Sci Fi Genre

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Summary: An inhabited planet is not what an interplanetary mining company hopes to find while in search of rare mineral deposits, but the low-tech natives should be won over by a few ‘miracles’, right? Emily Nandi, the mining company’s legally mandated xenologist, isn’t so sure. The planet’s social structures are complex, fascinating and frustrating – she advocates research and caution rather than the seat-of-the-pants first contact the company president wants. Investigator Shadow is convinced ghosts are watching him until a fellow investigator disappears, plucked from his harduk’s back without a trace. When he reappears at the city gates, naked, half-frozen and ill, he brings back a harrowing tale of strangers on a ship high above the planet. From this shaky beginning, suspicion and misunderstanding fuel one culture-clash driven disaster after another, punctuated by apocalyptic prophesies from the oracle, Telluris. This is no way to get to know one’s long-lost cousins from Earth.

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Summary: The Silver Age of Science Fiction saw a wealth of compelling speculative tales — and women authors wrote some of the best of the best. Yet the stories of this era, especially those by women, have been largely unreprinted, unrepresented, and unremembered. Until now. Volume one of REDISCOVERY represents a historic first: fourteen selections of the best science fiction of the Silver Age, written by the unsung women authors of yesteryear and introduced by today’s rising stars. Curated by the team that produces the Hugo-nominated Galactic Journey. Join us and rediscover these lost treasures. “Female authors wrote stories about coming of age…cautionary tales…stories set beyond our universe… You’ll find these themes and more in this anthology. I hope that as you read their stories you don’t try to ferret out ‘feminine’ versus ‘masculine’ elements. What you are about to read is really good science fiction, plain and simple. I certainly enjoyed the journey and have every expectation that you shall, too.” -from the Foreword by Dr. Laura Brodian Freas Beraha

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Summary: Women write science fiction. They always have. Rediscovery: Science Fiction by Women (1953-1957) offers, quite simply, some of the best science fiction ever written: 20 amazing pieces, most of which haven’t been reprinted for decades…but should have been. Whether you are a long-time fan or new to the genre, you are in for a treat. This collection of works—18 stories, 1 poem, 1 nonfiction piece—are a showcase, some of the best science fiction stories of the ’50s. These stories were selected not only as examples of great writing, but also because their characters are as believable, their themes just as relevant today, their contents just as fun to read, as when they were written almost three quarters of a century ago. Dig in. Enjoy these newly-rediscovered delicacies a few at a time…or binge them all at once!

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Summary: It appears out of nowhere—one moment the sky is empty, the next, there’s a rent in the fabric of space itself. And nothing in the system will ever be the same.  In the far reaches of the Rim Mountains, itinerant field-scientist Aran Romeu is searching desperately for the cure to an incurable disease—one that’s slowly killing his best friend. He’s sworn to do whatever it takes to find it. But when the portal opens, and something comes through, he realizes that ‘whatever it takes’ will involve travelling into the uncharted space beyond the portal. And he’s not the only one after the cure, and willing to do whatever it takes to get to it first … In the weighty halls of government, Chief Justice Alba Espina is preparing a political gamble that could change the shape of the system itself. The appearance of the portal shatters her carefully-laid plans and hands her political rival a weapon he could use destroy her—unless she can delay him with the promise of a diplomatic mission through the portal. But the stakes of the mission are higher than just her personal ambition. If her diplomatic mission doesn’t succeed, it might just spell the end of humanity itself. In a remote spaceport, Savina Moya, the system's most talented assassin-for-hire, is on the run again after her latest murder. But when a deadly government agent is sent after her, with instructions to bring her back dead or alive, the diplomatic mission heading into the portal may hold the key to Savina’s survival—if she’s brave enough, or desperate enough, to take it. No one knows what’s beyond the portal. And as the three of them are drawn inexorably together in uncharted space, with no idea who is an ally and who is an enemy—it’s an open question if any of them will live long enough to find out. 

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Summary: Stationmaster and exiled aristocrat Albert St. John Rembrandt—Bertie to his friends—is in love with a Tolari ruler he believes he can’t have. When he nearly dies finding out the hard way that some Tolari are as poisonous as their planet, it’s only the beginning of his troubles. A ship has gone missing. His station is in crisis. Bertie must somehow recover his health and manage the disaster while trying to decide whether to accept genetic modification in order to be with the man he loves. And no Rembrandt has ever taken a gen mod.

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Summary: Renegades Uncontrollable. Unpredictable. Dangerous. The Wildblood. Now, Team Three know what they are. Renegades takes up with Team Three out among clans of the Altered, and cities where civilization has held ground. One of the most pressing obstacles turns out to be their own governing council, a threat as real and treacherous as the Nomads of the outlands. Unwilling to confront those issues, they scatter along The Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to establish who are allies, and who are not. It’s only a matter of time before the team is forced to face the consequences of their actions, and of a war none of them remember. What would you do to protect your home?

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Summary: Humanity is falling. She has little hope of survival. Charlus Vaughn, a teenage refugee on the run from machine judgement and haunted by her mother's secrets. When a rogue data-pirate crew pulls her from the brink of execution, Charlus finds a place to belong, but something far older and far more dangerous is watching. Entangled in the schemes of an ancient arachnid intelligence, Charlus begins to uncover powers within herself that unravel what she's been told. Her past was hidden for a reason. Humanity is losing its fight for dominance and the machines that hunt Charlus remember exactly who she is. Residuum is a thrilling space opera of hidden legacies, AI genocide, and imperfect families, perfect for fans of sweeping galactic conflict, found-family crews, and slow-burn suspense. Once Charlus learns who she is, the galaxy will know about it.

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Summary: Can a retired assassin be the savior his people need? How does a former assassin save his fellow humans from extinction? By allying them with mrrogs of course! But that’s easier said than done as humans are understandably distrustful and suspicious of sescurei, the official species of the InterGalactic community. Leopold must convince them that Mastrodai’s offer of alliance isn’t a trick, which means diplomacy, patience, and tenacity. Times like this make him grateful that he has two strong mates to lean on. And when it comes to understanding his own people, he’d be wise to follow Alex’s lead. Alex has been too long away from her family and is thrilled to see them again. But with reunions come old pressures, old doubts, and old wounds. She must negotiate who she was with who she is, while helping her mates and her colony come together with the shared goal of freedom. Mastrodai, meanwhile, finds himself in the minority for the first time in his life, and the constant hostility has him doubting the wisdom of their choices. But he’s devoted to his human mates and determined to see things through no matter the discomfort… or danger. Not everyone wants what Leopold and his mates have to give, and he needs to break through the resistance humans have built up after generations of degradation, humiliation, and fear. He must win his people’s trust, solve the riddle of his parents’ rings, and navigate the new complexities of his love life. Being an assassin was so much easier. Reader Discretion advised: PTSD, abusive family, a cult, MMF romance, dystopian.

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Summary: Aric kan Ingan is heading for a rendezvous with Death, with a detour to Terra at pal Miles Sheffield’s insistence, in an attempt to take his mind off his upcoming obituary. Old prejudices long-buried and culture clashes aside, the planet offers a few things to test his newly-restored integrity, as well as his fidelity to Susan…such as the attention paid to a certain alien by Miles’ foster mother, an attractive but neglected wife. Leaving for Arcanis offers an escape, even if his arrival begins with his arrest and the quickest trial imaginable. The verdict? His former sentence is to be carried out. Immediately. A great deal has changed on Arcanis in the past fifteen years, however. Former best friend Eby now heads the Peace Force and is the True Arcanian Society’s right-hand man. Pallas, the baby-bride Aric left behind, is no longer a child. Inheriting her mother’s beauty as well as a touch of her deviousness, the Princess Royal has the power to save her cousin’s life, for which she expects a great deal more than his mere gratitude. Marrying Pallas means giving up hope of a future with Susan, but it will regain Aric the Throne of Arcanis and revenge against The True Arcanian Society, while freeing Pallas from Eby’s domination. Whatever the choice, someone will win and someone will lose, and the entire galaxy will be affected…but will it be worth it?

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Summary: Some threats hide in plain sight... Two years have passed since Jed Welch escaped the ruins of New York City. The monsters have begun vanishing from parts of the world, and rebuilding efforts are underway. Isolated communities and their militias are starting over, slowly reclaiming cities and countryside alike. Now a sergeant, Jed leads a squad providing security on Galveston Island, as they await the arrival of the first refugee ships. When a saboteur's bomb threatens everything, Jed and his people find themselves cut off from support and communication. With nothing but the gear they carry to help them survive, the squad hunts the saboteur across the southern Texas landscape, and discovers the truth behind the Variants' disappearance. Author's note: This story is set in the Extinction Cycle universe of Nicholas Sansbury Smith.

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Summary: Within the unseen laboratories of cutting-edge scientific research two incredible discoveries are made, half a world apart. One is in the field of human genetics, the other in astrophysics. Together, this shocking new knowledge may answer age-old questions about human consciousness and mankind’s place in the universe. What makes us human? Why are we here? Are we alone? But will the answers to these questions enlighten us or lead us into fear, hate and self-destruction? This bold science fiction thriller set in the present day reveals mind-bending breakthroughs grounded in hard science, and unfolds amid political intrigue, government secrecy, and a race to understand the truth before it’s too late.

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Summary: 1915. Teddy Roosevelt is building an empire. Only Pancho Villa stands in his way. The American Expeditionary Force under the command of General "Black Jack" Pershing has invaded Northern Mexico. Pancho Villa leads his revolutionary army in a desperate raid against the American force only to be outflanked. Just as Pershing's airships prepare to deliver the death blow, Pancho Villa is transported to a parallel Earth where he finds an unexpected ally and the technology that might just turn defeat into victory. Revolution of Air and Rust is a stand-alone novella set in the Empires of Steam and Rust world created by Robert E. Vardeman and Stephen D. Sullivan. A story filled with military action, espionage and gadgetry that's sure to satisfy fans of steampunk and alternate history.

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Summary: New Colorado Protectorate fell with the assassination of Chancellor Clarke. Like many others, Todd and Nick Ruger left the land of their birth and made a home to the north in Yellowknife. Their world was ever changing. The time came to say a sad farewell to some of their friends and loved ones, but they were taken in with open arms by others and in turn offered shelter to yet more. Through the years they remained steadfast in their duty as sentries to protect and defend those that needed it the most. Time marches on but through it all they hold each other dear and cherish the love they've shared. There are still angry ghosts, Windigos and water spirits to contend with. Their lives change, offering them new roles. When the time comes, they do what sentries have done for generations prior and teach others the skills to carry on as sentries. The Rugers lives were rich and their hearts full with their devotion and love for each other. The tradition of the sentries lived on forever. It was the legacy of Todd and Nick Ruger. That was the way it was always meant to be. Winner Gay Fantasy Romance category 2016 Rainbow Awards and Runner Up Best Gay Book 2016 Rainbow Award

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Summary: RISE (noun / verb) Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell: 1) An upward slope or movement 2) A beginning or origin 3) An increase in amount or number 4) An angry reaction 5) To take up arms 6) To return from death 7) To become heartened or elated 8) To exert oneself to meet a challenge Rise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.

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Summary: The ForeRunners have destroyed Capulet’s city, Ephesus, and the joint Lenar-Human search teams are needed to root out the enemy. But when the empathic Lenars refuse to work without Selena Dillon and her team of commandos, they soon find themselves back there in an uneasy alliance and a race against time to stop the enemy from destroying other cities. Throughout the galaxy billions are dying. Despite her fear that the alien Manta and their allies will turn against them, Selena needs to unite the races and find a way to destroy the ForeRunners before it’s too late. Selena knows there’s no more running, and that sooner or later there will be a final reckoning between herself and the queen. But even if they survive that long she needs to discover who will stand with her, and who against her, in this final confrontation with the tyrannical monarch.

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Summary: Space ship Lieutenant Matthew Ferris has desired Daniel Peters, his ship’s newest recruit, from the moment he saw him. But Peters is a lowly private and as the senior officer, Ferris knows he must wait for a sign that his feelings are returned before making an approach. When Peters follows him into a two-man capsule after a mission, Ferris thinks all his dreams are about to come true. What he doesn’t expect is to discover a scandal that could tear his ship apart. Some call it rough play, he calls it unacceptable. A novella in the Aurigan Space Series. Gay sci-fi romance.

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Summary: Three Novellas: Rough Play - Lieutenant Matthew Ferris stumbles on a scandal that could tear his spaceship Jerez apart. Some call it rough play, he calls it unacceptable. His Guilty Secret - Heir to a wealthy shipping family, Adam S Hayes has his life carefully mapped out. Career, marriage, family. After establishing himself successfully as Captain of the Patrol Ship Revel, it is time for the next step. Everything is going according to plan ... until he meets Danyel King. Troubled and confused, Hayes risks losing his chance for love as he finds himself torn between his heart and his head. Dangerous Tension - Spaceship Captain Matthews has kept his sexuality a secret. What happens when the crew finds out? is Lieutenant Kent as straight as he always believed? Will he hit him or kiss him, or both? Gay romantic Sci-fi

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Summary: "A compelling story with an unpredictable plot... a must-read for fans of extraterrestrial intrigue." — Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review) A near-future mystery for fans of Blake Crouch and The X-Files. The world hasn't changed, but your reality has. They told Jenny Rand her recovery was a miracle. But for her, the Earth doesn't feel like home anymore. She wakes from a four-year coma in a San Francisco that looks the same but sounds wrong. She can hear whispers of thoughts beneath the city noise, and the stray cats at Ocean Beach watch her like they are waiting for a signal. Even her memories of Dorian Chase, the movie star who stayed by her bed, feel like a script that has been edited one too many times. Jenny uncovers a terrifying truth. Humanity is losing an invisible war. An alien faction known as the Xarion is rewriting human history through algorithms and manipulated media. From shadow finance and manufactured chaos to the insidious distractions of mindless entertainment, they are keeping our eyes off the stars while they quietly prepare to isolate the Earth forever. With only fifteen launch windows left for humanity to escape, Jenny must find the Quantum Core before the lights go out. In a world being derailed by its own obsessions, she is the only one who can see the cracks. But in a war fought with manufactured lies, she has to wonder if her own heart is a truth she can trust, or just another piece of code. The Earth is finally waking up. Discover the mystery of Round Midnight. A sci-fi thriller for anyone who knows the truth is usually hidden in the shadows.

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Summary: As a security officer on an interspecies ship, Growlan Raskli's experienced in heading off species-specific aberrant behaviors in order to keep the peace. But when her captain asks her to find out what's bothering their sole human crew member, Raskli's out of her depths. She hardly knows anything about humans and she's not a psych doctor. Something's definitely upset Human Jen, something to do with human holidays. The more time Raskli spends studying humans and interacting with the intriguing Human Jen, the more personal the assignment becomes. Determined to lift the dark cloud from Human Jen, Raskli will do whatever it takes—within safe parameters, of course.

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Summary: A blessing and a curse… Seven years ago, a single moment changed the course of Nicholaus Bock’s life forever—the moment his preternatural Gift to heal awakened in him. A gift that made him an invaluable commodity to the known galaxy. Now his mentor’s intriguing and secretive new student goes out of her way to challenge his loyalty to everything he values. A dark secret… After facing death and destruction during the Anferthian invasion, Sakura Yamata revels in her new-found Gift to heal. Helping Earth’s survivors keeps her mind off the loss of her family, and the memory of the terrible choices she made. Nick could penetrate her defenses and discover what she’s hiding. She must not let the handsome healer close enough for that to happen. A race facing annihilation… When a mysterious disease strikes the hidden sanctuary of the Anferthian dissenters, Nick and Sakura are called in to help. But someone is going to great lengths to ensure the dissenters don’t survive. Nick and Sakura must set aside their differences and work together to save them before the fragile peace between three worlds is shattered.