Pamela Sargent

Gena and Don seemed an ideal couple. Young. In love. Playful and imaginative. They often pretended to be cats, purring and playing and taking on pretend roles in their made-up cat-world of "Cat"-alonia! When they move into their first house and money becomes tight, management of household finances -- what the shared Household account pays for versus what share goes to personal expenses -- becomes a contention point. And their imaginary world takes a darker turn, with Household becoming an evil that threatens the harmony of their beloved Catalonia. But Catalonia and its feline residents have become so real that they begin to intrude into Gena and Don's world, appearing as stray cats -- with a mission of their own. And they aren't going to let the young couple destroy their world, at any cost! SEASON OF THE CATS is a delightfully contemporary fantasy by the award-winning author of EARTHSEED, the Venus Trilogy, and The Alien Upstairs.

Acclaimed SF writer Pamela Sargent's book, "Earthseed," told the story of Ship, a sentient starship that settled humans on the planet Home before leaving to colonize other worlds, promising to return one day. This classic YA science fiction adventure, optioned by Paramount Pictures, will be produced by the adaptor of the Twilight series. The adventure continues in "Earthseed"'s stand-alone sequel, "Seed Seeker."Over time, the colony of Home divided into those who live in the original domed buildings of the colony, who maintain the library and technology of Ship, and those who live by the river, farming and hunting to survive. The Dome Dwellers consider themselves the protectors of "true humanity" and the River People as "contaminated." For many years, the two populations interact solely through ritualized trade.Then a new light appears in the night sky. The River People believe it might be Ship, keeping its promise to return, but the Dome Dwellers, who have a radio to communicate with Ship, are silent, so Bian, a seventeen year old girl from a small village, travels upriver to learn what they know. As she travels, Bian ponders why the Dome Dwellers have said nothing. Has Ship commanded them to be silent, in preparation of some judgment on the River People? Or are the Dome Dwellers lying to Ship and turning Ship against their rivals?"Seed Seeker" is an adventure in colonization and conflict from a master of the SF field.

"This formidably researched and exquisitely written novel is surely destined to be known hereafter as the definitive history of the life and times and conquests of Genghis, mightiest of Khans." -Gary Jennings, author of Aztec "I love it...Scholarly without ever seeming pedantic, the book is fascinating from cover to cover and does admirable justice to a man who might very well be called history's single most important and compelling character." -Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of Reindeer Moon "Sargent...has produced a neatly crafted work that manages to provide a panoramic view of the charismatic leader Genghis Khan while at the same time presenting the background mosaic of warring Mongol tribes in enough detail to keep the reader from getting hopelessly confused. A nice touch is Sargent's telling the conqueror's story from the viewpoints of the women in his life-mothers, wives, and daughters...an appealing novel to fans of historical fiction." -Library Journal "...Genghis Khan lives again in this expansive saga, as perceived through the eyes of the women who loved him. 'Behind every great man...' they say; and befitting a king who in one lifetime accomplished what ten average kings might, there is more than one great woman here.Ruler of the Sky chronicles the birth, coming-of-age, reign, and death of this vastly complex warrior-king from an intimate perspective. In an age in which women were subjected to barbarous conventional practices, the courage, wisdom, tenacity, and ingenuity of these particular women are remarkable. An impressive novel from a veteran writer." -The ALA Booklist "...a successful attempt to flesh out a mythic figure...Genghis Khan seen through the eyes of significant women. Ruler of the Sky will be a pleasant surprise for readers." -Chicago Tribune In 1167, in the harsh homeland of Mongol tribes, a child was born who was to change the course of human history. His father named him Temujin, but the world knows him as Genghis Khan. Set amid the barbaric splendor of the Mongol hordes, Ruler of the Sky tells the tale of the warrior who forged one of the greatest and most terrifying armies the world had ever seen, and conquered the world from Peking to Persia. Not only is this the story of Genghis Khan, it is also the story of those who were closest to him, especially the women who played such an important role in his life.From the windswept plains of Mongolia to the opulence of the Chinese court, Ruler of the Sky is unforgettable. Pamela Sargent is the author of the futuristic novel The Shore of Women and the alternative history Climb the Wind: A Novel of Another America. Her other novels include Watchstar, Venus of Dreams, The Golden Space, The Alien Upstairs, and Earthseed, recently optioned by Paramount Pictures. She lives in upstate New York.

With their sun about to go nova, the people of Epictetus III face annihilation. Although the U.S.S. Enterprise? has come to lead the rescue operation, there is no way to evacuate a population of over twenty million, leaving Captain Picard to make an agonizing decision. Should he try to salvage the planet's children, its greatest leaders and thinkers, or its irreplaceable archeological treasures? No matter what he decides, millions must be sacrificed -- unless another solution can be found.With time running out, Data proposes a revolutionary scientific experiment that could save all of Epictetus III, or doom both the planet and the Enterprise as well.

Each of the Nebula winners and finalists featured here displays its own (often highly idiosyncratic) excellence. This volume, which represents the best of 1993, includes offerings from Harlan Ellison, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Lisa Goldstein.