Ebook: The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Vol. 3

Showcasing some of the world's greatest science fiction writers, the eclectic short stories and novelettes in this anthology--all published here for the first time--range from futuristic murder mysteries to tales of contact with alien beings.

Contents: Introduction / George Mann -- Rescue mission / Jack Skillingstead -- The fixation / Alastair Reynolds -- Artifacts / Stephen Baxter -- Necroflux Day / John Meaney -- Providence / Paul Di Filippo -- Carnival night / Warren Hammond -- The assistant / Ian Whates -- Glitch / Scott Edelman -- One of our bastards is missing / Paul Cornell -- Woodpunk / Adam Roberts -- Minya's astral angels / Jennifer Pelland -- The best monkey / Daniel Abraham -- Long stay / Ian Watson -- A soul stitched to iron / Tim Akers -- iThink, therefore I am / Ken MacLeod.

The Barnes & Noble Review Described as a "sampler of the future" by George Mann in the collection's introduction, The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction is the historic first release from Solaris, the new science fiction/fantasy imprint of England's BL Publishing. Featuring 16 never-before-published short stories from genre luminaries like Peter F. Hamilton, Stephen Baxter, Paul Di Filippo, Ian Watson, and Neal Asher, this inaugural offering derives its power from its impressive thematic diversity. Hamilton's "If at First " is a hard-boiled futuristic thriller featuring a veteran detective and a burglary case that involves the space-time continuum; "Four Ladies of the Apocalypse" by Brian Aldiss reworks Armageddon; and Di Filippo's "Personal Jesus" envisions a future where everyone owns a godPod -- a direct link to the Divinity Himself. Other noteworthy selections include "In His Sights" by Jeffrey Thomas, who revisits his signature realm of Punktown with an irony-filled splatterfest, and Asher's "Bioship," a strangely haunting story reminiscent of his novel The Skinner, where mariners aboard a sentient ship get in touch with their dark sides. The launch of Solaris Books is nothing short of a godsend for genre fans on both sides of the pond who are searching for the ever-elusive "good stuff." If this exceptional anthology is any indication, the future of Solaris Books looks very bright indeed. Paul Goat Allen