Pat Travis, a legendary Contact Man, races a battered ship toward Diomed III—also known as Mert—in a brutal corporate scramble to win first-contact rights before rival companies do. He expects a routine landing on an "Open Planet," but instead finds a world that looks like a Dickens novel in space and lives by a far stranger law: astrology governs government, marriage, work, justice, and even childbirth. When an eclipse marks his arrival as catastrophically unlucky, Travis is knocked uncon...

On a quiet Florida riverbank, the neighbors know Mr. Jell only as a strange old man who spins impossible tales for children. In truth, he is a retired spaceman from a far more advanced civilization, living in hiding on Earth because he has chosen freedom over the strict laws of his own people. After a lifetime in crowded, artificial worlds, he is overwhelmed by the beauty of open skies, forests, and simple earthly routines, and the local children become his closest friends and the only one...

Old Sam Button spent his life chasing one impossible dream: to be the first man on the Moon. Brilliant, relentless, and utterly devoted to science, he pushes the nation toward a future no one else can quite imagine. He wins over Congress, inspires the public, and helps launch a billion-dollar leap into history. At last, the moment arrives. The world watches breathlessly as Sam's ship settles onto the lunar surface. The cameras are rolling. The speeches are ready. The flag is in hand. And t...

In a future where time-scanning can prove ancestry with absolute precision, Thatcher Blitt turns one simple truth into a fortune: people are desperate to know where they come from. He launches Genealogy, Inc., a booming enterprise that promises customers famous forebears, hidden noble ties, and the comforting illusion that almost anyone can be linked to greatness if the search goes back far enough. Ambitious and shrewd, Blitt builds his empire on vanity, status, and the hunger to belong am...

"Soldier Boy" is a historical novel set during the American Civil War. The story follows a young Confederate soldier named Will, who enlists in the army at a very young age. The novel explores Will's experiences and challenges as he navigates the harsh realities of war.Michael Shaara's storytelling delves into the emotional and physical trials of combat, offering a poignant depiction of a young man's coming-of-age amid the chaos and devastation of war. The narrative captures the personal a...

Michael Shaara published many short stories during the course of his early career as an author before getting his first novel published--The Broken Place. He wrote science fiction stories for the pulp magazines with names like Galaxy and Fantastic Universe, but also domestic dramas and humorous stories for magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Redbook, McCall's and The Saturday Evening Post, and even one for Playboy. A couple of stories were published in a 1982 collection called "Soldier Boy,...

The awesomeness of the Golden Age of Science Fiction continues, with Volume V! Sail through space, visit rival galaxies, and suffer the void! Volume V contents include: The Moons of Mars, by Dean Evans Orphans of the Void, by Michael Shaara The Luckiest Man in Denv, by Simon Eisner The Awakening, by Jack Sharkey A City Near Centaurus, by Bill Doede How to Make Friends, by Jim Harmon A Bad Day for Sales, by Fritz Leiber Bimmie Says, by Sydney van Scyoc Shipping Clerk, by William Morrison

The Golden Age of Science Fiction, Volume IV, a collection of 7 awesome sci-fi classics from seminal authors, presented here on your favorite digital e-reader! Contents of Volume IV include: A Gleeb for Earth, by Charles Shafhauser The Highest Mountain, by Bryce Walton Soldier Boy, by Michael Shaara Tea Tray in the Sky, by Evelyn Smith Alien Minds, by E. Everett Evans Proof of the Pudding, by Robert Sheckley Green Grew the Lasses, by Ruth Wainwright

"The Vanisher" is a science fiction novel that explores themes of identity, technology, and existential questions. The story revolves around a protagonist who becomes involved in a mysterious and potentially transformative event involving a "vanisher."The plot typically centers on the implications of the vanishing phenomenon, which could involve advanced technology, otherworldly dimensions, or significant changes to reality. As the protagonist investigates or experiences these events, the ...

The awesome, amazing, stupendously excellent sixth volume of the Golden Age of Science Fiction! Featuring: Proof of the Pudding, by Robert Sheckley Green Grew the Lasses, by Ruth Wainwright The Luckiest Man in Denv, by Simon Eisner The Awakening, by Jack Sharkey Orphans of the Void, by Michael Shaara The Moons of Mars, by Dean Evans A Bad Day for Sales, by Fritz Leiber How to Make Friends, by Jim Harmon A City Near Centaurus, by Bill Doede Bimmie Says, by Sydney van Scyoc Shipping Clerk, b...

Finding a cause worth dying for is no great trick—the Universe is full of them. Finding one worth living for is the genuine problem!

"Conquest Over Time" follows the story of scientist Tom Mallory, who invents a time machine capable of transporting people to different points in history. Mallory's invention attracts the attention of the government and the military, who see its potential for both scientific exploration and military advantage.As Mallory and his team conduct experiments with the time machine, they encounter various challenges and ethical dilemmas. They must grapple with questions about the consequences of a...