Author: jmstine

ANOTHER DAZZLING SPECULATION BY THE HUGO, CAMPBELL, PROMETHEUS, & LOCUS AWARD FINALIST AUTHOR.

"A plausible, well-crafted narrative exploring cyberspace in a wholly new and very refreshing way." —William Gibson

“For the first time, a trip into the Heart of Virtual Reality with a Conrad who actually knows the territory. This fast-paced thriller set on the interface between Life and Immortality sends real chills down real spines.” —Terry Bisson

“In fascinating detail, Platt shows us what it would really be like to live—and breathe!—in cyberspace.” —Gregory Benford

What would it be like to upload your consciousness into cyberspace? James Bayley, an investigator for the High Technology Crime division of the FBI, finds out when he investigates LifeScan, a clandestine project sponsored by an aging billionaire. LifeScan’s aim is to create a silicon universe, and it has embezzled millions of dollars in public funds to create a detailed cyberspace that offers virtual immortality.

But what price this immortality? Those scanned will become immortal, virtual gods in a universe of their own creation, freed from the weaknesses of flesh. But to gain immortality, each candidate must first die!

And to keep James Bayley from reporting back to the FBI, LifeScan decides to kill him in a car crash and then use him as a test subject—the first person to be uploaded into the silicon universe they have created. But his wife, Yumi, as she discovers clues convincing her the crash was a setup, begins to investigate his death, determined to bring those responsible to justice … while James trapped in cyberspace, perhaps forever, tries to figure out who and what he is now.

“Full of good ideas ... a thought-provoking, thoughtful novel.” —The New York Review of Science Fiction

“A well-plotted, fast-paced, and imaginative look into the future ... a book where ideas drive the plot. Above all, Platt’s work is full of surprises.” —The Washington Post

“Who hasn't dreamed of disembodied barrel rolls over the fractal geographies of cyberspace, reincarnated as one of the infomorphs envisioned by Charles Platt is his unforgettable novel, The Silicon Man? Platt's achingly painful evocation of the man, 'downloaded' against his will, who realizes he is a cloud of electrons in computer memory who will never hold his wife and child in arms of flesh again has never stopped haunting me.” —Mark Dery, Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the End of the Century

Hugo, Locus and Prometheus Award finalist—every major science fiction theme in one volume—the only science fiction novel you'll ever need!

Free Zone has been compared with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy! “...but Platt is the better writer, and Free Zone is the better book.”—Washington Post Book World

In a disintegrating Los Angeles of the near future, fearless biker Dusty McCullough defends the Free Zone against intelligent dinosaurs, talking dogs, and barbarians from the Earth's core. Can she and her genius hacker boyfriend beat their enemies into submission before the invading horde of snaliens devour them all?

“Good, wacky, over-the-top fun!” —Goodreads

"An everything including the kitchen sink send-up of distopian sci-fi in a near-future Los Angeles 'free zone' where a freebooting woman is leading a semi-autonomous urban geography of misfits and freaks. The author touches on every conceivable theme used in science fiction (time travel, aliens, ESP, etc) and references several bodies of sci-fi work as well as specific authors. A great spoof book, equal parts humor and adventure. Extremely entertaining for anyone who has extensively read sci-fi to treasure hunt all the subtle and not so subtle references. This had me howling with laughter. Highly recommended." —Amazon review

“You’ll enjoy the book more if you put your brain in neutral and go along for the ride. Free Zone is a mostly successful spoof/pastiche.” —Aboriginal Science Fiction

"A delightful science fiction fantasy novel set in a parallel universe where Los Angeles is a chaotic dictatorship with a libertarian Free Zone in the middle of it. We know it's an alternate universe because ours is referenced in it by the super-intelligent robot from the future who stumbles upon it while threading time-space looking for a better place for the combat-grrl president of the Free Zone and her geek boyfriend, his friends. This is because the Free Zone is being invaded by hyper-intelligent dogs, aliens, dinosaurs and subterranean troglodytes all at about the same time. Fortunately, the Hell's Angels are there to save L.A. from these lesser terrors." —Amazon review

“This book has everything.” —Goodreads

Free Zone contains a list of over twelve dozen sci-fi themes used in the book.

Cover: Michael Marrak

To save her people, she must make a heart-breaking sacrifice that will test her courage as a warrior … and a woman!

“This is a great book flows smoothly, keeps you wondering and goes through the lives of the tribe and their struggles and heartaches. If I didn't already have the book, I would buy it again.” —Amazon Verified 5-star review

Here was an ancient land of beauty and bloodshed... Turning away from warfare and superstition, Kori and her husband, Uroh, left their people to found the Ocean Tribe, a group of peace-loving wanderers turned fishermen and hunters. Led by a strong and beautiful female warrior, protected by the mysterious sea, they had no enemies. Or so Kori thought. Yet a bitter foe lies deep within the tribe itself, poised to strike.

The tribe's peaceful existence begins to crumble when a stranger named Werror appears, seeking refuge after ruthless fighters decimate his village. Skilled and clever, this powerful man both captivates and disturbs Kori. Little does she know that he is about to lead her into the ultimate betrayal...and a battle for survival that will shatter everything she believes about herself and her world.

For fans of Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear and S.A. Adams' Prehistoric.

REVEALING, INSIGHTFUL INTERVIEWS WITH MORE THAN TWO DOZEN INFLUENTIAL SF WRITERS

“I wanted to know about science fiction writers. Who were they, where were they, and how did they get published? How did they decide what to write, how much were they paid—and who put those awful covers on their books? I wanted to know about the process which caused a book to exist. My curiosity led me to interview twenty-nine science fiction writers for Dream Makers.” Charles Platt

“Excellent prose profiles ... you get the feeling that you really know each person that Platt has talked with ... highly recommended.” —Amazing Stories

Back in print! Historic interviews with legendary authors. Plus new material including: Introduction and updated Historical Context on the authors and their work in the decades following the book’s original publication.These interviews were generally captured in the writer's environment and provide fascinating, behind the scenes views of their writing process and their state of mind. “I'm very impressed ... a tremendous piece of work. ... remarkable portraits.” —J. G. Ballard

In-depth conversations with Isaac Asimov, Thomas M. Disch, Ben Bova, Robert Sheckley, Kurt Vonnegut. Jr., Norman Spinrad, Frederik Pohl, Samuel R. Delany, Barry N. Malzberg, Edward Bryant, Alfred Bester, C. M. Kornbluth, Algis Budrys, Philip José Farmer, A. E. van Vogt, Philip K. Dick, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Frank Herbert, Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm, Michael Moorcock, J.G. Ballard, E.C. Tubb, Ian Watson, John Brunner, Gregory Benford, Robert Silverberg, and Brian W. Aldiss.

“So vivid, you wish they would never end. ... a special book.” -Chicago Tribune“Wittily perceived and cleanly professional interviews with sci-fi writers, rich in information and wide in scope, free of indulgence and tunnel vision.” -Philadelphia Inquirer
“Compulsively instant reading ... other things got tossed aside for it.” —Tan Wai-qnn

Cover: Michael Marrak

A WOMAN OF PASSION AND DARING — IN A SPELLBINDING SAGA OF DANGER AND DESIRE IN PREHISTORIC AMERICA!

“Hands down the best book in the trilogy! Loved all three books that not only showcased Native Americans but even more so: Women who were, Strong, Beautiful, Courageous and so many other things” —Goodreads

“I love all this author’s books.” —Goodreads

In the American Southwest, ten thousand years after the last Ice Age swept the earth, a peaceful tribe of cave dwellers hunt and till the land. Beautiful, sensuous Nisha, known as the defiant one, dares to choose her own mate despite the tribe's disapproval. And together, the fierce passion between these two gives life to an infant son, destined to become the Great Hunter.

But one night, under a sky filled with ominous stars, Nisha's world is viciously destroyed by a pillaging raping tribe of nomads. Watching in helpless horror as her husband and son are murdered, Nisha vows revenge. With relentless wit and wile, she plays her captors against each other, titillating them with a new kind of lovemaking, outsmarting and taming their brutishness. And with the triumphant courage of a resolute risk taker, Nisha escapes into a new life, filled with new adventure, passion-and love.

More Raves For Children of the Sun:

“The story begins with Nisha's tribe and her husband and newborn baby. The tribe lives happily together as equals. men and women work together with trust and freedoms. In one night, her whole life is changed by one traumatic appearance of Greb and his sexist men. You follow Nisha as her rage and anger consume her as she tries to bring the men responsible for destroying her tribe and her people. This journey takes you along to see her frustration, her failures, her guilt, her wit and wile, her success and the different cultures and customs of other tribes. The characters are very well built; each has their own personality and their own reasons for doing as they do. The author did not flinch about putting blood and gore into the novel as well as sex. You want your readers to believe the story and it and how are we to believe it if the authors spare us the realistic truths of human savagery? As a survivor of an abusive boyfriend I understand the need for justice, the need for revenge and the need to help others like me. The guilt, blaming myself, the anger and rage and breakdowns were overwhelming and the story did a fine job of creating a similar circumstance for Nisha. It all happens during a time when agriculture and other advanced tools and systems were spreading through the many tribes of the American Southwest ... irrigation, trading systems, agriculture, bows and arrows - all the other innovations of that time. The scenery is wonderful as well and she writes vividly. Great for lovers of adventure, justice, passion, native and pre-historical fictions.” —Amazon Review

“Of the three books in this trilogy, Children of the Ice, Children of the Mesa and Children of the Sun, this was probably the most intriguing. It was more sexual than the others, to be sure - which was interesting because through this, Prentiss was able to show the aggression of the warrior tribe, as opposed to the sophistication of the Hohokam and Anasazi tribes. Having Nisha do a lot of traveling was beneficial to the reader - we were able to experience the cave dwelling people, the valley dwellers, and the people who lived on the mesa (descendants of the people who originally found the mesa in the last novel). She is very descriptive of her characters and surroundings.” —Goodreads

“Overall, this was a solid entertaining book I recommend to those interested in historical fiction.” —Goodreads

World Fantasy Award Winner's Pulp Masterpiece of Earth Versus the Martians at West Point!

The dirty Marties were infiltrating Earth and had penetrated its military defenses and secrets. Yes, it was a sorry day indeed for Earth when she admitted Martian Cadets to West Point for training.

And only two cadets stood between Earth and the deadly peril of alien conquest, Garr Devlin, the son of a criminal, and Nola Rakkam, scion of an aristocratic family that had served with distinction in the planet’s military for generations. Garr Devlin was a denizen of the Underways, New York’s underground slums for the lower caste workers who never saw the sun and labored from night to day tending the great machines that supplied the metropolis’ light and water. His appointment to West Point violated both tradition and social convention. But to the Cadets from Mars, his entrance into West Point was the signal for war on Earth.

They began by inciting the workers of the Underways to revolt. But what would be the outcome of the great Martian-inspired revolution? Would the woman Garth loves kill him, believing him a traitor? Would she herself be shot in turn? If the Martian conspirator Bexlann played his cards right, could he not aspire to personal overlordship of all Earth, as a reward for a job well done?

As the editors wrote at the time of its original publication in Amazing Stories for Oct. 1940, "Trapped in the Underways as Martian revolt flames, could Garr Devlin discover the real meaning of West Point honor and of a thousand years of tradition before it was too late for the Earth and the entire solar system? This dramatic story of espionage and counter-espionage, with the destiny of the Earth itself at stake, will attain a climax so exciting and so surprising that West Point, 3000 A.D. will undoubtedly go down in the annals of science fiction as one of the greatest stories ever written."