Phyllis Gotlieb was a Canadian science fiction novelist and poet whose work delves into profound explorations of the human condition and technological advancement. Her writing frequently examines ethical dilemmas and the complexities of interpersonal relationships in futuristic settings. She employs rich language and evocative imagery to draw readers into thoughtfully constructed and stimulating worlds. Her literary legacy is built upon her ability to weave philosophical inquiries into compelling narratives.
An interstellar alien corporation run by aliens was thwarted in its plans to exploit genetically altered slaves. Now, in an attempt to keep it's case from ever coming to court, a judge is murdered on Khagodis--the planet where the amphibious human slaves were first bred--and the man who first broke the slave ring must find a way to bring these villains to justice.
A nuclear accident ravages a small town outside of Chicago, resulting in a government quarantine isolating it from the rest of the world. A generation later, with the quarantine still in place, strange mutations have affected the minds of the town's children - mutations which could either spell the next stage in human evolution, or something far more sinister. As the children's psychic powers begin to manifest themselves in more demented and destructive forms, the kids escape their compound. Now it is up to Shandy Johnson and her friends to track down the runaways. Possessing similar powers, Sandy and her friends find themselves facing increasingly frightening confrontations with their escaped peers. First published in 1964 and again in 1978, "Sunburst" has lost neither its edge nor its relevance. Predating the near-misses and disasters at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, Gotlieb reminds us of the tremendous forces we have at our fingertips - powers that humans use daily but do not fully comprehend.