“[A] combination of mystery and science fiction almost reaching the level of Isaac Asimov’s classic LIJE BALEY—Daneel Olivaw novels.” —CHICAGO SUN TIMES The fourth volume in a series of science-fiction thrillers evolving from the works of Arthur C. Clarke, grandmaster of science fiction and author of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Her code name is Sparta. Her beauty veils a mysterious past and abilities of superhuman dimension—the product of advanced biotechnology. Recovering from her mission on Mars, Sparta finds herself the guest of the Space Board. But relaxation is short-lived as she sets out on an interplanetary investigation—of the Space Board itself! Members of the Free Spirit, a religious cult intending to gain control of all the worlds of our galaxy, have infiltrated the Space Board. As the date of the manned mission into the clouds of Jupiter approaches, Sparta’s suspicions grow. She is certain the mission has fallen into the hands of the cult, and she is determined to stop it.

“I have long admired Paul Preuss’s work and for this reason was pleased when he expanded six of my short stories into the Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime series, which has been extremely successful. I wish him every success with his new novel.” —Arthur C. Clarke “Paul Preuss is one of the rather few science fiction writers who really understand and appreciate science. He’s also a fine writer by any other standard. In Core he gives us a story both exciting and thought provoking, filled with people we come to know about and care about.” —Poul Anderson “What is the deepest hole which may be dug into the earth?” was first asked about 1947, not 1941, by Enrico Fermi. It can be found in University of Chicago Graduate Problems in Physics, with Solutions, from the University of Chicago Press. The catch is, it appears in the section of experimental problems, for which no solutions are given. To address it, one ought to know something about drilling techniques, materials, and the earth. When Byron Preiss challenged me with the question (he phrased it differently) around the time of the 125th anniversary of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, I knew next to nothing about any of these subjects. Besides spinning a yarn, nothing is more fun than research. The earth’s magnetic field begins to collapse, leaving the planet unprotected against deadly cosmic rays and solar flares. Hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children suffer radiation burns and deaths, severe power disruptions, and communications blackouts. If the collapse continues, the ozone layer will be totally destroyed, setting loose plagues of cancer, sterility, mutations, birth defects, and worse. Scientists, srambling to understand these savage new phenomena, ultimately realize that unless an answer is found quickly, all life on earth will be destroyed in a rapidly approaching apocalypse. Against this freighteningly real near-future backdrop, Cyrus and Leiden Hudder—father and son, two of the world's great scientific minds, separated by an undying hatred and resentment—are brought together through the work of fiercely independent physicist Marta McDougal. Marta has developed one of the greatest technological breakthroughs of the age, a machine to bore through the earth’s solid crust to reach its very center...but this invention is a two-edged sword. The ultimate weapon, it could be mankind’s salvation—or its destruction! Packed with explsive action in a world poised on the brink of collapse, this hight-tech masterpiece is Paul Preuss’s finest achievement. Paul Preuss began his successful writing career after years of producing documentary and television films and writing screenplays. He is the author of twelve novels, including Venus Prime, Volumes 1, 2, and 3, and the near-future thrillers Core, Human Error, and Starfire. His non-fiction has appeared in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, New York Newsday, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Besides writing, he has been a science consultant for several film companies. He lives in San Francisco, California.

A selection of what he considers to be his best short stories is presented by this leading science fiction writer

Six decades of fascinating stories from the legendary “colossus of science fiction” and creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey gathered in one compendium (The New Yorker). Arthur C. Clarke, along with H. G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, and Robert A. Heinlein, was a definitive voice in twentieth century science fiction. A prophetic thinker, undersea explorer, and “one of the true geniuses of our time,” Clarke not only won the highest science fiction honors, the Nebula and Hugo Awards, but also received nominations for an Academy Award and the Nobel Peace Prize, and was knighted for his services to literature (Ray Bradbury). Now, more than one hundred works of the sci-fi master’s short fiction are available in the “single-author collection of the decade” (Booklist, starred review). This definitive edition includes early work such as “Rescue Party” and “The Lion of Comarre,” classics like “The Nine Billion Names of God” and “The Sentinel” (which was the kernel of the later novel and movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey), and later works including “A Meeting with Medusa” and “The Hammer of God.” Encapsulating one of the great science fiction careers of all time, this immense volume “displays the author’s fertile imagination and irrepressible enthusiasm for both good storytelling and impeccable science” (Library Journal). “One of the most astounding imaginations ever encountered in print.” —The New York Times “As his Collected Stories helps to demonstrate, there has been no popular writer since the days of C S Lewis and Charles Williams whose disposition is more nakedly apocalyptic, who takes greater pleasure in cradling eternity in the palm of his hand.” —The Guardian

This classic collection of short stories includes some of Clarke's finest work: vivid glimpses into the future, a year, a decade, a century, a millennium from now.

“[A] combination of mystery and science fiction almost reaching the level of Isaac Asimov’s classic LIJE BALEy—Daneel Olivaw novels.” —CHICAGO SUN TIMES The fifth volume in a series of science-fiction thrillers evolving from the works of Arthur C. Clarke, grandmaster of science fiction and author of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Her code name is Sparta. Her beauty veils a mysterious past and abilities of superhuman dimension—the product of advanced biotechnology. Much excitement has arisen throughout the galaxy over the exploration mission to Jupiter’s moon, Amalthea. Led by the renowned Professor J.Q.R. Forster, the dangerous expedition will lead its members to the surface of this strange moon—and beyond. It is Sparta’s mission to monitor the trip on the part of the Board of Space Control. Her task becomes more threatening when Sir Randolph Mays, Forster’s rival and nemesis, “accidentally” crash-lands on Amelthea’s surface. Far from innocent, Mays has a plan for laying claim to Forster’s discoveries, and only Sparta is able to prevent sabotage. But what is Mays really after? And how will they all react to the discovery of an alien life-form?

A collection of essays about space phenomena guides the reader on a tour of the universe

Already renowned for his science fiction and scientific nonfiction, Arthur C. Clarke became the world’s most famous science fiction writer after the success of 2001: A Space Odyssey. He then produced novels like Rendezvous with Rama and The Fountains of Paradise that many regard as his finest works. Gary Westfahl closely examines Clarke's remarkable career, ranging from his forgotten juvenilia to the passages he completed for a final novel, The Last Theorem. As Westfahl explains, Clarke’s science fiction offered original perspectives on subjects like new inventions, space travel, humanity’s destiny, alien encounters, the undersea world, and religion. While not inclined to mysticism, Clarke necessarily employed mystical language to describe the fantastic achievements of advanced aliens and future humans. Westfahl also contradicts the common perception that Clarke’s characters were bland and underdeveloped, arguing that these reticent, solitary individuals, who avoid conventional relationships, represent his most significant prediction of the future, as they embody the increasingly common lifestyle of people in the twenty-first century.

Arthur C Clarke is without question the world's best-known science fiction writer, enjoying a career of unequalled success. Clarke has always been celebrated for his prophetic vision, which is fully on display in this audiobook, but there are also many stories which show his imagination in full flight. This is the fifth and final volume in the collection, and includes some of Clarke's most accomplished work, including Dog Star, The Light of Darkness and The Hammer of Gods. Track Listing: CD 1: Dog Star read by Mike Grady Track 2 to 5, 16' 34 Maelstrom II read by Nick Boulton Track 6 to 13, 35' 54 An Ape About the House read by Buffy Davis Track 14 to end of Disc 1, 20' 48 CD 2: The Shining Ones read by Roger May Track 1 to 11, 45' 30 The Secret read by Mike Grady Track 13 to 14, 14' 45 Dial F for Frankenstein read by Nick Boulton Track 15 to end of Disc 2, 15' 08 CD 3: The Wind From the Sun read by Sean Barrett Track 1 to 13, 49' 00 The Food of the Gods read by Roger May Track 14 to 16, 12' 56 The Last Command read by Mike Grady Track 17 to end of Disc 3, 6' 20 CD 4: The Light of Darkness read by Nick Boulton Track 1 to 4, 14' 47 The Longest Science-Fiction Story Ever Told read by Sean Barrett Track 5, 1' 36 Playback read by Roger May Track 6 to 7, 7' 52 The Cruel Sky read by Mike Grady Track 8 to end of Disc 4, 48' 52 CD 5 and 6: Herbert George Morley Roberts Wells, Esq read by Nick Boulton Track 1 to 2, 5' 29 Crusade read by Sean Barrett Track 3 to 5, 13' 00 Neutron Tide read by Roger May Track 6, 4' 52 Reunion read by Mike Grady Track 7, 4' 46 Transit of Earth read by Nick Boulton Track 8 to 15, 33' 52 A Meeting With Medusa read by Sean Barrett Track 16 to Track 6 of Disc 7, 108' 32 CD 7: Quarantine read by Roger May Track 7, 2' 42 SiseneG read by Mike Grady Track 8, 0' 53 The Steam-Powered Word Processor read by Nick Boulton Track 9 to 11, 12' 07 On Golden Seas read by Sean Barrett Track 12 to 14, 10' 19 The Hammer of Gods read by Roger May Track 15 to Track 4 of Disc 8, 34' 10 The Wire Continuum read by Mike Grady Track 5 to 17, 54' 28 Improving the Neighbourhood read by Nick Boulton Track 18 to end of Disc 8, 3' 50

“[A] combination of mystery and science fiction almost reaching the level of Isaac Asimov’s classic LIJE BALEY—Daneel Olivaw novels.” —CHICAGO SUN TIMES The second volume of the spectacular science fiction thriller evolving from the works of Arthur C. Clarke, the grandmaster of science fiction. Her code name is Sparta, whose beauty veils a mysterious past and abilities of superhuman dimension; the product of advanced biotech engineering. When a team of scientists is trapped in the gaseous inferno of Venus, Sparta must risk her life to save them, unaware that her actions will help recover a mysterious artifact: irrefutable evidence of life on another planet.