New Releases by Tanya Huff

This cozy horror novel set in modern-day Toronto includes phenomenal characters, fantastic writing, and a queer romance—the perfect balance of dark and delightful This stand-alone novel from the bestselling author of the Peacekeeper novels mixes the creepy with the charming for plenty of snarky, queer fun—for fans of T. Kingfisher, Grady Hendrix, Sangu Mandanna and Erin Sterling Generations ago, the founders of the idyllic town of Lake Argen made a deal with a dark force. In exchange for their service, the town will stay prosperous and successful, and keep outsiders out. And for generations, it’s worked out great. Until a visitor goes missing, and his wealthy family sends a private investigator to find him, and everything abruptly goes sideways. Now, Cassidy Prewitt, town baker and part-time servant of the dark force (it’s a family business) has to contend with a rising army of darkness, a very frustrated town, and a very cute PI who she might just be falling for…and who might just be falling for her. And if they can survive their own home-grown apocalypse, they might even just find happiness together. Queer, cozy, and with a touch of eldritch horror mixed in just for fun, this is a charming love story about a small-town baker, a quick-witted PI, and, yes, an ancient evil.

Tanya Huff’s Smoke trilogy is now available in a single omnibus edition. Book One: Smoke and Shadows Working as a Production Assistant on a show about a vampire detective is nothing compared to Tony Foster’s past as a vampire’s lover. True, he’s still wrangling beautiful people with big egos and the power to crush him, but there are far fewer demons, and TV blood is colored corn syrup. When shadows on set begin moving independently of the people they’re supposed to be attached to, Tony can’t dismiss it as a trick of the light. Especially not after finding a guest star dead in a locked dressing room. The head of special effects may be an actual wizard, but Tony still has to bring in his ex, the vampire Henry Fitzroy, to help defend against a terrifying, otherworldly attack. With survival unlikely, Tony will have to assist his butt off to give them anything like a chance. But being thrust into a spotlight doesn’t make him a hero... Book Two: Smoke and Mirrors When Darkest Night, the highest rated vampire detective show in syndication, sets up to film at an isolated historic mansion, Tony Foster, PA and wizard-in-training, expects disruptions: no cell signal, extras bumbling around the set, lighting cords tangled in hundred-year-old hallways. He doesn’t expect ghosts. But hey, a few dead folks wandering around shouldn’t disturb much when only the sensitive can perceive them. Unfortunately, a number of the cast and crew turn out to be sensitive. And the house isn’t home to only a few spirits. Trapped in the mansion overnight—with his boss, his vampire ex, the smoking-hot straight actor sending mixed signals, and the executive producer’s bratty kids—Tony has to dodge, sneak, and scramble to cover up the unexplainable. With memories of murders playing out around them, the crew wants answers. And the house wants blood... Book Three: Smoke and Ashes Coming out of the wizard closet has barely changed Tony Foster’s life. He’s been promoted...to deploy sorcery against construction noise. His crush on the gorgeous second lead has devolved to overanalyzing paparazzi pics. His magic studies progress when he’s not working or sleeping, which is never. When he intervenes to prevent a potentially fatal accident, he discovers the stuntwoman involved is the immortal survivor of a 3500-year-old sex cult with a hellgate tattooed around her midriff. In return, she tells Tony the dawn of a demonic convergence means he can look forward to eldritch horrors attempting entry to Vancouver through the Darkest Night soundstage. They still owe the network two episodes, so Tony, as the on-staff wizard, needs to handle it. Meanwhile, the crew—and one infuriating actor—are endangering themselves trying to help and something’s bound to give...

Successful spies change history. Failures are never heard from again. From simple data theft or sabotage to protecting state secrets and last-ditch gambles that alter the tides of war, it''s the spy—professional or amateur—who gets the job done! Whether it''s for King and country or private vendetta, it is often the lone agent, through stealth, skill, and sometimes a little luck, who makes the difference. If only it were that easy. In Last-Ditch you''ll find sixteen original stories of men, women, aliens, and even creatures who face seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve their goals. So come join in on a little heart-pounding espionage, as Jason M. Hough, Tanya Huff, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., D. Thomas Minton, Nemma Wollenfang, Hayden Trenholm, Edward Willett, Blake Jessop, Steve Perry, Ember Randall, Derryl Murphy, Chadwick Ginther, Russell Hugh McConnell, Gary Kloster, E.C. Ambrose, and Donald McCarthy put it all on the line to take you behind the scenes and behind enemy lines.

Tanya Huff, bestselling author of the Blood Price books, delivers the thrilling conclusion to a series where a street-kid-turned-production assistant faces ancient demons, bicurious heartthrobs, and a filming schedule that stops for nobody... Coming out of the wizard closet has barely changed Tony Foster’s life. He’s been promoted... to deploy hair-raising sorcery against construction noise. His crush on the gorgeous second lead has devolved to overanalyzing paparazzi pics. His magic studies progress when he’s not working or sleeping, which is never. Then he intervenes to prevent a terrible accident, and discovers the stuntwoman involved is an immortal survivor of a 3500-year-old sex cult with a hellgate around her midriff. She tells Tony a demonic convergence is beginning in Vancouver, and only he can turn back the eldritch horrors attempting entry through the living room set. The producer maintains they still owe the network two episodes of Darkest Night, and Tony, as his on-staff wizard, had better handle it. Meanwhile, the crew—and one infuriating actor—are endangering themselves trying to help while Tony barely has the firepower to keep himself in one piece. Whether it’s Tony’s friends, his city, or his own survival, something’s bound to give.

Tanya Huff, bestselling author of the Blood Price books, continues a new series where a street kid-turned-production assistant must balance deceptions that might get him fired with the supernatural truth that might get him killed... Working as a PA for a syndicated television show means when problems crop up, it’s Tony Foster’s job to figure them out. Once his producers decide to film at an isolated historic mansion for a week, the wizard-in-training expects disruptions: no cell signal, extras bumbling around the set, lighting cords tangled in hundred-year-old hallways. He doesn’t expect ghosts. A few dead folks wandering around shouldn’t disturb much, though. They’re only perceptible to the sensitive. Except it seems more of the cast and crew are sensitive than Tony knew. And the house isn’t home to only a few spirits. With the memories of murders playing out around them, Tony has to dodge, sneak, and scramble to cover in front of the normies. Until he gets trapped in the mansion overnight—with his boss, his vampire ex, the smoking-hot straight actor sending mixed signals, and the executive producer’s bratty kids. His crew wants answers. The house wants blood. And the horrors are only beginning...

Tanya Huff, bestselling author of the Blood Price books, starts a new series where a street kid-turned-production assistant must juggle his vampire ex, a crush on a hot straight actor, and the potential end of the world... Working on a direct-to-syndication show about a vampire detective doesn’t much compare to Tony Foster’s past as an actual vampire’s lover. True, he’s still wrangling beautiful people with big egos and the power to crush him, but there are far fewer demons, and TV blood is just corn syrup. When shadows on set start moving independent of the people they’re supposed to be attached to, though, Tony can’t dismiss it as a trick of the light. Especially when he finds the beauty of the week dead in a locked dressing room. Before long, he’s discovered the head of the special effects department is an actual wizard, and brought in his ex, the vampire Henry Fitzroy, to help defend against an attack so terrifying survival seems unlikely. Tony will have to assist his butt off to give them anything like a chance. But being thrust into a spotlight doesn’t make him a hero...

Now in paperback, from sci-fi and fantasy master Tanya Huff comes a new epic fantasy set in a landscape of dangers and mysteries Shattered by mage wars, the Broken Lands will test the bonds of family and friendship, strength and sanity. To save their people, the Heirs of Marsan have no choice but to enter, trusting their lives and the lives of everyone they Protect to someone who shouldn''t exist, who can''t be controlled, and who will challenge everything they believe about themselves. Into the Broken Lands is an evocative fantasy adventure through a singular landscape, taking a new perspective on the consequences of magic through a character-driven narrative.

Tanya Huff—acclaimed author of the Blood Series—begins her celebrated Confederation series that will launch readers into a future where Humans are not the most evolved species... Good thing they can take orders. Brought into the multi-species Confederation, Humans earn their place along the Taykan and the Krai by acting as military guardians of the Elder Races, who have risen above societal aggression and violence. When Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr and her platoon are dragged from some well-deserved R&R to play honor guard for a diplomatic mission to the non-Confederation planet of the Silsviss, Torin suspects that something is about to go wrong. You don''t make staff sergeant in the CMC without a well-developed sense of paranoia. Justified paranoia when word reaches them that the enemy has been spotted in this sector of space. The diplomatic mission becomes a race to recruit the Silsviss into the Confederation before the enemy returns, claims the reptilian warriors as their own, and turns them loose on the Confederation. One battle-weary platoon has to step up to stop the slaughter.

Bestselling author Tanya Huff’s Confederation series of military science fiction returns with a novel where one woman’s discovery shakes the foundations of the intergalactic alliance itself... Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr has had enough of special treatment—and of gaping, skepticism, and whispers of Silsviss or Big Yellow as she passes. She’s glad to be back with her own Sh’quo Company, surrounded by familiar faces and enduring more razzing than awe. Of course, the company is going into battle again, facing death on all sides in a centuries-old war where every attempt at diplomacy fails, and she’s got a brand-new second lieutenant to train. Another glorious day in the Confederation Marine Corps. The battle goes disastrously wrong. And yet somehow Torin wakes up. The Others don’t take prisoners—or so the Confederation has always said. But the dark tunnels and mysterious mechanisms of the warren around her certainly seem like a prison. And there’s more going on than simple confinement. One after another, Torin’s most cherished beliefs are shaken to the core. She’s always been a survivor. But time is running out. If she has to question everything to escape, answers had better start coming fast...

The old gods are still with us. The world is constantly changing, evolving, growing. In order to stay relevant, deities must change with the times as well. In this anthology, fifteen science fiction and fantasy authors tackle how gods and goddesses have adapted to the surge in technology and the mercurial beliefs of humanity. So sit back and watch Hera try her hand at marriage counseling, while Macuilxochitl conquers the world of online gaming. Buy a ticket to Anubis’ magic act or roam the back tents at the local carnival and catch Doc Saturday’s medicine show. Take a sip of wine at Dionysus’ winery or grab some potato pancakes at Baba Yaga’s café. Whatever your taste, here you will find interesting twists on how deities have found their way in our modern world from Crystal Sarakas, Juliet E. McKenna, Tanya Huff, Edward Willett, Daniel Roman, Jennifer Dunne, Jean Marie Ward, Mike Marcus, A.L. Tompkins, Daryl Marcus, Alma Alexander, Kari Sperring, A.J. Cunder, Irene Radford, and N.R. Lambert. And remember to beware. You never know who...or what...you will meet next. And don’t miss THE MODERN FAE’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING HUMANITY!

Tanya Huff’s darkly thrilling Blood novels introduced readers to vampiric P.I. Victoria Nelson. Here are Tanya’s best short stories featuring Vicki and other unforgettable characters from her world... Note: This ebook consists of 9 short stories previously published as the 2008 collection, Blood Bank. In Another Fine Nest, something sinister lurks in the subway, preying on travelers and sucking their blood. Vicki thinks she knows what’s behind it. And when Mike Celluci gets bitten, she’ll have to stop them dead. A paranoid struggling writer begs Mike for help, claiming someone has hacked his computer and threatened him with death. But when Mike asks Victoria to look into it, she discovers that sometimes, when murder is concerned, all you need is some serious Critical Analysis. In Sceleratus, Henry Fitzroy, the vampiric son of Henry VIII, is marking an anniversary. But he is anything but happy about it. Because it’s the day when, long ago, someone he truly loved was taken from him—and when he unleashed his fury on the Holy Inquisition. In the light-hearted So This is Christmas, the holiday season is no time to celebrate in Vicki’s mind. But then her mind then takes her on a nocturnal stroll through a twisted, humorous dream in which she’s visited by three ghosts...get it? Without Vicky, Fitzroy soon realizes he is feeling lonely—and advertises for a companion in a singles column. But the responses evoke some unfamiliar feelings in the vampire who desperately wants Someone to Share the Night. In The Cards Also Say, Vicki is warned by a Romani someone is trying to kill her. Which is no real surprise to Vicki. After all, it’s not the first time she’s been in mortal danger—but this time, it may be the last.... A very old, very powerful vampire is hunting in Vicki’s territory, which is something she cannot abide. But she’s not yet strong enough to take him down. So, it will take something more than vampiric strength if she’s going to survive in This Town Ain’t Big Enough. In The Vengeful Spirit of Lake Nepeakea, Vicki and Mike must try to solve a mystery unlike any they’ve tackled before—by uncovering a lake monster. But are the locals pulling a hoax for drive off a property developer, or could the creature actually be real? In Regency England, Henry Fitzroy the life of a bawdy, reckless bounder. But when he saves a government official from being killed, he finds himself drawn into a world of intrigue, spycraft, and the Napoleonic Wars in which the lives of thousands of British soldiers are at stake in What Manner of Man. Full of thrills, danger, love, and laughs, these short stories will leave any Tanya Huff fan begging for more..

Within these pages lie eighteen stories, from eighteen worlds shaped by some of today’s best writers of science fiction and fantasy, all guests on the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers during its first year. Some are international bestsellers. Among them are winners and nominees for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, Aurealis, Ditmar, British Science Fiction Association, and Dragon Awards. Some have been writing for decades, others are at the beginning of their careers. All have honed their craft to razor-sharpness. A teenage girl finds something strange in the middle of the Canadian prairie. An exobiologist tries to liberate a giant alien enslaved on its homeworld by humans. The music of the spheres becomes literal for an Earth ship far from home. A superhero league interviews for new members. Strangers share a drink on a world where giant starships fall. Two boys, one a werewolf, one a mage, get more than they bargained for when they volunteer to fight an evil Empire. A man with amnesia accepts a most unusual offer. A young woman finds unexpected allies as she tries to win a flying-machine race in steampunk London . . . Ranging from boisterous to bleak, from humorous to harrowing, from action-filled to quiet and meditative; taking place in alternate pasts, the present day, the far, far future, and times that never were; set on Earth, in the distant reaches of space, in fantasy worlds, and in metaphysical realms, each of these stories is as unique as its creator. And yet, they all showcase one thing: the irrepressible need of human beings to create, to imagine, to tell stories. To shape worlds.

Who doesn’t love a good apocalyptic story? They come in all kinds, from the nightmare terrors of superflus and zombie invasions to quieter, more reflective tales of loss and survival. Stories that feature people struggling through the end of the world or fighting to survive in what little bits of civilization still remain are always compelling. What better way for readers to safely explore the extremes of the human condition without actually having to fight off the ravening hordes themselves? APOCALYPTIC features stories from fourteen old and new favorite authors: Seanan McGuire, Aimee Picchi, Tanya Huff, Nancy Holzner, Stephen Blackmoore, Zakariah Johnson, Violette Malan, Eleftherios Keramidas, James Enge, Leah Ning, Thomas Vaughn, Marjorie King, Jason Palmatier, and Blake Jessop. Flee the Baboon King, die of thirst in the White Mountains, brew up a bubbling blob of nanotech road kill in the back of a garbage truck, or, worst of all, try to reintegrate yourself back into society as a former zombie. Then ask yourself, would you survive the Apocalypse? Would you even want to?

Tanya Huff’s darkly thrilling Blood novels introduced readers to vampiric P.I. Victoria Nelson and her life amongst the paranormal. Here are some of Tanya’s best short stories featuring Vicki and other unforgettable characters from her world... In Quid Pro Quo, Vicki’s policeman lover, Mike, has been kidnapped by a man who wants her to turn him into a vampire. But she’s about to show him just how terrifying that can be... In Songs Sung Red, Vicki finds herself contending with a seductive and savage siren in a case that may lead her into the middle of a murder being investigated by Mike... Vicki tries to help a young woman being tormented by a malevolent jinn who is granting her wishes with some very deadly consequences in If Wishes Were... In No Matter Where You Go, Vicki finds herself in a lethal realm of nightmarish creatures when some reckless teens open a portal to another dimension—with no way of getting back... Blood Wrapped follows young wizard Tony Foster and vampire author Henry Fitzroy as they search for a missing little girl—and try to figure out just how to deal with Vicki’s upcoming birthday.... Sniping sisters Ashley and Brianna Bane uncover some strange goings on at their school when the walls start speaking—and Bri decides to test her wizarding skills against this unknown foe in After School Specials... And in See Me, Tony investigates when an elderly man is found dead in an alley with no identification, leading to a seriously awkward situation involving a lady of the night who may have designs on Tony’s boyfriend... Full of action, passion, heart, and humor, these short stories deliver all Tanya Huff’s fans have come to expect.

Continuing the definitive space opera anthology series. Today''s most popular writers produce new stories in their most famous universes, alongside essential and seminal short fiction from past masters. The definitive collection of explorers and soldiers, charting the dark frontiers of our expanding universe. Amongst the infinite stars we find epic sagas of wars, tales of innermost humanity, and the most powerful of desires - our need to create a better world. The second volume of seminal short science fiction, featuring twenty-six new stories from series such as Wayfarers, Confederation, The Lost Fleet, Waypoint Kangaroo, Ender, Dream Park, the Polity and more. Alongside work from tomorrow''s legends, revisit works by masters who helped define the genre: Arthur C. Clarke, Jack Campbell, Becky Chambers, Robert Heinlein, George R.R. Martin, Susan R. Matthews, Orson Scott Card, James Blish, E.E. "Doc" Smith, Tanya Huff, Curtis C. Chen, Seanan McGuire, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Larry Niven and Steven Barnes, Gardner Dozois, David Farland, Mike Shepherd, C.L. Moore, Neal Asher, Weston Ochse, Brenda Cooper, Alan Dean Foster, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Kevin J. Anderson, David Weber and C.J. Cherryh. Infinite Stars: Dark Frontiers brings you the essential work from past, present, and future bestsellers as well as Grand Masters of science fiction.

The Aurora Award-winning fantasy novel of a lone kingdom struggling to hold on to its freedom, and a pair of untested heroes who must work together to save their people—from the critically-acclaimed author of the Peacekeeper novels. The small, were-ruled kingdom of Aydori has long kept to its own ways, living under the protection of the powerful Hunt Pack and the wisdom of the Mage Pack, who have mastery of the six disciplines—air, fire, water, earth, metals, healing. It is these very gifts that have drawn the wrath of the rapacious Emperor Leopald, whose soothsayer has prophesized a threat to his dominion about to be born from Aydori. Launching an all-out assault against the shapeshifters, he kidnaps five members of the Mage Pack who are with child, including the wife of the Pack Leader. With the Pack engaged by the Emperor’s army, the kidnappers believe they have a clear escape. But they are already being harried by the unlikeliest of hunters—young Mirian Maylin, whose true magical potential has yet to emerge, and Tomas Hagen, the reckless younger brother of the Pack Leader. Both have much to prove to themselves and each other—and both are willing to risk everything to do so. Their pursuit will take them into perils unknown and deep into the black heart of the Empire, where the fate of their people will be decided by the strength of their courage, sacrifice, and loyalty in this “seamless mix of steampunk, epic fantasy, and paranormal romance” (Publishers Weekly). “The Silvered paints a fascinating society based on the symbiosis of mage and wolf-pack, each group partnering and tempering the other.” —San Francisco Book Review “It all adds up to a fun, old-fashioned adventure made new with an interesting magic system.” —Locus “The way that Huff tied all of the strings together from this epic journey was masterful. She paid equal attention to her characters as she did her world-building, resulting in a seamless whole. The melding of science, magic, era-specific technology, superstition, war and how ordinary people can do extraordinary things was captivating.” —The Book Pushers “[Huff] knows not only how to world build, but how to build magic systems and do phenomenal characterizations. Her experience shows on every page of The Silvered....Books this good don’t come along that often. The Silvered is a well-planned, well executed adventure tale. I loved it. Completely.” —The Ranting Dragon

Now in mass market, former space marine Torin Kerr returns for one final adventure to save the Confederation in the last book of the military science fiction Peacekeeper trilogy. Warden Torin Kerr has put her past behind her and built a life away from the war and everything that meant. From the good, from the bad. From the heroics, from the betrayal. She''s created a place and purpose for others like her, a way to use their training for the good of the Confederation. She has friends, family, purpose. Unfortunately, her past refuses to grant her the same absolution. Big Yellow, the ship form of the plastic aliens responsible for the war, has returned. The Silsviss test the strength of the Confederation. Torin will have to be Gunnery Sergeant Kerr once more to find a way to keep the peace.

Got Vampires? Ghosts? Monsters? We Can Help! Your one-stop-shop for Urban Fantasy’s finest anthology of the supernatural. 14 sleuths are gathered together for the first time in all-original tales of unusual cases which require services that go far beyond mere deduction! Featuring new stories by: Tanya Huff, C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, Simon R. Green, T. A. Pratt, Chris Marie Green, Lilith Saintcrow, Rachel Caine, Jackie Kessler, Carrie L. Vaughn, Julie Kenner, C. J. Henderson, Laura Anne Gilman, Justin Gustainis and Caitlin Kittredge Meet the Detectives: Danny Hendrickson - from Laura Anne Gilman’s Cosa Nostradamus series. Kate Connor - from Julie Kenner’s Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series. John Taylor - from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series. Jill Kismet - from Lilith Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series. Jessi Hardin - from Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series. Quincey Morris - from Justin Gustainis’ Morris/Chastain Investigations series. Marla Mason - from T. A. Pratt’s Marla Mason series. Tony Foster - from Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Shadows series. Dawn Madison - from Chris Marie Green’s Vampire Babylon series. Pete Caldecott - from Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series. Tony Giodone - from C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp’s Tales of the Sazi series. Jezebel - from Jackie Kessler’s Hell on Earth series. Piers Knight - from C. J. Henderson’s Brooklyn Knight series. Cassiel - from Rachel Caine’s Outcast Season series. Demons may lurk, werewolves may prowl, vampires may ride the wind. These are things that go bump in the night, but we are the ones who bump back! About the editor: Justin Gustainis has been an Army officer, speechwriter and professional bodyguard. He is currently a college professor living in upstate New York. He is the author of The Hades Project, Black Magic Woman, Evil Ways, Hard Spell and Sympathy for the Devil. He has also published a number of short stories, two of which won the Graverson Award for Horror in consecutive years. He is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop. Praise: "Urban fantasy has a special place in my heart, and the Occult Detective is perhaps the fundamental urban-fantasy archetype. An anthology of this kind is can serve two purposes: The first is to provide a taste of the genre to those that might otherwise be unfamiliar with it, and the second is to provide fans of the genre a chance to discover writers they may not have already come across. It was well worth the read and I would recommend it wholeheartedly for any fan of the urban fantasy/occult detective genre; even more so if you are unfamiliar with the genre and would like a taste as to what it’s all about." — Nick Bronson -- "Urban Fantasy readers will love this book, and it is a first-rate group of stories." — Paul Lappan, Reviewer

The second book in the action-packed Peacekeeper series, a continuation of Tanya Huff''s military sci-fi Confederation series following Torin Kerr Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr had been the very model of a Confederation Marine. No one who’d ever served with her could imagine any circumstance that would see her walking away from the Corps. But that was before Torin learned the truth about the war the Confederation was fighting…before she’d been declared dead and had spent time in a prison that shouldn’t exist…before she’d learned about the “plastic” beings who were really behind the war between the Confederation and the Others. That was when Torin left the military for good. Yet she couldn’t walk away from preserving and protecting everything the Confederation represented. Instead, ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr drew together an elite corps of friends and allies—some ex-Marines, some civilians with unique skills—and together they prepared to take on covert missions that the Justice Department and the Corps could not—or would not—officially touch. But after their first major mission, it became obvious that covert operations were not going to be enough. Although the war is over, the fight goes on and the Justice Department finds its regular Wardens unable to deal with violence and the people trained to use it. Ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr has a solution: Strike Teams made up of ex-military personnel, small enough to maneuver quickly, able to work together if necessary. Justice has no choice but to implement her idea and Torin puts her team of independent contractors back into uniform. It isn’t war, it is policing, but it often looks much the same. When the scientists doing a preliminary archaeological dig on a Class Two planet are taken hostage, Torin’s team is sent to free them. The problem of innocents in the line of fire is further complicated by the fact that the mercenaries holding them are a mix of Confederation and Primacy forces, and are looking for a weapon able to destroy the plastic aliens who’d started and maintained the war. If Torin weren’t already torn by wanting that weapon in play, she also has to contend with the politics of peace that have added members of the Primacy—former enemies—to her team. Before they confront the mercenaries, Torin will have to sift through shifting loyalties as she discovers that the line between“us” and “them” is anything but straight.

RRRAWRRR!!! ZZZZZZTTTTT!!! ZZZZAAAAPPPPP!!! The robots of the 50s and 60s science fiction movies and novels captured our hearts and our imaginations. Their clunky, bulbous bodies with their clear domed heads, whirling antennae, and randomly flashing lights staggered ponderously across the screen and page and into our souls—whether as a constant companion or as the invading army threatening to exterminate our world. We can never return to that innocent time, where the robot overlords could be identified by their burning red eyes or our trusty robot sidekick would warn us instantly of danger—or can we? With a touch of nostalgia and a little tongue-in-cheek humor, here are fifteen stories from today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that take us back to the time of evil robot overlords, invading armies, and not-quite-trustworthy mechanical companions. Join Julie E. Czerneda, Brandon Daubs, Tanya Huff, Brian Trent, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Jason Palmatier, Jez Patterson, Gini Koch, Lauren Fox, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Philip Brian Hall, Rosemary Edghill, R. Overwater, Helen French, and Seanan McGuire as we step into the future with a nod to the past. Hold on to those stun guns. You may need them!

The thrilling first installment in the military sci-fi Peacekeeper series continues the adventures of Torin Kerr and her team of marines Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr had been the very model of a Confederation Marine. But when she learned the truth about the war the Confederation was fighting, she left the military for good. But Torin couldn’t walk away from preserving and protecting everything the Confederation represented. Instead, she drew together an elite corps of friends and allies to take on covert missions that the Justice Department and the Corps could not—or would not—officially touch. Torin just hoped the one they were about to embark on wouldn’t be the death of them. Ancient H’san grave goods are showing up on the black market—grave goods from just before the formation of the Confederation, when the H’san gave up war and buried their planet-destroying weapons...as grave goods for the death of war. Someone is searching for these weapons and they’re very close to finding them. As the Elder Races have turned away from war, those searchers can only be members of the Younger Races. Fortunately, only the Corps Intelligence Service has this information. Unfortunately, they can do nothing about it—bound by laws of full disclosure, their every move is monitored. Though Torin Kerr and her team are no longer a part of the military, the six of them tackling the H’san defenses and the lethally armed grave robbers are the only chance the Confederation has. The only chance to avoid millions more dead. But the more Torin learns about the relationship between the Elder Races and the Younger, the more she begins to fear war might be an unavoidable result.

It was a long fall from Clan Heir to common thief, but Aaron never wanted any part of his father''s brutal outlander reign. In fact, besides coin purses and jewels, there''s very little in all of Cisali that interests Aaron, until he stumbles-quite literally-into a prince''s bedchamber... Prince Davish of Ischia is a skilled swordsman both on the field and beneath the sheets, at least when he isn''t outrageously drunk. But the wine helps him forget all the ways he''s disappointed his father, his family, and soon enough, his young bride-to-be... A trained Wizard of the Nine with more raw talent than real-world experience, Princess Chandra has no interest in the politically arranged marriage. She flees to the royal city of Ischia seeking a way out of the union. But there, she discovers something far more shocking than Prince Davish''s rakish reputation... The Stone of Ischia has been stolen. A powerful talisman, The Stone protects the city from the active volcano that looms over its terraces and streets. Without it, Ischia will be destroyed and the kingdom of Cisali will fall. Its only hope is an unlikely band of heroes-a failed thief, a drunken prince, and a runaway wizard-who must face pirates, powerful magic, and their own carefully guarded secrets in order to find and restore the Stone of Ischia.

Trained to kill from childhood, siblings Bannon and Vree have only known life as assassins in the Imperial Army. The army is both their mother and father, their lives subject to the whims of the Crown. When their latest target steals Bannon''s body for his own, Vree saves her brother by dragging his spirit in to share hers. But two assassins in one body is one assassin too many. To save both their lives, they must abandon the only life they’ve known, risking Imperial ire and possible execution, to regain Bannon’s body. It isn''t until after they capture Gyhard, the body thief, that they realize they can''t force him to do anything while he holds Bannon''s body hostage. But Gyhard is willing to trade Bannon''s body for their assistance. All they have to do – while being hunted for desertion and dealing with an unknown power able to Sing the dead out of the grave – is betray the oaths they''ve lived by and help Gyhard secure the body of an Imperial Prince.

In Valor''s Choice, Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr and her crew get yanked from a well-deserved shore leave in order to participate in an easy'' mission. They are to act as an honour guard for a diplomatic visit to the world of the Silsviss, reptilian aliens with a strong appreciation for war and conquest. In The Better Part of Valor, Torin Kerr''s outspokenness gets her in a load of trouble. After she tells a two-star general what she really thinks of him, she finds herself separated from her platoon and sent off on a perilous assignment.''

Having left the Marine Corps, former Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is attempting to build a new life with salvage operator Craig Ryder. Turns out civilian life is a lot rougher than she''d imagined. Torin is left for dead when pirates attack their spaceship and take Craig prisoner. Determined to rescue Craig, Torin calls in her marines.

The Blood Books are now available in "Blood Ties" TV tie-in editions. View our TV tie-in feature page here here. Vicki Nelson has received the call that no daughter ever wants to receive—that her mother has died. Marjory Nelson’s coworkers at the Queen’s University Life Science Department told her that she suffered a heart attack, and that they’d be waiting for Vicki to arrive in Kingston to make the funeral arrangements. But what begins as a personal tragedy turns into the most terrifying case of Vicki’s career, when her mother’s body disappears mysteriously from the funeral home. Someone at the University is determined to learn the secret of life after death…and they’ve decided to make Vicki’s mother part of their horrifying experiments.

The Blood Books are now available in "Blood Ties" TV tie-in editions. View our TV tie-in feature page here here. An evil being has been sealed away for centuries in a sarcophagus never meant to be opened, waiting patiently for his chance to rise again. Now, brought to the Egyptology Department of Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum, the seals and spells that imprisoned him chipped away from his discoverers, he has reached forth to claim the minds and souls of Toronto’s unsuspecting citizens. And only three people had any sense that something was wrong…. For Henry Fitzroy, it began with terrifying images of the sun, a marker of death for a vampire. Fearing for his sanity, he turns to his sometimes-lover, private investigator Vicki Taylor, for help. As the two struggle to cope with Henry’s obsession, Vicki’s closest friend and former partner Mike Celluci, is following up on two mysterious deaths at the museum, certain that a force from beyond the grave is responsible for everything.

In these seven contemporary fantasies from Tanya Huff, we see a dog''s eye view of loyalty and a cat''s eye view of sea serpents. We learn that some Brownies could use a shave – although cookies will still be sold – and that there are at least two sides to every relationship, no matter how accidental and/or mythical that relationship is. We''re also reminded that however worthwhile it may be to die with purpose, it''s better to live well. Huff''s ability to leaven heartache with humour – and vise versa – gives this collection of previously published stories an unexpected emotional variety. A December release, He Said, Sidhe Said also includes the seasonally appropriate “I''ll be Home for Christmas.”

For centuries, the werewolves of Toronto have managed to live in peace and tranquility, hidden quietly away on their London, Ontario farm. But now, someone has learned their secret—and is systematically massacring this ancient race. The only one they can turn to is Henry Fitzroy, Toronto-based vampire and writer of bodice rippers. Forced to hide from the light of day, Henry can’t hunt the killer alone, so he turns to Vicki Nelson for help. As they race against time to stop the murderer, they begin to fear that their combined talents may not be enough to prevent him from completing his deadly plan.

"Blood Ties, now an original series on Lifetime"--Cover.