The fifth volume in the Science Fiction Megapack series collects 25 tales of high adventure through other worlds and times, including 5 Hugo and Nebula Award-winners and nominees. Featured this time are:AGAPE AMONG THE ROBOTS, by Allen SteeleTHE STARSHIP MECHANIC, by Jay Lake and Ken ScholesPEACEMAKER, by Gardner DozoisOR ALL THE SEAS WITH OYSTERS, by Avram DavidsonGRANDMA, by Carol EmshwillerTHE GIFT BEARER, by Charles L. FontenayI, ROBOT,...

ONCE upon a time there were a King and a Queen who were very unhappy because they had no children. Everything else that the heart could wish for was theirs. They were rich; they lived in a wonderful palace full of the costliest treasures; their kingdom was at peace, and their people were prosperous. Yet none of these things contented them, because they wanted a little child of their own to love and to care for, and though they had been married several years, no child had come to them.

ONCE upon a time there were a King and a Queen who were very unhappy because they had no children. Everything else that the heart could wish for was theirs. They were rich; they lived in a wonderful palace full of the costliest treasures; their kingdom was at peace, and their people were prosperous. Yet none of these things contented them, because they wanted a little child of their own to love and to care for, and though they had been married several years, no child had come to them.

In "The Sleeping Beauty," C. S. Evans reinvigorates the classic fairy tale through a contemporary lens, masterfully blending elements of magical realism with poignant explorations of identity and transformation. Evans employs a lyrical prose style, rich in sensory detail and emotive depth, inviting readers into a vividly imagined world that transcends traditional narrative boundaries. The book not only revisits the well-known story but also delves into themes of consciousness and the human...

The classical version of the most famous and beloved of all fairy tales is the one C.S. Evans adapted and then expanded in order to give his brilliant illustrator, Arthur Rackham, maximum opportunity to exercise his gifts. The product of their collaboration is one of the most wonderful editions we have of this, or any other, fairy tale.

A retelling of the classic fairy-tale, illustrated by one of the leading figures in the Golden Age of book illustration. Never underestimate the importance of receiving an invitation to significant social events.

The tale of Sleeping Beauty is a well-known and beloved story in folklore and literature. It typically follows a princess who is cursed to fall into a deep sleep after pricking her finger on a spindle and can only be awakened by true love's kiss.There have been numerous adaptations, retellings, and interpretations of the Sleeping Beauty story by various authors over the years. If "The Sleeping Beauty" by C. S. Evans exists, it may be a lesser-known or obscure work, or it could be a version...

Leading authorities analyze growing tensions in US-China relations and what this means for the futureThe US-China relationship is now defined by “strategic competition.” In Cold Rivals, a distinguished group of scholars from the United States and China examine the reasons for this deterioration and its implications for world politics.The two countries are now competitors locked in a long-term rivalry, but how volatile this rivalry will become is st...

And there was much reliable information under this heading also. There were recipes for potent drugs which would cause sleep, and for still more potent drugs which would prevent people from going to sleep, and when the wizard came to this last he cried out eagerly, for he thought that he had succeeded in his quest, until he read on and discovered that the spell described was only for use on wicked Queens who had shamefully ill-used their stepchildren. It is very easy to make a mist...

The tale of The Sleeping Beauty is here retold by C. S. Evans, and illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Charles Seddon Evans (1883 – 1944) was an immensely well respected writer, editor and folklorist, who brings this magical story to life. He wrote this version of The Sleeping Beauty as a companion volume to Cinderella, also illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Evans expanded Charles Perrault’s original story of Cendrillon ou, La Petite Pantoufle de verre, and followed the later version recorded by t...

Cinderella is one of the best known stories of all time. Originally penned by Charles Perrault, in his Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé, it was an instant success. Perrault reported that he was told the story by some anonymous folk-story-tellers, and added extra details (such as the Fairy God-Mother, the much loved pumpkin carriage, anthropomorphic animal servants and the little glass slippers). Perrault (1628 – 1703) was among the first writers to bring magical children’s stories into t...

Across enchanted forests, forgotten roads, ancient villages, storm-tossed shores, and worlds far from our own, hoofbeats echo through stories as old as wonder.Unicorns may offer miracles—but demand a terrible price. Centaurs carry ancient wisdom and old grudges. Kelpies wait beneath dark water for the unwary. Mystical mares bring judgment between worlds. Terrifying creatures with hooves and horns emerge from legend to challenge those brave enough to face them.Hooves and Hor...