Nina Allan - Flying in the face of God

A love story (of a very complex nature) intertwined with a desire to explore the unknown (the 'face of God'). Set in what appears to be a run-down near future Britain, Anita is in love with Rachel, who had been modified by a 'Kushnev drain' device to be a astronaut. Anita's mother, also a astronaut, whom she never knew, died in a take-off explosion, and she finds letters detailing her mother's love for a mysterious woman.

Aliette de Bodard - The shipmaker

In an alternate future world ruled by China, a space ship designer, having problems with her lover, gets a bigger problem when a pregnant woman arrives. She is ahead of schedule to give birth to a new ship's 'soul'.

Peter Watts - The things

As the title promises, this is a replay of the standard "The Thing" scenario - a group of scientists working at a Polar base, find something long buried, which then awakens and goes on the rampage and must be stopped to save the world. The twist here is the nature of the "thing", hinted at in the title. A brilliantly inventive re-imagining of a tired cliche.

Neil Williamson - Arrhythmia

Strange tale in which people's lives are regimented by music and forced to work long hours. But there are counter-rhythms... ( )