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In this stunning collection of short fiction, 16 of today's masters of speculative fiction reveal the terrors, triumphs, and seeming impossibilities awaiting humanity in the years to come. Featuring never-before-published stories by Kevin J. Anderson, Paul Di Filippo, Alan Dean Foster, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Louise Marley, Sean McMullen, John Meaney, Paul Melko, Robert A. Metzger, Chris Roberson, Adam Roberts,Mike Resnick & Harry Turtledove, Robert J. Sawyer, and Robert Charles Wilson.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction: The Business of Lying - essay by Lou Anders
• Shuteye for the Timebroker - novelette by Paul Di Filippo
• Looking Through Mother's Eyes - shortstory by John Meaney
• The Man Who Knew Too Much - shortstory by Alan Dean Foster
• The Engines of Arcadia - shortstory by Sean McMullen
• The Pearl Diver - shortstory by Caitlín R. Kiernan
• Before the Beginning - shortstory by Mike Resnick and Harry Turtledove
• Man You Gotta Go - novelette by Adam Roberts
• Homosexuals Damned, Film at Eleven - shortstory by Alexander C. Irvine
• Contagion - shortstory by Chris Roberson
• Absalom's Mother - shortstory by Louise Marley
• Job Qualifications - shortstory by Kevin J. Anderson
• The Teosinte War - shortstory by Paul Melko
• Slip - shortstory by Robert A. Metzger
• All's Well At World's End - shortstory by Howard V. Hendrix
• Flashes - shortstory by Robert J. Sawyer
• The Cartesian Theater - novelette by Robert Charles Wilson

Imagine a future without cyberspace or without the Web or virtual reality. What would happen in an alternate Information Age? What would you do? What would you fear? What wouldn't you know?

Today's top masters of speculative fiction offer visions of futures near and far, of alternative histories, and journeys down roads not taken. What does await us at the end of a different tunnel? What would we find in dimensions where the inevitable vastness of cyberspace has been replaced by things surprising and strange? Welcome to science fiction unplugged, and set free to be.

Live Without a Net contains works by such standout science fiction authors as Lou Anders, John Grant, Matthew Sturges, and many more!

Table of Contents:

• Introduction: Disengaging from the Matrix - essay by Lou Anders
• Smoke and Mirrors: Four Scenes from the Post-utopian Future - short story by Michael Swanwick
• O One - short story by Chris Roberson
• Clouds and Cold Fires - novelette by Paul Di Filippo
• New Model Computer - short story by Adam Roberts
• Conurbation 2473 - short story by Stephen Baxter
• The Memory Palace - novelette by Matthew Sturges
• Dobcheck, Lost in the Funhouse - short story by Mike Resnick and Kay Kenyon
• Rogue Farm - short story by Charles Stross
• Swiftwater - short story by Terry McGarry
• The Crystal Method - short story by S. M. Stirling
• Reformation - short story by Alex Irvine
• Singletons in Love - novelette by Paul Melko
• I Feed the Machine - short story by Del Stone, Jr.
• Reality Check - (2000) - short story by David Brin
• Frek in the Grulloo Woods - short story by Rudy Rucker
• All the News, All the Time, from Everywhere - short story by Dave Hutchinson
• The Swastika Bomb - novella by John Meaney
• No Solace for the Soul in Digetopia - short story by John Grant
• Afterword: Living Without a Net?! - essay by Pat Cadigan

An anthology on the theme of Alternative History and Crime, featuring stories from the genre's foremost writers. Contributors include: Kage Baker, Stephen Baxter, Tobias Buckell, Pat Cadigan, Paul Di Filippo, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Theodore Judson, Jack McDevitt, John Meaney, Paul Park, Mike Resnick & Eric Flint, Mary Rosenblum, Chris Roberson, Justina Robson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and SM Stirling.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction - (2008) - essay by Lou Anders
• Running the Snake - (2008) - short story by Kage Baker
• Via Vortex - (2008) - novelette by John Meaney
• Fate and the Fire - lance - (2008) - novelette by Stephen Baxter
• The Blood of Peter Francisco - (2008) - short story by Paul Park
• The Adventure of the Southsea Trunk - (2008) - short story by Jack McDevitt
• G - Men - (2008) - novelette by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
• Sacrifice - (2008) - novelette by Mary Rosenblum
• Murder in Geektopia - novelette by Paul Di Filippo
• Chicago - (2008) - short story by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
• The Sultan's Emissary - (2008) - short story by Theodore Judson
• Worlds of Possibilities - (2008) - short story by Pat Cadigan
• A Murder in Eddsford - (2008) - novella by S. M. Stirling
• Conspiracies: A Very Condensed 937 - Page Novel - (2008) - novelette by Mike Resnick and Eric Flint
• The People's Machine - (2008) - short story by Tobias S. Buckell
• Death on the Crosstime Express - (2008) - novelette by Chris Roberson

A truly breathtaking new anthology edited by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders, Swords & Dark Magic offers stunning new tales of sword and sorcery action, romance, and dark adventure written by some of the most respected, bestselling fantasy writers working today--from Joe Abercrombie to Gene Wolfe. An all-new Elric novella from the legendary Michael Moorcock and a new visit to Majipoor courtesy of the inimitable Robert Silverberg are just two of the treasures offered in Swords & Dark Magic-- a fantasy lover's dream.

Table of Contents:

• Check Your Dark Lord at the Door - essay by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan
• Goats of Glory - short fiction by Steven Erikson
• Tides Elba: A Tale of the Black Company - short fiction by Glen Cook
• Bloodsport - short fiction by Gene Wolfe
• The Singing Spear - short fiction by James Enge
• A Wizard of Wiscezan - short fiction by C. J. Cherryh
• A Rich Full Week - novelette by K. J. Parker
• A Suitable Present for a Sorcerous Puppet - short fiction by Garth Nix
• Red Pearls: An Elric Story - short fiction by Michael Moorcock
• The Deification of Dal Bamore: A Tale from Echo City - short fiction by Tim Lebbon
• Dark Times at the Midnight Market - novelette by Robert Silverberg
• The Undefiled - short fiction by Greg Keyes
• Hew the Tintmaster - short fiction by Michael Shea
• In the Stacks - novelette by Scott Lynch
• Two Lions, A Witch, and the War-Robe - short fiction by Tanith Lee
• The Sea Troll's Daughter - novelette by Caitlín R. Kiernan
• Thieves of Daring - short fiction by Bill Willingham
• The Fool Jobs - novelette by Joe Abercrombie

Science Fiction is the genre that looks at the implications of technology on society, which in this age of exponential technological growth makes it the most relevant branch of literature going. This is only the start, and the close of the 21st century will look absolutely nothing like its inception.

It has been said that science fiction is an ongoing dialogue about the future, and the front line of that dialogue is the short story. The field has a long history of producing famous anthologies to showcase its distinguished short fiction, but it has been several years since there has been a prestigious all-original science fiction anthology series.

Fast Forward is offered in the tradition of Damon Knight's prestigious and influential anthology series, Orbit, and Frederik Pohl's landmark Star SF. Fast Forward marks the start of a new hard science fiction anthology series, dedicated to presenting the vanguard of the genre and charting the undiscovered country that is the future.

Contributors for the first volume include: Kage Baker, Paolo Bacigalupi, Tony Ballantyne, Stephen Baxter, Elizabeth Bear, A. M. Dellamonica, Paul Di Filippo, Robyn Hitchcock, Louise Marley, Ken MacLeod, Ian McDonald, John Meaney, Larry Niven and Brenda Cooper, Mike Resnick and Nancy Kress, Justina Robson, Pamela Sargent, Mary A. Turzillo, Robert Charles Wilson, Gene Wolfe, and George Zebrowski.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction: Welcome to the Future - essay by Lou Anders
• YFL-500 - novelette by Robert Charles Wilson
• The Girl Hero's Mirror Says He's Not the One - shortstory by Justina Robson
• Small Offerings - shortstory by Paolo Bacigalupi
• They Came from the Future - poem by Robyn Hitchcock
• Plotters and Shooters - novelette by Kage Baker
• Aristotle OS - shortstory by Tony Ballantyne
• The Something-Dreaming Game - shortstory by Elizabeth Bear
• No More Stories - shortstory by Stephen Baxter
• Time of the Snake - shortstory by A. M. Dellamonica
• The Terror Bard - novelette by Larry Niven and Brenda Cooper
• p dolce - shortstory by Louise Marley
• Jesus Christ, Reanimator - shortstory by Ken MacLeod
• Solomon's Choice - novelette by Mike Resnick and Nancy Kress
• Sanjeev and Robotwallah - shortstory by Ian McDonald
• A Smaller Government - shortstory by Pamela Sargent
• Pride - shortstory by Mary A. Turzillo
• I Caught Intelligence - poem by Robyn Hitchcock
• Settlements - shortstory by George Zebrowski
• The Hour of the Sheep - shortstory by Gene Wolfe
• Sideways from Now - novella by John Meaney
• Wikiworld - novelette by Paul Di Filippo

When Fast Forward 1 debuted in February 2007, it marked the first major all- original, all-SF anthology series to appear in some time – and it was met with a huge outpouring of excitement and approbation from the science fiction community. No less than seven stories from Fast Forward 1 were chosen to be reprinted a total of nine times in the four major "Best of the Year" retrospective anthologies, a wonderful testament to the quality of contributions in our inaugural book. What’s more, Fast Forward 1 was hailed repeatedly as leading the charge in a return of original, unthemed anthologies series (several more have since appeared in our wake). Now the critically-acclaimed, groundbreaking series continues, featuring all new stories.

Table of Contents

• Introduction: The Age of Accelerating Returns - (2008) - essay by Lou Anders
• Catherine Drewe - (2008) - short story by Paul Cornell
• Cyto Couture - novelette by Kay Kenyon
• The Sun Also Explodes - (2008) - short story by Chris Nakashima-Brown
• The Kindness of Strangers - (2008) - short story by Nancy Kress
• Alone with an Inconvenient Companion - (2008) - short story by Jack Skillingstead
• True Names - (2008) - novella by Cory Doctorow and Benjamin Rosenbaum
• Molly's Kids - (2008) - short story by Jack McDevitt
• Adventure - (2008) - short story by Paul J. McAuley
• Not Quite Alone in the Dream Quarter - (2008) - short story by Pat Cadigan and Mike Resnick
• An Eligible Boy - (2008) - novelette by Ian McDonald
• SeniorSource - (2008) - short story by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
• Mitigation - novelette by Tobias S. Buckell and Karl Schroeder
• Long Eyes - (2008) - short story by Jeff Carlson
• The Gambler - (2008) - novelette by Paolo Bacigalupi

An epic clash between the forces of light and dark, between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists, between brave heroes and brilliant villains?the fate of the galaxy is at stake in the Emmy Award-winning animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In this exciting anthology, eleven authors who are also fans of the series bring stories from their favorite show to life. Gathered here are memorable moments and stunning adventures, from attempted assassinations to stolen bounties, from lessons learned to loves lost. All of your favorite characters from The Clone Wars are here: Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex, Darth Maul, Count Dooku and more!

Meet Karn. He is destined to take over the family farm in Norrøngard. His only problem? He'd rather be playing the board game Thrones and Bones.

Enter Thianna. Half human, half frost giantess. She's too tall to blend in with other humans but too short to be taken seriously as a giant.

When family intrigues force Karn and Thianna to flee into the wilderness, they have to keep their sense of humor and their wits about them. But survival can be challenging when you're being chased by a 1,500-year-old dragon, Helltoppr the undead warrior and his undead minions, an evil uncle, wyverns, and an assortment of trolls and giants.

Readers will embark on a sweeping epic fantasy as they join Karn and Thianna on a voyage of discovery. Antics and hair-raising escapades abound in this fantasy adventure as the two forge a friendship and journey to unknown territory. Their plan: to save their families from harm.

Debut novelist Lou Anders has created a rich world of over twenty-five countries inhabited by Karn, Thianna, and an array of fantastical creatures, as well as the Thrones and Bones board game.

Karn Korlundsson is a gamer. Not a riddle solver. But in order to rescue his best friend, Thianna Frostborn, he will need to travel to the faraway city of Castlebriar (by wyvern), learn how to play a new board game called Charioteers (not a problem), decipher the Riddle of the Horn, and tangle with mysterious elves.

Meet Desstra. She's in training to join the Underhand--the elite agents of the dark elves. When she crosses paths with Karn, she is not all that she appears to be.

Everyone is chasing after the horn of Osius, an ancient artifact with the power to change the world. The lengths to which Karn will go in the name of friendship will be sorely tested. Who knew that solving a riddle could be so deadly?

Find the Horn. Free the City.

The chase continues for the legendary Horns of Osius. Thianna and Karn's quest to retrieve the horns from those who wish to abuse their power takes them to Thica, an ancient land where two tyrant queens reign supreme and where years earlier Thianna's mother was labeled a traitor. Soon the two heroes are caught up in an epic battle for control of the kingdom, one that puts their very lives at stake. The only way to overthrow the queens is to beat them at their own game. But with an entire empire against them, how can Karn and Thianna hope to compete--or better yet, survive?

The novel includes instructions for playing the board game the Queen's Champion, a Thican timeline, and King Herakles Hammerfist's recipe for the Best Spanakopita Ever. Visit ThronesandBones.com for additional games, maps, character profiles, and more!