Western society is split up into nine castes, from Lower-Lower to Mid-Lower all the way up to the privileged Upper-Upper. Mauser himself was born a Mid-Lower. Ambitious, he had chosen one of the few professions, Category Military, where upward mobility was still a reasonable possibility. To prevent any chance of a ruinous war between the West and the Sov-world, the Universal Disarmament Pact had restricted the military to pre-1900 technology. Gradually, powerful corporations began settling business disputes by hiring troops to fight real battles or fracases on one of many military reservations. This served a dual purpose: to maintain a military well-honed by actual combat and to provide the decadent general population with a diversion. The life-and-death struggles are so popular that they are televised.

THE FUTURE IS OURSELVES The world is rapidly changing. We surf future-shock every day, as the progress of technology races ever on. Increasingly we are asking: how do we change to live in the world to come' Whether it's climate change, inundated coastlines and drowned cities; the cramped confines of a tin can hurtling through space to the outer reaches of our Solar System; or the rush of being uploaded into cyberspace, our minds and bodies are going to have to drastically alter. Multi-award winning editor Jonathan Strahan brings us another incredible volume in his much praised science-fiction anthology series, featuring stories by Madeline Ashby, John Barnes, James S.A. Corey, Gregory Benford, Benjanun Sriduangkaew, Simon Ings, Kameron Hurley, Nancy Kress, Gwyneth Jones, Yoon Ha Lee, Bruce Sterling, Sean Williams, Aliette de Bodard, Ramez Naam, An Owomoyela and Ian McDonald. Author bio: Jonathan Strahan is an editor and anthologist. He coedited The Year's Best Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology series in 1997 and 1998. He is also the reviews editor of Locus. He lives in Perth, Western Australia, with his wife and their two daughters.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAn unexpected offer threatens the bond between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as the two Jedi navigate a dangerous new planet and an uncertain future in the first canon Star Wars novel to take place before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. A Jedi must be a fearless warrior, a guardian of justice, and a scholar in the ways of the Force. But perhaps a Jedi's most essential duty is to pass on what they have learned. Master Yoda trained Dooku; Dooku trained Qui-Gon Jinn; and now Qui-Gon has a Padawan of his own. But while Qui-Gon has faced all manner of threats and danger as a Jedi, nothing has ever scared him like the thought of failing his apprentice. Obi-Wan Kenobi has deep respect for his Master, but struggles to understand him. Why must Qui-Gon so often disregard the laws that bind the Jedi? Why is Qui-Gon drawn to ancient Jedi prophecies instead of more practical concerns? And why wasn't Obi-Wan told that Qui-Gon is considering an invitation to join the Jedi Council—knowing it would mean the end of their partnership? The simple answer scares him: Obi-Wan has failed his Master. When Jedi Rael Averross, another former student of Dooku, requests their assistance with a political dispute, Jinn and Kenobi travel to the royal court of Pijal for what may be their final mission together. What should be a simple assignment quickly becomes clouded by deceit, and by visions of violent disaster that take hold in Qui-Gon's mind. As Qui-Gon's faith in prophecy grows, Obi-Wan's faith in him is tested—just as a threat surfaces that will demand that Master and apprentice come together as never before, or be divided forever.

The fate of the entire Marvel Universe hangs in the balance as Earth's mightiest heroes face their greatest challenge! Summoned across the stars by the mysterious and unbelievably powerful Beyonder, the Avengers, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men are set against their deadliest foes on the mysterious planet known as Battleworld-with the winner promised the ultimate prize. But as battle lines are drawn, new alliances are forged, and old enemies clash, one among them is not willing to settle for anything less than godhood. Can even the heroes' combined might prevent Dr. Doom from becoming the most powerful being in the universe? This GraphicAudio Production is adapted from the graphic novel by Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck, and Bob Layton.

This is a story of a future America. Moving between the government bureaucracy of Washington and a farming town called Vexton, Manufractured tells the story of a politically divided country in search of the true meaning of life, 25 years after a civil war. When a mysterious illness infects the country’s youth, nationwide panic erupts, adding pressure to an already unstable government as it fights to find the cause and cure. Amidst environmental turmoil, a series of high-profile murders suggests a conspiracy that could put America’s entire future in jeopardy.

Twentysomething bartender Jason Bishop's world is shattered when his estranged father apparently commits suicide, but the greater shock comes when he learns his father was a secret agent in the employ of the Invisible Hand, an ancient society of spies wielding magic in a centuries-spanning war. Now the Golden Dawn, the shadowy cabal of witches and warlocks responsible for his father's murder and the death of his mother years before, have Jason in their sights. His survival will depend on his mastering his own dormant magic abilities--provided he makes it through the training.

Maelstrom follows Murel and Ronan Shongili--telepathic 10-year-old twins who have the special ability to turn into river seals. Murel and Ronan have been assigned with rescuing the inhabitants of neighboring planet Halau from their doomed and environmentally unsound home. But when they arrive at Halau, they find the planet even further destroyed by an unexpected meteor. Their rescue mission is made more dangerous by the discovery of an evil aquatic alien race and the suspicious arrest of their friend Marmion. Murel and Ronan are determined to defeat the Powers That Be and save all the inhabitants of Halau, no matter what the cost.

In an alternative 1980s London, Britain has lost the Falklands War, Margaret Thatcher battles Tony Benn for power, and Alan Turing achieves a breakthrough in artificial intelligence. In a world not quite like this one, two lovers will be tested beyond their understanding. Charlie, drifting through life and dodging full-time employment, is in love with Miranda, a bright student who lives with a terrible secret. When Charlie comes into money, he buys Adam, one of the first batch of synthetic humans. With Miranda's assistance, he co-designs Adam's personality. This near-perfect human is beautiful, strong, and clever -- a love triangle soon forms. These three beings will confront a profound moral dilemma: What makes us human? Our outward deeds or our inner lives? Could a machine understand the human heart?

The Metal Legion is committed to saving all, despite their differences, despite their loyalties. Leeroy Jenkins commits the Metalheads to a battle that makes them traitors to the Republic and enemies of the Solarians. It's the no-win scenario. Unless they can do the unthinkable. The stakes are high and risk higher as they bet everything they have in a single pitched battle to win the freedom of all humanity. Metal Legion-climb the ramp and come along for the ride. It'll be bumpy and hot, but the sound of the 15kg mains is worth it.