Brave explorers encounter a dangerous new world and a terrifying future Earth in these two classic novels by the pioneering SFWA Grand Master. Cemetery World After a disastrous planet-wide war, Earth is nothing more than an elite graveyard—but Fletcher Carson is venturing back in search of a vital bounty. Fletcher, a former artist, is joined by a sentient machine, an ancient, powerful robot, and a treasure-seeking beauty. They soon discover that Earth harbors more than the carefully groomed tombstones. In the wild land beyond the cemetery there are dangerous machines, mutant creatures, and even humans who never left their home planet. Destiny Doll When a team of explorers is beckoned to a strange planet, it closes around them like a Venus flytrap. Assailed by strange perils and even stranger temptations, the small group struggles to survive as, surrounded by creatures of myth and mystery, they are stalked by a deadly nemesis. Even more peculiar is the little wooden painted doll that offers them salvation . . . or damnation.

A corporation promising immortality hides a sinister secret in this “extremely provocative” sci-fi novel (Judith Merril, author and editor). Since the dawn of mankind, immortality has been the ultimate reward. But by the year 2148, it requires no act of faith to believe in an afterlife. Forever Center promises to bring people back to a life beyond death. Now everyone spends their lives in poverty, giving all their money to Forever Center to ensure their happiness and comfort in the next eternal life. Daniel Frost is a key man at Forever Center, but when he accidentally stumbles onto some classified documents, Dan incurs the wrath of an unseen enemy and is framed for a terrible crime. Now, his right to immortality has been revoked and he is a social outcast, condemned to the desperate life of a hunted animal. As a renegade lawyer and a brilliant mathematician attempt to help him, they reveal some shattering information about Forever Center . . . and the essence of life itself.

The renowned Science Fiction Grand Master makes a foray into fantasy, with this tale of perilous adventure in a land of trolls, wizards, and terrifying malevolence. In an alternate Europe where the Roman Empire never fell, the expansive Empty Lands are inhabited by forces known collectively as the Evil. Yet Charles Harcourt is honor-bound to venture into that dangerous area to find his long-lost fianceé. He is joined on his trek by an abbot who hopes to locate a crystal prism that hold the soul of a saint; the non-human Knurly Man, who craves release from his pitiful existence; and the beautiful Yolanda, who seeks the answer to a secret mystery. But their arrival and their purpose had been foretold. The denizens of the Empty Lands are girding for war. And beyond the Evil lurk ancient dark powers waiting patiently for the humans whose souls will set them free.

An enormous, mysterious box descends upon smalltown Minnesota, spelling trouble for the world, in this classic adventure from a Science Fiction Grand Master. Forestry student Jerry Conklin is fly-fishing when something huge lands on his car, crushing it into the earth. It looks like a big black box—about fifty feet high and two hundred feet long—and the object stirs up quite a commotion among the townspeople of Lone Pine, Minnesota. One of them even shoots at it—and quickly pays for it with his life. Around the country, people scramble to determine what exactly the box is. Is it a machine? Or maybe a sentient being? What does it want? They have no way of knowing. Jerry, meanwhile, has firsthand knowledge after the visitor abducts him. Then, just as he discovers it is a living, intelligent creature, it releases him into the darkness of night. As Jerry searches for a way back to civilization, more visitors descend upon Earth. They seem harmless enough. Then they begin eating trees, and that’s only the beginning . . . Praise for The Visitors “One of the most engaging novels of alien invasion ever written.” —Library Journal

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.

In this classic novel by the Science Fiction Grand Master, a writer searching for explanations uncovers the existence of mutants and multiple Earths: “First-rate Simak” (The New York Times). Author Jay Vickers would like nothing more than to be left alone so he can finish his next book. But “there’s something strange going on,” as his peculiar neighbor, Horton Flanders, says. For instance, the market is filling with new inventions that supposedly last forever—cars, razors, cigarette lighters, and more. Individuals and whole families are disappearing. Soon, even Mr. Flanders vanishes—but not before leaving Vickers a note. Following Flanders’s advice, Vickers travels to his childhood home, where he makes a fantastic discovery. It is a mere child’s toy, a brightly colored whistling top. But for Jay Vickers, it leads to other worlds and answers all his questions. What happened to all the vanished people? Who is behind these helpful inventions? And what sort of being would want to stop them. . . ? “Unforgettable.” —New York Herald Tribune “Solid entertainment, with plenty of startling plot twists.” —The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction “Some of the most ingenious plot twists in recent science-fiction.” —Galaxy

Adventurers journey into the foreboding unknown regions of outer space in these two classic science fiction tales from the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author. The Trouble with Tycho Prospecting on the moon is grim, dangerous, and usually unrewarding. Most greenhorns don’t know that until after they arrive, and Chris Jackson is no exception. He put everything he owns, and then some, into this venture, and he’ll be ruined if he fails. Jackson’s last chance at success is hidden in the uncharted crater Tycho—where three expeditions have already disappeared. Jackson, a beautiful immigrant, and a visiting doctor set out to find their fortunes . . . and discover whether the terrifying rumors of what lurks within Tycho are true. Cosmic Engineers “Upon you and you alone must rest the fate of the universe. You are the only ones to save it.” Thus spoke the mysterious Cosmic Engineers to a small group of human beings on the rim of the Solar System. Courageously journeying beyond uncharted stars, somewhere in the vastness of the galaxy, they will meet the greatest challenge of their lives—the catastrophic fury of the Hellhounds of Space.

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

Future and Fantastic Worlds embodies an unusual approach to the field of bibliographic research, including over 700 annotations of every DAW book published through mid-1987, with indexes by author, artist, and title, providing a massive guide to modern SF writers and their works, with much background data. Interspersed throughout the book are numerous wry, irreverent, and amusing observations offered by the late and highly respected researcher in this extremely valuable genre tool.

A professional newspaperman, Clifford Donald Simak was a major figure both in and beyond the ‘Golden Age’ of science fiction. Active for more than fifty years, he published some 140 short stories and (depending on how you count) at least 27 novels. The many Awards he received – three Hugos, a Nebula, a Jupiter, a Locus, an Analog, and an International Fantasy Award – to say nothing of many nominations, show that his contemporaries recognised his qualities. It is no surprise that the Science Fiction Writers of America elected him as their third SWFA Grand Master. This book considers what he achieved. CDS grew up in Grant County, Wisconsin, just south of where the Wisconsin flows into the Mississippi. Many of his tales reflect the ‘Simak country’ of his youth, regularly drawing on the characteristics of the residents of that area. They are high value entertainment. Some are extremely amusing. Others lead you on to explore many ideas: what does it mean to be sentient, to be human, how should/can we cope with technology, has life a purpose, and if so what, and, what about aliens? Francis Lyall, a retired academic lawyer, has been enjoying Simak stories since he was a teenager. Preface 5 Introduction 8 Chapter I Clifford Donald Simak 15 Chapter II Simak Country 40 Chapter III Trees and Houses 68 1. Trees 68 2. Houses 72 Chapter IV Simak Folk 79 1. General 79 2. Dogs 85 3. Names 86 Chapter V Androids, Robots, Aliens and Others 101 1. Androids 101 2. Robots 103 3. Aliens and Others 113 Chapter VI Gadgets, Gates et al. 125 1. Technology 125 2. Time Travel 128 3. Other Worlds 130 4. Parallel and Alternate Worlds 131 5. Access to Worlds: Machines 134 6. Gates and Doors 134 7. Roads and Tunnels 135 8. Other Artificial Aids 135 9. Equations and Longing 136 Chapter VII Of Man 139 1. Mental Powers 139 2. Knowledge and Education 142 3. Multiple Minds 147 4. Mind-swap 148 5. Telepathy and Parakinesis 150 6. Symbiotes 150 Chapter VIII Mysticism and Mistiness 153 1. Dark Tales 153 2. Controllers 157 3. Purpose 158 4. Creator? 159 5. A Journey? 160 6. Helpers and Monitors 164 7. Faith and Truth 169 8. Ethics: Life: Caring 173 Chapter IX An Evaluation 180