'The classic tale of alien invasion, and still the best' The Times The first modern depiction of extra-terrestrials attacking the earth, The War of the Worlds remains one of the most influential of all science-fiction works. It shows the whole of human civilization under threat, as terrifying, tentacled Martians land in England, build gigantic killing machines, destroy all in their path with black gas and burning rays and feast on the warm blood of trapped, still-living human prey. The forces of the Earth, however, may prove harder to beat than they at first appear. Edited by Patrick Parrinder with an Introduction by Brian Aldiss and Notes by Andy Sawyer

""Blood Read" is a fresh look at an old form, offering lively, lucid insights into the contemporary explosion of vampire fiction. Nothing else like it exists. This book should set the terms for discussion about vampires for some time to come."--Brian Attebery, Idaho State University The vampire is one of the nineteenth century's most powerful surviving archetypes, owing largely to Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula, the Bram Stoker creation. Yet the figure of the vampire has undergone many transformations in recent years, thanks to Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and other works, and many young people now identify with vampires in complex ways. "Blood Read" explores these transformations and shows how they reflect and illuminate ongoing changes in postmodern culture. It focuses on the metaphorical roles played by vampires in contemporary fiction and film, revealing what they can tell us about sexuality and power, power and alienation, attitudes toward illness, and the definition of evil in a secular age. Scholars and writers from the United States, Canada, England, and Japan examine how today's vampire has evolved from that of the last century, consider the vampire as a metaphor for consumption within the context of social concerns, and discuss the vampire figure in terms of contemporary literary theory. In addition, three writers of vampire fiction--Suzy McKee Charnas (author of the now-classic Vampire Tapestry), Brian Stableford (writer of the lively and erudite novels Empire of Fear and Young Blood), and Jewelle Gomez (creator of the dazzling Gilda stories)--discuss their own uses of the vampire, focusing on race and gender politics, eroticism, and the nature of evil. The first book to examine a wide range of vampire narratives from the perspective of both writers and scholars, "Blood Read" offers a variety of styles that will keep readers thoroughly engaged, inviting them to participate in a dialogue between fiction and analysis that shows the vampire to be a cultural necessity of our age. For, contrary to legends in which Dracula has no reflection, we can see reflections of ourselves in the vampire as it stands before us cloaked not in black but in metaphor. Joan Gordon is Associate Professor of English at Nassau Community College in New York. Veronica Hollinger is Associate Professor in the Cultural Studies Program at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.

Science fiction is a field of literature that has great interest and great controversy among its writers and critics. This book examines the roots, history, development, current status, and future directions of the field through articles contributed by well-respected science fiction writers, teachers, and critics. The articles 'speculate' on what is science fiction, is science fiction serious literature, which writers are considered good science fiction writers, and where the genre of science fiction is headed with 21st-century writers. Contributors include Brian W. Aldiss, Kathryn Cramer, Samuel R. Delany, David G. Hartwell, Ursula K. Le Guin, Barry N. Malzberg, Darko Suvin, Michael Swanwick, and many other outstanding authors. Examining all genres and subgenres of science fiction writing, this book provides differing viewpoints on science fiction, making it a great basis for dynamic classroom discussions.

Helliconia is a planet that, due to the massively eccentric orbit of its own sun around another star, experiences seasons that lasts eons. Whole civilisations grow in the Spring, flourish in the Summer and then die in the brutal winters. The human-like inhabitants have been profoundly changed by their experience of this harsh cycle. In orbit above the planet a terran mission struggles to observe and understand the effects on society of such a massive climatic impact. Massive, thoroughly researched, minutely organised, full of action, pulp references and deep drama this is a classic trilogy.

Part of Penguin's beautiful hardback Clothbound Classics series, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these delectable and collectible editions are bound in high-quality, colourful, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design. From the planet of war they came to conquer the Earth ... The night after a shooting star is seen streaking across the sky, a cylinder is discovered on Horsell Common. Fascinated and exhilarated, the local people approach the mysterious object armed with nothing more than a white flag. But when gruesome alien creatures emerge armed with all-destroying heat-rays, their rashness turns rapidly to fear. As the rays blaze towards them, it soon becomes clear they have no choice but to flee - or die. The forces of the Earth, however, may prove harder to beat than they at first appear ...

Curiosity was discouraged in the Greene tribe. Its members lived out their lives in cramped Quarters, hacking away at the encroaching ponics. As to where they were - that was forgotten. Roy Complain decides to find out. With the renegade priest Marapper, he moves into unmapped territory, where they make a series of discoveries which turn their universe upside-down ... Non-Stop is the classic SF novel of discovery and exploration; a brilliant evocation of a familiar setting seen through the eyes of a primitive.

The Sun is about to go Nova. Earth and Moon have ceased their axial rotation and present one face continuously to the sun. The bright side of Earth is covered with carnivorous forest. This is the Age of vegetables. Gren and his lady - not to mention the tummybelly men - journey to the even more terrifying Dark side. One of Aldiss' most famous and long-enduring novels, fast moving, packed with brilliant imagery.

In the year 2093, human consciousness has expanded to the point that man can visit the past using a technique called 'mind-travelling'. Artist Edward Bush returns from a lengthy 'trip' to the Jurassic period to find the government overthrown by an authoritarian regime. Given his mind-travel experience, he is recruited by the new regime to track down and assassinate a scientist whose ideas threaten to topple the status quo. However, the job of an artist is not to take orders but to ask questions . . .

A masterful evocation of the future of nationhood and technology from the master of British science fiction. A stunning new edition of a modern classic. 'The titan of science fiction.'- Telegraph Forty years has passed and 'Europe' now refers to vast swathes of the Earth: a unified super-state that has just enacted a successful space mission, landing people on Jupiter's Moon and spurring the people at home to look at their lives and what they've made of the world. Global warming ravages the planet, where shrunken coasts endure huge tidal attacks while inland ideological wars continue. Technology has advanced to the point where androids assist with menial work - but are conscious enough to be baffled by humanity's weaknesses. So much is different but very little has changed. Told through a network of relatives, lovers, friends, a president (and those sent to assassinate him), Super-State looks to the future while exploring the most timeless human challenges with huge wit and precision. A satire skewering best intentions and cynicism alike, written at the start of the new Millennium by the master of British Science Fiction.

A major science fiction novella by the master of British science fiction. First published almost a quarter of a century ago, it is republished here in its own right for the first time. ‘The best contemporary writer of science fiction.’ – The Guardian ‘The colossus of science fiction’ – New Yorker On Earth, a spiritual and traditionalist China is the dominant global power but in Space, people live across a variety of artificial planetoids. Edward lives on one such planet as an inventor, building a device which gives predictions for the user’s life. It's rather like a horoscope but it’s science. Edward believes that everything in life can be predicted and accounted for if one could only access the correct data. Outside of work, Edward's only joy comes from Zenith, the woman he loves – despite knowing nothing about her or even what she looks like. They have only ever spoken through technology, but when he is sent to sell his invention on Earth, Edward decides to invite his new love along. Despite a lifetime of believing in the power of data and creating a device to control the future, revelations on Earth will rock his worldview in ways he couldn't predict… Set between outer space and an imagined, futuristic China, A Chinese Perspective is a classic, offering modern readers an insight into the balance between east and west as seen through golden age of science fiction.

An accident restores the Dark Ages, and by the year 2029 the old have inherited the Earth. There are no more children, no young men or women. Huddled together in isolated villages, the old are prisoners of fear and superstition.

Science fiction maestro Brian Aldiss at the top of his writing powers in a rare foray into literary fiction. With a sparse elegance, Aldiss crafts a heart-breaking, heart-fixing novella delving into ideas of selfhood and human connection. Published in beautiful new collector’s livery. ‘The best contemporary writer of science fiction.’ – The Guardian Hugh Billing is sad. After making his fortune in the music industry decades ago, for years Hugh has been drifting. Shuttling between the US and UK on business, his life has become a testament to monotony. With every trip through customs he becomes more customary. With every departure he seems to leave a little more behind. But when his mother's death returns him to London, Hugh draws just enough hope and courage to travel on a different journey; from loneliness and loss of purpose through to somewhere beyond just survival. Writing at the height of his powers and with a sparse elegance, Aldiss departs from science fiction to craft a heart-breaking, heart-fixing novella that speaks to the question of human connection. As the conversation around mental health, isolation and loneliness evolves, Brian Aldiss’ RUINS proves as prophetic and rich in insight as his science fiction.

Including the story that's the basis for the forthcoming Stanley Kubrick/Steven Spielberg film "A.I"., coming to theaters nationwide June 2001, this collection features the full "Supertoys" cycle of three stories plus another 11 tales of the future.

This new edition of Brian Aldiss's classic anthology brings together a diverse selection of science fiction spanning over sixty years, from Isaac Asimov's 'Nightfall', first published in 1941, to the 2006 story 'Friends in Need' by Eliza Blair. Including authors such as Clifford Simak, Harry Harrison, Bruce Sterling, A. E. Van Vogt and Brian Aldiss himself, these stories portray struggles against machines, epic journeys, genetic experiments, time travellers and alien races. From stories set on Earth, to uncanny far distant worlds and ancient burnt-out suns, the one constant is humanity itself, compelled by an often fatal curiosity to explore the boundless frontiers of time, space and probability.