Captain Li Wing Hua has been a prisoner of an alien race for nearly four years, freed at last after the war. So when he's finally made captain of another space ship, he's eager to return to space. But when he discovers an observation outpost wrecked and the crew tortured to death, Hua has reason to suspect the same alien race that tortured and held him captive those four long years. But can he unravel the mystery before it causes an interstellar incident?

NIGHT MARSHAL #4: THE GHOUL OF SOCORRO

"Have you heard about any strange goings-on around here?"
The smith looked up at him as though measuring Jack and, after a minute, nodded. "Some local Indians say that Coyote walks at night around here."
Something warned Jack not to dismiss the comment. "What does that mean?"
"Death often walks with Coyote. Maybe it's spite. They say Coyote can't die, so Death takes a few extra where Coyote walks, to make up the difference."
Jack studied the man. The Indian might be superstitious. Hell, he might even be crazy. But he was most definitely not joking. "How do I find this Coyote?"
"You don't. You pray to your God he doesn't find you."

Scarface, on his way back to a clan stronghold after assassinating a legate, meets and falls in love with a woman even more ruthless than he. To win her, he must reunite an empire and create a kingdom. His only allies are his wits, his sword, and the power in his scars -- black marks like the taloned finger prints of a demon. To achieve his goals, he must deal with old enemies, gods of dubious worth, and his own family -- who may be the most dangerous of all.

Valtierra, a city-state, is governed by archetypes. Every two years they choose twelve men and women to wear the masks and to become the Wise Old Man, the Fool, the Mother, the Harlot, the Warrior, and the rest of the council. But now Valtierra faces hunger, decay, and an enemy on their border and, when the need for leadership is greatest, one mask is worn by a foreigner and one mask hides a traitor.