The anthology features a curated collection of outstanding short stories from British and British-based science fiction authors, showcasing the best talent in the genre over the past eight years. Edited by Donna Scott, this award-winning series highlights the strength and diversity of contemporary British SF, offering readers a selection of exceptional narratives that reflect the creativity and innovation of its contributors.
The story follows Rab, whose life is irrevocably altered by his mother's drastic decision to prevent him from a grim fate in the mines of Mercury. Fearing for his future, she sacrifices his hand in a desperate attempt to save him from a life of toil and despair. This harrowing choice sets the stage for Rab's journey through a world shaped by sacrifice and survival, exploring themes of maternal love, resilience, and the harsh realities of life in a dystopian Solar System.
Exploring the profound implications of first contact, this book delves into how such an event—whether on Earth, in space, or on another planet—would reshape our understanding of technology, philosophy, and humanity itself. It examines the potential cognitive dissonance society might face upon discovering a new form of sentience on Earth, challenging existing beliefs and prompting a reevaluation of our place in the universe.
On the far outskirts of the solar system, one small ship is about to discover something amazing. And it wants to talk . . .
The end of the world is inevitable. We do not accept it.
What would happen to the world if the sun went out? New epic sci-fi from Stephen Baxter, the award-winning author whose credits include co-authorship of the Long Earth series with Terry Pratchett. By the middle of the 21st century, humanity has managed to overcome a series of catastrophic events and maintain some sense of stability. Space exploration has begun again. Science has led the way. But then one day, the sun goes out. Solar panels are useless, and the world begins to freeze Earth begins to fall out of its orbit. The end is nigh. Someone has sent us a sign.
The combined crews of crashed spaceships from different realities must work together to save themselves, escape the planet and discover how the World Engineers have altered the Solar System, and why...
"In the year 2570, a sleeper will wake . . . In the mid-21st century, the Kernel, a strange object on a five-hundred-year-orbit, is detected coming from high above the plane of the solar system. Could it be an alien artefact? In the middle of climate-change crises, there is no mood for space-exploration stunts - but Reid Malenfant, elderly, once a shuttle pilot and frustrated would-be asteroid miner, decides to go take a look anyway. Nothing more is heard of him. But his ex-wife, Emma Stoney, sets up a trust fund to search for him the next time the Kernel returns . . . By 2570 Earth is transformed. A mere billion people are supported by advanced technology on a world that is almost indistinguishable from the natural, with recovered forests, oceans, ice caps. It is not an age for expansion; there are only small science bases beyond the Earth. But this is a world you would want to live in: a Star Trek without the stars. After 500 years the Kernel returns, and a descendant of Stoney, who Malenfant will call Emma II, mounts a mission to see what became of Malenfant. She finds him still alive, cryo-preserved . . . His culture-shock encounter with a conservative future is entertaining . . . But the Kernel itself turns out to be attached to a kind of wormhole, through which Malenfant and Emma II, exploring further, plummet back in time, across five billion years..."--Provided by publisher.
Collection of short stories set after the events of HG Wells' War of the Worlds.
Homage to Arthur C. Clarke's Tales from the White Hart
This collection pays tribute to Arthur C. Clarke's classic work, featuring original stories from prominent contemporary genre writers. Contributors include renowned authors such as Neil Gaiman, Charles Stross, and Stephen Baxter, among others. Each story reflects the imaginative spirit and storytelling prowess inspired by Clarke, showcasing a blend of creativity and homage in the science fiction landscape.