The Pursuit of the Pankera: A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes

National Bestseller "An absolutely essential and 'must read' novel for the legions of Robert Heinlein fans, The Pursuit of the Pankera: A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes is an extraordinary work of science fiction"--Midwest Book Review "Heinlein still offers a rollicking ride even after all these years."-- The Oklahoman The Pursuit of the Pankera is one of the most audacious experiments ever done in science fiction by the legendary author of the classic bestseller Starship Troopers. Robert A. Heinlein wrote The Number of the Beast, which was published in 1980. In the book Zeb, Deety, Hilda and Jake are ambushed by the alien "Black Hats" and barely escape with their lives on a specially configured vehicle (the Gay Deceiver) which can travel along various planes of existence, allowing them to visit parallel universes. However, unknown to most fans, Heinlein had already written a "parallel" novel about the four characters and parallel universes in 1977. He effectively wrote two parallel novels about parallel universes. The novels share the same start, but as soon as the Gay Deceiver is used to transport them to a parallel universe, each book transports them to a totally different parallel world. From that point on the plot lines diverge completely. While The Number of the Beast morphs into something very different, more representative of later Heinlein works, The Pursuit of the Pankera remains on target with a much more traditional Heinleinesque storyline and ending, reminiscent of his earlier works. The Pursuit of the Pankera was never published and there have been many competing theories as to why (including significant copyright issues in 1977). Over time the manuscript was largely forgotten but survived in fragments. A recent re-examination of these fragments, however, made it clear that put together in the right order they constituted the complete novel. And here it finally is: Robert A. Heinlein's audacious experiment. A fitting farewell from one of the most inventive science fiction writers to have ever lived: a parallel novel about parallel universes as well as a great adventure pitting the forces of good versus evil only the way Heinlein could do.

Literature & Fiction

HEINLEIN, ROBERT A.

Genre Fiction

CAEZIK SF & Fantasy

The Number of the Beast: A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes

The Number of the Beast&nbsp;is a mind-bending experiment by one of the greatest writers in science fiction who ever lived and the author of the classic bestseller,&nbsp;Starship Troopers. It is a parallel book about parallel universes. Most readers did not realize in 1980 (when it was originally published) that the novel had a sister book, written in 1977, that was never published. That book is finally being published under the title&nbsp;The Pursuit of the Pankera. . Both novels deal with parallel universes, share the same main characters and have the same first one-third of the book. However, from that point on (after they make a jump to a parallel universe) the novels diverge completely. . And here is where the second part of the experiment comes in. While&nbsp;The Pursuit of the Pankera&nbsp;continues the adventure in a very customary Heinlein manner, reminiscent of his earlier works,&nbsp;The Number of the Beast&nbsp;becomes something very different. . On surface, the book is about two men and two women who are attacked by aliens and then embark on roller coaster ride of an adventure through a myriad of universes. But as Jack Kirwan wrote in&nbsp;The National Review, "describing&nbsp;The Number of the Beast&nbsp;thus is like saying&nbsp;Moby Dick&nbsp;is about a one-legged guy trying to catch a fish."&nbsp; The Number of the Beast&nbsp;is a homage to science fiction, to his friends and to characters used in other books, also serving as a parody and a lesson to anyone willing to listen, in a way only Robert A. Heinlein could have presented it.

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Science Fiction

The most relevant science fiction release of 2020 by three award-winning authors "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."-- First Corinthians 15:52 "Three alarming, eclectic novellas imagine a ravaged America left behind by the totalitarian reign of Donald Trump in this chilling anthology, which picks up after Trump's death in 2024 during 'the second great COVID outbreak' "--Publishers Weekly From New York Times bestselling author, Harry Turtledove, critically-acclaimed novelist, James Morrow, and Nebula Award winner, Cat Rambo, comes a masterful anthology of three sensational novellas depicting a dark fictional future of the United States. And the Last Trump Shall Sound is a prophetic warning about where we, as a nation, may be headed. Mike Pence is President of the United States after years of divisive, dogmatic control by Donald Trump. The country is in turmoil as the Republicans have strengthened their stronghold on Congress, increasing their dominance. And with the support of the Supreme Court, more conservative than ever, State governments become more marginalized by the authoritarian rule of the Federal government. There are those who cannot abide by what they view as a betrayal of the nation's founding principles. Once united communities break down and the unthinkable suddenly becomes the only possible solution: the end of the Union. The authors' depiction of a country that is both unfamiliar and yet unnervingly all too realistic, make you realize the frightening possible consequences of our increased polarization--a dire warning to all of us of where we may be headed unless we can learn to come together again.

And the Last Trump Shall Sound: A Future History of America

TURTLEDOVE, HARRY

Rambo, Cat

Morrow,James

Humor & Satire

"all will be impressed by Turtledove's immersive ancient world." &minus; Publishers Weekly A new novel by one of the most acclaimed writers of alternate history in the world; a New York Times bestselling author who has been crowned as 'the Master of Alternate History' by Publisher Weekly and has won virtually every major award associated with the genre. Salamis is the fifth (standalone) novel in Harry Turtledove's critically acclaimed Hellenic Traders universe, detailing the adventures of two cousins, Menedemos and Sostratos, who work as seaborne traders following the death of Alexander the Great. This time the stage is one of the greatest sea battles ever fought in ancient times; the Battle of Salamis of 306 BC. The small, free, and independent polis of Rhodes is trying to stay neutral between the local great powers, each ruled by one of Alexander the Great's marshals: Asia Minor, controlled by one-eyed Antigonos, and Egypt, under the rule of Ptolemaios. As tensions between the great powers escalate, Menedemos and Sostratos are trying to resolve their own problems, oblivious to the fact that one of the greatest navel fleets in ancient history is about to set sail. Ptolemaios, needing shipping to carry weapons for the army he intends to land, coerces Menedemos into bringing their ship, the Aphrodite, along as part of his expeditionary force. And so, very much against their will, Menedemos and Sostratos become small parts of one of the ancient world's most significant naval battles.

Salamis (Hellenic, 5)

Fantasy

"Standouts include...Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn's beautifully sad "Benchwarmer," which takes us into the world of imaginary friends, and introduces us to one friend who simply can't let go of the boy who created him."--io9 "A satisfying sampler of solid stories from a team that rarely disappoints." --Publishers Weekly Multiple award-winning authors, Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn, get to the heart of the matter in Soulmates, which showcases all the words they have penned together over their years as collaborators (with a bonus solo piece by each). Whether a robot, alien, some kind of supernatural being or human, rising above our prejudices and ignorance allows us to make emotional connections that can have a profound effect on our lives.

Soulmates

Resnick, Mike

Robyn, Lezli

What inspired George R.R. Martin, the creator of the hugely successful Game of Throne franchise? Why did Lois McMaster, winner of six Hugo awards, start writing science fiction? How did the Vietnam war experience impact David Drake and his writing of military SF. Get the answers to these and many other questions with these detailed interviews of some of the most iconic figures in science fiction and fantasy. These interviews show a very intimate, unknown side of these authors; many sharing very personal experiences (the good and the bad) that made them the writers that they are today. Galaxy's Edge magazine is known for its interviews of science fiction and fantasy professionals, and the list of writers and other professionals it has published reads like a who's who of the field, including George R.R. Martin, Mercedes Lackey, Larry Niven, Connie Willis, Lois McMaster Bujold, David Drake and a host of other authors every science fiction reader is familiar with. This book collects all the interviews published in Galaxy's Edge magazine from its inception through to its 34th issue. In many cases these are expanded, original versions of the interviews published in the magazine (which had to be originally condensed for due to limitations of the magazine format). Some of these conversations will make you think hard, some will make you smile and laugh, and some may even make you cry. But what each and every interview will do is give you a unique insight into the genre and the lives of these giants of the industry.

Conversations From the Edge: The Galaxy's Edge Interviews

Essays & Correspondence

Rarely do books have such a great influence on a genre as Lest Darkness Fall has had on science fiction. Frequently quoted as one of the favorite books of many of the masters in this genre, this book by L. Sprague de Camp helped establish alternate-history as solid sub-genre of science fiction. An indication of the influence and longevity of the book is by the number of best-selling writers who have written stories in direct response to, or influenced by, Lest Darkness Fall. The original tribute volume (titled Lest Darkness Fall and Related Stories, reprinted three such stories by Frederik Pohl, David Drake and S. M. Stirling written over a period of forty-three years--a testament to the timelessness of the book. The 2021 edition (Lest Darkness Fall and Timeless Tales Told in Tribute) includes two brand new stories by Harry Turtledove and David Weber. Similar, thematically, to Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, the book tells the tale of Martin Padway who, as he is walking around in modern Rome, is suddenly transported though time to 6th Century Rome. Once in ancient Rome, Padway (now Martinus Paduei Quastor) embarks on an ambitious project of single-handedly changing history. L. Sprague de Camp was a student of history (and the author of a number of popular works on the subject). In Lest Darkness Fall he combines his extensive knowledge of the workings of ancient Rome with his extraordinary imagination to create one of the best books of time travel ever written. This volume also includes an afterword by Alexei and Cory Panshin, adapted from their Hugo-winning book on science fiction, The World Beyond the Hill.

Lest Darkness Fall & Timeless Tales Written in Tribute

DRAKE, DAVID

Stirling, S.M.

Pohl,Frederik

Weber; David

De Camp, L. Sprague

Short Stories & Anthologies

"Science fiction fans will devour this smart speculative tale."--Publishers Weekly A nail-biting new science fiction thriller from Robert J. Sawyer; the all-time worldwide leader in award-wins as a science fiction or fantasy novelist. "Well worth reading.--Analog Science Fiction and Fact "Really great, a page turner. I was hooked from the beginning to the end."--Andre Bormanis, co-executive producer, The&nbsp;Orville&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cosmos On the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb, Hugo and Nebula-winning author Robert J. Sawyer takes us back in time to revisit history...with a twist. While J. Robert Oppenheimer and his Manhattan Project team struggle to develop the A-bomb, Edward Teller wants something even more devastating: a bomb based on nuclear fusion--the mechanism that powers the sun. Teller's research leads to a terrifying discovery: by the year 2030, the sun will eject its outermost layer, destroying the entire inner solar system--including Earth. As the war ends with the use of fission bombs against Japan, Oppenheimer's team, plus Albert Einstein and Wernher von Braun, stay together--the greatest scientific geniuses from the last century racing against time to save our future. Meticulously researched and replete with real-life characters and events, The Oppenheimer Alternative is a breathtaking adventure through both real and alternate history.

The Oppenheimer Alternative

Sawyer, Robert J.

United States

"Far-thinking ideas and the characters' determination to grab the last hope are characteristic. Fans won't want to miss this coda to Bova's prolific literary life."--Publishers Weekly It is time to start the colonizing the solar system. Ex-astronaut, current space advisor, and all-out trouble shooter for the President, Jake Ross, is determined to make it happen. And what better way to return to America's glory than by returning to the moon and setting up a permanent moon-base which can then serve as the launching pad for Mars and beyond. But as usual, political intrigue and conflicting priorities are threatening the whole program. Add to that a President who is about to die, a strong contingent in the legislative body which thinks that money spent on a moon-base is money wasted and the general apathy of the public, and you have an almost impossible task. Even NASA, natural enthusiasts of a project like this, are dragging their feet because they have lost control of the top spot in the project. However, none of those opposing forces have contended with the resolve and the skill of Jake Ross. He will create the base on the moon. He will send humans out to many worlds.

Power Challenges (Power, 5)

BOVA, BEN

About the Author\nMercedes Lackey is a New York Times bestselling author. She started writing in her early teens and developed her skills by creating fan-fiction for various amateur magazines. In the 1980s she took a job programming computers for a major airline and as a consequence moved to Oklahoma, where she continued perfecting her writing skills and was mentored by experienced authors like C.J. Cherryh.\nIn 1985, her first book was published. In 1990 she met artist Larry Dixon at a small science fiction convention in Meridian Mississippi, on a television interview organized by the convention. They began working together from that time on, and were married in Las Vegas at the Excalibur chapel by Merlin the Magician (aka the Reverend Duckworth) in 1992.\nShe has nearly 150 books in print and some of her foreign editions can be found in Russian, German, Czech, Polish, French, Italian, Turkish, and Japanese. She is the author—alone or in collaboration—of the Hunter, Heralds of Valdemar, Elemental Masters, Secret World Chronicles, 500 Kingdoms, Diana Tregarde, Heirs of Alexandria, Obsidian Mountain, Dragon Jouster, Bedlam Bards, Shadow Grail, and other series and standalone books.\nBorn in Phoenix, Arizona, Cody has been living in SW Florida since the mid-90's. Thus far, he has avoided death by mosquitos, sun poisoning, and Florida drivers, among other things. When he's not dodging premature death, he occupies his time playing with swords, guns, climbing on tall things, and chained to his computer as a journeyman writer. He has written written ten novels, all with his mentor Mercedes Lackey. These include the Secret World Chronicle braided novel series, two entries for SERRAted Edge, an entry for the Exiled Series, and two previous entries in the Reboots series.\n"We like this book, we like this book a LOT!"—Scribbles Worth Book Reviews\n"Unfettered oddball entertainment."—Publisher’s Weekly\nPortions of this book have previously appeared in Reboots and Reboots: Diabolical Streak\nSay hello to Humph the Boggart, the principled, down-on-his-luck private detective, Skinny Jim the zombie, and Fred the werewolf, in this film noir style space opera.\nHumans aren’t alone anymore—in fact, they share a planet with undead and near-dead beings, living in…semi-harmony, depending on who you ask!\nThis is the world of Reboots—where zombies, vampires, and werewolves live side-by-side with humans, taking whatever jobs they can in order to coexist peacefully. So, what better job to give almost-dead or dead beings, than one that consists of no air, cosmic radiation, and a lack of life-sustaining essentials?\nIn comes a cast of interesting, unique, and downright paranormal creatures as they travel through space.\nConsisting of four parts, Reboots: Undead Can Dance is a space opera destined to become a favorite, written by beloved and world-renowned fantasy author, Mercedes Lackey, and Cody Martin.\nFollow Skinny Jim, a zombie who conceals his ability to speak to avoid being exterminated after an ill-fated war launched by a zombie emperor, leading to an alliance between Norms, the Fangs, and the Furs. And then there’s Humph the Boggart, an ethereal parahuman private investigator who navigates interspecies relationships in claustrophobic extraterrestrial environments with his friends, including Fred the werewolf.\nAnd what happens when you put them all together in a confined space?\nLackey and Martin have created a perfect, witty, fast-paced read that you won’t be able to put down, and will leave you craving more.

Reboots: Undead Can Dance

Lackey, Mercedes

Martin, Cody

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