**Discover Thrawn's origins within the Chiss Ascendancy in the first book in an epic new *Star Wars* trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn. ** Beyond the edge of the galaxy lies the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, with hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled within its swirling chaos is the Ascendancy, home to the enigmatic Chiss and the Nine Ruling Families that lead them. The peace of the Ascendancy, a beacon of calm and stability, is shattered after a daring attack on the Chiss capital that leaves no trace of the enemy. Baffled, the Ascendancy dispatches one of its brightest young military officers to root out the unseen assailants. A recruit born of no title, but adopted into the powerful family of the Mitth and given the name Thrawn. With the might of the Expansionary Fleet at his back, and the aid of his comrade Admiral Ar'alani, answers begin to fall into place. But as Thrawn's first command probes

Less complex than such recent novels as Manta's Gift and Angelmass, this start to a new SF adventure series from Hugo Award-winner Zahn will appeal largely to younger readers. Fourteen-year-old orphan Jack Morgan, former small-time thief, is on the run, framed for theft from megacorporation Braxton Universis. Hiding out on an unoccupied planet, his only companion an artificial intelligence programmed with the personality of his con man uncle Virge, Jack witnesses a battle between incoming spaceships. While looking over the wreckage, he meets Draycos, a dragon-like K'da, sole survivor of an advance team of K'da and their Shontine allies-murdered by their enemies, the Valahgua, with a terrible energy weapon called "the Death." With Valahgua-backed mercenaries searching the planet for survivors, Jack and Draycos work together to escape. Despite Virge's continuing doubts, Jack agrees to help Draycos find out who betrayed his people; but first they must prove Jack's innocence and get the police off his back. Along the way, each will earn the other's trust as they learn to work together as a team. Zahn keeps the story moving at a breakneck pace, maintaining excitement even when the plot becomes cliched. –From Publishers Weekly

The climactic novel of the star-spanning Quadrail space opera The Quadrail that connects the twelve civilizations of our galaxy has been the flashpoint of a battle for dominance fought mostly unnoticed by humankind. But Frank Compton of Earth, aided by the enigmatic woman Bayta, has fought on the front lines, using every bit of his human ingenuity and secret agent skills to outwit the Modhri, a group intelligence that would control the minds of every sentient being it can touch. Following a trail of deception and death to Proteus Station, Compton has discovered a conspiracy that threatens all life in the galaxy: the Shonkla'raa, an ancient enemy thought to be long dead, is rising again. So serious is the danger that the Modhri, the enemy of his enemy, may now be his friend, as the burgeoning threat of a race of invincible soldiers emerges. If Compton and Bayta can't stop them, the Shonkla'raa will decimate all who oppose them, destroying the Quadrail and billions of lives throughout the galaxy

It all starts when a man comes to deliver a message to Frank Compton—only to fall dead at his feet. What follows is a suspenseful thriller that only Timothy Zahn, a master of hard SF adventure, could have written. More than two hundred years from now, the Quadrail transportation system run by the enigmatic Spiders connects civilizations throughout the galaxy. But someone is threatening the entire system and the worlds it serves with a military force that could wreak interstellar havoc. Worse yet, a more subtle and sinister threat lurks: the Modhri, whose unique coral is prized throughout the galaxy, but which has properties that may create addiction—or worse. Compton, a sharp investigator, lost his job with Earth’s security forces when he exposed a corrupt scheme that had roots in high places. Enlisted by the Spiders to find out who’s trying to take over the Quadrail, he’s got his hands full, because he’s got beings of many races gunning for him to keep him from discovering a far-flung conspiracy that could destroy every civilization in the galaxy. The result is one of Zahn’s most memorable and compelling novels in years

In this noir thriller set on the interstellar Quadrail, former government agent Frank Compton can't catch a break. After a successful mission against the Modhri, the coral polyp-based group mind that is attempting to take over the galaxy, Frank arrives at his New York apartment. A young woman is waiting for him, pointing a gun at his face. She tells him that someone on New Tigris is holding her ten-year-old sister. Compton takes her gun and orders her out, only to be rousted out of bed and accused of her brutal murder. After Frank's ally Bruce McMicking posts his bail, Frank travels to New Tigris with his assistant, Bayta, and locates the sister, who is part of a key resistance group that is fighting the Modhri throughout the galaxy. Compton must get the girl to a hidden refuge planet via the Quadrail to ensure the continued efforts of the resistance. But can he do it before the Modhri gets to her first? Compelling characters, hard-boiled sleuthing, and non-stop action make this a hard SF thriller that will grab the reader and not let go until the last page

Nineteen original tales of the pandora legend-as no one has ever imagine it before. When Pandora's Box was opened, so the ancient tale goes, all the evils that would beset humanity were released into the world. When the box was all but empty, the only thing that remained was hope. Now some of fantasy's finest writers have taken on the task of opening Pandora's closet. It is naturally chock full of an assortment of items, including a ring that can bring its wearer infinite health, a special helmet found in the most unlikely of places, a mysterious box that holds a legendary piece of cloth, and a red hoodie that transforms a woman's world. These stories are of items claimed by people, but only at their own peril. After indulging in these stories, readers will certainly look at their own closets in a whole new light

The challenge and lure of space exploration has long been fertile ground for some of the finest science fiction stories. Here, fifteen of the best chroniclers of the day after tomorrow present unique tales of space stations both in our own solar system and far beyond. This neat little theme anthology contains a satisfying mixture of old hands’ and newcomers’ stories. In the opener, Timothy Zahn’s “The Battle of Space Fort Jefferson,” a space fort that is crumbling into disrepair as an unpopular tourist destination wins its first battle—finally—though only by means of the vagaries of decaying equipment. In Jean Rabe’s “Auriga’s Streetcar,” a gem of a piece, an old “spacer” finds herself on the way to a distant star in the belly of an even older space observatory towed by unknown aliens. Robert J. Sawyer’s “Mikeys” relates the work of those who go almost to the target and the unexpected event that brings them to the forefront. The closer, Gregory Benford’s “Station Spaces,” is a doozy about what happens when human merges with machine, and the building of human habitation on Luna. Despite, or possibly as a result of, a literally (i.e., spacially) limited topic, these stories cover a lot of ground

Discover Thrawn’s origins within the Chiss Ascendancy in the first book in an epic new Star Wars trilogy from bestselling author Timothy Zahn. Beyond the edge of the galaxy lies the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, with hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled within its swirling chaos is the Ascendancy, home to the enigmatic Chiss and the Nine Ruling Families that lead them. The peace of the Ascendancy, a beacon of calm and stability, is shattered after a daring attack on the Chiss capital that leaves no trace of the enemy. Baffled, the Ascendancy dispatches one of its brightest young military officers to root out the unseen assailants. A recruit born of no title, but adopted into the powerful family of the Mitth and given the name Thrawn. With the might of the Expansionary Fleet at his back, and the aid of his comrade Admiral Ar’alani, answers begin to fall into place. But as Thrawn’s first command probes deeper into the vast stretch of space his people call the Chaos, he realizes that the mission he has been given is not what it seems.  And the threat to the Ascendancy is only just beginning

Спустя почти десять лет ожесточенной войны три великих народа – таинственные протоссы, дикие зерги, а также терраны, потомки человечества в Секторе, – заключили перемирие, но мир этот шаток. Когда становится известно о внезапном восстановлении некогда сожженной дотла планеты, противоречия вспыхивают с новой силой. Нейтралитет сменяется враждебностью, и старым врагам предъявляют обвинения в разработке биологического оружия для разжигания конфликта. Экспедицию из солдат и исследователей терранов и протоссов отправляют изучить таинственную планету зергов и выявить планы ее обитателей. Но в буйной растительности скрываются другие создания, существование которых окутано тайной, и именно они, обретя свободу, способны изменить судьбу всей галактики

Frank Compton used to be an agent for the security forces of Earth, but that was a piece of cake compared to what he's had to deal with working for the aliens who run the Quadrail, an interstellar transportation system connecting a dozen civilizations across the galaxy. He's been trying to end the domination of an alien lifeform called the Modhri. This enormously powerful creature wants to rule the galaxy by controlling the thoughts of all its citizens. It does so by having parts of itself 'infect' others on contact, and act as agents for it without them being aware they're being manipulated. When Frank and his assistant Bayta journey to investigate a connection between the Modhri and the Filiaelians, they come up against a conspiracy on the Quadrail. Passengers are being murdered.but something besides murder haunts the Quadrail. A plot is brewing that even the Modhri fears. And once again, Frank and Bayta may be the only ones who can stop it

Good hosts try to accommodate their guests—which in the case of alien diplomats, may mean far more than they anticipate!

EDITORIAL REVIEW: WELCOME AGAIN TO THE MANY WORLDS OF HONOR HARRINGTON Lady Dame Honor Harrington isn't alone. Her life touches others—and their lives touch hers—directly, or indirectly, whether as a naval officer, steadholder, or duchess. In this collection, Jane Lindskold gives us the story of a prince on the brink of maturity and an extraordinary young Grayson woman named Judith - a victim of Masadan brutality, who confronts insurmountable odds in a desperate effort to lead her sisters to freedom-or-death among the stars. Timothy Zahn weighs in with a story of the heavy cruiser HMS Fearless; a brilliant young tactical officer on temporarily detached duty; Solarian con men; secret weapons that aren't quite what they seem to be; naval spies, spooks, and dirty tricks; courage and honor; and a surprising glimpse into one of Admiral Sonja Hemphill's most crucial technological innovations. John Ringo offers his unique blend of nonstop action and deliciously skewed humor in two offerings. The Peep planet of Prague and its brutally repressive StateSec regime will never be the same again after the unscheduled, unofficial, and thoroughly catastrophic visit by a pair of Manticoran Marines with a most peculiar taste in the holiday destinations. And then there's the question of what an explosively expanding navy does with the personnel who can't quite cut the mustard. Eric Flint tells us the story of an idealistic young StateSec officer who finds himself in the right place at the right time following the fall of Oscar Saint-Just. Young Victor Cachat could influence the loyalty of an entire sector . . . if he's only lucky enough to manage to stay alive long enough to try. And finally, David Weber gives us the tale of the first Grayson midshipwoman on her "snotty cruise" at a time when internal tensions threaten the entire future of the Manticoran Alliance and people are about to rediscover the fact that the Peeps are far from the only predators hiding in the stars

Former government agent Frank Compton foiled a plot to enslave the galaxy in Night Train to Rigel. But the Modhri, an ancient telepathically linked intelligence, has walkers, unwilling hosts that can be anywhere, anything…and anyone. And Compton is the only man who knows how to fight them, as they wage a secret war against the galactic civilizations linked by the Quadrail, the only means of intra-galactic transit. Accompanied by Bayta, a woman with strange ties to the robot-like Spiders who run the Quadrail, and dogged by special agent Morse who suspects him of murder, Compton races the Modhri from station to station to acquire a set of valuable sculptures from a long-dead civilization. What the Modhri wants with them is anybody's guess, but if Compton can't outwit it, the whole galaxy will find out the hard way

For thousands of years The Chiss Ascendancy has been an island of calm, a center of power, and a beacon of integrity. Led by the Nine Ruling Families, their leadership stands as a bulwark of stability against the Chaos of the Unknown Regions. But that stability has been eroded by a cunning foe that winnows away trust and loyalty in equal measure. Bonds of fidelity have given way to lines of division among the families. Despite the efforts of the Expansionary Defense Fleet, the Ascendancy slips closer and closer toward civil war. The Chiss are no strangers to war. Their mythic status in the Chaos was earned through conflict and terrible deeds, some long buried. Until now. To ensure the Ascendancy's future, Thrawn will delve deep into its past, uncovering the dark secrets surrounding the ascension of the First Ruling Family. But the truth of a family's legacy is only as strong as the legend that supports it. Even if that legend turns out to be a lie. To secure the salvation of the Ascendancy, is Thrawn willing to sacrifice everything? Including the only home he has ever known?

 Thrawn's latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. He has led the Chiss to victory and brought glory to the House of Mitth, but the true threat to the Ascendancy has not yet been extinguished. Their foes do not send threats or ultimatums, do not mass ships on the edge of the Chaos. Their weapons come cloaked in smiles and generosity: Gifts offered freely. Services granted unconditionally. Across the Ascendancy, seemingly inconsequential events could herald the doom of the Chiss. As Thrawn and the Expansionary Defense Fleet rally to uncover the plot, they discover a chilling truth: Rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage resources, their enemy strikes at the very foundation of the Ascendancy, seeking to widen the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses below. As rivalry and suspicion sow discord among allies, each warrior must decide what matters most to them: the security of their family or the survival of the Ascendancy itself

Timotejs Zāns Zvaigzņu kari-1. Impērijas mantinieks Zvaigzņu kari 1 grāmata Impērijas mantinieks Hugo prēmijas laureāts Timotejs Zāns ZVAIGŽŅU KARI leģendārās kosmiskās sāgas, kura bija scenārija pamatā vispopulārākajām filmām kinovēsturē, turpinājums. Sāgas autors Timotejs Zāns par šo darbu saņēma Hugo prēmiju, nozīmīgāko balvu zinātniskās fantastikas jomā. IMPĒRIJAS MANTINIEKS Sāgas I grāmata Dumpinieku Savienība ir iznīcinājusi Nāves Zvaigzni, uzvarējusi Dārtu Veideru un Imperatoru. Princese Lea un Hens Solo ir apprecējušies un gaida džediju dvīņu piedzimšanu. Lūkass Debesbraucējs ir kļuvis par pirmo starp džedijiem. Tūkstoš gaismas gadu attālumā pēdējais Impērijas dižadmirālis Trouns, savācis Impērijas kara flotes atliekas, vērš tās pret Jauno Republiku. Tumšais karotājs grib iznīcināt visu, par ko ir cīnījušies Dumpinieku Savienības drosmīgie vīri un sievietes… Timotejs Zāns ZVAIGŽŅU KARI PIRMĀ GRĀMATA IMPĒRIJAS MANTINIEKS Timotejs Zāns ZVAIGŽŅU KARI PIRMĀ GRĀMATA IMPĒRIJAS MANTINIEKS No angļu valodas tulkojis Jānis Cekuls Noskannējis grāmatu un FB2 failu izveidojis I.Ločmelis ©Tulkojums, noformējums «Artava» 1999 

Timotejs Zāns Zvaigzņu kari-2. Tumšais spēks atgriežas Hugo prēmijas laureats Timotejs Zāns ZVAIGŽŅU KARI leģendārās kosmiskās sāgas, kura bija scenārija pamatā vispopulārākajām filmām kinovēsturē, turpinājums. Sāgas autors Timotejs Zāns par šo darbu saņēma Hugo prēmiju, nozīmīgāko balvu zinātniskās fantastikas jomā. TUMšAIS SPĒKS ATGRIEŽAS Sāgas II grāmata ( I grāmata IMPĒRIJAS MANTINIEKS) Sabrukušās Impērijas viltīgākais un nežēlīgākais militārists dižadmirālis Trouns ir savācis Impērijas flotes atliekas, lai iznīcinātu Jauno Republiku. Hens un Lendo Kelrisiens cenšas atklāt nodevību Republikas Padomē. Viņi Kosmosā atrod spokainu karakuģu flotili, kas varētu kļūt liktenīga viņu draugiem un nes uzvaru viņu ienaidniekiem. Taču visbīstamākais izrādās Tumšais džedifs Cēbaots, kas, no jauna atdzimis, naida pārņemts, plāno izmantot Lūkasu Debesbraucēju Tumšās puses interesēs… No angļu valodas tulkojusi Ilze Lāce Noskannējis grāmatu un FB2 failu izveidojis I.Ločmelis ©Tulkojums, noformējums «Artava», 1999

Timotejs Zāns Zvaigžņu kari-3. Pēdējā pavēle Timotejs Zāns Zvaigžņu kari trešā grāmata Pēdējā pavēle ZVAIGŽŅU KARI leģendārās kosmiskās sāgas, kura bija scenārija pamatā vispopulārākajām filmām kinovēsturē, turpinājums. Sāgas autors Timotejs Zāns par šo darbu saņēma Hugo prēmiju, nozīmīgāko balvu zinātniskās fantastikas jomā. I grāmata IMPĒRIJAS MANTINIEKS. II grāmata TUMŠAIS SPĒKS ATGRIEŽAS Visu galaktiku aptver kara liesmas, jo Impērija draud iznī­cināt Jauno Republiku un tās varonīgos aizstāvjus. Dižadmirāļa Trouna uzbrukumi kļūst arvien mērķtiecīgāki.Viņš ir apvienojis Impērijas spēku atliekas un, izmantojot savās rokās nonākušo tehnoloģiju, radījis neskaitāmus klonēto karotāju leģionus. Pretojoties Trouna nodomiem, Hens un Cūbeka izveido kontrabandistu koalīciju. Lea mēģina nepieļaut Alianses sairumu un gatavojas džediju dvīņu nākšanai pasaulē. Republikai ir palikusi viena vienīga pēdējā cerība nosūtīt nelielus spēkus Lūkasa Debesbraucēja vadībā uz apmetnj, kur novietotas. Trouna klonēšanas mašīnas… Apgāds «Artava» Rīgā No angļu valodas tulkojusi Ilze Lāce © Tulkojums, noformējums «Artava», 1999 Visiem tiem. kas palīdzēja šo grāmatu tapšanā, jo īpaši Annai Zānai, Betsijai Mičelai, Lūsijai Otrējai Vilsonei nn. protams, cilvēkam, kura iztēle bija visa aizsākums Džordžam Lūkasam Noskannējis grāmatu un FB2 failu izveidojis Imants Ločmelis

Учените от планетата Сераф, която влиза в съюза ЕМПИРЕЙ, откриват „ангели“, тайнствено излъчвани от една черна дупка. Ангелите правят хората спокойни и неспособни да лъжат. С това ЕМПИРЕЙ се опитват да наложат мир. Но лидерите на друг съюз — МИР, виждат в ангелите изключителна опасност за хората

Ученый Коста Джереко никогда не был разведчиком, но отправиться в систему Эмпиреи со шпионской миссией согласился сразу же. Ведь, попав в Эмпирею, он получал доступ к загадочному космическому образованию – Ангелмассе. Шпион из Джереко вышел неважный, зато всего за сутки до того, как пославшая его на разведку Метрополия начала полномасштабное вторжение в Эмпирею, он успел сделать грандиозное и ужасающее открытие, касающееся Ангелмассы и ставящее под вопрос победу в войне

«Звезда Смерти» Гранд Моффа Таркина подбирается к последнему оплоту Альянса – планете Алдераан. «Исполнитель» Дарта Вейдера настиг курьерский корабль принцессы Лейи Органы. Явно и неизбежно должна грянуть решающая битва между Империей и нарождающейся Новой Республикой!.. Но это где-то далеко-далеко в Галактике… А на маленькой, покрытой горячими песками захолустной планете в грязном космопорте стоит полутемная, провонявшая табаком кантина, где можно выпить кружку-другую-третью любимого пойла от бармена Вухера и послушать лучший джизз-оркестр во Вселенной. Но нельзя расслабляться и забывать, что в этой галактической забегаловке тебя окружают головорезы и карманники, фермеры и солдаты, люди и не-люди, охотники за головами и даже джедаи. И каждый готов рассказать тебе свою историю… Бен Кеноби, Хэн Соло, Чубакка, Гридо, сестры Тонника, бармен Вухер, Фигрин Д'ан и его оркестр, Момау Надон, шиставанен Лак Шиврак, йав Хетт Нкик и ранат Риджеск, доктор Корнелиус Эвазан и Понда Баба, Муфтак и Кабе, Данник Джерико, БоШек и вообще все, кто присутствовал при упомянутых обстоятельствах в кантоне на задворках Звездных войн!

„Блекколар“. Алън Кейн никога не бе срещал тези отлично обучени бойци, но подвизите им във войната срещу расата рикрил ги бяха превърнали в легенда. Подсилени с помощта на химикали, които удължават младостта им, удвояват скоростта и рефлексите им и засилват паметта, те бяха специална част, обучена за близък бой срещу враг, далеч по-силен и ловък от човешките войници. Върховно оръжие — по-зловещо и от огромните кръстосвачи клас „Нова“ — „Блекколар“ бяха най-смъртоносните хора в историята на военното дело на Земята

На нем стремительно изнашивается одежда, от его прикосновений рассыпаются в труху сигареты, «аура» этого человека действует разрушающе на любую пластмассу, двигатели, телевизоры, словом, на все современные и модные вещи. Сам он – ученый, доктор Джеймс Гарвуд, участник проекта «Бэкдроп», покинувший его после двухлетней работы и разыскиваемый всеми разведывательными службами США. Так почему же он скрывается и что с ним происходит?

После ошеломляющих событий, запечатленных в «Новой надежде», новоиспеченным героям Восстания – начинающему джедаю Люку Скайуокеру, Хэну Соло – контрабандисту, вынуждено ставшему борцом за свободу – и принцессе Лее Органе, отважному лидеру, мстящему за уничтоженную планету – предстоит столкнуться с суровой реальностью разрушительного конфликта, в который они так смело окунулись. Взорвав «Звезду смерти», Альянс повстанцев нанес Империи решительный удар, но Палпатин и Дарт Вейдер представляют не меньшую опасность. Выстоят ли против них Скайуокер, Соло и принцесса? Люк талантлив и храбр, но он не умеет пользоваться мощью, которой обладает. Хэн испытывает сомнения относительно участия в чужой войне, и его упрямая натура становится еще одной обузой для Леи, которая пытается поддерживать Альянс на плаву. В это же время Мара Джейд – ей всего восемнадцать лет, и до судьбоносной встречи с Люком еще далеко – служит своему хозяину в качестве Руки Императора – распутывает нити возможного заговора в Империи, которые могут привести ее к высокопоставленным лицам… при этом стараясь не попадаться на глаза Дарту Вейдеру. Но повстанцы могут оказаться не единственной проблемой Империи. Имперский штурмовик Дерик ЛаРон, чья вера в Империю поколеблена бессмысленным уничтожением Алдераана, совершает внезапный акт неповиновения, а затем вместе с четырьмя другими солдатами уходит в бега, чтобы скрыться от ярости своих хозяев…

Пять лет прошло после разрушения Звезды Смерти и отречения Дарта Вейдера от Темной Стороны Силы. Но победа Республики оказалась простой передышкой в великих Звездных Войнах. Новый имперский флот под командованием адмирала Трауна вторгся в пределы Республики…