Best Selling Books by Sean Williams

The Stone Mages rule the huge deserts of red sand. The vast coastlines are ruled by Sky Wardens. Magic is everywhere, but not all have the power to control and direct it. Any child found to have magical ability is sent to the Haunted City to be trained in the Change. On the coast of the Strand, Sal and his father arrive in the small, apparently normal town of Fundelry, where the locals are suspicious of newcomers and of anyone who stands out or appears different. Sal and his father are on the run from an unnamed someone . . . or something. When a local bully attacks Sal, he is rescued by Shilly and her teacher, Lodo. Lodo is marked with mysterious tattoos and seems to know a lot more about Sal than Sal knows about himself. Sal’s father wants to stay, but the Sky Wardens will be coming and Sal needs to learn what connection Lodo had with his mother and what fate seems to have been chosen for him before he was even born.

The practical English grammar guide for perfect writing. Gone are the days when you worry about embarrassing yourself with pesky misplaced modifiers or dreaded double negatives. Next time you have a nagging grammar question, pick up this practical guide and write with clarity and confidence. English Grammar spares you the lessons and cuts right to the answers. Designed for fast reference, this book makes it easy to avoid the most cringe-worthy mistakes in the English language—and maybe even make your grade school grammar teacher proud. Inside English Grammar: English Grammar goofs—Avoid falling into the most common traps with guidelines for incomplete sentences, possessive pronouns with gerunds, dangling modifiers and more. Word mix-ups—Learn the difference between common word misuses like sex vs. gender, its and it''s, whose and who''s, the list goes on... Write with style—Make a good (and grammatically correct) impression with every sentence you pen using these easy writing hacks and suggestions. Everyone makes mistakes—but with this English grammar guide you''ll make a lot fewer of them. Period.

Sci-fi and fantasy of tomorrow . . . . . . selected by masters of today. Where can you find the hottest new talent all in one book? Right here. This year’s winning stories include a diverse collection of brilliantly realized worlds of dystopian politics, magical realism, post-apocalyptic adventure, and romance, dark fantasy and more. You’ll love this anthology because these writers push the boundaries—and break beyond them . . . these illustrators envision the impossible—and render it real . . . these stories challenge the way we see ourselves—and present the world in a new way. Buy Writers of the Future Volume 36. 24 Award-winning Authors and Illustrators Bonus short stories by: L. Ron Hubbard • Katherine Kurtz • Jody Lynn Nye • Nnedi Okorafor Art and writing tips by: Echo Chernik • L. Ron Hubbard • Mike Perkins • Sean Williams Edited by: David Farland 16-page color Gallery of Artwork Cover art by: Echo Chernik Soar to new heights of Science Fiction & Fantasy. Get to know tomorrow’s brightest creative talents chosen by some of today’s bestselling authors and celebrated artists including Kevin J. Anderson, Orson Scott Card, Larry Elmore, Brandon Sanderson, Dan dos Santos, and Robert J. Sawyer. The future of science fiction and fantasy is in your hands. Anthology includes: 12 award-winning stories, 16 full-color illustrations, 4 bonus stories, and 4 articles offering art and writing tips. ___________________________ 4 bonus short stories: “Borrowed Glory” by L. Ron Hubbard: For a single day of glory and the settlement of a dispute among immortals, a life can be a satisfactory price. “The Green Tower” by Katherine Kurtz: The magic is strong in the Green Tower, and two young girls struggle to discover its secrets. “The Phoenix’s Peace” by Jody Lynn Nye: The Phoenix has always been the guardian of Dembia. Now there’s trouble in the land, and mysteriously, the Phoenix has left two golden eggs. “The Winds of Harmattan” by Nnedi Okorafor: A young woman seeks her destiny in the African winds of Harmattan. ___________________________ Art and writing tips: “The Illustrators of the Future Contest and the Art of This Anthology” by Echo Chernik: As a successful advertising and publishing illustrator, Contest Coordinating Judge, and art director, Echo gives the story behind the cherished art included in this anthology. “Steps in the Right Direction” by L. Ron Hubbard: In this interview, Ron describes the practical philosophy and energetic disciplines he applied with such telling success to his own career as a professional author. “Breaking In” by Mike Perkins: Marvel and DC artist for Captain America, Thor, and Spider-Man shares valuable advice for anyone wanting to make it as a professional artist and illustrator. “Making Collaboration Work for You or Co-writing with Larry and Sean” by Sean Williams: New York Times bestselling author, provides insight on the pitfalls and advantages of collaborating with another author. “These are the people who are going to be creating trends.” —Brandon Sanderson

What if future criminals played games of skill for their freedom? Would spellcasters dare use magic to skew chance in their favor? What if aliens judged us based on the games we play? Can a dying woman literally cheat Death? Games are about more than winning and losing. They’re about risk and reward, strategy and blind fortune, our need to win and our fear of being outplayed. And when magic and science infuse a game, the stakes can be of cosmic importance. Each move could decide life or death. Are you ready to play? In this anthology, seventeen of today’s leading fantasy and science fiction authors explore the role games play in worlds both seen and unseen. Join Aliette de Bodard, Jennifer R Povey, Ed Greenwood, Cory Swanson, David Hankins, Cat Rambo, Wulf Moon, Jo Miles, James Alan Gardner, Karen Aria Lin, Mike Rimar, Eric Choi, Tris Lawrence, Mark Silcox, Melissa Yi, Michael Picco, and Sean Williams as they share with us games played for unimaginable stakes. The board is set, the cards are dealt—now it’s GAME ON!

The Divide is flooded, at great cost of human - and inhuman - life. Far from home, Sal, Shilly and Skender seek the source of the deluge in the legendary Hanging Mountains, traveling in a magical ship of bone. New threats await them in the fog forests of the Panic, and new tests of their friendship. Caught in a conflict that erupts between two long-forgotten civilizations, they struggle to discern ally from foe, and to find trust when it is needed most. In their wake comes the Homunculus, vessel and prison of the Castillo twins - sole, strange survivors of the catastrophe that changed the world forever, a thousand years ago. Their mission is paramount, their urgency contagious. Something much darker and deadlier than the Swarm is stirring in the heart of the mountains. And for Habryn Kail, already assumed dead by his masters, it might really be the finish of him, this time ...

Clarkesworld is a Hugo Award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine. Each month we bring you a mix of fiction (new and classic works), articles, interviews and art. Our April 2014 issue contains: Original Fiction by Michael Swanwick ("Passage of Earth"), Benjanun Sriduangkaew ("Autodidact"), Kali Wallace ("Water in Springtime") and Sean Williams ("The Cuckoo"). Classic stories by Susan Palwick ("Going After Bobo") and Dominic Green ("Shining Armor"). Non-fiction by Julie Novakova ("Realms of Dark, Deep and Cold"), an interview with Ben Tanzer, an Another Word column by Daniel Abraham, and an editorial by Neil Clarke

An alien artifact’s mysteries could spark humanity’s collapse in the second novel of the Geodesica Duology from the New York Times–bestselling authors. Revolution spreads like wildfire through humanity’s interstellar empire, sparked by the opening of Geodesica and the destruction of an entire inhabited system. But who was ultimately responsible? And who will pay the price? Melilah Awad and Palmer Eogan delve deeper into Geodesica’s ancient alien labyrinth than anyone has ever dared, hoping to unravel its secrets before the hunter-killers from Earth bring them down. Former Exarch of Bedlam, Isaac Forge Deangelis, finds his grip on sanity slipping as his very reason for existing is ripped from him. While a rebel Exarch and Palmer Horsfall, grieving for her lost sister, form an alliance that might tear humanity’s interstellar empire apart . . . Praise for the Geodesica Duology “Splendid fun, brimming with heroes, villains, chicanery, neat imaginative details, some seriously cool space battles, and one of the most mind-twisting alien artifacts ever imagined.” —Alastair Reynolds, award-winning author “Williams and Dix have a flair for combining slam-bang adventures, intriguing characters and cutting-edge scientific and philosophical speculations, resulting in books that elevate your adrenaline and your intellect. This latest series is no exception to their reign.” —Paul di Filippo, author of The Big Get-Even “Williams and Dix are writing first-class MMPB space opera, chock full of what we’ve come to hope for; antagonists, allies and alien artifacts in perfectly balanced doses.” —Agony Column

New York Times–Bestselling Authors: After their house blows up, twelve-year-old twins discover a strange new world in this “enjoyable romp” (Publishers Weekly). Jaide and Jack Shield’s lives are changing in a very, very strange way. The weather is turning against them. Magical disasters occur when they’re around. And a mysterious explosion has just destroyed their house . . . from the inside. Without knowing why, the twins are stolen away to live with Grandma X—a relative they’ve never, ever met. At Grandma X’s house, things are even stranger. Weather vanes point in the opposite direction of the wind. Doors appear and disappear. Cats talk. Jaide and Jack don’t know the reason behind all this strangeness. They don’t know that they’re troubletwisters, and that they must defend the world against a dark, evil force. The time has come for them to discover the truth—and the powers that come with the truth. Are they ready? “Full of adventure and the unexpected, the first book in Nix and Williams’s new series is delightfully twisted. The pacing is perfect, the setting is eerily dark, the faceless Evil rings true, and the resolution is satisfying.” —Booklist

In the action-packed, drama-filled, politically incorrect sequel to The Last Man, The Last Man: Rise of the Pink Army picks up a few weeks after the events of the first book, with the introduction of various new characters and new theaters to the war. One thing becomes obvious to our antiheroes, everything comes with a price. Ian still continues his quest to become the man and leader he was born to be while slowly realizing that morality in this war is a sham; he understands this now completely, but is there anything left of the boy who would once jump through flaming hoops to help others? Mandy now faces a paradox, a powerful new ally who threatens not only her leadership of the Pink Army, but her relationship with Ian. From rocky beginnings in Ireland to war winning triumphs in North Africa and the Middle East, the battle between the Femtheists and the Pirates has now entered a new level of brutality and intensity, including a cliff-hanger that will leave readers on the edge of their seats waiting for the final bout.

The adventure continues in this third book in the New York Times bestselling series. Erdas is a land of balance. A rare link, the spirit animal bond, bridges the human and animal worlds. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan each have this gift-and the grave responsibility that comes with it.But the Conquerors are trying to destroy this balance. They''re swallowing whole cities in their rush for power-including Meilin''s home. Fed up with waiting and ready to fight, Meilin has set off into enemy territory with her spirit animal, a panda named Jhi. Her friends aren''t far behind . . . but they''re not the only ones.The enemy is everywhere.

Sal and his friend Shilly have been joined by a third refugee, Skendar, by the time they make their way to the remote island that is the home of the famous, feared Haunted City, home of the Sky Wardens. Sal’s great aunt, the Syndic, is also there, and she is determined to keep Sal under control, even if she has to imprison him to do it. But there are greater threats even than that. The ghosts that live behind the ancient glass of the City are restless. No one can say why they are stirred up and no one has any idea what they can do if they act. The golem is determined to make Sal do its bidding and will not stop short of murder to obtain his obedience. It appears that the Weavers have plans as well, yet no one knows, or will admit knowing, whether the legendary Weavers even exist or what they are. Beset on all sides by dangerous powers and controlling agendas, Sal must find a way to choose his own path . . . or submit to a fate not of his own making.

Mit Star Wars: The Old Republic präsentieren BioWare und LucasArts - Schöpfer des erfolgreichen Videospiels Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - ein neuartiges Multiplayer-Online-Rollenspiel, das es den Spielern ermöglicht, ihr eigenes Star Wars Abenteuer 3500 Jahre vor dem Aufstieg Darth Vaders zu erleben. New York Times Bestsellerautor Sean Williams erweckt das Spiel mit seinem neuesten Roman Star Wars: The Old Republic: Eine unheilvolle Allianz zum Leben. Tassaa Bareesh, eine Matriarchin des Hutt- Verbrecherkartells, lädt zu einer Auktion, die in der ganzen Galaxis Aufmerksamkeit erregt. Sowohl Abgesandte der Republik als auch des Sith Imperiums werden auf den Plan gerufen, um Nachforschungen anzustellen. Darunter auch ein Jedi-Padawan, der wild entschlossen ist, das Richtige zu tun, eine ehemalige Soldatin der republikanischen Eliteeinheit Blackstar, die ihren Namen reinwaschen will und ein geheimnisvoller Mandalorianer mit einer ganz persönlichen Agenda. Keiner dieser Gäste hat allerdings die Absicht an der Versteigerung teilzunehmen. Ihr Ziel liegt verborgen in einer nahezu unerreichbaren Schatzkammer. Die verkohlten Reste eines explodierten Sternkreuzers enthalten den Schlüssel zum Reichtum einer ganzen Welt. Doch der Schatz birgt tödliche Gefahren. Am Ende werden Sith und Jedi, Republik und Imperium zu einer historischen Entscheidung gezwungen. Eine Entscheidung, zu der sie kein Vermittler - egal ob helle oder dunkle Seite der Macht - jemals hätte zwingen können. Sie müssen zusammenarbeiten, um eine Bedrohung aufzuhalten, die die gesamte Galaxis zerstören könnte.

New York Times–Bestselling Authors: “This gripping fantasy for the middle-grade set delivers magic and delightful dollops of ick.” —Kirkus Reviews Ever since they moved to the town of Portland, many bizarre things have happened to Jaide and Jack Shield. The twins have discovered their own magical powers—and have seen how they can go horribly wrong. They have met cats who talk and humans who keep silent about deep, dark secrets. And they have begun their fight against a deadly force known only as The Evil. Still, Jaide and Jack have yet to meet the strangest resident of Portland. It’s a creature that only comes out at night, a beast that defies human description. Jaide and Jack have never seen it . . . but they’re about to. And when they do, destruction and disaster won’t be too far away . . .

When the three runaways -- Sal, Shilly and Skender -- finally arrive at the remote island of the Haunted City, home of the Sky Wardens, Sal''s great-aunt, the Syndic, is determined to keep them under control. And if that means imprisonment, so be it. But the Syndic isn''t the least of Sal''s worries. The ghosts that live behind the ancient glass of the city are restless and no one know why or what they can do. The golem will force Sal to do its bidding by whatever means necessary ... even murder. And it seems that the Weavers have their own plans for the three of them -- but what and who are they? Few people believe they exist, and those who do keep their knowledge close to their chests. Whichever path Sal chooses, it seems the price to pay is very high for those closest to him. But he must decide ... or submit to a future not of his making.

In this “fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek adventure” from New York Times–bestselling authors, best friends journey with a magical sword to save their kingdom (Publishers Weekly). It is strange enough that Odo and Eleanor have stumbled upon a sword in a dried-up river outside their village. It is even stranger that Odo is able to remove it from where it’s buried. And it’s remarkably strange when the sword starts to talk. Odo and Eleanor have unearthed Biter, a famous fighter from earlier times. By finding Biter, Odo instantly becomes a knight—a role he is exquisitely unsuited for. Eleanor, however, would make a perfect knight—but she’s not the one with the sword. Finding Biter is only the start—boy, girl, and sword must soon go on a quest to save their kingdom from threats in both human and dragon form, in this new fantasy triumph from Garth Nix and Sean Williams.

From New York Times bestselling authors Garth Nix and Sean Williams comes this funny, exciting fantasy adventure about two friends and a couple of swords with attitude. Odo and Eleanor are excited to be knights. Only ... they''re stuck at home waiting for something bigger to come along. That ''something bigger'' comes to them in the form of an old man named Egda, a warrior named Hundred and an ancient legend about a sleeping dragon. Odo, Eleanor, and their trusty and talkative swords, Biter and Runnel, are plunged into a quest that will take them (as all good quests must) to unfamiliar lands, where they will fight unseen enemies and unlock unbelievable secrets in order to prevent an unbearable impostor from taking the crown. Also, they will need to keep an eye out for dragons. As they did with Have Sword, Will Travel, fantasy masters Garth Nix and Sean Williams have crafted a tale full of fire, laughs and twists for adventurous readers of all ages.

New York Times–Bestselling Authors: Magically gifted twins must find a treasure before it falls into the wrong hands in a tale with “plot twists aplenty” (Booklist). Jack and Jaide Shield are troubletwisters—gifted with magic and cursed by The Evil, a force that will stop at nothing to destroy their world. Now an old man in an even older house has died mysteriously. The house holds something very important to The Evil—and Jack and Jaide must race to find it, even though they don’t know what it looks like or where it is. But Jack and Jaide aren’t the only ones searching for the treasure. And as the mystery gets bigger and bigger, they’re not sure who they can trust. Even friends are beginning to act suspicious. And their father, who should be their strongest ally, is leading them into treacherous territory. At the heart of all magic is mystery, and at the heart of this mystery is nothing less than the key to controlling magic. It’s going to take the two troubletwisters to the edge of their Gifts in order to figure this one out. “Exploring the ideas of secrets, self-identity, and trust, and with plot twists aplenty and intriguing new characters, this one delivers.” —Booklist

M. T. Anderson meets Cory Doctorow in this teen debut from #1 New York Times bestseller Sean Williams, who also coauthors the Troubletwisters series with Garth Nix. When a coded note promises improvement—the chance to change your body any way you want, making it stronger, taller, more beautiful—Clair thinks it''s too good to be true, but her best friend, Libby, falls into a deadly trap. With the help of the school freak and a mysterious stranger, Clair races against the clock and around the world to save Libby, even as every step draws her deeper into a deadly world of cover-ups and conspiracies. Action and danger fuel this near-future tale of technology, identity, and the lengths one girl will go to save her best friend.

“The Troubletwisters are back and the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been” in this fantasy adventure by the New York Times–bestselling authors! (School Library Journal) Jack and Jaide Shield have defended themselves against The Evil before—but it’s never been as dangerous as this. It isn’t just the town of Portland that’s threatened, it’s the whole Earth . . . and certain dimensions beyond. The Wardens have devised a plan to get rid of The Evil once and for all. The only problem is that destroying The Evil may also mean abandoning some innocent people—including one of the twins. The battle against The Evil is going to places it’s never been—places Jack and Jaide would have never even imagined possible. Their mission is clear: survive the storm that’s coming, and save the ones who are missing . . .

The first book in internationally bestselling author Sean Williams'' Broken Land trilogy. Set in the same dark fantasy world as his award-winning Books of the Change series, where the deserts are red, the coastlines long and, as young Ros finds, families sacrifice their own children for water. Escape is his only option, and he manages it on a stolen camel-but what next? If he can learn to control the force known as ''the Change'', he might have a chance... ''In a smashed and parched land so reminiscent of the back-slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges in summer, the beautifully grim and driving narrative had me hooked, deeply anxious to learn Ros'' fate. Sean Williams is an acknowledged master of adult stories, and in The Changeling he proves that wonderful and terrible tales for younger folk are well within the ambit of his prodigiously talented and prolific pen.'' - David Cornish First published in 2008, The Changeling was shortlisted for an Aurealis Award for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction that same year.

The Future Is Ourselves The world is rapidly changing. We surf future-shock every day, as the progress of technology races ever on. Increasingly we are asking: how do we change to live in the world to come? Whether it’s climate change, inundated coastlines and drowned cities; the cramped confines of a tin can hurtling through space to the outer reaches of our Solar System; or the rush of being uploaded into cyberspace, our minds and bodies are going to have to drastically alter. Multi-award winning editor Jonathan Strahan brings us another incredible volume in his much praised science-fiction anthology series, featuring stories by Madeline Ashby, John Barnes, James S.A. Corey, Gregory Benford, Benjanun Sriduangkaew, Simon Ings, Kameron Hurley, Nancy Kress, Gwyneth Jones, Yoon Ha Lee, Bruce Sterling, Sean Williams, Aliette de Bodard, Ramez Naam, An Owomoyela and Ian McDonald.

Continuing Ros''s extraordinary adventures in the Broken Lands ...Adi''s body has been borne away across the desert by her Clan, but her spirit remains Ros''s constant companion. If he can''t find the travellers in time, Adi will be presumed dead and her body cremated, leaving her a ghost forever.But Ros is not prepared for the dangers lurking in the shifting sands. Rescued from bandits and Dust Devils by a boy named Yury, he takes refuge in Yury''s home - an extensive network of tunnels known as Dunetown - and learns that Yury in turn needs Ros''s help. His family has been kidnapped by the sand bandits, a ruthless gang led by a psychopath obsessed with treasure and power.Ros must learn to trust again, and to overcome those who cannot ever be trusted. Darker things lurk in the desert than Dust Devils and sand bandits. And, all the while, Adi''s voice is a constant reminder that time is running out ...''Sean Williams is without doubt the premier Australian speculative fiction writer of the age'' Aurealis MagazineAge 10 - 14

A picture book celebration of #GirlDads everywhere by The Dad Gang CEO, Sean Williams! Told in upbeat rhyming verse, Girl Dad is a picture book that honors the strong men who raise, love, and uplift strong girls. This keepsake is a fun read-aloud and perfect gift for the special dad in your life. Perfect for fans of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and Made for Me by Zack Bush. Share Girl Dad with the dads in your life, on Father''s Day or any day.

''An alchemical blend of elemental magic, tragic romance and the coming of age of a young boy who is yet to come into his own power which exists, poised between Earthsea and Mad Max, where the magic of fantasy meets the wonder of science fiction.'' -- Locus In a world where the huge, red-sanded deserts are ruled by Stone Mages and the vast coastlines by Sky Wardens, any child with magic ability is taken away to the Haunted City to be trained in the Change. Fundelry is a small town much like any other in the Strand. The people have little tolerance for anyone who stands out, and Sal and his father are strangers, running from someone ... or something. Sal is rescued from the local bully by Shilly and her teacher Lodo, a mysterious tattooed man who seems to know more about Sal than Sal himself. And, strangely, Sal''s father seems to want to say put for a while. But soon the Sky Wardens will come to Fundelry -- before then Sal must uncover the connection between Lodo and the mother he never met, in order to escape a fate that seems to have been chosen for him before he was even born ...

Set in 2388, this series explores the possibilities of space colonisation and the ways in which humanity may travel the vast gulfs between the stars.

Can twins Jack and Jaide find the mysterious Golden Card of Translocation and make it out of Rourke Castle alive? When eccentric Young Master Rourke dies in suspicious circumstances, troubletwisters Jack and Jaide are sent on a mission by their father to retrieve a lost Golden Card from somewhere within the vast Rourke estate. But secret agents for The Evil are also in pursuit of the card, and the troubletwister twins know that whoever finds it first will gain access to a Gift more powerful or terrible than any other. Together they negotiate secret passages, talking parrots and animated suits of armour, while trying to control their own fledgling Gifts. It rapidly becomes impossible to know who to trust and who might be an agent - even among those closest to them.

So much more than a traditional revision resource, this Study and Revision Guide has been carefully designed to give students clear guidance on every aspect of the GCSE course and prepare them thoroughly for their final exams. // Written by an experienced teacher and examiner and endorsed by WJEC, it provides high quality support you can trust. // The innovative design allows the content of each topic to be covered in a three-step sequence: knowledge and understanding (AO1) pages begin each topic, followed by (AO2) application of knowledge and then (AO3) analysis & evaluation. // Comprehensive support for Unit 1 / Component 1 Introduction to Physical Education. // Clear and succinct presentation of the key information needed per topic, ensuring students are fully equipped for assessment. // Provides a clear focus on the assessment needs for exam success. // Recap and summaries per topic present information in diagrammatic and visual styles to aid the revision process.

This book of radio stations will help travelers while they travel on long or short trips. It lists stations by format, state, and city, offering over 10,000 radio stations worldwide. Enjoy this easy and simple radio guide!

Sal''s life has been thrown into turmoil. Homeless and haunted by a past he never suspected he had, he is unsure where he is running to, but Shilly is very clear on what she wants. She wants to find Lodo''s old teacher and learn from him.

Tassaa Bareesh, la matriarche du cartel du crime hutt, organise une mystérieuse vente aux enchères. Des représentants de la République et de l''Empire s''y pressent, ainsi que des invités incognito plutôt disparates parmi lesquels : un Padawan, une ancienne de l''Escouade républicaine Blackstar, un contrebandier et un énigmatique Mandalorien. Par-dessus le marché, l''émissaire de la République n''est pas celui qu''il prétend être et la délégation impériale compte une impitoyable Apprentie Sith dans ses rangs. Aucun de ces protagonistes n''a réellement l''intention de participer aux enchères. Tous projettent de voler le butin : deux morceaux de métal fondu d''un vaisseau qui proviendrait d''un monde inconnu, riche de ressources insoupçonnées. Mais ce trésor se révèle potentiellement mortel. Aussi, Sith et Jedi, Empire et République, devront accomplir l''impensable : s''allier pour vaincre une menace capable de détruire la galaxie...