Search Worlds Without End

Now We Are Ten is the anniversary anthology from NewCon Press, celebrating ten years of publishing fiction. Edited by press owner Ian Whates, this collection contains stories in many different genres by well-known authors.

Table of Contents

• Introduction by Ian Whates
• The Final Path - short story by Genevieve Cogman
• Women's Christmas - short story by Ian McDonald
• Pyramid - short story by Nancy Kress
• Liberty Bird - short story by Jaine Fenn
• Zanzara Island - short story by Rachel Armstrong
• Ten Sisters - short story by Eric Brown
• Licorice - short story by Jack Skillingstead
• How to Grow Silence From Seed - novelette by Tricia Sullivan
• The Time Travellers' Ball (A Story in Ten Words) - short story by Rose Biggin
• Dress Rehearsal - short story by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• The Tenth Man - short story by Bryony Pearce
• Rare as a Harpy's Tear - short story by Neil Williamson
• Utopia +10 - short story by J.A. Christy
• Ten Love Songs to Change the World - novelette by Peter F. Hamilton
• Ten Days - novelette by Nina Allan
• Front Row Seat to the End of the World - novelette by E.J. Swift
• About the Authors
• Newcon Press: The First Ten Years

The Fermi Paradox is the apparent contradiction between the high probablity of extraterrestrial civilizations' existence and the lack of contract with such civilizations.

In Paradox, a selection of the world's leading science fiction authors are joined by physicists and other scientists in this collection of exciting and original stories inspired by Fermi's famous paradox, daring to ask...

Where is everyone?

Contents:

• 7 - Fermi Paradox: An Introduction - essay by Marek Kakula and Rob Edwards
• 17 - Catching Rays - shortfiction by David L. Clements
• 39 - The Big Next - shortfiction by Pat Cadigan
• 47 - Baedeker's Fermi - shortfiction by Adam Roberts
• 61 - Zeta Reticuli - shortfiction by Paul Cornell
• 69 - The Ambulance Chaser - shortfiction by Tricia Sullivan
• 81 - Lost to Their Own Devices - shortfiction by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• 89 - In the Beginning - shortfiction by Gerry Webb
• 105 - The Trial of the Creator, The Trial of the Creation - shortfiction by Paul Di Filippo
• 121 - Stella by Starlight - shortfiction by Mike Resnick and Robert T. Jeschonek
• 139 - Fermi's Doubts - shortfiction by George Zebrowski
• 149 - Audiovisionary - shortfiction by Stephanie Saulter
• 165 - Aether - shortfiction by Robert Reed
• 173 - The End of the World - shortfiction by Keith Brooke and Eric Brown
• 187 - The Worldmaker - shortfiction by Rachel Armstrong
• 209 - Atonement, Under the Blue-White Sun - shortfiction by Mercurio D. Rivera

An anthology showcasing the very best steampunk stories from three different countries released by three different publishers in three different languages.

From the UK, George Mann (a new Newbury & Hobbes tale), Jonathan Green (a new Pax Brittania tale), and Derry O'Dowd; from Finland, Magdalena Hai (winner of the Atorox Award and the Finnish Literary Export Prize), multiple award-winning Anne Leinonen, and J.S. Meresmaa (whose work has been shortlisted for the Anni Polva, Kuvastaja, and Atorox Awards); and from Portugal, Anton Stark, Diana Pinguicha, and Pedro Cipriano (winner of Fórum Fantástico's Choice of the Year Award).

Table of Contents:

• Introduction by Ian Whates

Steampunk UK

• Seasons of Wither - George Mann
• Reckless Engineering - Jonathan Green
• The Athenian Dinner Party - Derry O'Dowd

Steampunk Finland

• Foreword by J.S. Meresmaa
• The Winged Man Isaac - Magdalena Hai
• The Cylinder Hat - Anne Leinonen
• Augustine - J.S. Meresmaa

Steampunk Portugal

• Foreword by Pedro Cipriano
• Videri Quam Esse - Anton Stark
• The Desert Spider - Pedro Cipriano
• Heart of Stone - Diana Pinguicha

Every short story in this wonderfully varied collection has one thing in common: each features some alteration in history, some divergence from historical reality, which results in a world very different from the one we know today. As well as original stories specially commissioned from bestselling writers such as James Morrow, Stephen Baxter and Ken MacLeod, there are genre classics such as Kim Stanley Robinson's story of how World War II atomic bomber the Enola Gay, having crashed on a training flight, is replaced by the Lucky Strike with profoundly different consequences.

Table of Contents:

• The Raft of the Titanic - short fiction by James Morrow
• Sidewinders - short fiction by Ken MacLeod
• The Wandering Christian - (1991) - novelette by Kim Newman and Eugene Byrne
• Hush My Mouth - (1986) - short story by Suzette Haden Elgin
• A Letter from the Pope - (1990) - novelette by Harry Harrison and Tom Shippey
• Such a Deal - short fiction by Esther M. Friesner
• Ink from the New Moon - (1992) - short story by A. A. Attanasio
• Dispatches from the Revolution - (1991) - novelette by Pat Cadigan
• Catch That Zeppelin! - (1975) - short story by Fritz Leiber
• A Very British History - (2000) - short story by Paul J. McAuley
• The Imitation Game - (2008) - short story by Rudy Rucker
• Weihnachtabend - (1972) - novelette by Keith Roberts
• The Lucky Strike - (1984) - novelette by Kim Stanley Robinson
• His Powder'd Wig, His Crown of Thornes - (1989) - short story by Marc Laidlaw
• Roncesvalles - (1990) - novelette by Judith Tarr
• The English Mutiny - (2008) - novelette by Ian R. MacLeod
• O One - (2003) - short story by Chris Roberson
• Islands in the Sea - (1989) - novelette by Harry Turtledove
• Lenin in Odessa - (1990) - short story by George Zebrowski
• The Einstein Gun - short fiction by Pierre Gévart (trans. of Comment les choses se sont vraiment passées)
• Tales from the Venia Woods - (1989) - short story by Robert Silverberg
• Manassas, Again - (1991) - short story by Gregory Benford
• The Sleeping Serpent - (1992) - novella by Pamela Sargent
• Waiting for the Olympians - (1988) - novelette by Frederik Pohl
• Darwin Anathema - short story by Stephen Baxter

War is becoming increasingly 'SF-ized' with remotely controlled attack drones and robot warriors already in development and being tested. Over the past 100 years the technology of war has advanced enormously in destructive power, yet also in sophistication so that we no longer seem to live under the constant threat of all-out global thermonuclear cataclysm. So what will future wars be like? And what will start them: religion, politics, resources, refugees, or advanced weaponry itself?

Watson and Whates present a gripping anthology of SF stories which explores the gamut of possible future conflicts, including such themes as nuclear war, psychological and cyberwars, enhanced soldiery, mercenaries, terrorism, intelligent robotic war machines, and war with aliens.

All the stories in this collection of remarkable quality and diversity reveals humankind pressed to the limits in every conceivable way.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction - essay by Ian Whates and Ian Watson
• Peacekeeper - shortstory by Brad R. Torgersen and Mike Resnick
• From Out of the Sun, Endlessly Singing - shortstory by Simon R. Green
• All for Love - (1962) - shortstory by Algis Budrys
• The War Artist - (2011) - shortstory by Tony Ballantyne
• The War Memorial - (1995) - shortstory by Allen Steele
• Politics - (1990) - novelette by Elizabeth Moon
• Arena - (1944) - novelette by Fredric Brown
• Peacekeeping Mission - (2008) - shortstory by Laura Resnick
• The Peacemaker - (1964) - shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
• Junked: A Combat K Adventure - (2009) - shortfiction by Andy Remic
• The Liberation of Earth - (1953) - shortstory by William Tenn
• A Clean Escape - (1985) - shortstory by John Kessel
• Storming Hell - (2009) - novelette by John Lambshead
• Solidarity - (2005) - novella by Walter Jon Williams
• The Price - (2010) - novelette by Michael Z. Williamson
• The Horars of War - (1970) - shortstory by Gene Wolfe
• The Traitor - (1997) - novelette by David Weber
• The Game of Rat and Dragon - (1955) - shortstory by Cordwainer Smith
• Caught in the Crossfire - (1978) - shortstory by David Drake
• The Rhine's World Incident - (2008) - shortstory by Neal Asher
• Winning Peace - (2007) - novelette by Paul J. McAuley
• Time Piece - (1970) - shortstory by Joe Haldeman
• The Wake - (2011) - shortstory by Dan Abnett
• The Pyre of New Day - novelette by Catherine Asaro

THEY CALL IT "THE CITY OF A HUNDRED ROWS".

City of Dreams & Nightmare is the first in a series of novels set in one of the most extraordinary fantasy settings since Gormenghast - the ancient vertical city of Thaiburley. From its towering palatial heights to the dregs who dwell in The City Below, this is a vast, multi-tiered metropolis, and demons are said to dwell in the Upper Heights...

Having witnessed a murder in a part of the city he should never have been in, street thief Tom has to run for his life. Down through the vast city he is pursued by sky-borne assassins, sinister Kite Guards, and agents of a darker force intent on destabilising the whole city. Accused of the crime, he must use all of his knowledge of this ancient city to flee a certain death; his only ally is Kat, a renegade like him, but she has secrets of her own...

A SECOND VISIT TO THAIBURLEY: THE CITY OF DREAMS, THE FABLED CITY OF A HUNDRED ROWS.

Dark forces are gathering in the shadowy depths, and the whole city is under threat. The former street-nick, Tom, embarks on a journey to discover the source of the great river Thair, said to be the ultimate power behind all of Thaiburley. Accompanying him are the assassin Dewar and the young Thaistess Mildra. It soon becomes evident that their journey has more significance than any of them realise, as past secrets catch up with them and unknown adversaries hunt them... to the death!

The monstrous Rust Warriors are back!

In a land struggling to cope with the onset of the fatal bone flu, street-nick Tom and Kat - the leader of the Tattooed Men - must find a way to despatch both threats. Meanwhile, the Soul Thief is still at large, and still killing...

Solaris Rising is the first in an exciting new series of anthologies that are set to reaffirm Solaris's proud reputation for producing high quality science fiction.

The book will feature all original short stories from many best-selling authors such as Peter F. Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds, Stephen Baxter, Paul di Filippo, Adam Roberts, Lavie Tidhar, Ian Watson, Ken MacLeod, Mike Resnick, Tricia Sullivan, Eric Brown, Steve Rasnic Tem along with other top name authors; stories guaranteed to surprise, thrill and delight, demonstrating why science fiction remains the most innovative, satisfying, and downright exciting genre of all.

Table of Contents

• Introduction - (2011) - essay by Ian Whates
• A Smart Well-Mannered Uprising of the Dead - (2011) - short fiction by Ian McDonald
• The Incredible Exploding Man - short fiction by Dave Hutchinson
• Sweet Spots - (2011) - short fiction by Paul Di Filippo
• The Best Science Fiction of the Year Three - (2011) - short fiction by Ken MacLeod
• The One That Got Away - (2011) - short fiction by Tricia Sullivan
• Rock Day - (2011) - short story by Stephen Baxter
• Eluna - (2011) - short fiction by Stephen Palmer
• Shall I Tell You the Problem with Time Travel? - short story by Adam Roberts
• The Lives and Deaths of Che Guevara - (2011) - short fiction by Lavie Tidhar
• Steel Lake - (2011) - short fiction by Jack Skillingstead
• Mooncakes - (2011) - short fiction by Mike Resnick and Laurie Tom
• At Play in the Fields - (2011) - short story by Steve Rasnic Tem
• How We Came Back from Mars (A Story That Cannot Be Told) - (2011) - short story by Ian Watson
• You Never Know - (2011) - short fiction by Pat Cadigan
• Yestermorrow - (2011) - short fiction by Richard Salter
• Dreaming Towers, Silent Mansions - (2011) - short fiction by Jaine Fenn
• Eternity's Children - (2011) - short fiction by Keith Brooke and Eric Brown
• For the Ages - (2011) - short fiction by Alastair Reynolds
• The Return of the Mutant Worms - (2011) - short story by Peter F. Hamilton

Having re-affirmed Solaris’ proud reputation for producing high quality science fiction anthologies in the first volume, Solaris Rising 2 is the next collection in this exciting series.

Featuring stories by Allan Steele, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Kim Lakin-Smith, Paul Cornell, Eugie Foster, Nick Harkaway, Nancy Kress, Kay Kenyon, James Lovegrove, Robert Reed, Mercurio D. Rivera, Norman Spinrad, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Liz Williams, Vandana Singh, Martin Sketchley, and more.

These stories are guaranteed to surprise, thrill and delight, and maintain our mission to demonstrate why science fiction remains the most exiting, varied and inspiring of all fiction genres. In Solaris Rising we showed both the quality and variety that modern SF can produce. In Solaris Rising 2, we’ll be taking that much, much further.

Solaris Rising 3 pushes the boundaries of current SF publishing and hammers home, story after story, Whates' mission statement to prove that SF is the most exciting and inspiring of all the fiction genres; offering the poignant reflection of humanity--often funny, often dark and always surprising--that sits at the heart of all great fiction writing, and stretching it across time and space.

With contributions from Ken Liu, Rachel Swirsky, Gareth L. Powell, Aliette de Bodard, Tony Ballantyne and many, many more, Solaris Rising 3 is a diverse collection of ground-breaking stories that will be essential reading for SF fans everywhere.

Described by Pornokitsch.com as "the UK's finest editor of Science Fiction," Whates has gathered together some of the best known names and most thrilling emerging talents in SF to contribute to this latest bumper anthology release in Solaris Book's stellar year of anthology publishing.

Featuring stories from:
Adam Roberts, Alex Dally MacFarlane, Aliette de Bodard, Benjamin Rosenbaum, Benjanun Sriduangkaew, Cat Sparks, Chris Beckett, Gareth L. Powell, George Zebrowski, Ian R. MacLeod & Martin Sketchley, Ian Watson, Julie E. Czerneda, Ken Liu, Laura Lam, Nina Allan// Rachel Swirsky, Sean Williams, Tony Ballantyne

Table of Contents:

• Introduction - essay by Ian Whates
• When We Harvested the Nacre-Rice - short fiction by Benjanun Sriduangkaew
• The Goblin Hunter - short fiction by Chris Beckett
• Homo Floresiensis - short fiction by Ken Liu
• A Taste for Murder - short fiction by Julie E. Czerneda
• Double Blind - short fiction by Tony Ballantyne
• The Mashup - short fiction by Sean Williams
• The Frost on Jade Buds - short fiction by Aliette de Bodard
• Popular Images from the First Manned Mission to Enceladus - short fiction by Alex Dally MacFarlane
• Red Lights, and Rain - short story by Gareth L. Powell
• They Swim Through Sunset Seas - short fiction by Laura Lam
• Faith Without Teeth - short story by Ian Watson
• Thing and Sick - novelette by Adam Roberts
• The Sullen Engines - short fiction by George Zebrowski
• Dark Harvest - short fiction by Cat Sparks
• Fift & Shria - short story by Benjamin Rosenbaum
• The Howl - short fiction by Ian R. MacLeod and Martin Sketchley
• The Science of Chance - short fiction by Nina Allan
• Endless - short fiction by Rachel Swirsky

In an age of exploration, the crew of the freetrader Pelquin's Comet set out to claim a cache of alien technology that will make them rich, but they are not the only interested party and find themselves in competition with a major corporation. They are also lumbered with an unwelcome passenger - an agent of the bank funding their expedition - who may be a great deal more than he seems. High octane adventure, dark secrets, hidden agendas and double-cross lie in store for the Comet and her motley crew as they pursue their goal to very edge of human space.

As Drake receives his most unusual assignment yet - one which he suspects is a trap but knows he can't refuse - his former crew, the notorious Dark Angels, are being hunted down one by one and murdered. Determined to find those responsible before they find her, Leesa teams up with another former Dark Angel, Jen, and together they set out to thwart the mysterious organization known as Saflik, little dreaming where that path will lead them.

The Dark Angels -- a notorious band of brigands turned folk heroes who disbanded a decade ago -- are all that stands between humanity and disaster. Reunited with their ship, The Ion Raider, Drake, Leesa, Jen and their fellow Angels must prevent a resurrected Elder, last of a long dead alien race from reclaiming the scientific marvels of his people.

The resurrected alien, Mudball, has discovered the whereabouts of the ultimate Elder cache, long considered to be a myth. Supported by an outlawed military regiment and a star-spanning criminal organisation, Mudball is intent on using the scientific marvels stored there to establish itself as God over all of humankind.

Can one ship of reluctant heroes hope to stop them? The Dark Angels know they have little choice but to try.

On the brink of perfecting the long sought-after human/AI interface, Philip Kaufman finds his world thrown into turmoil as a scandal from the past returns to haunt him and dangerous information falls into his hands. Pursued by assassins and attacked in his own home, he flees.

Leyton, a government black-ops specialist, is diverted from his usual duties to hunt down the elusive pirate vessel The Noise Within, wondering all the while why this particular freebooter is considered so important.

Two lives collide in this stunning space-opera from debut novelist Ian Whates!

A time of flux, a time of change...

While mankind is adjusting to its first ever encounter with an alien civilisation – the Byrzaens – black ops specialist Jim Leyton reluctantly allies himself with the mysterious habitat in order to rescue the woman he loves. This brings him into direct conflict with his former employers: the United League of Allied Worlds government.

Scientist and businessman Philip Kaufman is fast discovering there is more to the virtual world than he ever realised. Yet it soon becomes clear that all is not well within the realm of Virtuality. Truth is hidden beneath lies and there are games being played, deadly games with far reaching consequences.

Both men begin to suspect that the much heralded ‘First Contact’ is anything but first contact, and that a sinister con is being perpetrated with the whole of humankind as the victim. Now all they have to do is prove it.