Fantasy Adventure Short Stories

When the vampire Lord Constantine returns to oversee his favorite haunt, Castle Belan, he’s shocked to discover a quirky, curvy woman has claimed sanctuary in his home while he was away. Despite her anxieties over his blood-drinking dependency, Daria Stoica seeks sanctuary with Constantine after a trusted witch delivers a dark portent that scares her even more than the vampire’s blood lust does. To keep busy, Daria has taken on maid duties, exploring Castle Belan, and also exploring her newfound guardian. Daria’s not the only one curious about the new living situation, but ...

This invaluable collection of Avram Davidson's resonant, witty short stories describes some incidents in the career of many-times-Doctor Engelbert Eszterhazy, loyal subject of the Triune Monarchy of Scythia- Pannonia-Transbalkania, located in a 19th-century Europe whose political landscape will be, after a little reflection, familiar to most fantasy listeners. Enquire with Doctor Eszterhazy into curious matters: the lurley, the old woman who lived with a bear, gingerbread men, dancing goats, and more.

This is a SHORT STORY set within the ongoing THE UNSEEN franchise. Potential spoilers ahead! This short story stars the youngest character in the intense THE UNSEEN franchise, Hope Diaz. Her survival is one of heartache, terror, and perseverance, an event that occurs during book two of the main series, DESOLATION.

A classic tale featuring two of the most-memorable characters in sword and sorcery, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Over a span of 50 years, the late Fritz Leiber wrote dozens of adventures, set in the fictional city of Lankhmar, featuring the seven-foot-tall barbarian and the diminuitive thief. The stories were recognized with both the Hugo and Nebula Awards.

In the Hugo Award nominee Forty, Counting Down, computer genius Justin Kloster travels to the past to stop himself from making a terrible mistake. But all actions have their consequences. Then, in Twenty-One, Counting Up, Kloster's college life and romantic dreams are rudely interrupted when the 40-year-old Justin arrives from the future to save him from himself.

Rule #1 - Never enter Lupin Forest during the night of a full moon… Unfortunately, innocent good girl Scarlet Mantle is about to find out exactly why you shouldn’t break Steamydale’s number one town rule. ~*~ Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me. Everyone knows that Steamydale’s town rules are archaic and outdated, made a long time ago when the original settlers had to worry about actual wolves. Nowadays I’m more worried about whether they’ll get my latte right at the local cafe. But when I stay out a little too late before heading to my grandmother’s house one night, ...

Use your best Rod Serling impression as you read on. Imagine if you will a collective of short stories written to remove status quo blindfolds. See life through the eyes of those possessing perspectives that elude the norm. These stories are sometimes whimsical or disturbing, all aimed at provoking thought beyond these narratives. The eyes of a field mouse, an electron, or a murderer will be yours in Thirty Blinding White Flashes. How you interpret what you have viewed could initiate your own thirty blinding white flashes.

Dive back into the worlds of the best-selling Twinborn Trilogy with this collection of eight short stories - including three exclusive, never-before-published works. J.S. Morin peels back the larger Twinborn story to reveal the smaller tales concealed beneath.

* * * re released with new content * * * Sahvin Kazza, a Narovian feline humanoid was an alien undercover on Earth when he was kidnapped by alien slavers thinking he was human. He was sold into slavery and sent to the mines on Breskaa where he thought his life would end. Enter the Farseek Mercenaries, who are traveling through the Sargus Empire, searching for their stolen people who were kidnapped from Farseek and sold into slavery throughout the Empire. The mercenaries hate slavers and slavery, so while they are freeing their enslaved people, they free all the slaves on Breskaa. Savin ...

Storytellers have long imagined what exists beyond the edges of the map. The need to seek and discover the unknown is embedded in who we are, no matter the culture or era. To celebrate this sense of wonder, award-winning editor John Joseph Adams has gathered together some of the best SF&F writers working today, collecting adventure and mystery in this spectacular anthology. Explore the rich tradition begun centuries ago with this all-new compilation full of imagination and delights. What lies beyond the edge of the unknown? Only you, brave listener, can find out.

A Love That Defies Time. A Light that Extinguishes the Dark. Milan, 1906. Eva Moretti is a determined woman fighting for workers’ rights. When she met Jed at the recent St Louis and Liege World Expos, her world shifted and expanded. Although she realizes he is a mysterious man with secrets beyond time, their adventures together have created a strong, loving connection. Jed has spent centuries battling an ancient enemy determined to sabotage human progress. Now, as danger rises and Milan’s World Expo faces destruction, Eva is pulled into a conflict that spans history itself. Even now, ...

Michael Maloney reads this original adventure by Dan Abnett, featuring the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory. For centuries the Maintainers have worked. With no help from other worlds, they subsist on the food they can grow and that’s little enough. But their purpose, their whole life, is to maintain the machines that will one day make their world as habitable as old Earth. Life used to be hard. Now as crops fail, livestock sicken, and the temperature drops, it’s becoming impossible.

On the way home from a gym, Mary starts noticing a large man stalking her. Whenever she tells people about it, they mysteriously forget about it the next day. When her friend tries to help her catch this stalker, he gets kidnapped instead and a few minutes later, everyone forgets about him except her and two others. Mary and her friends found themselves involved in big political games and now they should take some responsibility and make things go right. This is book 4 of the "Surviving Destiny"

My new dance teacher had a rhythm that was impossible to resist. I thought I'd explored the depths of my desires with Jenny, Sophia, Claire, and Lisa, but my education in passion was about to take a mesmerizing turn. When Jenny introduced me to her friend Marisa, a captivating dance teacher, I was drawn into a world of movement and seduction. Marisa offered me a free private class, and with the encouragement of Jenny, Sophia, Claire, and Lisa, I stepped onto the dance floor. What I found was far more than just a lesson in dance. Marisa's graceful movements and intense gaze taught me the art...

Over the past two decades, few authors have garnered the critical acclaim and fan following of Elizabeth Moon, Nebula Award-winning author of The Speed of Dark, The Deed of Paksenarrion, and Remnant Population. Moon Flights, the definitive Elizabeth Moon short story collection, represents the highlights of an impressive career. Gathering together 15 tales of fantasy, alternative history, and science fiction, Moon Flights features an original story, "Say Cheese", set in the Vatta's War cosmology, and an all-new introduction by Anne McCaffrey, legendary creator of the Dragonriders of Pern series.

Penniless, homeless, and virtually lifeless, the vagrant “Doughface” Jack is about to discover that where medical marvels meet the mysteries of the human mind, amazing things happen. The Tramp acquires a capability beyond his imagination and without equal on Earth. Riding the rails, Jack runs afoul of a local sheriff and ends up with a crushed skull. He’s as good as dead until a savvy country doctor performs a bit of medical magic.

A self-loathing warrior content to die in the arena. An aging sword-master, running from his own infamy. A chieftain's daughter, despised because of the blade at her hip. These characters and more breathe life into the action-packed tales in this short story collection, written by an award-winning author. Keep your head low and your shield high as the steel starts singing in SWORD SONGS.

I'm Tamlir Kynthelig, mercenary. I lost my home, my family was slaughtered, and my kingdom was usurped. And then things really got bad. I saved King Mynogin and won the honor of a likely-fatal run through the Temple of Cocidius to gain him its treasure. Trust me when I say this isn't a change in my luck. Gathering the temple's eight artifacts has never been accomplished, and a thousand men have perished to its beasts and puzzles.

I can stop time, but I can't change anything. I can access memories, but not far enough. My name is Mira, and my life is about finding the Russian mobster who killed my family.

Adam Rubin is back with this companion to The Ice Cream Machine, inviting you into six thrilling new worlds filled with daring and danger, mystery and mayhem—not to mention explosions! In a swanky New York City hotel, a reclusive guest appears to have spontaneously combusted. On a school field trip to a human anatomy museum in space, two kids try to pull off the greatest prank in history.