Maxima Library

"Tenderfoot in Space" is a short story by Robert A. Heinlein, serialized in Boys' Life magazine in May, June, and July 1958. The original working title was "Tenderfoot on Venus" when it was written in 1956. It was extensively cut according to orders by the magazine editor for its published form. It is also reprinted in the retrospective Requiem: New Collected Works by Robert A. Heinlein and Tributes to the Grand Master. A boy and his dog emigrate to Venus. The boy joins a local Scout troop, learning how to survive in the Venusian wilderness, with its various dangers.

"All You Zombies" chronicles a young man (later revealed to be intersex) taken back in time and tricked into impregnating his younger, female self (before he underwent a sex change); he thus turns out to be the offspring of that union, with the paradoxical result that he is his own mother and father. As the story unfolds, all the major characters are revealed to be the same person, at different stages of her/his life.

A revolution on Venus, sparked by governmental disregard for the rights of the individual, forces a young citizen of the Interplanetary Federation to come to terms with his own sense of allegiance.

Publications: Astonishing Stories, April 1941, (Apr 1941, Frederik Pohl, Fictioneers, Inc., $0.10, 116pp, Pulp, magazine)

The reissue of a classic science fiction novel, featuring dazzling new cover art, displays the celebrated imagination of one of the greatest masters of twentieth-century science fiction, author of Stranger in a Strange Land, The Puppet Masters, and others. Reissue.

SLAVE: Brought to Sargon in chains as a child -- unwanted by all save a one-legged beggar -- Thorby learned well the wiles of the street people and the mysterious ways of his crippled master . . . OUTLAW: Hunted by the police for some unknown treasonous acts committed by his beloved owner, Thorby risked his life to deliver a dead man's message and found himself both guest and prisoner aboard an alien spaceship . . . CITIZEN: Unaware of his role in an ongoing intrigue, Thorby became one of the freest of the free in the entire galaxy as the adopted son of a noble space captain . . . until he became a captive in an interstellar prison that offered everything but the hope of escape!

Le marché aux esclaves se tenait sur la Place de la Liberté, du côté du port spatial, en face du capitole des Neuf Mondes. Le marchand de chair humaine psalmodiait les enchères sur un ton monocorde, constamment interrompu par le rugissement des fusées.

Pourquoi un marché d’esclaves dans cet avenir lointain, dans cette Galaxie repue de progrès ? Pourquoi y vendre un jeune homme, Thorby, aussitôt après son arrivée ? Et qui est Thorby au juste ? Les gens sont libres. Chaque vaisseau spatial est un état souverain. Mais les Libres Marchands ont peut-être trouvé la pire solution au plus difficile problème : comment être humain et survivre dans toutes les situations. Et Thorby se pose une question : à quoi bon être un Citoyen de la Galaxie ?

Miután az emberiség megszabadult minden belső viszályától, és közös erővel megkezdte a világűr meghódítását, váratlanul új ellenségekre bukkant. A Klendathu bolygó lakói leginkább a földi rovarokra emlékeztettek, csakhogy azoknál sokkal nagyobbra nőttek, és ádáz céltudatossággal láttak hozzá az új vetélytárs kiirtásához.

Azóta minden elképzelhető eszközzel dúl a háború, és az emberiség nem áll valami fényesen. Hiába a katonák minden bátorsága, az ellenség mintha előre tudomást szerezne minden hadmozdulatról. A hátországban szinte már gyerekeket soroznak be, akik számára a tűzkeresztség egyet jelent a felnőtté avatás rítusával. A harctér valósága azonban egészen más. Az maga a borzalom.

"Destination Moon" is a short story by science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein, first published in Short Stories Magazine, September 1950. The story is an adaptation of his screenplay for the film Destination Moon in 1950.

Lorenzo Smythe, acteur sans emploi, est tout disposé à accepter n’importe quoi. y compris le verre que lui offre un homme qu’il sait cependant venir de l’espace.

Cette rencontre dans un bar lui vaudra le plus grand rôle de sa carrière : « doubler » John J. Bonforte, le chef de la coalition politico-expansionniste, l’homme le plus aimé, et le plus haï, du Système Solaire !

Mais cela, Lorenzo ne le découvrira qu’enlevé à bord d’un astronef en route pour Mars. Il se voit alors, dans un cauchemar terrible pour un acteur, de simple « doublure » devenir un véritable « double », pris dans la peau de son rôle comme dans un engrenage…

Et entraîné dans un conflit interplanétaire aux conséquences imprévisibles. C’est de son talent d’acteur à s’identifier complétement avec le personnage auquel il ne peut plus échapper, que dépend le sort de neuf planètes.

One minute, down and out actor Lorenzo Smythe was -- as usual -- in a bar, drinking away his troubles as he watched his career go down the tubes. Then a space pilot bought him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knew, he was shanghaied to Mars.

Suddenly he found himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who had been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians was at stake -- failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war. And Smythe's own life was on the line -- for if he wasn't assassinated, there was always the possibility that he might be trapped in his new role forever!

Dan Davis, młody zdolny inżynier automatyk, projektuje rewelacyjne modele robotów. Wraz z narzeczoną Bellą i wspólnikiem Milesem snuje wielkie plany na przyszłość.

Niestety, Dan zna się na maszynach, ale nie na ludziach. Belle i Miles w podstępny sposób oszukują go i pozbawiają prawa do patentów. Rozczarowany życiem Dan Davis decyduje się na zamrożenie w komorze hibernacyjnej na trzydzieści lat.

Po obudzeniu doznaje szoku, powoli jednak zaczyna przystosowywać się do nowego świata. Nie pojmuje tylko jednego. Większość nowoczesnych automatów jest autorstwa... Dana Davisa.

Tę zagadkę można by wyjaśnić cofnięciem się Dana w przeszłość. Ale przecież podróże w czasie nawet w dwudziestym pierwszym wieku wydają się niemożliwe…

Rok 2100. Lorenzo Smythe, bezrobotny aktor, ma zagrać największą rolę w życiu — wcielić się w postać zaginionego na Marsie przywódcy Ziemian. Stawką jest pokój lub międzyplanetarna wojna. Lecz galaktyczna maskarada nieoczekiwanie się przedłuża, a Lorenzo może zostać uwięziony w swojej roli na zawsze...

Otrzymała nagrodę Hugo w 1956.

Amerikiečių rašytojo fantasto romanas apie inžinierių išradėją, kuris savo priešų užmigdomas šaltuoju miegu. Pabudęs po trisdešimties metų, jis randa būdą grįžti atgal, tačiau praeityje nepasilieka, nes ateitis visada gražesnė.

Les membres de la première expédition vers Mars périrent tous. Sauf un : Valentine Michael Smith, né sur Mars, élevé par les Martiens, recueilli et ramené sur Terre, à l'âge de vingt ans par la deuxième éxpédition vers Mars, au début du XXIe siècle.

Physiquement Valentine Michael Smith était humain.

Mentalement, il était martien.

La seule analogie qui convînt pour le définir était celle des enfants-loups, des enfants élevés par des loups. Mais les martiens n'étaient pas des loups. Leur culture était plus complexe que celle de la terre.

Le premier problème de Mike : survivre sur la Terre ! Tout lui était agression : la pesanteur, la pression atmosphérique, et surtout les hommes…

Le second problème fut pour lui de comprendre en quoi et pourquoi les hommes différaient des martiens et pourquoi ils étaient malheureux…

También publicado como “Intriga estelar”.

¿Podría un miserable actor sustituir al político más famoso del imperio? Lorenzo Smith sintió un hormigueo en su cuerpo cuando le propusieron el trabajo, ya que Bonforte era el político más reputado en la Galaxia. Sería un gran desafío dar vida a este personaje, por supuesto. Pero cuando estudió el papel vio muy claro que se encontraba ante una peligrosa misión de cuyo resultado dependía el destino del Sistema Solar…

Après la grande guerre atomique de la fin du XXe siècle, le monde ne fut plus que chaos et désordre. Pour éliminer les hordes barbares qui s’étaient formées, les survivants durent remettre leur sort entre les mains de l’armée. Un siècle plus tard la civilisation, arrivée à l’âge des étoiles, restait dirigée par les militaires. Ainsi, c’était en portant les armes, en payant l’impôt de la sueur et du sang, que l’homme du xxie siècle devait acquérir le droit d’être citoyen. Dans cet univers militariste, Juan Rico s’engage le jour de ses dix-huit ans dans l’Infanterie Spatiale. Il ne sait pas quel sort terrible attend le fantassin qui, sur les mondes lointains, affronte les armées arachnides. En s’engageant, il a voulu devenir un homme, mais un soldat des étoiles est-il encore humain ?

Dalle prime invasioni di H. G. Wells, il tema della guerra contro i «mostri» di mondi lontani è stato spesso trattato dagli scrittori di fantascienza. Ma crediamo che questo romanzo sia senza precedenti e meriti di essere segnalato particolarmente ai lettori. Si tratta a nostro parere di una delle opere più riuscite e originali nella vastissima produzione di Robert Heinlein. La storia è raccontata in prima persona e in un linguaggio secco e pittoresco da un soldato dell’esercito terrestre, un ragazzo che scappa di casa per arruolarsi nella fanteria dello spazio (regina, a quanto pare, anche delle battaglie cosmiche), partecipa alle operazioni belliche nella Galassia, e «fa carriera» fino a meritarsi i galloni da ufficiale… Ma ciò che costituisce il mordente del libro e lo straordinario verismo, la «fedeltà» quasi cinematografica delle esperienze militari del protagonista. I sergenti cattivi, le marce le esercitazioni a fuoco, la terribile disciplina, la solidarietà fra commilitoni sono cose che molti lettori conosceranno per averle provate di persona. Ma qui anche la «tuta potenziata» l’arma tuttofare della fanteria spaziale, anche i lanci dall’astronave, i rastrellamenti a «saltamontone», le offensive contro i «pelleossa» e i «ragni» dei pianeti nemici sono descritti con una bravura da grande documentarista. Ed è l’apparenza realistica di queste avventure di guerra a renderle più persuasive e soprattutto più drammatiche e avvincenti.

Vincitore del premio Hugo per il miglior romanzo in 1960.

Bill knew his destiny lay in the stars, but how was he to get there? George Lerner was shipping out for Ganymede to join the fledgling colony, and Bill wanted to go along. But his father would not hear of it -- far too dangerous a mission! Bill finally talked his way aboard the colony ship Mayflower -- and discovered his father was right!

Midwest Book Review Farnham is a self-made man who sees nuclear war coming and who builds a shelter under his house; only to find it thrust into a strange universe when the bomb explodes. In this future world all civilization in the northern hemisphere has long been destroyed, and Farnham and his family are fit to be slaves under the new regime. Heinlein's story is as engrossing now as it was in its original form decades ago.

From Grandmaster Robert A. Heinlein comes a long-lost first novel, written in 1939 and never before published, introducing ideas and themes that would shape his career and define the genre that is synonymous with his name. July 12, 1939 Perry Nelson is driving along the palisades when suddenly another vehicle swerves into his lane, a tire blows out, and his car careens off the road and over a bluff. The last thing he sees before his head connects with the boulders below is a girl in a green bathing suit, prancing along the shore.... When he wakes, the girl in green is a woman dressed in furs and the sun-drenched shore has transformed into snowcapped mountains. The woman, Diana, rescues Perry from the bitter cold and takes him inside her home to rest and recuperate. Later they debate the cause of the accident, for Diana is unfamiliar with the concept of a tire blowout and Perry cannot comprehend snowfall in mid-July. Then Diana shares with him a vital piece of information: The date is now January 7. The year...2086. When his shock subsides, Perry begins an exhaustive study of global evolution over the past 150 years. He learns, among other things, that a United Europe was formed and led by Edward, Duke of Windsor; former New York City mayor LaGuardia served two terms as president of the United States; the military draft was completely reconceived; banks became publicly owned and operated; and in the year 2003, two helicopters destroyed the island of Manhattan in a galvanizing act of war. This education in the ways of the modern world emboldens Perry to assimilate to life in the twenty-first century. But education brings with it inescapable truths -- the economic and legal systems, the government, and even the dynamic between men and women remain alien to Perry, the customs of the new day continually testing his mental and emotional resolve. Yet it is precisely his knowledge of a bygone era that will serve Perry best, as the man from 1939 seems destined to lead his newfound peers even further into the future than they could have imagined. A classic example of the future history that Robert Heinlein popularized during his career, For Us, The Living marks both the beginning and the end of an extraordinary arc of political, social, and literary crusading that comprises his legacy. Heinlein could not have known in 1939 how the world would change over the course of one and a half centuries, but we have our own true world history to compare with his brilliant imaginings, rendering For Us, The Living not merely a novel, but a time capsule view into our past, our present, and perhaps our future. The novel is presented here with an introduction by acclaimed science fiction writer Spider Robinson and an afterword by Professor Robert James of the Heinlein Society.

Objeto de escándalo tras su publicación, libro de cabecera de la cultura hippie, biblia de Charles Manson y sus seguidores, Forastero en tierra extraña es la novela más polémica e iconoclasta del género de ciencia ficción. Humano por parte de padres, marciano por nacimiento y educación, Valentine Michael Smith llega a la Tierra como un auténtico forastero. Pese a su ascendencia terrestre, Smith piensa y siente como un marciano y no tiene nada en común con los seres humanos. Su peripecia en nuestro planeta se convertirá en motivo de asombro y escándalo allá donde vaya…

Autor de novelas tan célebres como “Historia del futuro”, “El número de la bestia” y la presente, Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988) es, junto con Asimov y A. C. Clarke, uno de los máximos exponentes de la ciencia ficción clásica.

Freitag ist ihr Name. Sie ist ein Retortenbaby, und man hat dies und das an ihr verbessert. Sie ist normalen Menschen überlegen: im Erdulden von Schmerzen, in ihren Reflexen, in ihrer Ausdauer — und in ihrer Schönheit.

Das macht sie zu einer begehrten Sexpartnerin ebenso wie zu einer tödlichen Waffe. Den normalen Menschen ist sie unheimlich. Sie lehnen sie ab, haben Angst vor ihr — weil sie ein Kunstprodukt ist, ein „Ding“. Und sie wird auch von ihren Auftraggebern skrupellos als „Ding“ benutzt, vom Geheimdienst in Situationen gehetzt, die für andere Agenten absolut tödlich wären.

Po brilantních Vládcích loutek vydalo nakladatelství AG Kult další knihu Roberta Heinleina s názvem Friday. Proti vládcům chybí silná vůdčí myšlenka či symbol. Příběh o boji špionážních a teroristických center je, dá se říci, dokonce chatrný.

Přesto kniha není horší než předchozí, to jest, představuje v žánru sci-fi absolutní špičku a přesahuje jej. Hlavní zásluhu má na tom Heinleinův styl. Technika vyprávění ne nepodobná stylu Hammeta či Chandlera je samozřejmostí. V textu je však víc ironie, ba přímých karikatur současných amerických institucí.

Svět budoucnosti, v němž se pohybuje hrdinka Friday, umělá žena, se velmi liší od světů, které projektuje většina autorů fantastiky. Není lepší než současný, ale ani horší. Je stejný. Rivalita států a špionážních centrál, málo schopný ouřad, každodenní boj o peníze a vposledku o život.

Avšak Friday není v prvním plánu ani o tomto světě. Je o silné nesentimentální individualitě, která s nepřekonatelnou energií vítězí nad překážkami. Tvrdá v tvrdém světě, naprosto, a přitom citlivá ryze pozitivním způsobem. Individualita tvořící svůj život s hravou radostí, neporazitelná ve své podstatě, ačkoli prochází pekelnými zážitky. Nietzsche by zajásal, kdyby viděl, s jakou grácií Heinlein ztvárnil jeho ideál.

Engineered from the finest genes, and trained to be a secret courier in a future world, Friday operates over a near-future Earth, where chaos reigns. Working at Boss's whimsical behest she travels from far north to deep south, finding quick, expeditious solutions as one calamity after another threatens to explode in her face....

Publications: New Destinies, Volume VI/Winter 1988, an anthology of stories edited by Jim Baen

E.C. "Scar" Gordon, a Vietnam veteran, answers an ad promising adventure and meets a mysterious beauty who transports him to another world.

The late Heinlein, considered the ''Father of Modern Science Fiction,'' was also a prolific letter writer. Virginia Heinlein, his wife of 40 years, has skillfully organized a selection of his voluminous correspondence. The result is a memoir that will appeal not just to fans, but to anyone interested in the creative process. Heinlein's letters, mostly addressed to his long-time agent, are grouped into topical chapters: ''About Writing Methods and Cutting''; Fan Mail and Other Time Wasters''; and ''Stranger,'' (referring to his novel, Stranger in a Strange Land ). Other chapters cover domestic concerns, travel, etc. Coupled with Virginia Heinlein's commentary, this arrangement helps alleviate the disjointedness often associated with similar compilations. While the book is not autobiographical, it does reveal the psyche of a popular science fiction author. Highly recommended for libraries from high school level on up.

Don Harvey è nato nello spazio, a bordo di un’astronave in caduta libera oltre l’orbita degli asteroidi, da padre terrestre e da madre di cittadinanza venusiana, si ritrova senza patria quando le colonie di Venere decidono di ribellarsi allo sfruttamento della Federazione Terrestre. È la storia della prima guerra cosmica, sullo sfondo di una grande trasformazione del sistema solare, in orbita intorno alla luna si sta costruendo il Cercatore di Orizzonti. La nave interstellare che porterà uomini e donne in un viaggio di centinaia d’anni, generazioni e generazioni su un mondo artificiale, verso altri sistemi stellari; su Marte e su Venere, gli indigeni intelligenti che i terrestri hanno trovato al loro arrivo sui pianeti gemelli ricordano epoche remotissime, nelle quali la Terra, Marte, Venere e i satelliti di Giove facevano parte di un grandioso Impero… Don Harvey, strappato al suoi studi, alla vita che conosceva, dallo scoppio della guerra, sfugge miracolosamente alla distruzione di Circum-Terra, la stazione spaziale che collega la Terra a Luna City e ai pianeti, e finisce su Venere, tra le paludi e le giungle del pianeta nebbioso, braccato da tutti i belligeranti perche, suo malgrado, egli è latore di un messaggio così importante che, da solo, potrebbe cambiare la storia del Sistema Solare.

Robert Heinlein's 1958 story comes to life and is still timely almost half a century after it was published.. Teenager Kip Russell, infatuated with the idea of traveling to the Moon, enters a contest to win such an opportunity. However, his dream becomes a nightmareâ€"and a space soap operaâ€"when he comes upon a race of space creatures who have kidnapped a little girl from Earth's Moon Station. Rescuing Pee Wee lands Kip with a traveling companion who is very smart but much in need of protection. Fortunately, or so the kids believe at first, another alien being, whom they call the "Mother Thing," is available as both advisor and space guide. Their travels take them to Pluto, where they escape the clutches of Bronx-gangster humans, and then out to galaxies beyond our own. Eventually, Kip and Pee Wee stand trial in the stead of all humanity, a race charged with its rampant disregard for peace and environmental justice. Bruce Coville's young audiobook company treats this tale handily, with each character well acted by an age-appropriate reader. Pee Wee's childish voice sometimes requires adjustment to the volume level, but she and Kip carry the major portion of the tale between them, with interesting and appropriate musical effects added during chapter breaks and to the voice of the Mother Thing. Heinlein's writing stands the test of time, and contemporary youth will be inspired by the visions of space travel their own grandparents might have had at their age.

BENT U EEN LAFAARD? Dan is dit niet voor u. Wij hebben dringend behoefte aan een dappere man. Hij moet tussen de 23 en de 25 zijn, in blakende gezondheid verkeren, alle wapens kunnen hanteren. Moet bereid zijn te reizen, geen banden hebben, onweerstaanbaar dapper, knap van uiterlijk, en volmaakt gebouwd zijn. Vaste baan, zeer hoog loon, roemrijk avontuur, groot gevaar.

Met deze mysterieuze advertentie beginnen de heldhaftige avonturen van vechtjas Gordon. Gordon,aardbewoner, is een stoutmoedige huurling, dorstend naar gevaar, bloed, roem, en vrouwen, belust op rijkdom en buit. Hij reageert op de advertentie en enkele tellen later staat hij in een bloedstollend oerwoud op een andere planeet, in gezelschap van de mooiste vrouw aan deze zijde van de Melkweg. Op die plek begint het Pad van Roem — een met duizenden gevaren bezaaide weg over tientallen planeten. Als het hem lukt de edelvrouwe naar het eindpunt te brengen staat hem daar een geweldige beloning te wachten. Na talloze ontberingen en ijselijke ontmoetingen bereikt hij zijn doel. Hij neemt zijn schat in ontvangst. Maar als hij op aarde terugkeert wacht hem een nieuw, maar onoverwinlijk gevaar: de IVDB…

„Hiob” nawiązuje do „Boskiej Komedii” Dantego.

Bohater — Alexander Hergensheimer, surowy i ortodoksyjny członek Zjednoczonego Kościoła, współczesny Hiob — podczas polinezyjskiego Święta Ognia przenosi się do alternatywnych światów. Zarówno w pierwszym świecie — w którym rządzą surowe zasady moralne — jak i w innych rzeczywistościach, Alec zawsze odnajduje stałe cechy. Wszystkie znaki na niebie i ziemi wskazują, że nadchodzi Armageddon — koniec świata i dzień Sądu Ostatecznego. Alec, najpierw wniebowzięty, zstępuje następnie do Piekła, by odbyć oczyszczającą wędrówkę człowieka upadłego, w którym dokonuje się wewnętrzna przemiana.

The story of one of the worlds richest and most powerful men, Johann Sebastian Bach Smith, who is on the verge of death and whose only hope is in finding a new body in which to live, and upon surviving the radical surgical procedures involved, finds himself faced with enormous ethical and philosophical dilemas.

Escursionisti inter-dimensionali, attenzione: basta imboccare una volta sola il bivio sbagliato del tempo, e la Terra si trasforma in un vero e proprio pianeta-miraggio, sempre elusivo, anche se apparentemente a portata di mano. Si può finire, per esempio, in un mondo dove il famoso presidente americano William Jennings Bryan, la personalità cruciale della Grande Guerra 1912–17, non è stato eletto, con la conseguenza che laggiù l’intera civiltà è arretrata di settant’anni, la tecnologia degli anni Novanta è ancora quella degli anni Venti e i gangster alla Al Capone la fanno da padroni. E i rischi non finiscono qui. Se a questo punto, volendo tornare indietro, si imbocca il bivio giusto e Bryan è stato regolarmente eletto nel 1896, la situazione può addirittura peggiorare, perché quel mondo è dominato da un puritanesimo pettegolo e invadente, e le Chiese Unite per la Decenza ne bandiscono con uguale severità le parolacce e le minigonne, la narrativa d’evasione e i liquori, le sigarette e il baltabarin. Ma forse il bivio giusto non esiste più: muovendo un altro passo, si può finire in un mondo di computer e di stazioni orbitanti o in uno ancora fermo ai carri a cavalli. Oppure si può essere catapultati da una Terra all’altra, senza poter fare nulla per opporsi, costretti a fermarsi per poche ore in ciascuna, a cambiare mondo tutti i giorni, a fare il pendolare tra gli universi. E quanto capita ad Alex Hergensheimer, a partire dal momento in cui, durante una crociera in Polinesia, comincia ad avere il sospetto che qualcosa non quadri: la sua austera motonave è diventata un’allegra Love Boat, gli ultimi novant’anni di storia sono cambiati, e lui stesso ha ora un altro nome, Graham e in tasca un milione di dollari di dubbia provenienza. Che cosa mi è successo? si chiede l’imbarazzatissimo Alex. È finito in un altro universo? Si è spezzato qualcosa nella trama della realtà e il mondo è prossimo alla fine? Qual è il mondo “giusto” e come arrivarci? E, soprattutto, dov’è finito il vero Graham?

Nominato per il premio Nebula per il miglior romanzo in 1984.

Nominato per il premio Hugo per il miglior romanzo in 1985.

Promis à une brillante carrière militaire lorsqu’une grave maladie l’obligea à y renoncer en 1934, il est devenu un des auteurs les plus prolifiques de notre époque.

Qui donc se mêle de bouleverser ainsi la vie du pasteur Alex Hergensheimer alors qu’il regagne son cher Kansas après un long voyage ? Dieu ou Satan ?

Tout commence par un épisode de très païenne magie lors d’une escale en Polynésie…

Et quand il se retrouve à bord, l’honorable pasteur découvre que tout a changé, y compris lui-même : pour ses compagnons, il est Alec Graham, homme d’affaires, et pour Margrethe, la jolie stewardess, un parfait amant ! Plus dangereux encore : il se retrouve à la tête d’un million de dollars fort mal acquis.

Quant au temps historique, là, c’est le total chamboulement. Dans quel passé… ou quel futur est-il ?

Sentant se perdre son identité et son âme, Alex s’affole, craint l’approche de quelque Armaguedon…

After he firewalked in Polynesia, the world wasn't the same for Alexander Hergensheimer, now called Alec Graham. As natural accidents occurred without cease, Alex knew Armageddon and the Day of Judgement were near. Somehow he had to bring his beloved heathen, Margrethe, to a state of grace, and, while he was at it, save the rest of the world ....

Trwa galaktyczna wojna pomiędzy Ziemianami i Pluskwo-Pajęczakami, agresywną rasą antropoidów, których społeczna organizacja przypomina rój, poddany bezwzględnej władzy dyktatorskiej. Ogrom przewagi liczebnej nieprzyjaciela wyklucza globalną konfrontację i wymusza taktykę nagłych, niespodziewanych ataków ze strony sił Ziemskiej Federacji. Do takich zadań najlepiej przygotowani są komandosi z Piechoty Zmechanizowanej, a wśród nich kadet Johny Rico, który karierę żołnierza rozpoczął tak niedawno…

Il romanzo è ambientato nel 2075 sulla Luna. Il satellite è colonizzato da decenni ed è popolato da circa tre milioni di persone, stabilite in diverse città sotterranee. Inizialmente la Luna era utilizzata delle nazioni terrestri come una sicura colonia penale, dato che dopo pochi mesi di permanenza nel corpo umano si sviluppano delle modifiche fisiologiche irreversibili che rendono praticamente impossibile il ritorno sulla Terra. Con il trascorrere degli anni sulla Luna si svilupparono delle colonie floride che, coltivando il sottosuolo, rifornivano la Terra di beni di prima necessità, come grano e riso, inviati tramite una catapulta elettromagnetica posta sulla superficie lunare. La vita degli abitanti è dura per via delle condizioni naturali e del governo terrestre che attraverso la sua struttura di controllo chiamata "Ente" gestisce la vita sulla colonia e il mercato dei servizi, ponendo condizioni vessatorie agli abitanti.

Daniel Boone Davis, mite ingegnere costruttore di robot e con discreto successo, rappresenta il volto antico del Sogno Americano. Ambizioso ma non arrivista, ama lavorare in una piccola officina nel deserto del Mojave, che gestisce con il suo socio Miles e la sua fidanzata Belle, sfruttando le innovazioni conseguite con la scorsa guerra nucleare. Come egli afferma, la sua è una visione della vita dinamica ed individualista nonché tollerante ma oramai datata. Per questa sua debolezza viene prevaricato ed estromesso dai suoi soci che mirano molto in alto. Davis dapprima desideroso di farsi da parte sottoponendosi ad un lungo periodo di ipotermia, passata la sua ubriacatura decide di minacciare di illeciti i suoi avversari onde farsi risarcire ma Belle gli inietta a sorpresa una droga ipnotica costringendolo a rivelarle il suo piano. Ancora drogato, pur di disfarsene, la donna lo fa sottoporre all'ipotermia dirottandolo presso una struttura diversa. Davis si risveglia nell'anno Duemila, senza un soldo ma pur disposto a ricominciare. Nel futuro scopre delle anomalie che lo tormenteranno per parte del libro: l'affare sfumato dei suoi ex soci, le sue invenzioni recanti un altro marchio e delle innovazioni che portano inspiegabilmente la sua firma. Si aggiunge una ragazza alla quale era legato, anch'ella sottoposta ad ipotermia e risvegliatasi per presto sposarsi. Tutti interrogativi che lo spingeranno a tentare non senza rischio un'opportunità inattesa: i viaggi nel tempo.

W książce uważanej za jedną z jego najbardziej fascynujących i zmuszających do myślenia, mistrz współczesnej SF opowiada dziwną historię z jeszcze bardziej dziwnego świata — XXI-wiecznej Luny, kolonii karnej o zaostrzonym rygorze. Wybucha tam rewolucja zesłanych do Luny nieszczęśników przeciwko nadzorującemu ich komputerowi. Powstanie rozszerza się, dopóki nie następuje to, co jest nieuniknione…

Under the guise of an agency for magicians, Magic, Inc. was systematically squeezing out the small independent magicians. Then one businessman stood firm. With the help of an Oxford-educated African shaman and a little old lady adept at black magic, he went straight to the demons of Hell to resolve the problem - once and for all!

L’année 2007, dans l’histoire des Etats-Unis a été l’année de l’invasion. D’une invasion comme on n’en a jamais vu jusqu’alors. Les ennemis, innombrables, se présentent sous un aspect stupéfiant : des boules gélatineuses, animées de mouvements amiboïdes. Ils arrivent par astronef de la planète Titan.

Leur tactique est la plus simple : ils se collent sur la nuque des hommes et ceux-ci deviennent immédiatement des esclaves, des marionnettes soumises complétement à la volonté de ces choses innommables, de ces « maîtres » à la fois malfaisants, despotiques et diaboliquement habiles.

Il faudra une véritable guerre pour venir à bout de cette menace qui pèse sur le genre humain tout entier. Mais l’homme vaincra encore une fois les puissances mauvaises, grâce à un brillant agent des Services Secrets, Elisée Nivens, sa ravissante femme Mary, et son père, le fameux « Patron ».

Friday è una splendida figliola, moderna e disponibile, ma possiede due caratteristiche peculiari: è un corriere segreto ed è anche una PA, ossia una Persona Artificiale, uguale in tutto e per tutto a un comune essere umano salvo per il fatto di essere stata creata in laboratorio. Il suo capo, Boss, l'ha reclutata e addestrata quando per lei la vita non era certo facile ma ora Friday è un agente in grado di sopportare all'occasione stupri multipli e torture. Ma la sua vita non manca di lati piacevoli e distensivi, almeno fino al giorno che sarà ricordato dai libri di storia come il Giovedì Rosso. Chi si nasconde dietro l'ondata di delitti politici e di sabotaggio che dilagano sulla terra e nello spazio, minacciando il tranquillo caos che da secoli regna sull'Umanità?

Pied Piper — shortstory by Robert A. Heinlein, first published in Astonishing Stories, March 1942.

Nieodległa przyszłość, obszar należący do dawnych Stanów Zjednoczonych, obecnie podzielony na małe państewka toczące ze sobą walkę o wpływy. Ziemią rządzą międzynarodowe korporacje, a ludzkość zaczyna kolonizować kosmos. Friday, tajna agentka pracująca dla organizacji paramilitarnej, pakuje się w sam środek narastającego konfliktu. Jako sztucznie wyhodowana istota, zabójczo piękna, obdarzona nadludzkim refleksem, siłą i inteligencją, przewyższa ludzi pod każdym względem. Paradoksalnie, z tego właśnie powodu musi ukrywać swoją tożsamość i borykać się z rasistowskimi uprzedzeniami. Lecąc w kosmos jako kurierka odkrywa, że najnowsza misja ma zakończyć się jej śmiercią…

Powieść była nominowana do prestiżowych nagród Nebula, Hugo i Prometheus Award.

While accompanying their uncle, a wily politician, on a trip from Mars to Earth, Podkayne and her brilliant, but pesky brother are caught in a plot to keep Uncle Tom from an important conference.

En el avanzado planeta Tierra ya no es necesario matar a un enemigo para deshacerse de él. Sólo hace falta un “largo sueño”, un proceso que le mantiene congelado el tiempo preciso: un mes, un año, un siglo...

Ésta es la historia de una víctima del “largo sueño”, un hombre que despierta en el futuro, pero que, sin embargo, descubrirá que es posible volver al pasado para cumplir su venganza.

Una extraordinaria novela sobre el tema del viaje en el tiempo escrita por uno de los autores más galardonados de todos los tiempos, ganador de cuatro permios Hugo.