Nearly ten years after the unexpected return of the starship Phoenix, the alien atevi have three functioning space shuttles, and teams of atevi engineers labor in orbit to renovate the space station. But these monumental advances not only add a dangerously powerful third party to an already precarious diplomatic situation, but rouse pro- and anti-space factions in atevi society to incendiary levels. To help negotiate these treacherous diplomatic waters, Tabini-aiji, the powerful head of the atevi's Western Association, has sent the only human he fully trusts into space: his own paidhi, Bren Cameron. However, the threat of possible invasion by hostile aliens who attacked Phoenix's station in a far-off sector of space hangs over them all. And when one of the senior captains of the Phoenix confesses that this station was not completely destroyed, as had been previously thought, the crew mutinies. How can Bren hope to mediate on a station overcome by a rebellious crew intent on taking the Phoenix on a rescue mission back into hostile alien territory? The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Defender is the 5th Foreigner book. It is also the 2nd book in the second subtrilogy.

It started long ago, in a tower at the Eye of Time, as a war between the shadowy Immortals who came long ago. Tristen is a Shaping, both more and less than human, who turned back sorcery's tides in the legendary battle of Lewenbrook that brought his friend Cefwyn the burden of a kingdom, and the light of love. Now the Lines that hold the world in place are shifting once again, and Cefwyn's peril is Tristen's call to arms. But even Tristen's double-edged sword cannot cut through the knot of this new challenge, for he is facing more than a mere pretender to his friend's throne.

Tracker is the sixteenth installment of CJ Cherryh's acclaimed Foreigner series. It’s been a year of upheaval, since Bren Cameron’s return from space—a year when he and the aiji-dowager, one of his most powerful atevi allies, returned home from their two-year interstellar mission to find the government over­thrown and their world in chaos. Now, at last, things are calming down; the Assassins’ Guild is functioning again, working out its internal difficulties, and Bren is settling back into his routine: not as Lord of the Heavens; not—to his regret—as Lord of Najida peninsula, where his leisure estate is located; but as paidhi-aiji, an official in the atevi court. His current ambition is to keep himself and his bodyguard out of harm’s way, and to shepherd the aiji-dowager’s daring new trade agreement through the appropriate legislative committees. Combined with Tabini-aiji’s recent appointment of his young son Cajeiri as his official heir, Bren’s workload is challenging, but at least things on the atevi world seem to be on the right track. Something is coming, however, quietly, stealthily, just the first ominous twinkle of a new star in the heavens…

The direct sequel to the Hugo Award- winning novel "Cyteen", "Regenesis" continues the story of Ariane Emory PR, the genetic clone of one of the greatest scientists humanity has ever produced, and of her search for the murderer of her progenitor -- the original Ariane Emory. Murder, politics, deception, and genetic and psychological manipulation combine against a backdrop of interstellar human societies at odds to create a mesmerizing and major work in "Regenesis." Who did kill the original Ariane Emory? And can her personal replicate avoid the same fate? Those questions have remained unanswered for two decades since the publication of "Cyteen." Now, in "Regenesis", those questions will finally be answered.

Nearly two centuries after the starship Phoenix disappeared into the heavens, leaving an isolated colony of humans on the world of the atevi, it unexpectedly returns to orbit overhead, threatening the stability of both atevi and human governments. With the situation fast becoming critical, Bren Cameron, the brilliant, young paidhi to the court of the atevi is recalled from Mospheira where he has just undergone surgery. But his sudden and premature return to the mainland is cause for more than mere physical discomfort. For during his brief absence, his government has sent in his paidhi-successor, Deana Hanks - representative of a dangerous archconservative faction on Mospheira who hate the atevi. And though she should depart when Bren is once again able to fill his post, no recall order comes. Cut off from his government and haunted by the continuing threat of assassination, Bren realizes his only hope may be to communicate directly with the Phoenix as the spokesman of the atevi - an action which may cut him off for good from his own species. Yet if he doesn't take this desperate and illegal action, he may be forced to helplessly bear witness to the final destruction of the already precarious balance of world power.

About the AuthorC. J. Cherryh planned to write since the age of ten. When she was older, she learned to use a type writer while triple-majoring in Classics, Latin and Greek. At 33, she signed over her first three books to DAW and has worked with DAW ever since. She can be found at cherryh.com.

As the summer heats up and the tangle-lillies clog the canals, boat traffic slows to a crawl, while rumors of sabotage escalate. But the tangle-lillies are more than a mere nuisance for they have the potential to break the hightowners' long-standing fuel monopoly. As the plants proliferate throughout Merovingen, their spread generates anger among the dissatified canalers and fear in hightown circles. But far more than tangle-lillies threatens the peace of Merovingen. For the Janists have found a long sought means for spreading forbidden technological knowledge to the canalers even as the Nev Hettek agents led by Magruder see their plot to infiltrate and gain control of some of the great Houses place in sudden and unexpected jeopardy. And, with the city's future already in peril, will the discovery of an intelligent, nonhuman native race shift the precarious power balance and spark a long-feared revolt? Includes: "Seeds of Destruction" novelette by C.J. Cherryh "Run Silent, Run Cheap" novella by Leslie Fish "Farren's Folly: Meeting of Minds" short story by Roberta Rogow "Foggy Night" short story by Bradley H. Sinor "Second Opinion" novelette by Janet Morris "Red Skies" novelette by Lynn Abbey "Turning Point" novelette by Mercedes Lackey "Draw Me a Picture" novelette by Nancy Asire "Postpartum Blues" novelette by Chris Morris Appendix: "From the Files of Anastasi Kalugin, Advocate Militiar" short fiction by C.J. Cherryh Appendix: "Index to City Maps" essay by uncredited Appendix: "Merovingian City Maps" interior artwork by Pat Tobin Appendix: "Merovan Sea Floor and Hemispheric Maps" interior artwork by Pat Tobin

Science fiction

The epic conclusion to the Hugo Award-nominated saga begins as alien entities called "humans" send their first exploration ship into Compact space, disrupting the seven Compact races' alliance. Pyanfar Chanur and her feline hani crew give shelter to the only surviving human from the ship, pitching them into the center of a galactic maelstrom which could cause interstellar war.

Hilfy Chanur, once a member of her aunt's crew on The Pride of Chanur, is now captain of her own vessel, Chanur's Legacy. It should have been the ideal existence for Hilfy, her fondest dream fulfilled, but instead the young captain's increasingly hard-pressed to take care of her ship's business. So when Meetpoint's stationmaster offers her a million credits to transport a small, mysterious, "religious" object it seems like a golden opportunity—perhaps even too good an opportunity.... Yet despite her misgivings, Hilfy feels it's a comission she can't turn down. But soon she and the Legacy are caught in an ever-tightening web of intrigue. And only time will tell whether the young captain can determine who is her ally and who is her enemy in this deadly game of interstellar politics...

"The world of Shiuan was doomed. Rising waters and shattering earthquakes due to the coming of a vast and strange new satellite had sealed the fate of its peoples—flee or die with their world. Their sole escape routes were the Gates, the passages between worlds established by a forgotten cosmic race. And just as this knowledge dawned on the desperate tribes and cities there appeared the woman Morgaine—whose mission was to seal Shiuan's Gates." Winner of the John W. Campbell Award for the best new writer of the year. This is the story of Morgaine, and of her henchman, Nhi Vanye, and of their relentless enemy, Chya Roh, who followed them to the drowning planet.

Now in mass market, the twentieth book in the beloved Foreigner saga returns to the trials of diplomat Bren Cameron, as he navigates the tenuous peace he has struck between human refugees and the alien atevi.Bren Cameron, diplomat in residence, usually represents the ruler of the atevi state. But Ilisidi, the dowager, has been known to borrow his services from time to time—and she has her own notions how to solve the simmering hostilities in the south of the atevi continent, playing one problem against another.This time, she is betting the hard-won northern peace—and the lives of the people—on being right. She has commandeered the Red Train, taken aboard what passengers she chooses, and headed for the snowy roof of the world, where a hard-scrabble town and its minor lord are the first pieces she intends to use.

A short story set on a certain night in the court at Shejidan, on the eve of a birthday...somewhat before Bren Cameron's arrival.

From C.J. Cherryh, one of science fiction′s greatest writers and a 3-time Hugo Award "Best Novel" winner, comes the exciting and long-awaited follow-up to Hammerfall, the second novel of the Gene Wars, now in mass market. In the second volume of "The Gene Wars," C. J. Cherryh further explores the captivating new universe where two interstellar empires, scarred by nanotechnology weaponry, hover in an uneasy detente. Perched at the edge of the galaxy, tiny Concord Station holds the balance of the universe within its carefully regulated worlds. For, created to carefully monitor the crucial desert planet below, it lies in the tenuous intersection between the territories of Earth and the alien Ondat. Marak Trin Tain has saved a planet′s people from total destruction, when the implacable ondat sent down a hammerfall to destroy the planet and keep its deadly nanoceles from changing life and evolution forever. But the regrowing planet is fragile, and a deadly cataclysm could destroy Marak--and with him, the hope for peace within the universe. Meanwhile, on Concord, an unexpected ship from Earth disrupts the uneasy truces between human and alien, and the consequences could restart the terrible Gene Wars that once destroyed most of humanity.