentacles just for selyn transfer, called «laterals.» Gens produce life energy called «selyn» which Simes require once a month to live. Unfortunately, the result in obtaining this energy is usually the death of the Gen.<P> This physical transformation happens just prior to puberty. There is no way of knowing, before that, if a person will be Sime or Gen.<P> At the chronological beginning of the published novels by Jacqueline, and Jean, a second mutation of Sime emerges. These «channels» are able to keep Simes from Killing Gens, thus saving mankind from self-annihilation. The stories that you find here, and the published books by Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah, explore the role of these new Simes, and the Gens who live side by side with them as humankind struggles to become one again.<P> This volume was edited by Zoe Farris and Karen L. MacLeod
Heroes of Earth
Moving to Chincoteague has been hard for Alison Grossbard and her younger brother Arnold. When Dad lost his job as a reporter in Baltimore after speaking out against the High Ones – big, blue starfish from space that now rule the Earth – he was lucky to get a job at the local fusion plant. Sure, the High Ones brought wonderful technology – tri-vees and interplanetary travel and nuclear fusion – but the High Ones and their human flunkeys punish anyone who questions their rule, including teenagers like Alison and Arnold.
With the help of Gloria, an alien who can bridge dimensions, and Jo, a girl from an alternate universe with real, live dragons, Arnold and Alison decide to fight. But the High Ones aren’t the only enemies. Can Arnold and Alison become Heroes of Earth without sacrificing themselves?
A Variety of Weapons
Ann Lebrick cheerfully accepted an assignment to photograph the ocelots of Miss Estelle Marlow. On arrival at the Marlow estate, Black Tor, where she was to stay for a week, she found herself in a brooding atmosphere of great wealth, guarded isolation from the rest of mankind, and black clouds of suspicion. She became uneasy at Miss Marlow's apparent lack of interest in photographs of her ocelots. She was worried when her fiance telephoned her, imploring her to leave at once. She was literally scared when Justin Marlow, old and heartbroken, revealed to her a secret that had been kept for twenty years. Then a sensitive photographic film was developed, proving murder…
Preferred Risk
PREFERRED RISK first appeared in 1955. It won the Galaxy Magazine / Simon & Schuster contest for 1955's best work of science fiction.<P> The Company, a powerful, efficient, and thoroughly monstrous insurance organization, controlled the entire world. It scientifically regulating every aspect of life: war, epidemics, one-a-day food pills and test-tube sex…all through the use of its patented, terrifying human deep-freeze vault. Claims Adjuster Wills, a great believer in the Company, has second thoughts when he meets beautiful Rena, whose radical father lies frozen in one of the Company's subterranean vaults…
Operation Isis
Rod Garvin, governor of North America and Mars, is supposed to be on vacation, spending time in France with his wife, Flora, and the son he had never met, Felix. But the war leaders of North America have a new assignment for Garvin: find Lani, Imperatrix of North America, and convince her to come out of hiding.<P> Trailed by assassins, Garvin sets out for the Egypt colony, where the incognito Lani is worshipped as the incarnation of Isis. But Rod Garvin is no longer on his own. Son Felix insists on accompanying him on this mission. Can this new father-son team complete their mission – or will guards, assassins, and Lani herself prove their undoing?
The Flying Eyes
Linc Hosier is sitting in a packed football stadium when the Flying Eyes appear and cast their hypnotic power over half the crowd. Thousand of people suddenly begin marching, zombie-like, into the woods, where they vanish into a black pit. <P> After that, Linc uses every resource of the Space Research Lab and the National Guard to destroy the Eyes. But nothing stops them. In desperation, Linc decides to capture an Eye. When he finally manages to communicate with it, he learns that the creatures need radiation to live. And they give him an ultimatum: Earth must explode a series of atom bombs to supply them with radiation…or they will turn the world's population into mindless robots! Given the choice between self-destruction from atomic fallout or annihilation via the sinister Flying Eyes – can Linc find a third path that will save mankind?
Then Beggars Could Ride
For most of his life, Newton McClintok had lived in the Americal flapper era. He might have been an ancient Roman or a Victorian Englishman. He could have lived his life in any time or place he chose – or at least, an almost perfect replica of it. But for Newton McClintok, life in this dream world brought only discontentment. After an unsuccessful suicide attempted, he embarked on a journey through the ages to find his own special Utopia – only to discover that the journey never ends! A classic science fiction novel from the author of The Ecolog and TimeQuest.
The Double Man
Dr. Wayne Durk lived through two miracles. The first was a rescue from space after his craft had been wrecked by a stray meteorite. The second miracle brought him up against a second «Wayne Durk» who had completely taken over his laboratory, his beloved wife, and his family. And, in the meantime, the dread menace of «The Bug» moved in on Earth, threatening the total destruction of all… <P> A thrilling science fiction adventure by the author of SECRET OF THE RED SPOT and NIGHT OF THE SAUCERS!