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.

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... "With geeky in-jokes, dynamic leads, convincing romantic complications, and a threat that is both unusual and wonderfully convincing, this is an enchanting example of contemporary urban fantasy."— Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

Bestselling author Tanya Huff presents an all-new world of action and intrigue, where survivors of a disastrous war have outlawed all magic in favor of shared knowledge—but all is not as it seems. Ryan Marsan was never meant to be Heir to the Lord Protector. But his brothers are dead, and for the first time in decades, the Black Flame that protects his people is flickering. Ryan must retrieve its fuel from the mage-destroyed wastes of the Broken Lands, leading Scholars with more knowledge, warriors with more experience, and an ambitious cousin with the morals of a cat. His authority rests with the weapon. The only mage-crafted artifice to survive the wars, it responds to the command of the heirs of Marsanport. While its capabilities are mysterious, its brutality is legend. Except Ryan soon discovers some mysteries are really omissions. The weapon is more than it appears and the Broken Lands will reveal secrets, lies, and the horrors of twisted sorcery. Even his companions hide more than he knows. With Marsanport''s future at risk, Ryan can only race forward, hoping to survive, keep his friends alive—and see truth where it is, not where he wants it to be...

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.

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 ...

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.

This second Infinite Stars science fiction anthology offers 26 space opera short stories set in famous sci-fi series like Wayfarers, Ender, and Lost Fleet. Includes tales from George R.R. Martin, Orson Scott Card, Seanan McGuire, and more! 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. This second volume of seminal short science fiction features 26 new stories from series such as Wayfarers, Confederation, The Lost Fleet, Waypoint Kangaroo, Ender, Dream Park, the Polity and more. FEATURED AUTHORS • 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 • C.J. Cherryh This space opera science fiction anthology brings you the essential work from past, present, and future best-selling authors as well as Grand Masters of science fiction.

Now in an omnibus edition, the Lambda Award-nominated supernatural Smoke series presents contemporary fantasy with a gothic twist. When Tony Foster relocated to Vancouver with his vampire Henry Fitzroy, he knew it was his chance to get his act together. In an example of art echoing life, Tony landed a job as production assistant for the syndicated TV show, Darkest Night, a series about a vampire detective. And except for his unrequited crush on the show''s handsome co-star, Lee Nicholas, Tony was pretty content. Until everything started to fall apart on the set. It began with shadowsu00adu00ad--shadows where they didn''t belong, that almost had an existence of their own. Tony tried to ignore it--until he found Nikki Waugh''s body, and felt the shadow''s touch, and a stunt crash went wrong for no discernible reason--and Tony knew that he had to find out what was threatening everyone on the set.

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

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!

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.

Fourth in the epic fantasy series from the author of No Quarter: “Good reading in the same vein as [Mercedes] Lackey’s The Last Herald-Mage series” (Locus). Benedikt can control the element of water through music, but water is the only element Benedikt can sing, which isolates him from his fellow bards. When the queen of Shkoder outfits a voyage to discover the lands across the sea against the Bardic captain’s objections, Benedikt is the only bard willing to brave the captain’s wrath and volunteer. In uncharted waters, a storm strikes and the kigh of the deep seas rises. All of Benedikt’s skill is unable to save ship or crew. Shipwrecked in an unfamiliar country and unable to send word to Shkoder of the ship’s fate, Benedikt must play the part he’s been given: a pawn in the game of politics and religion between brother and sister—who both intend to use his song to their advantage. As the queen waits for word, the kigh of the deep seas rises again . . . Praise for the Quarters series “I love the way Huff writes. She creates rich, complex fantasy worlds, populates them with likeable characters, includes lots of humor and action, bright, lively dialogue, and in this case, an ‘all’s well that ends well’ ending that is perfect. Unputdownable.” —Voya “A richly complex story set in a magical world that could almost be a part of our own history.” —Science Fiction Chronicle “This isn’t fluff, and it isn’t light—but it has so much heart to leaven its dark moments.” —The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

The “unputdownable” third adventure in the epic fantasy series from the acclaimed author of the Smoke Trilogy and the Blood Books (Voya). Having offered sanctuary to the soul of the man who stole her brother’s body, Vree heads north to Shkoder with two kigh struggling to co-exist in a single body. Although the odds aren’t in their favor, there’s a chance, a small chance, the Bards can find Gyhard a body of his own without anyone else having to die. But while Vree is a former assassin trained to kill on command, Gyhard has chosen to kill again and again on a quest for immortality, and the Bards aren’t certain which of them is the more dangerous. No one—from the guard on the Citadel gate to the King himself—wants them anywhere near the single Healer who can Sing the Fifth Kigh. No one except Magda, the Healer, whose heritage has taught her that things are not always as they seem . . . “I love the way Huff writes. She creates rich, complex fantasy worlds, populates them with likeable characters, includes lots of humor and action, bright, lively dialogue, and in this case, an ‘all’s well that ends well’ ending that is perfect.” —Voya “It’s great fun, but Huff plays some interesting variations on love, family, and the balance between love and dependence.” —Locus “Only a storyteller of Ms. Huff’s considerable merit could create the extraordinary characterization to bring this unusual storyline to full and vivid life.” —Romantic Times

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.

Los muertos sin reposo