KAREN LORD

For years, Rafi Delarua saw his family suffer under his father's unethical use of psionic power. Now the government has Rafi under close watch, but, hating their crude attempts to analyse his brain, he escapes to the planet Punartam, where his abilities are the norm, not the exception. Punartam is also the centre for his favourite sport, wallrunning - and thanks to his best friend, he has found a way to train with the elite. But Rafi soon realises he's playing quite a different game, for the galaxy is changing; unrest is spreading and the Zhinuvian cartels are plotting, making the stars a far more dangerous place to aim. There may yet be one solution - involving interstellar travel, galactic power and the love of a beautiful game.

For years, Rafi Delarua saw his family suffer under his fathers unethical use of psionic power. Now the government has Rafi under close watch but, hating their crude attempts to analyse his brain, he escapes to the planet Punartam, where his abilities are the norm, not the exception. Punartam is also the centre for his favourite sport, wallrunning - and thanks to his best friend, he has found a way to train with the elite. But Rafi soon realises hes playing quite a different game, for the galaxy is changing; unrest is spreading and the Zhinuvian cartels are plotting, making the stars a far more dangerous place to aim. There may yet be one solution - involving interstellar travel, galactic power and the love of a beautiful game.

A proud and reserved alien society finds its homeland destroyed in an unprovoked act of aggression, and the survivors have no choice but to reach out to the indigenous humanoids of their adopted world, to whom they are distantly related. They wish to preserve their cherished way of life but come to discover that in order to preserve their culture, they may have to change it forever.Now a man and a woman from these two clashing societies must work together to save this vanishing race, and end up uncovering ancient mysteries with far-reaching ramifications. As their mission hangs in the balance, this unlikely team - one cool and cerebral, the other fiery and impulsive - just may find in each other their own destinies . . . and a force that transcends all.

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMENS PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024This complex, engaging novel takes an unusual approach to the classic trope of aliens in our midst, with a warmth and intelligence reminiscent of Ursula K Le GuinGUARDIANThe world is changing, and humanity must change with it. Rising seas and soaring temperatures have radically transformed the face of Earth. Meanwhile, Earth is being observed from afar by other civilizations . . . and now they are ready to make contact.Vying to prepare humanity for first contact are a group of dreamers and changemakers, including Peter Hendrix, the genius inventor behind the most advanced VR tech; Charyssa, a beloved celebrity icon with a passion for humanitarian work; and Kanoa, a member of a global council of young people drafted to reimagine the relationship between humankind and alien societies.And they may have an unexpected secret weapon: Owen, a pop megastar whose ability to connect with his adoring fans is more than charisma. His hidden talent could be the key to uniting Earth as it looks toward the stars.But Owens abilities are so unique that no one can control him and so seductive that he cannot help but use them. Can he transcend his human limitations and find the freedom he has always dreamed of? Or is he doomed to become the dictator of his nightmares?A visionary science fiction novel set a century into our future against a familiar backdrop of rising seas and climate crisis, The Blue, Beautiful World fuses a propulsive first contact adventure with a profoundly hopeful ode to the power of human connection as a genius inventor, a beloved celebrity, a young activist, and a pop megastar are brought together to forge a new path into the future.Gorgeously detailedDAILY MAILWildly original MARTHA WELLSEssential reading SAMIT BASUThoughtful and dreamlike TESSA GRATTONA gorgeous, wise tale ANNALEE NEWITZBeautifully-crafted KATE ELLIOTTA cracking high-stakes storyMALKA OLDER

The search for a notorious serial killer takes a therapist on a nightmarish quest to an alternate world to find the sinister secret behind his crimes, in a dark fantasy inspired by Caribbean urban myth, from the award-winning author of The Blue, Beautiful World.The natural heiress to Octavia Butler and Ursula Le Guin.Financial TimesDr. Miranda Ecuovo works as a forensic therapist, helping traumatized witnesses recover their memories so that they can testify about the crimes they observed. Her most famous case resulted in the conviction of the serial killer Walther Gray, a pathologists assistant known as the Butcher of the City. One day Miranda is seized by Chance, one of the spirits known as the Undying, and transported to a fantastical dreamlike world. There she is greeted by an Angel and presented with an unusual mission: Help catch the rogue Undying who was the true mastermind behind the Butchers crimes.Now Miranda and Chance must stop the murderer before he kills again. Together they will race through a surreal otherworld of magical labyrinths and wondrous spiritsbut also into the maze of Mirandas own memories when they retrace her original investigation. As Miranda draws closer to the truth, she finds herself confronted by even bigger questions than the killers identity. How could his victims deaths be forgotten so easily? And what can she do to create a world where the vulnerable can be safe and have their lives treated as precious?

The enchanting tale of mischief and mythinspired by West African folklorethat became a fantasy classic, from the award-winning author of The Blue, Beautiful WorldPaama is a marvelous cook whos had the bad fortune to marry Ansige. He was the least eligible bachelor in his village: self-centered, foolish, and food-obsessed. Paama has had enough of this miserable life with her gluttonous husband, and so leaves him to return to her old life with her family. But Paama does not know that this is the beginning of a remarkable adventure. Because the Undying Ones are watching her. These spirits observe the follies of mortal life . . . and sometimes meddle and make mischief. One of these beings presents her with a magical artifact known as the Chaos Stick, which he says is great for stirring things up. As Paama gets to know the powers of this marvelous gift, she learns that the Chaos Stick was stolen from a rival spirit, who decides to stir up some trouble of his own.But mastering this magical artifact is only the beginning of Paamas quest. Although Paama has been granted great power by the Undying Ones, her real journey is to find the magic that lies within herself.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BUZZFEED A stunning epic that is at once a new vision of science fiction and a deeply moving love story, from the award-winning author of Redemption in IndigoAn engrossing picaresque quest, a love story, and a moving character study . . . [Karen] Lord is on a par with Ursula K. Le Guin.The GuardianA proud and reserved alien society finds its homeland destroyed in an unprovoked act of aggression, leaving the survivors no choice but to reach out to the indigenous humanoids of their adopted world, to whom they are distantly related. They wish to preserve their cherished way of life but discover that to protect their culture, they may have to change it forever.Now a man and a woman from opposite sides of these clashing societies must work together to save this vanishing raceand end up uncovering ancient mysteries with far-reaching ramifications. As their mission hangs in the balance, these unlikely partnersone cool and cerebral, the other fiery and impulsivemay find in each other their own destinies . . . and a force that transcends all.Includes two bonus short stories [A] fascinating and thoughtful science fiction novel that examines] adaptation, social change, and human relationships. Ive not read anything quite like it, which makes it that rare beast: a true original.Kate Elliott, author of the Crown of Stars series and The Spiritwalker Trilogy Reads like smooth jazz comfort food, deceptively familiar and easy going down, but subtly subversive.Nalo Hopkinson, Los Angeles Review of Books If you want to see science fiction doing something new and fascinating . . . then you shouldnt sleep on The Best of All Possible Worlds.io9 Rewarding science fiction for emotional grown-ups.Mysterious Galaxy [A] marvelously formed universe.The A.V. Club A rewarding, touching and often funny exploration of the forms and functions of human culture.SFX The Best of All Possible Worlds . . . poses an interesting question: What parts of you do you fight to preserve when everything you know suddenly changes?Associated Press

As first contact transforms Earth, a team of gifted visionaries races to create a new future in this wondrous science fiction novel from the award-winning author of The Best of All Possible Worlds.A complex story of first contact from a unique perspective that is warm, engaging, and wildly original.Martha Wells, New York Times bestselling author of The Murderbot DiariesLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMENS PRIZE FOR FICTIONThe world is changing, and humanity must change with it. Rising seas and soaring temperatures have radically transformed the face of Earth. Meanwhile, Earth is being observed from afar by other civilizations . . . and now they are ready to make contact. Vying to prepare humanity for first contact are a group of dreamers and changemakers, including Peter Hendrix, the genius inventor behind the most advanced VR tech; Charyssa, a beloved celebrity icon with a passion for humanitarian work; and Kanoa, a member of a global council of young people drafted to reimagine the relationship between humankind and alien societies. And they may have an unexpected secret weapon: Owen, a pop megastar whose ability to connect with his adoring fans is more than charisma. His hidden talent could be the key to uniting Earth as it looks toward the stars. But Owens abilities are so unique that no one can control him and so seductive that he cannot help but use them. Can he transcend his human limitations and find the freedom he has always dreamed of? Or is he doomed to become the dictator of his nightmares?

La humanidad se ha extendido y diversificado por el universo creando sociedades y culturas diferenciadas y originales que colaboran y recelan entre ellas. Un ataque por sorpresa destruye el planeta de una sociedad orgullosa y reservada, cuyos supervivientes no tienen mas remedio que entrar en contacto con la cultura del mundo que los ha acogido y con la que estan lejanamente emparentados. Su deseo mas profundo es preservar su forma de vida pero acabaran descubriendo que para conservar su cultura es posible que tengan que cambiarla para siempre.