Writers of the Future Vol 34: #1 Bestselling Sci-Fi & Fantasy Short Stories of the Year Paperback - April 10, 2018 24 Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators Accompanied by Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, Jody Lynn Nye, Jerry Pournelle, Ciruelo and Echo Chernik Edited by David Farland Your search for something new and different in sci-fi and fantasy ends here. Presenting this year's collection of fresh voices, fabulous worlds, and fantastic new characters. Each year, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests' blue-ribbon judges search the world to discover and introduce to you the very best new talent in sci-fi and fantasy. Created by L. Ron Hubbard , whose commitment to helping new writers and artists gave rise to the annual Writers of the Future anthologies-a launching pad for writers and artists who are sure to command our attention for decades to come. "Writers of the Future, as a contest and as a book, remains the flagship of short fiction." -Orson Scott Card "The best new stories by new writers, anywhere." -Larry Niven "These are the people who are going to be creating trends." -Brandon Sanderson "Science fiction as a genre has always looked to the future and the Writers of the Future looks to the future of science fiction." -Kevin J. Anderson "See the best of the best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year." -Robert J. Sawyer Wondrous and powerful tales from some of the world's best new writers: Turnabout- Djinn are famous for twisting your words so they don't really grant your wish, but two can play that game. A Smokeless and Scorching Fire- Deacon is a government official, and he's afraid he'll stay that way if he can't break his conditioning. The Howler on the Sales Floor- It's easy making sales when you can send images of despair into the hearts of your clients. The Minarets of An-Zabat- Alder seeks the secrets of the Windcallers' magic, but his curiosity may destroy the people he loves. The Death Flyer- Jim Bellamy tries to save the life of a girl who died in the wreckage of a train ten years ago. Odd and Ugly- A tree giant takes in a housekeeper, but she has more secrets than either of them can handle. Mara's Shadow- An ancient myth might provide the key to curing a disease that threatens all of humanity. The Lesson- A lesson on philosophy in action turns into a deadly encounter. What Lies Beneath- A powerful sorcerer has so disgraced himself, he is afraid of what his family will think should he ever die and meet them on the other side. The Face in the Box- Cara discovers a floating farm parked over her land, blocking the sunlight, and must confront the driver. Flee, My Pretty One- In a world controlled by dragons and their henchmen, rock singer Josephine really only wants "death to all collaborators." Illusion- Even a court wizard will struggle to fight off armies if his weapons pack no actual punch. A Bitter Thing- You can put an end to something wondrous, but only at a cost. Miss Smokey- Lily's ability to shift shapes into a bear offers some strange challenges. All Light and Darkness- On a far world, a nameless man meets a woman of ancient genetic stock, and when trouble follows in his wake, he must choose: her life or his humanity?

He's a handsome American Lieutenant in the French Foreign Legion. She's a beautiful woman who's as fiery as the North African sun . . . and as mysterious as the far side of the moon. And she's all his-bought and paid for in the village square. Put them together-Cary Grant and Hedy Lamarr-and you're sure to get fireworks. The only reason the Lieutenant bought her was to free her from the slave trade. But now that he's got her, he's got trouble. Two violent native tribes are determined to get their hands on the woman . . . even if it means unleashing an all-out war. The warriors lay siege to the outpost-3000 of them versus 60 Legionnaires within. Can the Lieutenant hold the fort against the onslaught? And how long can he fend off the powerful feelings he has for the woman in his care? And, finally, does he have any idea of the secret in her past that could change everything? On the subject of North Africa, Hubbard said that writers too often "forget a great deal of the languorous quality which made the Arabian Nights so pleasing. Jewels, beautiful women, towering cities filled with mysterious shadows, sultans equally handy with robes of honor and the beheading sword." Hubbard brings this unique insight to his stories of North Africa and the Legionnaires, investing them with an authenticity of time, place and character that will keep you asking for more.

In Flames of Rebellion, a group of rebels fighting for independence sows the seeds of revolution across the galaxy in this blockbuster military sci-fi adventure from Jay Allan, the author of the Crimson Worlds and Far Stars series. The planet Haven slides closer to revolution against its parent nation, Federal America. Everett Wells, the fair-minded planetary governor, has tried to create a peaceful resolution, but his failure has caused the government to send Asha Stanton, a ruthless federal operative, to quell the insurgency. Wells quickly realizes that Stanton has the true power ...and two battalions of government security troops-specifically trained to put down unrest-under her control. Unlike Wells, Stanton is prepared to resort to extreme methods to break the back of the gathering rebellion, including unleashing Colonel Robert Semmes, the psychopathic commander of her soldiers, on the Havenites. But the people of Haven have their own ideas. They are not the beaten-down masses of Earth, but men and women with the courage and fortitude to tame a new world. Damian Ward is such a resident of Haven, a retired veteran and decorated war hero, who has watched events on his adopted world with growing apprehension. He sympathizes with the revolutionaries, his friends and neighbors, but he is loath to rebel against the flag he fought to defend. That is, until Stanton's reign of terror intrudes into his life-and threatens those he knows and loves. Then he does what he must, rallying Haven's other veterans and leading them to the aid of the revolutionaries. Yet the battle-scarred warrior knows that even if Haven's freedom fighters defeat the federalists, the rebellion is far from over ...it's only just begun.

A desolate wasteland. A mission gone wrong. An impossible goal. A gripping new series of Ancient RomeRoman scout Silus is deep behind enemy lines in Caledonia. As he spies on a raiding party, he is abruptly discovered by an enemy chief and his son. Mounting a one man ambush, everything quickly goes wrong. Silus must run for his life, the head of the enemy leader in his hands. Little does he know the price he will pay... As Silus is inducted into the Arcani, an elite faction of assassins and spies, he must return to Caledonia, back into the wilderness, and risk everything in the service of his Caesar. The odds don't look good. Failure is not an option. A blood-soaked and unputdownable Roman thriller, anchored in detailed historical research, perfect for fans of Ben Kane, Conn Iggulden and Robert Fabbri Praise for Alex Gough'Gritty and real, exciting and pacy, this is first rate historical fiction, and Gough is clearly ready to take his place among the leading writers of the genre' SJA Turney, author of the Praetorian series

He's fighting for justice while she fights for her life. With his daughter lying in the hospital, struck down in a reckless hit-and-run, the only thing Jon Reznick can do is wait-and plot his revenge. Not satisfied with the slow-moving police investigation, he starts his own manhunt. He discovers that the car belongs to a high-ranking diplomat whose interests are closely tied to those of the United States government, and this man may not be what he appears. The FBI wants Reznick to back down, but the more information Jon digs up, the more questions he finds. Was it a simple accident, or is there more to it? How many young women's lives has this man ruined? Lauren's life hangs in the balance, and Jon must get answers, no matter the cost-to him or the government. With the help of a dedicated NYPD detective who has suspicions of her own, as well as FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein, Jon Reznick will have to fight for his daughter while she fights for her life.

"Kalvarianhof: The Storm That Shook the World" is the second of a four-book series, following up on "Kalvarianhof: The Long Way Home." This second story revolves around the friendship, loyalty, adventures, and love--sometimes forbidden--that two German families experience together in early 20th-century Germany and Africa. Family friends for generations, Catholic Markus and Jewish Levi--young men newly home from adventures in China--find themselves and their ladies living the last wonderfully romantic days of the Belle Epoch, the Beautiful Era, before the beginning of the first World War in 1914. The two men, swept up by the Great War, find themselves far from the trenches of France, but no less safe in the wilds and wars as soldiers in Kaiser Wilhelm's African colonies. Meanwhile back at Kalvarianhof, the grand Levi estate deep in the forests of Bavaria, the families left behind struggle with hardships and dangers unforeseen. In Africa too, loved ones face betrayal and terror that threatens their very lives.

"Kalvarianhof: The Storm That Shook the World" is the second of a four-book series, following up on "Kalvarianhof: The Long Way Home." This second story revolves around the friendship, loyalty, adventures, and love--sometimes forbidden--that two German families experience together in early 20th-century Germany and Africa. Family friends for generations, Catholic Markus and Jewish Levi--young men newly home from adventures in China--find themselves and their ladies living the last wonderfully romantic days of the Belle Epoch, the Beautiful Era, before the beginning of the first World War in 1914. The two men, swept up by the Great War, find themselves far from the trenches of France, but no less safe in the wilds and wars as soldiers in Kaiser Wilhelm's African colonies. Meanwhile back at Kalvarianhof, the grand Levi estate deep in the forests of Bavaria, the families left behind struggle with hardships and dangers unforeseen. In Africa too, loved ones face betrayal and terror that threatens their very lives.

'Having been shot at definitely helps you write great thrillers... I've been a huge fan of Chris Ryan since I read The One That Got Away - he just gets better and better' - STEPHEN LEATHER 'An intelligent and enthralling read' - FINANCIAL TIMES The SAS is operating covertly in the wartorn badlands of northern Syria. They know it will be gritty, bloody and dangerous. But when Regiment legend Danny Black's unit, codenamed Zero 22, is tasked with a more routine operation, they don't expect it to end the way it does: in compromise and massacre, orchestrated by the shadowy Wagner Group, a paramilitary organisation in thrall to the Russian president. Back in the UK, Danny learns that his unit was betrayed by a mole feeding high-level military intelligence to the Russians. Like any SAS man worthy of the name, his first thought is to avenge the men who lost their lives on the Zero 22 op. He has no hesitation in accepting the mission to assassinate the man responsible for the death of his mates. But the headshed have more complicated plans and Danny finds himself operating with a face from his past whom he never thought he would see again. Together they embark on a high-risk, deniable mission that will require all Danny's Regiment skills if they are to have any hope of success. As the mission unfolds, however, Danny learns that darker forces are at play. And when everything he thinks he knows gets turned on its head, he realises that what started out as an act of revenge is just a single play in a conspiracy that will take him across the continents and pit him not only against the highly trained militants of the Wagner Group, but against the Kremlin, the White House and the insidious machinations of the most powerful men in the world.

It's world history. But not as we know it. c.1000AD: Erik the Red's daughter heads south from Greenland 1492: Columbus does not discover America 1531: the Incas invade Europe Freydis is the leader of a band of Viking warriors who get as far as Panama. Nobody knows what became of them. Five hundred years later, Christopher Columbus is sailing for the Americas, dreaming of gold and conquest. Even when captured, his faith in his mission is unshaken. Thirty years after that, Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor, arrives in a Europe ready for revolution. Fortunately, he has a recent guidebook to acquiring power - Machiavelli's The Prince. So, the stage is set for a Europe ruled by Incas and, when the Aztecs arrive on the scene, for a great war that will change history forever. 'Binet's best book yet: the work of a major writer just hitting his stride. A delightful counterfactual novel' ***** - Daily Telegraph

Staring into the hideous face of evil and illustrating the fragility of courage, this tale centers on Kamal, an East Pakistani who is born without a mouth and tongue. Rescued and educated by Abbas Miah, his village's schoolteacher, he soon learns to keep his ability to read and write a secret from those who condemn him for his disfigurement. When news of West Pakistan's genocidal campaign in the East reaches his village, he hesitates in joining the resistance, bringing to light the gap between how he is perceived by others and his true abilities, which proves both his torment and his salvation. Liberal-minded and pacifist, Abbas Miah soon decides to take his family and a few select villagers into the distant flood plains of Bangladesh to wait out the conflict. Before they can set sail, Miah's wife and hundreds of villagers are slaughtered and the boat instead departs with Kamal, Miah, and a motley crew of survivors. Gritty and heartfelt, this novel explores the capacity for true community amidst a religious obsession with purity and the urgent need to define who is kin in the creation of a new nation state.

'Paints a vivid picture of life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line' - Daily Express Commander Thomas Kydd is eager to play his part in thwarting Bonaparte's plans for the invasion of England. Joining Admiral Nelson's command, Kydd and his ship soon find themselves at the heart of the action that leads up to the greatest sea battle in history: Trafalgar. Kydd's journey takes him from false sightings of the enemy and dramatic chases across the Atlantic, to the bloody annihilation of the enemy during the actual battle, and the heroic aftermath. ****************** What readers are saying about VICTORY 'More of the same, please!' - 5 stars 'The best Stockwin yet!' - 5 stars 'A great read . . . I salute a terrific story teller of that bygone age!' - 5 stars 'A masterly retelling of a real hero's tragic demise and a thoroughly enjoyable novel' - 5 stars 'A marvelous book' - 5 stars