“Probably the greatest of all French-speaking science-fiction writers [after Jules Verne] . . . I was unprepared for the power and beauty.” —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post To the short list that includes Jules Verne and H.G. Wells as founding fathers of science fiction, the name of the Belgian writer J.-H. Rosny Aîné must be added. He was the first writer to conceive, and attempt to narrate, the workings of aliens and alternate life forms. His fascination with evolutionary scenarios, and long historical vistas, from first man to last man, are important precursors to the myriad cosmic epics of modern science fiction. Until now, his work has been virtually unknown and unavailable in the English-speaking world, but it is crucial for our understanding of the genre. Three wonderfully imaginative novellas are included in this volume. “The Xipehuz” is a prehistoric tale in which the human species battles strange geometric alien life forms. “Another World” is the story of a mysterious being who does not live in the same acoustic and temporal world as humans. “The Death of the Earth” is a scientifically uncompromising Last Man story. The book also includes an insightful critical introduction that places Rosny’s work within the context of evolutionary biology. “Rosny was a species pluralist, and believed that human beings are no more entitled than any other creature to reign supreme. He would have felt right at home among the Men In Black.” —Laura Miller, The New Yorker

Three short novels by some of science fiction's greatest writers - Robert Silverberg, Robert Zelazny, and James Blish, with an Introduction by Arthur C. Clarke. Each writes a short novel on a theme proposed by Clarke: With increaing technology goes increasing vulnerability. Visit New York after sea level has risen 30 feet, where everyone paddles around the skyscrapers in boats and trash disposal is an important industry; a mid-ocean platform drilling for - magma in the earth's core; and what happens after a terrorist attack has caused mass amnesia!

A powerful young mage in nineteenth-century London uses her secret powers to protect her family in this Gaslamp fantasy series debut. The year is 1850 and Great Britain is flourishing, thanks to the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts. When a new mage is discovered, Royal Society elites descend like buzzards to snatch up a new apprentice. Talented mages are bought from their families at a tremendous price, while weak mages are snapped up for a pittance. For a lower middle class family like the Gunns, the loss of a son can be disastrous, so when seemingly magical incidents begin cropping up at home, they fear for their Ben’s life—and their own livelihoods. But Benjamin Gunn isn’t a talented mage. His sister Charlotte is. And to prevent her brother from being imprisoned for false reporting, she combines her powers with his to make him seem a better prospect. When she discovers a nefarious plot by the sinister Doctor Ledbetter, Charlotte must use all her cunning and guile to protect her family, her secret, and her city.

Eight centuries from now-- long after the Big Mistake and the death of Old Earth-- humanity is again on the brink of war. Galactic war this time.

Science fiction-noveller.

The novella is, in the words of Gardner Dozois, "a perfect length for a science fiction story: long enough to enable you to flesh out the details of a strange alien world or a bizarre future society...and yet, still short enough for the story to pack a real punch." The thirteen masterpieces assembled in Modern Classic Short Novels of Science Fiction travel to the farthest reaches of the imagination, through realms of immortality, along alternate paths of time and across vast galaxies to explore the best of all imaginable worlds.

Science fiction-noveller.

Collects nine classic science fiction novels from 1953 to 1958.

Welcome to the Essential Science Fiction Novels book series, where you will find a selection of endless tales about the incredible technologies of the future, time travel and its consequences, adventures in interstellar spaceships, strange post-apocalyptic worlds, dangerous alien invasions and everything else the authors dreamed of or feared for the future of humanity.For this book, the literary critic August Nemo has chosen the 5 novels by authors who created memorable stories that shaped the foundations of Science Fiction. This book contains the following novels:A Connecticut Yakee In King Arthurs Court by Mark Twain. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne. The New Adam by Stanley G. Weinbaum. The Scarlet Plague by Jack London. The Purple Cloud by M. P. Shiel. If you appreciate good books, be sure to check out the other Tacet Books titles!