Science Fiction Technology

The science fiction genre has become increasingly influential in mainstream popular culture, evolving into one of the most engaging storytelling tools we use to think about technology and consider the shape of the future. Along the way, it has also become one of the major lenses we use to explore important philosophical questions. The origins of science fiction are most often thought to trace to Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, a story born from a night of spooky tale-telling by the fireside that explores scientific, moral, and ethical questions that were of great concern in the 19th century - and that continue to resonate today.

Watch out - the Earth just fell into a dark sun's orbit! Or maybe you'd rather visit a theme park called Hell? These are just two of the strange and unnerving tales you'll find in this collection of great science fiction and fantasy stories.

The military SF sequel to his extraordinary Old Man's War, John Scalzi's The Ghost Brigades is the second in The Old Man's War series. Who can you trust, if you can't trust yourself? Three hostile alien races have united against humanity, determined to halt our expansion into space. The...

The extraordinary second volume in Peter F. Hamilton’s space opera masterpiece, the Salvation Sequence. ‘Action-oriented hardcore science fiction at its page-turning best’ – The Guardian Fight together - or die alone. In the twenty-third century, humanity is enjoying a comparative utopia...

Science fiction is a portal that opens doors onto futures too rich and strange to imagine. Fantasy takes us through doorways of magic and wonder. For more than a decade award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan has sifted through tens of thousands of stories to select the best, the most interesting, the most engaging science fiction and fantasy to thrill and delight readers. 

They travelled into the unknown and left themselves behind . . . Alien Clay is a thrilling tale of alien encounter – from the acclaimed Arthur C. Clarke Award-winner Adrian Tchaikovsky. ‘Unputdownable’ – Stephen Baxter, author of Proxima Professor Arton Daghdev has always wanted to study...

Hard-core military science fiction at its very best, John Scalzi's The Last Colony is the third in The Old Man's War series. They must save themselves – or die trying. John Perry was living peacefully on one of humanity's colonies – until he and his wife were offered an opportunity these...

The best of the year's science fiction and fantasy stories as selected by the multiple award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan. Distant worlds, time travel, epic adventure, unseen wonders, and much more! The best, most original and brightest science fiction and fantasy stories from around the globe from the past 12 months are brought together in one collection by multiple award winning editor Jonathan Strahan.

Jonathan Strahan, the award-winning and much lauded editor of many of genre's best known anthologies, is back with his 11th volume in this fascinating series, featuring the best science fiction and fantasy. With established names and new talent, this diverse and ground-breaking collection will take the listener to the outer reaches of space and the inner realms of humanity with stories of fantastical worlds and worlds that may still come to pass.

In space everyone can hear you sing. A century ago, intelligent space-faring life was nearly destroyed during the Sentience Wars. To bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity and understanding, the Metagalactic Grand Prix was created. Part concert, part contest, all extravaganza, species far and wide gather to compete in feats of song, dance and/or whatever facsimile of these can be performed by various creatures who may or may not possess, in the traditional sense, feet, mouths, larynxes or faces. 

In a world of self-driving cars and big data, smart algorithms and Siri, we know that artificial intelligence is getting smarter every day. Though all these nifty devices and programs might make our lives easier, they're also well on their way to making "good" jobs obsolete. A computer winning Jeopardy might seem like a trivial, if impressive, feat, but the same technology is making paralegals redundant as it undertakes electronic discovery and is soon to do the same for radiologists.

From number one, worldwide, best-selling fantasy author Morgan Rice comes the third book in a long-anticipated science-fiction series. With planet Earth destroyed, what will become of 13-year-old Kevin and Chloe in the mother ship? Will the aliens enslave them? What do they want? Is there any hope of escape? And will Kevin and Chloe ever return to Earth again?

The Republic poses questions that endure: What is justice? What form of community fosters the best possible life for human beings? What is the nature and destiny of the soul? What form of education provides the best leaders for a good republic? What are the various forms of poetry and the other arts, and which ones should be fostered and which ones should be discouraged? How does knowing differ from believing?

Dead leaves, food scraps, and grass clippings for lunch? Small animals, fungi, and bacteria called decomposers turn trash into a tasty compost treat. Learn more about compost and how you can use it in your garden or yard.

Известный писатель и журналист Стивен Котлер уже не раз рассказывал нам о тех поворотных моментах в истории, когда научная фантастика становится научным фактом и полностью переворачивает наш мир.

Hard-core, fast paced science fiction, John Scalzi's Zoe's Tale is the fourth in The Old Man's War series. She won't go down without a fight. It's not every day you up sticks and move to another world. But then, Zoë Boutin-Perry's life has never been ordinary. She's the adopted teenage daughter...

Step into twenty science fiction short stories where strange possibilities become immediate human problems—and ingenuity, courage, ambition or sheer stubbornness may be the only way out. Buy a planet where the laws of physics refuse to cooperate. Escape a tyrannical Earth aboard the last rebel ship. Hunt the Great Secret of the Universe. Race to save a dying world. Watch reality disappear because everyone believes it should. Travel through time to Nero's Rome. And meet aliens, inventors, engineers, soldiers, con men and unlikely heroes confronting problems no one has faced before.

A new guru has convinced the world that thought creates reality—and that the physical universe can simply be wished away. Nearly everyone accepts the idea. Shellback does not. As people, places and solid ground begin to vanish, one stubborn old man clings to the unfashionable belief that reality ought to stay put. To save what remains, he will have to outlast a movement built on belief itself—and confront the man who expects to be the last mind standing. The world is disappearing. Belief has become power. And stubbornness may be the only thing solid enough to stop it.

Fanner Marston has survived what killed every other man in his party. Driven by greed, power and obsession, he crosses a brutal landscape toward the legendary city of Parva, where the Great Secret of the Universe is said to wait. Marston wants absolute power. He has paid for it in blood, thirst and endurance. But reaching the secret is only the beginning—because the truth at the end of his quest may overturn everything he believed the prize would give him. Forty men began the journey. One man reaches the end. And the greatest secret in existence has one more surprise waiting for him.

Chuck Lambert has one dream: own a planet. After eleven years of saving, sacrifice and wishful thinking, he finally gets his chance through Madman Murphy, the self-proclaimed king of planetary realtors. The bargain world looks beautiful—until Chuck tries to live on it. Gravity does not behave. The air is wrong. The water is worse. Everything he bought is exactly as advertised, which may be the biggest problem of all. A bargain planet. A very persuasive salesman. And laws of physics that make the fine print look harmless.