Spekulativ skønlitteratur

723 n. Chr.: Um den Germanen zu beweisen, dass ihre alten Götter tot sind, will Bonifatius die Donar-Eiche fällen. Doch das geht gewaltig schief und statt der Eiche liegt am Ende der Mönch am Boden! Und mit ihm die christliche Mission in Europa.1301 nDS: Immer wieder verschwinden in Colonia junge Frauen spurlos. Die Polizei vermutet organisierten Menschenhandel und setzt Kommissar Ragnar Anderssohn auf den Fall an. Gemeinsam mit einer Kollegin ermittelt er in einer Welt, in der in Köln kein Dom steht und in der mit Radwöhr bezahlt wird ...

The Slow Plague, a gender-targeting infection with no cure, killed billions of women and girls worldwide and created a dystopian society in which the survivors are treated as highly valuable commodities. Although their market value is high, women's rights decline as they become objects of avarice, awe, and worship - possessions to be owned or won in high-stakes games. Kutri Chandigarh, a rare beauty, is shipped from her native India to Los Angeles, a shattered metropolis barricaded behind a radiation-proof wall. Within the city stronghold, a bleak, broken, male-led society is mesmerized by stupefying programs pumped out by Little Angel Studios: an endless parade of reality TV shows. The studio's #1 hit is Good Breeding: a bevy of ethnically "pure" young women compete to marry a chosen suitor and produce a "perfect" family under the scrutiny of the public eye. Kutri has dreamed of wining the competition since early childhood. But, when she arrives in LA and meets Jakob Freeman, her assigned matchmaker, the fantasy quickly turns sour and twists into a horrific nightmare extending far beyond Kutri and the man she chooses for herself. As Kutri tries to escape the fate she once coveted, Jakob is swept up in events that threaten him body and soul and spark memories of a past he has so desperately tried to forget.

A debut novel full of magic, adventure, and romance,The Book of Doorsopens up a thrilling world of contemporary fantasy for readers ofThe Midnight Library,The Invisible Life of Addie Larue,The Night Circus, and any modern story that mixes the wonder of the unknown with just a tinge of darkness.Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life. Until the day one of her favorite customersa lonely yet charming old mandies right in front of her. Cassie is devastated. She always loved his stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by. Nothing but the last book he was reading.But this is no ordinary bookIt is the Book of Doors.Inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, it promises Cassie that any door is every door. You just need to know how to open them.Then shes approached by a gaunt stranger in a rumpled black suit with a Scottish brogue who calls himself Drummond Fox. Hes a librarian who keeps watch over a unique set of rare volumes. The tome now in Cassies possession is not the only book with great power, but it is the one most coveted by those who collect them. Now Cassie is being hunted by those few who know of the Special Books. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, she has to decide if she will help the mysterious and haunted Drummond protect the Book of Doorsand the other books in his secret librarys carefrom those who will do evil. Because only Drummond knows where the unique library is and only Cassies book can get them there.But there are those willing to kill to obtain those secrets. And a dark forcein the form of a shadowy, sadistic womanis at the very top of that list.

Das Jahr 2058 - das Bevölkerungswachstum zwingt die Menschen in abgeriegelte Megastädte, in denen strenge Geburtenkontrolle und genetische Manipulation zur Kontrolle der Bevölkerungsentwicklung dienen. Ralf und Stefanie geraten in einen finanziellen Engpass und können sich die Pille nicht leisten, die ihren einjährigen Sohn Bobby vor der genetischen Degeneration bewahren soll.Ralf macht sich auf die Suche nach einer alternativen Heilmethode und begegnet Sarah, einer rätselhaften «Äusseren», die ihn zu einem Heiler bringen will. Eine abenteuerliche Reise durch eine verbotene Aussenwelt führt Ralf schliesslich zur schockierenden Wahrheit über die Medikamente und die Kontrollen der Regierung. In «Verlorene Wahrheiten - die Reise nach draussen» verschwimmen die Grenzen zwischen Freund und Feind, Wahrheit und Lüge. Eine ergreifende Geschichte über Liebe, Freiheit und den Mut, gegen die grausame Realität anzukämpfen.

"The River's Children" by Ruth McEnery Stuart is a heartwarming and insightful collection of short stories that provide a glimpse into the lives of people living along the Mississippi River.Set in the American South, these stories capture the essence of the region and its people, exploring themes of family, community, and the natural world. Each story is a vignette, offering a snapshot of the characters' lives, hopes, and challenges.Through Stuart's skillful storytelling, readers are introduced to a diverse cast of characters, from children to the elderly, from farmers to riverboat pilots. These characters navigate the complexities of life in the rural South, dealing with issues like poverty, racism, and the ever-present influence of the Mississippi River.The Mississippi River itself plays a prominent role in the stories, acting as both a backdrop and a force of nature that shapes the lives of those who live along its banks. Stuart's vivid descriptions bring the river to life, highlighting its beauty and danger in equal measure.While some stories in the collection are lighthearted and humorous, others delve into more serious and poignant themes. Stuart's writing is imbued with a deep sense of empathy and compassion for her characters, making them relatable and endearing to readers.Overall, "The River's Children" is a charming and evocative collection that paints a rich and authentic portrait of life in the rural South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and the beauty of the natural world, as seen through the eyes of those who call the Mississippi River their home.

Der scheue Gesellschaftswissenschaftler Juri bereitet die Eröffnung des Stadtmuseums der selbstorganisierten und freien Stadt Mela vor - sein lange geplantes Projekt. Doch dann gerät er unfreiwillig in die Schlagzeilen und es beginnt eine Hetzjagd auf ihn. Juri weiß nicht anders damit umzugehen, als in die Unterwelt von Mela zu flüchten. Als dabei sein Bezug zur Realität ins Schwanken gerät, droht er alles zu verlieren: seine Familie, seinen Partner und seinen Verstand.

"The Boy Spies of Philadelphia" by James Otis is a historical adventure novel set during the American Revolutionary War, showcasing the daring exploits of a group of young patriots who become spies for the American cause.In this captivating story, a group of resourceful and patriotic boys from Philadelphia decides to take an active role in the fight for American independence. With ingenuity and courage, they embark on espionage missions to gather crucial information about British troop movements and strategies. Operating in a city occupied by British forces, they face danger and intrigue while working undercover to aid the American revolutionaries.The novel celebrates the spirit of bravery, patriotism, and the young heroes who played significant roles in shaping the history of the United States. It portrays how these young spies risked their lives for the cause of freedom and independence.James Otis' storytelling immerses readers in the turbulent era of the American Revolution, offering an action-packed narrative that captures the essence of the struggle for liberty and the contributions of young individuals to a pivotal moment in history.

915 AD: The vast treasure fleet of China's Tang Dynasty reaches the western shores of North America, encountering the emerging Toltec Nation1115 AD: With advantages of steel and gunpowder acquired from China, the emerging Toltec Empire's junk, Golden Jaguar, makes landfall on the coast of Ireland.1215 AD: Amid wars, rebellion and plague the Toltec Empire has stretched across the Atlantic, conquering England and Ireland and setting its sights on the Continent beyond. 12:15 AD: Captain Mixcoatl, a hero of the Toltec Empire settles in with his wife at his new command at a fortress overlooking the provincial town of London.. Across the Irish Sea in Cashel, a local youth Fergus, renounces Christianity and is apprenticed to the service of the Toltec God Tezcatlipoca. On the road to nearby Saint Albans, Rowena, a young Saxon girl, trying to flee to the continent, falls into the hands of a band of outlaws. In a very different history where a New World empire conquers the old, where English knights in armour battle Toltec warriors with gunpowder, three very different people struggle to survive turbulent times beset with wars, rebellions and religious strife.

"The Republic is dead, let's burn the corpse"President Lamont has total control of the Gaelic Republic and is ruthlessly eliminating his opponents one by one; no one is safe.The Clan MacNachtan is battered and friendless, can it survive the assault of its many enemies?Gillespie is in love but must now face his greatest test.The final book in the Black Tower Trilogy reaches a dramatic climax.

Mi chiamo Theo e sono un cittadino di Oasis, l'ultima regione ancora abitabile della Terra. Doveva essere un paradiso, un luogo in cui tutti si sentivano felici. La volgarità, la violenza, la pazzia e altre malattie sono solo un lontano ricordo e nemmeno la morte ci affligge ormai.Anch'io mi sentivo felice, ma adesso sono cambiato. Sento una voce nella mia testa che mi dice cose di cui un'amica immaginaria non dovrebbe essere al corrente. Si chiama Phoe ed è un parto del mio delirio.Oppure no?Nota: Questo libro contiene linguaggio esplicito che abbiamo considerato importante per il tema della censura all'interno del romanzo. Se ritieni che tali termini siano offensivi, questo libro potrebbe non piacerti.

"Set in an alternate future amid a Second Civil War, [this is the story of] wounded infantryman Nick Carson, [who] flees the battlefield and escapes across the wasteland of war-torn America. Branded a coward and marked for death, Nick's only hope is to get to the other side. His route takes him through a strange, ravaged country where power plants lay destroyed and once great cities have gone dark. An America at war with itself. Yellow explores what happens when society falls apart, when there is no law and order"--

Bree MacLeod's Story begins... Seattle is the last place-in This World or the Otherworld-Bree MacLeod, wise woman, druid, and Daughter of the goddess Bríghid, would like to be. When her aunt and foster-mother falls into a coma of unknown origin, Bree is dragged back to the city of her childhood. As the family Bean feasa, Bree must work with her Otherworldly Allies to reach Emily and convince her soul to choose-to make Transition or to return to life on This Side of the Veil. But, being back in Seattle puts Bree within reach of her uncle, the man from whom she fled for her life years ago. Can Bree and her Allies find the way? Glimpse the world through the eyes of a modern-day druid. Bree MacLeod and her story are waiting for you.

Fourteen-year-old Samantha spends her days exploring the shallow reef behind her island home. With her world locked in a battle against rising seas, scientists deploy genetically modified corals to rebuild reefs and protect the coastline. No one expects the reefs to be a hotbed of evolution, but they are.The year is 2049. Climate change threatens the extensive reef system, endangering the emerging species of intelligent octopus known as The Nest. Terrifying storms wreak havoc and decimate coastal cities. Samantha and her team work to help the octopuses survive in the face of devastating damage to the reef from a hurricane.Can the inter-species alliance survive when the octopuses discover humanity's role in climate change and environmental damage? Will the massive campaign to reverse climate change be enough for humanity's survival?

Jimmy Bhatia and his friends are your typical young engineers turned it (professionals, stuck in the rat race with no end. They drink, smoke and diss about their managers and leads. Until Jimmy finds a little escape in the form of 'the club.' but when does the universe ever lets you rest and escape? It's 2008, and the recession hits the economy! Jimmy's friends lose their job and one by one he starts losing them too. Now it's up to Jimmy and a few other it guys to take a stand against the injustice. Their enemy, a bone-crushing white collar job and the depressing corporate slavery environment! But can a few it guys change how the world works? A story of revolt against the whole industry, this book deals with the youth, their hopes and dreams, friendship, heartbreaks, addiction, suppressed anger, death and a dangerous idea of annihilation! Assignment destruction: story of a few it guys, is a gripping narration of revolution and self-discovery.

Une nouvelle société ?Synopsis :Gustavo, un informaticien de près de 40 ans avec un emploi stable et pris dans une routine, partage un mariage usé avec une femme qu'il n'aime plus, tout en fantasmant sur des relations extraconjugales.À tout cela s'ajoute un événement inhabituel qui répand la peur dans la société et apporte un peu d'excitation dans sa vie. Il devient obsédé par la possibilité d'une catastrophe, dépense une fortune pour une liste de biens de survie, ce qui fait que même sa propre famille le prend pour fou. Plus de 10 000 livres vendus

Having escaped a transport ship suddenly overrun with creatures from another dimension, two teenagers, Laura, 16, and her brother Jared, 11, find themselves stranded in dead space aboard an escape craft. Three months have passed and supplies are running low. A starfish moves through the blackness and attaches itself to the outside window. They are not alone. Suddenly a communications line opens.They have been spotted by AU Capricorn, a prison ship. Beamed on board, they unknowingly bring another life form with them. The two teens arrive on the bridge.The other life form beams into the prison cell of Rock, a master technician of electronic escape, held in an early 20th century style cell, with zero electrical access.He discovers the starfish while doing exercises and it attaches to his face inserting a creature called the Slithereen into his brain via his nose. The Slithereen are an ancient breed of creatures whose only purpose is to find a host for Cthulhu to enter Earth under the guise of a human. Most humans are not strong enough to hold the great priest but there is a child on board that can house him. The Slithereen needs to find the human and to do that it needs more Slithereen to assist. A plan is set in motion to hunt and capture the human child at all costs. Time is running short.The Slithereen will not fail this time.They have found the perfect host.

« Pour la deuxième fois de ma vie, je venais d'abandonner mon humanité et je sentais une implacable noirceur m'envahir et durcir mon coeur. Je savais à ce moment précis que celle-ci serait mon indéfectible compagne jusqu'à la fin et que je ne pourrais plus m'en séparer. »

Months have passed since the events of The Invisible Kick and The Poison Maker, and Savannah's fresh start has not been easy. The once infamous food scientist has failed to get the lab working. Food shortages are rife, and she and her fellow Raft citizens are seen as a burden.But there is no going back. The Raft is mostly destroyed, and Savannah believes there is no one left alive.Then the satellite phone rings.A few stragglers, barely surviving need rescuing.As her new country prepares for its first democratic elections, Savannah must convince everyone that her people are worth saving.Once again, Savannah finds herself as a political pawn. Only now, the stakes are higher. The clock is ticking. This time, it's life or death.Savannah and her family escaped the Raft, but who did they leave behind?

Professor Savannah Selbourne lives on The Raft. The isolated country that was once Great Britain has been free of germs for decades. The plagues are over, the vermin that caused them are extinct. Every billboard brandishes the government's slogan: with sterility comes liberty!But did the poison ever really go away?Savannah's new job gives her the opportunity to discover the truth, yet revealing that truth could put her on the wrong side of those in power. How deep will she bury the lies for the sake of her wife and the child they yearn for?One thing she is sure of: the poison is toxic.But everyone is safe now ... aren't they?

Six years after the events of The Poison Maker, the oppressive government maintains its totalitarian control across The Raft, and Professor savannah Selbourne is now their pawn. Despite her humble beginnings, she has become an essential voice in the regime. Yet she yearns to break free.Then, The Raft starts to shake.Savannah's life is about to implode. She thought she knew how deceitful the powerful are. But the corruption runs deeper than she ever imagined.With her world crumbling around her, Savannah battles to save her family. But after years of deceit, can she convince her wife to look past the lies? Only Savannah can expose the poison.

L'auteur, à travers un conte ponctué de douze nouvelles inspirées de faits réels ou de récits fantastiques connus, tente de nous révéler ce qui se cache au-delà des apparences de l'existence, de la mort et du destin. Il questionne les limites de la vie pour relativiser cette frontière ténue entre le monde animé et le monde inerte. Si vous vous laissez emporter par le récit, vous assisterez à la métamorphose de l'existence. Ou comment une surface pliée devient un objet en trois dimensions, comment cet objet s'anime, comment l'eau, la pierre et les machines naissent, vivent, et meurent... Pour explorer ce livre, il vous faudra un compagnon de voyage, un aventurier prêt à plonger dans la folie du réel. Ce héros, ce sera "l'enfant monde". Plus qu'un enfant, il est l'enfance de la création. Il forge l'univers et ses différents astres. Il crée la vie. Mais dès lors, il engendre également la mort et la souffrance, à son grand désespoir. À la manière du Petit Prince, en quête de sens, il part visiter de nombreuses planètes et rencontrer les autochtones. Autant d'expériences qui vont façonner sa personnalité. Ce texte est un cheminement à travers les paradoxes de la vie qui participent à la construction de l'individu et vont jusqu'à structurer son esprit et révéler sa propre nature. Il en sera ainsi de notre enfant monde, qui devra grandir et se découvrir.

Fifty years on from her legendary kidnapping, the definitive novel has finally been written. On the night that Patty Hearst was kidnapped in 1974, journalist Roger D. Rapoport was a short drive away in his Bay Area home. He quickly became one of the primary reporters covering the saga as it unfolded in real time. His reporting gave local and national readers a window into one of the most bizarre and polarizing crimes in U.S. history. Now, fifty years later, he has written a novel that draws us back to that time. In this compelling new book, he explores alternative theories of the crime and delves into the complex psychology of many of the key actors in a drama that kept the country riveted. Using the techniques of fiction, Rapoport gives voice to much of the story that fell outside of the bounds of journalistic coverage. With Rapoport's wry sensibility and insider knowledge Searching for Patty Hearst is able to go beyond the tabloid headlines to tell the story in depth. Why did Patty participate in the kidnapping of a high school student hours before six of the SLA kidnappers were killed in a firefight with the Los Angeles police department? Did celebrity coroner Thomas Noguchi mishandle the autopsies of six SLA victims? Why did Patty's lawyers dump her fiance Steve Weed as a key witness at her trial at the last minute?Does the city of Stockholm having anything to do with this? It's often said that fiction can offer insights into the truth that reporting can't. If that is the case, the story of Patty Hearst, the SLA, and the kidnapping that carved them into the American psyche just may be told here for the first time.--James Sparling

Tokyo, 2048. Japan is now connected to the entire northern hemisphere by the Eurasian Railroad, and all manner of crime and vice pour into the megalopolis at its eastern terminus. Little do the people know that inhuman beings live among us, however--robots with high-level AI, who will kill to survive. Only one 'man' can stop them--their ORIGIN.