Seventeen fantasies by one of the field's most prolific short story authors, including tales of...mad gods, specters returning from the beyond, inexplicable enigmas from outer space, a romantic and surreal interlude of the legendary madman, Tom O'Bedlam, time travel to allow an irate professor to settle the Shakespearean authorship controversy, and the King Arthur legend--plus genuinely frightening horror, including the celebrated story, "The Dead Kid." Mike Ashley calls the author "today's supreme stylist" of fantasy, and Tanith Lee says that "Schweitzer is a story-teller, by whose smoky fire one may sit spellbound." First-rate stories of the fantastic by a World Fantasy Award winner!
Seventeen fantasies by one of the field's most prolific short story authors, including tales of...mad gods, specters returning from the beyond, inexplicable enigmas from outer space, a romantic and surreal interlude of the legendary madman, Tom O'Bedlam, time travel to allow an irate professor to settle the Shakespearean authorship controversy, and the King Arthur legend--plus genuinely frightening horror, including the celebrated story, "The Dead Kid." Mike Ashley calls the author "today's supreme stylist" of fantasy, and Tanith Lee says that "Schweitzer is a story-teller, by whose smoky fire one may sit spellbound." First-rate stories of the fantastic by a World Fantasy Award winner!
WINNER, 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novella! From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor’s Soul showcases a fascinating magic system as the clock ticks down for a condemned criminal. When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos. Shai is given an impossible task: to create—to Forge—a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai’s only possible ally is the emperor’s most loyal councillor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent. Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape… -------------------- “Sanderson proves to be an exceptionally talented writer in the pages of this book. Complex as some of the background is, he never gets bogged down filling in details for the reader. Instead we learn everything we need seamlessly as the story unfolds. His prose is lyrical without ever getting in its own way … His characters are fascinating and fully realized. … The Emperor’s Soul is one of those rare high fantasies that feels fresh and is filled with a sense of wonder.” —Charles de Lint, Fantasy & Science Fiction -------------------- A note from the publisher: Brandon will send a free copy of this ebook to anyone who purchased the Tachyon Publications trade paperback. See the title page in the ebook preview for details.
From the vampire-haunted alleyways of mediaeval Averoigne to the shining spires of dying Zothique, Clark Ashton Smith weaves his literary sorcery, transporting us to forgotten realms of necromancies and nightmares, lost worlds and other dimensions. In the enchanted regions of Hyperborea, Atlantis and Xiccarph, encounter malefic magic and demonic deeds beneath the last rays of a fading sun . . . For the first time ever, this volume encompasses Clark Ashton Smith's entire career as a writer. Smith virtually stopped writing stories in 1937, for reasons that have never been satisfactorily explained, but he left behind a unique legacy of fantasy fiction which is as imaginative and decadent today as when it was first published in the pulp magazines more than half a century ago.
In The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley, the emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods. Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, learning the enigmatic discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. Their rituals hold the key to an ancient power he must master before it's too late. An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral, elite soldiers who fly into battle on gigantic black hawks. But before he can set out to save Kaden, Valyn must survive one horrific final test. At the heart of the empire, Minister Adare, elevated to her station by one of the emperor's final acts, is determined to prove herself to her people. But Adare also believes she knows who murdered her father, and she will stop at nothing—and risk everything—to see that justice is meted out. Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne The Emperor's Blades The Providence of Fire The Last Mortal Bond Other books in the world of the Unhewn Throne Skullsworn (forthcoming) At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The internationally bestselling author of the Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series presents two very different novellas that nevertheless showcase his remarkable gift for gripping narrative, world-building and empathetic characters. Available for the first time in one volume, a publishing event for all his many fans. LEGION Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion', is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society. The action ranges from the familiar environs of America to the ancient, divided city of Jerusalem. Along the way, Sanderson touches on a formidable assortment of complex questions: the nature of time, the mysteries of the human mind, the potential uses of technology, and the volatile connection between politics and faith. THE EMPEROR'S SOUL When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos. Shai is given an impossible task: to create - to Forge - a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai's only possible ally is the emperor's most loyal councillor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent. Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape...
Our third offering of kitty delights and delectables features 25 cat stories, 2 nonfiction compilations of cat anecdotes, and 9 poems--but the emphasis overall is decidedly more modern than in our previous cat Megapacks. Heading the list this time are: Mary A. Turzillo, who contributes 8 tales and poems; A. R. Morlan, author of 6 stories; Michael Hemmingson, who's penned 3 moving poems; Damien Broderick, writer of 2 otherworldly cat tales; Kathryn Ptacek, contributor of 2 fantasies; Douglas Menville, who provides a couple of kitty poems; and pieces by Darrell Schweitzer, David C. Smith, and Marilyn "Mattie" Brahen--not to mention Lewis Carroll, Mark Twain, Bram Stoker, and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. So, settle back in your chair, your couch, and your bed, cat-lovers everywhere, and enjoy this new anthology of frisky feline tales! "The Cheshire-Cat," by Lewis Carroll "All in the Golden Afternoon," by Marilyn "Mattie" Brahen "Fat Cat," by Robert Reginald "Alex," by Mary A. Turzillo "The Cat-Tracker Lady of Asad Alley," by A. R. Morlan "A Limp Dead Cat in My Arms," by Michael Hemmingson "The Ruined Queen of Harvest World," by Damien Broderick "Stories of Cat Sagacity," by W. H. G. Kingston "Mau," by Douglas Menville "Cat in the Box," by A. R. Morlan "Purple," by Mary A. Turzillo "Ebenezer Wheezer (c1972-1990)," by Douglas Menville "Concerning the 'Pretty Lady'," by Helen M. Winslow "The Boys," by Kathryn Ptacek "Reverence for Cats," by Mark Twain "'...And Mongo Was His Name-O'," by A. R. Morlan "Tommy's Cat," by David C. Smith "Tatiana," by Mary A. Turzillo "Lin Jee," by Mary A. Turzillo "The Squaw," by Bram Stoker "How the Former Pets Survive or Die," by Michael Hemmingson "Cat Burglar," by Kathryn Ptacek "Puss in Boots: Two Versions," by Charles Perrault and Dinah Maria Mulock "No Heaven Will Not Ever Heaven Be...," by A. R. Morlan "The Queen's Cat," by Peggy Bacon "Chocolate Kittens from Mars," by Mary A. Turzillo "Cats Can Colonize Mars," by Mary A. Turzillo "Cat Anecdotes," edited by Adam White "The Adventure of the Hanoverian Vampires," by Darrell Schweitzer "The Beancounter's Cat," by Damien Broderick "A Little Pinch Is All You Need," by A. R. Morlan "They Always Die," by Michael Hemmingson "Scout," by Mary A. Turzillo "The Cat," by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman "The Hunter's Mothers," by Mary A. Turzillo "Hunger," by A. R. Morlan "Ryah's Guest," by Robert Reginald And don't forget to search this ebook store for "Wildside Megapack" to see more entries in the series, covering mysteries, westerns, science fiction, adventure -- and much, much more!
A soldier enslaved by the emperor who conquered him, with only one hope to save the man from madness... Jaden, a soldier sold into slavery when his country fell, survives day to day, his only wish to find his little sister and save her from the same fate. The war might be over, but the scars of those who underwent Tranaden's conquest still linger. But when he is given as tribute to the very man who conquered his country—Dersai, known as the Wolf, an emperor feared and loathed beyond Tranaden's borders—Jaden sees his last hope fading away. It is whispered that the emperor is mad, possessed, without the faintest shred of mercy. Yet, Jaden finds that the man is someone quite different among his own people, in the safety of his own world. Old hatreds die hard, but Jaden finds himself fascinated by the complex, mysterious man beneath the warrior shell. There is a darkness in Dersai, but also a chance to set things right at last. Dersai cannot afford the luxury of mercy in any form. His country, his people come first, and he will do anything to defend his borders and drive back those who seek to possess the lush beauty of Tranaden. His ancestor made a pact with a demon, and ever since, each emperor must endure the possession of the demon bound to protect Tranaden at any cost. As with those before him, Dersai will eventually fall into madness, his own people forced to annihilate him, and the next emperor forced to bear the burden again. He'd never held any hope...until he met Jaden and began to believe the old prophecies might finally come true. That a mate for the wolf would come and break the cycle forever... Reader note: Expanded with new material! Contains intense emotional elements and gay Sci-Fi Fantasy romance. Reader discretion advised.
Imperial law enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon is good at her job: she can deter thieves and pacify thugs, if not with a blade, then by toppling an eight-foot pile of coffee canisters onto their heads. But when ravaged bodies show up on the waterfront, an arson covers up human sacrifices, and a powerful business coalition plots to kill the emperor, she feels a tad overwhelmed.Worse, Sicarius, the empire's most notorious assassin, is in town. He's tied in with the chaos somehow, but Amaranthe would be a fool to cross his path. Unfortunately, her superiors order her to hunt him down. Either they have an unprecedented belief in her skills... or someone wants her dead.
"This book is a wonderful introduction to one of history's greatest figures: Marcus Aurelius. His life and this book are a clear guide for those facing adversity, seeking tranquility and pursuing excellence." —Ryan Holiday, bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way and The Daily Stoic The life-changing principles of Stoicism taught through the story of its most famous proponent. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was the last famous Stoic philosopher of the ancient world. The Meditations, his personal journal, survives to this day as one of the most loved self-help and spiritual classics of all time. In How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, cognitive psychotherapist Donald Robertson weaves the life and philosophy of Marcus Aurelius together seamlessly to provide a compelling modern-day guide to the Stoic wisdom followed by countless individuals throughout the centuries as a path to achieving greater fulfillment and emotional resilience. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor takes readers on a transformative journey along with Marcus, following his progress from a young noble at the court of Hadrian—taken under the wing of some of the finest philosophers of his day—through to his reign as emperor of Rome at the height of its power. Robertson shows how Marcus used philosophical doctrines and therapeutic practices to build emotional resilience and endure tremendous adversity, and guides readers through applying the same methods to their own lives. Combining remarkable stories from Marcus’s life with insights from modern psychology and the enduring wisdom of his philosophy, How to Think Like a Roman Emperor puts a human face on Stoicism and offers a timeless and essential guide to handling the ethical and psychological challenges we face today.
