title: Five Star Science Fiction/Fantasy - The Assassin's Dream
author: James Denny Townsend
description: "From a darkly humorous tale of the power of words (<i>Death and the Librarian</i>) to a never-before-published response to events of September 11 (<i>Ilion</i>), Friesner's 12 stories illustrate the author's acutely sensitive vision of wonder in the everyday world... Known primarily for his 'Star Wars' novels... Zahn's short stories also deliver strong plots and memorable characters... Zebrowski's many novels (e.g. Macrolife) mark him as a visionary as well as a master of hard sf. The ten short stories collected in <i>In the Distance</i> provide a benchmark of his creativity... the author expands his concept of the human condition to embrace the stars. Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent author's, these three volumes belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."<br /> -- <i>Library Journal</i> (December 2002) (<i>Library Journal</i> 20021201)<br /><br />"...Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent authors, these three volumes (<i>Death and the Librarian and Other Stories/ Star Song and Other Stories/ In the Distance, and Ahead in Time</i>) belong in most libraries where short sf is popular." <br /> -- <i>Library Journal</i> (December 2002) (<i>Library Journal</i> 20021201)<br /><br />"Four more titles in Five Star's new series (<i>God Is an Iron and Other Stories/ Generation Gap and Other Stories/ The Lady Vanishes and Other Oddities of Nature/ Suppose They Gave a Peace and Other Stories</i>) of short fiction by noteworthy sf authors offer a variety of tales that illustrate the depth and staying power of the genre...Most of the stories in these volumes have only appeared in periodicals. Libraries wishing to augment their sf or short fiction collections should consider any of them." <br /> -- <i>Library Journal</i> (June 2002) (<i>Library Journal</i> 20020615)<br /><br />"Obviously, the elevation keeps Colorado authors closer to outer space than those in other places. The number of significant science fiction authors who live in Colorado has long been out of proportion to the state's population. Dan Simmons, Connie Willis, Kevin J. Anderson, John Stith, Sarah Hoyt, John Barnes, Ed Bryant and Wil McCarthy are just a few notable names. With his first novel, Boulder author J. D. Townsend shows that he has the potential to join the list...In the tradition of "1984" and "Brave New World "The Assassin's Dream" presents a near-future dystopian world...scenario is intriguing...an impressive debut, another sign that that rarefied Colorado air is good for the imagination."<br /> --<i>Rocky Mountain News</i>, June 2005 (<i>Rocky Mountain News, CO</i> 20050601)<br /><br />"In 2174, the new world order came about because of Acquired Genetic Neurological Syndrome killing over two third of the male population on Earth. Women are in power and the central focus of authority is the council selected on each continent. The regime represses individuals who are less important than the whole and opinions are not tolerated. Most infants are genetically engineered. There is a k-class of women bred to be perfect assassins; Kay Black is one of the best. When she goes to terminate Angela Potenkin, she finds a recording she left behind telling Kay that she is the product of a breeding experiment designed to bring about the next step in evolution. People like her have psychic powers that manifest themselves at a predetermined time. When Kay?s next assignment is to terminate Angela?s son, their meeting brings out their full powers and leads them to an underground enclave in Dar es Salaam where people just like them are living in an underground community. Their safety is just an illusion because the head of the North American Council is getting ready to infiltrate the group and use them for her own ends. It is 1984 all over again with Big Sister keep a close eye on its citizens, ready to kill anyone who threatens the status quo. Kay doesn?t understand what is happening to her and reaches out to Aria, a woman working on the council. Something about Kay touches Ana who agrees to help her with her psychic powers and with fitting into the group. J.D. Townsend has written an Orwellian science fiction thriller that is impossible to put down until finished."<br /> --<i>Harriet Klausner</i>, March 2005 (<i>harrietklausner.wwwi.com</i> )<br /><br />"J.D. Townsend has written a gripping novel "The Assassin's Dream" is science fiction set in our future, where two-thirds of the male population has been killed, putting the ladies in charge. It follows the story of an assassin, Kay Black, on her adventures and into her problems she faces about her job and her self. Released by Five Star (an imprint of Gale), it is packed with enough science fiction for the diehards but enough character development for the rest of us."<br /> --<i>EpicSFF.com</i>, August 2005 (<i>Doody Enterprises</i> 20050801)<br /><br />"The foundation of speculative fiction is a believable future, and the future imagined by Townsend seems quite possible. This helps to make the plot and the characters more realistic, and allows the reader to suspend their disbelief much more easily.<br /> <br /> In Townsend's version of the future, Earth in the year 2174 is ruled by vast regional councils that coincided roughly with the continental land masses. All the councils are led by women, the result of a genetic disease that killed two-thirds of the planet?s men near the end of the 21st century. Wars have been reduced to irritating regional conflicts, but a series of environmental and physiological challenges - viruses, polar ice cap melting, destruction of many oceanic life forms, and rampant cancers - have decreased human life spans. Men are relegated to jobs requiring physical labor and to athletics. It is a well-ordered society, where humans are cogs in (and servants to) the collective well-being known as "The Whole Body." Townsend launches his plot well, and doesn't give too much background information too early, a frequent downfall in both science fiction and debut novels. And the good start leads to a stunning climax that satisfactorily resolves most of the plot questions, but leaves open the possibility of a sequel.<br /> <br /> Part speculative fiction, part thriller, part "1984," part sociological comment on what's in store for our descendants, "The Assassin?s Dream" combines the best elements of each. It is an interesting book, and literary SF fans should welcome Townsend?s entry into the genre."<br /> --<i>The Camera</i>, June 2005 (<i>Doody Enterprises</i> 20050601)<br /><br />"Townsend's first novel portrays a grim future where a quasireligous organization rules the world and a few individuals struggle to maintain their independence and restore balance. A good addition to most sf collections."<br /> --<i>Library Journal</i>, March 2005 (<i>Library Journal</i> 20050301)
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  Unquiet  
  Dreams
  
  Convergent Worlds
  
  Book II
  
  Mark Del Franco
  
  
  
  
  
  Synopsis
  
  Fueled by a mysterious new drug, Celtic fairies and Teutonic elves battle for
  turf and power—with humans caught in the middle. As the body count rises,
  Connor Grey uncovers a vast conspiracy that threatens to destroy not only the
  city, but the world.
  
  
  
  
  
  Praise For
  
  Unshapely Things
  
  “It will pull you along a corkscrew of twists and turns to a final,
  cataclysmic battle that could literally remake the world.”
  
  —Rob Thurman, national bestselling author of _Madhouse_
  
  * * * *
  
  “Masterfully blends detective thriller with fantasy…a fast-paced thrill
  ride…Del Franco never pauses the action…and Connor Grey is a very likable
  protagonist. The twisting action and engaging lead make _Unshapely_ _Things_
  hard to put down.”
  
  — _BookLoons_
  
  * * * *
  
  “The intriguing cast of characters keeps the readers involved with the mystery
  wrapped up in the fantasy…I look forward to spending more time with Connor in
  t