A Darkling Sea: A Novel

On the planet Ilmatar, under a roof of ice a kilometer thick, a team of deep-sea diving scientists investigates the blind alien race that lives below. The Terran explorers have made an uneasy truce with the Sholen, their first extraterrestrial contact: so long as they don't disturb the Ilmataran habitat, they're free to conduct their missions in peace.
But when Henri Kerlerec, media personality and reckless adventurer, ends up sliced open by curious Ilmatarans, tensions between Terran and Sholen erupt, leading to a diplomatic disaster that threatens to escalate to war.
Against the backdrop of deep-sea guerrilla conflict, a new age of human exploration begins as alien cultures collide. Both sides seek the aid of the newly enlightened Ilmatarans. But what this struggle means for the natives―and the future of human exploration―is anything but certain, in A Darkling Sea by James Cambias.

Literature & Fiction

Cambias, James L.

United States

Tor Books

Tor Trade

James L. Cambias, author of A Darkling Sea, now gives readers a thrilling near-future adventure of space pirates and computer hackers in Corsair 
In the early 2020s, two young, genius computer hackers, Elizabeth Santiago and David Schwartz, meet at MIT and have a brief affair. David is amoral, out for himself, and soon disappears. Elizabeth dreams of technology and space travel and takes a military job after graduating. Ten years later, David works in the shadows for international thieves, and Elizabeth prevents international space piracy.
With robotic mining in space has become a lucrative part of the economy, and shipments from space are dropped down the gravity well into the oceans. David and Elizabeth fight for dominance of the computer systems controlling ore drop placement in international waters. Each one intuits that the other is their real competition but can't prove it. International piracy has very high stakes and some very evil players. And both Elizabeth and David end up in a world of trouble.

Corsair: A Science Fiction Novel

Arkad's World

Adventure and Excitement on an Alien World. Packed with exotic world-building and amazing characters, Arkad's World is a rollicking adventure story about growing up and the things we share that make us human, from celebrated author James L. Cambias. CROSS A MAD PLANET FOR TREASURE AND FREEDOM Young Arkad is the only human on a distant world, on his own among beings from across the Galaxy. His struggle to survive on the lawless streets of an alien city is disrupted by the arrival of three humans: an eccentric historian named Jacob, a superhuman cyborg girl called Baichi, and a mysterious ex-spy known as Ree. They seek a priceless treasure which might free Earth from alien domination. Arkad risks everything to join them on an incredible quest halfway across the planet. With his help they cross the fantastic landscape, battling pirates, mercenaries, bizarre creatures, vicious bandits and the harsh environment. But the deadliest danger comes from treachery and betrayal within the group as dark secrets and hidden loyalties come to light. Praise for Arkad's World: “Far-flung adventure . . . Cambias offers up an entertaining coming-of-age novel filled with action and surprises. His aliens are suitably non-human in mannerisms, attitudes, and objectives, and his worldbuilding suggests a vast universe ready for further exploration. Readers . . . will find this hits the spot.”—Publishers Weekly “. . . a classic quest story, a well-paced series of encounters with different folk along the way, building momentum toward a final confrontation with Arkad's past. . . [with] a delicious twist to the end.”—ALA Booklist "Cambias has achieved a feat of world-building: an expansive, believable setting with fascinating aliens, compelling mysteries, and a rich sense of history."—Bookpage "Drop a teenage boy into a distant planet chock full of colorful aliens--with troubles all their own. Stir, flavor, apply heat. A tour de force in the field, and great, quick fun."—Gregory Benford Praise for the work of James L. Cambias: "Beautifully written, with a story that captures the imagination the way SF should."—Booklist, Starred Review “An engaging nail-biter that is exciting, fun and a satisfying read.” —The Qwillery ''An impressive debut by a gifted writer.''—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review ''An exceptionally thoughtful, searching and intriguing debut.''—Kirkus, Starred Review "James Cambias will be one of the century's major names in hard science fiction.''—Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Red Planet Blues 'Fast-paced, pure quill hard science fiction.... Cambias delivers adroit plot pivots that keep the suspense coming.''—Gregory Benford, Nebula Award-winning author of Timescape

Baen

[Read by Patrick Lawlor]  In this compelling, fast-paced debut, three worlds collide beneath a sky of ice.  On the planet Ilmatar, under a roof of ice a kilometer thick, a team of deep-sea diving scientists investigates the blind alien race that lives below. The Terran explorers have made an uneasy truce with the Sholen, their first extraterrestrial contact: so long as they don't disturb the Ilmataran habitat, they're free to conduct their missions in peace.  But when Henri Kerlerec, media personality and reckless adventurer, ends up sliced open by curious Ilmatarans, tensions between Terran and Sholen erupt, leading to a diplomatic disaster that threatens to escalate to war.  Against the backdrop of deep-sea guerrilla conflict, a new age of human exploration begins as alien cultures collide. Both sides seek the aid of the newly enlightened Ilmatarans. But what this struggle means for the natives - and the future of human exploration - is anything but certain.

A Darkling Sea Lib/E

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Science Fiction

Blackstone Publishing

[Read by Patrick Lawlor] In this compelling, fast-paced debut, three worlds collide beneath a sky of ice. On the planet Ilmatar, under a roof of ice a kilometer thick, a team of deep-sea diving scientists investigates the blind alien race that lives below. The Terran explorers have made an uneasy truce with the Sholen, their first extraterrestrial contact: so long as they don't disturb the Ilmataran habitat, they're free to conduct their missions in peace. But when Henri Kerlerec, media personality and reckless adventurer, ends up sliced open by curious Ilmatarans, tensions between Terran and Sholen erupt, leading to a diplomatic disaster that threatens to escalate to war. Against the backdrop of deep-sea guerrilla conflict, a new age of human exploration begins as alien cultures collide. Both sides seek the aid of the newly enlightened Ilmatarans. But what this struggle means for the natives - and the future of human exploration - is anything but certain.  

A Darkling Sea

Blackstone Audiobooks

GURPS Mars

Science & Math

Astronomy & Space Science

Steve Jackson Games

The Future Is Yours! 
GURPS Space puts campaign-planning advice and space science at your fingertips, so you can create a setting that is plausible and fun!It's the ultimate toolkit for building strange new worlds and alien civilizations. Does your game feature gritty asteroid miners or blaster-waving fighter jocks? Choose the space travel and technology that give the right feel for your campaign. Looking for character ideas? Here are templates and advice to help an adventuring group get together and stay together. Do you want a bug-eyed monster – or a realistic ecosystem? Use the alien-design chapter to build them all! Need a planet? How about an asteroid, or a Dyson sphere? The world-building chapters provide step-by-step instructions. In a hurry to play? Each step of the world- and alien-design instructions lets you roll randomly and get results that make sense. Roll up your next planet and let the adventure begin! 
GURPS Space will help you create campaigns of every style, from science fantasy to space opera to realistic. Recreate your favorite science-fiction background, or develop an original world of your own. With GURPS Space in your hands, the future is yours! 
GURPS Space requires the GURPS Basic Set Fourth Edition. The information and advice on technology, world-building, and alien design can be used as a resource for any space-based game. 
This softcover printing is black and white (grayscale). A version with color interior pages is also available separately.

GURPS Space

Zeigler, Jon F.

Gaming

Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated

About the Author\nJohn Joseph Adams is the series editor of Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, as well as the bestselling editor of more than thirty anthologies, including Wastelands and The Living Dead. Recent books include A People's Future of the United States, Wastelands: The New Apocalypse, and the three books in The Dystopia Triptych anthology series. Called “the reigning king of the anthology world” by Barnes & Noble, John is a two-time winner of the Hugo Award (for which he has been a finalist twelve times) and an eight-time World Fantasy Award finalist. John is also the editor and publisher of the digital magazine Lightspeed and publisher of its sister-magazines Fantasy and Nightmare. He’s also a producer for WIRED’s The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast. Find him online at johnjosephadams.com and @johnjosephadams.\n“Here be dragons . . . and a lot of stories that would make a dragon blink. A fascinating kaleidoscope of people and places and Things That Might Have Been―or Might Be.” ―Diana Gabaldon, New York Times bestselling author 
From Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea to Journey to the Center of the Earth, from the fabled island of Avalon to the lost oasis of Zerzura, from The Land That Time Forgot to the golden city of El Dorado, storytellers have long imagined what exists beyond the edges of the map. 
The need to seek and discover the unknown is embedded in who we are, no matter the culture or era. To celebrate this sense of wonder, award-winning editor John Joseph Adams has gathered together some of the best SF&F writers working today, collecting adventure and mystery in this spectacular anthology. With original contributions from Kate Elliott, Tobias S. Buckell, Dexter Palmer, E. Lily Yu, Jonathan Maberry, and a dozen more, there are short stories sure to enthrall every reader. 
Explore the rich tradition begun centuries ago with this all-new compilation full of imagination and delights. What lies beyond the edge of the unknown? Only you, brave reader, can find out. 
Featuring new tales by today's masters of SF&F: 
Tobias S. Buckell James L. Cambias Becky Chambers Kate Elliott C.C. Finlay Jeffrey Ford Theodora Goss Darcie Little Badger Jonathan Maberry Seanan McGuire An Owomoyela Dexter Palmer Cadwell Turnbull Genevieve Valentine Carrie Vaughn Charles Yu E. Lily Yu

Lost Worlds & Mythological Kingdoms

Yu, Charles

Buckell, Tobias S.

MABERRY, JONATHAN

McGuire, Seanan

Ford, Jeffrey

Owomoyela, An

Yu, E. Lily

VALENTINE, Genevieve

Chambers, Becky

Goss, Theodora

Palmer, Dexter

Vaughn,Carrie

Finlay, C.C.

Badger, Darcie Little

Turnbull, Cadwell

Elliott, Kate.

Grim Oak Press

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