by Andre Norton (1977)
In search of the truth about a mysterious ring stone with phenomenal powers, gem trader Murdoc suddenly finds himself hunted through space by an unscrupulous religious order.
Andre Norton
The tramp-freighter spaceship Solar Queen had exclusive trading rights to Sargol and its fabulous gems. But the crew's bravery and resourcefulness strained to the breaking point as they met Sargol's three challenges: the enigmatic obstinancy of the planet's catlike natives, ruthless incursions of an illegal competitor, and worst of all -- an invisible, undetectable stowaway whose presence branded the Solar Queen a plague ship...off limits to the rest of the galaxy!
Tsutomu Nihei
"Get to know a new character who may be this futuristic series' most traditionally virtuous female. Drawing on deep wells of filial piety and perseverance, unfailingly modest, she is Tsumugi. 'I've read one other series produced by Tsutomu Nihei--Biomega-- which turned me into a major fan of his art and imagination and sensibility, but not so much of his story-telling, because I spent parts of that series mildly puzzled about what was going on (admittedly, I'm not the hardest guy in the world to puzzle when it comes to manga). With Knights of Sidonia, he's clearly trying something a bit more accessible... The art is really good, a simplified, clarified version of the style I've seen Tsutomu Nihei use elsewhere'"--Back cover.
Leo P. Kelley
Brett Kinkaid, serving a life sentence on Earth, the prison planet, is offered freedom if he rescues a kidnapped young woman from the star Alba.
George Lucas
This is the novelization of the first "Star Wars" film, later retitled "Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope". The book was first published on November 12, 1976 several months before the film was released. It was ghost written by Alan Dean Foster, but first credited to the films writer/director George Lucas, then in later editions credited Alan Dean Foster. The book's original title "Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker", the cover was painted by Ralph McQuarrie. Later versions of the book from the 1970's thru the 1980's featured the movie poster with art by John Berkey. A hardcover version published in December 12, 1977 by the "Science Fiction Book Club" featured the movie poster, but with the image reversed. The book has several moments from the script that were later removed from the movie before it was released.