The Scattered Pearls Belt is a string of habitats under tight military rule . . . where the powerful have become all too comfortable in their positions, and their corruption. But change is coming, with the arrival of Quynh: the mysterious and enigmatic Alchemist of Streams and Hills. To Minh, daughter of the ruling prefect of the Belt, Quynh represents a chance for escape. To Hoà, a destitute engineer, Quynh has a mysterious link to her own past . . . and holds a deeper, more sensual appeal. But Quynh has her own secret history, and a plan for the ruling class of the Belt. A plan that will tear open old wounds, shake the heavens, and may well consume her. A beautiful exploration of the power of love, of revenge, and of the wounds of the past, this fast-paced, heart-warming space opera is set against a backdrop of corruption, power and political scheming in the far reaches of the award-winning Xuya universe.

Sixteen extraordinary authors―including New York Times bestsellers Melissa de la Cruz, Renée Ahdieh, and Julie Kagawa―reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate. This exquisite paperback anthology includes an original bonus story from Ellen Oh. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called A Thousand Beginnings and Endings a “must-read.”

A mountain loses her heart. Two sisters transform into birds to escape captivity. A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother’s mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place.

Bestselling and award-winning authors explore the timeless themes of East and South Asian lore in sixteen original stories that will appeal to every reader. From fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge, these stories will beguile readers from start to finish. Edited by We Need Diverse Books co-founder Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, this anthology contains stories from sixteen Asian and South Asian authors, including New York Times bestsellers and award-winners. In a starred review, Kirkus called it an “incredible anthology that will keep readers on the edges of their seats, wanting more.”

Featuring:

Renée Ahdieh, Elsie Chapman, Sona Charaipotra, Preeti Chhibber, Roshani Chokshi, Aliette de Bodard, Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Rahul Kanakia, Lori M. Lee, E. C. Myers, Cindy Pon, Aisha Saeed, Shveta Thakrar, Alyssa Wong, and a new original story by Ellen Oh.

Xích Si: bot maker, data analyst, mother, scavenger. But those days are over now-her ship has just been captured by the Red Banner pirate fleet, famous for their double-dealing and cruelty. Xích Si expects to be tortured to death-only for the pirates' enigmatic leader, Rice Fish, to arrive with a different and shocking proposition: an arranged marriage between Xích Si and herself. Rice Fish: sentient ship, leader of the infamous Red Banner pirate fleet, wife of the Red Scholar. Or at least, she was the latter before her wife died under suspicious circumstances. Now isolated and alone, Rice Fish wants Xích Si's help to find out who struck against them and why. Marrying Xích Si means Rice Fish can offer Xích Si protection, in exchange for Xích Si's technical fluency: a business arrangement with nothing more to it. But as the investigation goes on, Rice Fish and Xích Si find themselves falling for each other. As the interstellar war against piracy intensifies and the five fleets start fighting each other, they will have to make a stand-and to decide what kind of future they have together... An exciting space opera and a beautiful romance, from an exceptional SF author. "Intense, gripping, and beautifully-realized" Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun

The multi-award-winning author of The House of Shattered Wings continues her Dominion of the Fallen saga as Paris endures the aftermath of a devastating arcane war . . . As the city rebuilds from the onslaught of sorcery that nearly destroyed it, the great Houses of Paris, ruled by fallen angels, still contest one another for control over the capital. House Silverspires was once the most powerful, but just as it sought to rise again, an ancient evil brought it low. Phillippe, an immortal who escaped the carnage, has a singular goal - to resurrect someone he lost. But the cost of such magic might be more than he can bear. In House Hawthorn, Madeleine the alchemist has had her addiction to angel essence savagely broken. Struggling to live on, she is forced on a perilous diplomatic mission to the underwater dragon kingdom - and finds herself in the midst of intrigues that have already caused one previous emissary to mysteriously disappear . . . As the Houses seek a peace more devastating than war, those caught between new fears and old hatreds must find strength - or fall prey to a magic that seeks to bind all to its will. 'A superb blend of intrigue, mystery and magic and urban fantasy; it's brilliantly written; and the story is gripping' Civilian Reader

The great magical Houses of Paris - headed by Fallen angels and magicians - were, however temporarily, at peace with each other. Until House Harrier was levelled by a powerful explosion. Now that peace has become chaos, tearing apart old alliances and setting off a race in which each House hoards magic and resources to protect itself against another such blast. Thuan, the Dragon head of the divided House Hawthorn, is still consolidating his power when war comes to his doorstep. Aurore -exiled from and almost beaten to death by House Harrier - sees her moment to seek power in order to protect her family, even if she must venture back to her destroyed former home to get it. And Emmanuelle finds herself alone in the middle of it all, driven to protect others, trying to piece together what has happened, andhoping - eventually - to make sense of it all. None of them know what destroyed House Harrier, though . . . and when they do uncover that fiery, destructive magic then divided Houses, old enemies and estranged friends will all have to make a decision: stand together, or burn alone . . . None of them know what destroyed House Harrier, though . . . and when they do uncover that fiery, destructive magic then divided Houses, old enemies and estranged friends will all have to make a decision: stand together, or burn alone . . . Praise for Aliette de Bodard 'Aliette de Bodard presents a gritty, otherworldly Paris in her fast-paced, fantastical thriller' Washington Post 'Elegantly written' Guardian 'A superb blend of intrigue, mystery and magic, and urban fantasy; brilliantly written' Civilian Reader

Since 2006, Clarkesworld Magazine has been entertaining science fiction and fantasy fans with their brand of unique science fiction and fantasy stories. Collected here are all thirty-four stories published in the sixth year of this Hugo Award-winning magazine. Contents: Introduction by Neil Clarke Scattered Along the River of Heaven by Aliette de Bodard All the Painted Stars by Gwendolyn Clare Prayer by Robert Reed A Hundred Ghosts Parade Tonight by Xia Jia And the Hollow Space Inside by Mari Ness What Everyone Remembers by Rahul Kanakia The Bells of Subsidence by Michael John Grist The Switch by Sarah Stanton Sunlight Society by Margaret Ronald A Militant Peace by David Klecha and Tobias S. Buckell All the Young Kirks and Their Good Intentions by Helena Bell In Which Faster-Than-Light Travel Solves All of Our Problems by Chris Stabback The Womb Factory by Peter M. Ferenczi Draftyhouse by Erik Amundsen All the Things the Moon is Not by Alexander Lumans Fade to White by Catherynne M. Valente Astrophilia by Carrie Vaughn If The Mountain Comes by An Owomoyela From Their Paws, We Shall Inherit by Gary Kloster Sirius by Ben Peek Synch Me, Kiss Me, Drop by Suzanne Church Iron Ladies, Iron Tigers by Sunny Moraine Mantis Wives by Kij Johnson Pony by Erik Amundsen Robot by Helena Bell The Found Girl by David Klecha and Tobias S. Buckell muo-ka's Child by Indrapramit Das Honey Bear by Sofia Samatar The Smell of Orange Groves by Lavie Tidhar Silently and Very Fast by Catherynne M. Valente Fragmentation, or Ten Thousand Goodbyes by Tom Crosshill You Were She Who Abode by E. Catherine Tobler Staying Behind by Ken Liu Immersion by Aliette de Bodard About the Authors Clarkesworld Census About Clarkesworld