The Massacre Of Mankind

Originally published: London: Gollancz, 2017.

The science fiction masterpiece of man versus alien that inspired generations, from Orson Welles’s classic radio play to the film starring Tom Cruise. At the turn of the twentieth century, few would believe that mankind is being watched from above. But millions of miles from Earth, the lords of the Red Planet prepare their armies for invasion, waiting for the moment to strike. When they land in the English countryside, baffled humans approach, waving white flags, and the Martians burn them to a crisp. The war has begun, and mankind doesn’t stand a chance. As Martian armies roll across England, one man fights to keep his family safe, risking his life—and his sanity—on the front lines of the greatest war in galactic history. H. G. Wells’s groundbreaking novel, adapted to radio and film, among other mediums, by visionary artists from Orson Welles to Steven Spielberg, remains one of the most chilling, unforgettable works of science fiction ever written. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

“Stephen Baxter has been heralded, with some merit, as Arthur C. Clarke’s literary heir, and Proxima certainly reinforces this accolade in spades.”—Concatenation Mankind’s future in this galaxy could be all but infinite. There are hundreds of billions of red dwarf stars, lasting trillions of years—and their planets can be habitable for humans. Such is the world of Proxima Centauri. And its promise could mean the never-ending existence of humanity. But first it must be colonized, and no one wants to be a settler. There is no glamor that accompanies it, nor is there the ease of becoming a citizen of an already-tamed world. There is only hardship...loneliness...emptiness, even as war brews in the solar system. But that’s where Yuri comes in. Because sometimes exploration isn’t voluntary. It must be coerced.

The New York Times bestselling account of one of history's most brutal—and forgotten—massacres, when the Japanese army destroyed China's capital city on the eve of World War II, "piecing together the abundant eyewitness reports into an undeniable tapestry of horror". (Adam Hochschild, Salon) In December 1937, one of the most horrific atrocities in the long annals of wartime barbarity occurred. The Japanese army swept into the ancient city of Nanking (what was then the capital of China), and within weeks, more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and soldiers were systematically raped, tortured, and murdered. In this seminal work, Iris Chang, whose own grandparents barely escaped the massacre, tells this history from three perspectives: that of the Japanese soldiers, that of the Chinese, and that of a group of Westerners who refused to abandon the city and created a safety zone, which saved almost 300,000 Chinese. Drawing on extensive interviews with survivors and documents brought to light for the first time, Iris Chang's classic book is the definitive history of this horrifying episode.

“Baxter has an uncanny gift for mixing a punchy, cyberpunk cynicism with his resolutely hard SF story base. . . . [Exultant] rivals Asimov in its boundless vision for the future evolution of humanity.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) For more than twenty thousand years, humans have been at war with the alien race of Xeelee. Faced with certain death, a young pilot, Pirius, disobeys orders and travels into the future. Upon his return, Pirius is court-martialed and sentenced to penal servitude. But it is not only Pirius who pays the price. In flying into the future and back again, Pirius returned to a time before he’d left, a time inhabited by his younger self, who also receives punishment. Commissary Nilis believes that the elder Pirius, whom he dubs Pirius Blue, may know how to defeat the Xeelee. But Nilis can do nothing for Pirius Blue. Instead, he takes the younger Pirius—Pirius Red—back to Earth. There Pirius Red will discover truths that shatter his preconceived notions of all that he is fighting for, while Pirius Blue will learn even harsher truths. But the most shocking revelation of all is still to come. “Absurdly ambitious, technically brilliant, and downright exciting.”—SFX Magazine “Striking . . . chilling . . . [with] a triumphant conclusion.”—Starburst

A sequel to the H.G. Wells classic THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, brilliantly realized by award-winning SF author and Wells expert Stephen Baxter It has been fourteen years since the Martian invasion. Humanity has moved on, always watching the skies but confident that we know how to defeat the alien menace. The Martians are vulnerable to Earth germs. The army is prepared. Our technology has taken great leaps forward, thanks to machinery looted from abandoned war-machines and capsules. So when the signs of launches on Mars are seen, there seems little reason to worry. Unless you listen to one man, Walter Jenkins, the narrator of Wells’ book. He is sure that the first incursion was merely a scouting mission, a precursor to the true attack—and that the Martians have learned from their defeat, adapted their methods, and now pose a greater threat than ever before. He is right. Thrust into the chaos of a new worldwide invasion, journalist Julie Elphinstone—sister in law to Walter Jenkins—struggles to survive the war, report on it, and plan a desperate effort that will be humanity’s last chance at survival. Because the massacre of mankind has begun. Echoing the style and form of the original while extrapolating from its events in ingenious, unexpected fashion again and again, The Massacre of Mankind is a labor of love from one of the genre’s most praised talents—at once a truly fitting tribute to a classic and brainy, page-turning fun for any science-fiction fan.

***Updated Jan 2017*** This is a serious and intelligent interpretationand not a comical fusion of two classic genres. Using pivotal sequences portrayed in Wells' masterpiece, we'll accompany Holmes & Watson as they experience and tackle the horror of a full scale Martian invasion. Includes new plot twists and updated science. The Thunder Child:- Excerpt from chapter seven. People flung themselves futilely at the ship's railings as the boat pulled away from the now swamped jetty. I found myself willing to dive into the torrent waters without a moments hesitation. I hadn't come this far to loss her again. Holmes prevented me, locking me in a constricting clasp. I fought against him, pleaded. "Let me go!" Hated Sherlock to his core but I knew he was right. I withered in his brotherly embrace as mine and Mary's eyes made contact. Over the shrieking yells around us she softly mouthed the words I love you. "Ulla!" That terrible clap of thunder echoed above our heads. "Ulla!" An unseen tripod had swum up the Thames. Raised itself to full height behind Tower Bridge. Flourished its funnel and blocked the exodus of the ferry. "Ulla!" A second fighting machine appeared above St Paul's then another and another. They roared in unison. "Ulla!" The crowd cowered to their knees covering their ears. I saw a grown man weeping. "Ulla!" The Martians and their unearthly rays of were upon us all! I had out witted the invaders thus far but no more. The first shot didn't come from the Martians. The grey iron clad warship Thunder Child moored at St Katharine docks, dealt a tremendous blow. Killing the tripod that straddled the Thames. No longer protected by any form of shield while they roam gave out an atrocious cry, the voice of their pain. The two hundred and fifty-four mini-meter front battery turrets of the naval flag ship had ripped apart the back shell plate of the Martian strider. It staggered side to side. Silver blood pouring from a gaping wound. Its legs acting independent from the brain. Losses its footing it toppled. Crashing through the two layers of Tower Bridge. Not everybody managed to clear the collapsing titan's path. Cheers rose up from the frighten crowd. Jarring fists punched the air. These beasts could be killed. Another volley from Thunder Child blasted a leg clean off a second Martian. Wounded and unsupported it fell heavily, crushing St Magnus church beneath its weight. The prayers inside didn't receive their salvation. Picking up whatever they could find people started throwing debris at the metal warlords.

It's the year 2030. The oceans have risen rapidly, and soon the entire planet will be submerged. But the discovery of another life-sustaining planet light years away gives those who remain alive hope. Only a few will be able to make the journey-Holle Groundwater is one of the candidates. If she makes the cut, she will live. If not, she will be left to face a watery death...