In The Ticket That Exploded, William S. Burroughs’s grand “cut-up” trilogy that starts with The Soft Machine and continues through Nova Express reaches its climax as inspector Lee and the Nova Police engage the Nova Mob in a decisive battle for the planet. Only Burroughs could make such a nightmare vision of scientists and combat troops, of ad men and con men whose deceitful language has spread like an incurable disease be at once so frightening and so enthralling.

Reese and David are not normal teens-not since they were adapted with alien DNA by the Imria, an extraterrestrial race that has been secretly visiting Earth for decades. Now everyone is trying to get to them: the government, the Imria, and a mysterious corporation that would do anything for the upper hand against the aliens.Beyond the web of conspiracies, Reese can't reconcile her love for David with her feelings for her ex-girlfriend, Amber, an Imrian. But Reese's choice between two worlds will play a critical role in determining the future of humanity, the Imria's place in it, and the inheritance she and David will bring to the universe. In this gripping sequel to Adaptation, Malinda Lo brings a thoughtful exploration of adolescence, sexuality, and "the other" to a science-fiction thriller that is impossible to put down.

In the far future, after human civilization has spread through the galaxy, communications begin to arrive in an apparently alien language. They appear to threaten invasion, but in order to counter the threat, the messages must first be understood.

In the first issue of 2015, we feature a modern take on the Fates, a strangely ambiguous story about the paths of the afterlife, a tale of far-future humans who have survived the death of the Earth, and a goofy set of letters sent by a dissatisfied alien.We are incredibly happy to enter our third year of publication, and we couldn't be more proud of the stories we have featured on Fiction Vortex.Really, the pride levels are starting to get a little obscene. We're working hard to maintain the same level of quality we've featured for the past two years, and we're excited by all the possibility out there. After two years, it's safe to say that we've acquired whatever is the publishing equivalent of sea legs, and we're ready to continue onward and upward.None of this would be possible, of course, without the amazing authors who contribute to Fiction Vortex. So take a moment to appreciate their work. In the first issue of 2015, we feature a modern take on the Fates, a strangely ambiguous story about the paths of the afterlife, a tale of far-future humans who have survived the death of the Earth, and a goofy set of letters sent by a dissatisfied alien.In other words, business as usual on the good ship Fiction Vortex.

Who alone can master the millennial power? In book three of The Grigori Trilogy: Stealing Sacred Fire Peverel Othman has come home, though not as himself. Through the old magic of the Grigori he is now once again Shemyaza, an angel of awesome power who led the rebellion of angles to mate with and enslave humans. Now as this millennium draws to a close Shemyaza calls his followers to him for the final battle to decide who controls the fate of humanity. Answering his call are: his six Grigori brothers and sisters who once again want to rule humanity for their own pleasure, Daniel his once human vizier who is now also becoming Grigori, and the Yarasadi freedom-fighters who will stop at nothing to see their culture recreated to be the new Eden on earth. As the final battle unfolds to decide the fate of humanity, can Daniel remember what it is to be human and convince Shemyaza that humans can share equally in the new millennium, with the Grigori before it is too late and we become their slaves forever?

The year is A. D. 922. A refined Arab courtier, representative of the powerful Caliph of Bagdad, encounters a party of Viking warriors who are journeying to the barbaric North. He is appalled by their Viking customs -- the wanton sexuality of their pale, angular women, their disregard for cleanliness . . . their cold-blooded human sacrifices. But it is not until they reach the depths of the Northland that the courtier learns the horrifying and inescapable truth: He has been enlisted by these savage, inscrutable warriors to help combat a terror that plagues them -- a monstrosity that emerges under cover of night to slaughter the Vikings and devour their flesh . . .

**Welcome to the Monkey House** is a collection of Kurt Vonnegut’s shorter works. Originally printed in publications as diverse as *The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction* and* The Atlantic Monthly*, these superb stories share Vonnegut’s audacious sense of humor and extraordinary range of creative vision. *From the Trade Paperback edition.*

The companion novella to the dystopian nightmare, 25 Perfect Days, which IndieReader named as one of the Best Indie Books of 2013. Through five interlinked stories, each written from a different character's point of view, 5 Perfect Days goes deeper into a world gone wrong, the first signs of resistance, whistleblowers, drones, and a population so under control they're not even aware.Baumgartner P.McMasters III, is an executive business-man's caveat. Having a large office, a Condo and other riches, only one thing, he is a druggee. He'd sell his blood for a nickel bag. Then one day, he has to make a decision, when his drug-seller threatens to go public for not paying him on time. He decides to cut all ties, and leave it all behind. He shows up, a year-later in worn and tattered-clothes, and sits alone in a diner somewhere in AZ with a nap-sack full of his own old-mementos. Then, he reads.. What will become of him, and what if anything will save him.

“The bard of biological weapons captures the drama of the front lines.” -Richard Danzig, former secretary of the navy The first major bioterror event in the United States-the anthrax attacks in October 2001-was a clarion call for scientists who work with “hot” agents to find ways of protecting civilian populations against biological weapons. In The Demon in the Freezer, his first nonfiction book since The Hot Zone, a #1 New York Times bestseller, Richard Preston takes us into the heart of Usamriid, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, once the headquarters of the U.S. biological weapons program and now the epicenter of national biodefense. Peter Jahrling, the top scientist at Usamriid, a wry virologist who cut his teeth on Ebola, one of the world’s most lethal emerging viruses, has ORCON security clearance that gives him access to top secret information on bioweapons. His most urgent priority is to develop a drug that will take on smallpox-and win. Eradicated from the planet in 1979 in one of the great triumphs of modern science, the smallpox virus now resides, officially, in only two high-security freezers-at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and in Siberia, at a Russian virology institute called Vector. But the demon in the freezer has been set loose. It is almost certain that illegal stocks are in the possession of hostile states, including Iraq and North Korea. Jahrling is haunted by the thought that biologists in secret labs are using genetic engineering to create a new superpox virus, a smallpox resistant to all vaccines. Usamriid went into a state of Delta Alert on September 11 and activated its emergency response teams when the first anthrax letters were opened in New York and Washington, D.C. Preston reports, in unprecedented detail, on the government’s response to the attacks and takes us into the ongoing FBI investigation. His story is based on interviews with top-level FBI agents and with Dr. Steven Hatfill. Jahrling is leading a team of scientists doing controversial experiments with live smallpox virus at CDC. Preston takes us into the lab where Jahrling is reawakening smallpox and explains, with cool and devastating precision, what may be at stake if his last bold experiment fails.

Laura yearns for a kindred spirit; another lonely soul looking for love, a union in life and otherwise. This short fiction adds a satirical twist to the paranormal romance genre and shows us true and devouring love can show up anywhere in any form.Logan Reed was18 years old, 5’11’’ tall with jet black hair cut tight around his head, long on top and brown eyes with a handsome face. He was one of those sporty lads that had to be a winner at any cost; he hated losing and would go to any lengths to be the best. Given his attitude he wasn’t the most liked kid in school, not that it bothered him much.When he wasn’t chasing the gold medal, Logan was a nice polite lad who used manners more than most lads of his age. Right now though he wasn’t trying to win any sporting event, he was trying to win over the affections and attentions of one Joss Kisswater. She just happened to be the prettiest girl in the school as well as the best at sports. She’d recently come over from California and with her stunning good looks, blonde hair, golden suntan and American accent meant that Joss was on lots of boy’s minds. He believed though they were a match made in heaven and destined to be together; all he had to do was convince her of it. The problem was three other lads were also trying to get her and they were better than him at one thing, the one thing Joss loved and he was crap at - Surfing. Logan had done some surfing before the school put him with a group that was already a few days in to their lessons, he could get to his knees no problem, it was standing that he found very difficult. Logan was now more determined to learn how to surf than ever, he was going to win the competition that was being held the day before the party on the beach and he had only one more day left. It wasn’t enough time. His solution was to practise alone at night and there was to be a full moon tonight so he’d have plenty of light.Pulling the zip up on his wetsuit Logan slipped in to the water, the light from the moon reflected on the waves giving the water an eerie silvery glow. Two things would now put Logan’s life at risk, the first was his single mindedness and the second was his complete lack of knowledge about the currents and tides. Logan made up his mind that his only chance of surviving was to head for the rocks and climb his way out and back to safety.Clay Norton was a top Australian surfer and he finds Logan and helps him to surf, the problem is that Clay doesn’t turn out to be the man Logan thinks he is.

The twenty original fantasy and science fiction Twilight Zone-like short stories of this diverse collection mostly take place on contemporary Earth or some slightly futuristic or altered Earth, where a technology, ghost, dragon, demon, curse, or space-alien intrudes. Some of the stories relate to subsequent e-book novels soon to be released.The twenty original Twilight Zone-like short stories of this diverse fantasy and science fiction collection take place mostly on contemporary Earth, or on some slightly futuristic or altered Earth, where a technology, ghost, dragon, demon, curse, or space-alien intrudes. Vampires and zombies are avoided. Sometimes calamity is averted, sometimes it is not. The perspective is an adult one; a PG rating may be appropriate for some stories, as sex or violence is sometimes alluded to though not graphically depicted. A list of contents with links to each story is provided to aid reader navigation through the collection, and a link back to the contents list is provided after each story. (Note: some e-book formats do not support this feature.) The last story is a continuation of the first story, otherwise the stories are not related to each other and do not appear in any particular order, though some of them are related to subsequent e-book novels. In the list of contents a brief phrase describing each short story has been included to aid story selection. The brief introduction which precedes the stories provides the author's perspective on short story advantages compared to novels. Finally, following the short stories a brief description of the author and pending near-term e-book novels is included.

More clever science experiments, funny jokes, and robot hijinks await readers in book five of the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein chapter book series from the mad scientist team of Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs. The perfect combination to engage and entertain readers, the series features real science facts with adventure and humor, making these books ideal for STEM education. This latest installment examines the science and mysteries of planet Earth!  Kid-genius and inventor Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. In the series opener, an uneventful experiment involving a lightning storm and a flash of electricity brings Frank’s inventions—the robots Klink and Klank—to life! Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions. In the fifth book in the series, Frank—along with his best friend, Watson, and Klink and Klank—once again finds himself in competition with his classmate and archrival T. Edison and his sign-language-speaking sidekick, Mr. Chimp, over Frank’s newest invention: the Bio-Action Gizmo. Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers. The Frank Einstein series encourages middle-grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews raves, “This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to ‘keep asking questions and finding your own answers’ fires on all cylinders,” while Publishers Weekly says that the series “proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful.” Read all the books in the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein series: Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Book 1), Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger (Book 2), Frank Einstein and the BrainTurbo (Book 3), Frank Einstein and the EvoBlaster Belt (Book 4), and Frank Einstein and the Bio-Action Gizmo (Book 5). Visit frankeinsteinbooks.com for more information. “I never thought science could be funny . . . until I read Frank Einstein. It will have kids laughing.”?—Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid “Huge laughs and great science—the kind of smart, funny stuff that makes Jon Scieszka a legend.”?—Mac Barnett, author of Battle Bunny and The Terrible Two

Set on the planet of Manticore in the 50th century, Lord Koris Young and Lord Lysander Jordanis vie for the chairman role in the soon-approaching election while also trying to keep sanity in their personal lives as their worlds fall apart around them.Set on the planet of Manticore in the 50th century, Lord Koris Young and Lord Lysander Jordanis vie for the chairman role in the soon-approaching election while also trying to keep sanity in their personal lives as their worlds fall apart around them.Koris Young, the youngest chairman candidate in Manticorian history at seventy, must learn to survive in the political game with natural ageism and his conflicting views from the other lords and ladies as he fights for equal rights on a class-based planet. He must learn how to tactfully propose his suggestions to unite the uptowners and downtowners -- an idea frowned upon by other Manticorian politicians -- or watch his only chance of changing Manticore for the better crumble in front of his eyes.Lysander Jordanis seems like the more logical choice for the people of Manticore. He's over six-hundred years-old and has been in the political game longer than his rival has been alive. Despite this natural advantage, Lord Jordanis' pride is his downfall as he starts to lose everything he loves due to his own fault.

Fledgling colonies burn. Orbital stations are reduced to debris. Expansion into the solar system has been completely halted by a force against which humanity is powerless: the Angel. In a final desperate ploy, the best a dying race has to offer must make unimaginable sacrifices reaching for a faint spark of hope: that angels have fallen before."Though short in length, Two-Fisted Tweets is long on creative wit and humor that will have you laughing well after the final line has been read."Renee C. Fountain, BookFetish.