James is dead. All it took was a quick flash, a crack, and then a loud thud. After waking in a world of endless gray he meets a man named Bud who claims to be what he calls "The Guide." James follows Bud through levels of his own mind, discovering that the afterlife isn’t like he thought it would be and that the secret to life isn’t so secret after all.Life in the Stone Age was hard for Karg and his tribe. They couldn’t go into the lower forests because of the predators there and that meant they had to stay in the cold mountains where food was scarce. Then during a hunting trip Karg came across a hidden valley with all the food, water and wood they could ever want. And there were none of the dangers of the lower forests. He was planning to move his family to the valley when he witnessed a sun being born on the ground. It rose into the sky and became a roiling black cap on a growing black stem and reminded him of a mushroom. Karg didn’t realize it but the future of his people was about to change and not necessarily for the better. He’d found a Kthpok nuclear test range and the Kthpok had just discovered that humans were living in the mountains bordering their most sensitive facility.

New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris has created a phenomenon with her Sookie Stackhouse novels, which are the basis for the smash hit television program True Blood. In this companion piece to her wildly popular series, Harris explains the fate of a character shrouded in mystery. Sookie's cousin Hadley ran away years earlier and hasn't been heard from since. When Mr. Cataliades visits on behalf of the vampire queen of Louisiana, Sookie finally learns that Hadley was murdered during a cemetery ritual. Now, the queen has an unusual request of Sookie that will force the telepathic cocktail waitress into a difficult situation. "One Word Answer" can be enjoyed on its own, but devotees of the series will find the story especially enjoyable, as it helps bridge the gap between Dead as a Doornail (Book 5) and Definitely Dead (Book 6). **

Heartbroken over the death of her fiance, Ragweed, Poppy, a deer mouse, journeys west through the vast Dimwood Forest to bring the sad news to Ragweed's family. But Poppy and her prickly porcupine pal, Ereth, arrive only to discover that beavers have flooded the serene valley where Ragweed lived. Together Poppy and Ragweed's brother Rye brave kidnapping, imprisonment, and a daring rescue to fight the beavers. At the same time, Rye -- who has lived in Ragweed's shadow -- fights to prove himself worthy of Poppy's love.

An alien starfish and a human man must learn to live in each other’s bodies in Piers Anthony’s ingenious sequel to the science fiction gem *Aliena* Along with fellow members of her sapient starfish race, Aliena traveled many light-years to Earth. There, in the host body of a human woman, the inquisitive extraterrestrial learned how to exist as a member of this perplexing earthborn race. Now Piers Anthony, the New York Times–bestselling maestro of science fiction and fantasy, continues the story in Aliena Too, as the males of two markedly different species must somehow adapt to one another. Lida Fisher knows that her beloved husband, Quincy, will die soon as the result of a rare and terrible brain rejection syndrome. But there is one hope. If Quincy consents to switch brains with one of the alien beings that have arrived from the other side of the galaxy, he will live on—albeit in the body of a starfish. And that means Lida must agree to let a new man into her life and her bed, one with the face and body of her adored husband but with the mind of an alien stranger. More difficult still, Lida must somehow teach this star man how to love. And many miles above the earth, Quincy also will have to make extreme adjustments to a body and an existence he never dreamed would be his. But luckily, both Fishers will have someone to guide them through the perils, pitfalls, and traumas that must invariably accompany their strange new reality—a truly remarkable creature who has already been there and back again: Aliena.

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing, but Kate Warren doesn't know why. The moment the new guy walks into the room, Kate senses something strange and intense about him. Something supernatural. Her instincts are proven correct a few minutes later when, bullied by his classmates, Jarrod unknowingly conjures up a freak thunderstorm "inside" their classroom. Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. When Kate tries to convince him that he has extraordinary powers that need to be harnessed, he only puts up with her "hocus pocus" notions because he finds her captivating. However, the dangerous, uncontrolled strengthening of his gift finally convinces Jarrod that he must take Kate's theories seriously. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey -- one which will unravel the mystery that has haunted Jarrod's family for generations and pit the teens against immense forces in a battle to undo the past and reshape the future.

In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret... In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds. Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe. As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love. From the Hardcover edition.

This work is available for countries where copyright is Life+50 or in the USA (published before 1923).Deep under the earth's surface is the mysterious realm of Pellucidar, where humans are subject to evil reptilian masters. Adventurer David Innes comes to the rescue in their desparate struggle for freedom.

Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well.A well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, forces her to confront the powers that she has been denying her whole life.Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college.When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees.However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined.

While being rescued from her latest plight, the goddess of embarrassment Pyrrhia knows she’s found her hero--Hydor, the only man capable of quenching the burn of her humiliation while stoking the flames of her desire. Short short story of 1,665 words.With a perpetual blush and eternal warmth in her cheeks, Pyrrhia is the goddess of embarrassment. To her undying chagrin, she is forever and always involved in one mortifying predicament after another. When a passing fisherman, Hydor, rescues her from her latest plight, Pyrrhia knows she's found her hero--the only man capable of quenching the burn of her humiliation while stoking the flames of her desire. Short short story of 1,665 words.

The Orb of Wrath combines fantasy, intrigue and adventure, while transports the reader into a world where almost nothing is what it seems. Plots, counterplots, mysteries, blossoming relationships, disappointments, betrayals, dangers and successes, are combined in this fun cocktail.Do you dare to accompany Erion and his friends in their adventures?The Orb of Wrath combines fantasy, intrigue and adventure, while transports the reader into a world where almost nothing is what it seems. Plots, counterplots, mysteries, blossoming relationships, disappointments, betrayals, dangers and successes, are combined in this fun cocktail.Erion is a skilled looter who runs the kingdom of Bor with his "brother" Mithir, performing dangerous commissions for wealthy clients. Mithir helps with his long trained magical abilities. One day, when they are doing one of their assignments, they encounter another group of adventurers, with whom they are forced to cooperate.The plot runs in the World of Oris which consists of 12 kingdoms and includes elves clans, dangerous monsters, dwarf kings, rich desert emirs, strange beasts, hospital halflings, ferocious orcs, ingenious gnomes, powerful wizards, brave knights, merchants, terrible vampires, etc. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers.Do you dare to accompany Erion and his friends in their adventures?

15 year old Daisy Madigan could never have imagined the terrors that are about to change her life forever.When tragedy falls upon 15 year old Daisy Madigan, she escapes to the only place she feels safe, the cemetery of Abney Park. There, in the company of the dearly departed, she realises she is changing, growing stronger and faster by the day. But in the darkness lurks a terror even she can't imagine facing.Daisy Madigan's Paradise is a Morgan Sisters novella. Check out The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, the full length first novel in the series.

In Book Two of Time Trance of the Gods, the past, with its mythical characters and events, is freed to influence the present and future.These stories re-iterate the power of myth created by man and explore its potential for disquieting parallels through the movement of time.In these twelve stories in Book Two of Time Trance of the Gods, the power of myth moves again through time,to manipulate man as he muddles along or takes misguided decisions."The White Shell" for instance, is inspired by the tale of Tereus, who acted as mediator for a king, married one of his sisters, then fell for one who was younger, confining his wife to slaves' quarters. Eventually both women turned into birds and escaped.In "The Catalyst" Jules' domestic drama echoes that of Cephalos, who resisted the temptation of Eos - the dawn. In retaliation she cast doubt on the fidelity of Pocris, his wife. As with Jules' wife Lise, it seems she was right Later, when hunting, Cephalos accidentally shot his wife, believing her to be a wild animal. And what of Lise?In "Monogamy" the enchantress Circe plays a bizarrely positive part in helping women defy the dictates of men, while "The Labyrinth" invests Pasiphae, the queen from Knossos and members of Egyptian royalty, with fantasy, as Pasiphae, guilt-ridden about her adultery with the bull, is convinced that only the Minotaur's death will redeem humanity. "The Second Season", set in a sterile future, echoes the tale of Demeter, whose daughter Persephone was snatched by Hades, god of the Underworld. Will Demeter be able to prevent the world withering or will the world's survival be the responsibility of man?There are vital analogies in such ancient tales that should be heeded by modern man. How sad he is destined to repeat the ruthlessness and superstitions of the past!

The days of unified culture and singular Great Kingdoms are over. In their place, bold new visions are redefining the world of fantasy. Eight authors tackle stories with a focus on diversity, finding heroism outside the familiar boundaries of farmhands and prince's castles. Including original fiction from eight authors.The days of unified culture and singular Great Kingdoms are over. In their place, bold new visions are redefining the world of fantasy. Eight authors tackle stories with a focus on diversity, finding heroism outside the familiar boundaries of farmhands and prince's castles. Including original fiction from Nicolas Wilson, Carole McDonnell, Michelle Browne, Mags Carr, William Lenoire, Rachel Savage, Kirstin Pullioff, and Gail Villanueva, this collection goes where GRR Martin and Terry Brooks couldn't.

A teenage math prodigy defies her parents and secretly trains to be a mercenary.Sixteen-year-old Sulan Hom can’t remember life before the Default—the day the United States government declared bankruptcy. As a math prodigy, she leads a protected life, kept safe from the hunger and crime plaguing the streets of America. She attends the corporate-sponsored Virtual High School, an academy in Vex (Virtual Experience) for gifted children. Beyond the security of Sulan’s high-tech world, the Anti-American League wages a guerrilla war against the United States. Their leader, Imugi, is dedicated to undermining the nation’s reconstruction attempts. He attacks anything considered a national resource, including corporations, food storage facilities—and schools. When Sulan witnesses the public execution of a teenage student and the bombing of a college dorm, she panics. Her mother, a retired mercenary, refuses to teach her self-defense. Sulan takes matters into her own hands. With the help of her hacker best friend, Sulan acquires Touch—an illegal Vex technology that allows her to share the physical experience of her avatar. With Touch, Sulan defies her mother and trains herself to fight. When Imugi unleashes a new attack on the United States, Sulan finds herself caught in his net. Will her Vex training be enough to help her survive and escape?This novel is 54,000 words.