- Table View
- List View
The Meaning of Luff and Other Stories
by Matthew HughesIn Old Earth's penultimate age, the corpulent master criminal Luff Imbry moves through the halfworld like a full-fleshed shark. Thief, forger, confidence man, and sometimes go-between, he maps out his illicit operations with exquisite care then carries them out with courage and panache. But, often, things don't go as Luff planned, and he must call upon a talent for improvisation and a ruthless will to survive.This collection brings together seven short stories and novelettes previously published in Postscripts, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and the anthology Forbidden Planets, plus two novellas formerly only available in limited editions. It offers Luff Imbry in all his moods and guises.Finalist for the 2014 Endeavour Award.
The Meaning of Luff and Other Stories
by Matthew HughesIn Old Earth's penultimate age, the corpulent master criminal Luff Imbry moves through the halfworld like a full-fleshed shark. Thief, forger, confidence man, and sometimes go-between, he maps out his illicit operations with exquisite care then carries them out with courage and panache. But, often, things don't go as Luff planned, and he must call upon a talent for improvisation and a ruthless will to survive.This collection brings together seven short stories and novelettes previously published in Postscripts, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and the anthology Forbidden Planets, plus two novellas formerly only available in limited editions. It offers Luff Imbry in all his moods and guises.Finalist for the 2014 Endeavour Award.Praise for Matthew Hughes:"Criminally underrated" - George R.R. Martin"Heir apparent to Jack Vance" - Booklist"Hughes's boldness is admirable"- New York Review of Science Fiction"Hughes effortlessly renders fantastic worlds and beings believable"- Publishers Weekly"A towering talent"- Robert J. Sawyer
The Measure Of The Magic: Legends of Shannara: Book Two
by Terry Brooks***50 MILLION TERRY BROOKS COPIES SOLD AROUND THE WORLD***THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES IS NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES'Terry's place is at the head of the fantasy world' Philip PullmanTHE ARMY OF DARKNESS DRAWS NEARFive centuries ago, a catastrophic demon war left the world in ruins. Since then, the survivors - humans, elves and other mutants - have found sanctuary in a mountain valley protected by magic. But now these protective wards have failed, and a ruthless troll army is on the brink of invasion.In an attempt to stave off annihilation, Panterra Qu, a young Tracker struggles to control the power of the black staff - a powerful talisman passed down through the centuries by the Knights of the Word.It is their only hope for salvation - for all will pay a price if the war between the Word and the Void tips towards darkness.Praise for Terry Brooks:'A master of the craft . . . required reading' Brent Weeks'I can't even begin to count how many of Terry Brooks's books I've read (and re-read) over the years' Patrick Rothfuss, author of The Name of the Wind'I would not be writing epic fantasy today if not for Shannara' Peter V. Brett, author of The Painted Man'If you haven't read Terry Brooks, you haven't read fantasy' Christopher Paolini, author of EragonLegends of Shannara:BEARERS OF THE BLACK STAFFTHE MEASURE OF THE MAGIC
The Measure and the Truth (Dragonlance: Rise of Solamnia #3)
by Douglas NilesA loyal vassal betrayed seeks revenge through any means. A woman trapped takes the chance of freedom, only to become a weapon. A leader who achieved everything only to become bitter and cruel faces a threat he never expected. For a moment it seems that Solamnia has found peace, but that peace is shattered quickly by the revolts caused by the emperor's harsh treatment of his lands and people. The return of old enemies with new allies and new treachery means that the emperor must make a stand to save the nation he created. Solamnia will fall if the emperor does, but the emperor cannot hold without his allies.
The Measure of the Magic (Legends of Shannara #2)
by Terry BrooksAfter more than three decades of captivating epic fantasy readers, the storytelling magic ofNew York Timesbestselling author Terry Brooks's Shannara saga continues to enthrall. Now the fascinating chronicle of Shannara's prehistory reaches a thrilling new peak in the sequel toBearers of the Black Staff. For five hundred years, the survivors of the Great Wars lived peacefully in a valley sanctuary shielded by powerful magic from the blighted and dangerous outside world. But the enchanted barriers have crumbled, the borders have been breached by predators, and the threat of annihilation looms large once more. Sider Ament, bearer of the last black staff and its profound power, devoted his life to protecting the valley and its inhabitants-and, in his final moments, gave stewardship of the black staff to the young tracker Panterra Qu. Now the newly anointed Knight of the Word must take up the battle against evil wherever it threatens: from without, where an army of bloodthirsty trolls is massing for invasion; and from within, where the Elf king of Arborlon has been murdered, his daughter, Princess Phryne Amarantyne, stands accused, and a heinous conspiracy is poised to subjugate the kingdom. But even these will pale beside the most harrowing menace Panterra is destined to confront-a nameless, merciless figure who wanders the devastated land on a relentless mission: to claim the last black staff . . . and the life of he who wields it.
The Measure: A Novel
by Nikki ErlickINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!"A story of love and hope as interweaving characters display: how all moments, big and small, can measure a life. If you want joy, love, romance, and hope—read with us." —Jenna Bush Hager A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster that asks: would you choose to find out the length of your life?Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.It seems like any other day. You wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and head out.But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. The contents of this mysterious box tells you the exact number of years you will live.From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is an ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.
The Mechanical (The Alchemy Wars #1)
by Ian TregillisMy name is Jax.That is the name granted to me by my human masters.I am a slave.But I shall be free.Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.
The Mechanical Chrysanthemums
by Felicitas IveyHachisuka Narihiro is a pilot in the Shogun's elite unit of musha-ki, robotic armor automated by steam and magic for the defense of Nippon in a slowly modernizing 19th Century, when he's requested to help with political negotiations. Compromises are difficult, with American Admiral Perry determined to open Japan to the West but only on his terms. Like most Western leaders, the admiral is unaware of the advances the Japanese have made with steam and thinks Nippon is an isolated and backward nation. Narihiro's uncle, the twelfth Tokugawa Shogun, believes Narihiro is the best man for the duty. Despite his extensive training, plans might not go as well as expected. With the American delegation comes closeted former Pennsylvania Dutch farmer, Maarten Zook, a shy translator who catches Narihiro's interest. As negotiations stall, the Japanese are left with few options to convince America that Nippon is its equal. Japan is ready to open its borders, but a show of force may be needed, and that force may destroy the budding relationship between Narihiro and Maarten.
The Mechanical Messiah and Other Marvels of the Modern Age: A Novel
by Robert RankinColonel Katterfelto has lately returned to London. He departed America under something of a cloud ... of smoke, issuing from his Spiritual Laboratory, which the townsfolk of Wormcast, Arizona, marched upon with their flaming torches. This catastrophic conflagration caused considerable concern to the pious colonel, who had been engaged in the creation of 'Heaven's last and best gift to Mankind', The Mechanical Messiah. And he was, after all, being guided in this Great Work by holy angels, communicating to him through his monkey butler, Darwin. It is 1897, twelve years since The War of the Worlds and two since Worlds War Two*. The British Empire encompasses Mars, and an uneasy peace exists between the peoples of Venus, Jupiter and Earth. In London there are many marvels of the modern age to be experienced. Amongst these is The Electric Alhambra Music Hall, where crowds thrill to The Earl Grey Whistle Test, a musical extravaganza featuring such top turns as Hayward's Acrobatic Kiwis, The Travelling Formbys and the newly-arrived Colonel Katterfelto's Clockwork Minstrels. But all is far from well in old Whitechapel, where a monster is once more abroad in the night-time streets, committing hideous acts of murder. Can this be the return of Jack the Ripper, or has something altogether unearthly materialised to spread fear, panic and mayhem? Something Hellishly evil?Famed consulting detective Cameron Bell is already on the case, but it may take nothing less than the New Messiah Himself to save London, The Empire and all of the solar system from the impending apocalypse!'Stark raving genius' Observer*See The Japanese Devil Fish Girl and other Unnatural Attractions.
The Mechanical Messiah and Other Marvels of the Modern Age: A Novel
by Robert RankinColonel Katterfelto has lately returned to London. He departed America under something of a cloud ... of smoke, issuing from his Spiritual Laboratory, which the townsfolk of Wormcast, Arizona, marched upon with their flaming torches. This catastrophic conflagration caused considerable concern to the pious colonel, who had been engaged in the creation of 'Heaven's last and best gift to Mankind', The Mechanical Messiah. And he was, after all, being guided in this Great Work by holy angels, communicating to him through his monkey butler, Darwin. It is 1897, twelve years since The War of the Worlds and two since Worlds War Two*. The British Empire encompasses Mars, and an uneasy peace exists between the peoples of Venus, Jupiter and Earth. In London there are many marvels of the modern age to be experienced. Amongst these is The Electric Alhambra Music Hall, where crowds thrill to The Earl Grey Whistle Test, a musical extravaganza featuring such top turns as Hayward's Acrobatic Kiwis, The Travelling Formbys and the newly-arrived Colonel Katterfelto's Clockwork Minstrels. But all is far from well in old Whitechapel, where a monster is once more abroad in the night-time streets, committing hideous acts of murder. Can this be the return of Jack the Ripper, or has something altogether unearthly materialised to spread fear, panic and mayhem? Something Hellishly evil?Famed consulting detective Cameron Bell is already on the case, but it may take nothing less than the New Messiah Himself to save London, The Empire and all of the solar system from the impending apocalypse!'Stark raving genius' Observer*See The Japanese Devil Fish Girl and other Unnatural Attractions.
The Mechanical Theater: A Chroniker City Novella (The Chroniker City Stories)
by Brooke JohnsonPetra Wade's older brother, Solomon, has always dreamed of being an actor. Instead, he works grueling shifts in the clockwork city's boiler rooms to help support his large adopted family. When Le Theatre Mecanique holds an open call for their upcoming performance, he decides to audition. However, the only role he is suitable to fill is that of the theater's custodian.Leaving the well-paying boiler job behind him, Solomon immerses himself in the theater—watching rehearsals, studying the performances, and working with an emerging young actress to improve his skills. But back at home, his family feels the sting of their reduced income when his younger sister Emily develops pneumonia and the only treatment is too expensive.Solomon will be forced to make a difficult choice: fulfill his dreams of stardom, or help save his younger sister.
The Mechanical: Book One of the Alchemy Wars (Alchemy War)
by Ian TregillisMy name is Jax.That is the name granted to me by my human masters. I am a slave. But I shall be free.Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, the new novel from Ian Tregillis confirms his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.PRAISE FOR IAN TREGILLIS'A major new talent' GEORGE R. R. MARTIN'Tremendous' Cory Doctorow'Addictively brilliant' i09'Exciting and intense' Publishers Weekly'Eloquent and utterly compelling' Kirkus
The Med Series
by Murray LeinsterRoving through the uncharted vastness of deep space, Med Serviceman Calhoun of the Interplanetary Medical Service brings his mission of healing to isolated colonists far from Earth.Alone in his starship with only his pet tormal for companionship, Calhoun plunges into an uncharted void without stars or nebulae...discovers a planet whose inhabitants starve to death amid a bounty of food...and dares a quarantined world ruled by galactic untouchables!
The Med Series
by Murray LeinsterRoving through the uncharted vastness of deep space, Med Serviceman Calhoun of the Interplanetary Medical Service brings his mission of healing to isolated colonists far from Earth.Alone in his starship with only his pet tormal for companionship, Calhoun plunges into an uncharted void without stars or nebulae...discovers a planet whose inhabitants starve to death amid a bounty of food...and dares a quarantined world ruled by galactic untouchables!
The Medici Boots
by Pearl Norton SwetThe amethyst-covered boots had been worn by an evil wanton in medieval Florence--but what malefic power did they carry over into our own time?
The Medievalist
by Anne-Marie LacyA modern woman in the court of King Richard III is torn between saving the man she loves and stopping a historic wrong in this time-travel romance. English historian Jayne Lyons has pinned her career hopes on proving that her ancestor, King Richard III, was not the nefarious villain of Shakespeare&’s tragedy. In fact, she believes he is innocent of the infamous murder of the Princes in the Tower. But while volunteering with the search for his missing grave, Jayne gets a much closer look at Richard than she expected. Cast back into the brutal 15th century, she suddenly finds herself in the middle of Richard&’s army camp. Realizing that she may not be able to return home, Jayne begins to adjust to her new life. And the more she gets to know the true Richard, the more she is drawn to him. She even starts entertaining the hope of saving him. But the Princes are missing, and all evidence points to Richard. When he asks her to spy for him against his enemy, Henry Tudor, she must decide whether to help the man she loves, even though he may be one of history&’s greatest villains.THE 2018 RONE AWARD WINNER FOR BEST IN TIME TRAVEL
The Medium
by Noëlle SickelsIn 1940's New Jersey, Helen Schneider struggles not only with the uncertainties of life and love during war time, but also with the unique challenge of how to heed the insistent voices of the dead. Helen's childhood is marked with vivid premonitions, and as a young woman, her gift expands to include automatic writing and the rare ability to make spirits materialize. Her German grandmother, a sometimes fraudulent medium, urges her to learn the techniques that keep clients happy. The U. S. Army wants to employ Helen as a psychic spy, and they're willing to use threats to recruit her. Her boyfriend Billy disapproves of her freakish talent, and Helen fears the day may come when he asks her to choose between it and him. Helen, assailed by these battling demands, resolves to determine why the dead come to her and what to do about it. This historical tale of suspense and romance is rich with details that animate both the home front during World War II and the mysterious, eerily appealing realm of ghosts and spirit guides.
The Medusa Amulet: A Novel of Suspense and Adventure
by Robert Masello<P>Benvenuto Cellini, master artisan of Renaissance Italy, once crafted a beautiful amulet prized for its unimaginable power--and untold menace. Now the quest to recover this legendary artifact depends upon one man: David Franco, a brilliant but skeptical young scholar at Chicago's world-renowned Newberry Library. <P>What begins as a simple investigation spirals into a tale of dangerous intrigue, as Franco races from the châteaux of France to the palazzos of Rome in a desperate search for the ultimate treasure--and an answer to a riddle that has puzzled mankind since the beginning of time. Aided by a beautiful young Florentine harboring dark secrets, pursued by deadly assassins, and battling demons of his own, Franco must ultimately confront an evil greater than anything conjured in his worst nightmares.
The Medusa Chronicles
by Stephen Baxter Alastair ReynoldsInspired by Sir Arthur C. Clarke's short story A Meeting with Medusa, this novel, with permission from the Clarke Estate, continues the story of Commander Howard Falcon over centuries of space-exploration, interaction with AI, first contact and beyond. All brought to life by two of our greatest SF authors, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds.Howard Falcon almost lost his life in an accident . . . and a combination of human ingenuity and technical expertise brought him back. Not as himself, but as an augmented human: part man, part machine, and exceptionally capable.The Medusa Chronicles charts his journey through time, the changing interaction between humanity and our universe, and combined moments of incredible action with unparalleled exploration of and expansion into space. A compelling read from the beginning, this is classic SF which has appeal for readers who like Gravity and The Martian.
The Medusa Chronicles
by Stephen Baxter Alastair ReynoldsFollowing an accident that almost cost him his life, Howard Falcon was not so much saved as he was converted, through the use of prosthetics, into something faster, stronger and smarter . . . but also slightly less human and more machine than he was. And with this change came an opportunity - that of piloting a mission into Jupiter's atmosphere, and ultimately of making first contact with the life forms he discovers there.Picking up the threads of humanity versus artificial intelligences and machines, and of encounters with the alien, this collaborative novel between two superb writers is a sequel to Howard Falcon's adventures. A proper science fiction adventure, this is perfect for fans of Golden Age SF as well as the modern SF reader.Read by Peter Kenny(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group
The Medusa Chronicles
by Stephen Baxter Alastair ReynoldsA sequel to Sir Arthur C. Clarke&’s Nebula Award–winning novella &“A Meeting with Medusa,&” this novel continues the thrilling adventure of astronaut Howard Falcon, humanity&’s first explorer of Jupiter from two modern science fiction masters.Howard Falcon almost lost his life in an accident as the first human astronaut to explore the atmosphere of Jupiter—and a combination of human ingenuity and technical expertise brought him back. But he is no longer himself. Instead, he has been changed into an augmented human: part man, part machine, and exceptionally capable. With permission from the Clarke Estate, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds continue this beloved writer’s enduring vision and have created a fresh story for new readers. The Medusa Chronicles charts Falcon’s journey through the centuries granted by his new body, but always back to mysteries of Jupiter and the changing interaction between humanity and the universe. A compelling read full of incredible action right from the beginning, this is a modern classic in the spirit of 2001 and The Martian.
The Medusa Doll (Michael Dahl Presents: Scary Stories)
by Steve BrezenoffJason is so thrilled with the set of 12 mythological Greek god figures he receives for his birthday that he carries one with him to a local toy shop. Soon he discovers that a 13th doll—the Medusa Doll—was also made for his set. Surely this rare figure will be too expensive . . . or is it? Much to his surprise, the toy shop owner simply gives him the doll for free! At first, Jason can’t believe his luck. But then strange stone statues start appearing, and Jason discovers that the true price of the Medusa Doll is stone cold fear!
The Medusa Effect
by Justin RichardsMedusa - an experimental spaceship developed by the Advanced Research Department of St Oscar's University. Missing since it was launched, presumed lost in the wars, it was a project so secret that it has never been declassified.Now, twenty years on, Medusa is coming home.After one of the investigation team dies suspiciously, Professor Bernice Summerfield is assigned to help discover what went wrong. But to do so she must solve a riddle. What is the strange link between the original crew and the team now on board the drifting ship? And why do their ghosts still haunt Medusa?
The Medusa Plague (Dragonlance: Defenders of Magic #2)
by Mary KirchoffThe name Guerrand DiThon has been cursed by his family since the day he disappeaered. When a mysterious plague strikes their beleaguered village, Guerrand's name is invoked again -- as the cause of the disaster.Bram DiThon, Guerrand's nephew, is more like his uncle than the family would care to admit. A skilled herbalist, Bram has unknowingly turned his skills toward magic. It is to Bram the villagers turn when the plague changes their eyes to onyx, their limbs to snakes, and their flesh to stone.Unable to stop the unexplainable deaths, Bram sets out to find his missing uncle. He learns that Guerrand is the High Defender of Bastion, the last stronghold before the Lost Citadel. But in finding him, Bram has unwittingly given an evil mage -- once Guerrand's friend, now his archenemy -- the key to destroy the three orders of sorcery.The Medusa Plague is the second in the Defenders of Magic Trilogy, a series by Dragonlance saga author Mary Kirchoff that will explore for the first time many of the secrets of sorcery in the world of Krynn.
The Medusa Quest: The Legends of Olympus, Book 2 (The Legends of Oympus)
by Alane AdamsPhoebe Katz is back on a new mission to save Olympus and undo the fallout from her first visit. Damian has troubling news—the epic mythology stories in the books are changing. Instead of Perseus slaying Medusa and becoming a hero, the books now say he&’s turned to stone. Worse, thanks to Phoebe slaying the Nemean lion and the Lernean hydra to complete the Eye of Zeus, Hercules failed his first two trials—which means he&’s not the immortal hero he&’s supposed to be. After speaking with the oracle who brought her to New York, Phoebe learns that without great heroes, the entire fabric of Greek mythology is in peril. She must go back to Olympus and right the history she wrecked. To do that, she must embark on a quest to collect the items she will need to help Perseus defeat Medusa, including the curved blade the Argus Slayer, the winged shoes of Hermes, and Hades&’s Helmet of Invisibility, and convince Hercules to complete his new trials without giving up—despite the efforts of a powerful force that will stop at nothing to see the demi-god children of Zeus destroyed. Can Phoebe collect the items she needs and save Olympus once again?