by Eric Flint

Grantville Gazette Volume 20

created by Eric Flint
edited by Paula Goodlett

Grantville Gazette Volume 21

created by Eric Flint
edited by Paula Goodlett

Grantville Gazette Volume 22

created by Eric Flint
edited by Paula Goodlett

Night Shade Halloween 2008 bundle

After the Downfall

by Harry Turtledove

Implied Spaces

by Walter Jon Williams

Ice, Iron and Gold

by S. M. Stirling

A Cruel Wind

by Glen Cook

Snake Agent

by Liz Williams

The Demon and the City

by Liz Williams

Precious Dragon

by Liz Williams

When mankind's every need is serviced by artificial intelligence, and death itself is only a minor inconvenience, what does it mean to be human The answer lies hidden, deep within the Implied Spaces.

Aristide, a semi-retired computer scientist turned swordsman, is a scholar of the implied spaces, seeking meaning amid the accidents of architecture in a universe where reality itself has been sculpted and designed by superhuman machine intelligence. While exploring the pre-technological world Midgarth, one of four dozen pocket universes created within a series of vast, orbital matrioshka computer arrays, Aristide uncovers a fiendish plot threatening to set off a nightmare scenario, perhaps even bringing about the ultimate Existential Crisis: the end of civilization itself.

Traveling the pocket universes with his wormhole-edged sword Tecmessa in hand and talking cat Bitsy, avatar of the planet-sized computer Endora, at his side, Aristide must find a way to save the multiverse from subversion, sabotage, and certain destruction.

From Walter Jon Williams, the celebrated and influential author of Hardwired, Voice of the Whirlwind, and Angel Station, comes Implied Spaces, a new novel of post-singularity action, pyrotechnics, and intrigue. Williams, whose name has long been synonymous with state-of-the-art science fiction, builds on the prophetic futurism of Vernor Vinge and Charles Stross, adding his own brand of poetic prose, masterful plotting, and engaging storytelling.

"What happens when technology reaches the casements of reality The answers to that question may dominate the rest of humankind's Experience. In Implied Spaces Walter Jon Williams wraps excellent adventure around this core question, and gives insights from a number of different perspectives."
—Vernor Vinge, author of A Fire Upon the Deep and Rainbows End

"Walter Jon Williams really knows how to play power chords in the key of 'sense of wonder': and in Implied Spaces he's gone to town on the guitar solo!"
—Charles Stross, author of Halting State and Accelerando

"Implied Spaces pioneers a new genre of SF—the 'Sword & Singularity' novel. Williams combines fantasy tropes believably with nanotech, bleeding-edge infotech speculation, classic smashing-planets space opera, and intriguingly human, or possibly post-human, characters along with a fast-moving plot and a quirky sense of humor in a mélange that's cosmological, theological, ontological, comic, and thoroughly entertaining."
—S. M. Stirling, author of Dies the Fire and The Sunrise Lands

HOLY WAR

Three hundred years ago the Saurons arrived on Haven and proceeded to destroy every vestige of technology except their own. Since then, the history of Haven has been a horror story.

But now one woman has sparked a rebellion, uniting the many tribes of Haven and joining together old enemies having nothing in common but their mutual hatred of the Sauron overlords. And at the Shangri-La valley this rabble in arms has done the impossible, and destroyed the Sauron force there.

But, an outpost is a very different thing from the final target of Aisha's army: the Sauron Citadel. If, against all odds, the Citadel falls, the humans will take back their world from the Sauron invaders—and three centuries of repressed hate and fury will erupt in Blood Vengeance . . .

WAR WORLD VENDETTA

It has been three hundred years since the Sauron remnant fled in secret to Haven. Blasted back into savagery by nuclear weapons, divided among themselves by bitter feuds, the human inhabitants were helpless before the initial onslaught of these gene-designed demons who walked like men and fought like battle computers. To the Saurons, humans were merely two-legged cattle, a source of breeding females and other tribute.

But now a new voice is heard on Haven—a summons that will unite nomad and farmer, Mongol, Russki and Jew. Aisha, sister and daughter of Juchi the Accursed, has raised a banner that will sweep across the steppes like a wind of fire. Soon the tribes will meet before the Sauron Citadel—there to encounter the forces of a mad Cyborg Battlemaster in a final struggle to retake their world. Blood Feuds—and No Mercy.

"Terrifying . . . It's the best end-of-the-world story since On The Beach . . . superb detail, shudderingly believable."—Frank Herbert

The chances that Lucifer's Hammer would strike the earth head-on were one in a million. Then one in a thousand. Then one in a hundred. And then . . .

Lucifer's Hammer, the gigantic comet, slams into Earth, shattering civilization.

The lucky ones die first. For the survivors, everyone's nightmare becomes true. Frightened and battered men and women must face earthquakes a thousand times too powerful to measure on the Richter scale; tidal waves thousands of feet high; cities turned into oceans; oceans turned into steam—the beginning of a new Ice Age. The end of government and power plants and libraries and hospitals and law.

Chance had saved a few. Now it was up to them. All restraints on human behavior vanish in flame and flood. But can they with bare hands, salvaged tools, and ingenuity forge a new society

Fleeing the flooded cities and plains are farmers, tradesmen, students, bikers, black militants, rapists, murderers, army deserters. All are prepared to battle to the death for the precious highlands of central California where the last hope for a civilization is a feisty U.S. senator and his strong-willed daughter. They have turned their mountain ranch into a citadel against the marauding hordes of mercenary soldiers, murderous cannibals, and psychopathic religious fanatics.

Who will survive and what will the new world be like now that Lucifer's Hammer has hit With bloodchilling tension, spellbinding suspense and scientific accuracy, the prize-winning authors have written a provocative, shocking, and terrifying novel of today—and perhaps tomorrow.

Larry Niven is a three-time winner of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award. His most famous novel, Ringworld, won both. He and his wife reside in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Jerry Pournelle, who holds degrees in engineering, psychology, and political science, was active in both the Mercury and Apollo space programs. He is the winner of the 1972 John Campbell Award. He resides in Studio City, California, with his wife and four sons.

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are the co-authors of the celebrated novel, The Mote in God's Eye. 

Emperor of Ideas. Story-telling Master.

"I loved it," mega-seller Tom Clancy said of Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven's Footfall. He was only echoing the New York Times Book Review (of a saner era), which proclaimed Pournelle and Niven's work "rousing, the best in the genre." And then there is the understated play on words of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer on Lucifer's Hammer: "massively entertaining." Massively. Especially after the "mass" slams Earth into a new Dark Age!

A Pournelle refresher course (as if you needed one—but it's fun to be reminded!): Politically incorrect. Provocative. A proponent of uncompromising scientific thought as opposed to scientism and malarkey. A political and social thinker who belongs among the greats. A story-teller in every sense of the word.

But you know this. Who doesn't Who couldn't Dr. Jerry E. Pournelle has passed the status of "bestseller": He's become a world-wide institution. A writer who creates and recreates entire genres. A thinker who fearlessly follows the logic to its ultimate conclusion (a species that's vanishingly rare these days). And did we mention he's hilarious when it suits his purposes

It's all here. The "Pournelle Continuum." Footfall. Lucifer's Hammer. Collaborations with Larry Niven that defined the science fiction blockbuster. "The Imperial Stars" tales, massive multi-volume collections of stories by cutting-edge writers (many of them legends themselves) brought together by Pournelle's vision and illuminated by his masterful discussion, contained between the stories, of republic, empire, of what it means to make war, to negotiate. To lose. To win. To advance as a civilization. And there are more astounding essays in A Step Farther Out, Pournelle jewels gleaned from the pages of Galaxy magazine. The books, the essays—in aggregate an extended argument for settling the solar system. The galaxy beyond. For getting out there. For living out there in style. As humanity's birthright.

Want more How about Pournelle's "Warwold" novels Blood Feuds and Blood Vengeance (co-written with such writers as Harry Turtledove, S.M. Stirling, Susan Schwartz and Judith Tarr.) Pournelle's take on the battle for a humane civilization on a lost planet at the long end the galaxy.

And don't forget Pournelle's espionage and political thrillers. Red Heroin. It's a book Robert A. Heinlein once called "the most realistic counterespionage story I've read in a long, long time." It's here—along with its sequel, Red Dragon.

Ten books. No shipping costs. No dead tree crumble. Big thought. Huge adventure. Massively wonder-inducing ideas. Characters who are amusing, torn, noble—and always courageous and resourceful in the face of a very tough, extremely unforgiving universe. It's a recipe for the best of the best in science fiction. And, of course, it's all presented in the reader-friendly, unencrypted formats Baen Ebooks is known for.

Footfall

by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Lucifer's Hammer

by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

A Step Farther Out

by Jerry Pournelle

Imperial Stars 1: The Stars at War

by Jerry Pournelle

Imperial Stars 2: Republic and Empire

by Jerry Pournelle

Imperial Stars 3: The Crash of Empire

by Jerry Pournelle

Blood Feuds

by created by Jerry Pournelle
with S. M. Stirling, Judith Tarr, Susan Shwartz and Harry Turtledove

Blood Vengeance

by created by Jerry Pournelle
with S. M. Stirling, Judith Tarr, Susan Shwartz and Harry Turtledove

Red Heroin

by Jerry Pournelle

Red Dragon

by Jerry Pournelle

For Sale: Secrets.
No offer too small No deal too dirty—
or too dangerous

Just when Paul Crane thought he'd gotten rid of the CIA... they're back.
There are two kinds of outlaws, and Crane is the patriotic kind. If he can help smash a Chinese spy ring by playing traitor, so be it.

The problem is, the CIA neglected to tell the FBI he's just playing. And they're playing for keeps...

DON'T MISS THE AUTHOR'S RED HEROIN

Wanted: Single man. West Coast native. Independent. Intelligent. Must be able to handle boat, car, gun.

A Red Chinese espionage operation is looking for a few good men.

So is the CIA, which must infiltrate and destroy the Reds before they get started.

Enter Paul Crane. Rebellious, but hip enough to know which side he's on.

Paul won't get rich in this job but he sure as hell won't get bored. It's the most dangerous sting of the century and he's the stinger . . .

FIRST IN A TWO NOVEL ESPIONAGE ADVENTURE SERIES

COMING SOON: RED DRAGON

Empires do not grow old gracefully. As the edifice of ancient government succumbs to entropy, as civil war reigns, and upstart nations encroach upon the elder government's prerogatives and borders, the result is indeed "interesting times," the times of interstellar Huns locked in mortal combat with Imperial storm troopers. The times of

THE CRASH OF EMPIRE

Humans must have government. If they do not have it, they will create it. But what kind In Volume I of the Imperial Stars series best-selling author Jerry Pournelle set out to find the answer. His reluctant conclusion: that throughout history, no matter in what form they began, all governments become empires—or are conquered by them. From Babylon, to Persia, to Rome, to the U.S.S.R.: no matter how high the founding ideals, the end is ever tyranny.

Or is there possibly one form of government that can withstand the curse of power and yet be strong enough to try conclusions with imperial legions . . .

Democracies endure until the citizens care more for what the state can give them than for its ability to defend rich and poor alike; until they care more for their privileges than their responsibilities; until they learn they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury and use the state as an instrument for plundering, first, those who have wealth, then those who create it.

The American people seem to be learning that fatal lesson. The last forty years have seen the United States reject the temptations of empire, but nearly succumb to the seductions of democracy. We have reached the abyss, but not yet taken the last step over it. The survival of freedom itself is at stake; and that future is by no means certain.

For most of history, most of mankind has either lived under imperial rule or has wanted to; or has been locked in struggle with empire. It is true today. In this, the supposed age of democracy, both China and the Soviet Union have imperial governments. Both are expanding; between them they encompass more than half the populations of the world. Nor are things so stable at home. Many books, written by liberal and conservative alike, note the drift of the United States toward imperial forms. The President of the United States holds, with his red and gold telephones, control of more power than was ever held by any man throughout history.

Blessing or curse, savior or destroyer: the shadow of empire falls across the Earth even in this enlightened age.

"I want to show you marvels. Dreams, in technicolour, with sharp edges. I want to tell you something of the wonder and excitement of science: of the birth of the universe: of black holes, and cities of the future; of how man and computer may forge between them something greater than both; of worlds transformed, and how man may direct the evolution of stars. I want to show you a world that might be made."

A Step Farther Out is not science fiction—it's fact. Let Jerry Pournelle the finest science fiction writer of our time, take you on a guided tour of the wonders of our age, and of ages to come.

Read about the monstrous black hole that may be slowly devouring our galaxy... the fact and fancy of flying saucers . . . how micro-cybernetic and bio-implants will one day give you a photographic memory and the calculating power of an Einstein...

Men first saw the invader as a series of dots on astronomical plates. It moved in a way that meant it was operating under power, heading from Saturn directly toward Earth. And since no life was possible on Saturn or its moons, the ship had to be a visitor from another star.

The aliens were coming!

Mankind's frantic efforts to signal the invader went unanswered. First contact came when the aliens blasted the Soviet space station and seized the survivors, following that by destroying every dam and major installation on Earth by a rain of asteroids from space. Then the Snouts descended on Kansas, demanding servile sur-render or death for all humans.

Thus begins a war of indescribable violence and incredible destruction, with the outcome in doubt until the final page.

Caught up in the conflict of this magnificently conceived and detailed novel are dozens of truly memorable characters: Harry, who crossed half a ruined continent to save another man's wife; Harpanet, the alien who gave his allegiance to humanity; Jenny, who brought the news of the invader and was caught up in the President's councils; Congressman Wes Dawson, who, captured by aliens, tried to serve both sides; and a host of others—both human and alien.

This is how it could happen— in a novel never to be forgotten!

The Posleen War Rages On — Undercover!

Clan O'Neal Battles for the Right—And With Each Other!

The Indowy "Bane Sidhe" conspiracy has grown strong, and the cunning and resourceful Darhel—tacit rulers of the Galactic Federation—have decided that the time has come to wipe that threat from the stars forever.  What the Darhel don't know is that humans have joined the rebellion—led by thief and assassin extraordinaire, Cally O'Neal.  Now Cally is set to destroy a web of alien deceit millennia in the making.  Only one obstacle lies in her path:  the renowned warrior who stood tall and saved Earth from utter destruction during its first invasion by alien hordes—a legend who also happens to be Cally's father!

Multiple New York Times best-selling John Ringo's "Posleen War" saga continues as beautiful assassin Cally O'Neil returns for a third appearance in a gripping interplanetary thriller co-authored by Ringo and best-selling Cally's War collaborator, Julie Cochrane.

"[F]ast-paced military sf peopled with three-dimensional characters and spiced with personal drama as well as tactical finesse"— Library Journal on John Ringo's "Posleen War" saga.

"[V]ivid, strong, and distinct."— Audiofile on John Ringo and Julie Cochrane's New York Times best-selling Cally's War.

The Solarian League Navy has been the premier navy of the galaxy for centuries. Indeed, no one can remember a time when it hasn't been acknowledged as the most powerful fleet in existence.

Until now, that is.

A conference to end the terrible war between the Peeps of Haven and the Manticorean Star Kingdom is slated. Peace is finally within reach.

Yeah, right.

Not with the slaver conspiracy that calls itself Manpower, Inc. pulling intergalactic strings. The plan To plunge the Star Kingdom into a two-front war with Peeps and Sollies—a process calculated to blast Honor Harrington's home system to smoking ruin!

Assassination's afoot. And out on the galactic frontier known as the Verge, big trouble boils over as Solarian League arrogance butts up against the steely resolve of Harrington protégé Michelle Henke, aka Admiral Gold Peak.

Too bad for the Sollies. For Harrington's officers have a habit of coming through in the clutch and finding a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But most of all—whatever the odds—they never, ever give up the fight!

Shadow of Saganami sequel—and the latest entry in David Weber's astoundingly adventurous, phenomenally popular, and multiply USA Today and New York Times best-selling "Honor Harrington" saga!

"Following in the best tradition of C.S. Forester, Patrick O'Brian and Robert A Heinlein! These hugely entertaining and clever adventures are the very epitome of space opera."
—Publishers Weekly.

"Weber's descriptions of space combat remain magnificent."
—Science Fiction Weekly.

Special e-book edition only: Animated Cover by David Mattingly! (HTML version only).

Storm from the Shadows - eARC

by David Weber

Storm from the Shadows-OOPSIE

by David Weber

Perfidious Plots,
Courageous Resolve—and,
of course,
Starships Blown to Smithereens!

The Solarian League Navy has been the premier navy of the galaxy for centuries. Indeed, no one can remember a time when it hasn't been acknowledged as the most powerful fleet in existence.

Until now, that is.

A conference to end the terrible war between the Peeps of Haven and the Manticorean Star Kingdom is slated. Peace is finally within reach.

Yeah, right.

Not with the slaver conspiracy that calls itself Manpower, Inc. pulling intergalactic strings. The plan To plunge the Star Kingdom into a two-front war with Peeps and Sollies—a process calculated to blast Honor Harrington's home system to smoking ruin!

Assassination's afoot. And out on the galactic frontier known as the Verge, big trouble boils over as Solarian League arrogance butts up against the steely resolve of Harrington protégé Michelle Henke, aka Admiral Gold Peak.

Too bad for the Sollies. For Harrington's officers have a habit of coming through in the clutch and finding a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But most of all—whatever the odds—they never, ever give up the fight!

Shadow of Saganami sequel—and the latest entry in David Weber's astoundingly adventurous, phenomenally popular, and multiply USA Today and New York Times best-selling "Honor Harrington" saga!

"Following in the best tradition of C.S. Forester, Patrick O'Brian and Robert A Heinlein! These hugely entertaining and clever adventures are the very epitome of space opera."
—Publishers Weekly.

"Weber's descriptions of space combat remain magnificent."
—Science Fiction Weekly.

To get this ARC please purchase the
Storm From the Shadow-ARC bundle Perfidious Plots,
Courageous Resolve—and,
of course,
Starships Blown to Smithereens!

The Solarian League Navy has been the premier navy of the galaxy for centuries. Indeed, no one can remember a time when it hasn't been acknowledged as the most powerful fleet in existence.

Until now, that is.

A conference to end the terrible war between the Peeps of Haven and the Manticorean Star Kingdom is slated. Peace is finally within reach.

Yeah, right.

Not with the slaver conspiracy that calls itself Manpower, Inc. pulling intergalactic strings. The plan To plunge the Star Kingdom into a two-front war with Peeps and Sollies—a process calculated to blast Honor Harrington's home system to smoking ruin!

Assassination's afoot. And out on the galactic frontier known as the Verge, big trouble boils over as Solarian League arrogance butts up against the steely resolve of Harrington protégé Michelle Henke, aka Admiral Gold Peak.

Too bad for the Sollies. For Harrington's officers have a habit of coming through in the clutch and finding a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But most of all—whatever the odds—they never, ever give up the fight!

Shadow of Saganami sequel—and the latest entry in David Weber's astoundingly adventurous, phenomenally popular, and multiply USA Today and New York Times best-selling "Honor Harrington" saga!

"Following in the best tradition of C.S. Forester, Patrick O'Brian and Robert A Heinlein! These hugely entertaining and clever adventures are the very epitome of space opera."
—Publishers Weekly.

"Weber's descriptions of space combat remain magnificent."
—Science Fiction Weekly.

Back By
Popular Demand:
The World's
Largest Snippet!
A Brief History

It was late 2005 and David Weber's latest Honor Harrington novel had just been published. More than a hundred thousand people had read it and they were hungry for more.

There would be a teeny tiny wait.

Until now.

Late 2008. Rumors of a new Honorverse novel to be published in 2009 abounded. David's progress on Storm from the Shadows, the sequel to Shadow of Saganami, was followed with great glee. David, being the honest Baen writer that he is, wanted to help those rumors along.

So he snippeted. Snippeting being a technique invented by Jim Baen to torture, er, nurture Baen readers by sharing parts of the latest novels that haven't been released yet.

David, being David, does not do things in a small way. So he snippeted the whole freakin' quarter-million-word novel as it existed on September 2, 2008.

Okay, so that's not exactly what he had planned. He had just planned to let out a few chapters. So the "oopsie version," as it has come to be called in our usual dignified way, was pulled within a few hours of the post.

But not before a very few people downloaded it in all good faith. And proceeded to read it. And proceeded to gloat in front of the rest of us.

Lamentations and wailings for parity commenced. And so we let everyone know that the version that got released really was not the final version. Several rounds of revisions by the author have been made since, and the copy edit and continuity check is still in progress. We really aren't quite ready to let the book out as an official eARC (i.e. electronic advanced reader copy); we want to send it out to the world all prettied up.

But the lamentations from the faithful did not cease.

And so, we—the publisher, author of the book, and webmaster—bring to you:

For those who want it—and we stress this is an early, un-edited, incomplete version—we will sell the "oopsie" now for $10. We are not asking you to buy this version, we do not recommend you buy this version, but if you gotta have it, come and get it.

In about 6 weeks, when all the revisions and edits are in, we will make available for the usual $15 the official eARC, which will get you both the "final" and "oopsie" versions—extra computer memory sold separately. If you bought the "oopsie" version, you'll be able to get the official eARC for only $12.

If you buy the Webscription month that contains Storm from the Shadows, March 2009, you will get access to all three versions in the final release, if you want 'em. If you buy the novel as a solo ebook, you get access to all three versions, if you want 'em.

And so let there be peace in the valley. Until the next snippet.

—Toni Weisskopf