Explore Dystopian Futures with Gritty Adult Protagonists
Dive into these thought-provoking dystopian novels that feature complex adult characters navigating their challenging worlds. From societal collapse to intricate mysteries, these stories will keep you on the edge of your seat while exploring the depths of human resilience. Perfect for readers who crave a more mature take on the future!
Wool
507 pages
Wool is an incredible read, and while it's part of a trilogy, the first book stands out as the best.
The Road
297 pages
A haunting and disturbing journey of a father and son navigating a desolate world where the greatest threats come from other humans.
The Broken Earth Trilogy
This collectable boxed set edition includes all three books in N. K. Jemisin's incredible NYT bestselling and three-time Hugo award-winning Broken Earth Trilogy. This complete collection would be a great gift for any occasion and includes The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky. This is the way the world ends for the last time... A season of endings has begun. It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world's sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun. It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It starts with betrayal, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester. This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy. The Broken Earth trilogyThe Fifth SeasonThe Obelisk GateThe Stone Sky
The Handmaid's Tale
333 pages
An instant classic and eerily prescient cultural phenomenon, from “the patron saint of feminist dystopian fiction” (New York Times). Now an award-winning Hulu series starring Elizabeth Moss. In this multi-award-winning, bestselling novel, Margaret Atwood has created a stunning Orwellian vision of the near future. This is the story of Offred, one of the unfortunate “Handmaids” under the new social order who have only one purpose: to breed. In Gilead, where women are prohibited from holding jobs, reading, and forming friendships, Offred’ s persistent memories of life in the “time before” and her will to survive are acts of rebellion. Provocative, startling, prophetic, and with Margaret Atwood’s devastating irony, wit, and acute perceptive powers in full force, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once a mordant satire and a dire warning.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
258 pages
A masterpiece ahead of its time, a prescient rendering of a dark future, and the inspiration for the blockbuster film Blade Runner By 2021, the World War has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remain covet any living creature, and for people who can’t afford one, companies built incredibly realistic simulacra: horses, birds, cats, sheep. They’ve even built humans. Immigrants to Mars receive androids so sophisticated they are indistinguishable from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans can wreak, the government bans them from Earth. Driven into hiding, unauthorized androids live among human beings, undetected. Rick Deckard, an officially sanctioned bounty hunter, is commissioned to find rogue androids and “retire” them. But when cornered, androids fight back—with lethal force. Praise for Philip K. Dick “The most consistently brilliant science fiction writer in the world.”—John Brunner “A kind of pulp-fiction Kafka, a prophet.”—The New York Times “[Philip K. Dick] sees all the sparkling—and terrifying—possibilities . . . that other authors shy away from.”—Rolling Stone
Abaddon's Gate
502 pages
The Expanse series is awesome and features tangible dystopian elements that make it a captivating read.
The Twelve
540 pages
The eagerly anticipated sequel to the global bestseller The Passage, now an epic drama on Fox from writer Elizabeth Heldens and executive producer Ridley Scott. 'A literary superthriller' NEW YORK TIMES THE TWELVE Death-row prisoners with nightmare pasts and no future. THE TWELVE Until they were selected for a secret experiment. THE TWELVE To create something more than human. THE TWELVE Now they are the future and humanity's worst nightmare has begun. THE TWELVE The epic sequel to THE PASSAGE
The City of Mirrors
827 pages
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A thrilling finale to a trilogy that will stand as one of the great achievements in American fantasy fiction.”—Stephen King You followed The Passage. You faced The Twelve. Now enter The City of Mirrors for the final reckoning. As the bestselling epic races to its breathtaking finale, Justin Cronin’s band of hardened survivors await the second coming of unspeakable darkness. The world we knew is gone. What world will rise in its place? The Twelve have been destroyed and the terrifying hundred-year reign of darkness that descended upon the world has ended. The survivors are stepping outside their walls, determined to build society anew—and daring to dream of a hopeful future. But far from them, in a dead metropolis, he waits: Zero. The First. Father of the Twelve. The anguish that shattered his human life haunts him, and the hatred spawned by his transformation burns bright. His fury will be quenched only when he destroys Amy—humanity’s only hope, the Girl from Nowhere who grew up to rise against him. One last time light and dark will clash, and at last Amy and her friends will know their fate. Look for the entire Passage trilogy: THE PASSAGE | THE TWELVE | THE CITY OF MIRRORS Praise for The City of Mirrors “Compulsively readable.”—The New York Times Book Review “The City of Mirrors is poetry. Thrilling in every way it has to be, but poetry just the same . . . The writing is sumptuous, the language lovely, even when the action itself is dark and violent.”—The Huffington Post “This really is the big event you’ve been waiting for . . . A true last stand that builds and comes with a bloody, roaring payoff you won’t see coming, then builds again to the big face off you’ve been waiting for.”—NPR “A masterpiece . . . with The City of Mirrors, the third volume in The Passage trilogy, Justin Cronin puts paid to what may well be the finest post-apocalyptic epic in our dystopian-glutted times. A stunning achievement by virtually every measure.”—The National Post “Justin Cronin’s Passage trilogy is remarkable for the unremitting drive of its narrative, for the breathtaking sweep of its imagined future, and for the clear lucidity of its language.”—Stephen King
The Passage
785 pages
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This thrilling novel kicks off what Stephen King calls “a trilogy that will stand as one of the great achievements in American fantasy fiction.” NOW A FOX TV SERIES! NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST HORROR BOOKS OF THE DECADE • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST NOVELS OF THE YEAR BY TIME AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Esquire • U.S. News & World Report • NPR/On Point • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • BookPage • Library Journal “It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.” An epic and gripping tale of catastrophe and survival, The Passage is the story of Amy—abandoned by her mother at the age of six, pursued and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. But Special Agent Brad Wolgast, the lawman sent to track her down, is disarmed by the curiously quiet girl and risks everything to save her. As the experiment goes nightmarishly wrong, Wolgast secures her escape—but he can’t stop society’s collapse. And as Amy walks alone, across miles and decades, into a future dark with violence and despair, she is filled with the mysterious and terrifying knowledge that only she has the power to save the ruined world. Look for the entire Passage trilogy: THE PASSAGE | THE TWELVE | THE CITY OF MIRRORS Praise for The Passage “[A] blockbuster.”—The New York Times Book Review “Mythic storytelling.”—San Francisco Chronicle “Magnificent . . . Cronin has taken his literary gifts, and he has weaponized them. . . . The Passage can stand proudly next to Stephen King’s apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand, but a closer match would be Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: a story about human beings trying to generate new hope in a world from which all hope has long since been burnt.”—Time “The type of big, engrossing read that will have you leaving the lights on late into the night.”—The Dallas Morning News “Addictive.”—Men’s Journal “Cronin’s unguessable plot and appealing characters will seize your heart and mind.”—Parade
1984
341 pages
London, 1984: Winston Smith, Geschichtsfälscher im Staatsdienst, verliebt sich in die schöne und geheimnisvolle Julia. Gemeinsam beginnen sie, die totalitäre Welt infrage zu stellen, als Teil derer sie bisher funktioniert haben. Doch bereits ihre Gedanken sind Verbrechen, und der Große Bruder richtet seinen stets wachsamen Blick auf jeden potenziellen Dissidenten. George Orwells Vision eines totalitären Staats, in dem Cyberüberwachung, Geschichtsrevisionismus und Gedankenpolizei den Alltag gläserner Bürger bestimmen, hat wie keine andere Dystopie bis heute nur an Brisanz gewonnen.
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet
416 pages
It's a futuristic tale that leans more towards utopia than dystopia, offering a refreshing sense of hope that everyone could use right now.
The Nine Billion Names of God
253 pages
A selection of what he considers to be his best short stories is presented by this leading science fiction writer
Conversations with Ray Bradbury
252 pages
Presents a collection of interviews with twentieth-century novelist, short story writer, and playwright, Ray Bradbury, that covers five decades of his life and works.
Exhalation
369 pages
Exhalation features extremely interesting ideas about the future and man's relationship with technology, making it a stellar collection of short stories.
Atlas Shrugged
1243 pages
Despite the contentious nature of her philosophy, Rand's talent as an author makes Atlas Shrugged an interesting read.
Foundation
255 pages
Asimov's work is highly recommended, and the Foundation Series is a great starting point.
Snow Crash
484 pages
The main character felt a bit more like a teenager than the protagonists of the other books, adding a unique perspective.
A Scanner Darkly
307 pages
It struck me as one of the most mundane but strikingly accurate portrayals of a sci-fi future I've read.
Neuromancer
306 pages
It's a sci-fi heist thriller that's often accredited for fathering the cyberpunk genre.
Station Eleven
357 pages
A beautifully crafted story set years after a pandemic, it follows a group of actors striving to keep theatre alive while navigating a drastically changed world.
Rant
338 pages
This book is a thrilling ride through a parallel universe dystopia filled with time travel, bizarre brain implants, and a pandemic. Its unique interview format makes it feel like a gripping documentary that you won't be able to put down.
The Stand - Das letzte Gefecht
1098 pages
Über 1.500 Seiten Stephen King pur! In einem entvölkerten Amerika versucht eine Handvoll Überlebende die Zivilisation zu retten. Ihr Gegenspieler ist eine mythische Gestalt, die man den Dunklen Mann nennt, eine Verkörperung des absolut Bösen. In der Wüste Nevada kommt es zum Entscheidungskampf um das Schicksal der Menschheit.
The Children of Men
343 pages
It's a gripping exploration of a dystopian future that raises profound questions about humanity and hope.
Never Let Me Go
305 pages
This book offers a unique perspective as it unfolds like a memoir, blending nostalgia with a haunting dystopian reality. The gradual revelation of the world's darker aspects keeps you engaged and curious.
Parable of the Sower
260 pages
This book presents a chilling vision of a world facing ecological disaster, making it a thought-provoking read.
The Queen of Tearling
539 pages
Ambil hati rakyatmu, atau relakan takhtamu. Seumur hidupnya, Kelsea hidup terasing di sebuah pondok di tengah hutan, dididik dengan keras oleh orang tua angkatnya. Sebagai putri mahkota, Kelsea sengaja diungsikan untuk menghindari ancaman Ratu Merah dari Kerajaan Mortmesne. Di usianya yang nyaris 17 tahun, Kelsea harus melaksanakan kewajibannya untuk mengambil alih takhta Kerajaan Tearling. Sebuah tugas yang tidak mudah, karena banyak pihak mengincar nyawanya. Perjalanan menuju ibukota saja sudah penuh marabahaya, Kelsea diserang, diculik, dan nyaris tewas. Dan ternyata menjadi Ratu tidak semudah teorinya, butuh lebih dari sekadar tekad dan nyali. Akan berhasilkah Kelsea membebaskan Tearling dari penjajahan Mortmesne? Berapa lama gadis muda ini sanggup mempertahankan nyawanya? The Queen of The Tearling adalah debut spektakuler dari Erika Johansen. Bahkan sebelum buku ini dirilis, Warner Bros telah membeli hak cipta filmnya. Emma Watson, aktris yang terkenal dengan perannya sebagai Hermione di film Harry Potter, telah setuju untuk memerankan Kelsea. Begitu terkesan Emma dengan The Queen of The Tearling, hingga dia tidak hanya menjadi pemeran utama, tapi juga produser eksekutifnya. [Mizan Publishing, Fantasi, Novel, Terjemahan, Indonesia]
Trail of Lightning
330 pages
One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time 2019 LOCUS AWARD WINNER, BEST FIRST NOVEL 2019 HUGO AWARD FINALIST, BEST NOVEL Nebula Award Finalist for Best Novel One of Bustle’s Top 20 “landmark sci-fi and fantasy novels” of the decade “Someone please cancel Supernatural already and give us at least five seasons of this badass Indigenous monster-hunter and her silver-tongued sidekick.” —The New York Times “An excitingly novel tale.” —Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse and Midnight Crossroads series “Fun, terrifying, hilarious, and brilliant.” —Daniel José Older, New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper and Star Wars: Last Shot “A powerful and fiercely personal journey through a compelling postapocalyptic landscape.” —Kate Elliott, New York Times bestselling author of Court of Fives and Black Wolves While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters—and it is up to one young woman to unravel the mysteries of the past before they destroy the future. Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last best hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine. Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel the rez, unraveling clues from ancient legends, trading favors with tricksters, and battling dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive. Welcome to the Sixth World.
The Illustrated Man
308 pages
Eighteen science fiction stories deal with love, madness, and death on Mars, Venus, and in space.
Swan Song
866 pages
In a nightmarish, post-holocaust world, an ancient evil roams a devastated America, gathering the forces of human greed and madness, searching for a child named Swan who possesses the gift of life.
I Am Legend
This book offers a unique take on the post-apocalyptic genre, diverging from typical tropes and providing a fresh perspective.
Good Morning, Midnight
274 pages
“A remarkable and gifted debut novel” (Colson Whitehead) about two outsiders—a lonely scientist in the Arctic and an astronaut trying to return to Earth—as they grapple with love, regret, and survival in a world transformed. THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM THE MIDNIGHT SKY, DIRECTED BY AND STARRING GEORGE CLOONEY Augustine, a brilliant, aging astronomer, is consumed by the stars. For years he has lived in remote outposts, studying the sky for evidence of how the universe began. At his latest posting, in a research center in the Arctic, news of a catastrophic event arrives. The scientists are forced to evacuate, but Augustine stubbornly refuses to abandon his work. Shortly after the others have gone, Augustine discovers a mysterious child, Iris, and realizes that the airwaves have gone silent. They are alone. At the same time, Mission Specialist Sullivan is aboard the Aether on its return flight from Jupiter. The astronauts are the first human beings to delve this deep into space, and Sully has made peace with the sacrifices required of her: a daughter left behind, a marriage ended. So far the journey has been a success. But when Mission Control falls inexplicably silent, Sully and her crewmates are forced to wonder if they will ever get home. As Augustine and Sully each face an uncertain future against forbidding yet beautiful landscapes, their stories gradually intertwine in a profound and unexpected conclusion. In crystalline prose, Good Morning, Midnight poses the most important questions: What endures at the end of the world? How do we make sense of our lives? Lily Brooks-Dalton’s captivating debut is a meditation on the power of love and the bravery of the human heart. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY SHELF AWARENESS AND THE CHICAGO REVIEW OF BOOKS “Stunningly gorgeous . . . The book contemplates the biggest questions—What is left at the end of the world? What is the impact of a life’s work?”—Portland Mercury “A beautifully written, sparse post-apocalyptic novel that explores memory, loss and identity . . . Fans of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven and Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora will appreciate the Brooks-Dalton’s exquisite exploration of relationships in extreme environments.”—The Washington Post
Association Island
130 pages
Most people believe the General Electric retreat at Association Island was organized by GE. In reality, it was originally formed by several businessmen from the incandescent lamp industry; these men formed an association of lamp companies to compete with GE. A 1903 fishing trip to Henderson Harbor inspired them to purchase the island for their summer sojourns; however, ownership of the association and the island were eventually absorbed by GE, turning it into a full-scale resort for executives and managers of the ever-expanding corporation. Hotels, restaurants, garages, boats, fishing guides, managers, and maintenance workers from nearby Henderson Harbor were all tied to Association Island for the next 50 years. When GE gave it away, Association Island fell into a long and steady period of decline until it was turned into a camping resort for the 21st century. Association Island illustrates the financial and social impact of a significant corporation on a small fishing community.
Ubik
241 pages
Named one of Time's 100 Best Books, Ubik is a mind-bending, classic novel about the perception of reality from Philip K. Dick, the Hugo Award-winning author of The Man in the High Castle. “From the stuff of space opera, Dick spins a deeply unsettling existential horror story, a nightmare you’ll never be sure you’ve woken up from.”—Lev Grossman, Time Glen Runciter runs a lucrative business — deploying his teams of anti-psychics to corporate clients who want privacy and security from psychic spies. But when he and his top team are ambushed by a rival, he is gravely injured and placed in “half-life,” a dreamlike state of suspended animation. Soon, though, the surviving members of the team begin experiencing some strange phenomena, such as Runciter’s face appearing on coins and the world seeming to move backward in time. As consumables deteriorate and technology gets ever more primitive, the group needs to find out what is causing the shifts and what a mysterious product called Ubik has to do with it all. “More brilliant than similar experiments conducted by Pynchon or DeLillo.”—Roberto Bolaño
A Clockwork Orange (Restored Text)
273 pages
A frightening story of good and evil. A fifteen year old boy named Alex, who is in trouble with the authorities. The state wants to reform him.
The Fireman
416 pages
From the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of NOS4A2 and Heart-Shaped Box comes a chilling novel about a worldwide pandemic of spontaneous combustion that threatens to reduce civilization to ashes and a band of improbable heroes who battle to save it, led by one powerful and enigmatic man known as the Fireman. The fireman is coming. Stay cool. No one knows exactly when it began or where it originated. A terrifying new plague is spreading like wildfire across the country, striking cities one by one: Boston, Detroit, Seattle. The doctors call it Draco Incendia Trychophyton. To everyone else it’s Dragonscale, a highly contagious, deadly spore that marks its hosts with beautiful black and gold marks across their bodies—before causing them to burst into flames. Millions are infected; blazes erupt everywhere. There is no antidote. No one is safe. Harper Grayson, a compassionate, dedicated nurse as pragmatic as Mary Poppins, treated hundreds of infected patients before her hospital burned to the ground. Now she’s discovered the telltale gold-flecked marks on her skin. When the outbreak first began, she and her husband, Jakob, had made a pact: they would take matters into their own hands if they became infected. To Jakob’s dismay, Harper wants to live—at least until the fetus she is carrying comes to term. At the hospital, she witnessed infected mothers give birth to healthy babies and believes hers will be fine too. . . if she can live long enough to deliver the child. Convinced that his do-gooding wife has made him sick, Jakob becomes unhinged, and eventually abandons her as their placid New England community collapses in terror. The chaos gives rise to ruthless Cremation Squads—armed, self-appointed posses roaming the streets and woods to exterminate those who they believe carry the spore. But Harper isn’t as alone as she fears: a mysterious and compelling stranger she briefly met at the hospital, a man in a dirty yellow fire fighter’s jacket, carrying a hooked iron bar, straddles the abyss between insanity and death. Known as The Fireman, he strolls the ruins of New Hampshire, a madman afflicted with Dragonscale who has learned to control the fire within himself, using it as a shield to protect the hunted . . . and as a weapon to avenge the wronged. In the desperate season to come, as the world burns out of control, Harper must learn the Fireman’s secrets before her life—and that of her unborn child—goes up in smoke.
11/22/63
867 pages
This book offers a fascinating exploration of time travel and its impact on history, making it a compelling read for those interested in alternate realities.
The Fifth Season
The Fifth Season is some of the best modern sci-fi I've read, offering a unique vibe that feels like YA without actually being YA.
Riddley Walker
258 pages
Riddley Walker uses wonderfully inscrutable language that immerses you in the distant future.
Cloud Atlas (20th Anniversary Edition)
530 pages
Cloud Atlas isn't always set in the future, but it's always fantastic.
Dies the Fire
560 pages
The series starts with a fascinating premise where all technology ceases to function, leading to the emergence of a medieval society. It's captivating and well-crafted, especially in the early books.
Red Rising
440 pages
This series is a must-read, filled with intense action and a gripping storyline that keeps you hooked.
Dark Matter (Movie Tie-In)
369 pages
It's a fascinating exploration of alternate realities, ranging from slight differences to complete dystopian landscapes, making it a mind-bending read.
Crosshairs
272 pages
This novel dives into a chilling scenario where the Canadian government embraces fascism, focusing on a group of resistance fighters standing against the oppression of LGBTQ*, disabled, and visible minorities.
Wanderers
1028 pages
This thrilling narrative unfolds as a sleep-walking virus and spore disease wreak havoc, pushing humanity to its limits in a fight for survival.
We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
308 pages
Bobiverse fans: a signed limited edition of all three books in a boxed set, signed by the author, is now available on Amazon. Look for The Bobiverse [Signed Limited Edition] on Amazon Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it's a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street. Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets. The stakes are high: no less than the first claim to entire worlds. If he declines the honor, he'll be switched off, and they'll try again with someone else. If he accepts, he becomes a prime target. There are at least three other countries trying to get their own probes launched first, and they play dirty. The safest place for Bob is in space, heading away from Earth at top speed. Or so he thinks. Because the universe is full of nasties, and trespassers make them mad - very mad.
We Stand On Guard
169 pages
A thought-provoking graphic novel that imagines the consequences of a U.S. invasion of Canada over water resources, exploring themes of resistance and survival.
The Day It Finally Happens
304 pages
This non-fiction book offers a fascinating exploration of potential future phenomena and their implications for civilization, making it a thought-provoking read.
The Power of the Dog
564 pages
An amazing crime fiction series that delves deep into the complexities of the drug trade and its impact.
Severance
305 pages
"Candace Chen, a millennial drone self-sequestered in a Manhattan office tower, is devoted to routine. With the recent passing of her Chinese immigrant parents, she's had her fill of uncertainty. She's content just to carry on, ... so Candace barely notices when a plague of biblical proportions sweeps New York. Then Shen Fever spreads. Families flee. Companies cease operations. The subways screech to a halt. Her bosses enlist her as part of a dwindling skeleton crew with a big end-date payoff. Soon entirely alone, still unfevered, she photographs the eerie, abandoned city as the anonymous blogger NY Ghost"--Publisher marketing.
Die Foundation-Trilogie
718 pages
Das Buch zum großen TV-Serienevent! Wie einst das Römische Reich steht das Galaktische Imperium kurz vor dem Zerfall. Doch der Psychohistoriker Hari Seldon ersinnt einen riskanten Plan, um die Menschheit durch das kommende »Dunkle Zeitalter« zu lenken ... Eine Vision, die Jahrtausende umspannt, ein Zukunftsbild, das die gesamte Galaxis mit einbezieht – mit den FOUNDATION-Romanen hat Isaac Asimov Literaturgeschichte geschrieben. Jetzt wurde dieses monumentale Epos als TV-Serie auf Apple TV+ adaptiert.
The Three-Body Problem
365 pages
This book is a must-read for its mind-bending concepts and intricate storytelling that explores humanity's place in the universe.
Alas, Babylon
263 pages
This classic post-nuclear apocalypse novel is a must-read for its gripping portrayal of survival and community in the face of disaster.
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife
This trilogy offers a gripping exploration of a post-apocalyptic world through the eyes of a midwife, making it a unique and thought-provoking read.
11/22/63
844 pages
This book is a thrilling roller coaster ride that takes you on an adventure through time as a man attempts to prevent the assassination of JFK.
Altered Carbon
498 pages
MAJOR NEW NETFLIX SERIES FEB 2018 This must-read story is a confident, action-and-violence packed thriller, and future classic noir SF novel from a multi-award-winning author. Four hundred years from now mankind is strung out across a region of interstellar space inherited from an ancient civilization discovered on Mars. The colonies are linked together by the occasional sublight colony ship voyages and hyperspatial data-casting. Human consciousness is digitally freighted between the stars and downloaded into bodies as a matter of course. But some things never change. So when ex-envoy, now-convict Takeshi Kovacs has his consciousness and skills downloaded into the body of a nicotine-addicted ex-thug and presented with a catch-22 offer, he really shouldn¿t be surprised. Contracted by a billionaire to discover who murdered his last body, Kovacs is drawn into a terrifying conspiracy that stretches across known space and to the very top of society. For a first-time SF writer to be so surely in command of narrative and technology, so brilliant at world-building, so able to write such readable and enjoyable SF adventure, is simply extraordinary.
Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick
485 pages
This collection contains twenty-one stories that span the iconoclastic science fiction writer's entire career.
The Mandel Files, Volume 1: Mindstar Rising & A Quantum Murder
882 pages
For the first time in a single volume, Peter F. Hamilton’s acclaimed novels—Mindstar Rising and A Quantum Murder—set in a near-future so real it seems ripped from tomorrow’s headlines In Mindstar Rising, Greg Mandel, gifted—or cursed—with biotechnology that makes him a living lie detector, is hired to investigate corporate espionage by Event Horizon, a powerful company about to introduce a technology that will solve the energy problems of a world decimated by global warming. Set two years later, A Quantum Murder once again teams Mandel with Event Horizon and its beautiful young owner, Julia Evans, in a locked-room mystery that combines the ingenuity of an Agatha Christie novel with cutting-edge speculative brilliance. Read together, these novels take on fresh depth and complexity, underscoring the magnitude of Peter F. Hamilton’s creative talent.
The Singer's Gun
274 pages
I read it at the start of the pandemic and it felt eerily relevant, creating an uneasy feeling with its parallelisms.
Dark Matter
370 pages
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • COMING SOON TO APPLE TV+ • A “mind-blowing” (Entertainment Weekly) speculative thriller about an ordinary man who awakens in a world inexplicably different from the reality he thought he knew—from the author of Upgrade, Recursion, and the Wayward Pines trilogy “Are you happy with your life?” Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the kidnapper knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man he’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.” In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college professor but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible. Is it this life or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how will Jason make it back to the family he loves? From the bestselling author Blake Crouch, Dark Matter is a mind-bending thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.
Count Zero
329 pages
William Gibson continues the visionary Sprawl Trilogy that began with Neuromancer in this frighteningly probable parable of the future. A corporate mercenary wakes in a reconstructed body, a beautiful woman by his side. Then Hosaka Corporation reactivates him, for a mission more dangerous than the one he’s recovering from: to get a defecting chief of R&D—and the biochip he’s perfected—out intact. But this proves to be of supreme interest to certain other parties—some of whom aren’t remotely human....
Neuromancer
337 pages
Winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards, Neuromancer is a science fiction masterpiece—a classic that ranks as one of the twentieth century’s most potent visions of the future. Case was the sharpest data-thief in the matrix—until he crossed the wrong people and they crippled his nervous system, banishing him from cyberspace. Now a mysterious new employer has recruited him for a last-chance run at an unthinkably powerful artificial intelligence. With a dead man riding shotgun and Molly, a mirror-eyed street-samurai, to watch his back, Case is ready for the adventure that upped the ante on an entire genre of fiction. Neuromancer was the first fully-realized glimpse of humankind’s digital future—a shocking vision that has challenged our assumptions about technology and ourselves, reinvented the way we speak and think, and forever altered the landscape of our imaginations.
Mona Lisa Overdrive
322 pages
William Gibson, author of the extraordinary multiaward-winning novel Neuromancer, has written his most brilliant and thrilling work to date . . .The Mona Lisa Overdrive. Enter Gibson's unique world—lyric and mechanical, sensual and violent, sobering and exciting—where multinational corporations and high tech outlaws vie for power, traveling into the computer-generated universe known as cyberspace. Into this world comes Mona, a young girl with a murky past and an uncertain future whose life is on a collision course with internationally famous Sense/Net star Angie Mitchell. Since childhood, Angie has been able to tap into cyberspace without a computer. Now, from inside cyberspace, a kidnapping plot is masterminded by a phantom entity who has plans for Mona, Angie, and all humanity, plans that cannot be controlled . . . or even known. And behind the intrigue lurks the shadowy Yazuka, the powerful Japanese underworld, whose leaders ruthlessly manipulate people and events to suit their own purposes . . . or so they think.
Forever Peace
2043 A.D.: The Ngumi War rages. A burned-out soldier and his scientist lover discover a secret that could put the universe back to square one. And it is not terrifying. It is tempting...
All This and More
604 pages
From the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of The Cartographers and The Book of M comes an inventive new novel about a woman who wins the chance to rewrite every mistake she’s ever made… and how far she’ll go to find her elusive “happily ever after.” But there’s a twist: the reader gets to decide what she does next to change her fate. One woman. Endless options. Every choice has consequences. Meek, play-it-safe Marsh has just turned forty-five, and her life is in shambles. Her career is stagnant, her marriage has imploded, and her teenage daughter grows more distant by the day. Marsh is convinced she’s missed her chance at everything—romance, professional fulfillment, and adventure—and is desperate for a do-over. She can’t believe her luck when she’s selected to be the star of the global sensation All This and More, a show that uses quantum technology to allow contestants the chance to revise their pasts and change their present lives. It’s Marsh’s only shot to seize her dreams, and she’s determined to get it right this time. But even as she rises to become a famous lawyer, gets back together with her high school sweetheart, and travels the world, she begins to worry that All This and More’s promises might be too good to be true. Because while the technology is amazing, something seems a bit off.… Can Marsh really make her life everything she wants it to be? And is it worth it? Perfect for fans of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library and Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life, bestselling author Peng Shepherd’s All This and More is an utterly original, startlingly poignant novel that puts the reader in the driver’s seat.
Schöne Neue Welt
291 pages
Ein Meisterwerk neu in der Sprache unserer Zeit 1932 erschien eines der größten utopischen Bücher des 20. Jahrhunderts: ein heimtückisch verführerischer Aufriss unserer Zukunft, in der das Glück verabreicht wird wie eine Droge. Sex und Konsum fegen alle Bedenken hinweg und Reproduktionsfabriken haben das Fortpflanzungsproblem gelöst. Es ist die beste aller Welten – bis einer hinter die Kulissen schaut und einen Abgrund aus Arroganz und Bosheit entdeckt. Endlich erscheint die längst fällige Neuübersetzung von Uda Strätling. Das prophetische Buch, dessen Aktualität jeden Tag aufs Neue bewiesen wird, erhält eine sprachlich zeitgemäße Gestalt.
Walkaway
382 pages
A fascinating journey from a dystopian world to a hopeful utopia, featuring characters who evolve and mature over time.
The Ministry for the Future
579 pages
This book presents a realistic approach to solving future problems, showcasing adults tackling challenges with maturity.
The Fifth Season
479 pages
This book is a captivating blend of dystopian and futuristic elements, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.
Autonomous
203 pages
'Autonomous is to biotech and AI what Neuromancer was to the internet' NEAL STEPHENSON 'Something genuinely and thrillingly new' WILLIAM GIBSON 'Holy hell. Autonomous is remarkable' LAUREN BEUKES WINNER OF THE 2018 LAMBDA AWARD FOR SFF SHORTLISTED FOR THE NEBULA AWARD 2018 SHORTLISTED FOR THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT 2018 Earth, 2144. Jack is an anti-patent scientist turned drug pirate, traversing the world in a submarine as a pharmaceutical Robin Hood, fabricating cheap medicines for those who can't otherwise afford them. But her latest drug hack has left a trail of lethal overdoses as people become addicted to their work, doing repetitive tasks until they become unsafe or insane. Hot on her trail is an unlikely pair: Eliasz, a brooding military agent, and his indentured robotic partner, Paladin. As they race to stop information about the sinister origins of Jack's drug from getting out, they begin to form an uncommonly close bond that neither of them fully understands. And underlying it all is one fundamental question: is freedom possible in a culture where everything, even people, can be owned?
Shades of Grey
431 pages
This book is a fascinating exploration of a unique world, and Fforde's other works are equally brilliant, making them a must-read for fans of imaginative fiction.
Parable of the Talents
404 pages
Continuing the dark themes of its predecessor, this sequel delves deeper into a dystopian future that challenges readers to reflect on society.
Hollow Kingdom
299 pages
This book offers a unique and comedic perspective on a post-apocalyptic world through the eyes of a crow and his dog friend, making it an engaging and enjoyable read!
Outlander's Sassenachs
171 pages
A time travel epic featuring history and romance, Outlander--unlike most adventure series--is aimed at women audiences. The kilted male characters, the female narrator, the fantastic period costumes are atypical of male-gendered television. Both the show and the novels on which it is based address issues most series shy away from, like breast feeding, abortion and birth control. Role reversals are common--the powerful Claire rescues her virginal husband Jamie from sexual abuse. When the villainous Black Jack Randall displays his genitals to the heroine Jenny, she laughs. This collection of new essays examines Outlander as an exploration of what it means to be a capable 18th century woman and what it means in the modern world. As Claire explores different models of strength in both periods, Jamie comes to understand the nuances of male honor, power and alternative sexuality through the contrasting figures of Black Jack and Lord John. As the heroes negotiate the complications of marriage and life, they make discoveries about gender that resonate with modern audiences.
Maps in a Mirror
686 pages
Maps in a Mirror brings together nearly all of Orson Scott Card's short fiction written between 1977 and 1990. For those readers who have followed this remarkable talent since the beginning, here are all those amazing stories gathered together in one place, with some extra surprises as well. For the hundreds of thousands who are newly come to Card, here is chance to experience the wonder of a writer so versatile that he can handle everything from traditional narrative poetry to modern experimental fiction with equal ease and grace. The brilliant story-telling of the Alvin Maker books is no accident; the breathless excitement evoked by the Ender books is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In this enormous volume are forty-six stories, plus ten long, intensely personal essays, unique to this volume. In them the author reveals some of his reasons and motivations for writing, with a good deal of autobiography into the bargain. "One of the genre's most convincing storytellers. An important volume."--Library Journal At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Logan's Run
194 pages
The bestselling dystopian novel that inspired the 1970s science-fiction classic starring Michael York, Jenny Agutter, and Richard Jordan. In 2116, it is against the law to live beyond the age of twenty-one years. When the crystal flower in the palm of your hand turns from red to black, you have reached your Lastday and you must report to a Sleepshop for processing. But the human will to survive is strong—stronger than any mere law. Logan 3 is a Sandman, an enforcer who hunts down those Runners who refuse to accept Deep Sleep. The day before Logan’s palmflower shifts to black, a Runner accidentally reveals that he was racing toward a goal: Sanctuary. With this information driving him forward, Logan 3 assumes the role of the hunted and becomes a Runner.
We, Yevgeny Zamyatin
173 pages
We is a dystopian novel by Yevgeny Zamyatin completed in 1921. One thousand years after the One State's conquest of the entire world, the spaceship Integral is being built in order to invade and conquer extraterrestrial planets. Meanwhile, the project's chief engineer, D-503, begins a journal that he intends to be carried upon the completed spaceship.Like all other citizens of One State, D-503 lives in a glass apartment building and is carefully watched by the secret police, or Bureau of Guardians. D-503's lover, O-90, has been assigned by One State to visit him on certain nights. She is considered too short to bear children and is deeply grieved by her state in life.O-90's other lover and D-503's best friend is R-13, a State poet who reads his verse at public executions.While on an assigned walk with O-90, D-503 meets a woman named I-330. I-330 smokes cigarettes, drinks alcohol, and shamelessly flirts with D-503 instead of applying for an impersonal sex visit; all of these are highly illegal according to the laws of One State.Both repelled and fascinated, D-503 struggles to overcome his attraction to I-330. I-330 invites him to visit the Ancient House, notable for being the only opaque building in One State, except for windows. Objects of aesthetic and historical importance dug up from around the city are stored there. There, I-330 offers him the services of a corrupt doctor to explain his absence from work. Leaving in horror D-503 vows to denounce her to the Bureau of Guardians, but finds that he cannot.He begins to have dreams, which disturbs him, as dreams are thought to be a symptom of mental illness. Slowly, I-330 reveals to D-503 that she is involved with the Mephi, an organization plotting to bring down the One State. She takes him through secret tunnels inside the Ancient House to the world outside the Green Wall, which surrounds the city-state. There, D-503 meets the inhabitants of the outside world: humans whose bodies are covered with animal fur. The aims of the Mephi are to destroy the Green Wall and reunite the citizens of One State with the outside world.Despite the recent rift between them, O-90 pleads with D-503 to impregnate her illegally. After O-90 insists that she will obey the law by turning over their child to be raised by the One State, D-503 obliges. However, as her pregnancy progresses, O-90 realizes that she cannot bear to be parted from her baby under any circumstances. At D-503's request, I-330 arranges for O-90 to be smuggled outside the Green Wall.
The Collected Stories Of Arthur C. Clarke
1172 pages
The definitive collection of short stories from the century's greatest science fiction writer All of Arthur C. Clarke's short stories collected in one volume, beginning with TRAVEL BY WIRE - Clarke's first ever published short story. A volume which showcases his range and variety, each story a classic example of the unique mixture of speculation and fiction which has made Clarke a household name.
The Futurological Congress
131 pages
This book offers a fascinating glimpse into a dystopian future, blending humor and science fiction in a way that challenges our perceptions of reality.
1984
309 pages
75th ANNIVERSARY EDITION “Orwell saw, to his credit, that the act of falsifying reality is only secondarily a way of changing perceptions. It is, above all, a way of asserting power.”—The New Yorker In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be. Lionel Trilling said of Orwell’s masterpiece, “1984 is a profound, terrifying, and wholly fascinating book. It is a fantasy of the political future, and like any such fantasy, serves its author as a magnifying device for an examination of the present.” Though the year 1984 now exists in the past, Orwell’s novel remains an urgent call for the individual willing to speak truth to power.
Oryx and Crake
420 pages
This novel showcases Atwood’s incredible imagination and writing, exploring how our civilization might end itself, making it a must-read for those intrigued by dystopian themes.
The Future of Another Timeline
341 pages
"Do you remember when we had the vote?" In a world that's just a step away from our own, time travel is possible. But war is brewing - a secret group is trying to destroy women's rights, and their access to the timeline. If they succeed, only a small elite will have the power to shape the past, present, and future. Our only hope lies with an unlikely group of allies, from riot grrls to suffragettes, their lives separated by centuries, battling for a world where anyone can change the future. A final confrontation is coming. The Future of Another Timeline is a breathtakingly original novel from Annalee Newitz, founding editor of io9, about the lengths we'll go to make history. 'A revolution is happening in speculative fiction, and Annalee Newitz is leading the vanguard' Wil Wheaton, actor Star Trek and Big Bang Theory 'Clever, compelling and utterly original' Laurie Penny "Smart and profound on every level, this is a deeply satisfying novel' Publishers Weekly, STARRED review 'A glorious tale of hope in the face of outrage, an anthem of timeless resistance against the powers that would lead us to our worst futures' Ken Liu 'A page-turner and an ambitious feminist lens on the time-traveler story' Kelly Sue DeConnick, screenwriter for Captain Marvel 'Exciting and urgent in the here and now' Saladin Ahmed 'Secret history becomes a thrilling secret war' Nicola Griffith
Second Variety
"The claws were bad enough in the first place--nasty, crawling little death-robots. But when they began to imitate their creators, it was time for the human race to make peace--if it could " Philip K. Dick said of his story "Second Variety" "My grand theme--who is human and who only appears as human?--emerges most fully. Unless we can individually and collectively be certain of the answer to this question, we face what is, in my view, the most serious problem possible. Without answering it adequately, we cannot even be certain of our own selves." Produced by Cygnus-Digital.com
The Chronicles of the One Trilogy
1405 pages
This trilogy features a rich cast of adult characters and explores the theme that it takes multiple generations to truly make a difference in the world.
Chasm City
513 pages
Chasm City is a fantastic read that showcases Reynolds' incredible imagination and world-building.
The Gone World
402 pages
This book is fantastic and weird, featuring time travel, time loops, and an impending apocalyptic disaster that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
On the Beach
290 pages
A novel about the survivors of an atomic war, who face an inevitable end as radiation poisoning moves toward Australia from the North.
Revelation Space
645 pages
If you enjoy Chasm City, the Revelation Space series is a must-read for its intricate plot and deep exploration of space.
California
353 pages
The world Cal and Frida have always known is gone, and they've left the crumbling city of Los Angeles far behind them. They now live in a shack in the wilderness, working side-by-side to make their days tolerable in the face of hardship and isolation. Mourning a past they can't reclaim, they seek solace in each other. But the tentative existence they've built for themselves is thrown into doubt when Frida finds out she's pregnant. Terrified of the unknown and unsure of their ability to raise a child alone, Cal and Frida set out for the nearest settlement, a guarded and paranoid community with dark secrets. These people can offer them security, but Cal and Frida soon realize this community poses dangers of its own. In this unfamiliar world, where everything and everyone can be perceived as a threat, the couple must quickly decide whom to trust. A gripping and provocative debut novel by a stunning new talent, California imagines a frighteningly realistic near future, in which clashes between mankind's dark nature and deep-seated resilience force us to question how far we will go to protect the ones we love. "In her arresting debut novel, Edan Lepucki conjures a lush, intricate, deeply disturbing vision of the future, then masterfully exploits its dramatic possibilities."-Jennifer Egan, author of A Visit from the Goon Squad
The Road
257 pages
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A searing, post-apocalyptic novel about a father and son's fight to survive, this "tale of survival and the miracle of goodness only adds to McCarthy's stature as a living master. It's gripping, frightening and, ultimately, beautiful" (San Francisco Chronicle). • From the bestselling author of The Passenger A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other. The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation. Look for Cormac McCarthy's latest bestselling novels, The Passenger and Stella Maris.
