Highlights of Our Signed First Edition Programs

The Children of the Sky is the long-awaited (direct) sequel to the awesome Hugo Award-winning A Fire Upon the Deep. (A Deepness in the Sky was a prequel.) Galactic Zones of Thought … where you are in the universe determines how high you can evolve, from the Slow Zone (where we and the Tines are) to the Transcend (where the Powers reign) ... a concept that has garnered Vinge multiple Hugos.

It’s been a few years since the Battle of Starship Hill and the titular children are growing up. A few are even starting to doubt the reasons behind their fall from grace, and the players involved in that fall. Most remember their old lives in the Top of the Beyond and long to return to their rightful place in the universe … teen angst to the hundredth power. It’s not easy in the Slow Zone, but you make do. Who knows, maybe they can raise themselves out of their medieval existence and return to the stars? Humankind has done it before. It will do it again.

For now, most Humans and Tines live in relative harmony, each race striving to better itself with the help of the other … some want to leap into space, and some want to prepare. Despite speculation to the contrary, Ravna knows the Blight is still on the way. It was not totally destroyed when Pham Nuwen dimmed the sun, after all, just slowed down. It might take thousands of years … or hundreds … or only a few … but it is coming.

Vinge again proves that his multiple Hugo Award wins were no fluke. Galactic concepts brought to a very human level. Whether it’s an actual human or a to-us-alien is immaterial. (The man could make you weep for a potted plant, or the mere ‘limb’ of an alien being.) My only criticism is that I might have to wait a few years for the next installment. But like the Blight, I know it’s coming and I have time to prepare. Moreover, I will rest in the certain knowledge that when the next installment arrives, it will be awesome. Thank the Powers. 

— PMH

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A Special Edition of Vernor Vinge’s The Children of the Sky.

Vernor Vinge and Mysterious Galaxy are proud to announce the creation of a Special Edition of Vinge’s new novel, The Children of the Sky. This edition consists of 50 stamped and numbered copies of the original Tor first edition, in clear plastic Brodart dust jacket protectors. To make these Special Editions even more special, we are including "Midnight on Starship Hill", an illustration that Vinge created using GIMP on a photo he took while doing his background research for Tines World. This illustration is also signed and numbered to match the book. Act now, these are sure to go quickly. $50.00. (Those of you who purchased the Special Edition of Rainbows End have right of first refusal and may match your numbers. Please contact us by September 27 to complete this process. After September 27 any unclaimed numbers will be available to anyone.)

Please contact the San Diego store directly to order this edition. (858.268.4747) Those requesting this edition who did not purchase the Special Edition of Rainbows End will be placed on a waiting list until the 20th. Contact the store for details.

Only six copies left as of now, Sept 30, 2:30PM. If you were on the waiting list before now, you're getting a copy!

James Halliday, probably the most brilliant game designer that ever was, and the creator of the OASIS – a vast virtual universe that is both game and alternate reality – died without an heir or any real friends, leaving the disposition of his multi-multi-billion dollar empire in question. Instead of a will, Halliday left the contest. Somewhere hidden in the OASIS is a virtual Easter Egg. Find the egg and win it all. “Shall we play a game?”

Our young hero Wade Watts, game-name Parzival, is a gunter – an Easter Egg hunter. He’s going to find that egg even if the search kills him a thousand times. Wade lives in the stacks, a sprawling trailer park both horizontal and vertical. To call the world he lives in a dystopia would be an understatement. Humanity is in decline, maybe even on the way out. Thank Halliday for the OASIS. Almost everyone lives the bulk of their lives there. They go to school, work, and play on thousands of virtual worlds. You name it, there’s a world for it, The Matrix gone intergalactic. Without the OASIS, life would suck like nothing has ever sucked before. "So it's sorta social. Demented and sad, but social."

Ready Player One is William Gibson meets TRON meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – with many a cool ‘80’s reference. Unlike Charlie and Co. who faced their demons on a single factory floor, Wade/Parzival and his fellow gunters have uncounted worlds to face, explore, and conquer. Somewhere out there is the key to the kingdoms, and our boy’s going to find it. "Ray, if someone asks you if you are a god, you say, 'Yes!'"

A virtual world where you can be the person you want to be – perhaps not even a human person – and a quest for the biggest treasure ever known? What’s not to love? Ready Player One is totally awesome, a total Rush, dude. I haven’t been this excited about a book in quite some time. Can’t wait to put it in your hands. So get ready to strap on your reading glasses and enjoy the ride. "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads."

And lastly, if you lived through, grew up in, or even just heard of the 1980’s … or if you’ve ever seen an ‘80’s movie (you have) … or if you’ve ever played a video game, you are going to love Ready Player One. This one is not to be missed. "Nobody puts baby in the corner." 

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— Patrick Heffernan, Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, San Diego CA