Desert Empress of Deimos

      Tara Loughead
     Desert Empress of Deimos

Bulays and Ghaavn are caught in the middle of a crime family war. The leadership on one side fracturing due to a missing son, and sordid family secrets revealed on the other. A series planetary romance.Bulays and Ghaavn #5Saraqael hadn’t intended to fall in love with Kate. It shouldn’t have even been possible. His kind didn’t experience emotion, and they certainly weren’t supposed to become attached to humans.When he discovers that Kate’s dying and there’s nothing he or her human doctors can do for her, Saraqael realizes how deep his feelings for her run. And he understands just how far he’s willing to go to save her.He vows to search until he finds a way to save her life. With the help of his best friend, Quincy, he embarks on a quest spanning the Estilorian plane…a quest that will forever change the future of his kind.

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    The Cursed Sun

      Paul Westwood
     The Cursed Sun

Two centuries after the Final War, civilization struggles to rise from the ashes of the new Dark Ages. An innocent man turned outlaw is forced on a journey across a desolated land, risking his life to deliver a warning to the growing Rebellion. The message he carries will change the balance of power, and with it, the hopes of humanity.After a nuclear war, the civilization of the Ancients has been dead for over two hundred years. Mikel is an innocent man who is accidentally thrust in the power struggle between the ruling Mujadeen and the ever-increasing Rebellion. Turned outlaw, he carries a warning to the rebels in their hidden mountain enclave. His perilous journey takes him across the Wasteland, where he is aided by an orphaned girl named Suvan. With her guidance, Mikel traverses the remains of a ruined city, home to the inhuman Mutans and other unspeakable horrors. The message he carries will change the balance of power, and with it, the hopes of humanity.

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    Switch

      Trevor Leyenhorst
     Switch

Humans are still headstrong and reckless in the distant future. A controversial attempt of population control brands children in the flesh with the noh. Ravno learns to switch—to see through other people’s eyes. He experiences grief, fear, sadness, love, and pain as if they are his own naked emotion. Ravno keeps his secret while the surge of horrific punishment crushes the Wawasen archipelago.Thousands of years in the future the human species is still headstrong and reckless. A controversial attempt of population control brands even children in the flesh with the noh. Ravno learns to switch—to see through other people’s eyes. He sees the assaults of thieves as if they are his own; he sees pain and naked emotion; he experiences grief and fear and love and sadness. Ravno keeps his strange skill secret while the surge of horrific punishment crushes the Wawasen archipelago.Excerpt:He raced again for thicket’s edge. But again he slowed then stopped, turning the way he had come. He knew she trailed him directly. He switched to pinpoint her advance. As his eyes slid into place and he watched the branches brush by her face, he realized how automatic switching had become. Deliberate, usually, and still hard to control once there, but such as detecting a flash of firelight or shivering in the cold, the process had matured into an extension of his senses. He smiled. The hinge of his mind on his forehead diminished in the face of saturated concern and stress that dripped from his temples.

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    Tickling the Dragon's Tail

      Thomas Lombard
     Tickling the Dragon's Tail

The title is a phrase used by geologists for predetonation from radioactive uranium, one of the dangers facing Nevin Reasoner and friends as they try to pacify two warring kingdoms. Nevin Reasoner teams up with three others to use magery and scientific acumen to deal with obstacles posed by a rogue scientist, angry trolls, an even angrier Elf-Lord, desperate dwarves, and a megalomaniacal king.Book 2 in The Chronicles of Nevin Reasoner is not about mythical dragons, although it does offer a scientific explanation of the fiery effects of dragon breath. Tickling the Dragon’s Tail is a once-used phrase by geologists to describe the danger from clapping together rocks of radioactive uranium ore. That is one of the dangers faced by Nevin Reasoner and his friends as they try valiantly to end years of warfare between the kingdoms of Antrim and Gilsum. In Book 1, Nevin is fired as a science lecturer at Hempstead College in Ohio. He gets delivered to Antrim by arcane means—or is there a scientific explanation—where he teams up with a mage, soldier, and king’s confidante to end the devastation, anarchy and persecution caused by war. Along the way, Nevin finds himself in uncomfortable situations because of his size compared with indigenous folks, sometimes calling for unaccustomed physical altercations. Nevin sees nothing absurd like talking animals or shape-shifting, and no items are created out of nothing, so science must offer explanations if he can only figure it out. The troupe resorts to magery and scientific acumen to supplement their courage as they deal with obstacles posed by a rogue scientist name John Stryker, angry trolls, an even angrier Elf-Lord, a desperate community of dwarves, and a megalomaniacal king. Stryker concocts a crude explosive device that complicates the negotiations for peace. Advice, more or less, comes from a secretive council of high mages, but not without surprising revelations and mysteries. An introverted would-be scientist, Nevin must finally reconcile his feelings for Corissa as king’s consort as well as confidante.

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    Outer Sky

      Daniel Hoover
     Outer Sky

The world is dying.The human race is dwindling. Its grandeur all but forgotten. A majority of the great strides made in philosophy, art, technology, and science lay buried in the rubble of the past. Forgotten. Still some cruel spark of humanity remained, undaunted, determined to survive. For the first time in generations, and in secret men and women will be hurled to the stars. To where...The human race is dwindling. Its grandeur all but forgotten. A majority of the great strides made in philosophy, art, technology, and science lay buried in the rubble of the past. Forgotten. Still some cruel spark of humanity remained, undaunted, determined to survive. For the first time in generations, and in secret men and women will be hurled to the stars. To where, and what does it mean to be human? Author's note: Hey all, Just wanted you, the reader, to know that this story has been revised as 04/15/13. This has been done to correct mistakes which were missed in earlier "printings."Thank you, and I hope you enjoy.

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    First Impressions (Breaking Away part 1)

      Sarah Baethge
     First Impressions (Breaking Away part 1)

This is a few misunderstandings and other problems that begin setting the stage for an unfinished space epic.In the distant future, mercenary Samuel Parker is hired to help out an underground organization on a planet he's never been to. Kreft Way, the representative of these people is faced with unexpected problems brought on partly through his own group's lack of proper planning.

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    Seas of Chaos

      Calvin Mixter
     Seas of Chaos

In the Seas of Chaos, follow a wizard, a stranded space explorer, and a U.S. Naval officer.Gary, a 45 year- old self-employed businessman, is close to obtaining his pilot's license.One of his final steps is to accomplish a solo cross country flight across the plains of northern Colorado.The weather is close to perfect, and his airplane, a Light Sport Gobosh is ready to go. Unfortunately Gary realizes something has gone very wrong soon after takeoff, and he now has to face the challenge of flying a crippled airplane. His life is now in jeopardy, and he must utilize everything he's been taught to return to the airport and attempt a safe landing. Will this dire situation prove to be too much for a student pilot to handle? Will Gary live to tell this tale? Grab a copy of this short story to find out.

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    Moon Sick

      Aniko Carmean
     Moon Sick

The moon is falling, and while some pray for the intense celestial coitus of Luna's impact with Earth, all Fisk wants is Charlotte.The moon is falling. The shift is tearing apart the transportation infrastructure, and the population is stricken with "moon sickness" - literal lunacy.Charlotte, Lawton, and Fisk are friends. They met in a writing workshop when the news of the moon's fall was only mentioned on the late-night conspiracy shows. While lunar cults pray for the intense celestial coitus of Luna's impact with Earth, all Fisk wants is Charlotte.MOON SICK is a surreal short story by Aniko Carmean, author of MIXED MEDIA and STOLEN CLIMATEs.

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    Missionary

      Bull Garlington
     Missionary

A tone deaf deep space astronomer discovers a catchy tune from beyond our galaxy and destroys the world.Sarah Jane had been so excited to be accepted on the team of doctors at the prestigious clinic, The Center. It was exciting and exhilarating work. It did not hurt that she got to work with brilliant people all day, everyday. Until disaster struck and suddenly everything she had was in danger of being lost.Would she turn the hands of time if she could? Would she choose differently if she did? Would she choose her old life over the new one that was unfolding?Sometimes, life forces us to grow way bigger than our shells. Sarah Jane had to.(This is a stand-alone novel but readers will understand the story a lot better if they read my book, 'Transgender J' first. Transgender J is free on Smashwords.)This book was formerly titled, Undead - Sarah Jane.

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    Flashes from the Future (Exponential Times)

      Marco Santini
     Flashes from the Future (Exponential Times)

Special contribution by Nikola Danaylov **** Transhumanist stories about the next future **** We are living exponential times, dominated by disrupting technologies that in a few years will project our world into a revolution with extreme consequences. Have a nice journey into the next future.Special contribution by Nikola Danaylov **** Transhumanist stories about the next future **** According to future studies, the world will be dominated soon by disruptive technologies, able to plunge the world into an era of accelerated progress. Main outcomes will be the achievement of immortality, the creation of smarter than human Artificial Intelligence and the spread of the new species through the universe. The passionate scenarios described in these stories make the reader share the soul of a civilization. Social issues as well as dreams and projects of the digital people are key drivers of the stories. Have a nice journey into the next future.

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    Like Veins of Red Rubies (Most Precious Book 1)

      Nicolas Abel
     Like Veins of Red Rubies (Most Precious Book 1)

When a man discovers an ancient tool while digging for rubies, he inspires his fellow bunker-dwellers to dig upward in hopes of living on the surface once again, but as they have life-threatening encounters with the tools they uncover, they begin to believe the surface may still be dangerous after all these years.Come meet Lenny and his Friends as they help Bailey. Why is Bailey sad and starts to treat people in a mean way? Who does Lenny talk to for help? Written at a grade 2 reading level, this book has an interesting story questions for parents and kids to discuss and ideas to start a search for help if needed. As parents, we all want our kids to know who to talk to if they have trouble someday. Each Lenny book shares a story about a different difficult behaviour that we face, 5 Questions to discuss with your child to help them prepare if they ever have to face a similar behaviour and a list of places to start if you need more information.What a positive e-book to share with our children.Happy Reading.

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    United

      Alina Wood
     United

Deanna Troi has not spoken to anyone about her son in five years. Now that she's found out about her sister, she has realized she needs to tell her mother.Welcome to the magical town of Cottontail Pines, where animals talk, and there is always a friend around the corner. In this new story called “Blacky’s Birthday,” Blacky the skunk wakes up on his special day expecting to be lavished with attention… and cake. Unfortunately, nobody seems to want to talk to him at all, and worst of all… no cake! Have all of Blacky’s friends decided not to like him anymore? And most importantly, will he never, ever get to eat any cake?! Find out what happens in this cute new story by T.K. Wade.

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    Backteria and Other Improbable Tales

      Richard Matheson
     Backteria and Other Improbable Tales

Available only in e-book format, Backteria and Other Improbable Tales is a brand new collection of short tales of terror and the unknown from master storyteller Richard Matheson. In the title story, published here for the first time, a researcher encounters an exotic new strain of virus that causes the infected person to disappear. Curiosity leads the doctor on a path of discovery which takes him deep into his own personal history and suggests the age-old warning: Be careful what you wish for. In "Getting Together", a case of mistaken identity leads to a darkly farcical story of marriage, murder, and a love that knows no bounds. The quietly threatening "Haircut" shows how a routine trim becomes a dark and terrifying experience when a barber is confronted with a sick customer who seems to him otherworldly. In this collection of stories Matheson clearly demonstrates once again why Ray Bradbury called him "one of the most important writers of the twentieth century" and Stephen King named him as "the author who influenced me most as a writer." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Richard Burton Matheson (born February 20, 1926) is an American author and screenwriter working primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently combining elements from the different genres in which he works, making important contributions to the further development of modern horror. Matheson wrote fourteen episodes for the American television series The Twilight Zone, including the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." Notably, Steven Spielberg's first full length film (made for television) was based on the story “Duel,” for which Matheson also wrote the screenplay. Matheson's first novel, Someone is Bleeding, was published in 1953. His thirty novels since then include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again adapted from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction/vampire novel, I Am Legend (made into film as The Last Man on Earth, 1964, The Omega Man, 1971, and I Am Legend, 2007). A new film based on Matheson's story “Steel,” entitled Real Steel, is a major motion picture that was released in October 2011. His most recent novel, Other Kingdoms, appeared in March 2011. According to film critic Roger Ebert, Matheson's scientific approach to the supernatural in I Am Legend and other novels from the 1950s and '60s anticipated the "pseudorealistic fantasy novels like Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist." In 2010, Matheson was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and Stephen King has cited Matheson as a creative influence; his novel Cell is dedicated to Matheson along with filmmaker George A. Romero. Author Anne Rice has said that Matheson's short story, "A Dress of White Silk" was a primary early influence on her interest in vampires and fantasy fiction.

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    Alphas Unleashed

      S. E. Smith
     Alphas Unleashed

5 Hot Heroes / 4 Authors / 4 Worlds: an anthology of scienfiction and paranormal romance novellas. (Aliens, djinn, demons, shifters) Discover five sexy alpha heroes in four hot adventures. They were each taken, tortured and tormented. These powerful males were held against their will, prisoners of fate. What happens when they escape their captors...and fall in love? Vengeance. Desire. Destiny. Nothing can stop...Alphas Unleashed. A Warrior’s Heart (Marastin Dow Book 1.1) by S.E. Smith Sealed With A Kiss, A Djinn Novella by Mina Khan Dead Drop, A My Immortals Novella by Carolyn Jewel Chimera Born: The Beginning (Book 1 of the Chimera) by Michele Callahan

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    Mass Effect: Retribution

      Drew Karpyshyn
     Mass Effect: Retribution

Humanity has reached the stars, joining the vast galactic community of alien species. But beyond the fringes of explored space lurk the Reapers, a race of sentient starships bent on “harvesting” the galaxy’s organic species for their own dark purpose. The Illusive Man, leader of the pro-human black ops group Cerberus, is one of the few who know the truth about the Reapers. To ensure humanity’s survival, he launches a desperate plan to uncover the enemy’s strengths—and weaknesses—by studying someone implanted with modified Reaper technology. He knows the perfect subject for his horrific experiments: former Cerberus operative Paul Grayson, who wrested his daughter from the cabal’s control with the help of Ascension project director Kahlee Sanders. But when Kahlee learns that Grayson is missing, she turns to the only person she can trust: Alliance war hero Captain David Anderson. Together they set out to find the secret Cerberus facility where Grayson is being held. But they aren’t the only ones after him. And time is running out. As the experiments continue, the sinister Reaper technology twists Grayson’s mind. The insidious whispers grow ever stronger in his head, threatening to take over his very identity and unleash the Reapers on an unsuspecting galaxy. This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game. From the Paperback edition.

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