This is the definitive collection of the twentieth-century's most characteristic genre -- science fiction. The tales are organized chronologically to give readers a sense of how the genre's range, vitality, and literary quality have evolved over time. Eac
Far beyond the orbit of Pluto, half-mythical bodies circle the Solar System--the Reefs of Space, unknown, shrouded in mystery, the goal of human conquest, the obsession of the Plan of Man, tyrannical ruler of Earth. The Reefs of Space brings humanity to t
The Saga of CuckooThere was no shortage of danger on Cuckoo.20,000 light years away, the enormous flat surface of Cuckoo travelling at one-sixth the speed of light aimed arrow-straight at the galaxy.Sun One sent the space probe Aurora with a crew of repli
When Comet Sicara brushed near enough to strip the ozone layer form the Earth's atmosphere, civilization effectively ended--in fact, life on Earth was nearly extinguished. But the underwater cities survived, and some heavily protected land enclaves as wel
A race of turtle-like creatures conquers Earth, imposing a gentler set of values on humankind, outlawing destructive technology, and denying the validity of human scientific theories. When their home planet disappears into a black hole, however, the alien
On the far planet Wing IV, a brilliant scientist creates the humanoids--sleek black androids programmed to serve humanity.But are they perfect servants--or perfect masters?Slowly the humanoids spread throughout the galaxy, threatening to stifle all human
In a basement in New Mexico, four poker buddies and amateur adventurers who have discovered a dark mystery buried beneath the sands of the Sahara desert decide to do something about it.In the deep Sahara, they find an ancient artifact that will change the
Bookstores are the greatest places on earth, yet there's never been an anthology devoted just to them. Here are sixteen stories, fourteen original to this anthology, each of which includes a bookstore at its core. Science fiction, fantasy and horror. Auth
