Volume 1 of the Red Star versus Rising Sun mini-series examines the origins of the rapidly modernizing Imperial Japanese Army and its expansion, largely unfettered by civilian political constraints, into mainland Asia from the late 19th century up until 1938.

During the first half of the 20th Century, the former Czarist Russia and then the former Soviet Union, and the Empire of Japan fought a series of undeclared wars in the Far East. The first of these, fought 1904-1905 over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea, ended in a clear-cut Japanese victory. Following the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, in 1931, Japan turned its interest to nearby Soviet territories. The result was a series of border incidents - starting with the Battle of Lake Khasan in 1938. Maintaining that the border between their proxy-state, Manchukuo, and the Soviet-dominated Mongolian People's Republic was the Khalkhyn Gol (or Khalkha River), the Japanese deployed some of best units of their army to occupy and secure this area. Following a military build-up, a series of bitter clashes took place mid-May and June 1939, after which the Japanese launched an all-out assault in July. Due to heavy casualties, the battle resulted in a stalemate. Concerned about the possibility of facing a two-front war, the Soviets reacted with a major counter-offensive, in August 1939, and defeated the Japanese. While little known in the West, this short but bitter war - known as Nomohan Incident in Japan, or the Battle of Khalkhyn Gol in the Soviet Union - was a crucial overture for the subsequent World War II. Having secured its border in the Far East, the Soviet Union was free to concentrate on war in Europe. Although continuing to underestimate their opponents, the Japanese introduced a major reform of their army. Furthermore, after realizing the massive material disparity vis- -vis the former USSR, Tokyo joined the Axis with Nazi Germany and Italy.

Welcome to the year 2112. Religion and technology have been leveraged to control the minds and lives of humankind. Truth is a lie. Oppression is the rule. 2112: The living spirit of Almighty Harold asserts its power in Megadon. The new Vice Chancellor, Thomas O. Ryan, races to save David Lifeson and Mal from the lethal Colonel-become-Bishop Compaq. Surgeon General Wang kidnaps David's mother, Magenta, without any idea who or what she truly is or the danger she represents. Uncle Robert delves into a mysterious file containing a journal describing his brother Billy's perilous journey through the black hole of Cygnus X-1. 2047: Michael Lifeson defends teenaged Harold from assassination attempts while Maggie and Robert strike out to unravel the true motives of the young religious leader and discover in New Imperial Japan the roots of a dark plot with earth-shattering implications. Inspired by the works of Rush, Red Star 3: Ascendance continues the saga told in Red Star: Sacred Cities and Red Star 2: Duty and Destiny, and is sure to thrill Rush-fans and sci-fi readers alike. THIS WORK HAS NOT BEEN ENDORSED BY RUSH

Original publication and copyright date: 2010.

Welcome to the year 2112. Religion and technology have been leveraged to control the minds and lives of humankind. Truth is a lie. Oppression is the rule. The Great CPU and His prophet have sought to do away with free will. Righteous hearts beware. Vice Chancellor Lifeson is dead. His son, David, is lost in the wilderness far beyond the wire. David's Uncle Robert, the last living hacker, is trapped within a hostile city where an artificial intelligence awakens to believe that it is the holy scion of God. Inspired by the works of Rush, RED STAR 2: DUTY and DESTINY continues the saga begun in RED STAR: SACRED CITIES and is sure to thrill hard-core Rush fans and sci-fi addicts alike.

“An Earth-man’s journey to the planet Mars, where he is treated to a wondrous vision of a communist future, complete with flying cars and 3D color movies.” —Wonders & Marvels A communist society on Mars, the Russian revolution, and class struggle on two planets is the subject of this arresting science fiction novel by Alexander Bogdanov (1873–1928), one of the early organizers and prophets of the Russian Bolshevik party. The red star is Mars, but it is also the dream set to paper of the society that could emerge on earth after the dual victory of the socialist and scientific-technical revolutions. While portraying a harmonious and rational socialist society, Bogdanov sketches out the problems that will face industrialized nations, whether socialist or capitalist. “[A] surprisingly moving story.” —The New Yorker “The contemporary reader will marvel at [Bogdanov’s] foresight: nuclear fusion and propulsion, atomic weaponry and fallout, computers, blood transfusions, and (almost) unisexuality.” —Choice “Bogdanov’s novels reveal a great deal about their fascinating author, about his time and, ironically, ours, and about the genre of utopia as well as his contribution to it.” —Slavic Review