Short Game

War is a serious business - or is it? Christopher Anvil turns his sardonic sense of humor loose on the subject. Hard-SF legend and Analog regular Christopher Anvil brings together mind-bending ideas and grim-but-true black humor in the face of war's utter destruction in this mega-compilation.

FROM THE DARKEST RECESSES OF THE MIND TO THE DARKEST CORNERS OF THE GALAXY These are tales of the future twisted and turned by the trends of the present. Like a funhouse mirror that reflects imperfectly, these are tales seen through a glass darkly. From a new consciousness birthed in a glitchy computer program, to a warning of the future unheeded by the first emperor of Rome. From the events of H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine told from the Morlocks’ point of view, to a look at the Beatles if they had never become famous. From a brain in a jar who solves galactic mysteries, to a space ...

One by one, the men who discovered and opened the tomb of King Men-He-Rah are beginning to die. Superstition spreads that they have been cursed by the dead king. Poirot is asked to investigate the supernatural deaths by a concerned mother. Hastings is left bewildered when Poirot asserts his belief in the supernatural.

Follow the adventures of Dilly the dolphin! Dilly is an exchange student from Saltwater Academy. His new school is Freshwater Elementary. Will he fit in?

Auf Sodor ist immer was los! Ein Kohlewaggon verschwindet plötzlich, eine Expresslieferung macht Probleme und aus dem Lokschuppen kommen seltsame Geräusche... Ist dort etwa ein Monster? Dies und noch viel mehr erfahrt ihr in dreizehn aufregenden Geschichten über Thomas & seine Freunde. Erlebe spannende Abenteuer mit Thomas, der kleinen Lokomotive, Gordon, James, Cranky, Diesel, Dexter, Henry und all den anderen Lokomotiven von der Insel Sodor! Geh mit den Loks auf Schatzsuche und gefährliche Rettungsmissionen, löse Geisterrätsel und sei bei der Krönung vom König von Sodor mit dabei.

Why do you suppose some combat veterans give up the sport of hunting? Is it because they gain empathy with the hunted, or hunting a prey less cunning than they has lost its allure. Richard Connell, in this short story “The Most Dangerous Game” takes us where the hunter becomes the hunted. This hunter is not being hunted by a beast less cunning or calculating than he is, like a lion or a tiger. No, this hunter is a master at his craft, crueler and only slightly better armed than he is.

Ex-soldier Lenora is determined to escape an alien slave colony no matter what the cost. Her disobedience angers her male alien overseers, who are trying to breed humans so they can intermarry with them. Lenora, and willful women like her, are sent to the Bride Games. If they win they will be granted their freedom. If they lose they must accept marriage to an alien nobleman.

In this book, you will get a glimpse at Wall Street Bets, the subreddit that costs two of the largest hedge funds hundreds of millions of dollars. This will show you a David and Goliath story about a short squeezed that took the GameStop stock to the moon and made traditional Wall Street look and think about the little guys before thinking about squeezing a company backed by real-life trolls.

In this companion story to Numbers Game, Chan Norwell comes from the perfect citizen family. His mother is chief of the city monitor force, his brother an all-star, and his sister a prodigy - which leaves little wiggle room for a nobody like Chan. He is determined to have his time in the spotlight at last. But he doesn't expect things to go so horribly wrong. Alone, dishonored, and humiliated, Chan can only see one way out.

Join six kings, queens and warriors from around the world as they battle for crowns, vanquish dark forces and claim their thrones in this collection of Ladybird Tales.

Caleb Ryan was the only man I ever loved. But then he betrayed me.... I spent years trying to get over what he'd done to me, honing my hatred until it was knife-sharp. Now I finally have a chance to take my revenge. The only problem is I need him to achieve another goal. Whether I like it or not, we're going to have to work together. Now feelings are coming back that should be buried and gone. Can years mend a broken heart, or is my need for revenge all I have left?

This anthology brings together a selection of thrilling and thought-provoking short stories by Richard Connell, renowned for his mastery in suspense and adventure. Highlighted by The Most Dangerous Game, a gripping tale of a man hunted for sport, the collection also features lesser-known but equally powerful works such as The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon, The Cage Man, Terrible Epps, and The $25,000 Jaw. Each story showcases Connell's unique ability to explore human nature under extreme conditions, blending action with psychological depth.

Genie and Serena are just a normal couple of girls...just kidding. As a dormant mermaid (she hasn't activated her genetic abilities yet), Genie is actually kind of normal - except for being kind of sheltered. At least, she is compared to her cousin, the millennia-old siren Serena. But, as different as they are, the cousins are bound together by their mutual affection for each other - and their love of solving mysteries. Together, Genie and Serena form a paranormal investigation business to celebrate Genie's first time in the real world.

No wonder Elias Canetti described it as "one of the few great and perfect works of the poetic imagination written". The Metamorphosis remains one of the best works of fiction in history. It is the story of a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up to find himself being transformed to an insect-like creature. The story unfolds into one of the greatest short fiction stories ever written.

Five fun short stories, hilarious jokes, and more! Lucky Lucy is the luckiest cat in the world. Although she is very lucky, she learns not to push her luck too far! Finds out when her luck runs out. This is an excellent audiobook for beginning and early listeners. Each story is fun and exciting. This audiobook also includes some funny jokes! These short stories are great for listening aloud with friends and family at home or school.

"The Most Dangerous Game" features as its main character a big-game hunter from New York, who becomes shipwrecked on an isolated island in the Caribbean, and is hunted by a Russian aristocrat.

Ruby James has finally made it. As an official Rater, she's reached upper class society and all that comes with it - a huge house in a guarded neighborhood, box seats, and an elite client list. She even has the perfect boyfriend to go with it, one she expects to marry as soon as her career settles. Then she uncovers a terrible secret. One her boss will do anything to protect.

It's Christmas at Camelot and that can only mean one thing...an eerie adventure is about to begin! Grab a cup of mead, sit back and enjoy this famous Christmas short story told like never before.

This short story is from the anthology Mitigated Futures. Twelve science fiction stories about the oncoming future, each of them representing a possible glimpse of what could be just around the corner... or much further down the corridor. These stories previously appeared in places like Clarkesworld Magazine, The Year's Best SF, Subterranean Magazine, and in various anthologies. They deal with the future of war, our climate, and technology's effect on our lives.

From the deafening cheers of packed stadiums to the sobering silence of retirement, Life After the Game is a raw and unfiltered memoir of John Waters—a four-time Super Bowl champion, Hall of Famer, and one of the most feared linebackers in the history of professional football.