Keith Laumer

Controlled by their tireless electronic brains which were programmed to admit no possibility of defeat, the gigantic robot tanks known as Bolos were almost indestructible, and nearly unstoppable. Their artificial intelligences were designed to make them selflessly serve and protect humans throughout the galaxy and made each Bolo the epitome of the knight sans peur et sans reproche, and often far more noble than the humans who gave them their orders. Created by Keith Laumer, the saga of the Bolos has been extended by several of the best writers in science fiction. Now, the best stories of the saga are collected in one Omni-Trade volume, including work by New York Times best-selling writers David Weber, Mercedes Lackey, and S. M. Stirling, military science fiction grand master David Drake, and Laumer himself, who recount the exploits of the dauntless Bolos in Their Finest Hour.

DESPERATE MISSION TO THE STARSEarth is doomed. A scourge called the Red Tide is devouring the planet. The only hope of the dying population is to find a lost colony in the stars. However the starship Galahad sent to find that colony has a problem. Mutiny Commander Greylorn must bravely deal with a discouraged crew . . . And then even a bigger problem. Dreadful aliens called the Mancji living in a high-G environment who seem to have developed a taste for human flesh.

THE WEIRD WORLD BEYONDBrett had to get out of Casperton. It was a small town, Casperton, and although Brett loved his Aunt Haicey and would miss the lovely Pretty-Lee, his girl-friend, he wanted to see the wide, wide world beyond. The ocean The mountains Big cities Brett had only seen pictures of them before he got on the train that fateful day . . . But then the train had stopped. Brett discovered there was no engine and the tracks ahead. . . . stopped He walked onward and found a city. . . . but it was a city was full of "golems." A true human being Brett met, Dhuva -- was taken underground by the fearsome secret masters of the city -- the Gel. Brett had to save Dhuva and unlock the secret of this city . . . and of "reality" itself.

ON THE ZOOP TOWERIt was a rigged gambling game, but Retief had to play it. Retief was First Secretary and Consul to the Mission to the planet Petreac under Ambassador Crodfoller. The Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne were there to help the Nenni Caste and their Potentate to deal with their rival planet Rotune. But Retief has discovered an underground movement called The People's Anti-Fascist Freedom League headed by a fellow named Zorn. And unless Retief and his colleague Magnan get to the bottom of Zorn's gambling operation and play their own games, a whole spaceship's worth of diplomats would get their throats cut

Lighter Side