This is the third novel from award-winning novelist Christopher Hinz. Beginning where the critically acclaimed LIEGE-KILLER and ASH OCK end, THE PARATWA chronicles the lives of the Irryan colonists as they prepare for the imminent attack of the fierce and vicious Paratwa assassins. Facing the threat of their dark enemies, an Irryan named Gillian must also cope with her inner turmoil, as the madness of her nature threatens to consume her life. She discovers that she is a genetically modified creature whose purpose is to serve the needs of others, and the course of her destiny is not in her own hands.

“Rousing entertainment” in this award-winning trilogy about telepathically linked pairs of killers by a “top drawer practitioner of adrenalizing action SF” (SFReviews.net). In Christopher Hinz’s award-winning, postapocalyptic sci-fi trilogy, the Paratwa are genetically modified assassins who occupy two bodies telepathically connected and controlled by a single vicious mind. Humanity’s only hope for survival is to defeat these seemingly unstoppable warriors. Liege-Killer: Two hundred years after a nuclear apocalypse forced humanity to flee Earth, twenty-fourth-century humans still remember the most feared warriors—the genetically enhanced Paratwa—believed extinct since that holocaust. Or are they? Someone has revived the legendary Paratwa named Reemul, also known as the Liege-Killer, from stasis and sent him to terrorize and subjugate the peaceful orbital colonies of Earth. Winner of the Compton Crook Award. “A genuine page-turner, exciting from start to finish . . . don’t miss it.” —Locus “A spectacular action thriller . . . I can’t recall a debut quite this auspicious and exciting recently.” —SFReviews.net Ash Ock: A mysterious virus infecting the humans’ database signals the return of their dreaded enemies—and this new generation of Paratwa is far deadlier than the old, forming a powerful caste of fighter known as the Ash Ock. The threat of imminent attack has prompted the revival of two Paratwa hunters from stasis, Nick and Gillian, who may be the only ones who can stop the Ash Ock from dominating the last holdouts of humanity. “Ash Ock leaves you at the end wanting to dive straight into the final novel” —SFReviews.net “Maintains the stylish writing and plotting of Hinz’s Liege-Killer . . . Deadly seductresses, unstable ingénues, and scheming scientists populate the fanciful adventures.” —Publishers Weekly The Paratwa: The Irryan colonists prepare to defend themselves against invasion by the Paratwa. As renegade Paratwa Gillian is wrestling with internal turmoil over her identity and the long-ago murder of her other half, Nick uncovers the Ash Ock’s startling true intentions and races to stop them. “Crashes through your front door like the assassins of its title, kicking ass and taking names.” —SFReviews.net “Surprising plot twists and satisfying resolutions in this exciting, smoothly written wrap-up.” —Publishers Weekly

Omnibus edition of Christopher Hinz's cult-classic, The Paratwa Saga -- Liege-Killer Two hundred years after a nuclear apocalypse forced humanity to flee earth, humans still remember the most feared warriors of that planet – the Paratwa. These are genetically modified killers who occupy two bodies controlled by one vicious mind. The legendary Paratwa named Reemul, known as the Liege-Killer, was the strongest of them all. Now someone has revived Reemul from stasis and sent him to terrorize the peaceful orbital colonies of Earth. Is this an isolated incident, or has the one who unleashed this terrible power announced a gambit for control over the entire human race? Ash Ock A quarter of a millennium ago, before the nuclear apocalypse forced the inhabitants of earth to flee their home planet, few humans could have imagined the course their path would take. Now, the orbital colonies are the final sanctuary of humanity and life is more dangerous than ever before. The colonists fear the return of their dreaded enemies, the Paratwa – ferocious warriors who are genetically engineered to exist in two bodies which remain telepathically connected. The new generation of Paratwa is far deadlier than the old, forming a powerful caste of fighter known as the Ash Ock. A mysterious virus infecting the humans database signals the return of their most feared enemies… The Paratwa The lives of the Irryan colonists hang in the balance, as they prepare for the imminent attack of the fierce and vicious Paratwa assassins. Facing the threat of their dark enemies, Gillian must also cope with his inner turmoil, as the madness of his nature threatens to consume his life, until he discovers that he is a genetically modified creature whose purpose is to serve the needs of others, and the course of his destiny is not in his own hands… The concluding volume to the epic masterwork from a cult sci fi master.

This guide identifies both in-print and out-of-print works of fiction featuring continuing themes, plots or characters in which there is a sense of development and passage of time. Entries are arranged alphabetically by author and are accompanied by bibliographic information.

Adult books are categorized by genre (i.e., fiction, mystery, science fiction, nonfiction). Along with bibliographic information, the expected date of publication and the names of literary agents for individual titles are provided. Starred reviews serve several functions: In the adult section, they mark potential bestsellers, major promotions, book club selections, and just very good books; in the children's section, they denote books of very high quality. The unsigned reviews manage to be discerning and sometimes quite critical.