New Releases by Tanya Huff

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...

From bestselling author Tanya Huff, the thrilling conclusion to the Gale trilogy, where everything depends on one eccentric and powerful clan—but more can change than meets the eye... Charlie Gale, Wild Power, has come into her own since she first learned to walk a path no one else can follow. But her heart’s demanding something she won’t take, and family responsibilities are pulling her harder than ever. When she learns the secret of a fast-approaching global doomsday event, disaster brings its own kind of clarity. Epic performances are one of Charlie’s strong points. And if she fails, at least her own unhappy ending will get lost in the crowd. With Charlie to teach him, seventeen-year-old Jack Gale has finally figured out what home and family can be like for Wild Powers. He’ll do anything to save his. Which is good, because dealing with frost giants, sirens, and chupacabras is great practice for incoming worldwide devastation. Feelings are a lot harder to beat into submission. Fate, on the other hand, he’s yet to try. Jack and Charlie are determined to change their stars—for themselves and everyone else on the planet. They’ll just have to invent a solution as unpredictable as they are...

A collection of stories from bestselling author Tanya Huff’s Confederation universe, including both previously published and never-before-seen works, and the author’s own wry and insightful commentary. Read on for stories featuring: Torin Kerr’s not-quite-standard field promotion to sergeant—just in time to lead a recon team through a captured planet with a secret... A grueling struggle fought from low-tech battlements and city walls, where Torin’s lieutenant has a dangerous taste for heroics... A glimpse under the head plates of Heavy Gunner Deena Harmin, who finds her squad pinned down behind enemy lines and must push the boundaries between human and machine to give them a chance... A colony facing unnatural ruin, where Torin Kerr must choose what to believe—and what to report... Torin, Werst, Ressk, and the rest of the team following the third Peacekeeper book, where the crew faces down a ship that looks like Big Yellow, but heralds a new and even more surprising sentient encounter... Brimming with Huff’s signature mix of grit, loyalty, and enough daring to move planets, each story presents a new window into a universe beloved of thousands, where courage and quick thinking make the difference between survival—and disaster.

From sci-fi and fantasy master Tanya Huff comes a new epic fantasy saga set in a land 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.

Unheimliche Vorkommnisse erschüttern Toronto. Drei Menschen finden unter mysteriösen Umständen auf offener Straße den Tod, und die Polizei steht vor einem Rätsel. Als sich herausstellt, dass alle drei Opfer blutleer sind, sind sich zumindest die Klatschblätter sicher: In der Stadt geht ein Vampir um! Privatdetektivin Vicki Nelson, einst eine der besten Ermittlerinnen bei der Mordkommission, hat die Polizeiarbeit vor einiger Zeit aufgegeben, und an Vampire glaubt sie schon gar nicht. Dennoch weckt die Aufklärung der geheimnisvollen Mordserie ihr Interesse, und schließlich macht sie sich im Auftrag einer Klientin auf die Suche nach dem Täter.

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...

Man sollte einem Zwei-Sterne-General nie sagen, was man wirklich von ihm denkt. Doch genau diesen Fehler macht Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr. Nach dem letzten erfolgreichen Einsatz erklärt sie dem General ganz genau, was sie von ihm hält. Als Belohnung – oder zur Strafe – muss Torin ohne ihre Mannschaft zur nächsten Mission aufbrechen. Sie soll eine wissenschaftliche Expedition auf einem gerade erst entdeckten, scheinbar verlassenen Raumschiff von wahrhaft gigantischen Ausmaßen schützen. Doch nicht nur sie schützt die Mission, ein vorgesetzter Offizier, der politisch einige Eisen im Feuer hat, ist ebenfalls dabei. Es wird sich zeigen, ob das Schiff wirklich nur ein harmloses Wrack ist oder eine tödliche Falle. Oder auch das Werk einer bisher unbekannten Alienrasse, die sich mit anderen Lebensformen ganz und gar nicht verträgt ...

Now available in a new ebook edition, the first novel published by Tanya Huff—author of the acclaimed Blood Books series—a tale of magic and betrayal in a realm where once-powerful magic is fading... and a girl whose gifts may be the key to overcoming an evil not known in an eternity... In a far-ago age, wizards ruled the world with a power so dark even the Elder races feared them. But when their power caused them to unleash dragons from the depths of the earth itself, they were undone by their own hand, thus freeing the world. Or so it was thought. For now, after many years of hard-won peace, the human kingdom of Ardhan is under threat from the dread king of Melac. Yet the real danger is the king’s counselor, Kraydak—a wizard who survived the slaughter of his kind and has waited until now to rise to power once again. But the world will not be as easy to vanquish this time. For the royal family of Ardhan is no longer merely made of men. They have blended their destiny with the immortals who dwell in the Sacred Grove—a place untouched by darkness or death. And it will fall to the youngest of that enchanted bloodline to stand against the coming. Her name is Crystal. And she is the one thing in the world Kraydak fears... A wizard.

Tanya Huff—acclaimed author of the Blood Books series—continues her high fantasy duology that began with Child of the Grove, in which she explores just what happens when a hero completes their quest, but must go on living in the world they have saved... Crystal was born of a bloodline both mortal and magical, raised to one day become a wizard and to defeat a long-hidden evil that threatened the realm of Ardhan. Through many dangerous adventures and lethal deceptions, she was finally victorious. And peace was at hand. Yet it was not so for Crystal. As the last living wizard, she soon found herself living a life without meaning. For while the people of Ardhan prospered in the world she had delivered, Crystal—with her still-growing powers—could find little solace. She was alone. Then, by chance, she saved a mortal life with her gift, re-igniting her bonds with humanity and inspiring her to undertake a new quest—to find a long-hidden treasure unlike any other. A hidden cache of magical forces that only she can control or destroy. But the prize she seeks just might do the same to her...

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.

Torin Kerr, Staff Sergeant der Föderation, ist ein kampferprobter Profi. Als sie und ihre Einheit für einen Einsatz als Ehrengarde einer diplomatischen Gesandtschaft ausgewählt werden, scheint dies ein Spaziergang zu werden. Es sollen Beitrittsverhandlungen zur Föderation auf dem Planeten der Silsviss geführt werden. Sicher, es hatte Gerüchte gegeben, dass die Anderen - die eingeschworenen Feinde der Föderation - in diesem Sektor des Weltraums gesichtet wurden. Aber Gerüchte gibt es immer. Das Ziel der Mission war der Schutz der Diplomaten. Und alles schien perfekt zu laufen. Vielleicht zu perfekt...

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.

Three previously published novels: Smoke and shadows Ã2004, Smoke and mirrors Ã2005, Smoke and ashes Ã2006.

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

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 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.

Tanya Huff delivers seven fantastical tales featuring the young Herald Jors, set in Mercedes Lackey’s legendary realm of Valdemar. In Valdemar, only the true of heart are Chosen to wear the Whites and become Heralds—guardians who journey throughout the nation upholding justice, making judgments, and combating evil in its many forms. This collection of stories follows the adventures of Herald Jors: a young man just a few years out of his Greys and already making his mark, all while learning the complexities of the honored role bestowed upon him. From confronting bandits in the far borderlands to experiencing magical love and heartbreaking loss, Jors must find the balance between the law and that which is truly good and right. For the first time, Tanya Huff’s seven stories set in the world created by Mercedes Lackey are gathered together in a single volume. These short works are sure to enchant anyone who wishes to experience the land of Valdemar through the eyes, mind and heart of one of its bravest heroes. Contains the following stories: The Demon’s Den Brock All the Ages of Man Live On Nothing Better to Do The Time We Have Family Matters

Now available in one volume, the novels which began Tanya Huff''s career. Child of the Grove and The Last Wizard form a powerful fantasy duology about the last wizard ever to be born into the world. It is the saga of Crystal, a daughter of Power whose destiny is to put an end to the war between wizards and the mortal world. Now this magical tale is collected in one volume as Wizard of the Grove, featuring new cover art by Yvonne Gilbert.

The Bards of Shkoder hold the country together. They, and the elemental spirits they Sing - earth, air, fire, and water - bring the news of the sea to the mountains, news of the mountains to the plains. They give their people, from peasant to king, a song in common. Annice is a rare talent, able to Sing all four quarters, but her brother, the newly enthroned King Theron, sees her request to study at the Bardic Hall as a betrayal. To his surprise, Annice accepts his conditions, renouncing her royal blood and swearing to remain childless so as not to jeopardize the line of succession. She walks away from political responsibilities, royal privilege and her family. Ten years later, Annice has become the Princess Bard and her real life is about to become the exact opposite of the overwrought ballad her fellow students at the Bardic Hall wrote about her. Now, she''s on the run from the Royal Guards with the Duc of Ohrid, the father of her unborn child, both of them guilty of treason - one of them unjustly accused. To save the Duc''s life, they''ll have to cross the country, manage to keep from strangling each other, and defeat an enemy too damaged for even a Bard''s song to reach.

The Seven Armies’ deadliest blades are at their best in Three Quarters, a collection of three exciting shorts set in Tanya Huff’s Quarters universe. In “Death Rites” sibling assassins Bannon and Vree must eliminate a dangerous traitor who’s already thwarted several other professionals. In “Exactly,” Vree and Bannon slip surveillance shifts in between body rubs and drinks when they take a holiday, assassin-style. And in the novelette, “Quartered,” on Kovar’s orders, the young bard Evicka risks her life to spy on Vree and Gyhard in Bicaz. Featuring an all-new foreword and new story introductions from the author, Three Quarters is sure to delight fans of The Quarters Series with Tanya Huff’s pitch-perfect harmony of adventure, intrigue, and wit.