Science Fiction October 2015 Recent Releases The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu This near-future trilogy is the first chance for English-speaking readers to experience this multiple-award-winning phenomenon from Cixin Liu, China's most beloved science fiction author. In "Dark Forest," Earth is reeling from the revelation of a coming alien invasion-in just four centuries' time. The aliens' human collaborators may have been defeated, but the presence of the sophons, the subatomic particles that allow Trisolaris instant access to all human information, means that Earth's defense plans are totally exposed to the enemy. Only the human mind remains a secret. This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a daring plan that grants four men enormous resources to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from Earth and Trisolaris alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown. Luo Ji, an unambitious Chinese astronomer and sociologist, is baffled by his new status. All he knows is that he's the one Wallfacer that Trisolaris wants dead. Three body trilogy #2 Press Start to Play by Daniel H. Wilson IT S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS.  You are standing in a room filled with books, faced with a difficult decision. Suddenly, one with a distinctivecover catches your eye. It is a groundbreaking anthology of short stories from award-winning writers and game-industry titans who have embarked on a quest to explore what happens when video games and science fiction collide.  From text-based adventures to first-person shooters, dungeon crawlers to horror games, these twenty-six stories play with our notion of what video games can be and what they can become in smart and singular ways. With a foreword from Ernest Cline, bestselling author of "Ready Player One," "Press Start to Play" includes work from: Daniel H. Wilson, Charles Yu, Hiroshi Sakurazaka, S.R. Mastrantone, Charlie Jane Anders, Holly Black, Seanan McGuire, Django Wexler, Nicole Feldringer, Chris Avellone, David Barr Kirtley, T.C. Boyle, Marc Laidlaw, Robin Wasserman, Micky Neilson, Cory Doctorow, Jessica Barber, Chris Kluwe, Marguerite K. Bennett, Rhianna Pratchett, Austin Grossman, Yoon Ha Lee, Ken Liu, Catherynne M. Valente, Andy Weir, and Hugh Howey.  Your inventory includes keys, a cell phone, and a wallet. What would you like to do?  The rise of the automated aristocrats : a Burton & Swinburne adventure by Mark Hodder Sir Richard Francis Burton's expedition has returned from the future, bringing with it knowledge of technologies that must remain secret if history is to proceed as it should. However, when one of his colleagues turns rogue, the secret falls into the hands of the very people most likely to misuse it.  Betrayed, Burton and Swinburne watch in horror as the Empire s elite employ the technology to secure their positions of privilege. When London's parks are transformed into concentration camps, artists and philosophers are declared enemies of the State, and propaganda proliferates, the king s agent finds himself on the wrong side of the king!  Can Burton and his band of hunted revolutionaries overthrow an apparently indestructible and immortal autocrat ... and if so, at what personal cost?  The Spring Heeled Jack saga reaches its explosive conclusion! Burton & Swinburne #6 Supersymmetry by David Walton Ryan Oronzi is a paranoid, neurotic, and brilliant physicist who has developed a quantum military technology that could make soldiers nearly invincible in the field. The technology, however, gives power to the quantum creature known as the "varcolac," which slowly begins to manipulate Dr. Oronzi and take over his mind. Oronzi eventually becomes the unwilling pawn of the varcolac in its bid to control the world.  The creature immediately starts attacking those responsible for defeating it fifteen years earlier, including Sandra and Alex Kelley the two versions of Alessandra Kelley who are still living as separate people. The two young women must fight the varcolac, despite the fact that defeating it may mean resolving once again into a single person. Superposition #2 Star wars, aftermath by Chuck Wendig The second Death Star has been destroyed, the Emperor killed, and Darth Vader struck down. Devastating blows against the Empire, and major victories for the Rebel Alliance. But the battle for freedom is far from over.  As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance now a fledgling New Republic presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy’s scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy’s strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but he’s taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.  Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, former rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles’ urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn’t know is just how close the enemy is or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be.  Determined to preserve the Empire’s  power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven t reckoned on Norra and her newfound allies her technical-genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire’s oppressive reign once and for all. Star Wars: The Aftermath Trilogy #1 Zero world by Jason M. Hough Technologically enhanced superspy Peter Caswell has been dispatched on a top-secret assignment unlike any he’s ever faced. A spaceship that vanished years ago has been found, along with the bodies of its murdered crew save one. Peter s mission is to find the missing crew member, who fled through what appears to be a tear in the fabric of space. Beyond this mysterious doorway lies an even more confounding reality: a world that seems to be Earth’s twin.  Peter discovers that this mirrored world is indeed different from his home, and far more dangerous. Cut off from all support, and with only days to complete his operation, Peter must track his quarry alone on an alien world. But he’s unprepared for what awaits on the planet’s surface, where his skills will be put to the ultimate test and everything he knows about the universe will be challenged in ways he never could have imagined.  The Drosten's curse by A. L. Kennedy Something odd is going on at the Fetch Brothers' Golf Spa Hotel: receptionist Bryony Mailer has noticed a definite tendency toward disappearance among the guests. She's tried talking to the manager; she's even tried talking to the owner who lives in one of the best cottages on the grounds, but to no avail. And then a tall, loping remarkably energetic guest (wearing a fetching scarf and floppy hat) appears. The Fourth Doctor thinks he's in Chicago. He knows he's in 1978. And he also knows that if he doesn't do something very clever very soon, matters will get very, very out of hand. Breakout by Ann Aguirre The prison ship Perdition has become a post-battle charnel house with only a handful of Dred s soldiers still standing and now being hunted by Silence’s trained tongueless assassins. Forging an uneasy alliance with mercenary commander Vost who is their only chance at escape the Dread Queen will do whatever it takes to end her life sentence on Perdition and keep the survivors alive long enough to cobble together a transport capable of getting them off station.  If Dred and her crew can win the deadly game of cat and mouse, the payoff is not only life but freedom a prize sweeter than their wildest dreams. Yet the sadistic Silence would rather destroy Perdition than let a single soul slip from her grasp. Dred Chronicles #3 Blood of the cosmos by Kevin J. Anderson An epic space opera of the titanic conflict of several galactic civilizations against a life-destroying force of shadows, a dark cosmic force that has swept through the undercurrents of the human interstellar empire. The intertwined plots, overflowing with colorful ideas, a large cast of characters, and complex storylines, span dozens of solar systems, alien races, and strange creatures. As the second book of the trilogy opens, the humans and Ildirans, having narrowly escaped annihilation at the hands of the Shana Rei and their robot allies in Book One, are desperate to find a way to combat the black cloud of antimatter of the Shana Rei. The mysterious alien Gardeners, who had helped them previously, turn out to be a disaster in disguise and because of them, the world tree forests are again in danger. The allies believing they have found a way to stop their dreaded enemies, a new weapon is tested, but it's a horrible failure, throwing the human race and its allies to the brink of extinction. Saga of Shadows #2  Nova by Margaret Fortune Lia Johansen was created for only one purpose: to slip onto the strategically placed New Sol Space Station and explode. But her mission goes to hell when her clock malfunctions, freezing her countdown with just two minutes to go. With no Plan B, no memories of her past, and no identity besides a name stolen from a dead POW, Lia has no idea what to do next. Her life gets even more complicated when she meets Michael Sorenson, the real Lia's childhood best friend. Drawn to Michael and his family against her better judgment, Lia starts learning what it means to live and love, and to be human. It is only when her countdown clock begins sporadically losing time that she realizes even duds can still blow up. If she wants any chance at a future, she must find a way to unlock the secrets of her past and stop her clock. But as Lia digs into her origins, she begins to suspect there's far more to her mission and to this war, than meets the eye. With the fate of not just a space station but an entire empire hanging in the balance, Lia races to find the truth before her time--literally--runs out. Lightless by C. A. Higgins Serving aboard the "Ananke, " an experimental military spacecraft launched by the ruthless organization that rules Earth and its solar system, computer scientist Althea has established an intense emotional bond not with any of her crewmates, but with the ship s electronic systems, which speak more deeply to her analytical mind than human feelings do. But when a pair of fugitive terrorists gain access to the "Ananke, " Althea must draw upon her heart and soul for the strength to defend her beloved ship.  While one of the saboteurs remains at large somewhere on board, his captured partner the enigmatic Ivan may prove to be more dangerous. The perversely fascinating criminal whose silver tongue is his most effective weapon has long evaded the authorities most relentless surveillance and kept the truth about his methods and motives well hidden.  As the ship s systems begin to malfunction and the claustrophobic atmosphere is increasingly poisoned by distrust and suspicion, it falls to Althea to penetrate the prisoner s layers of intrigue and deception before all is lost. But when the true nature of Ivan’s mission is exposed, it will change Althea forever if it doesn’t kill her first.  Chasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick Darger and Surplus, a human and a genetically engineered dog with human intelligence who walks upright, are a pair of con men and the heroes of a series of prior Swanwick stories. They travel to what was once China and invent a scam to become rich and powerful: pretending to have limited superpowers, they aid an ambitious local warlord who dreams of conquest and once again reuniting China under one ruler. And, against all odds, it begins to work--but it seems as if there are other forces at work behind the scenes. Darger and Surplus #2 Koko the mighty by Kieran Shea With an outstanding Ultimate Sanction bounty still on her head, Koko Martstellar (ex-mercenary and saloon madam extraordinaire) and Jedidiah Flynn (former orbital sky-cop) have narrowly escaped death in paradise. Rescued during a storm, Koko and Flynn are taken in by what amounts to a self-sufficient outlander cult. To save Flynn s life, Koko barters her warrior skills and assists the de-civ group in fending off their most imminent threat: a horde of genetic-mutant raiders. However, even with the group s foes bested and their idealist lifestyle somewhat enticing, being among the outlander de-civs doesn t sit well with Koko. In spite of the de-civ group’s hospitality and Flynn s arguing that they have it pretty good, Koko suspects something is amiss. People within the outlander group s interlocking compounds keep disappearing with flimsy explanations people like the girl who died on the cliff before Koko and Flynn s rescue and soon the group’s leadership assesses Koko as a threat to their secret agenda. As the mystery unfolds, Koko’s limits and loyalties perhaps even her love for Flynn will be tested. And as if that isn’t enough, bounty agent Wire has managed to track down Koko and, after a little politicking, is preparing to lead an army of genetic-mutant raiders in a last-man-standing battle against the cult . . . Stories for Chip : A Tribute to Samuel R. Delany by Nisi Shawl "Stories for Chip" brings together outstanding authors inspired by a brilliant writer and critic, Science Fiction Writers of America Grandmaster Samuel R. Chip Delany. Award-winning SF luminaries such as Michael Swanwick, Nalo Hopkinson, and Eileen Gunn contribute original fiction and creative nonfiction. From surrealistic visions of bucolic road trips to erotic transgressions to mind-expanding analyses of Delany’s influence on the genre as an out gay man, an African American, and possessor of a startlingly acute intellect this book conveys the scope of the subject’s sometimes troubling, always rewarding genius. Editors Nisi Shawl and Bill Campbell have given Delany and the world at large, a gorgeous, haunting, illuminating, and deeply satisfying gift of a book. Not on fire, but burning : a novel by Greg Hrbek Twenty-year-old Skyler saw the incident out her window: Some sort of metallic object hovering over the Golden Gate Bridge just before it collapsed and a mushroom cloud lifted above the city. Like everyone, she ran, but she couldn't outrun the radiation, with her last thoughts being of her beloved baby brother, Dorian, safe in her distant family home.  Flash forward to a post-incident America, where the country has been broken up into territories and Muslims have been herded onto the old Indian reservations in the west, even though no one has determined who set off the explosion that destroyed San Francisco. Twelve-year old Dorian dreams about killing Muslims and about his sister even though Dorian's parents insist Skyler never existed. Are they still shell-shocked, trying to put the past behind them . . . or is something more sinister going on?  Meanwhile, across the street, Dorian's neighbor adopts a Muslim orphan from the territories. It will set off a series of increasingly terrifying incidents that will lead to either tragedy or redemption for Dorian, as he struggles to prove that his sister existed and was killed by a terrorist attack.  "Not on Fire, but Burning" is unlike anything you're read before not exactly a thriller, not exactly sci-fi, not exactly speculative fiction, but rather a brilliant and absorbing adventure into the dark heart of an America that seems ripped from the headlines. But just as powerfully, it presents a captivating hero: A young boy driven by love to seek the truth, even if it means his deepest beliefs are wrong. One year after by William R. Forstchen "New York Times" bestselling author William R. Forstchen brings a sequel to his hit novel "One Second After." Months before publication, "One Second After" was cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read, a book discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as a truly realistic look at the dangers of EMPs. An EMP is a weapon with the power to destroy the entire United States in a single act of terrorism, in a single second; indeed, it is a weapon that the "Wall Street Journal" warns could shatter America. "One Second After" was a dire warning of what might be our future...and our end. Now, "One Year After" returns to the small town of Black Mountain, and the man who struggled so hard to rebuild it in the wake of devastation-John Matherson. It is a thrilling follow-up and should delight fans in every way. One second after #2 The entropy of bones : a novel by Ayize Jama-Everett Chabi doesn't realize her martial arts trainer may not be on the side of the gods. She does know she's gone from being an almost invisible girl to . . . deadly. When he disappears Chabi is devastated and vulnerable to those who wish to use her. She must choose sides quickly: people are dying.  Ayize Jama-Everett has impressed, reviled, and astonished with amazing feats of mental alacrity and mystical inebriation in New York, California, Morocco, Ethiopia, and elsewhere. Luna : new moon by Ian McDonald The Moon wants to kill you. Whether it's being unable to pay your per diem for your allotted food, water, and air, or you just get caught up in a fight between the Moon's ruling corporations, the Five Dragons. You must fight for every inch you want to gain in the Moon's near feudal society. And that is just what Adriana Corta did. As the leader of the Moon's newest "dragon," Adriana has wrested control of the Moon's Helium-3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family's new status. Now, at the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation, Corta Helio, surrounded by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana's five children must defend their mother's empire from her many enemies... and each other. Luna novels #1 Ultima by Stephen Baxter On the planet of Per Ardua, alien artifacts were discovered hatches that allowed humans to step across light-years of space as if they were stepping into another room. But this newfound freedom has consequences....  As humanity discovers the real nature of the universe, a terrifying truth comes to light. We all have countless pasts converging in this present and our future is terrifyingly finite. There are minds in the universe that are billions of years old and now we are vulnerable to their plans for us....  It’s time to fight back and take control. Proxima #2 Clockwork lives by Kevin J. Anderson "Some lives can be summed up in a sentence or two. Other lives are epics."  It was a world of airships and alchemy, clockwork carnivals, pirates, lost cities, a rigid Watchmaker who controlled every aspect of life, and his nemesis, the ruthless and violent Anarchist who wanted to destroy it all.  Anderson and Peart have returned to their colourful creation to explore the places and the characters that still have a hold on their imagination. Marinda Peake is a woman with a quiet, perfect life in a small village; she long ago gave up on her dreams and ambitions to take care of her ailing father, an alchemist and an inventor. When he dies, he gives Marinda a mysterious inheritance: a blank book that she must fill with other people’s stories and ultimately her own.  "Clockwork Lives" is a steampunk "Canterbury Tales," and much more, as Marinda strives to change her life from a mere sentence or two to a true epic. Clockwork novels (Anderson and Peart) #2 Future wars and other punchlines by Hank Davis CATCH-22 IN OUTER SPACE? War, as the general said, is hell, but it also has its humorous moments, though the humor may be grim, and you "had to be there" to get the joke. War is likely to continue into the future, and into space, no matter how many idealistic speeches are made and U.N. sponsored treaties get signed, and so will the wartime jokes, ranging from slapstick to gallows humor. And if "you had to be there" to get the point, some of the best writers in science fiction are on board to put you there . . .  David Drake, the Dean of military science fiction, turns to fantasy and shows the result of having a combat balloon manned by halflings of dubious competence.  Frederik Pohl tells of the invasion of Earth by aliens with impenetrable force shields, and how a goldbricking soldier with all the ethics of a career politician became an unlikely (and unwilling) hero.  Herbert Gold considers the lighter (?) side of the strategy of M.A.D. (Mutual Assured Destruction). Theodore R. Cogswell, in a story which the Science Fiction Writers of America voted into their Science Fiction Hall of Fame, presents an isolated planet's outpost, left behind after the collapse of galactic civilization, and the psychological subterfuge that kept morale from failing.  Steven Utley and Howard F. Waldrop, in a Nebula Award and Locus Award-nominated work of alternate history, report on General George Armstrong Custer's ill-fated mission when he and his dirigible-borne paratroopers were attacked by Chief Crazy Horse's biplane squadron.  Christopher Anvil shows that when aliens with overwhelming technological superiority invade Earth, their campaign can completely unravel because the local conditions are nothing like those back home. (A tornado is just moving air--how could that be dangerous?)  And more!  Future war may be future hell--but there'll also be future hilarity. Baen #1 Contact your librarian for more great books! 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