New Releases by Alan Dean Foster

A far future conspiracy comes to light in this science fiction mystery by New York Times–bestselling author Alan Dean Foster. The Colligatarch is an artificial intelligence that has guided humanity for more than a century, influencing everything from Earth-bound business and politics to interstellar relations with alien species. With world leaders following the AI’s advice, Earth has become a near utopia. In Phoenix, Arizona, design engineer Eric Abbott is an exemplary citizen with an enviable career. He has no reason to stray from the path of the societal system that has rewarded his work ethic and allegiance—until the day he sees a woman whose beauty and aura have no peer. Her name is Lisa Tambor. To find her, Eric will sacrifice the life he’s built. Suddenly, he’s traveling incognito, defying authority, and trespassing on secret, private properties. And he’s demonstrating superhuman abilities of strength and endurance he didn’t know he had. Eric’s quest to find Lisa has caught the attention of very powerful factions involved in interplanetary intrigue. And they see Eric as a threat to be eliminated with extreme prejudice . . .

Humanity makes first—and possibly last—contact with an alien species in this sci-fi adventure from the New York Times–bestselling author of the Humanx Commonwealth series. Earth’s most elite team of scientists has made an astonishing discovery. Far from our solar system is the life-sustaining planet Xica, home of an advanced intelligent species who have created a human-like civilization. Invited to visit, the scientists explore a world of miraculous wonders that defies the very laws of nature as they know it. But Xica’s secrets may threaten not only their lives but the lives of everyone on Earth . . .

An investigator must solve a seemingly impossible theft in this comedic sci-fi mystery by New York Times–bestselling author Alan Dean Foster . The room—surrounded by cameras, motion sensors, and alarms, and guarded by rotating security crews twenty-four seven—was supposed to be impenetrable. No one should have been able to approach the vault unseen. So how did the irreplaceable pharmaceuticals stored there get stolen? How did someone breach the vault three times and escape unnoticed and without leaving a trace? It''s a mystery that falls to insurance adjuster Roderick Manz to solve. Assisted by a humanoid robot, an AI, and an off-world partner named Vyra with secrets of her own, Manz is on the hunt for the most clever thieves he has ever encountered.

From a #1 New York Times–bestselling author, a research expedition to an alien planet takes a treacherous turn for married scientists in this sci-fi fantasy. As the first humans granted permission to explore Tslamaina, Etienne and Lyra Redowl should have been ecstatic. The planet''s massive river valley is like no other in the known universe, with three intelligent species living along its waters—a dream expedition for the geologist–anthropologist duo. But the intolerable climate makes their research arduous, as does the growing tension between them. Fortunately, the husband-and-wife team are well prepared for their adventure, with a state-of-the-art hydrofoil and the assistance of the native inhabitants. But nothing could have prepared them for the dangers they encounter as they make their way to the river''s source. "One of the most consistently inventive and fertile writers of science fiction and fantasy." — The Times (London)

A group of motley castaways on an ice planet help a race of cat-like aliens, in this science fiction adventure by the #1 New York Times bestseller. After crash-landing on the icy planet Tran-ky-ky, salesman Ethan Frome Fortune wants to get back to his life and back to his business. So he and his burly sidekick, Skua September, head to the trading post of Brass Monkey to book passage home. However, when they learn that profiteers and bureaucrats are victimizing their native friends, the Tran, Ethan and Skua decide to stick around. This means helping the Tran gain admission to the Humanx Commonwealth. To do so, they must board their icerigger once more and search for a fabled city, uncover the history of the Tran, and battle some of their fiercest enemies yet . . .

A band of humans struggle to survive when they crash-land on an icy planet, in this science fiction adventure by the #1 New York Times bestseller. A sophisticated interstellar traveler, Ethan Frome Fortune is a businessman on board the interstellar transport ship Antares. He isn''t one for heroism or adventure. That would be his fellow passenger (and giant of a man), Skua September. Regardless, both soon get a chance to test their mettle . . . Tran-ky-ky is an icy, desolate planet sharply carved by hurricane-force winds. It''s a terrible place for an emergency landing, but a botched kidnapping on the Antares sends Ethan, Skua, and some of their fellow travelers hurtling toward the stormy planet. Now, surrounded by hungry killer plants and cat-like natives, this ragged bunch of castaways led by Ethan must keep their wits about them if they ever hope to escape . . .

One man struggles to survive on a hostile alien world in this thrilling adventure from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Madrenga. Some people are convinced they can do anything; Evan Orgell is one of them. So when his company president sends him off-world to investigate a breakdown in communications from a small research station on a newly discovered planet, he''s all in. The planet''s resources could mean massive profits for the company—and a successful mission could mean massive advancement for Evan. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Clad in a Mobile Hostile World suit, Evan has no doubts about his safety—until he lands on the world of Prism. Though he''s already dealt with thousands of theoretical extraterrestrial problems, nothing prepares him for what he finds there. Hungry, invading lifeforms are everywhere. Over two dozen highly trained people have been overwhelmed and killed, some with their bones eaten from the inside out. It''s utter devastation. Then, while Evan searches for survivors, his indestructible suit meets its match—and he must face the bloodthirsty predators of Prism alone, unprotected, with only his wits to rely on . . . Praise for Alan Dean Foster "One of the most consistently inventive and fertile writers of science-fiction and fantasy." — The Times (London) "Alan Dean Foster is a master of creating alien worlds." —SFRevu.com "Foster knows how to spin a yarn." — Starlog "Alan Dean Foster is the modern day Renaissance writer, as his abilities seem to have no genre boundaries." — Bookbrowser

A mind-blowing cosmic adventure from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Adventures of Pip & Flinx. It''s just another boring late night in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for Seeth, a disillusioned punk rocker with too much time on his hands and too little money. That is, until he heads to a bowling alley and runs into Kerwin, a geeky graduate student who''s there doing research for a sociology assignment. While trying to distract Kerwin from his scholarly pursuits, Seeth notices two burly cops trying to unlawfully arrest a lone bowler, and for laughs, he jumps in to save him. When it turns out the bowler, the cops, and even the bowling ball are all different races of aliens involved in an interstellar chase, Seeth and Kerwin find themselves on a ship careening through space—protecting a mysterious, all-powerful lifeform that might possibly be the most valuable thing in the universe. Seeth''s found the excitement he wanted. And he didn''t even have to leave Albuquerque—just Earth. Praise for Alan Dean Foster "One of the most consistently inventive and fertile writers of science-fiction and fantasy." — The Times (London) "Alan Dean Foster is a master of creating alien worlds." —SFRevu.com "Foster knows how to spin a yarn." — Starlog "Alan Dean Foster is the modern day Renaissance writer, as his abilities seem to have no genre boundaries." — Bookbrowser

A first-contact novel written from an alien perspective by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Trek Into Darkness. Ryo is one of the Thranx, a race of social arthropods. From his larval years to now, his life has been normal, though his love of learning and insatiable curiosity set him apart. He has settled into his work as an agriculture specialist and is premated to a lovely female. Yet Ryo still feels something is missing from his life, and when he heroically defends his colony from the Thranx''s reptilian nemesis, Ryo gets a taste of excitement that''s hard to forget. Then his premate shares a garbled message from her starship-captain cousin—one that hints at the discovery of a completely new, completely alien space-going intelligence. Even when the captain backtracks and denounces the experience as a deep-space nightmare, Ryo can''t let it go. He becomes obsessed, leaving his colony and family behind to chase rumors of a murderous alien race, horrible beyond imagining. And when he finally makes it to an isolated military outpost rumored to harbor the captured aliens, he comes face-to-face with . . . humanity. Praise for Alan Dean Foster "One of the most consistently inventive and fertile writers of science-fiction and fantasy." — The Times (London) "Alan Dean Foster is a master of creating alien worlds." —SFRevu.com "Foster knows how to spin a yarn." — Starlog "Alan Dean Foster is the modern day Renaissance writer, as his abilities seem to have no genre boundaries." — Bookbrowser

Thirteen science fiction tales by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Icerigger Trilogy and To the Vanishing Point. From fighting giant bugs to defeating an interstellar empire without firing a shot; from scientific idiot savants toying with the universe to how the robots will really win the robot apocalypse, these thirteen flavorful tales are guaranteed to entertain, amuse, awe, and maybe even enlighten. Includes the first appearance in print of the Icerigger novellete "Chilling" and a new novelette, "Valentin Sharffen and the Code of Doom."

Three fantasy novels of music and magic in the beloved series by a #1 New York Times–bestselling author. A college slacker''s world is turned upside down when he''s transported to a new land where music can create magic . There, he teams up with other magical brethren and creates bonds of friendship he will honor for life. Spellsinger: Jonathan Thomas Meriweather is a typical college student, interested in girls, music, and pot. But when an interdimensional portal lands him in another world, he learns that his musical ability can create magic, which he''ll need in order to stop a dark force. The Hour of the Gate: Jon-Tom, whose posse now includes a wizarding turtle, a cowardly bat, and an otter with a filthy mind, must raise an army to fight the Plated Folk and end their queen''s plans to eat all the mammals in the land. The Day of the Dissonance: Jon-Tom''s merry band went its separate ways after the battle of Jo-Troom Gate. But now the wizarding turtle, Clothahump, is dying, and Jon-Tom must embark on a new quest with his friends to search for a cure.

Humans are caught up in an alien war in this epic from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Trek Into Darkness. For millennia, the Weave, an alliance of species, have fought to resist the telepathic Amplitur, who strive to unite all self-aware life-forms in their great "Purpose." The Weave is slowly losing ground, but for both sides, warfare focuses more on outthinking and outmaneuvering your foe than destruction. In fact, most regard violence as hideously barbaric, and even the thought of harming another sentient being is beyond imagining. Then they come to Earth . . . A Call to Arms When one of its scout ships lands on Earth, the Weave quickly realizes that humanity''s almost innate ability to wreak havoc and death may hold the key to turning the tide in their fight. Unfortunately for all, the Amplitur have the same idea—and mankind is caught in the middle. The False Mirror When the Amplitur unleash an elite cadre of fighters, it soon becomes clear that they have subjected their human prisoners to horrific genetic manipulation. But if the Weave attempts to undo the effects, they may change the former warriors into something far, far worse. The Spoils of War With mankind''s help, the Weave is finally on the verge of victory against the Amplitur. Until an alien scholar uncovers a terrifying truth: Earthlings might not even be capable of being civilized—and a shadowy group of powerful humans is already poised to unleash war across the entire galaxy. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alan Dean Foster including rare images from the author''s collection.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The official novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the blockbuster film directed by J. J. Abrams • Includes two tie-in short stories: “The Perfect Weapon” by Delilah S. Dawson and “Bait” by Alan Dean Foster More than thirty years ago, Star Wars burst onto the big screen and became a cultural phenomenon. Now the next adventures in this blockbuster saga are poised to captivate old and new fans alike—beginning with the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And alongside the cinematic debut comes the thrilling novel adaptation by New York Times bestselling science fiction master Alan Dean Foster. Set years after Return of the Jedi, this stunning new action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters. Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges. So return to that galaxy far, far away, and prepare yourself for what happens when the Force awakens. . . . Praise for Star Wars: The Force Awakens “Like all the best novelizations, Alan Dean Foster’s adaptation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens enriches the movie experience. The novel goes beyond simply giving us insight into the characters’ thoughts, with plenty of additional scenes painting a broader picture of the galaxy.”—New York Daily News “Fast-moving, atmospheric and raises goose-bumps at just the right moments. [Foster] not only evokes entire onscreen worlds . . . he also gives us glimpses of an even more vast, unseen universe.”—The Washington Post “Was my experience of the film enriched by the book? Yes. No question. Is the novelization worth reading? Yes. . . . Foster has written a book that captures the spirit of the film, while presenting additional information that helps answer some of the questions that linger.”—Coffee with Kenobi

An epic fantasy that takes place entirely underwater. In this adventure under the sea, Oshenerth: Blue Magic, New York Times bestselling author Alan Dean Foster (Alien, Star Wars: Force Awakens) uses his extensive knowledge and experience from diving and traveling to bring to life the mysterious world of reef dwellers under the sea in an imaginative, fascinating new epic fantasy that takes place entirely underwater. Best friends Chachel and Glint, a merson and a cuttlefish, are returning from a shark hunt when they stumble upon an unconscious female demon. Taking her back to their reef community to recover, while they decide what to do with her, they wind up stumbling into a unique friendship, one which will change their lives and community for better as the reef dwellers and the demon together fight to preserve themselves and their way of life in the face of enemies and their blue magic.

Rabbitlike aliens from outer space colonize Earth during humankind’s Second World War in a delightfully funny and thought-provoking science fiction adventure The Quozl just need somewhere to call home. A gentle race of extraterrestrial rabbits, they have a propensity for reproduction that has left their home planet, Quozlene, dangerously overpopulated, and in their search for greener and less-crowded pastures, they have discovered the perfect place to start over: the third planet away from a healthy, warming sun. What they don’t realize is that this world they call Shiraz is already inhabited by a species of violent sentient creatures known as humans. But there’s no going back now. In the midst of the brutal and helpfully distracting global conflict the Shirazians call World War II, the colony ship lands undetected, and the space rabbits immediately go into hiding. But a secret like the Quozl can be concealed for only so long, especially when their numbers start to increase and certain rebellious members of the long-eared society decide the time is ripe to claim their place in a world they believe is rightfully theirs. One of the most admired and prolific authors in the science fiction arena, Alan Dean Foster will delight readers who hunger for something different with this funny, thoughtful, and wildly inventive novel of first contact and coexistence. Once you meet the Quozl, you will never forget them.

The first human-alien contact. The last word in galactic warfare. The story you must read–before Transformers rockets to the big screen! A mammoth robotic being, clearly of alien origin, has been found beneath the Arctic ice. Its advanced engineering dwarfs known human technology, and unlocking its secrets will catapult American science eons into the future. In search of the mysterious artifact’s origin, a covert government agency sends the manned craft Ghost 1 on a perilous journey of discovery. When a mishap maroons Ghost 1 in the far reaches of unknown space, the ship’s distress beacon reaches the very alien race Ghost 1’s crew has been seeking: the Autobots. The gigantic mechanized beings are also on a quest: to find the Allspark, a device crucial to the salvation of their home world, Cybertron. But they’re not alone. The Decepticons, the Autobots’ brutal enemies, have their own sinister purposes in seeking the Allspark. As these adversaries are drawn together once more, the stage is set for a death-dealing new battle in which each is driven by a single-minded aim: total annihilation of the enemy.

A notorious criminal pursues peace—and power—with alien enemies in this sci-fi novel from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Damned Trilogy. No one knows the true motives of Kees vaan Loo-Macklin. He''s a mastermind criminal who gave up his place at the head of the dark underworld to become a legitimate member of Evenwaith''s cities. But soon he was reaching out to powerful enemies—-the slimy aliens called the Nuel. Loo-Macklin negotiates an illusory peace agreement and gains precious alien secrets in the process. Is he after peace, power or pure evil? With enemy starships beginning to amass, we won''t have to wait long to find out.

A jungle planet must defend against exploitative aliens in this novel by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. From the rich imagination of science fiction great Alan Dean Foster comes the story of Midworld, a Humanx Commonwealth planet that''s equally fragile and hostile. Covered by a lush rainforest, Midworld is home to a primitive society that lives in harmony with the natural world. But the arrival of an exploitative human company, whose workers know nothing of Midworld''s delicate ecosystem, sparks a conflict. Should Midworld''s villagers aid the humans or stand against them? The hero of Foster''s addictive page-turner, Born, decides to lead two humans across the perilous jungle. His choice propels Midworld toward annihilation—and leads him headlong into a battle for survival.

In this first novel of a thrilling new series set in our near future, New York Times bestselling author Alan Dean Foster reveals a place where criminals are punished through genetic engineering and body manipulation—and poses profound questions about what it means to be human. Given his name because radical surgery has reduced him to preternatural thinness, Whispr is a thug. In a dark alley in Savannah, Whispr and his partner in crime, Jiminy Cricket, murder what they take to be a random tourist in order to steal his artificial hand. But the victim is also carrying an unusual silver thread, which Whispr and Jiminy grab as well. Chance later deposits a wounded Whispr at the clinic of Dr. Ingrid Seastrom. Powerful forces have been searching for Whispr since he acquired the mysterious thread, and Jiminy has vanished. All Whispr wants to do is sell the thread, and when he offers to split the profits with Ingrid, she makes an astonishing discovery. So begins the formidable partnership between the Harvard-educated physician and the street-smart thief—as long as they can elude the enhanced assassins that are tracking them.

“ENTERTAINING AND INTELLIGENT . . . This book is pure class all the way. . . . The final page is a great climax.” –Starburst The Republic is decaying, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who was elected to save the galaxy from collapsing under the forces of discontent. On the tiny but strategic planet of Ansion, a powerful faction is on the verge of joining the growing secessionist movement. At the Chancellor’s request, the Jedi Council sends two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, along with their Padawans Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, to stabilize the planet’s population. To succeed, the Jedi will have to fulfill near-impossible tasks, befriend wary strangers, and influence two great armies, stalked all the while by an enemy sworn to see the negotiations collapse and the mission fail. . . . Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

An adrenaline-fueled travel memoir of life in the wild among the planet''s most ferocious and fascinating predators. Over the last forty years, New York Times–bestselling author Alan Dean Foster has journeyed around the globe to encounter nature''s most fearsome creatures. His travels have taken him into the heart of the Amazon rain forest on the trail of deadly tangarana ants, on an elephant ride across the sweeping green plains of central India in search of the elusive Bengal tiger, and into the waters of the Australian coast to come face-to-face with great white sharks. Packed with pulse-pounding adventure and spiked with rapier wit, Predators I Have Known is a thrilling look at life and death in the wild.

The spellsinger Jon-Tom faces off against a malignant magic—from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Relic. Far to the south of the peaceful Bellwoods, where Jon-Tom the spellsinger continues trying to master the art of turning music into magic, a sinister force has awakened: a magician with great ambition and unheard-of power. He summons lightning to do his bidding, commands an army of faceless flying demons, and claims to come from another world—one Jon-Tom suspects might be his own. If he can somehow reason with the unknown magician, perhaps they can combine their talents and find a way to go home together. Wary of this new wickedness, Jon-Tom''s suspicious mentor sends the spellsinger and his companions on a journey to the southlands, assuring him that the land they are to visit is "tropical, friendly, and largely uninhabited." As Jon-Tom learns all too often, in this mysterious world much will be proven catastrophically wrong.

Marooned in another universe, a musician leads a motley army to save two worlds, in an entertaining tale by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. Jon-Tom just wanted to go home. Trapped in a world where animals speak and magic is real, the American college student yearned for an ordinary dorm-room life. But here his music has magical power—even if he can''t control it—which may be able to save the world from the army of the Plated Folk, whose sinister queen plans on killing and eating every warm-blooded mammal she can get her pincers on and taking over their lands. The great battle is coming, and Jon-Tom, whose posse includes a wizarding turtle, a cowardly bat, and an otter with a filthy mind, must raise an army to fight it. To find allies they must make an impossible journey, across mountains and rivers no one has ever passed before. Survival will be a miracle—but Jon-Tom is no ordinary musician.

To save his wizard mentor, a spellsinger—and his otter sidekick—must cross time and space, in this novel by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. Jon-Tom and his friends have seen better days. After his motley crew moved heaven and Earth to save civilization at the battle of Jo-Troom Gate, his merry band went its separate ways. Mudge, the foul-mouthed otter, eagerly returned to thieving, drinking, and whoring, while Talea, the girl of Jon-Tom''s dreams, embarked on her own adventures, leaving him to study magic with Clothahump, the irascible wizard whose inept spell trapped him in this weird otherworld in the first place. But now Clothahump is dying, and not even Jon-Tom''s spellsinging can make him well. In search of medicine for the centuries-old turtle, he and Mudge venture across the seas on a dubious quest that will require the assistance of an Amazonian white tiger, a ferret, and a gender-challenged unicorn. They''re going to need all the help they can get.

A trapped cosmic creature may drive the whole world mad—unless the spellsinger can set it free: "Foster knows how to spin a yarn" ( Starlog) . It''s an ordinary day in the Bellwoods, save for the fact that Jon-Tom the spellsinger has awoken as a six-foot blue crab. He soon reverts to normal—as normal as a college student trapped in a world of magic and talking animals can be, anyway—but the bizarre changes keep happening, affecting not just him but the whole of this strange world. His wizardly mentor suspects these are the effects of the perambulator, a cosmic being whose presence distorts reality. One has been imprisoned in the mountains, and unless they free it, it will rip the world to shreds one insane illusion at a time. So Jon-Tom sets out, backed by the wizard, a boozehound owl, a gutter-minded otter, and a warrior koala with a taste for leather. Saving the world will be a cinch, as long as they don''t lose their minds along the way.

Hoping to duplicate the adventurous yarns of their parents, the children of spellsinger Jon-Tom and his otter sidekick Mudge set out on a perilous quest of their own Decades have passed since college student Jon-Tom Meriweather was first marooned in a strange land of magic, and over the years he has married, raised a son, and honed his voice so that the effects of his spellsinging—whereby he calls up magic with song—are almost predictable. His son''s voice is another matter. Buncan wants to follow in his father''s adventurous footsteps, but his every chord brings more discord, and there seem to be no good quests to be had. When one falls in his lap—investigating something called the Grand Veritable, whose very name is enough to send wizened wizards hiding under their covers—he seeks the help of two of his friends, children of Jon-Tom''s old otter sidekick Mudge, whose voices are as pure as Buncan''s is muddy. The determined trio runs away from home, ready to pit their teenage talents against a very adult danger.

The origins of James Kirk, Spock and the crew of the USS Enterprise from the original Star Trek series and how these iconic characters came together.

“THE FALLEN SHALL RISE AGAIN. . . .” This cryptic warning is ignored by the national security adviser who feels the ruthless Decepticon threat is no more. The allies are victorious, the enemy has been defeated, and the world is safe. Small attacks around the world have been contained, and the remaining pieces of the coveted Allspark are locked in an electromagnetic vault on one of the most secure Naval bases in the world. But nothing is at it seems, and there is a shift in the shadows. Things can change in an instant–and fragile peace will become all-out war.

Enter another realm in the amazing world of the Humanx Commonwealth--the interstellar empire governed jointly by humans and aliens! The newly discovered planet of Senisran was a veritable paradise--a sprawling world of vast oceans dotted with thousands of lush islands and copious deposits of rare-earths and minerals. First-contact specialist Pulickel Tomochelor''s mission to Senisran was straightforward: Secure mining rights for the Humanx Commonwealth before the vicious AAnn Empire beat them to the chase. With Senisran''s Parramat clan resisting entreaty, negotiations could be difficult, but Pulickel was more comfortable with aliens than with his own species, and looked forward to a triumphant return to Earth. He hadn''t counted on the incredible secret of Parramat, though: the strange, powerful green stones that the tribe used to manipulate the forces of nature. Within those stones lay an awesome technology the origin of which was lost in time--a technology that had to be kept from the AAnn at any cost . . .

Flinx is the only one with even the tiniest chance of stopping the evil colossus barreling in to destroy the Humanx Commonwealth (and everything else in the Milky Way). With time running out, he must seek out an ancient sentient weapons platform, dodge ob