Bøger udgivet af Baen

"Humans have always been fascinated by darkness. Especially the darkness of a city at night, when the black sky is made ever more inky by the pools of illumination dropped under streetlights. We harken to the sound of streetcars in the distance. We are drawn to the garish flash of club signs and marquees. We love the danger of shadowed alleyways, of wealth and poverty living side by side. We love the city. It's a part of us. Whether the mean streets be in an alternate past charmed with dark magic or the dirty alleyways of futuristic crowded space stations, the city--and its darkened streets--will always fascinate us. Here then, an anthology of all new stories of science fiction and fantasy with a hardboiled noir twist that acknowledge that the city is a living, breathing entity--and it isn't always on our side. Stories by Laurell K. Hamilton, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Mike Massa, Steve Diamond, Robert E. Hampson, Chris Kennedy, Marisa Wolf, Griffin Barber, Robert Buettner, Hinkley Correia, Casey Moores, Patrick M. Tacy, and Dan Willis"--

"An encounter with an old friend becomes tragically fatal, and Indrajit and Fix set out on a high-stakes, high-adrenaline quest across the ancient city of Kish to bring their friend back to life. At each step, the complications and the enemies alike pile up. The mysterious necromancers, the Vin Dalu priests, bind the heroes on an errand that sends them shuttling from one thieves' guild to the next, pitting Indrajit and Fix against the deadly House of Knives and embroiling them in a plot by the giant, wasplike Kattak to take dire revenge on Kish and all its great houses"--

A NEW START—OR AN OLD CALLING? Talia Merritt, a former military sniper once known as Death’s Handmaiden, is a woman haunted by her past. Her cybernetic arm and her phantom—the implant that allows her to control it—serve as a constant reminder of what she’s lost. But Talia is hoping to leave her past and her reputation behind and start anew on the colony world of Goruden, a hardscrabble planet of frontier-minded people seeking a better life. And she’s finally earned enough to start to make that dream come true. In the bucolic town of Tsuri, she interviews for a job as a marksmanship instructor for local bigwig Signore Ferran Contesti. But Contesi is not what he seems. A recent arrival on Goruden, he hopes to mold the colony world in his own image—an image at odds with the unencumbered life free of government and corporate meddling that Talia has come to find. Soon, Talia finds herself thrust into the start of another conflict. Talia desperately wants to stay out of it, but she may not have that luxury. With the fate of a planet and her own peace of mind hanging in the balance, Talia must decide whether or not to once again take up the mantle of Death’s Handmaiden….

THREE PENRIC AND DESDEMONA NOVELLAS IN THE WORLD OF THE FIVE GODS BY GRAND MASTER LOIS McMASTER BUJOLD. INCLUDES “MASQUERADE IN LODI,” “THE ORPHANS OF RASPAY,” AND “THE PHYSICIANS OF VILNOC.”Penric and Desdemona are back in three novellas from Grand Master Lois McMaster Bujold. Masquerade in Lodi: Bastard’s Eve is a night of celebration for most residents in the canal city of Lodi—but not for sorcerer Learned Penric and his Temple demon Desdemona, who find themselves caught up in the affairs of a shiplost madman, a dangerous ascendant demon, and a very unexpected saint of the fifth god. The Orphans of Raspay: When the ship in which they are traveling is captured by Carpagamon island raiders, Penric and Desdemona find their life complicated by two young orphans, Lencia and Seuka Corva, who are far from home and searching for their missing father. Pen and Des will need all their combined talents of mind and magic to unravel the mysteries of the sisters and escape from the pirate stronghold. The Physicians of Vilnoc: When a mysterious plague breaks out in the army fort guarding Vilnoc, the port capital of the duchy of Orbas, Penric and Desdemona are called upon by General Arisaydia to resurrect Penric’s medical skills and solve its lethal riddle. In the grueling days that follow, Pen will find that even his magic is not enough to meet the challenges without help from dedicated new colleagues—and the god of mischance. Also includes a new introduction, "outroduction," and suggested reading order by Lois McMaster Bujold! Praise for the Penric & Desdemona series: “Lord Penric, Pen to his friends and Penric to others, is a fabulous character. He's got a serious problem; he's never been trained to handle so he's doing the best he can. This ruffles the feathers or exasperates the other characters that he comes in contact with throughout the story. There's tension, danger, humor, and some interesting insights into various human traits.” —SFRevu “Another thoroughly engaging entry in the Penric and Desdemona series. There are some truly interesting new characters, a medical mystery to be solved, lots of great dialogue, and some philosophical issues to think about when you finish the story. What could be better?” —SFRevu “An engaging revisitation of the world of the Five Gods. Another felicitous combination of formerly told tales, again meshing masterfully (mistressfully?)” —Seattle Book Review “[F]illed with a satisfying blend of strong characters and wry humor.” —Publishers Weekly “Fans of fantasy with clever, innocent underdog characters will root for Penric to beat the odds and hope to visit him and his demon again.” —Booklist “Bujold’s fans will be delighted with this latest adventure featuring Penric and his resident demon.” —Booklist “Bujold continues to expand her "Five Gods" world, reviving familiar faces along the way. The fascinating relationship between Penric and Desdemona is especially fun.” —Library Journal “Bujold's many faithful readers will delight in this engaging blend of mystery and magic.” —Library Journal “Changing points of view make earlier chapters a little challenging, but strong secondary characters and Bujold's amazing worldbuilding will please readers of this swift-paced series.” —Library Journal “Fast action and dialog create a humorous and satisfying story that shows the intriguing connection between sorcerer and demon.” —Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Library System “Bujold's nuanced writing vividly shows the unique relationship between Penric and Desdemona and their journey that continues to grow in action-filled ways.” —Library Journal “Bujold's fans will appreciate this novella, which returns to her World of the Five Gods and beloved maturing characters.” —Library Journal Praise for Lois McMaster Bujold: “The pace is breathless, the characterization thoughtful and emotionally powerful, and the author's narrative technique and command of language compelling. Highly recommended.” —Booklist “If you love solid space opera rooted in strong character, you can't go wrong . . . The Warrior's Apprentice already displays the craft and the heart which would soon make Lois McMaster Bujold one of the most feted talents in SF.” —SF Reviews “Bujold is adept at worldbuilding and provides a witty, character-centered plot, full of exquisite grace notes . . . fans will be thoroughly gripped and likely to finish the book in a single sitting.” —Publishers Weekly on Diplomatic Immunity

A RACE IN AFRICA TO BUILD THE FIRST SPACE ELEVATORNew money, old tribes, and international megacorps race to build the first space elevator. With a little Dabare magic, it just might work! The Sadous, an oil-rich West African family, are handed a plum contract as repayment for a decades-old favor that could tie them into an industry of the future—if the family doesn’t tear itself apart first. Two engineer daughters of the Sadou family, Pascaline and Maurie, upon whom the burden of success rests, have troubles of their own. One wants nothing more than to leave and make her own name as an engineering prodigy, while the other is troubled by fever dreams and snakes. Ethan Schmidt-Li is an ambitious megacorp executive with eyes on a big promotion—only to get more than he bargained for when put in charge of the company’s make-or-break project. Endeley Adamou is the powerful nephew of a Bakweri chieftain walking the fine line between modernization and tribal tradition. These are some of the people that Tchami “Chummy” Fabrice has brought together to an ambitious end: constructing in Africa the world’s first space elevator and ensuring the space industry that it catapults will enrich the continent and all involved. They have the carbon nanofiber, prime land around Kilimanjaro, and a captured rock in orbit for the tether. The hard part will be getting all these different people working together long enough to see it built. Praise for The Dabare Snake Launcher: “Joelle Presby’s novel is a fascinating fictional look behind the scenes of the construction of the world’s first space elevator in a near-future version of Africa that has enough grounded elements to be thoroughly believable . . . The story maintains a keen eye on the largely larger-than-life characters and respect for the business processes, customs, and beliefs of the people on the ground making things happen.” —Wole Talabi, multiple-award finalist author and editor of Africanfuturism: An Anthology “You guys should all be on the lookout for Joelle Presby’s solo Baen novel THE DABARE SNAKE LAUNCHER. It is . . . remarkable. Just truly, truly remarkable.” —David Weber, NYT best-selling author of the Honorverse series “The Dabare Snake Launcher is a very believable depiction of when this species decides to do something amazing: backstabbing, plotting, and inflamed passions galore. Presby has created a future that I could easily imagine reading on the news in a few decades, and the novel is all the better for it.” —Warped Factor “The Dabare Snake Launcher takes you on a journey of possibilities, an Africa foremost in groundbreaking technology and not focused on deprivation and poverty. Joelle’s writing is nuanced . . . There’s family drama . . . romance . . . and laugh-out-loud humour. Writing is vivid and the characters fascinating.” —Hannah Onoguwe, author and poet “Set in Cameroon, where the author lived for many years, and full of lovely detail about the local cultures, clashes between traditional and modern, and differing expectations.” —Jane Lindskold, author of the Star Kingdom series and Over Where series. Praise for Joelle Presby: “Joelle Presby has a knack for engaging characters and plots that skillfully walk the line between science and storytelling.” —Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Nebula Award-winning and Hugo Award-nominated author and editor of The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction “Presby’s prose is efficient and shows intricate knowledge of both engineering and engineering management considerations. This infuses the story with the sensibility of a techno-thriller without the usual breakneck action pace that can sometimes sacrifice character development . . . I am eager to see what Presby writes next.” —Wole Talabi, Locus Award-nominated author and editor of Africanfuturism: An Anthology

"The Atlas Corporation was all set to tear apart the planet Mercury-converting its resources into a swarm of solar-collecting megastructures-when Esteban Velasco, lead Atlas engineer, is found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Detective Isaac Cho and Special Agent Susan Cantrell, both eager to return to active duty despite close calls on their last case, are sent in to assess the situation. Their superiors expect a simple declaration of suicide, but Velasco's death proves anything but typical. The detectives soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery far more complex-and strange-than anyone expected, leading them to a church for Mercury-loving weirdos, a "nudist" colony open to Saturn's unbreathable atmosphere, an exclusive park for hunting dinosaurs, and a ghost town where forgotten machines wage war over condo floorplans. What was meant to be an easy return to duty for the detectives takes a sudden dark turn when ruthless mind-hackers ambush and nearly kill them, making one fact crystal clear: If they don't solve this case soon, it'll be their corpses that turn up next"--

Up-timer Morris Roth and his Grand Army of the Sunrise stand at a crossroads. Military success against the Polish-Lithuanian magnates has all but guaranteed a continued push east into Ruthenian lands. There, Roth hopes to further his Anaconda Project so that tens of thousands of Jews are not slaughtered in what's to become known as the Chmielnicki Pogrom of 1648. An envoy from Transylvania arrives with a promising offer from its prince, who wishes to form an alliance with Bohemia, but the land shrouded in the fog of the Carpathian Mountains--and known only to most up-timers as the playground of Count Dracula--is a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. Such an alliance would surely draw the ire of Sultan Murad IV. The United States of Europe agrees to assist the Bohemian forces and sends in the Silesian Guard under the command of Brigadier Jeff Higgins. They also send in Gretchen Richter to organize and lead the political struggle.

"Jared Clement has returned to Trinity, not as a mere ship captain but now as a 5 Suns Fleet Admiral. With his promotion comes increased responsibility that weighs heavy on his shoulders. 30,000 settlers are leaving the dying planets of the Rim, his home, and resettling next to the natives of the planet Bellus. Clement is responsible for those lives and the lives of the natives, Trinity's children, and for building a better future for them all. But when his migrant fleet arrives in the Trinity system, they are faced with enemies both old and new. Former Fleet Admiral Elara DeVore has escaped her exile on the planet Alphus and has vanished into parts unknown. Soon, however, Clement discovers she has a new fleet and a new ally, the Solar League from Earth. The Solar League has arrived with a massive fleet and plans on taking Trinity for itself, then forcing the 5 Suns to surrender. With just a small military fleet to accompany the migrants, Clement is faced with the almost impossible task of defending both his people and the natives from becoming slaves of the Solar League."--

"The fates of universes aren't the only things time travel can impact. Sometimes the effect is a lot more mundane and closer to home. And when that happens, it's up to the cops of Themis Division to make time turn out right. It was supposed to be a routine trip for the members of the Gordian Division, both human and AI: fly out to Saturn, inspect the construction of their latest time machines, then fly back. But when the division's top scientist and chief engineer are killed in the same freak accident, suspicions of foul play run deep. Detective Isaac Cho is sent in to investigate, but he has more on his mind than just a new case. His superiors have saddled him with an exchange officer from the neighboring Admin-Special Agent Susan Cantrell-whose notion of proper "law enforcement" involves blowing up criminals first and skipping questions entirely. Despite his objections, Cho is stuck with an untested partner on a case that increasingly reeks of murder and conspiracy. The unlikely pair must work together to unravel this mystery, and soon they discover their unique combination of skills might just provide the edge they need. But nothing is ever simple where the Gordian Division is involved. Not even time itself"--

Jamethiel Knorth, Priest''s Bane and Dream-Weaver, has returned victorious from Tai-tastigon, but trouble dogs the Kencyrath. There is intrigue among the Highborn. The Randir and his allies want the larger houses to decide for all nine, which would strip the Highlordship from the Knorth. At Omiroth, a senile king struggles against his venal son-in-law-but if neither of these can rule, the next in line is a mother-dominated child. Kindrie Soul-Walker is captured and thrown in a secret dungeon, a political prisoner. And a Kendar administrator, dissatisfied with the use that Jame is making of the gates, schemes against her, and then against her house and her brother, Torisen Black Lord, Highlord of the Kencyrath.While Tori defends Gothregor and Kindrie rots a secret captive, Jame rides south to Bashti. Here she confronts an unready and presumptuous heir, a withholding and manipulative paymaster, and invisible assassins. Her formal errand, meanwhile, is to compete in martial games with secret stakes-which she fears are a cloak for a massacre, or worse.About Deathless Gods:"Hodgell's intricate web requires careful reading-and extensive knowledge of the previous books-to follow, but the author repays her fans with a saga that flows neatly between the mythic and the mundane. There's plenty of life left in this series." -Publishers WeeklyAbout The Gates of Tagmeth:"The Kencyr live in one of the most deeply realized worlds in fantasy, a rich and complicated space that includes many cultures and riveting, three-dimensional characters. Full of dark wonder, wry humor, and the quirks of Jame's inimitable personality, the newest installment in Hodgell's life's work demonstrates why it can be worthwhile for a writer to spend 40 years writing the same series." -Publishers WeeklyAbout P.C. Hodgell's Kencyrath Series:"P.C. Hodgell writes the most strikingly weird and wonderful stories in epic fantasy today." -Charles Stross"Hodgell has crafted an . . . intricate fantasy with humor, tragedy, and a capable and charming female hero." -Library Journal"There''s a joyful creativity to Hodgell''s writing . . . some of the best fantasy novels of the last 30 years." -Black GateThe Kencyrath SagaSeeker's BaneBound in BloodHonor''s ParadoxSea of TimeThe Gates of TagmethBy Demons PossessedOmnibus EditionsThe Godstalker ChroniclesContains Kencyrath prequel novels God Stalk and Dark of the Moon

"They said ten-year-old street urchin Inga was perfect for their purpose, taken from the squalor of Port City to the asteroid enclave, Hawksgaard, where she underwent the training and augmentation that transformed her. Maturing to full lethality even as war erupts among the Myriad Worlds, Inga is assigned to protect Family scion, Captain Saef Sinclair-Maru as he leads the fight against humanity's merciless enemy. The vessel: IMS Hightower The mission: Rescue a trapped Legion force from the surface of Delta Three. The crisis: Nothing is as it appears. With Marines plummeting into surface combat, an orbital space battle raging, and assassins swarming within Hightower, the stakes could scarcely be greater, but in the midst of this tumult, treacherous revelations continue to unfold. A mysterious enemy emplacement, a vanished civilian population, the inexplicable powers suddenly unleashed: Each new facet of discovery creates a deadly path leading from Delta Three to the heart of the Imperium and the emperor himself. To seize any chance for victory--or even survival--Inga must accept the irrevocable course leading from the remnants of her own humanity to the fullness of the Silent Hand."--

In hardcover for the first time, first entry in the Worlds of Honor anthology series, by three giants of military SF. Honorverse short novels by Weber, David Drake, and S.M. Stirling. The first entry in the Worlds of Honor anthology series, featuring stories set in David Weber's New York TImes best-selling Honorverse. Featuring "A Grand Tour" by master of military SF David Drake; "A Whiff of Grapeshot" by best-selling author S.M. Stirling: and "A Beautiful Friendship" by David Weber, the novella that would later become the first entry in Weber's Star Kingdom series. Also includes Honor Harrington series essay "The Universe of Honor Harrington" by Weber.

"No one is at all sure what a book wraith might be, but whatever it is definitely has the battered tomes in the Library of the Sapphire Wind very worried indeed. Figuring out what a book wraith could be is hardly the least of the challenges that the newly formed House of Rough Diamonds will face as the motley assortment of members-including three women who are literally "out of this world"-attempt to secure ownership of the Library. Enemies old and new, both within and without the contested property, will strain the Rough Diamonds ingenuity and resources, forcing the small group to recruit new and possibly dangerous allies."--

New York Times Bestseller John Ringo's Epic Zombie Series, Adapted by Comics Legend Chuck Dixon!A Thrilling Adaptation of the Best-selling Black Tide Rising Series The media calls it the Pacific Flu. The CDC calls it H7D3, and it spreads like wildfire. The virus combines the worst symptoms of Rabies and the common Flu, and is suspected to be man-made. The first reports of feral, cannibalistic “zombie-like” symptoms were met with disbelief and skeptical amusement, but nobody’s laughing now. Scientists, backed by the world’s governments and its wealthiest institutions, race against the clock to develop a cure as infections rise and cities fall. A glimmer of hope appears as a vaccine is discovered, but its production requires harvesting the spinal tissue of the infected, a grim task that tests the limits of human morality. With no other choices apparent, time is quickly running out before hordes of infected overwhelm the last remaining bastions of civilization. In the first days of the outbreak, a college history professor receives a cryptic warning from a trusted source. Its baffling, yet unmistakable message translates as: "PACK UP, GET OUT, AND GO NOW!" Steve Smith and his family don’t waste any time; they leave their normal, comfortable lives behind to get ahead of the inevitable panic and survive the end of the world! Praise for Black Tide Rising: The Graphic Novel: "A badass tale of the apocalypse, told John Ringo-style with an extra dose of awesome from Chuck Dixon! It isn't just about the end of the world; it's about what it takes to come out the other side."—Larry Correia "So you think you've read every kind of zombie tale to be told? Wrong! Chuck Dixon and team pull out all the stops with Black Tide Rising and twist the genre on its ear by populating the story with characters you actually care about! That's almost sacrilege! With Santacruz and Smith on the art chores, this is a must have for the horror and zombie fan. Your library is naked without it."—Graham Nolan "Black Tide Rising would seem fantastical — except the last few years have proved otherwise. Illustrates the importance of free thinkers, being prepared, being vigilant, and having a plan! I want to be in the movie!" —Dean Cain "[D]elivers all the zombie action fans crave, plus sly allusions to a western culture that has lost its way. Even better? Some eye-popping panels you'll want to blow up and frame for your movie room." —Christian Toto "[A] terrific graphic novel that serves as both an allegory for our current COVID nonsense, as well as graphically (pardon the pun) depicting what a real viral pandemic would look like. Black Tide Rising strikes a blow for individual liberty and freedom, which is the only thing that stands in the way of the tyranny we are seeing established in the West, after its murderous run in Europe and the Far East."—Nick Searcy About Black Tide Rising (anthology:) “. . . an entertaining batch of . . . action-packed tales. Certainly, fans of Ringo’s particular brand of action-adventure will be pleased.”—Booklist “This anthology broadens Ringo’s Black Tide world, serving up doses of humanity amid the ravenous afflicted. Comedy has a place in this harsh reality, and these stories stir adventure and emotion at a frantic clip throughout. Zombie fiction fans will be thrilled.”—Library Journal About the Black Tide Rising Series: “Not only has Ringo found a mostly unexplored corner of the zombie landscape, he's using the zombie frame to tackle a broader theme: the collapse and rebirth of civilization. The zombie scenes are exciting, sure, but its the human story that keeps us involved. A fine series.”—Booklist About Under a Graveyard Sky: “Ringo combines humor and horror in this strong series debut, the thinking reader’s zombie novel.”—Publishers Weekly About John Ringo: “[Ringo’s work is] peopled with three-dimensional characters and spiced with personal drama as well as tactical finesse.”—Library Journal “. . . Explosive. . . . fans . . . will appreciate Ringo’s lively narrative and flavorful characters.”—Publishers Weekly “. . . practically impossible not to read in one sitting . . . exceedingly impressive . . . executed with skill, verve, and wit.”—Booklist “Crackerjack storytelling.”—Starlog BLACK TIDE RISING SERIES: Under a Graveyard Sky To Sail a Darkling Sea Islands of Rage and Hope Strands of Sorrow Black Tide Rising Voices of the Fall We Shall Rise At the End of the World At the End of the Journey The Valley of Shadows River of Night

A NEW NOVEL OF ALTERNATE HISTORY FROM A RISING STAR OF MILITARY SFBehind enemy lines and displaced in time! Before the Battle of Trenton, George Washington reputedly threw a coin across the river. What if that coin was a bicentennial quarter? When a squad of ROTC cadets training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in November 2008 find themselves transported to December 1776 in the days before the Battle of Trenton, they find a Continental Army in disarray and General George Washington contemplating the potential of a bleak future. To make matters worse, they’ve lost a modern M-16 rifle to a roving Hessian patrol. Understanding the ramifications of such a discovery, the cadets have no choice but to report to General Washington. Without ammunition or their own meager supplies, can Cadet Sergeant Jameel Mason and his friends steel Washington’s courage and set the infancy of the United States of America back on track? About The Crossing: "The Crossing is a thrilling alternate history with vivid, compelling characters and relentless action. Kevin Ikenberry is a rising star of science fiction. His military experience and diligent storytelling shine." —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Uncharted, Clockwork Angels, and Navigators of Dune. "Ikenberry understands very well what made the original 1632 tick; Ikenberry, like Flint, is a master at pacing his scenes, choosing just the right characters to be at just the right places to create a plot that ticks along like a metronome...Ikenberry wastes no words, and the result is compulsively readable." —Warped Factor "I found myself wanting to read the sequel by the time I got to the end, always the sign of an excellent and gripping read." —Infinity Wanderers About Kevin Ikenbery: “Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to any who enjoy a good tale of future ground combat.” —Doug Dandridge “[Ikenberry's] insight into the human side of the military mind has strong appeal.” —Publishers Weekly

"The twelve most important business people in the world are having their annual meeting. But one by one they're being murdered. The first agent sent to investigate has also been killed. Now it's down to Ishmael Jones and his partner in crimes, Penny Belcourt, to get to the bottom of things. Of course, it doesn't help that this is all taking place at a hotel near Loch Ness"--

THE ALIENS ARE AMONG US! “Where is everybody?” Nobel Prize–winning physicist Enrico Fermi once asked after a discussion about the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. To sum up the Fermi Paradox, if the billions of stars in our galaxy have planets with intelligent life on them, why hasn’t anyone visited us? But maybe they have, and we just haven’t noticed—and that’s the way they want it. And if they are here in secret, why are they here? Are they tourists? Anthropologists, perhaps? Or journalists sending stories back about the quaint habits of the primitives? Or maybe the extraterrestrial equivalent of hunters or fishermen? (Any odd disappearances in your neighborhood lately?) An enemy already within the gates? Or a refugee seeking sanctuary? Gourmets looking for exotic foreign food? Alien criminals hiding out? Alien cops looking for those alien criminals? No missionaries—at least not yet—and there doesn’t seem to be a Galactic Peace Corps. They might happen to look close enough to human to pass, or they might be masters of disguise. Or they might be so incomprehensibly different that we don’t even notice that they’re here. The secret visitors are revealed by such luminaries as Larry Niven, Poul Anderson, Spider Robinson, Neil Gaiman, and more. And if any alien visitors want to check out the local natives’ speculations herein, feel free. Please pay with local currency, of course. Praise for previous anthologies edited by Hank Davis: About Time Troopers: "The editors’ mastery of the military SF and time travel subgenres is evident in their thoughtful selections. Fans of literate speculative fiction will hope for more from these experts."—Publishers Weekly Cosmic Corsairs: “Who doesn’t like space pirates? (Well, their victims I guess, but that’s beside the point.) . . . Hank Davis has a fine sense for choosing a wide mix of stories, and this book is no exception. No story is like another, yet they manage to form a whole greater than the parts. From sapient ships to piratical sibling rivalry, pirate detectives to ingenious captives seeking freedom, from alien biology to orbital mechanics, the stories share some of the same elements—pragmatic thinking, moral complexity, loyalty, and betrayal. Definitely a fun one.”—Analog In Space No One Can Hear You Scream: “[T]he 13 tales in this collection blend sf with horror to demonstrate the resiliency of both genres . . . offers strong tales by the genre’s best storytellers.” —Library Journal “[F]irst-rate science fiction, demonstrating how short stories can still entertain.” —The Galveston County Daily News A Cosmic Christmas 2 You: “This creative and sprightly Christmas science fiction anthology spins in some surprising directions. . . . A satisfying read for cold winter evenings . . . a great stocking stuffer for SF fans.” —Publishers Weekly As Time Goes By: “As Time Goes By . . . does an excellent job of exploring not only romance through time travel—relationships enabled or imperiled by voyaging through time—but the intrinsic romance of time travel itself. . . . The range of styles and approaches is as wide as the authors' sensibilities and periods might suggest . . . full of entertaining and poignant stories . . . ” —Alvaro Zinos-Amaro, IntergalacticMedicineShow.com Praise for previous anthologies edited by Sean CW Korsgaard: About Worlds Long Lost: “Editors Christopher Ruocchio and Sean CW Korsgaard have given fans of this venerable genre something special… Worlds Long Lost definitely has something for everyone who loves a touch of the crawling chaos.” —The Wall Street Journal "Ruocchio (the Sun Eater series) and Korsgaard bring together 14 mind-bending and often disturbing tales of ancient extraterrestrial civilizations throughout the universe...Full of creepy flights of imagination and thought-provoking science, this will be a hit with fans of first contact sci-fi.”—Publisher's Weekly “Ruocchio and Korsgaard have shown themselves to have the taste and the discernment of master vintners, going through the grapevine of the science fiction genre to find the sweetest berries. Worlds Long Lost is no mere vinegar, but the finest vintage you can find today. If science fiction were wine, this anthology sparkles, both like champagne, and like the stars in the heavens.” —Warped Factor “Readers are treated to tales of wonder and horror of ancient alien civilizations, from mischievous youngsters to curses of long-lost gods… For readers looking to escape to another galaxy, prepare to be rocketed to Worlds Long Lost.” —Portland Book Review "Fourteen new stories involving the discovery of ancient alien artifacts, on Earth or elsewhere in the universe, appear in this anthology. The pieces range from intellectual puzzles to tales of adventure, with a fair amount of horror thrown into the mix." —Tangent Online “Worlds Long Lost delivers on its promise to take you out of this world.” —Upstream Reviews

In December 2012, the U.S. government launched a secret program to create superhumans called Ascendants. In July 2018, the U.S. government lost control over them. Now, America enters a new era in which ordinary men and women can become the heroes we need . . . or the monsters we fear.TIME TO ASCEND! When firefighter Bill Goddard raced into a blazing building to rescue trapped children, he expected to die. Instead, he became something more than human—the nation's first ascendant. Now known as American Eagle, Bill must assemble a team of other ascended heroes to defend the country from villainous forces intent on wreaking chaos and destruction. But the process of ascension is fraught with peril, and not everyone emerges with their mind and morality unscathed. In America's hour of need, who will answer the call? And can they do what it takes to protect the nation without sacrificing the values they've sworn to uphold?

"Traveling to the stars will be difficult, but not, perhaps, the most difficult part. What about when we get to another star? What then? Will the planets be immediately habitable? Not likely. Will those who undertook the journey be able to easily turn around and come home if they don't find "Earth 2.0?" Almost certainly not. Therein the lies the challenge: Finding worlds that are potentially habitable and then taking the time, perhaps centuries, to make them compatible with Earth life. They will encounter mysteries and unexpected challenges, but the human spirit will endure. Join this diverse group of science fiction writers and scientists as they take up the challenge of The Ross 248 Project"--

"Rhymer brings to life Thomas the Rhymer, legendary 12th Century figure of traditional Scottish balladry, as a champion who must battle the diabolical Yvag-an alien race thought to be elves and faeries-hellbent on conquering our world. This saga pits Thomas against the near-immortal elves, first with only his wits, then with powers of his own that enable him to take on these evil creatures throughout the centuries. He's known by many names over time-Tâam Lin, Robyn Hood, and numerous other incarnations reaching into the present-but at his heart he is still True Thomas, one man doing all he can to save us all from a powerful foe. When his brother is snatched right before his eyes, Thomas hunts for justice and discovers that not only do these "elves" steal people, but they also are skinwalkers who occupy humans in positions of power. Their goal: to obliterate humanity and take over our world. When Thomas is dragged into their alien realm, he's imprisoned and barely escapes alive, but in the process he gains near-immortality and the ability to transform himself."--

"When a serial-killer plot points to the Royalist political party, Major Bhaajan, former military officer turned private detective, is called back to Selei City to solve the crime. Bhaaj and her crew of Undercity Dust Knights plunge into the Byzantine world of Imperial politics--a jigsaw world where none of the pieces seem to fit. As the assassination plot becomes more and more convoluted, Bhaaj is kidnapped and must fight for her life against the growing number of people threatened by her investigation. Bhaaj has faced all this and more before, but now she must deal with something far deadlier--interstellar politics."--

FANTASY FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JANE LINDSKOLDCan it get any stranger? Absolutely!  When Peg, Meg, and Teg were first summoned Over Where, vast and varied life experience (along with wide reading choices) helped them adjust to a world where they were the only humans, magic was real, ships could fly, and reincarnation was a confirmed fact.  In the company of the “inquisitors,” Xerak, Grunwold, and Vereez, the three newly appointed mentors rediscovered the Library of the Sapphire Wind, and, within it, revelations that transformed the young people’s pasts into a vast tangle of lies and half-truths.   But there are still questions to be answered. Before they are done, Meg the retired librarian, Teg the archeologist-turned-mage, and the multi-talented, ever surprising Peg will deal with kidnappings, betrayal, arcane artifacts, romantic intrigues, and the inescapable reality that past lives cast long shadows.  Together, the three mentors and their young allies will uncover the startling truth about what lies on the other side of the Aurora Borealis Bridge—a truth that holds the secret of Over Where, and that will change all their lives forever.  About Aurora Borealis Bridge: "The world of Over Where reveals its secrets in Lindskold’ s fun sequel to The Library of the Sapphire Wind... . Fans of classic portal fantasies will appreciate this entrancing tale of growing up and coming into one’s own." —Publishers Weekly About Jane Lindskold: “Intricately plotted. . . . a thought-provoking tale of magic and politics, enlivened by Firekeeper's wry and wolfish point-of-view.” —Publishers Weekly on Wolf's Blood “Lindskold delivers an exotic historical fantasy that takes the reader from Victorian England to Egypt.” —Publishers Weekly on The Buried Pyramid “I loved it. A thrilling, edge-of-the-seat read—I couldn't put it down!” —Tamora Pierce on Fire Season (cowritten with David Weber)