Maxima Library

From

Star Trek

to

Star Wars

, from

Dune

to

Foundation

, science fiction has a rich history of exploring the idea of vast intergalactic societies, and the challenges facing those living in or trying to manage such societies. The stories in

Federations

will continue that tradition. What are the social/religious/environmental/technological implications of living in such a vast society? What happens when expansionist tendencies on a galactic scale come into conflict with the indigenous peoples of other planets, of other races? And what of the issue of communicating across such distances, or the problems caused by relativistic travel? These are just some of the questions and issues that the stories in Federations will take on.

“A solid command of character development that makes her tales irresistibly compelling and distinguishes her as a major new voice in science fiction.”

AHNI HUANG IS HUNTING FOR HER BROTHER’S KILLER.

As a class 9 empath with advanced biogenetic augmentation, she has complete mental and physical control of her body and can read other people’s intentions before thew can even think them. Faced with deceptions behind deceptions, Ahni is caught in a dangerous game of family politics—and in the middle of it all lies the fate of her brother.

Hew search leads her to the Platforms, which orbit high above Earth. On the Platform New York Up, “upsider” life is different. They have their own culture, values, and ambitions—and now they want their independence from Earth. One upsider leader, Dane Nilsson, is determined to accomplish NYUp’s secession, but he has a secret, one that, once exposed, could condemn him to death.

When Ahni stumbles upon Dane during her quest for vengeance, her destiny becomes inextricably linked to his. Together they must delve beyond the intrigue and manipulated schemes to get to the core of the Platforms and shatter any preconceived notions of what defines the human race.

“Her prose is strong and her insights true; although more than one story here deals with virtual reality, the pleasures afforded by this collection are very real.”

Long-time Asimov’s contributor Mary Rosenblum joins newcomer James Sarafin in a mesmerizing look at what “One Good Juror” can mean to a plaintiff. The story was the result of a conversation about justice versus the law, both in the present and in the future. Ms. Rosenblum thought the tale presented them with “an interesting opportunity to consider the evolution of our legal system.” Mr. Sarafin has worked as a civil trial lawyer in Alaska for the past fifteen years. Although the following tale is his first to appear in our pages, he currently has two other stories in our inventory.

Asimov’s Science Fiction, February, 1997.

Cyberpunk is dead

The revolution has been co-opted by half-assed heroes, overclocked CGI, and tricked-out sunglasses. Once radical, cyberpunk is nothing more than a brand.

Time to stop flipping the channel

These sixteen extreme stories reveal a government ninja routed by a bicycle repairman, the inventor of digitized paper hijacked by his college crush, a dead boy trapped in a warped storybook paradise, and the Queen of England attacked with the deadliest of forbidden technology: a working modem. You'll meet Manfred Macx, renegade meme-broker, Red Sonja, virtual reality sex-goddess, and Felix, humble sysadmin and post-apocalyptic hero.

Editors James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel (Feeling Very Strange: The Slipstream Anthology) have united cyberpunk visionaries William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, and Pat Cadigan with the new post-cyberpunk vanguard including Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross, and Jonathan Lethem. Including a canon-establishing introduction and excerpts from a hotly-contested online debate, Rewired is the first anthology to define and capture the crackling excitement of the post-cyberpunks.

From the grittiness of Mirrorshades to the Singularity and beyond, it's time to revive the revolution.

Are you ready?

Readers of Mary Rosenblum’s popular novel, The Drylands, have asked her what will become of the forests in that future—does she envision the entire country as a desert? Ms. Rosenblum replies, “Well no, I don’t. So I took a look at the forests of southern Oregon, and what happens to the trees, in ‘The Botanist.’ ” The author has just sold her first mainstream mystery, Blood Work, and she is working on Black Sheep—the second book in the series.

Mary Rosenblum recently sold a three-book mystery series to Ace/Berkley (Berkley Prime Crime). The first, tentatively titled Devil’s Trumper, should be out late this year. With her dramatic new tale for Asimov’s—her first about aliens—she proves that “I’m not about to stop writing science fiction! This story is a bit of a departure for me. I guess I’m just expanding my universe.”