For some time, sky pirates took public attention, because everyone was shocked by their brave actions. The handsome and sophisticated captain Alfonso Payton was one of the most daring. They decided to steal the billionaire’s daughter, Helen Grayman, and her servant. Their goal is to squeeze money out of the most wealthy person in the USA. Do these pirates again get what they want?
Garrett Putman Serviss is popular as a science fiction author. His story „A Columbus of Space” about the flight into space. The heroes were in the middle of the cosmos, they were surprised when they saw the Earth. The very Earth where a few days ago they were going in some direction. Yes, they knew where they were. But how did they get there and what will they do next?
Every person is interested to know whether there is life on Mars. Garrett Putman Servissis one of the first writers who touched on this topic. This story contains everything unimaginable: the invasion of people on Mars, ingenious inventions, the first space battle, alien abduction. This should be read to each.
In „The Stray Lamb”, author Thorne Smith draws inspiration from his most famous works, the beloved Topper series. It follows mild-mannered investment banker, cuckold, ordinary, faithful, and dipsomaniac T. Lawrence Lamb. He is given a new perspective on life through the eyes of many different animals as he assumes the shape of many including a stallion, goldfish, dog, lion and many others. Mr. Lamb gains wisdom, fresh insight, and a new much needed exuberance for life as he...
Looking for a satisfying, meticulously exciting adventure with which to while away an afternoon? Look no further than „Squadron of the Damned”, a short story from one of the most early writers in the genre of fantasy and science fiction, David Wright O’Brien. O’Brien’s work was space opera or other routine adventure, but many of his stories betray a strain of humor, not unlike Henry Kuttner’s at that time. Some of the stories were co-written with his close friend William P....
After a „short, dumpy bald-headed guy in civvies” installs an invention – a time transfer device – in a tank that proceeds into the Georgia wilderness on maneuvers, a lightning bolt send the tank and its three operators backward in time. Shortly afterward they notice a single three-toes dinosaur footprint and disturbingly they hear the bloodthirsty scream of a very strange „bird”. „Blitzkrieg in the Past” is a science fiction from American fantasy and science fiction writer...
The second of the three Grandon of Venus novels. When the man who was Harry Thorne on Earth offered to swap bodies with a native of Venus, it was because he was bored with comfort and security, and craved excitement. And that was what he got – more than he would have bargained for – when he found that he had taken over the assassin-haunted role of a prince of a beleaguered throne in a land of ferocious beasts and inhuman foemen. With the help of the fellow interplanetary tr...
The Age of Miracles produces an amazing suicide and a triumphant return from death. A million dollar prize is offered – and won – for the most perfect automation. „The Revenge of the Robot and Other Tales” is a collection of thrilling sci-fi stories from mechanistic progress, written by Otis Adelbert Kline, who was an adventure and science-fiction novelist of the pulp era. Kline is perhaps best known for his novelistic feud with Edgar Rice Burroughs. He wrote „Planet of Per...
When Vernia, empress of Reabon, mightiest land of all Venus, was kidnapped by the strange marauders of the sea and was taken to their hidden port, it presented the Earthman, Robert Grandon, with his greatest challenge. Grandon goes on a quest to save her, a quest that will put him on challenges, and against enemies beyond everything he had came across before. And out of this comes a tale of action in which event follows event at unparalleled speed, and always against a back...
Those readers who had been charmed by Otis Adelbert Kline’s swashbuckling sci-fi adventures would not have long to wait before they were treated to that novel’s follow-up thrill ride. „The Thing That Walked in the Rain” provides another interplanetary adventure. Considered by many to be the only true equal of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Otis Adelbert Kline was a master of the sword and planet genre. From his position on the original editorial staff of Weird Tales and as the liter...
Rebels on the red planet! An Earthman Harry Thorn exchanges personalities with an ancient Martian and pursues a vicious criminal (another Earthman who had been sent earlier) who seeks to destroy Martian civilization. There’s also a race of yellow aliens apart from the hot-looking humanoids, and these guys have a death-ray which becomes important to the conflict. Follow Thorne’s amazing adventures on this distant world as he attempts to fulfill his obligations. „The Swordsma...
Otis Adelbert Kline is best known for his purported novelistic feud with Edgar Rice Burroughs. In 1929, long before planetary romance became a conventional genre, he wrote „Planet of Peril”, a novel set on the planet Venus and written in the storytelling form of Burroughs’ Martian novels. He followed this with two sequels. This novel is a science-fiction adventure on a world of semi-barbaric nations, ferocious beasts, gigantic reptiles, and maidens in distress. In it, Rober...
A missile is fired from earth to hit the surface of the moon. It is successful and the missilemen are heroes, until... THE MOON FIRES BACK! Terrible lunar missiles blast New York, London, and Paris. And an ultimatum is delivered from the unsuspected civilization of our satellite: „You have attacked us! You will pay the penalty! „. The Otis Adelbert Kline’s second book who was an adventure and science-fiction novelist of the pulp era. He is best known for his interplanetary ...
Originally published in 1931, „The Metal Monster” is a classic science-fiction novel by Otis Adelbert Kline (1891-1946), best known for his interplanetary adventure novels set on Venus and Mar. When the most powerful artillery, deadly bacteria and explosives known, and the most destructive methods available fail to be effective against some enemy’s unknown weapon of war, it is time, very frequently, to turn to some simple means of combat and attack. Paradoxically, though, i...
Silently, without warning they came, those fishermen of deep space who spread their net for man – living flying saucers the Earth must destroy – yet who multiplied by dying! „Spawn of the Comet” is a short alien invasion story by Otis Adelbert Kline. Otis Adelbert Kline (1891–1946) born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was an adventure novelist and literary agent during the pulp era. He is best known for his interplanetary adventure novels set on Venus and Mars, which instantly b...
Led to believe that his natural mother is a chimpanzee Chicma, a young boy knows only the savage ways of the great apes. Kept in a cage, he is systematically trained to become a savage killer by the fiendish Dr. Bracken. But the young boy, Jan, is clever enough to escape from the lab and make it out into the surrounding swamp with his chimp mentor at his side and emerge near the Lost Empire of Mu. The swamplands offer Jan has his first taste of freedom. He grows up fast, an...
As we continue to follow adventures of „Jan of the Jungle” written by Otis Adelbert Kline, we find him engaged to his fiancée Ramona and reunited with his parents. Together with some friends, they start a cruise on the Indian Ocean. However, the happy days don’t last long for Jan as he gets thrown in the shark infested waters and Ramona gets abducted. Follow the exploits of „Jan of the Jungle” as he strives to save his future wife from a hideous death at the fangs of the Bl...
„The Outlaws of Mars” introduces you to Captain Jerry Morgan and his travel to Mars in the early 20th century. When Jerry, expert swordsman, left the American Army, his scientist uncle, Dr. Richard Morgan, had no difficulty in persuading the adventurous young man to take a trip to Raliad, largest city on Mars in a space ship, directed by mental telepathy. For Jerry’s first moment there involved him in a costly mistake which was to throw him into conflict not only with the f...
Meet the another sci-fi story from the master of adventure and science-fiction novelist of the pulp era Otis Adelbert Kline, best known for his interplanetary adventure novels set on Venus and Mars, which instantly became science-fiction classics. Smaller than a microbe, the Stranger was but how he grew! Ralph Blake’s surprise kidnapping flung him into fierce adventure in the torrid Sahara. Then a strange creature from Mercury stepped in and even Ralph’s death couldn’t prev...
Malcolm Jameson was an American Golden Age science fiction author who began writing only seven years before his death. Drawing from his experiences of navy and warfare he gave a personal touch to all of his stories. He is now chiefly remembered for his Captain Bullard stories which chronicles the journey of a young officer into a fleet admiral of space ship and to most critics seem like a precursor of the modern day space exploration series like Star Trek. „Wreckers of the ...
Therne is a young budding doctor who has experienced many tragedies. He is unfairly accused of abuse of office, he loses all his patients, even if he is acquitted, and later suffers from the loss of his young wife. Being a staunch supporter of vaccination, he is running for parliament on a platform against vaccination, selling his convictions and morality political gain and dirty gain. The author of most of his story attaches vaccination, which should help humanity.
The Raid of „Le Vengeur” is a mind game of scientists, so to speak. This is a story about dueling military scientists in Britain and France. They are trying to figure out how to unite in a race to learn how to improve their military power with the help of submarines. This story promises to be fascinating.
Another masterpiece by George Griffiths that deserves attention. The World Masters is an exciting, story that explores the unintended consequences of uncontrolled scientific innovation. What will the author offer us this time? This novel shows that you need to be careful before new scientific innovations.
Fantastyka naukowa, lub inaczej science fiction, to gatunek literacki, filmowy, a także gier wideo, który pozwala nam spojrzeć w daleką przyszłość. Czym charakteryzuje się science fiction? Nieznane nam dziś osiągnięcia nauki i techniki oraz ich znaczący wpływ na życie na Ziemi tworzą podstawę dla historii, jakie znajdziecie w książkach sci-fi. Ich karty wypełniają światy podobne do tego, który jest nam znany, a jednak zupełnie inne. Ile zmieni się w ciągu stu, dwustu czy tysiąca lat? Czy Ziemia jeszcze będzie zdatna do życia? W jaką stronę zmierza nasz świat? Postęp technologiczny, medyczny, dalszy rozwój społeczny - dokąd nas zaprowadzą? Na te i wiele innych pytań o przyszłość odpowiadają najlepsi twórcy fantastyki naukowej, tacy jak Stanisław Lem, Philip K. Dick, Frank Herbert czy Artur C. Clarke. Klasyczna powieść science fiction jest zasadniczo pozbawiona elementów cudowności i stara się przede wszystkim przestrzegać zasad prawdopodobieństwa. Jej akcja rozgrywa się w świecie przyszłości, często w warunkach utopii - znajdziecie jej elementy na przykład w powieści “Ludzie jak bogowie” H. G. Wellsa, która na Woblink czeka na Was jako audiobook. Książki fantastyczno naukowe nierzadko sięgają także po elementy dystopii - jak dzieje się to na przykład w serii science fiction “Modyfikowany węgiel/Takeshi Kovacs” Richarda Morgana - lub antyutopii - jak chociażby w “Nowym wspaniałym świecie” Aldousa Huxley’a. Wyróżnić można inne liczne podtypy gatunku science fiction, takie jak hard science fiction, soft science fiction, space opera, postapo czy cyberpunk. Dajcie się wciągnąć w niesamowity świat wielkich wizji przyszłości i losów gatunku ludzkiego! Najlepsze książki science fiction czekają na Was niecierpliwie na Woblink jako ebooki w formatach epub, mobi lub pdf.
Jeśli dotychczas nie zagłębialiście się w futurystyczne światy fantastyki naukowej, może zadajecie sobie pytanie - po co sięgnąć w pierwszej kolejności? Dobrym początkiem jest klasyka science fiction, czyli takie powieści jak “Diuna” Franka Herberta (pierwszy tom cyklu “Kronki Diuny”), “Blade runner. Czy androidy marzą o elektrycznych owcach?” Philipa K. Dicka, seria “Hyperion” Dana Simmonsa, “Fundacja” Isaaca Asimova czy “Solaris” Stanisława Lema. Ten ostatni autor był nie tylko wybitnym polskim pisarzem hard science fiction, ale także futurologiem, filozofem i krytykiem. W swojej twórczości Stanisław Lem poruszał często tematy ludzkiej natury czy miejsca człowieka we wszechświecie. Twórca ten pozostaje najczęściej tłumaczonym polskim pisarzem, a w pewnym momencie był to nawet najchętniej czytany nieanglojęzyczny autor science fiction. Stanisław Lem był kandydatem do Nagrody Nobla w dziedzinie literatury. W jego dorobku znajdziecie wiele tytułów, które zaliczane są już do klasyki literatury SF, takich jak “Pamiętnik znaleziony w wannie”, “Bajki robotów”, “Eden”, “Powrót z gwiazd”, “Cyberiada” czy “Solaris”. Ta ostatnia powieść stała się podstawą dla kilku ekranizacji, w tym w reżyserii Stevena Soderbergha, z Georgem Clooney’em w roli głównej. Lem był także autorem zbiorów esejów, felietonów i publicystyki literackiej - znajdziecie je na przykład w tomie “Summa technologiae”, który na Woblink dostępny jest jako książkę papierową lub ebooka. Warto sięgnąć także po serię “Wspomnienie o przeszłości Ziemi” Cixin Liu, trylogię autorstwa chińskiego króla science fiction. “Problem Trzech Ciał”, “Ciemny las” i “Koniec śmierci” tworzą napisany z ogromnym rozmachem cykl, który szybko stał się bestsellerem nie tylko w Chinach, ale i na całym świecie. “Wspomnienie o przeszłości Ziemi” często porównywane jest do “Kronik Diuny” Franka Herberta - jeśli więc ta wizja przyszłości zrobiła na Was wrażenie, sięgnijcie także po dzieło Cixin Liu! Na Woblink znajdziecie je jako audiobook lub ebook.
Czasami pojawia się pytanie - jak rozróżnić książki science fiction od dzieł fantasy? Obydwa te gatunki, wraz z horrorem, zaliczane są do fantastyki - jednak różnice pomiędzy nimi są dosyć znaczące. Science fiction opowiada zawsze o świecie przyszłości, wyróżnia je także wspomniane już przywiązanie do zasad prawdopodobieństwa i postępu technologicznego oraz naukowego, a także zasadniczo brak elementów nadprzyrodzonych, które wypełniają świat fantasy. W nim elementy naukowe pojawiają się dość rzadko, podobnie jak tematyka grozy, która dominuje w horrorze. W pewnym stopniu jednak wszystkie te trzy gatunki często się przenikają - tak dzieje się na przykład w cyklu “Hyperion” Dana Simmonsa. Kontakty z obcą cywilizacją, kosmiczne podboje czy istniejące w przyszłości imperium galaktyczne częściej spotkacie jednak w powieściach fantastyczno naukowych. Pierwszy kontakt z obcymi to punkt wyjścia chociażby dwutomowej historii SF autorstwa Petera Wattsa, “Ślepowidzenie”, na który składają się tom o tym samym tytule oraz jego sequel, “Echopraksja”. Jest to niezwykle ciekawa wizja przyszłości - jej inne wyobrażenia znajdziecie w licznych książkach sci-fi, które czekają na Was na Woblink jako książki papierowe, audiobooki lub ebooki (epub, mobi, pdf). Dajcie się ponieść wyobraźni i sprawdźcie, jak już całkiem niedługo może wyglądać nasz świat!
