Jeffrey Ford Libros

In the far future, the world is divided into two cultures, each controlled by the mysterious and powerful Commission. One person finds a route between the two cultures — what he discovers changes everything and threatens more than his life.

There is a town that brews a strange intoxicant from a rare fruit called the deathberry—and once a year a handful of citizens are selected to drink it. . . .There is a life lived beneath the water—among rotted buildings and bloated corpses—by those so overburdened by the world's demands that they simply give up and go under. . . .In this mesmerizing blend of the familiar and the fantastic, multiple award-winning New York Times notable author Jeffrey Ford creates true wonders and infuses the mundane with magic. In tales marked by his distinctive, dark imagery and fluid, exhilarating prose, he conjures up an annual gale that transforms the real into the impossible, invents a strange scribble that secretly unites a significant portion of society, and spins the myriad dreams of a restless astronaut and his alien lover. Bizarre, beautiful, unsettling, and sublime, The Drowned Life showcases the exceptional talents of one of contemporary fiction's most original artists.

Set in 1893 New York, the narrative follows portraitist Piero Piambo as he embarks on a unique commission from the enigmatic Mrs. Charbuque. The unusual stipulation that he cannot see her while questioning her leads to an intriguing exploration of her character and the complexities of high society. This richly evocative novel weaves a hypnotic tale that delves into themes of perception, identity, and the intricacies of human connection, creating a compelling literary thriller.

"The joy of fiction is the joy of the imagination. . . ." The best stories engage readers, compelling them to turn pages in anticipation of what comes next. Great literature is defined by its imagination, as demonstrated in this exceptional anthology, which redefines the boundaries of imaginative fiction. It features contributions from renowned writers like Peter Straub, Chuck Palahniuk, Roddy Doyle, and Joyce Carol Oates, among others, showcasing their craft and challenging misconceptions about genres. Curated by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio, who personally selected each story, the anthology sets a high standard for this "new literature of the imagination." The collection aims to present familiar themes in fresh, illuminating ways. Notable tales include Joe Hill's disturbing exploration of evil in "Devil on the Staircase," Lawrence Block's unique take on fishing in "Catch and Release," and Carolyn Parkhurst's dark sibling rivalry in "Unwell." Joanne Harris introduces ancient gods in modern New York in "Wildfire in Manhattan," while Richard Adams's "The Knife" delves into vengeance. Jeffery Deaver's "The Therapist" features a psychologist on a mission to save lives, and Neil Gaiman's chilling "The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains" offers a haunting punishment for a grave crime. This visionary volume will transform readers’ perspectives and ignite a renewed appreciation for exceptional fiction.

The horrors of sleep paralysis become so much more in Jeffrey Ford's new novella Out of Body.

A group of ramblers are taken to an idyllic other world. But things are not so simple and they find themselves at the centre of a battle between opposing spirits.

"Christmas and Other Horrors" is an anthology that explores the darker side of the winter solstice through original stories. It invites readers to embrace the eerie and horrific traditions of the season, featuring contributions from notable authors. The collection weaves together chilling tales that contrast festive joy with unsettling encounters.

The nightmare metropolis called the Well-Built City exists because the satanic genius and Master, Drachton Below, wished it so. And few within its confines hold the power of Physiognomist First Class Cley. With scalpels, calipers, and the other instruments of his science, Cley can divine good and evil, determine character and intelligence, uncover dark secrets and foretell a person's destiny, through the careful study of facial and bodily features. But now the Master has ordered the great physiognomist out of the City on a seemingly trivial assignment into the rural hinterlands. but there, removed from Below's omnipresent scrutiny, even the most loyal servant of logic and order can fall prey to seductions of the flesh and spirit. And in this strange and unfamiliar place possessing terrors uniquely its own, there are stark truths awaiting the eminent Cley--and inescapable revelations that could shatter his perceptions of himself, his profession, and his world.

In 1893 New York, portraitist Piero Piambo enjoys the heights of society, yet grapples with the feeling that he has compromised his integrity to achieve success. His life takes a turn with a peculiar commission from Mrs. Charbuque, who offers him a lucrative deal: he must paint her portrait without ever looking at her. He can question her freely, but this unusual condition challenges his artistic abilities and mental stability. As Piambo sketches behind a screen, he is drawn into her haunting narrative, which includes a chilling childhood spent with a possibly murderous father studying snowflakes, intertwined with themes of fame, despair, and myth. Each session deepens his obsession with unraveling her mystery. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome deaths of women in the city unfolds, and Piambo begins to sense a disturbing connection between these events, his artistic endeavor, and Mrs. Charbuque herself. This novel masterfully blends elements of psychological intrigue and historical context, offering a compelling and atmospheric experience that resonates with the works of literary giants. It promises to leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Toto číslo lze brát jako mimořádný speciál věnovaný cenám Nebula. Pokud to nevíte, pak vám prozradíme, že cena Nebula je každoročně udílena jako výsledek hlasování Americké společnosti autorů science fiction a fantasy. Daniel Abraham se v hororové povídce Placatá Diana velmi znepokojivým způsobem podívá na problémy jedné neúplné rodiny. Letos si Nebulu v kategorii krátká povídka odnesla Carol Emshwillerová s příběhem Žiji s tebou, v němž odkryla možnou existenci bytosti žijící nepozorovaně přímo vedle vás. U nás dosud neznámá K. D. Wentworthová se představí povídkou Znovuzrození a přinese nám zajímavý pohled na téma klonování. Nebulou oceněná novela Magie pro začátečníky od Kelly Linkové je příběhem chlapce, jenž patří do skupiny dospívajících, kteří propadli kouzlu zvláštního televizního programu. Paolo Bacigalupi se v povídce Škváropísečníci podívá do nehostinné budoucnosti, kdy se lidstvo muselo přizpůsobit zhoršujícím se ekologickým podmínkám na úkor samotného lidství. A na samotný závěr jsme připravili Nebulou opět odměněnou povídku Stvoření od Jeffreyho Forda. Magazín Fantasy & Science Fiction je jednoduše splněným snem každého milovníka dobrých a čtivých příběhů.... celý text