From "a tremendous force in science fiction," a collection set on the high-gravity planet of Mesklin, and an essay by the author on Mesklin's creation ( Poul Anderson, Hugo and Nebula award-winning author of The Broken Sword).Discover MESKLIN—Gravity: 3g at the equator, 700g at the polesHal Clement is a Grand Master of SF, and the one most associated with the subgenre of hard SF. From his classic stories in Astounding magazi...

This collection gathers five remarkable stories from the era when science fiction magazines were overflowing with daring ideas and unforgettable characters. Explorers push deeper into space, brilliant navigators chart impossible routes and ordinary people find themselves trapped in situations far beyond anything they expected.The writers behind these tales helped shape the early imagination of the genre. Their stories explore distant worlds, dangerous assignments and strange discov...

With degrees in astronomy, chemistry and education, it should come as no surprise that Harry Clement Stubbs - better known to SF readers as Hal Clement - produced some of the field's most compelling, scientifically literate work.This omnibus contains the clever alien-planet-with-a-twist novel ICEWORLD; the ground-breaking CYCLE OF FIRE*,* with its 40-year-long seasons; and CLOSE TO CRITICAL, from his celebrated Mesklin sequence.

Hal Clement, one of the all-time greats of science fiction, was defining hard science fiction before such distinctions were even being thought of. He once described his approach to writing: "[T]he rules must be quite simple. They are; for the reader of a science-fiction story, they consist of finding as many as possible of the author's statements or implications which conflict with the facts as science currently understands them. For the author, the rule is to make as few such slips as he ...

THE HARD-CORE SCIENCE OF HAL CLEMENTThe supreme practitioner of "hard" science fiction, Hal Clement combines ingenious problem-solving with suspenseful drama and action. These ten stories show the mastery of science and fiction that Clement has displayed in such favourites as Mission of Gravity, Iceworld, and Needle.UNCOMMON SENSEIf your back's to the wall, even a deadly predator can be useful.ANSWER"Know thyself" is great advice...if you don...

Two ships race in from outer space and crash in the Pacific Ocean. One contains a hunter, entrusted with a vital mission. The other, his quarry - corrupt, evil, a criminal from an unearthly civilisation light years away.Yet both these creatures had one thing in common - they were unable to exist alone. Each needed a host, a human body they could invade and control.

The planet was an enigma—and its solution was death!

"The Green World" is set on a distant planet, characterized by its rich and vibrant green landscape. The story follows a group of human explorers or scientists who are sent to investigate this strange and alien environment. The planet’s ecosystem is highly complex and, at first glance, seems lush and hospitable, but the explorers soon discover that it presents unexpected dangers and challenges.As they delve deeper into the mysteries of the planet, the characters encounter various forms of ...

The story centers on an alien species living on a distant planet, where the environmental conditions are drastically different from those on Earth. The plot follows a human astronaut who arrives on the planet and encounters the alien inhabitants. The unique physiology and culture of the aliens challenge the astronaut's understanding of communication and interaction.As the astronaut navigates this unfamiliar world, he realizes that the aliens perceive and interpret their environment—and eac...

Light on Bottom...The light was artificial. Believe it if you can. I realise that for a normal person it's hard. Wasting watts to light up the outdoors is bad enough. Spending the world's limited power to illuminate the sea bottom, though - well, for a few moments I was too furious to think straight. My job has brought me into contact with people who were careless with energy, with people who stole it, and even with people who misused it; but this was a brand-new d...

Hal Clement was a renowned science-fiction writer.In this collection, you'll find the following stories :AttitudeHot PlanetThe Green WorldThis collection of three short stories has the same length as a full novel, and will please every lover of science-fiction classics.

A team of scientists are sent to Mercury aboard the Albireo to find out why it's developing an atmosphere. A series of events force the scientists out of their ship and onto the surface of Mercury, where only their courage and intelligence can keep them alive. Clement paints a tense and completely believable image of Mercury. He was simply one of the best hard science fiction writers the field ever produced.