New Releases by Poul Anderson

More than just a collection of some of Poul Anderson's most acclaimed works, Going for Infinity is both a celebration and a memoir of Anderson's distinguished sixty-year career in science fiction and fantasy. Along with several Hugo and Nebula Award-winning stories, Anderson also shares autobiographical musings, and fond memories as he looks back at a lifetime spent crafting many of science fiction's most memorable adventures. Between the short story and novel excerpts collected here, which range over the entire length of Anderson's career, he reminisces about his experiences, including his encounters with such peers and colleagues as John W. Campbell, Anthony Boucher, "Gordy" Dickson, Jack Vance, Clifford Simak, and Harlan Ellison. Going for Infinity provides a firsthand look at six decades of science fiction and fantasy, as lived by one of the field's most honored contributors. From the moons of Saturn to the shores of an enchanted isle, the astounding breadth of Poul Anderson's imagination is on ample display throughout this once-in-a-lifetime collection, along with a personal glimpse into the man himself.

From the multiple Hugo and Nebula Award–winning Grandmaster, a new novel of classic science fiction adventure Mystery, discovery, and wonder on a cosmic scale are the core of Anderson’s latest novel. Lissa, a human Earth woman, and her partner, “Karl,” a giant alien academic who resembles Tyrannosaurs—are interstellar archaeologists investigating the remote and uncharted planet Jonna. There, they seem to have hit the jackpot. For on that distant world they’ve discovered an immense artifact that may have been left by the mysterious beings called the Forerunners. This race predated all the known cultures in the starfaring galaxy and vanished long before any other intelligent species had taken to the stars. But Lissa and Karl aren’t the first to have made the discovery on Jonna. On the far-off world the archaeologists cross paths with the two freebooters whose plans for motives towards the arcane object are not purely scientific. Their discovery may be the best preserved relic of the ancient beings yet found. Other artifacts from the Forerunners—once reverse engineers—have revolutionized entire fields of technology, reaping huge financial rewards. If the same holds true for this newest discovery, Lissa realizes, only she and Karl stand between the seemingly friendly freebooters and what could be the treasure of a lifetime.

With this new novel, science fiction and fantasy grandmaster Poul Anderson has crafted a powerful story of a mighty queen, magic, and the mastery of ancient nations. Blending characters both historical and mythological, Mother of Kings is the tale of Gunnhild, Queen of England and Norway, who loomed so large in the tenth century-at the end of the Age of the Vikings-that she became a figure of legend, even of myth. As a child of just seven summers, Gunnhild finds herself fascinated with the powers of a witchwoman who is a concubine of her father's, a powerful Norse chieftain. She also finds another fascination in handsome and lordly Eirik, son of their king. When her mother dies, Gunnhild promises, "I will never yield," and that, "through me, our blood shall flow greatly." Gunnhild has learned from her chieftain father the way the powerful use the weak. But there are other lessons and other powers she seeks. Sent away to learn the magic of a pair of shamans, Gunnhild becomes a Spaewife-a knower of the Gods, a master in the ways of witchcraft and sorcery. Aided by her new abilities, Gunnhild marries Eirik. She is destined to become queen, and her magic is a fearsome complement to Eirik's strength. But Eirik's enemies are cunning, and Gunnhild is soon without his might. If Gunnhild can keep the promise she made as a child to never yield, her family's blood will flow greatly, and the sons she bore Eirik will each become a king. Her own struggles, though, are far from over . . . .

In a war waged against Black Magic, the fact that Steve is a werewolf and his wife is a highly skilled witch is not unusual. But their adventures prove very unusual, even for their world, when they are given the task of neutralizing an enemy's ultimate weapon--the world's most powerful demon.

"Themes of a colorful assortment of stories range from life on other planets to alternative history . . . a perfect introduction to his perennial genius." — Booklist Poul Anderson himself has put together a retrospective collection of his recent writings, fiction and nonfiction, under the title All One Universe. This is the first major Poul Anderson collection in a decade. It encompasses all his strengths as a teller of tales and, in addition, provides a running commentary in the story notes and in the essays on other literary figures such as Rudyard Kipling, Johannes B. Jensen, and John W. Campbell, Jr., commentary that illuminates the fiction, gives personal insight into the mind of this fine writer, and provides a unifying personality for All One Universe. All One Universe, then, represents the new best of Poul Anderson. It is a rich, varied selection of quintessential science fiction as well as four essays, mostly from recent years, by one of the great science fiction writers of the century. His stories are filled with roaring energy, the soul of poetry, and dark imaginings. "A fine introduction to one of SF's masters." — Starlog "Fact and fiction, shaped by one of SF's keenest minds, are mingled in this collection . . . On the whole, All One Universe is a collection which does its creator proud while delighting his fans." — Rapport "Poul Anderson's writings have been at a remarkably high, consistent level of quality for nearly fifty years, now. All One Universe is a book for anyone interested in either SF or in craftsmanship." —David Drake

Winner of seven Hugo and three Nebula Awards, Poul Anderson is one of science fiction's supreme masters. In Harvest of Stars, Anderson's most ambitious novel to date, Earth lies crushed in the grip of totalitarianism. To save her planet, Kyra Davis is sent on a mission to liberate the last bastion of freedom--and rescue its legendary leader.

FICTION-SCIENCE FICTION

Captain Rovic meets a shipwrecked traveler who claims to be on an even longer voyage than his; Ira and Gray find a mysterious egg on an abandoned ferryboat, and when it hatches, it begins wreaking havoc

A grand adventure of the mighty thewed barbarian, from one of Fantasy's biggest names Conan, The name has inspired generations, one that resounds through time immemorial. Yet it all began with a handful of stories from Robert E. Howard. In the decades since, there have been feature films, television and comic book series, and numerous spin-off novels. In 1979, Poul Anderson--winner of a staggering eight Hugo and three Nebula Awards--wrote what is regarded as one of the finest adventures in the canon of Conan: "Conan the Rebel." Conan the barbarian and Belit, his raven-haired beauty, lead a band of savage pirates striving to free Belit's people from the iron grip of an evil reptile god and its cruel minions. Striking at the heart of tyranny, Conan must break the chains of oppression before eternal darkness claims them all.

In the year of grace 1345, as Sir Roger Baron de Tourneville is gathering an army to join King Edward III in the war against France, a most astonishing event occurs: a huge silver ship descends through the sky and lands in a pasture beside the little village of Ansby in North East Lincolnshire. The Wersgorix, whose scouting ship it is, are quite expert at taking over planets, and having determined from orbit that this one was suitable, they initiate standard world-conquering procedure. But this time it's no mere primitives the Wersgorix seek to enslave - they've launched their invasion against Englishmen In the end, only one alien is left alive - and Sir Roger's grand vision is born. He intends for the creature to fly the ship first to France to aid his King, then on to the Holy Land to vanquish the infidel

An agent of the Time Patrol tries to defeat the plot of a mysterious group of criminals to change the course of history

The dancer from Atlantis: Duncan Reid; a twentieth-century American architect, regained consciousness only to find himself hopelessly marooned in the far distant past along with a medieval Russian, a fourth-century Hun, and a sacred priestess who worshiped him as a god. Together they formed a strange alliance which non dared break. For if their alliance failed all of them might perish.

A collection of three Flandry tales: THE GAME OF GLORY: Captain Flandry follows a dying man's clue to the watery provincial world of Nyanza, where a rebellion against the Empire may be brewing. A MESSAGE IN SECRET: Flandry ventures to the remote colonial world of Altai, whose human inhabitants haven't been in contact with the Terran Empire for centuries, and discovers that they are cutting a Faustian deal with the Merseians. THE PLAGUE OF MASTERS: Flandry, of his own volition, decides to investigate the remote and isolated world of Unan Besar, to see exactly why it is they have had no contact with the Empire in over 300 years.

When the Baburites, an alien race, claim the phenomenally metal-rich core of the blasted planet, Mirkheim, a union of interplanetary governments joins with the Terran empire's Polesotechnic League in clamoring for war against the interlopers.

Following the advice of his father, young Charlie Stuart travels to a planet 200 light years from Earth and there finds himself involved in a political struggle.

Classic SF from the Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author of The Boat of a Million Years. Thousands of years from now, after a new Ice Age has reduced our world to frozen ruins, new civilizations and cultures arise from the ice. But as the people uncover the lost technology of the past, they also rediscover war, conquest, diplomacy . . . and betrayal. Previous publisher: Signet.

Jack Havig is able to travel through time just by thought. By traveling into the future, he sees the destruction of America by a terrible war. By joining with other time travelers, Jack tries to save Earth from the war.

A problem-adventure story in which three Terrans--a space pilot, a planetary queen, and a hulk of a tycoon--crash on the sea-world Diomedes, in the midst of a bitter war between two winged races, one of seamen, the other of migrant cattle-raisers. Their food supply won't last, they can't eat Diomedean food, and they have to get to Earth's lone trading post on the other side of the planet before they starve.