Рассказ затрагивает тему трансплантации органов только что погибших людей.fantlab.ru © dycost

В ближайшем будущем в единую сеть соединено всё, даже двери и мебель. В любой предмет встроен видеоглазок, и единственное место, где можно скрыться от круглосуточного наблюдения Центральной Станции — это сама Центральная Станция.fantlab.ru © Ank

"Do not leave," the man called out in intergalact.

He had a breath mask clipped over his nose and he held a second one out to Jagen, who quickly slipped it on. The warmed, richer air stayed his flight, as did the presence of the man who bad obviously been expecting him. He saw not that he was on the bridge of a derelict spacer of ancient vintage. The controls had been torn out and the screens were blank. Moisture was condensing on the metal walls and forming pools upon the floor. The man saw his curious gaze.

"This ship is in orbit. It has been for centuries. An atmosphere and gravity plant were placed aboard while this transmatter is operating. When we leave an atomic explosion will destroy everything. If you are tracked this far the trail will end here."

The Fourth Science Fiction Megapack selects 25 more modern and classic science fiction stories, by talented authors new and old. Included in this volume: Mary A. Turzillo, E.C. Tubb, Murray Leinster, Theodore Sturgeon, Philip K. Dick, Katherine MacLean, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Jason Andrew, Larry Hodges, Carmelo Rafala, Ray Cluley, Henry Kuttner, Cynthia Ward, George H. Scithers, John Gregory Betancourt, James C. Stewart, Milton Lesser, John Russell Fearn, Marissa Lingen, Donald A. Wollheim, James K. Moran, Harry Harrison, Edgar Pangborn, Isaac Asimov, and Ayn Rand.

“What could have happened to her?” The search pilot asked, as he had been asking for days now.

“Someone said maybe a sudden tidal wave,” the copilot offered.

“Nothing like that has been reported. No tidal waves, no collisions. Just nothing, that’s the damnable part of it!”

“Bermuda Triangle?” the copilot asked. The pilot just sniffed loudly. “I know. Just a lot of nonsense. But nevertheless, Lieutenant, she appears to have vanished…. “

INHERIT THE STARS!

What you’re holding is a book about the struggle for peace—about what it means to be human, about how an honest, thoughtful recognition of what we are as human beings can show us the way toward a real peace. Not an easily dreamt peace, no—not one where men and women lie down lobotomized in the garden of Eden with lambs and lions and somehow, in the process, lose their very humanity—but a peace achieved in the face of their humanity ... apples, serpents, fear, rage, prejudice, and all. Intelligence is the key, of course—but so are trust, compassion, respect, and a very real recognition of the paradoxes, the conflicts within us, that make us human.

The struggle isn’t easy, but then it shouldn’t be ....