Allen Steele channels his lifelong fascination with space into compelling science fiction narratives. Once a journalist, he now dedicates himself to exploring themes of technological advancement and cosmic exploration, a passion ignited by his early love for the genre. His writing is distinguished by an authentic voice, deeply informed by firsthand experiences such as witnessing shuttle launches and piloting NASA's shuttle cockpit simulator. Steele's work captures the imagination, offering readers a glimpse into the future of humanity among the stars.
In a thrilling adventure set during the Space Age, Captain Future and his team, the Futuremen, face a mysterious challenge with the arrival of the Lost Apollo. This unexpected visitor brings with it an enigma that tests their skills and ingenuity as they navigate the complexities of space exploration. The story promises excitement and intrigue as the characters confront the unknown and unravel the secrets of this new challenge.
Featuring 42 stories and one novel, this extensive anthology explores the theme of Mars and its inhabitants through the works of renowned science fiction authors. It begins with Roger Zelazny's acclaimed "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" and concludes with Allen Steele's award-winning "Emperor from Mars." This collection showcases a diverse range of classic tales, highlighting the imaginative and often philosophical interpretations of Martian life and landscapes, making it a treasure for fans of the genre.
Envisioning a world devoid of plastic, this book explores the environmental and societal implications of such a shift. It delves into sustainable alternatives, innovative solutions, and the potential for a cleaner planet. Through engaging narratives and expert insights, it challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with plastic and inspires action toward a more sustainable future. The narrative emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility and highlights the benefits of embracing eco-friendly practices.
Blistering space warfare unfolds as Captain Future and the Futuremen confront the menacing Ul Quorn, who intends to unleash a terrifying force at Jupiter. The stakes are high, with the fate of the Solar System hanging in the balance. This thrilling adventure combines elements of science fiction and heroism as the characters battle against overwhelming odds to protect their universe.
The Complete "Near Space" Stories, Expanded Edition
The collection features all the stories from Allen Steele's acclaimed "Near Space" series, now presented in a revised and expanded second edition. Readers can expect a rich exploration of space exploration, human ambition, and the challenges of life beyond Earth, showcasing Steele's imaginative storytelling and unique vision of the future. This edition promises to enhance the original tales with additional content, offering both new and returning fans an immersive journey through the cosmos.
Exploring themes of mortality and the afterlife, the narrative unfolds on the protagonist's final day, revealing profound events that follow their death. As the story progresses, it delves into reflections on life, relationships, and the impact one leaves behind. The unique perspective offers a thought-provoking journey that challenges perceptions of existence and what lies beyond.
When a beautiful young Frenchwoman and a brilliant American actor meet in wartime Paris, their love begins like a fairy tale but ends in tragedy. Suddenly orphaned, their three children are cruelly separated. Megan, the baby, adopted by a family of comfortable means, becomes a doctor in the rural Appalachia. Alexandra, raised in lavish wealth, marries a powerful man whose pride is in his pedigree and who assumes that Alexandra is her parents' natural offspring. Neither of them has the remotest suspicion that she is adopted, or what turbulent tragedy lurks in her past. And Hilary, oldest of the Walker children, remembers them all, and the grief that tore them apart and cast them into separate lives. Feeling the loss throughout her life, and unable to find her sisters, she builds an extraordinary career and has no personal life. When John Chapman, lawyer and prestigious private investigator, is asked to find these three women, he wonders why. Their parents' only friend, he did nothing to keep them together as children and has been haunted by remorse all his life. The investigator follows a trail that leads from chic New York to Boston slums, from elegant Parisian salons to the Appalachian hills, to the place where the three sisters face each other and one more final, devastating truth before they can move on.
Allen Steele, americký autor specializující se na hard-SF, je pokládán za zástupce klasické podoby SF žánru v nejlepší tradici Roberta A. Heinleina a Arthura C. Clarka, jejichž práce jsou stejně jako ty jeho založeny na přímočarém ději a srozumitelně podaných předpokladech, podpořených pečlivým studiem moderních vědeckých poznatků. Neklade důraz na rozvinutou technologii – ačkoli i té si čtenář užije dost – naopak, největší pozornost věnuje obyčejným lidem vystaveným neobyčejným situacím. Základna Tranqullity je stále měsíční základna sloužící k mírovému vědeckému výzkumu. Její odvrácenou tváří je Hnědý sokol – lunární atomová základna vytvořená za vlády Trumana a Eisenhowera, osazená šesti raketami s atomovými hlavicemi. A teď je studená válka u konce. Americký kosmický program se stává obětí politiků a základna Tranquillity, už dlouho opuštěná, má být prodána vzmáhajícímu se německému průmyslovému koncernu König Selenen GmbH. A tak má proběhnout symbolická poslední mise, kdy budou rakety zneškodněny a základna předána Němcům. Velitelem má být Gene Parnell, astronaut-průkopník, který před mnoha lety rakety na základnu dopravil. Ale velmi rychle zjišťuje, že někdo jiný má s Hnědým sokolem své vlastní plány. Kdo je to? Komu může Parnell věřit? Veterán kosmického programu rozehrává smrtící hru s neznámými teroristy. Sázka je velká: budoucnost planety Země.
