Bøger udgivet af OPEN ROAD MEDIA SCI FI & FANTA

Youth is wasted on the young. Being grown up is a drag . . . or so thinks Lacuna, one of the mischievous Castle Zombie twins. So she makes the Good Magician Grey an offer he can't refuse. Thirsty for a taste of the Elixir of Youth, she'll help him outwit the evil Com-Pewter, if he'll send her to Hell (in a handbasket, no less) to find Humfrey, the missing sorcerer. And while there, she'll learn the True History of Xanth (simplified) and help rescue a blushing Rose from the demon X(A/N)th . . . with the help of a gorgon or two.

We See England, We See Xanth, We See Mels's Underpanth. In fact, Gwenny Goblin, Che Centaur and Jenny Elf are just about the only creatures on Xanth who have been spared the sight of Mela Merwoman's undergarment--preoccupied as they are with helping Gwenny beat out her awful half-brother Gobble for chiefship of the goblin horde. But first they must master space and thyme . . . and find the fabulous egg that sits between the Roc and the hard place. While Mela--who would gladly relinquish her oft-viewed undies for a new husband -- joins the Adult Conspiracy . . . and quickly discovers the power of a perfect pair of panties! Praise for Piers Anthony "Piers Anthony is one of those authors who can perform magic with the ordinary. . . . [He] is a craftsman." --A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction "Anthony's unflagging sparkle, verve and wordplay spin everyday trials of Mundane life into storytelling gold." --Publishers Weekly

In this science fiction sequel to The Path, the crew of a ship bound to colonize another planet must first save the universe from a deadly entity. Life has changed for computer wrangler Simon Bank when he awakens from a hundred-year coma. To start, he's on board a massive spaceship on a mission to colonize Alpha Centauri B. The crew includes his former adversary Cramer, a computer entity named Ra (now in a human form and going by Aten), and a telepathic dog named Zip. Everyone believes Simon is a hero, and there's no time to disagree . . . Simon accidentally awakened a powerful entity that believes human life to be a virus worthy of annihilation. Before it destroys all life on Earth and the spaceship, Simon must find a way to stop it. Once again, Simon must rely on his computer skills and his motley group of friends to save the universe before his crew finds themselves on a journey to nowhere . . . Praise for The Path"Excellently mixes both empathic human behavior with high-tech sci-fi knowledge in a complex main character that holds up a mirror to all of us human beings." --Bavo Dhooge, Diamond Bullet Award-winning author of Styx

AI threatens to destroy humanity, and only one computer expert can stop it in this cyberpunk thriller by the author of Murder on Safari. Simon Bank lives in a future where just about everything in America is run by the System--the food supply, the weather, national security, and more. Everyone is free from want. Individuals can control where they live and where they go to school. They can have a relationship with whomever they like. They can set their own hours for work and work whatever job they like. Simon is a codifier who works with the System's artificial intelligence to humanize it and to help it run the country more smoothly. But when a tornado tears up Manhattan, Simon realizes the System has a terrifying secret and is a threat to humankind. Now, with only his intellect and instincts, plus a few new friends--human and artificial--Simon must race against the clock to save himself and the world. And he better be careful. There's no telling what the System might do if it feels threatened . . . "Excellently mixes both empathic human behavior with high-tech sci-fi knowledge in a complex main character that holds up a mirror to all of us human beings." --Bavo Dhooge, Diamond Bullet Award-winning author of Styx

A volume of eleven stories from the Hugo Award-winning science fiction author that explore inner space, future worlds, and the peculiar lives of robots. One of the twentieth century's most pioneering science fiction authors, Clifford D. Simak had a special fondness for robots. Not only did these thinking machines represent the boundless possibilities of technology, they also had the potential to bring--in his words--"the kindness and the courage that I thought were needed in the world." The stories in this volume offer a variety of Simak's unique robot visions. In "Lulu," a robot built for planetary exploration takes on a female identity, causing unforeseen challenges for her three-man crew. An examination of an unknown planet reveals the celestial body to be a single, gigantic computer whose origins and purpose are a mystery, in "Limiting Factor." And in the title story, Simak returns to his longest-running robot character, Jenkins, who reflects on all that has come and gone one last time. Each story includes an introduction by David W. Wixon, literary executor of the Clifford D. Simak estate and editor of this ebook.

This collection of stories from the Hugo Award-winning science fiction author ranges from alien planets to the more peculiar corners of the American landscape. A pioneering voice in twentieth-century science fiction, Clifford D. Simak earned his place alongside such luminaries as Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. While some of his stories imagined interplanetary space travel, many others depicted strange events in otherwise ordinary American towns--in what some readers would come to think of as "Simak Country." This volume contains examples of each. In "Horrible Example," a small-town drunk reveals the extraordinary but essential role he plays in the community that shuns him. A space crew attempts to find substances on Jupiter that might help cure ailing humans back on Earth, in "Clerical Error." And in the title story, a seemingly miraculous pile of treasure is scorned by a mysterious man of God. Each story includes an introduction by David W. Wixon, literary executor of the Clifford D. Simak estate and editor of this ebook.

Read an updated translation of the classic English epic poem, and discover what happens next in the two exciting sequels, all collected here in one edition. About one and a half millennia ago, an anonymous author gave the world Beowulf, the first great epic written in what would become the English language. The poem follows the adventures of Beowulf, hero of the Geats, as he battles the monstrous Grendel, Grendel's fearsome mother, and a deadly dragon. After the hero meets his death, readers are left with the question: What will happen now? Without their champion, hero, and king, the Geats are defenseless against their enemies. With The Beowulf Trilogy, author Christopher L. Webber shares his own translation of the original epic and also answers the question of what happens next with two epic poems of his own. In Beyond Beowulf, follow the Geats as they welcome a new leader, Wiglaf, the young warrior who aided Beowulf in his encounter with the dragon. He helps the tribe search or a new home while contending with threats from storms, trolls, and the Saxon army. Then, in Yrfa's Tale, Webber looks beyond the warrior's viewpoint to give a perspective from Wiglaf's wife and family, and the emotional toll of their struggle. In The Beowulf Trilogy, Webber gives readers a complete picture of Beowulf's world, a somber and magical land full of adventure and turmoil. Praise for The Beowulf Trilogy"[Webber's] translation's clean, musical lines are excellent for reading aloud. The two sequels also maintain the original's language and narrative style. . . . Succeeds in both respecting and enriching the venerable original." --Kirkus Reviews

Two ill-prepared humans endeavor to stop a war in the land of Faerie, in this final adventure in the Spearwielder's Tale trilogy by the New York Times-bestselling author of The Dragon's Dagger. Much has changed in the four years since Gary Leger came home from his second adventure in the mystical land of Faerie. He married his girlfriend, Diane, but more recently, his father passed away. Overcome by grief, he frequently dreams of returning to Faerie and visiting his three friends, Mickey the leprechaun, Kelsey the elf, and Geno the dwarf. And right now, they would love to see him . . . The wicked King Kinnemore and his bloodthirsty son, Geldion, are leading an army of thousands to take over Faerie, and the threat of the evil witch still looms across the land. As war breaks out, Gary is needed to don the enchanted armor and wield the magic spear once more. And when he arrives in Faerie, Diane is by his side. Now Gary and his companions must bring their skills together to strike evil from the land and restore peace to Faerie once and for all . . . Previously published as Dragonslayer's Return. Praise for the Spearwielder's Tale "The book's fast-paced, good-humored nature draws the reader in and makes the world of Faerie a fine place to visit." --SF Site on The Woods Out Back "Gary has a lively time of it in Faerie, which Salvatore recaptures with verve and wit and many nice touches . . . A classic tale." --Booklist on The Dragon's Dagger

A factory worker is kidnapped to help an elf reforge a broken spear, in this trilogy opener by the bestselling author of the Legend of Drizzt series. Gary Leger is desperate for adventure. Daydreaming is all that keeps him from going nuts while working a dead-end job in a plastics factory. The next best thing is burying himself in a good fantasy novel, and he spends much of his free time reading in the woods behind his house. That's when adventure finds him. Or rather, that's when he's hit with a tranquilizer arrow . . . When Gary comes to, he's still in the woods--but in a world inhabited by creatures from his favorite novels, like a pixie and a leprechaun. There's also an elf on a dangerous life-quest who requires Gary's assistance. As soon as Gary finishes helping him, he can go home. He simply needs to complete the task . . . while surviving encounters with trolls, an ice-hag, a dragon, and a sorceress bent on stopping them at all costs. This first novel in the Spearwielder's Tale trilogy is a great choice for fans of Alan Dean Foster's Spellsinger books and Terry Brooks's Shannara series. Praise for The Woods Out Back "Written as a light-hearted adventure, the book works because the reader sees the world of Faerie through Gary's eyes and Faerie is just as new to him as it is to the reader. . . . The book's fast-paced, good-humored nature draws the reader in and makes the world of Faerie a fine place to visit--good thing there are two more installments!" --SF Site

The reluctant hero of The Woods Out Back is needed again in the realm of Faerie, in this fantasy adventure by the New York Times-bestselling author. Gary Leger returned from the magical realm of Faerie five years ago, and each day since, he has longed to embark on more adventures. Now a mob of pixies is about to grant his wish. For the inhabitants of Faerie, it's only been a month since Gary left, and life is not great. A vile king sits on the throne, threatening war. An evil witch imprisoned on an island struggles to free herself. And a dragon is burning the countryside. It's up to Gary and his friends--Mickey the leprechaun, Kelsey the elf, and Geno the dwarf--to get Gary back to where he belongs before Faerie is blackened to a crisp . . . Praise for The Dragon's Dagger "Gary has a lively time of it in Faerie, which Salvatore recaptures with verve and wit and many nice touches. . . . A classic tale of humans caught in the toils of Faerie, certain to retain its predecessor's audience." --Booklist

A collection that includes the Nebula Award-winning titular novella and "Light and Shadow," the story that begins the Saga of the Skolian Empire series. In "The Spacetime Pool," recent MIT grad Janelle Aulair is hiking through the Great Smoky Mountains when a man appears out of nowhere to request her help. Shaken by his impossible appearance, she steps away--and falls through a portal onto a beach in another universe. That's when Dominick, the man who waylaid Janelle, reveals she is part of a prophecy. It foretells a bizarre future: if Dominick marries Janelle, he'll depose his twin brother and become Emperor of the land. If Dominick doesn't marry her, his brother--a brutal tyrant who will do anything to keep his throne--will murder him. Janelle finds herself caught in a conflict that could destroy the realm. If that's not mind-blowing enough, she discovers books that prove this civilization achieved interstellar travel five centuries ago. Yet now they're living in a culture that doesn't have electricity, riding two-horned creatures that definitely aren't horses, and sword-fighting. To find her way home, Janelle must figure out what happened between then and now . . . The Spacetime Pool also includes Catherine Asaro's first-ever published story, "Light and Shadow," featuring Kelric, a popular character from the Saga of the Skolian Empire series, and an illustrated essay on the math in her fiction titled "A Poetry of Angles and Dreams." Praise for Catherine Asaro "Readers seeking the harmonious meld of hard SF's rigor and human chemistry's heat should read Catherine Asaro's fiction." --SciFi Weekly

The first book in the Skolian Empire saga by the Nebula Award-winning author. "Fast, smart, speculative . . . another stellar debut." --Los Angeles Daily News Soz Valdoria, a bioengineered fighter pilot--and first in line for the military command of her people--has found refuge with her squad on the sanctuary planet of Delos. It offers a respite from the war that rages between her Skolian people and their enemies, the Traders. Looking for rest and relaxation, they must still be on their guard for the Trader soldiers who also visit the sanctuary. In a bar, they confront the worst of the worst: an Aristo from the Trader ruling caste, seemingly on the prowl for a "provider" he can use for his barbaric impulses. His presence takes Soz back to her days as a prisoner of war, when she became the plaything of a sadistic and soulless Aristo. And yet something is off about this Aristo. Unable to ignore her instincts, Soz searches the city until she finds him in a secured mansion. Breaching its fortifications and eluding its guards, she discovers a devastating truth: this man is no true Aristo. He is a genetic anomaly like Soz, one of the few people who can handle the massive neurological demands of the psibernet, the technological marvel that gives the Skolians their only advantage over the Traders. This false Aristo, this sheep in a wolf's clothing, is heir to the Trader throne. The emperor created him for one reason--to take control of the Skolian network and conquer Soz's people. But Soz has never felt such a connection as she does to this Trader heir. It may prove her--and the universe's--undoing . . . "This is one of the best SF first novels in years." --Booklist

"Powerful characterization and intriguing scientific concepts . . . an elegant subtlety and a far-reaching sense of destiny that carries [Asaro] to the highest rank of master storyteller." --Romantic Times Reeling from a battle, pilot Kelric Valdoria crash-lands his Jag starfighter on Coba, the closest safe planet he can find after a Trader squad cripples his ship. Although the military of Kelric's people have given Coba Restricted status, Kelric sees no reason for such draconian measures to isolate the seemingly benign world. While recovering, the dashing Kelric becomes the target of affection for high-powered women in Coba's matriarchal society, including Deha Dahl, an Estate Manager, and young Ixpar Karn, the chosen successor of the Minister. Distracted by their flirtations, Kelric doesn't at first realize the Restricted status of the planet was their own choice--and that they can't risk letting him go. However, Kelric's internal biomech system is failing, causing his brain to malfunction. His only hope is to escape. But when his attempt fails, ending in the death of a guard, he must face a trial that could mean his execution, unless he can win the trust of the people who both covet and fear him . . . "Well-written, entertaining, classic science fiction fun." --The Plain Dealer "Impossible to put down." --L. E. Modesitt, Jr., New York Times-bestselling author "A smoothly absorbing space opera that mixes high-tech gimmickry with galactic politics and plenty of romance." --Publishers Weekly

A reporter uncovers a terrifying conspiracy, in this thrilling classic from a Science Fiction Grand Master. After a night out on the town, Parker Graves returns home to life-threatening danger. The science reporter for the local newspaper barely misses a bear trap sitting on his doorstep. Then, the object transforms into what looks like a bowling ball and rolls off into the night all by itself. He begins to obsess over the question—Who put the trap there? And why? The following day, there is strange news floating around at the newspaper office. Someone with limitless funds is buying up hundreds of homes and businesses, only to close them up and tear them down. People are running out of places to live and to work. Suddenly, Parker finds himself in the middle of a story nobody will believe . . . Aliens? Dolls that walk like people? Talking dogs? With a little help from a fellow reporter and an unusual visitor, Parker just might be able to put a stop to this mess—if he survives. “Some surprising jolts of violence and mayhem and a goodly dollop of cosmic paranoia.” —Fantasy Literature

The Saga of Gor continues as Tarl Cabot attempts to save a beautiful prisoner from a terrible fate. The daughter of Marlenus, the Ubar of Ar, is now a fugitive sought for betraying the Home Stone of her city. The price on her head could build fleets and hire armies. For years she has been hunted by legions of guardsmen and bounty hunters. Now, tricked by a former colleague, Talena has been captured and delivered to Lurius of Jad. Once her esteemed ally, Lurius is now eager to sell Talena’s blood for the gold of Ar. But the reward cannot be claimed until the prisoner is delivered. Between the port of Jad and the mighty gates of Ar lie dangerous waters and harrowing wildernesses, the threats of beasts and the menace of men. Tarl Cabot, a seaman and warrior of Port Kar, once the free companion of Talena, chooses to risk everything to save his former companion. In this rousing adventure, we encounter the steel of warriors, the stealth of Assassins, the savagery of monstrous Kurii, the passions and beauty of needful, vulnerable, collared slaves, the subtleties of Scribes of the Law, and the ambition and ruthlessness of men who want nothing less than the throne of Ar itself.

The pueblo people who landed on the Fifth World found it Earthlike, empty, and ready for colonization . . . but a century later, they are about to meet the planet’s owners One hundred years ago, Sand’s ancestors made the long, one-way trip to the Fifth World, ready to work ceaselessly to terraform the planet. Descendants of native peoples like the Hopi and Zuni, they wanted to return to the way of life of their forebears, who honored the Kachina spirits. Now, though, many of the planet’s inhabitants have begun to resent their grandparents’ decision to strand them in this harsh and forbidding place, and some have turned away from the customs of the Well-Behaved People. Sand has her doubts, but she longs to believe that the Kachina live on beyond the stars and have been readying a new domain for her people. She may be right. Humans have discovered nine habitable worlds, all with life that shares a genetic code entirely alien to any on Earth. Someone has been seeding planets, bringing life to them. But no other sign of the ancient farmers has ever been discovered—until one day they return to the Fifth World. They do not like what they find..

The inhabitants of Garth, a dying planet, battle brutal alien invaders, with the survival of Earth and the fate of the entire five galaxies at stake.