Publisher: Orbit
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/09/2012
ISBN-13: 9780316212373
ISBN-10: 0316212377

Space Opera. For the Gzilt, a paradoxically peaceful civilization organized along military lines and founded upon the tenets of the Book of Truth, the end is nigh. Soon, in accordance with ancient doctrine, they will Sublime (vanish) into another, higher plane of existence. So who gets all the nifty technology they'll be leaving behind? That has yet to be decided -- and acts of sabotage that destroy a Gzilt starship and, later, the Regimental High Command only complicate matters. Despite being a suspect in the investigation, Gzilt Lieutenant Commander Vyr Cossont is determined to complete the last orders she received from High Command: locating a 9,000-year-old man, Ngaroe QiRia, whose knowledge of the Culture's founding may yield surprising discoveries. "Sheer delight," says Kirkus Reviews about this 10th fast-paced and intricately plotted book in the Culture series.

Publisher: Ace Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 11/06/2012
ISBN-13: 9781937008710
ISBN-10: 1937008711

Near Future SF. In 2019, the United States economy continues to hover on the brink of recession and public interest in the space program has declined almost as much as the agency's funding. But when NASA public relations official Jerry Culpepper discovers evidence that there may have been a series of trial "Moon Shots" prior to the famous Apollo 11 mission, he unwittingly sets off a firestorm of controversy. Matters get even murkier when billionaire entrepreneur Morgan "Bucky" Blackstone announces his plans to land on the Moon. And why not? He's got his own rocket (not to mention his own secret agenda) and is all set to blast off. This conspiracy-laden collaboration from acclaimed SF authors Jack McDevittt and Mike Resnick will please space buffs and readers who enjoy high-tech thrillers.

Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/02/2012
ISBN-13: 9780765330093
ISBN-10: 0765330091

Slipstream. Although Easy Rawlins series author Walter Mosley is best known as a mystery writer, he periodically ventures into the speculative realm, whether in his novel The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey or his Crosstown to Oblivion series of novellas. This latest foray is comprised of "Merge," featuring an ordinary man whose existence is transformed by an alien lifeform, and "Disciple," about a low-wage worker whose mysterious benefactor makes all his dreams come true -- at a very high cost. Intrigued? Be sure to read the previous installment in this series, containing the stories "The Gift of Fire" and "On the Head of a Pin."

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Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/21/2012
ISBN-13: 9780765331007
ISBN-10: 0765331004

Military SF. Although the Ringworld has suddenly, inexplicably vanished, familiar characters remain -- including human space explorer Louis Wu and his Puppeteer companion Hindmost, who managed to escape. Now they're attempting to defuse escalating tensions between numerous alien races, including the two-headed Puppeteers, the group-minded Gw'oth, and the felinoid Kzinti. This 5th and concluding installment of the Ringworld series prequels boasts an intricate plot and detailed world-building. If you're new to this series, start with Fleet of Worlds; if you're new to the Known Space universe and looking for a thorough introduction, check out Ringworld and its sequels.

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Publisher: Ace Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/04/2012
ISBN-13: 9780441017577
ISBN-10: 0441017576

Apocalyptic SF. It's a scenario that could have come straight out of a movie: a genetically engineered oil-eating bacteria, intended to cripple Middle Eastern petroleum production by turning the region's reserves into unusable sludge, escapes and infiltrates every oil field on the planet -- which, predictably, leads to global catastrophe. And indeed, that's exactly what screenwriter Dave Marshall thinks when an ex-Marine script consultant informs him of the existence (and spread) of such an organism. Armed with this information, Dave stocks up on supplies, installs his family and friends in a secure bunker, and prepares to wait out the apocalypse. But will it be enough?

Publisher: Night Shade Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 01/01/2008
ISBN-13: 9781597801058
ISBN-10: 1597801054

Short Stories. Known for such acclaimed anthologies as the zombie-themed The Living Dead and the multiverse-focused Other Worlds Than These, editor John Joseph Adams turns his attention to the end of the world. This wide-ranging collection of apocalyptic science fiction short stories features the work of authors including Stephen King, Orson Scott Card, Octavia Butler, Elizabeth Bear, and Paolo Bacigalupi. Fans of high-quality science fiction, fantasy, horror, or any combination of these genres will want to pick up Wastelands -- while libraries still exist.

Publisher: Forge
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/17/2009
ISBN-13: 9780765317582
ISBN-10: 0765317583

Postapocalyptic SF. When a mysterious electromagnetic pulse takes down the power grid and disables all electrical devices, the world as we know it is plunged into darkness. Societal breakdown quickly follows in the form of famine, disease, and roving gangs of looters. Meanwhile, in a small North Carolina town, retired army colonel John Matheson, now a history teacher, struggles to keep himself and his two motherless daughters alive while attempting to discover the source of the catastrophe. If you're a fan of TV's Revolution, you'll likely enjoy One Second After, which shares some similarities in plot and character development.

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Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 07/08/2008
ISBN-13: 9781416552253
ISBN-10: 1416552251

Postapocalyptic SF. A decade after the world ends, former insurance salesman Mortimer Tate descends from his well-stocked mountaintop bunker and discovers that post-apocalyptic Tennessee is a scary place indeed, with cannibals roaming the devastated landscape. As Mortimer struggles to make sense of his new reality, he stumbles upon what might become the building block of a new civilization: strip-club franchise Joey Armageddon's Sassy a Go-Go. "Guns, girls and alcohol occupy almost every inch of this raucous thrill ride," says Publishers Weekly. Sound like your kind of party? Don't miss this book or its supernatural-themed sequel, Vampire a Go-Go, both of which may appeal to fans of Mario Acevedo's Felix Gomez series.

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Publisher: Roc
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/06/2011
ISBN-13: 9780451464200
ISBN-10: 0451464206

Apocalyptic SF. Beneath the placid beauty of Yellowstone National Park lies a supervolcano, and while geysers such as Old Faithful hint at its presence, no one expects it to erupt. After all, it's been dormant for well over 600,000 years. But when park visitor Colin Ferguson, a recently divorced Los Angeles police officer, meets seismologist Kelly Birnbaum during a minor earthquake, their burgeoning romance is soon overshadowed by a massive volcanic eruption that makes Mount Vesuvius look like a science fair project. This opening installment of the Supervolcano Trilogy continues with All Fall Down.

Publisher: Tor
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/23/2009
ISBN-13: 9780765319715
ISBN-10: 0765319713

Postapocalyptic SF. In Julian Comstock's "beautifully realized, unnerving future" (Publishers Weekly), 22nd-century America has returned to Victorian technology and ethos following the Efflorescence of Oil, the Fall of the Cities, and the Plague of Infertility. President Comstock rules the now 60 states of the Union in concert with the Church of the Dominion, but an upstart young war hero called Captain Commongold hopes to bring about their downfall and a return to the doctrines of the Secular Ancients. Alternate history buffs, steampunk fans, and military adventure readers will all be equally drawn to this captivating tale.

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