Avery Cates is a very rich man. He's probably the richest criminal in New York City. But right now, Avery Cates is pissed. Because everyone around him has just started to die - in a particularly gruesome way. With every moment bringing the human race closer to extinction, Cates finds himself in the role of both executioner and savior of the entire world. PRAISE FOR THE ELECTRIC CHURC “Bullets and black comedy.” – SFSite.com “Exhilarating.” – The Guardian(UK) “A dark future of high tech and low dreams.” – Library Journal Review “First-rate piece of science fiction entertainment.” – SFSignal.com “A gritty cyberpunk masterpiece.” – Blogcritics.com “Dark and evocative.” – SFFWorld.com “A rollicking sci-fi adventure.” – CHUD.com “One of the genre’s most promising newcomers.” – Booklist

In the near future, the only thing growing faster than the criminal population is the Electric Church, a new religion founded by a mysterious man named Dennis Squalor. The Church preaches that life is too brief to contemplate the mysteries of the universe: eternity is required. In order to achieve this, the converted become Monks — cyborgs with human brains, enhanced robotic bodies, and virtually unlimited life spans. Enter Avery Cates, a dangerous criminal known as the best killer-for-hire around. The authorities have a special mission in mind for Cates: assassinate Dennis Squalor. But for Cates, the assignment will be the most dangerous job he's ever undertaken — and it may well be his last

Best-selling author Scott Turow takes the helm for the tenth edition of this annual, featuring twenty-one of the past year’s most distinguished tales of mystery, crime, and suspense. Elmore Leonard tells the tale of a young woman who’s fled home with a convicted bank robber. Walter Mosley describes an over-the-hill private detective and his new client, a woman named Karma. C. J. Box explores the fate of two Czech immigrants stranded by the side of the road in Yellowstone Park. Ed McBain begins his story on role-playing with the line “ ‘Why don’t we kill somebody?’ she suggested.” Wendy Hornsby tells of a wild motorcycle chase through the canyons outside Las Vegas. Laura Lippman describes the “Crack Cocaine Diet.” And James Lee Burke writes of a young boy who may have been a close friend of Bugsy Siegel. As Scott Turow notes in his introduction, these stories are “about crime — its commission, its aftermath, its anxieties, its effect on character.” The Best American Mystery Stories 2006 is a powerful collection for all readers who enjoy fiction that deals with the extremes of human passion and its dark consequences

Это - жестокий мир.И жить в нем не слишком приятно. Но этот мир - истинный рай для высокооплачиваемого киллера Эйвери Кейтса, к которому не чинятся обращаться с заказами даже крупные шишки.Новое задание поступает от самого шефа полиции Мейрина.Если Эйвери выполнит его - разбогатеет. Если не выполнит - значит, просто сдохнет, да притом не слишком легкой смертью.Потому что ему предстоит отправить в лучший из миров основателя «новой ереси» - Электрической церкви, все члены которой - бессмертные киборги с человеческим мозгом.Убить бессмертных… разве такое возможно?Эйвери полагает - за хорошие деньги возможно все