Catherine Asaro - Böcker

Del was a rock singer. He was also the renegade son of the Ruby Dynasty,which made his career choice less than respectable, and gave him more to worryabout than getting gigs and not getting cheated by recording companies, clubowners, or his agent. For one thing, the Ruby Dynasty ruled the SkolianImperialate, an interstellar Empire, which had recently had a war with anotherempire, the Eubian Concord. For another, Del was singing on Earth, which waspart of a third interstellar civilization, and one which had an uneasyrelationship with the Imperialate. Del undeniably had talent, and was rapidlyrising from an unknown fringe artist to stardom. But, with his life entangled inthe politics of three interstellar civilizations, whether he wanted that or not,talent might not be enough. And that factor might have much more effect than hismusic on the lives of trillions of people on the thousands of inhabited worldsacross the galaxy.

Book One in a brand-new series by Nebula and Hugo Award-winner CatherineAsaro set in the world of her Skolian Empire universe.Major Bhaajan, a former military officer with Imperial Space Command, is nowa hard-bitten P.I. with a load of baggage to deal with and clients withwoes...sometimes personal, sometimes galaxy-shattering, and sometimes both.Bhaajan must sift through the shadows of the dark and dangerous Undercity— the enormous capital of a vast star empire — to findanswers.

Permutations: A Well World Anthology iis a triumphant return to Jack L. Chalker’s groundbreaking universe; a series that captivated readers with its imaginative scope and  profound themes. The original novel, Midnight at the Well of Souls, has sold over five million copies worldwide, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of science fiction literature. Set on the Well World—a planet-sized supercomputer created by the ancient Markovians to engineer new species—the series explores transformation, identity, and the complexities of existence through the journey of starship captain Nathan Brazil.This anthology, officially authorized by Chalker’s estate, combines a stellar lineup of contemporary science fiction authors, including Neal Asher, Catherine Asaro, and S.P. Somtow. Each contributor offers a unique perspective, expanding upon the rich tapestry of the Well World and introducing fresh narratives that honor the spirit of the original works. These stories delve into the diverse habitats and species of the Well World, exploring new adventures and philosophical quandaries that will resonate with today’s readers.For long-time fans and newcomers alike, Permutations serves as both an homage and a gateway into the expansive universe Chalker masterfully created. It’s more than a collection of stories, it’s an invitation to re-experience the wonder and complexity of a world that has inspired countless imaginations. Whether revisiting the Well World or exploring it for the first time, this anthology promises to ignite the awe and curiosity that defines great science fiction.

A CITY DIVIDED For centuries, the City of Cries—one of the most desired locales in the Skolian Imperialate—has existed by the thinnest of threads. On the dying world of Raylicon, the “haves” live in great luxury in Cries while the “have-nots” scrape by, eking out a marginal existence in the notorious Undercity beneath the desert. Major Bhaajan, formerly of the Pharaoh's Army, knows both worlds. Born into the Undercity, she nevertheless has made a name for herself in the Imperialate. And now, she has the chance to help her people. HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION For the first time, a member of the Royal class wants to extend an olive branch to the Undercity. Hoping to build bridges, Colonel Lavinda Majda recruits Bhaaj and her Dust Knights to act as guides and bodyguards on a mission of goodwill to those who live below the surface of their parched world. THE DOWN DEEP But the problems of the Undercity run deeper than anyone knows. To help find peace, the Dust Knights must reach the most hidden rungs in that mysterious underground world, a place known only as the Down Deep, where the scars from centuries of distrust are greatest. There they will face an unseen enemy that may destroy the lives of everyone they know—and threaten interstellar civilization.

BORN TO RUN, BORN TO FIGHT DUST KNIGHTS COMPETE IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES The worlds of three interstellar civilizations vie for honors in the Olympics. The more populous worlds have always dominated the Games. The team from Raylicon, a dying world of scorching temperatures, has never won honors. But Mason, the coach for the Raylicon track and field team, makes a startling discovery: in the Undercity, a place where crushing poverty exists alongside a culture of dramatic beauty, a group of spectacular runners has existed for millennia. The Dust Knights are the best of those marvels. With the help of Major Bhajaan, an Undercity native, Mason recruits the Knights. The Undercity faces a civilization they've never trusted, one that sees them as barely even human. Now, they must all learn to work together. The Imperialate of Skolia needs the Undercity to trust them—for hidden within its enigmatic population is one of humanity’s greatest resources. Their population has a uniquely large concentration of Kyle operators. Kyles can do more than run; only they have the neurological makeup needed to utilize a vital technology, one that gives Skolia its sole advantage over their enemies. The army needs the Kyles, but after centuries of being despised and left to die by the rest of humanity, the Undercity wants nothing to do with them. Until Angel, one of the top runners among the Knights, joins the Kyle Corps—and dives into a world of neurological marvels, including star-spanning networks that access a dimension with dramatically different laws than our space-time universe. THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER AS THE DUST KNIGHTS COMPETE FOR THEIR WORLD—AND THE FREEDOM OF HUMANITY

INFINITE STARSThis is the definitive collection of original short stories by many of today’s finest authors, writing brand new adventures set in their most famous series. Herein lie canonical tales of the Honorverse, the Lost Fleet, Dune, Vatta’s War, Ender Wiggin, the Legion of the Damned, the Imperium, and more.Also included are past masterpieces by authors whose works defined the genre. Nebula and Hugo Award winners, New York Times bestsellers, and Science Fiction Grand Masters—these authors take us to the farthest regions of space.The modern masters of space opera and military science fiction, with 14 brand new stories set in their most famous universes—exclusive to this volume!DAVID WEBER The Honor Harrington SagaBRIAN HERBERT & KEVIN J. ANDERSON DuneELIZABETH MOON Vatta’s WarORSON SCOTT CARD Ender’s GameJACK CAMPBELL The Lost Fleet…plus more new adventures by:CATHERINE ASARD • DAVE BARA • BENNETT R. COLES • WILLIAM C. DIETZCHARLES E. GANNON • JEAN JOHNSON • LINDA NAGATAJODY LYNN NYE • ALASTAIR REYNOLDSAnd ten seminal stories by some of the most famous authors in the genre:POUL ANDERSON • LEIGH BRACKETT & EDMOND HAMILTONLOIS McMASTER BUJOLD • A. C. CRISPIN • DAVID DRAKE • ANNE McCAFFREYLARRY NIVEN & JERRY POURNELLE • NNEDI OKORAFORROBERT SILVERBERG • CORDWAINER SMITH

Selei City is the capital of the Imerialte and one of the most desired locales in all of the Skolian Empire. But its thin veneer of civilization is cracked when a series of brutal crimes implicates those in political power in a vast conspiracy. Three prominent scientists have lost their lives to a serial killer—and notes at the scenes of the crimes lead to a connection to the Royalist political party.Major Bhaajan, former military officer turned private detective, is called back to Selei City to solve the crime. Bhaaj and her crew of Undercity Dust Knights plunge into the Byzantine world of Imperial politics—a jigsaw world where none of the pieces seem to fit. As the assassination plot becomes more and more convoluted, Bhaaj is kidnapped, threatened with death, and must fight for her life against the growing number of people threatened by her investigation. Bhaaj has faced all this and more, but now she must deal with something far deadlier—interstellar politics.About The Vanished Seas:“Catherine Asaro continues exploring the underbelly of her baroque, decadent Skolian Empire with this latest adventure of Major Bhaajan, private eye to the highest nobility. . . . It’s a story full of intrigue, mystery, and action. Along with Asaro’s trademark deeply human characters and intricate politics comes a noir-flavored plot that drips with menace and secrets. Major Bhaajan is a compelling character, smart and sympathetic, and both the squalid Undercity and the decadent City of Cries are engrossing. Those who are familiar with the Skolian Empire will find much to like here. For those who aren’t, the Major Bhaajan books make a fine jumping-on point to this vast and convoluted universe.”—AnalogAbout the Major Bhaajan series:“. . . riveting. . . . The world is rich and vivid, with two distinct cultures in the Undercity and the aboveground City of Cries. This exciting novel stands alone for anyone who enjoys science fiction adventure.”—Publishers Weekly starred review“Asaro plants herself firmly into that grand SF tradition of future history franchises favored by luminaries like Heinlein, Asimov, Herbert, Anderson, Dickson, Niven, Cherryh, and Baxter . . . They don't write em like that anymore! Except Asaro does, with . . . up-to-the-minute savvy!”—Locus“Baahjan, who starts out keeping an emotional distance from the people in the Undercity soon grows to think of them as her community once more. Asaro . . . returns to the Skolian empire's early history to tell Bhaajan's story.”—Booklist“Asaro delivers a tale rich with the embedded history of her world and bright with technical marvels. Her characters are engaging and intriguing and there is even a bit of romance. What really touched my heart was Bhaaj's interaction with the children of the aqueducts. I spent the last fifty pages of the book sniffling into a tissue.”—SFcrowsnest“I‘m hooked, both on her writing and her Skolian universe. This book had everything I wanted: strong characters, a new and unique world, and a plot that isn't as simple as it first appears.”—TerryTalkAbout the Skolian Saga:“Entertaining mix of hard SF and romance.”—Publishers Weekly “Asaro’s Skolian saga is now nearly as long and in many ways as compelling as Dune, if not more so, featuring a multitude of stronger female characters.”—Booklist“Rapid pacing and gripping suspense.”—Publishers Weekly