Fantasy Short Stories

This sequel to the Hugo and Audie Award nominated METAtropolis features interconnected stories by today’s top writers of speculative fiction – performed by a galaxy of Star Trek stars. As the mid-20th century approaches, the Pacific Northwest has been transformed - politically, economically, and ecologically - into the new reality of Cascadia. Conspiracies and secrets threaten the tenuous threads of society. And the End of Days seems nearer than ever.

New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color showcases emerging and seasoned writers of many races telling stories filled with shocking delights, powerful visions of the familiar made strange. Within this book burn tales of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and their indefinable overlappings. These are authors aware of our many possible pasts and futures, authors freed of stereotypes and cliches, ready to dazzle you with their daring genius.

Eve moved to Texas to get away from a family tragedy and found herself in her own when the only job she could find was at a local bar. Her family was gone and she was left to figure it all out on little wages and rowdy patrons. That is, until she met Gwen. Gwen brought her into her world and before she knew it, she was a member of a new family. It was an all-women motorcycle gang that made its living racing. Since Eve had grown up fixing and riding bikes, it was the perfect place for her and she was quickly climbing the ranks as an illegal street racer. Everything changes though when she is...

Space pirates! Words that conjure up rousing tales of adventure, derring-do, brave heroes battling the scurvy vermin of the galaxy. Those vermin have taken to pillaging cargo ships and, even worse, space liners, relieving the helpless passengers of their valuables, and worse with the comely women passengers, then spacing the lot - unless one or more of the aforementioned brave heroes arrive in the nick of time, and turn the tables, making the spaceways safe again for the innocent and helpless.

It takes some gumption to claim to be the best tea shop in the city of Kansar, where five ancient roads meet and everyone is selling something. But Yala’s shop has been in her family for three generations and is famed for its brews among warriors and wizards alike. When the Imperial Spell Company claims a monopoly on all magic in Kansar, Yala tries to convince a company henchman that her teas are nothing but ordinary leaves and water.

In a career spanning more than 50 years, Harlan Ellison has written or edited 75 books; more than 1700 stories, essays, articles and newspaper columns; two dozen teleplays; and a dozen movies. Now, for the first time anywhere, Troublemakers presents a collection of Ellison's classic stories—chosen by the author—that will introduce new listeners to a writer described by the New York Times as having "the spellbinding quality of a great nonstop talker, with a cultural warehouse for a mind."

The only thing Benji lacks more than ambition is luck. And his new job has to be the lowest of the low. But something is stirring in the zero-footprint economy of New St. Louis. And Benji’s about to find himself chin deep in the muck! This story was originally published in the Hugo Award-nominated METAtropolis.

A 10-minute master class crash course in how to plot great fiction for: novels novellas short stories screenplays comics manga graphic novelsThe Great Fiction Cheat Sheet is perfect for all types of creative writers and aspiring authors from beginner to advanced or anywhere in between, as well for all ages. It's also the perfect teaching tool and reference guide for developing compelling characters, specifically protagonists both triumphant and tragic, as well works for any genre: action and adventure, fantasy and science fiction, mystery and suspense . . . you name it! The Great Fiction ...

Pass through fairy tales into the magic of invisible worlds in these opulent stories by a beloved fantasy icon and author of the classic Riddlemaster trilogy.

Surrender to a world where your darkest fantasies ignite. BDSM Short Stories: 10 Raw Tales of Cheating, Control, and Carnal Chaos invites you to lose yourself in the thrill of forbidden desire, where wholesome women—nurses, teachers, therapists—unleash their hidden cravings in the arms of rugged, dominant men who take charge without hesitation. Each story is a pulse-pounding plunge into passion, betrayal, and raw pleasure, crafted to set your heart racing and your body ablaze. From the greasy heat of a mechanic’s garage to the sacred shadows of a church confessional, these ten tales ...

Grim leads those who have passed into the next life across the river to be judged. His work is endless and his life dull...until he meets Isabella. Read this cute romantic short story that is sure to have you hanging on for dear "life."

When an inexplicable cosmic disturbance hurls your town from 20th century West Virginia back to 17th century Europe - and into the middle of the Thirty Years War - you'd better be adaptable to survive. And the natives of that time period, faced with American technology and politics, need to be equally adaptable.

📖✨ Fairy tales were never meant to be safe… ✨📖 Step into the shadows of Grimm & Twisted, where the classic fairy tales you thought you knew unravel into chilling, dark, and unexpected new versions. This collection takes beloved folklore and injects it with mystery, horror, and surreal twists—where Cinderella’s slipper leads her to a curse, the Big Bad Wolf is the least of Red Riding Hood’s problems, and a sleeping beauty might never wake up... or maybe she never really slept at all. With 25 original, nightmarish retellings, this book is perfect for lovers of dark fantasy, ...

Owls Hoot in the Daytime & Other Omens is the 5th and final volume of Night Shade Books' five volume "Selected Stories of Manly Wade Wellman." This volume contains all of the John the Balladeer stories (sometimes better known as Silver John), Manly's most famous character.

In Paula Goodlett and Gorg Huff's "Poor Little Rich Girls," we follow the continuing adventures of the teenage tycoons begun by Huff in "The Sewing Circle" (Gazette #1) and "Other People's Money" (Gazette #3). The focus in this story, however, is on the younger siblings - the so-called Barbie Consortium - and their down-timer associates and enemies.

Molly Everhart Trueblood and Jane Yellowrock try to discover if a local house is indeed haunted. But the problem that they discover is far worse than a ghostly haunting, and far more difficult to solve.

When Molly Everhart Trueblood doesn’t show up for her shift at Seven Sassy Sisters Herb Shop and Café, Jane Yellowrock goes to the house to check on her. There Jane discovers a black cloud of wild, out of control magic attacking the small home. How can Jane save the small family?

A collection of twenty-six horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to thrill you and chill you to the bone. The creepers include: REST STOP: Martin loved the story The Lady or the Tiger so much he started playing the game with real people and hybrid beasts. THE CURSE: When Rebecca found the pharaoh's tomb, she refused to leave no matter how many perished. TILL DEATH DO US PART: Isabelle discovered her new husband had been married before, and all ten brides had disappeared without a trace. THE EXECUTION: Myers has a crazy dream he's on death row, waiting to be executed. LIFE TO THE ...

They won't stop until they've had all of me. I've been a bad little omega. I tried to double-cross five strong, powerful alphas. Dumb idea. It didn't take long for them to capture and collar me. As they unleash their fury on me, I discover my deepest desire is to be dominated. But I slowly realize this is more than just revenge. What if the alphas won't stop at punishing me for my crimes? What if they want to own me - forever? (Owned By The Alphas is a standalone paranormal reverse harem romance with dark elements. For mature readers only!)

Join the Librarian as he does his best to make the post-apocalyptic world a better place by protecting the weak, fighting injustice, squaring off against a group of former renaissance fair workers who have established a kingdom in the Rocky Mountains, and so on. Can one man make a difference in the face of such murderous cannibals and super smart bears? Probably not.