What could possibly happen when two cultures meet for the first time?In WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE, anything.WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE presents fourteen original stories where two different societies intersect and deal with the aftermath of that meeting. Will the conflicting cultures merge and adapt and find peace? Or will they clash, unable to either accept their differences or acknowledge their commonalities? Who will survive when the last of the Fae battles a world-killing AI? What h...

"The Desecrator" is an original short story from the Draegaran Empire, by bestselling author Stephen Brust. This is a tale of the Hawklord Daymar, and of a particular Morganti blade. Vlad Taltos fans will enjoy new insight into Stephen Brust's fantasy series.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A bonus short story featuring Silhara and Martise from Master of Crows.In The Light Within, Silhara of Neith, now known as "the god-smiter," travels as the guest of honor to the winter festival of his father's people.The crow mage who destroyed one god must ignite sacred fires in honor of another. Yet the winter festival only reminds Silhara that the brightest light within him isn't the fire of a deity but the devotion of one woman.A tale of hope and celebration.

Old Man's War author John Scalzi's sendup of the heroic fantasy genre, a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story.An over-the-top, humorous short story representing the prologue for a "future" book (written as an April Fool's Joke) published on Tor.com. The title of the series and book was created from an amalgamation of the most commonly used words in fantasy and science fiction novels over the previous decade.At the Publisher's request, t...

The warrior Mithra must repel a Roman legion alone and armed only with one very tasty weapon.New York Times bestselling author and ALA Alex Award winner Gail Carrigerpresents a funny historical fantasy short story about a woman warrior set in ancient Roman times.The Romans are marching! To protect her lands and her tribe, Mithra comes up with a sticky solution to an impossible problem."A character-driven romp with great world-buildi...

An astounding new feat of storytelling from Brian Selznick, the award-winning creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck.A ship. A garden. A library. A key. In Kaleidoscope, the incomparable Brian Selznick presents the story of two people bound to each other through time and space, memory and dreams. At the center of their relationship is a mystery about the nature of grief and love which will look different to each reader. ...

Orphen's journey takes a sour turn as a loan shark starts sending a deluge of hired assassins after him! But one of these assassins, Philietta the Fools' Hound, notorious Sorcerer hunter, has her own plans for Orphen. Just what sort of mind-boggling mystery awaits our haphazard party in the remote village of Kinkhole...?

A young man seeks to understand the strange connection he feels to the wolves that live hear his village.Originally published in the anthology WEREWOLVES, edited by Jane Yolen. Republished in Bruce Coville's solo collection, ODDLY ENOUGH.

Goldilocks is an explorer extraordinaire. Curious and fearless, Goldi searches the world for hidden artifacts and forgotten treasures of ancient civilizations. When her travels bring her to a creepy crypt, she discovers more than just dusty relics in the shadowy chambers . . . She’s stumbled into the home of one, two, THREE blood-sucking vampires! Can Goldi use her smarts to navigate the tomb’s tricky traps and defeat the vampire trio, or is this her last archeological adventure?

A tiresome task.A deceptive dragon.A prince that changes everything.Ophiuchus is a celebrated warrior of the Celestial Kingdom and a warrior among the Stars. He has been always been a dutiful servant of the Prince of Stars. So when the prince asks him to watch over the crafty serpent, Naga, Ophiuchus agrees. But as time passes and discouragement—both from Naga and others—Ophiuchus wonders if the Prince of Stars was ...

A young mage is stranded in a strange village when his master leaves him. All that he has with him is his friend Freckles, his pet toad. He wanders the city looking for work or a way out, but discovers that magic is banned, and goes on the run. When a threat enters the city, he must decide whether to continue hiding, or help save the people.This story comes with an excerpt of The Crimson Claymore.Craig A. Price Jr is the author of The Crimson Claymore, an Epic Fantasy adven...

When the land was new and magic flowed freely and elves walked the earth with man, there was an elusive Queen of the Elves and legend said her heart could not be tamed by man. This is the story of the man who tamed that heart, and then let it go wild again.