2185. Quand Witney commence le journal que poursuivront ses descendants, il ne reste plus sur Terre qu'une poignée d'humains. Que s'est-il passé ? Aucun cataclysme, aucune épidémie, rien ne vient expliquer que plus de huit milliards d'individus aient tout simplement comme par magie, disparu... Quelques Blancs désemparés, quelques Indiens retournés avec soulagement au mode de vie de leurs ancêtres, essaient de donner un nouveau départ à l'humanité. Il y a aussi les robots : les uns, devenus sauvages, se livrent à des activités occultes, d'autres mènent une vie monastique, maintenant une institution oubliée des hommes... Pendant ce temps, ailleurs, très loin, au cœur de la galaxie, veille un mystérieux "Principe "...

Ten thrilling and intriguing tales of space travel, war, and alien encounters from multiple Hugo Award–winning Grand Master of Science Fiction Clifford D. Simak.From Frank Herbert’s Dune to Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series to Philip K. Dick’s stories of bizarre visions of a dystopian future, the latter half of the twentieth century produced some of the finest examples of speculative fiction ever published. Yet no science fiction author was more highly regarded than Grand Master Clifford D. Simak, winner of numerous honors, including the Hugo and Nebula Awards and a Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.This magnificent compendium of stories, written during science fiction’s golden age, highlights Simak at his very best, combining ingenious concepts with his trademark humanism and exploring strange visitations, remarkable technologies, and humankind’s destiny in the possible worlds of tomorrow. Whether it’s an irascible old man’s discovery of a very unusual skunk that puts him at odds with the US Air Force, a county agent’s strange bond with the sentient alien flora he discovers growing in his garden, the problems a small town faces when its children mature too rapidly thanks to babysitters from another galaxy, or the gift a lonely farmer receives in exchange for aiding a dying visitor from another world, the events detailed in Simak’s poignant and beautiful tales will thrill, shock, amuse, and astonish in equal measure.One of the genre’s premier literary artists, Simak explores time travel and time engines; examines the rituals and superstitions of galactic travelers who have long forgotten their ultimate purpose; and even takes fascinating detours through World War II and the wild American West in a wondrous anthology that no science fiction fan should be without.

Parker Graves, periodista, llega una noche a su casa para descubrir que ante su puerta se ha dispuesto una trampa. Para horror suyo, esta trampa se convierte en una bola, de esas de bolera, y huye. Muy pronto, toda la ciudad se transforma en el escenario de extraños sucesos — os edificios son comprados por sumas fabulosas, no se renuevan las licencias de arrendamientos, los negocios establecidos son cerrados, y nadie encuentra un lugar donde poder vivir.

La crisi degli alloggi, che deve essere molto sentita anche negli Stati Uniti, ha probabilmente ispirato a Clifford Simak questo suo recentissimo libro, dove si dimostra come la sempre più difficile situazione in cui si trovano gli abitanti delle moderne metropoli possa avere, in realtà, un’origine extraterrestre, possa dipendere dalle oscure manovre di una razza d’invasori spaziali. E che l’umanità debba infine la sua salvezza non alla propria intelligenza o alle proprie armi, ma a un’altra «razza», tra le meno nobili del nostro pianeta, non è che una delle molte trovate di questo ironico e movimentato romanzo.

A collection of masterfully written tales spanning generations of one family.

A collection of masterfully written tales spanning generations of one family.

Professor Peter Maxwell hat die Entdeckung seines Lebens gemacht. Auf seiner intergalaktischen Forschungsreise fand er den mysteriösen Kristallplaneten, der den ungeheuren Wissensschatz eines Volkes enthält, das vor Äonen bereits die Raumfahrt kannte.Wieder zur Erde zurückgekehrt, bemüht er sich sofort, seine Vorgesetzten davon zu überzeugen, daß sie den Schatz des Kristallplaneten für die Menschheit gewinnen müßten.Aber Maxwells Bemühungen werden durchkreuzt. Während seiner Abwesenheit von der Erde ist ein perfekter Doppelgänger aufgetaucht. Und da dieser zweite Maxwell bei einem angeblichen Unfall ums Leben gekommen ist, will niemand glauben, daß Professor Maxwell noch tatsächlich existiert.Peter Maxwell gibt nicht auf. Schließlich ist er Spezialist für übernatürliche Phänomene.

Tales of science fiction and adventure from the Hugo Award–winning author of Way Station and City.The long and prolific career of Clifford D. Simak cemented him as one of the formative voices of the science fiction and fantasy genre. The third writer to be named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America, his literary legacy stands alongside those of Robert A. Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. This striking collection of nine tales showcases Simak’s ability to take the everyday and turn it into something truly compelling, taking readers on a long journey in a very short time.In “Dusty Zebra,” Joe discovers a portal that allows him to exchange everyday objects with an entity he can neither see nor hear, and soon learns that one man’s treasure may be another dimension’s trash. In “Retrograde Evolution,” an interplanetary trading vessel tries to figure out how to deal with a remote society that has suddenly decided to become far less civilized. And in “Project Mastodon,” an unusual ambassador from an unheard-of country offers amazing opportunities in a place the modern world can never compete with: the past. Simak’s mastery of the short form is on display in these and six other stories.Each story includes an introduction by David W. Wixon, literary executor of the Clifford D. Simak estate and editor of this ebook.

En una remota region rural de los Estados Unidos, en una casa de apariencia vetusta, vive Enoch Wallace, un solitario cuya existencia nada tendría de sorprendente, si no fuese porque la Central Intelligence Agency, descubre que, pese a aparentar unos treinta años, Wallace tiene en realidad 160 y participó como soldado en la Guerra de Secesión Norteamericana. Los agentes federales montan un servicio de vigilancia en torno a la casa, que, pese a su aspecto decrépito, es completamente inexpugnable. En realidad la casa es una Estación de Tránsito, situada por el Gobierno de la Galaxia en aquel remoto rincón. Enoch Wallace, el hombre que no envejece, es el celoso custodio de la Estación, donde conoce a Lucy, la joven sordomuda y traba profunda amistad con Ulises, el extraterrestre.

Nel giardino di un fotoreporter, ai piedi di una vecchia quercia, si apre a un tratto, come nelle fiabe, un gran buco nero. Ma le creature che ne escono non sono gnomi o folletti, sono uomini e donne, vecchi e bambini che fuggono dal futuro; o, almeno, così dicono. È un’invasione ordinata e pacifica, che pone però ugualmente problemi gravissimi. Possiamo noi, già sovraffollati come siamo, accogliere e mantenere questi milioni di nuovi venuti che dilagano in ogni parte del mondo? E, d’altra parte, chi avrebbe il coraggio di respingere quelli che sono, in fin dei conti, i nostri discendenti? Finché, a sciogliere i nodi e le esitazioni, interviene l’orrendo nemico da cui i profughi fuggivano e che ora si scatena anche nel nostro tempo.

Collected tales of wonder, danger, and the future, including the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning title story.This volume contains ten stellar short stories by science fiction Grand Master Clifford D. Simak. In "Grotto of the Dancing Deer," a man carrying an ancient secret finally speaks up, unable to bear any longer the loneliness he has experienced for millennia. In "Over the River," which Simak wrote in memory of his beloved grandmother Ellen, children from an embattled future are sent back for safekeeping to their ancestors in the peaceful past. And in "Day of Truce," the inhabitants of a suburban subdivision must barricade themselves against bands of roving attackers. On only one day each year do the gates open wide. . . Each story includes an introduction by David W. Wixon, literary executor of the Clifford D. Simak estate and editor of this ebook.

Enoch Wallace, un veteran al războiului civil american, este ales de către un extraterestru pe nume Ulysses pentru a avea grijă de o haltă a drumului interplanetar. Wallace este singura fiinşă omenească ce ştie de existenşa extratereştrilor, până aproape un secol mai târziu, când guvernul american îşi dă seama că, în ciuda vârstei sale înaintate, este încă în viaşă. Unele grupări ale federaşiei galactice doresc sistarea lucrărilor din sectorul în care se află Pământul, pentru a concentra resursele în altă parte, iar furtul unui cadavru extraterestru de către guvernul american motivează şi mai mult această decizie. În acelaşi timp, pierderea unui instrument de comunicare cu spiritul universului pune în primejdie întreaga civilizaşie galactică.Premiul Hugo 1964.

Titel der amerikanischen Originalausgabe CEMETARY WORLD