Epic in scope, peopled by characters from every strata of profoundly different societies, An Alien Light is an unflinching look at the strengths and weaknesses of the genetic, evolutionary, and historical inheritance that all of us share.Arys, a glassblower and outcast.Jehane, a skilled female warrior.Dahar, with a deeply inquisitive mind.Grax, an alien with profound doubts.These four and hundreds of others are thrown together in an experiment to determine the fate of humanity, both on Earth and in her galactic colonies. For the Ged, the stakes are nothing less than the outcome of a war. For the humans, ignorant of the larger situation, the rewards for participating are incredible riches. But no one except the alien Ged understands the criteria for being chosen.When that knowledge comes, there is no agreement about if, how, or when to use it. Some will betray others. Some will sacrifice. Some will die.And some...

Judy Kozinski needs answers. Her husband, a prominent genetic scientist, has been found murdered and no one can find a motive.In Las Vegas, a showgirl sends a cryptic message to FBI agent Robert Cavanaugh from a murdered friend.How are the two related and what does it have to with the mysterious drug company Verico in New Jersey? Judy Kozinski and Robert Cavanaugh must work together to solve an intricate maze of deceit, murder and mysteries before the life of a whole town is put at risk.

"One of the best of the year...a compelling novella about a once-famous actress and her devoted manager who get much more publicity of an unfortunate sort when they inadvertently become embroiled with an act of biological terrorism with potentially world-changing results." — Gardner Dozois, Locus*Nominee for Best Novella for both Hugo and Nebula awards*

New from the Nebula Award winning author of Beggars in Spain: A riveting climate-change technothriller of espionage, conspiracy, and stakes so high they could lead to the destruction of humanity itself. In this environmental page-turner, activist lawyer Renata Black—covert member of the Org—must go deep underground to unravel the truth behind the ecological disaster that has paralyzed the food industry and destroyed her family. "Sea Change is like liquid nitrogen ice cream—a chilling treat."—Greg Bear, author of Eon and Take Back the SkyOperative Renata Black has a serious problem: an ordinary self-driving house. But this house, causing a traffic snarl, also has the Org's teal paint on the windowsill.In 2022, GMOs were banned. A biopharmaceutical caused the Catastrophe: worldwide economic and agricultural collapse,...

Long out of print, this novel by one of the major voices in contemporary science fiction and fantasy will enthrall you, charm you, and make you care deeply about two of the most engaging characters you're ever likely to meet between the two covers of a book.'Smile a lot, yes, and then weep a little, and hold your breath, and wonder at the wisdom and the whimsy of it ...depending on how much you bring to it, the book is metaphor, it is fable; it makes a statement, has a moral, looks back at you, from time to time, like a mirror.' — Theodore Sturgeon, Twilight Zone'A lively and entertaining fairy tale.'—Publisher's Weekly'The bittersweet climax not only surprised me, it choked me up a little.'—Peter Stampfel, The Village Voice'Anyone who has ever doubted the psychological link between fantasy and life will be quickly corrected by this insightful and highly recommended novel.'—Roger C. Schlobin, Fantasy Newsletter'A depth and freshness of observation that is uncommonly astute and...

By the middle of the twenty-first century the worldwide fertility rate has declined nearly eighty percent. No one knows why. Now the average age in the United States is fifty-four, and children are treasured and spoilt by those lucky enough to have them and coveted by the vast majority who can't.Maximum Light is the story of three people from different sections of this very different American society. Nick Clementi is seventy-five years old, a doctor, and an advisor to the Congressional Advisory Committee for Medical Crises. Shana Walders is twenty-six and has just finished her two years in the National Service Corps. Cameron Atuli is twenty-eight, a primcipal dancer with the National Ballet, and has willingly had a portion of his memory removed; what it was and why he did it, he doesn't know.In her last days of National Service, Shana witnesses something so horrible that it is immediately brought to the attention of Clementi's committee, but so shocking that...

Anyone who thinks that, at an early age, they can plan their entire life is mistaken.Nancy Kress has been exploring the possibilities of genetic engineering, human evolution, alien contact, artificial intelligence, and the future of the species for over forty years, with one eye on the bleeding edge of science and the other on the human soul and what makes it bleed. These stories, and the essays that explain her own history and worldview, compose a brief tourist's guide for the world to come.In the title memoir, "Not What I Intended," Kress discusses a childhood and community life where no young girl ever dreams of becoming a writer, and how she made those nondreams come true."Patent Infringement" is a short piece inspired by Kress's own time writing corporate copy that managed to predict COVID, COVID vaccines, and the patenting of genes for profit."Laws of Survival" is a tale of first contact in which humanity is hardly the species...