Those of My Blood


Book Description

Integrating vampire love and page-turning suspense by an award-winning science fiction author, this story of fantasy and romance will appeal to genre fans of all kinds. Finding the remains of an alien spaceship complete with humanoid corpses, scientists begin to work on sending a message to the stars, in hope of contacting the newly discovered civilisation. The scientists, however, are unaware that the aliens they are attempting to contact already walk among them. Stranded on Earth generations ago, the vampire-like Luren have split into two sects: the Residents, who consider themselves part of human society, and the Tourists, who prey upon humans as they wait to return to their home planet. Fearing that Luren civilisation will enslave humanity upon the receipt of the message, astronomer and Luren Resident Titus Shiddehara works furiously to sabotage the scientists' contact attempts.




Fic


Book Description

What is fanfiction, and what is it not? Why does fanfiction matter? And what makes it so important to the future of literature? Fic is a groundbreaking exploration of the history and culture of fan writing and what it means for the way we think about reading, writing, and authorship. It's a story about literature, community, and technology—about what stories are being told, who's telling them, how, and why. With provocative discussions from both professional and fan writers, on subjects from Star Trek to The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Harry Potter, Twilight, and beyond, Fic sheds light on the widely misunderstood world(s) of fanfiction—not only how fanfiction is transforming the literary landscape, but how it already has. Fic features a foreword by Lev Grossman (author of The Magicians) and interviews with Jonathan Lethem, Doug Wright, Eurydice (Vivean Dean), and Katie Forsythe/wordstrings. Cyndy Aleo (algonquinrt; d0tpark3r) V. Arrow (aimmyarrowshigh) Tish Beaty (his_tweet) Brad Bell Amber Benson Peter Berg (Homfrog) Kristina Busse Rachel Caine Francesca Coppa Randi Flanagan (BellaFlan) Jolie Fontenot Wendy C. Fries (Atlin Merrick) Ron Hogan Bethan Jones Christina Lauren (Christina Hobbs/tby789 and Lauren Billings/LolaShoes) Jacqueline Lichtenberg Rukmini Pande and Samira Nadkarni Chris Rankin Tiffany Reisz Andrew Shaffer Andy Sawyer Heidi Tandy (Heidi8) Darren Wershler Jules Wilkinson (missyjack) Jen Zern (NautiBitz)




Sime~Gen


Book Description

This is the saga of humanity's destiny... Following a cataclysm, humanity has been divided into two mutant forms: the Simes and the Gens. Gens consider themselves to be the true humans, with little outward change, but their bodies produce selyn, an energy that Simes can't live without. The stronger and faster Simes develop the means to extract selyn from the Gens, a method that kills the Gen in the process. Gen communities are raided by Simes, the Gens rounded up and held in pens for Simes to use when needed. This is the saga of how these two disparate peoples learn to live as one. Sime Gen: The Unity Trilogy presents three classic novels of the future struggle of humanity: In House of Zeor by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Hugh Valleroy, a Gen, must rescue the woman he loves from Sime raiders. To do so, he must learn to cooperate with and trust a renegade Sime, leader of the infamous House of Zeor. In Ambrov Keon by Jean Lorrah, Risa Tigue, having just witnessed her father's death in a hurricane, stumbles upon a Gen man who saves her life and discovers that she is much more than what she seems. Can she admit the truth of this discovery? In Zelerod's Doom by Lichtenberg and Lorrah




First Channel


Book Description

Rimon Farris, a rich Sime farmer's son, has a golden future: all he has to do is marry his childhood sweetheart, Kadi, and he's set for life. But Kadi matures into a Gen, as one-third of the human children do, randomly; and suddenly is considered no more than a food animal, a thing to be killed and harvested. The couple refuse to accept their fate, and flee to a strange hybrid community. There they set in motion the greatest social engineering experiment in human history. If it succeeds, Simes will finally be able to live peacefully in a symbiotic relationship with the Gens. But if it fails, all will be lost... Sime Gen, Book Three.




Pandora's Star


Book Description

Pandora's Star is the first part of Peter F. Hamilton's epic Commonwealth Saga duology – a fantastic galaxy-spanning novel from the master of space opera. For fans of Iain M. Banks and Alastair Reynolds. At the edge of the galaxy something awakens – and it's coming for us . . . Earth AD 2329: Humanity has colonized over four hundred planets, all interlinked by wormholes. For the first time in mankind's history there is peace. Then a star over a thousand light years away suddenly vanishes, imprisoned inside a force field of immense size. Yet who – or what – has that sort of technology? And what could this mean for us? Only a faster-than-light starship, captained by ex-NASA astronaut Wilson Kime, can reach that distance to investigate. For Wilson, getting inside the force field could be easy. It may be harder to stop something else from getting out. What if there was a very good reason to seal off an entire star system? The Commonwealth Saga duology concludes with Judas Unchained. 'The best book Hamilton has written in years' - Guardian 'Anyone who begins this won’t be able to put it down' - Publishers Weekly




A Shift of Means


Book Description

Den Milnan, a Tecton Donor, accompanies his cousin, channel Rital Madz, to an experimental Sime Center in the town of Clear Springs, deep in hostile Gen Territory. Rital plans to offer selyn technology to the Gens in trade for selyn, the energy that only Gens can produce. Selyn is the fuel that could power a new revival of civilization, as fossil fuels did for humanity of the 19th and 20th centuries. Den Milnan dreams of turning his horse-and-buggy existence into a world of rapid transportation with his design for heavier than air flight. In Clear Springs, an implacable enemy awaits them, determined to stop selyn collection by fanning old fears of killer Simes. Unless Den can find a way to calm those fears, his dream of powered flight will never be realized.




The History & Use of Amulets, Charms and Talismans


Book Description

Amulets and charms have been used since mankind evolved from its distant origins millions of years ago. They have been used to protect and to harm, and in both the practice and avoidance of witchcraft and sorcery. They are made of wood and stone, clay, metal, plants and dead animals. They are carved into crude shapes and in the most exquisite forms. They may also be composed entirely of words, which are believed to have great power and magical properties. Used by pagans, Christians, Jews and followers of every faith and tradition known across the world, they are considered direct links to the gods and local spirits. All are links to the supernatural. Regardless if they are called amulets, charms or talismans, these objects are credited with providing cures, causing evil, and bringing health and prosperity. This book, using ethnographic studies, ancient records and folklore, will explore the history and use of amulets and will show that they continue to be an important part of our modern culture.




Monographic Series


Book Description




Judas Unchained


Book Description

WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER • “An interstellar suspense thriller . . . sweeping in scope and emotional range.”—San Antonio Express-News In the star-spanning civilization known as the Intersolar Commonwealth, twenty-three planets have fallen victim to the Prime, a technologically advanced alien species genetically hardwired to exterminate all other forms of life. But the Prime is not the only threat. The Starflyer, an alien with mind-control abilities impossible to detect or resist, has secretly infiltrated the Commonwealth and is sabotaging the war effort. Is the Starflyer an ally of the Prime, or has it orchestrated a fight to the death between the two species for its own advantage? Caught between two deadly enemies, the fractious Commonwealth must unite as never before. This will be humanity’s finest hour—or its last gasp. Praise for Judas Unchained, the sequel to Pandora’s Star “Bristles with the energy of golden age SF, but the style and characterizations are polished and modern.”—SF Site “You’re in for quite a ride.”—The Santa Fe New Mexican “The reader is left breathless in amazement.”—SFRevu




Retief


Book Description

The ceremonious protocol of the Yills was impressive, colorful, and, in the long run, deadly! It was up to Jame Retief to figure out how to respond to the Yill's overtures in the correct manner; all the while keeping his superiors from making a deadly mistake. Only one man could think quickly enough to get the job done!