Search Worlds Without End

Explosive and provocative battles fought across the boundaries of time and space--and on the frontiers of the human mind.

Science fiction's finest have yielded this definitive collection featuring stories of warfare, victory, conquest, heroism, and overwhelming odds. These are scenarios few have ever dared to contemplate, and they include:

"Superiority": Arthur C. Clarke presents an intergalactic war in which one side's own advanced weaponry may actually lead to its ultimate defeat.

"Dragonrider": A tale of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern, in which magic tips the scales of survival.

"Second Variety": Philip K. Dick, author of the short story that became the movie Blade Runner, reaches new heights of terror with his post apocalyptic vision of the future.

"The Night of the Vampyres": A chilling ultimatum of atomic proportions begins a countdown to disaster in George R. R. Martin's gripping drama.

"Hero": Joe Haldeman's short story that led to his classic of interstellar combat, The Forever War.

"Ender's Game": The short story that gave birth to Orson Scott Card's masterpiece of military science fiction.

...as well as stories from Poul Anderson o Gregory Benford o C. J. Cherryh o David Drake o Cordwainer Smith o Harry Turtledove o and Walter John Williams

Guaranteed to spark the imagination and thrill the soul, these thirteen science fiction gems cast a stark light on our dreams and our darkest fears--truly among the finest tales of the 20th century.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction - essay by Harry Turtledove
• Among Thieves - (1957) - novelette by Poul Anderson
• Second Variety - (1953) - novelette by Philip K. Dick
• Hero - (1972) - novella by Joe Haldeman
• Superiority - (1951) - shortstory by Arthur C. Clarke
• Ender's Game - (1977) - novelette by Orson Scott Card
• Hangman - (1979) - novella by David Drake
• The Last Article - (1988) - novelette by Harry Turtledove
• The Game of Rat and Dragon - (1955) - shortstory by Cordwainer Smith
• Night of the Vampyres - (1975) - novelette by George R. R. Martin
• To the Storming Gulf - (1985) - novella by Gregory Benford
• Wolf Time - (1987) - novelette by Walter Jon Williams
• The Scapegoat - (1985) - novella by C. J. Cherryh
• Dragonrider - (1967) - novella by Anne McCaffrey

Explore fascinating, often chilling "what if" accounts of the world that could have existed–and still might yet...

Science fiction's most illustrious and visionary authors hold forth the ultimate alternate history collection. Here you'll experience mind-bending tales that challenge your views of the past, present, and future, including:

• "The Lucky Strike": When The Lucky Strike is chosen over The Enola Gay to drop the first atomic bomb, fate takes an unexpected turn in Kim Stanley Robinson's gripping tale.
• "Bring the Jubilee": Ward Moore's novella masterpiece offers a rebel victory at Gettysburg which changes the course of the Civil War... and all of American history.
• "Through Road No Wither": After Hitler's victory in World War II, two Nazi officers confront their destiny in Greg Bear's apocalyptic vision of the future.
• "All the Myriad Ways": Murder or suicide, Ambrose Harmon's death leads the police down an infinite number of pathways in Larry Niven's brilliant and defining tale of alternatives and consequences.
• "Mozart in Mirrorshades": Bruce Sterling and Lewis Shiner explore a terrifying era as the future crashes into the past–with disastrous results.

...as well as works by Poul Anderson - Gregory Benford - Jack L. Chalker - Nicholas A. DiChario - Brad Linaweaver - William Sanders - Susan Shwartz - Allen Steele - and Harry Turtledove himself!

The definitive collection: fourteen seminal alternate history tales drawing readers into a universe of dramatic possibility and endless wonder.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction - essay by Harry Turtledove
• The Lucky Strike - (1984) - novelette by Kim Stanley Robinson
• The Winterberry - (1992) - shortstory by Nicholas A. DiChario
• Islands in the Sea - (1989) - novelette by Harry Turtledove
• Suppose They Gave a Peace - (1992) - novelette by Susan Shwartz
• All the Myriad Ways - (1968) - shortstory by Larry Niven
• Through Road No Whither - (1985) - shortstory by Greg Bear
• Manassas, Again - (1991) - shortstory by Gregory Benford
• Dance Band on the Titanic - (1978) - novelette by Jack L. Chalker
• Bring the Jubilee - (1952) - novella by Ward Moore
• Eutopia - (1967) - novelette by Poul Anderson
• The Undiscovered - (1997) - novelette by William Sanders
• Mozart in Mirrorshades - (1985) - shortstory by Bruce Sterling and Lewis Shiner
• The Death of Captain Future - (1995) - novella by Allen Steele
• Moon of Ice - (1982) - novella by Brad Linaweaver

LEAP INTO THE FUTURE, AND SHOOT BACK TO THE PAST

H. G. Wells's seminal short story "The Time Machine," published in 1895, provided the springboard for modern science fiction's time travel explosion. Responding to their own fascination with the subject, the greatest visionary writers of the twentieth century penned some of their finest stories. Here are eighteen of the most exciting tales ever told, including

"Time's Arrow" In Arthur C. Clarke's classic, two brilliant physicists finally crack the mystery of time travel--with appalling consequences.

"Death Ship" Richard Matheson, author of Somewhere in Time, unveils a chilling scenario concerning three astronauts who stumble upon the conundrum of past and future.

"Yesterday was Monday" If all the world's a stage, Theodore Sturgeon's compelling tale follows the odyssey of an ordinary joe who winds up backstage.

"Rainbird" R.A. Lafferty reflects on what might have been in this brainteaser about an inventor so brilliant that he invents himself right out of existence.

"Timetipping" What if everyone time-traveled except you? Jack Dann provides some surprising answers in this literary gem.

...as well as stories by Poul Anderson - L. Sprague de Camp - Joe Haldeman - John Kessel - Nancy Kress - Henry Kuttner - Ursula K. Le Guin - Larry Niven - Charles Sheffield - Robert Silverberg - Connie Willis