15 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at costPaperback · 6 × 9 in · 26 pagesHardcover · 6 × 9 in · 26 pagesAbout this book
Have you ever wondered why survival might depend on more than just saving the planet? In Year of the Big Thaw, Marion Zimmer Bradley delivers a short but deeply resonant science fiction tale set in the aftermath of ecological upheaval. As Earth’s climate collapses under the strain of humanity’s neglect, the world does not explode—it melts.
Rising tides claim cities. Weather patterns twist into chaos. And in one small corner of the world, something crashes through the sky.
The baby who arrives in that moment is unlike any other. Raised by humble farmers in the flooded backlands of what was once America, this child grows into something both human and not. As the world reckons with the failures of the past, it may find salvation in something from far beyond the stars.
What you’ll discover
- A Story Ahead of Its Time Written decades before “climate fiction” became a genre, this tale predicts rising seas and global displacement with eerie clarity.
- An Earth in Flux A vivid portrayal of post-thaw life, where survival demands both adaptation and empathy.
- A Touch of the Cosmic What begins as environmental realism expands into speculative wonder with the arrival of a mysterious alien child.
- Humanity at a Crossroads A parable of choice, responsibility, and the future we shape for the next generation.
- Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Visionary Insight A rare standalone that blends ecological awareness with deep emotional resonance. Ideal for readers of The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard, Parable of the Sower by Octavia E.
What’s inside
Formats and delivery
- eBook
- On your phone, tablet, computer or Kindle, with the type as large as you like.
- Large-print eBook
- The same book in bigger, clearer type, from the first page.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 15 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in, 26 pages: USD 5.95 when you start free, USD 5.95 on its own.
- Hardcover
- 6 × 9 in, 26 pages: USD 13.95 when you start free, USD 13.95 on its own.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
eBooks and audiobooks open right away. Download EPUB or PDF, or send the book to your Kindle. Every printed copy is made when you order it and shipped worldwide; shipping is shown at checkout.
How it works
- Start free. Nothing to pay today; the eBook of this book is yours to keep.
- Read, listen and print. 200,000+ classics as eBook, large-print eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print, 5 accounts for the price of one.
- We remind you first. Free for 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment. Then USD 0.14 a day in your first year on the yearly plan and USD 0.27 a day after, or USD 0.66 a day on the monthly plan. Cancel online in two clicks.
Bought on its own? Every eBook, audiobook and printed book you buy without the plan carries our 30-day money-back guarantee.
25 languages, side by side
Read and hear Year of the Big Thaw in 25 languages and switch at any time. Or read two side by side, paragraph by paragraph: the way to learn a language with a book you love.
- Read, large type too
- 25 languages, side by side
- Print and large print at cost
- 5 accounts for the price of one
Free for 3 months · starts right away, on any device
Read free3 months free · cancel anytimeFree for 3 months, then USD 0.14 a dayCancel anytimeHow it works
Free gifts
USD 580 in free gifts when you start
Every book in every format and in 25 languages, 5 accounts for the price of one. Nothing to pay today.
- 200,000+ classic eBooksIn 25 languages, side by side
USD 170FREE - Every audiobookIn 25 languages, any device
USD 120FREE - 15-minute summariesRead or listen, in 25 languages
USD 60FREE - Print at cost, no markupPaperback, hardcover, large print
USD 60FREE - 5 accounts for the price of oneA shelf for everyone at home
USD 170FREE - A part in rebuilding the libraryNew languages and books for all
FREE
Questions about Year of the Big Thaw
Can I read it free?
Yes. Start free and the whole book is yours for 3 months, with the eBook to keep, plus 200,000+ more classics and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print. Nothing to pay today: we email you 7 days before your first payment, and you can cancel online in two clicks.
Can I buy just the printed book?
Yes. The paperback costs USD 5.95 on its own. Start free and you pay the cost of printing: USD 5.95 for this paperback, and any other book at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print.
How many accounts do I get?
Five, for the price of one: you and 4 more people, each with their own login, shelf and their own place in every book.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel online in two clicks at any time and nothing more is charged. Nothing is charged in your first 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment.
Our mission
The library burned once. We are building it back.
Every great book, in every language and every format, for every family. Every plan helps pay for new languages, new audiobooks and books for readers who have never had them. Join the movement.
Read our story- Every language25 languages today, side by side, and more every year
- No wastePrinted on demand: no warehouses, no unsold stock, no pulped copies
- For everyonePaperback, hardcover and large print at the cost of printing
