One can find many (11) stories about fictional characters in front of a more or less verifiable historical background of our world - they are alone so interesting.
Among the SF - Stories (5) are the tales of Tad Williams and David Weber by pace and action very enthralling; Naomi Norvik impressed with the description of a highly developed eco-culture.
Extremely exciting I found the mystery story (1) by Peter S. Beagle.
Furthermore, there are 3 fantasy stories: 'The Mystery Knight' by George RR Martin is in good Westeros tradition and Stirling story is good standard Fantasy; the weak elaborate sketch of G. Dozois is likely to forget.
Mystery:
Peter S. Beagle, Dirae: A ... beings appears, preventing crime, saves at the last minute of life, disappears; but do not know myself, who / what it is and where it would be in between - with each "use" occur (and the reader) the response one step closer. This is scary and sad. Plays in the 20th century; 'Dirae' are the Furies of Roman mythology.
Science fiction:
Joe Haldeman, Forever Bound: people control combat robots; each member of a team can 'see' all the thoughts and memories of each other - it is psychological problems arise ...
Tad Williams, And Minister Of Grace: There are two feuding, interplanetary human cultures: an extremely religious and a secular totally, but they have in common the control of its citizens through an implant. A (genetically Upgraded) assassin of religious is recognized to the president of the secular culture, but fails. He escapes, but can not leave the foreign world. This eliminates the manipulation of his mind by one's own culture, and he begins to think ...
Naomi Norvik, Seven Years From Home: An agent of an interplanetary power block told in retrospect by a mission in which the two extremely different cultures of the planet would have been against one another. Interesting description of a biologically / genetic territory extremely developed society, which makes it possible to live in harmony with nature.
David Weber, Out of the dark: A technically far superior race of our time trying to colonize the earth. But as we also know from various wars of recent history, means superiority in the air is far superior on the ground - and people are resisting. In a surprising, almost fun twist at the end then arises an old terror, but now as a friend of humanity, and the fate of Aliens is sealed.
Robert Silverberg, Defenders of the Frontier: on any planet, at the long-forgotten frontier of a shrinking giant empire, the rest of a superfluous garrison bored. This state of boredom is the reader very well communicated. An attempt by the soldiers to improve their situation, fails.
Fantasy:
SM Stirling, Ancient Ways: Two warriors fight their way (and of course free while a princess) through the steppes beyond the Volga. Plays in 2055 indicated a post-apocalyptic world.
Gardner Dozois, recidivist: man-made, but now far superior and fairly crazy AIs with godlike abilities drive their cruel game with humanity. The whole story has neither head nor tail and gives the impression of a somewhat surreal image.
George RR Martin, The Mystery Knight: Another story from Westeros, about 100 years before the events in "A Game of Thrones'. 'The Mystery Knight' tells how Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg (Prince Aegon Targaryen incognito) prevent a second Blackfyre rebellion.
Historical Background:
Cecilia Holland, The King of Norway: adventure story from the time of the Vikings.
Robin Hobb, The Triumph: Memories of a Roman commander in the face of death as a prisoner of the Carthaginians, mixed with flashbacks of his oldest friend, who escaped as a slave again sees him. Adventure story from the time of the Punic Wars.
Lawrence Block, Clean Slate: The main character was abused by her father and killed him. Years later find and kill them one by one of their former friends / lovers; 20Th Century.
Joe R. Lansdale, Soldierin ': adventure story in the American West, probably 2nd half of the 19th century. Story of a former slave of a soldier in the army so has its problems with Indians.
Diana Gabaldon, The Custom of the Army: Lord John Grey has in Canada the 18th century, when French and British war on there, stand by an old friend before the war court.
Steven Saylor, The Eagle and the Rabbit: slave hunting of the Romans to the last Phoenicians after the fall of Carthage. The eagle is to catch the rabbit and return it to its new masters. But he decided against this and for true freedom.
James Rollins, The Pit: main "person" is a dog walking through hell in the cruel world of dog fighting, but in the end to his former masters (which it was stolen) is back and retaliation and peace.
Carrie Vaughn, The Girls from Avenger: During the Second World War there have been in the US (already) pilots in the military; While not in combat, but for rendition flights between various Air Force bases. Against this background, the story takes a woman who prevails against male chauvinism and cover-up by superiors and enlighten the fate of a friend.
Howard Waldrop, Ninieslando: Under the no man's land between the fronts of World War I a society of Esperanto-speaking preparations for a new, peaceful Europe is trying to make. They are discovered, fail - but the hope remains.
David Morell, My Name Is Legion: Syria, June 1941: Through political entanglements did it happen that a part of the French Foreign Legion had to fight against another - Legionnaire against Legionnaire, and what never happen should have, done: two former comrades are located with the gun in his hand against.
David Ball, The Scroll: In Morocco the 17th century Europeans to fight Arabs. Gloomy story about the cruel mind games of a mistaken Sultan with his prisoner. In this story of the triumph of evil.
![The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Soundtrack) [Deluxe Edition] (Audio CD)](https://img.tgreer.com/thumb/85x85/d/de/dde13518f0eb0c31.jpg)