Most Popular Books by David Brin

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • “A moving experience . . . a powerful cautionary tale.”—Whitley Strieber He was a survivor—a wanderer who traded tales for food and shelter in the dark and savage aftermath of a devastating war. Fate touches him one chill winter’s day when he borrows the jacket of a long-dead postal worker to protect himself from the cold. The old, worn uniform still has power as a symbol of hope, and with it he begins to weave his greatest tale, of a nation on the road to recovery. This is the story of a lie that became the most powerful kind of truth. A timeless novel as urgently compelling as War Day or Alas, Babylon, David Brin’s The Postman is the dramatically moving saga of a man who rekindled the spirit of America through the power of a dream, from a modern master of science fiction. “The Postman will keep you engrossed until you’ve finished the last page.”—Chicago Tribune

Hostile aliens take an Earth colony hostage in this New York Times–bestselling hard science fiction adventure by the author of Startide Rising. Although they were uplifted and given full sapience, the Bururalli clearly weren’t ready to run a planet, almost wrecking Garth. As a “salvage world,” it was given to despised Earthlings, assigned to reclaim it from the brink. Many senior Galactics—leaders of the Five Galaxies—hoped humanity would fail. But now Garth is peacefully surging back, tended by human and neo-chimpanzee colonists. Meanwhile, enemies desperately seek some way to coerce Earthclan, looking for a possible answer to the secret of the Progenitors. One of them—the Gubru avian race—prepares to invade and hold hostage defenseless Garth. With Earth itself under attack by other militant forces, no relief is coming for the embattled colonists. If they are to survive, they have no choice but to band together, improvise, and learn the tactics of guerilla warfare. This ebook features a new introduction by the author. Winner of the Hugo Award “An exhilarating read that encompasses everything from breathless action to finely drawn moments of quiet intimacy. There is no way we can avoid coming back as many times as Brin wants us to, until his story is done.” —Locus “Shares all the properties that made Startide such a joy. The plot fizzes along . . . and there are the wonders of the Galactic civilizations (which have all the invention and excitement that SF used to have).” —Asimov’s Science Fiction “The Uplift books are as compulsive reading as anything ever published in the genre.” —The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

Bestselling, award-winning futurist David Brin returns to globe-spanning, high concept SF with Existence. Gerald Livingston is an orbital garbage collector. For a hundred years, people have been abandoning things in space, and someone has to clean it up. But there''s something spinning a little bit higher than he expects, something that isn''t on the decades'' old orbital maps. An hour after he grabs it and brings it in, rumors fill Earth''s infomesh about an "alien artifact." Thrown into the maelstrom of worldwide shared experience, the Artifact is a game-changer. A message in a bottle; an alien capsule that wants to communicate. The world reacts as humans always do: with fear and hope and selfishness and love and violence. And insatiable curiosity. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A starship crew of humans and dolphins skirts the brink of interstellar war in this epic adventure by the New York Times–bestselling author of The Postman. We are not alone. Humanity’s explorations have revealed galaxies inhabited by millions of intelligent species interacting under ancient traditions. Foremost among said traditions is uplift, which requires all spacefaring races to welcome newcomers into Galactic culture by breeding and genetically guiding each client species to full sapience—but at a price. Patron races demand centuries of indentured servitude from each uplifted client. But is upstart humanity a patron or a client? The Earthship Streaker—crewed by humans and uplifted dolphins and chimpanzees—discovers a derelict armada, perhaps left by the very first patrons, the fabled Progenitors. Suddenly the Five Galaxies teeter on the brink of all-out war as fanatics hunt Streaker for the secret. With a damaged ship and hostile aliens in pursuit, the crew must band together if they hope to survive . . . This ebook features a new introduction by the author. Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards “An extraordinary achievement.” —Poul Anderson, award-winning author of Tau Zero “What a wonderful ride . . . Startide Rising is one of the books that I remember most fondly, out of all I have read, and rereading it thirty years later proved just as enjoyable as the first time. I remain amazed at how many different characters and subplots Brin juggles without a misstep, and the way he keeps the tension and suspense high throughout.” —Tor.com “This is one of the outstanding SF novels of recent years.” —Publishers Weekly “One of maybe twenty science fiction novels that deserve the label classic.” —Time

From one of the most critically acclaimed and well-loved authors of contemporary science fiction, a highly imaginative and exciting story as only David Brin can write . . . “High spirits and inventiveness . . . Dennis''s adventures, which can only be called rollicking, are legion.”—Isaac Asimov''s Science Fiction Magazine Physicist Dennis Nuel was the first human to probe the strange realms called anomaly worlds—alternate universes where the laws of science were unpredictably changed. But the world Dennis discovered seemed almost like our own—with one perplexing difference. To his astonishment, he was hailed as a wizard and found himself fighting beside a beautiful woman with strange powers against a mysterious warlord as he struggled to solve the riddle of this baffling world. “A delightful, often very witty story, with the underlying thoughtfulness we expect from David Brin.”—Poul Anderson

The award-winning Uplift novels comprise one of the greatest achievements in science fiction history. Dramatic, thought-provoking, and inventive, these books describe a fully realized world rich in character, detail, and ideas. Now Uplift author David Brin collaborates with acclaimed artist Kevin Lenagh to compile the definitive guide to the species, societies, and technology of one of the greatest feats of literary world-building ever accomplished. CONTACTING ALIENS Here in the form of a handbook for Terran field agents is a detailed look at Uplift’s many alien races--from the friendly Tymbrimi to the warlike Tandu, from the wise and enigmatic Kanten to the fiercely reptilian Soro, from the bureaucratic Hoon to the manipulative Thennanin--their physiology, psychology, history; their clans and alliances; and their shifting attitudes toward Earth and its representatives. Here, too, is a history of Earth’s contact and challenging interactions with the mysterious and powerful Civilization of Five Galaxies, a look at its institutions, languages, and customs, plus a time line of momentous events going back 3 billion years. For the millions of fans of the Uplift novels, this long-awaited guide will be an essential reference work, filled with vital information and never-before-seen illustrations that reveal, for the first time in one volume, the keys to the ambitious vision and bold speculation of the Uplift universe.

Strange visitors throw a planet of refugees into chaos in this science fiction adventure by the author of New York Times bestseller The Uplift War. Book One in the Uplift Storm Trilogy Centuries ago, the Buyur race abandoned Jijo. Now off-limits to settlers, it’s warded by guardian machines who will protect the planet until the Institutes of the Five Galaxies declare Jijo ready—in another million years—for new civilization. But mere laws and guardians can’t keep out the desperate. Clandestine bands of “sooners” have sneaked down to the lonely planet. Six intelligent races—all refugees—have bickered . . . then built a new society in the wilds of Jijo, hidden beneath forest canopies. Together they live in harmony—and in fear of the day their illegal colony will be discovered and judgment from the Five Galaxies will rain down upon them. One day a strange starship finally does appear on Jijo. But its owners do not bring law or judgment. Only dire secrets. And they’ll do whatever it takes to keep them . . . This ebook features a new introduction by the author. Hugo Award Finalist “A captivating read . . . Brightness Reef leaves you looking forward to more. It’s a worthy addition to what promises to be a great science fiction series.” —Star Tribune “Brin is a skillful storyteller. . . . There is more than enough action to keep the book exciting, and like all good serials, the first volume ends with a bang.” —The Plain Dealer “A universe that’s immensely appealing, leaving readers hungry for more of this exciting, epic adventure.” —Publishers Weekly “Tremendously inventive, ambitious work.” —Kirkus Reviews “A timely, science fictional contemplation of the refugee experience.”—Santa Fe Reporter

In this classic hard science fiction-thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author of Startide Rising, a man-made black hole threatens the future of Earth. Scientist Alex Lustig has created a tiny, yet very destructive, problem—a microscopic black hole that he accidentally dropped into Earth’s core. Now, racing to keep it from consuming the planet, he begins to suspect something even stranger is going on. Something linked to civilization’s expanding information web. And with the planet overpopulated and neglect taking its toll on the environment, there are those who demand a harsh solution: that Mother Earth would be better off without humanity at all . . . A Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novel “The Moby-Dick of the whole Earth movement.” —Locus “A powerful, cautionary tale.” —San Francisco Chronicle “Brin has conceived his story on a supremely ambitious scale, and executed it with all of the skills at his command.” —Chicago Sun-Times “It is indeed a book that anyone interested in the survival of our terrifying species should read.” —Interzone

A once peaceful planet of refugees faces complete annihilation in this hard science fiction sequel to Brightness Reef. Book Two in the Uplift Storm Trilogy It’s illegal to occupy the planet Jijo, but six castaway races have managed to coexist there for some time. They’ve successfully hidden from watchful law enforcers of the Five Galaxies—until now . . . After making an amazing discovery far away—a derelict armada whose mere existence triggered interstellar war—the Terran exploration vessel Streaker and its crew of humans and dolphins arrive at Jijo in search of sanctuary from the Galactic forces out to destroy them. But they were followed. As behemoth Galactic starships descend upon Jijo, heroic—and terrifying—choices must be made. Together, human and alien settlers must choose whether to fight the invaders or join them. The crew of the Streaker, meanwhile, discovers something that just might save Jijo and its inhabitants . . . or destroy every last one of them. “Well paced, immensely complex, highly literate . . . Superior SF.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “An imaginative drama of excitement and wonder . . . The sheer virtuosity of the prose alone makes this book worth reading.” —SF Site

The first collaboration between the Nebula Award-winning authors of Timescape and Startide Rising, Heart of the Comet is a breathtaking novel about a handful of men and women who ride a cold, hurtling ball of ice to a distant, unknowable future. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Prepare for a harrowing ride through the universe by the New York Times–bestselling author of Startide Rising and The Postman. Book Three in the Uplift Storm Trilogy The peaceful existence of six outcast races on Jijo has ended. Ancient enemies, the Jophur, have discovered them, preparing to subject the refugees to their dark, perverted plans. The Jijoans’ only hope is the same ship that accidently led their foes to the planet. The Earthship Streaker, with its crew of uplifted dolphins and a human commander, must somehow lure the Jophur into a chase through space . . . into the unknown. And then into the weird. More than just the fate of Jijo—or that of distant Earth, also suffering a deadly siege—hangs in the balance. Some believe a terrifying prophecy is about to come true, one that involves Streaker’s trove of artifacts coveted by factions throughout all Five Galaxies. As countless white dwarf stars verge on unexpected explosion, all sentient life in the universe appears to be at risk unless someone can save them. Praise for the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning Uplift Saga “The Uplift books are as compulsive reading as anything ever published in the genre.” —The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction “An extraordinary achievement.” —Poul Anderson, award-winning author of Tau Zero,on Startide Rising “An exhilarating read that encompasses everything from breathless action to finely drawn moments of quiet intimacy.” —Locus on The Uplift War “Tremendously inventive, ambitious work.” —Kirkus Reviews on Brightness Reef

In New York and Baltimore, police cameras scan public areas twenty-four hours a day. Huge commercial databases track you finances and sell that information to anyone willing to pay. Host sites on the World Wide Web record every page you view, and “smart” toll roads know where you drive. Every day, new technology nibbles at our privacy.Does that make you nervous? David Brin is worried, but not just about privacy. He fears that society will overreact to these technologies by restricting the flow of information, frantically enforcing a reign of secrecy. Such measures, he warns, won''t really preserve our privacy. Governments, the wealthy, criminals, and the techno-elite will still find ways to watch us. But we''ll have fewer ways to watch them. We''ll lose the key to a free society: accountability.The Transparent Society is a call for “reciprocal transparency.” If police cameras watch us, shouldn''t we be able to watch police stations? If credit bureaus sell our data, shouldn''t we know who buys it? Rather than cling to an illusion of anonymity-a historical anomaly, given our origins in close-knit villages-we should focus on guarding the most important forms of privacy and preserving mutual accountability. The biggest threat to our freedom, Brin warns, is that surveillance technology will be used by too few people, now by too many.A society of glass houses may seem too fragile. Fearing technology-aided crime, governments seek to restrict online anonymity; fearing technology-aided tyranny, citizens call for encrypting all data. Brins shows how, contrary to both approaches, windows offer us much better protection than walls; after all, the strongest deterrent against snooping has always been the fear of being spotted. Furthermore, Brin argues, Western culture now encourages eccentricity-we''re programmed to rebel! That gives our society a natural protection against error and wrong-doing, like a body''s immune system. But “social T-cells” need openness to spot trouble and get the word out. The Transparent Society is full of such provocative and far-reaching analysis.The inescapable rush of technology is forcing us to make new choices about how we want to live. This daring book reminds us that an open society is more robust and flexible than one where secrecy reigns. In an era of gnat-sized cameras, universal databases, and clothes-penetrating radar, it will be more vital than ever for us to be able to watch the watchers. With reciprocal transparency we can detect dangers early and expose wrong-doers. We can gauge the credibility of pundits and politicians. We can share technological advances and news. But all of these benefits depend on the free, two-way flow of information.

A woman faces danger on the high seas of another planet—and a mystery that will change her world—in this adventure by the bestselling author of Startide Rising. On Planet Stratos, clans of genetically identical females dominate society. Natural conceptions are permitted, but only in summertime. Girls born this way—known for their despised uniqueness as ‘vars’—must leave their clan homes to pursue their own distinct and hazardous fortunes in this world owned by clones. That time has come for Maia and her sister, Leie, but as variants, they have limited prospects. Worse, when the sisters do find work on trading vessels, Leie is lost at sea. And hence, Maia’s arduous journey commences, accompanied by rumors that something . . . someone . . . has arrived from across the stars, perhaps ending the isolation of Stratos from the rest of humanity. Who would predict that a lonely var might stumble into a powerful secret? One that will challenge everything Maia knows about her society—and threatens the scientifically-engineered balance that holds it all together. “One of the most important SF novels of the year.” —The Washington Post Book World “A rousing adventure story . . . brimming with surprises both wonderful and harrowing.” —The San Diego Union-Tribune “Glory Season offers thrills, chills, political intrigue, and other good scientifictional fun, along with yet another round in the battle of the sexes.” —Locus “Brin’s prose echoes the influence of Asimov, Frank Herbert, and Aldous Huxley. . . . His world is so painstakingly drawn and is splashed with such radiant and varied hues.” —The Christian Science Monitor

The Second Foundation Trilogy ends with “a satisfying and clever finale . . . An impressive, thought-provoking addition to Isaac Asimov’s formidable legacy” (Science Fiction Weekly). Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy is one of the highwater marks of science fiction. The monumental story of a Galactic Empire in decline and a secret society of scientists who seek to shorten the coming Dark Age with tools of Psychohistory, Foundation pioneered many themes of modern science fiction. Now, with the approval of the Asimov estate, three of today’s most acclaimed authors have completed the epic the Grand Master left unfinished. The Second Foundation Trilogy begins with Gregory Benford’s Foundation’s Fear, telling the origins of Hari Seldon, the Foundation’s creator. Greg Bear’s Foundation and Chaos relates the epic tale of Seldon’s downfall and the first stirrings of robotic rebellion. Now, in David Brin’s Foundation’s Triumph, Seldon is about to escape exile and risk everything for one final quest—a search for knowledge and the power it bestows. The outcome of this final journey may secure humankind’s future—or witness its final downfall . . . Praise for The Second Foundation Trilogy “The three new Foundation novels . . . are far more than just new pieces of the same story. They add up to a deeply affectionate work of literary deconstruction.” —The New Yorker “Brings out the complexities of a galactic empire that Asimov never filled out.” —The Denver Post “In the Second Foundation Trilogy, Gregory Benford, Greg Bear and now David Brin have conducted a lively exploration of the logical and ethical implications of Asimov’s sprawling future history.” —Science Fiction Weekly

Science fiction roman.

“The Uplift books are as compulsive reading as anything ever published in the genre.”—The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction In all the universe, no species has ever reached for the stars without the guidance of a patron—except perhaps mankind. Did some mysterious race begin the uplift of humanity aeons ago? And if so, why did they abandon us? Circling the sun, under the caverns of Mercury, Expedition Sundiver prepares for the most momentous voyage in our history. A journey into the boiling inferno of the sun . . . to seek our destiny in the cosmic order of life. David Brin''s Uplift novels are among the most thrilling and extraordinary science fiction ever written. Sundiver, Startide Rising, and The Uplift War—a New York Times bestseller—together make up one of the most beloved sagas of all time. Brin''s tales are set in a future universe in which no species can reach sentience without being “uplifted” by a patron race. But the greatest mystery of all remains unsolved. . . . “Superb”—Science Fiction Times

Science fiction-roman.

In this action-packed science fiction adventure, teens from across time must save a scientific base from a destructive—yet adorable—threat. Twenty-fourth-century Earth is a utopia, but when crisis arises aboard a space station on the edge of the solar system, the adults are powerless to help. The teens of this era are amazingly intelligent but they lack the necessary grit for the challenge. Their only option is to turn to Operation Hourglass . . . For five years, Operation Hourglass has yanked resilient teenage heroes from the past and sent them on an array of dangerous missions. This time? A spirited girl and brainy boy from 1999 and a cabin boy from Sir Francis Drake’s ship in 1579 join forces with a twenty-fourth-century girl and an unreliable robot to save a scientific base that’s being threatened by dangerous, hive-mind creatures. The trouble is the little guys are just so cute and fuzzy . . . Winner of the San Diego Book Award for Youth Fiction

Teens from across time are pulled into the twenty-fourth century for an interstellar rescue mission in this action-packed science fiction series debut. Life is easier in the year 2345, since humanity has created a utopia with no more war, disease, or crime. Only now, Earth is in a dire situation, one which the adults are powerless to help. A group of teenagers step up to the challenge, but they’ll need help. . . . Enter Operation Hourglass . . . A team of heroes—champions of their times, spanning history—is assembled, each of them known to have the skills, grit, and instincts to handle crisis. From the twentieth and twenty-first-centuries: a high-school basketball star and a smalltown brainiac. Joining them: a tenth-century Viking and a young thief from nineteenth-century London. Together they must rescue a human star settlement from mysterious, threatening, three-eyed aliens. But even if they survive and successfully complete their mission, there’s still the matter of returning everyone back to their pasts . . .

rom bestselling author David Brin comes a collected work that takes the reader on a swooping, controversial ride through worlds of fiction, nonfiction and film. Through Stranger Eyes is a freedom-of-expression free-for-all, offering more than two dozen reviews and commentaries that are sure to enlighten and entertain, possibly infuriate, even make you laugh. From carefully measured views on J.R.R. Tolkien to Brin''s infamous, outraged rant about the Star Wars saga, to unusual appraisals of familiar and unfamiliar works, you are guaranteed to come away with perspectives you never imagined before. As readers, we have enjoyed Brin''s fiction - the Uplift universe, books like Sundiver and Earth. Now venture into the mind and world of the journey into the mind of one of the most popular authors alive today, and see what he sees through stranger eyes.

Eleven stories deal with a team searching for extraterrestrials, a strange epidemic, parallel worlds, space exploration, a memory drug, androids, and a man hunted by aliens

Thor Meets Captain America offers an alternate history exploring a chilling scenario behind the Holocaust. In this parallel world, the Nazis narrowly avoid defeat in World War II when they are championed by the gods of the Norse Pantheon. At a dramatic turn, Loki joins the Allies and they prepare a last-ditch raid to blow up Valhalla. With an afterword by the author.This novella, nominated for a Hugo Award in 1987, was later expanded into an award winning graphic novel, The Life Eaters, with artwork by Scott Hampton.

Written by David Brin Art and cover by Scott Hampton "A provocative graphic novel with a distinctive voice and vision." - Comic Shop News "Very good science fiction, fantasy and alternate history." - Scifi.com Imagine a world in which the Axis forces of World War II suddenly were propelled to victory over the Allies...prompted by aid from the ancient gods of Norse mythology! Welcome to the alternate reality of THE LIFE EATERS, written by award-winning author David Brin (The Postman, STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - FORGIVENESS) with lush painted art by Scott Hampton (THE BOOKS OF MAGIC, The Upturned Stone), now available as a 144-page WildStorm softcover graphic novel! These acclaimed creators weave a tapestry of a world turned upside down, in which Gods walk among us and change the course of human history. On sale Sept 22 / 144 pg / FC / Softcover

Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores presents To Ukraine, With Love benefit anthology, with 100% of the profits to be donated to causes for Ukraine, probably World Central Kitchen, Doctors Without Borders, and International Rescue committee. All the science fiction, fantasy, myths, legends, fairy tales, and eldritch stories and poems, and the artwork, have been donated. Contributors include Geoffrey Landis, David Brin, Terri Windling, Andrew Burt, George Guthridge, and Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki. Artists include Scott Gustafson, Stephanie Law, and Howard David Johnson.We will be doing a black & white illustrated print and ebook, a color print and ebook, and an audiobook, with some stories narrated by the authors themselves.

Colin Blakeney, 21st Century inventor of the technology that will give the world the transporter and the holodeck, is the victim of a treacherous attack that beams him out of this world -- and into forever. Three hundred years after Blakeney''s disappearance, the crew of the Enterprise Spot a stray transporter beam in deep space. Little do they know that this beam contains a mystery for the ages!

Within these pages lie eighteen stories, from eighteen worlds shaped by some of today’s best writers of science fiction and fantasy, all guests on the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers during its first year. Some are international bestsellers. Among them are winners and nominees for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, Aurealis, Ditmar, British Science Fiction Association, and Dragon Awards. Some have been writing for decades, others are at the beginning of their careers. All have honed their craft to razor-sharpness. A teenage girl finds something strange in the middle of the Canadian prairie. An exobiologist tries to liberate a giant alien enslaved on its homeworld by humans. The music of the spheres becomes literal for an Earth ship far from home. A superhero league interviews for new members. Strangers share a drink on a world where giant starships fall. Two boys, one a werewolf, one a mage, get more than they bargained for when they volunteer to fight an evil Empire. A man with amnesia accepts a most unusual offer. A young woman finds unexpected allies as she tries to win a flying-machine race in steampunk London . . . Ranging from boisterous to bleak, from humorous to harrowing, from action-filled to quiet and meditative; taking place in alternate pasts, the present day, the far, far future, and times that never were; set on Earth, in the distant reaches of space, in fantasy worlds, and in metaphysical realms, each of these stories is as unique as its creator. And yet, they all showcase one thing: the irrepressible need of human beings to create, to imagine, to tell stories. To shape worlds.

"The future is a daunting realm, filled with real and imagined perils. So enter it prepared! Visit a chillingly plausible tomorrow, when prisoners may be sent to asteroidal gulags. Or might prisons vanish and felons roam, seeing only what society allows?" -- Amazon.com

Can science fiction--especially sci-fi cinema--save the world? It already has, many times. Retired officers testify that films like Doctor Strangelove, Fail-Safe, On the Beach and War Games provoked changes and helped prevent accidental war. Soylent Green and Silent Running recruited millions of environmental activists. The China Syndrome and countless movies about plagues helped bring attention to those failure modes. And the grand-daddy of "self-preventing prophecy"--Nineteen Eighty-Four--girded countless citizens to stay wary of Big Brother. It''s not been all dire warnings. While optimism is much harder to dramatize than apocalypse, both large and small screens have also encouraged millions to lift their gaze, contemplating how we might get better, incrementally, or else raise grandchildren worthy of the stars. Come along on a quirky quest for unusual insights into the power of forward-looking media. How the romantic allure of feudalism tugs at men and women who benefited vastly from modernity. Or explore why almost every Hollywood film preaches Suspicion of Authority, along with tolerance, diversity and personal eccentricity, and how those messages helped keep us free. No one is spared scrutiny! Not Spielberg or Tolkien or Cameron or Costner... nor Dune or demigods or zombie flicks. Certainly not George Lucas or Ayn Rand! Though some critiques are offered from a lifetime of respect and love... and gratitude.

An unabridged collection spotlighting the “best of the best” science fiction stories published in 2015 by current and emerging masters of the genre, edited by Allan Kaster. In “My Last Bringback,” by John Barnes, an expert on restoring the memories of Alzheimer''s patients becomes her own patient.A young man living in a bubble habitat on the ocean floor of Venus must deal with terraforming gone awryin “The Tumbledowns of Cleopatra Abyss,” by David Brin. In“Three Cups of Grief, by Starlight,” winner of the British Science Fiction Association Award, byAliette de Bodard,the death of a scientist in the Dai Viet interstellar empire is mourned. The shipmind of a cobbled together fighter spacecraft and its pilot press on under dire circumstances in “Damage” by David Levine. An aristocrat’s trip to Venus, in search of her disgraced brother, is memorialized by papercuts of flora native to this planet in “Botanica Veneris: Thirteen Papercuts by Ida Countess Rathangan,” by Ian McDonald. In “The Audience,” by Sean McMullen, a spacecraft’s trek to another planet discovers a malevolent species interested in Earth. An AI is on a mission to the outer reaches of the solar system to found a sanctuary in a posthuman universe in “Empty,” by Robert Reed. In “A Murmuration,” by Alastair Reynolds, a scientist struggles to publish a paper on her exhilarating findings on the flocking behavior of birds. In the dystopian future of “Two-Year Man,” by Kelly Robson, a janitor brings a mutant baby home to his wife hoping to fill their lives with love. And finally, an android medical attendant, capable of mimicking family members, cares for an Alzheimer’s patient in “Today I Am Paul,” by Martin L. Shoemaker.

In a universe filled with habitable worlds why have we had no contact with extraterrestrial intelligence? David Brin''s short story, "The Crystal Spheres," offers a fantastic explanation for the Great Silence. Instead of being late-comers - might humanity have come upon the scene too early? This haunting tale was voted one of the "most beautiful" of the eighties. Winner of the 1985 Hugo Award.