The world has been devastated by a chemical war; humanity survives only in isolated pockets of civilisation. With a poisonous atmosphere closing in on one such pocket the community must decide what to do. The problem is that there is nowhere else on Earth they can go.Their destination must be somewhere that is not on the planet and they think they've found it.Maybe, just maybe, they have.After a global chemical war most of humanity has perished. Those who remain exist in isolated communities, not knowing if any other such communities survive. But the situation is getting worse: in one community its leaders know that if they don't leave they'll all be dead in a few years.There is a planet eleven light years away that might support life. If they can build a ship to get there, and if it is sufficiently Earth-like, and if there isn't a hostile civilisation living there already, they might just have a chance of a future.The decision is made to go. But the consequences of that decision are so much more dramatic than any of the travellers could ever have dreamt.This is the first novel in the author's 'First Contact' science fiction series. All are very different but have that common theme; man's first contact with alien life.

Escaping from one prison only to find themselves inside another, where machines run wild, the sun doesn't know how to set, and time itself is running out, the chosen ones find themselves without a clue. All they have is an old battered book that re-writes itself daily and advises them to "follow the path", but what they find at the end of the line is both more and less than they ever expected.Epic Fail. The anti-hero, anti-fantasy, anti-quest adventure continues. Escaping from one prison only to find themselves inside another, where machines run wild, the sun doesn't know how to set, and time itself is running out, the chosen ones find themselves without a clue. All they have is an old battered book that re-writes itself daily and advises them to "follow the path", but what they find at the end of the line is both more and less than they ever expected.

Jeff has been locked up in solitary confinement for nearly five years when the warden offers him an opportunity to reduce his sentence by joining crews that are repairing the country's energy grid, which has been rupturing and blowing up buildings and people, the unexpected and unfortunate result of changing the nation's fuel. He is added to a crew loaded with the nation's most notorious killers.Malver turns to his father."You must stay hidden son. For if she sees you, she will be frightened off," his father says as both of them divert their eyes back to the young female sitting by the river.His heart sings out to hers. A longing he has never felt before. He feels the need to touch her. It builds as her face turns more his way. His father lightly taps his shoulder. He turns and notices the leader guards walking towards them. The one stops beside Malvar.Did you mate her yet?He drifts his eyes back to the young beauty. His sigh tells the guards his answer.You have been coming here for four months now, yet you have not sedduced her to mate you.

Two years have passed since Jacob met Jedi Salvitor in Chicago and began his Jedi training. Their mission took them to New York City, where a prominent United Nations official has caught the attention of the Jedi and the Sith!Two years have passed since Jacob met Jedi Salvitor in Chicago and began his Jedi training. Their mission took them to New York City, where a prominent United Nations official has caught the attention of the Jedi and the Sith!For she is a latent-Forcer in a powerful position that will either help the plight of the Jedi Order on Earth, or is utilized by the Sith Order.

Confessions of a Mad Man is the first in a series of ongoing short fiction entitled The Crusaders: Justice Above All. This serves as an introduction into their world.The year is 2030 and one of the world's most notorious criminals, Nathaniel David Hamilton has finally been captured. CIA Agents Deacons and Jennings undertake the daunting task of securing his confession of a life of corruption and chaos. Over the course of the interrogation they learn how a child prodigy from small town Illinois became one of the most powerful men in a world populated by superheroes and billionaire weapons tycoons.Confessions of a Mad Man is the first in a series of ongoing short fiction entitled The Crusaders: Justice Above All. This serves as an introduction into their world.

A nefarious gang of pirates challenges the advanced defenses of an ancient orbital space platform. Recently promoted, Captain Jason Drake inadvertently flies his brand new ship and fresh crew into the center of a pirate vendetta.Looking to escape the carnage of a galactic war, biomechanical beings are tricked into performing a perilous mission that could end the slaughter in their home galaxy.A nefarious gang of pirates challenges the advanced defenses of an ancient orbital space platform. Recently promoted, Captain Jason Drake inadvertently flies his brand new ship and fresh crew into the center of a pirate vendetta.Looking to escape the carnage of a galactic war, biomechanical beings are tricked into performing a perilous mission that could end the slaughter in their home galaxy.Three powerful forces meet in the orbit of Neptune to seal the fate of humanity.

We each experience and envision our own version of Topeka. In these stories, 18 writers twist the past and future to explore alternate possibilities for our community. These stories will make you question what you know about the past and frighten you about what the future could hold. What if....? Read this collection from the 2016 Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Community Novel Project.We each experience and envision our own version of Topeka. In these stories, 18 writers twist the past and future to explore alternate possibilities for our community. These stories will make you question what you know about the past and frighten you about what the future could hold. What if....? Read this collection from the 2016 Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Community Novel Project and don't miss the exclusive author interviews at the end of the book to discover memorable moments, inspiration behind the stories, writing process, and what real-life twists for Topeka the authors fear. ADVANCE PRAISE FOR TWISTING TOPEKA“A rich collection of talent and imagination. The diversity of the stories is stunning, but they share one thing in common--each one will make you think.”—R.L. Naquin, author of the Monster Haven series“An eclectic collection of stories that will be entertaining for fans of short form literature.”—James Young, author of Acts of War“TWISTING TOPEKA—time travel, tricks / turbulent & terrifying times / tunnels / tragedy, treasure, triumphs / trysts & twists—NOT your typical Topeka tales.”—L.J. Williams, author of The Crystal Egg“The 18 short stories in this book twist the past and warp the future, challenging the reader to imagine ‘what if?’”—Angel Edenburn, author of Night Blind“Welcome to a world where nothing is as it seems. The stories, characters, and prose flow from each story like interwoven chains. Authors turn Kansas history upside down and inside out, giving us alternate timelines and new spins on the ordinary. Fellow Topekans, watch out! History is about to get twisted.”—Romualdo R. Chavez, author of El VampiroContents include:1.What Fate Ordains by Diana MarshWhat if the Apollo moon landing ended differently?2.Native Son by Marian RakestrawWhat if John Steuart Curry had stayed to finish his Capitol murals?3.The Printed Word by Miranda Ericsson KendallWhat if the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library made the decision to go bookless in 2026?4.Tovarishch O’Sullivan by Craig PaschangWhat if the Soviets had won the cold war by winning the hearts and minds of the people of America’s heartland?5.Test Year by Jamie CrispinWhat if parallel worlds did exist? 6.Proclaim the New Name by Duane L. HerrmannWhat if you had to travel to Chicago to gain inspiration for action in Topeka?7.Cleansing Waters by C.R. KennedyWhat if a vivacious young woman showed compassion to a distraught stranger in the rock garden at Gage Park?8.As Mercy Would Have It by Annette Hope BillingsWhat if the death of a little girl did not mean the end of her life?9.Underground Ark by Reaona HemmingwayWhat if a nuclear holocaust made the surface of Earth toxic, and a group of Kansans survived in a bunker underground?10.Shake, Rattle and Roll by Roxanna NameyWhat if the earth shook?11.Black Blizzard by Vernon NeffWhat if an extended drought turned a future Topeka into a perpetual twilight of dust and grit?12.A Library for Every Kid by S. R. ThompsonWhat if there was a library on almost every corner in Topeka and it didn’t cost the people of Shawnee County one red cent?13.The Jesse Owens Effect by Ian HallWhat if Alf Landon beat Teddy Roosevelt in the 1936 Presidential election?14.Happiness is a Cold Pistol by Paul SwearingenWhat if she had decided to shoot?15.Psychic Shift by Annabelle CorrickWhat if two errant children surprised a psychiatric patient into sanity?16.Tunnels by Leah SewellWhat if the Topeka State Hospital was destroyed?17.Love and Friendship by Lissa StaleyWhat if online public school was the only option for Kansas teens?18.Dance with the Devil by Aimee L. GrossWhat if the WW II headquarters of the OSS was actually Menninger Clinic, recruiting locals to catch an enemy spy ring in Topeka?

HE IS A LETHAL WEAPON... One of an army of human soldiers injected with alien DNA, Michael is a legend within this new race, split between good and evil. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side and returned to the light. Feared and misunderstood, he leaves everything behind, including the one woman destined to be his mate. HE IS HER ENEMY...AND HER DESTINY... Cassandra holds the key to Michael's power, and his pain. With loyalties divided and against insurmountable odds, Cassandra's heart propels her to Michael's side-but can her love do anything but destroy him... No ordinary woman can control a creature such as Michael, and only one thing is clear-the world will never be the same... Originally published as The Legend of Michael by SourceBooks

An Ellison potpourri: rewrites of tales 1st appearing in 50s pulp magazines (one a Joe L. Hensley collaboration), recent tales & four excellent nonfiction items. The nonfiction: some witty autobiographical sketches: an in-person account of events at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as data from Voyager I's Saturn fly-by arrives; the full story behind his acrimonious battle with Hollywood over the short-lived TV series The Starlost; & the story of how he ran away from home at age 13 to join a carnival, learning "more about the darker side of human nature than any kid should ever know." The fiction, alas, pales by comparison. There are several dressed-up variations on the Quest for the Grail. The sf tales offer so-so variations on familiar notions (Earthlings discovering their roots on an alien planet; robot megalomania; Adam & Eve; teeny weeny alien invaders). An Ellisonian satire is aimed at a TV show devoted to humiliating its guests--plus two other, more effectively humorous pieces on Aladdin's lamp & the Nativity. Less vivid than Ellison's best, with too many tired old variations & flabby retreads--but sparkling in spots.--Kirkus (edited)

What if a stranger took over the part of your best friend? In "Life Trade," a would-be screenwriter seeks answers after his buddy is replaced by someone new. He discovers a matching website for people who want to trade places.What if a stranger took over the part of your best friend? In "Life Trade," a would-be screenwriter seeks answers after his buddy is replaced by a stranger. He discovers a matching website for people who want to trade places.In the surreal style of Her and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, this humorous short story imagines a possible future for technology -- a revolutionary online matchmaking service that can help an unhappy person find a fresh start in the life of someone else.

Einstein - Roswell - Hitler - The Annunaki – Galileo - da Vinci - The Great Pyramids - von Braun - Puma PunkuWHAT COULD THEY HAVE IN COMMON?Dr. Vicki Collins Genetic Research Takes Her on a Journey Through History That Threatens Her Life and...Could Change the Earth Forever! Her fiancé, Nick Parks, is forced to flee from her government captors who want him killed. Code X searches for answersDr. Vicki Collins Genetic Research Takes Her on a Journey Through History That Threatens Her Life and...Could Change the Earth Forever! Her fiancé, Nick Parks, is forced to flee from her government captors who want him killed. Her discovery could control the world. She must unlock mankind’s secrets to save her life.Einstein - Roswell - Hitler - The Annunaki – Galileo - da Vinci - The Great Pyramids - von Braun - Puma PunkuWHAT COULD THEY HAVE IN COMMON? CODE X Searches for the Truth..5 out of 5 StarsWith this book you have it all...Love, Hate, Action, Surprises. An excellent read. It will keep you glued to the pages waiting for the next twist and turn. A thought provoking story. Deneale's Book Buzz 5 out of 5 StarsAfter you get halfway through the book, it gets so faced paced, that you just cannot put it down, and you just have to keep reading no matter what is going on around you. You fall in love with the characters, and want them to succeed, and you want to help them make it. You can visually see everything happening, it is like: “No wait- don’t do that!” and “Hurry up!” as you’re reading you’re yelling at the book, because you are that engrossed. This book is thrill ride and a half! You will not be able to put it down, trust me on that.This book is a true five star read. A thrill ride that enlightens your mind on conspiracy theories, and truths, and the government, and what could be. And maybe even….is. You need to read this book, and see what you’re missing! Christina 5 Of 5 Stars...A Perfect Fit For Fans Of James Patterson Or Michael CrichtonThis novel focuses on a brilliant female doctor who has started to unlock the secrets of the human genome. Add in the secret government conspiracy somehow involving the brilliant minds humanity has produced, and the stealing of secrets from the military, you have a great mystery. While I love Vicki and Parks, I have to mention the supporting character of Biggins who is a hot contrast! Biggins is full of confident bristle, a larger-than-life powerhouse that steals every scene. The dialogue between her and Parks is entertaining, a brother-sister attitude of verbally sparing at one another, and had me laughing. Fair warning to the author: if Biggins does not survive this series, I will be heartbroken! Overall, a thrilling conspiracy novel - held my interest to the final page and left me wanting more! 5 Star by Elvis 654Code X is a thrill ride into what happens when science goes places science shouldn’t go. This book has a mix of everything. If you are a fan of James Rollins sigma force series this book is a treat made for you. It has all the elements of a great science fiction mystery, wrapped up in an adventure novel, packaged in a thriller. The many twists and turns that this book takes will leave you gasping until you get to the final conclusion that will leaving you wanting more. This author has the unique talent of keeping you interested and engaging your brain with the hi tech genetics information while treating your adrenaline rush addiction with heart stopping cliff hangers, and lastly little mysteries that leave you wondering throughout the novel. This novel is highly recommended it is intelligent witty, and mysterious. 5 Stars by IsabelWow! New Science Fiction Thriller Classic with twists. I could not put it down; I was glued to every page because of the surprises and twists and turns in every chapter, which becomes an out of control runaway train in the last half of the book. It left me wanting more and made me stop and think, “what if”? Is this what evil doers out of control in the government fight so hard to hide, to keep secret? I had to keep reading to find out what happens next, and it did not disappoint me. I was surprised all the way through the end.I found it difficult to put the book down especially as the danger escalated for Vicki and her fiancé, Nick Parks. For a science fiction mystery, CODE X is a fast paced thriller!

This is the story of the first person to have his brain downloaded and installed into a computer program before death.Upon death, the neurological data that composes one's personality is downloaded and installed onto computers in the next evolution from A.I.s. These programs are known as installed intelligences, or I.I.s, and they are the secret to human immortality. In recent years, the installation process has open up for the wealthy public as a means to keep family members alive after their body has died.This is the story of a man who is mistaken for dead and has his mind installed before recovering and becoming the first living person with an I.I. of him or herself.

In Book 1 of the Council of Three series, Amy, Paul and Frank rescue an old priest. Believing that the One Who Tests, God’s name on other planets, sent them to him, the priest asks them to take something to his home planet. On nearby planets they find spiders, aliens, bandits and slavers. Safer on Earth? They were being followed, and their off-planet watchers have instructions to kill them if…Book 1 in the Council of Three series starts when Amy, Paul and Frank rescue an old priest from rocks thrown by children. As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. Believing that the One Who Tests, God’s name on other planets, has sent them to him, the priest shows them how to travel to nearby planets, but there is a condition. They must deliver his staff and journals to his home planet. Their first trip to other planets has them talking to huge intelligent spiders, and running from a dangerous alien and bandits. The local planets are more dangerous than they were told. A friendly alien guides them to the safety of a fortified village where they learn the galactic language and local customs.On their next trip they have to rescue the villagers, the ones who sheltered and taught them, from slavers armed with swords and spears. Using the sidearms and shotgun they carry with them this trip is the only way they can survive the overwhelming odds they face. Back on Earth they feel safer, but they don’t know that more than one group on Earth is aware of their travels to other planets. Each of these groups wants that knowledge for themselves. They watch them, and plan their next moves. On other planets, their so-called friends have instructions to kill all three of them if…

There seems to be a strange new disease spreading around the world. People are getting stuck in the past in mostly happy memories. They are straddling the line between now and then. Although the disease ends in death, the infected seem to go willingly. The epidemiologist seeks the answers to this viral mystery while she is falling in love and yet trying not to get infected. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

At the edge of the galaxy lay the Fortress known as Stars' End, a mysterious planet bristling with deadly automated weapons systems, programmed to slaughter anyone fool enough to come within range. But who built this strange planet of death, placing it within view of the Milky Way's great lens... and tantalizingly close to the hydrogen-filled feeding grounds of the interstellar dragons known as Starfish and the priceless ambergris they create? Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.