Chakraborty’s acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy gets expanded with this new compilation of stories from before, during, and after the events of The City of Brass, The Kingdom of Copper, and The Empire of Gold, all from the perspective of characters both beloved and hated, and even those without a voice in the novels. The River of Silver gathers material both seen and new—including a special coda fans will need to read—making this the perfect complement to those incredible novels.A prospective new queen joins a court whose lethal history may overwhelm her own political savvy…An imprisoned royal from a fallen dynasty and a young woman wrenched from her home cross paths in an enchanted garden…A pair of scouts stumble upon a secret in a cursed winter wood that will turn over their world…Now together in one place, these stories of Daevabad enrich a world already teeming with magic and wonder. From Manizheh’s first steps towards rebellion to adventures that take place after The Empire of Gold, this is a must-have collection for those who can’t get enough of Nahri, Ali, and Dara and all that unfolded around them.

    Illustrator and writer's Carolyn Marie Castagna's first shared short story.A small icicle hanging from a roof peers inside a window at a small reading room, and learns about magical human qualities, and the importance of the one most special human feeling.

    A. Corey’s New York Times bestselling Expanse series is available in this collection* — includes a brand new novella. Now a major television series.Contents:Drive (2012)The Butcher of Anderson Station (2011)The Churn (2014)Gods of Risk (2012)The Vital Abyss (2015)Strange Dogs (2017)Auberon (2019)Memory’s Legion (2022)*does not include The Last Flight of the Cassandra

    The beloved Gus wouldn't hurt a fly, so when he ends up in the hospital after being attacked, no one quite knows where to point the finger.With the restaurant hanging on by a thread and a criminal on the loose, Charlotte knows she will have to solve this crime with a soup ladle in one hand and a cupcake pan in the other. When it becomes clear that there is more to the coveted soup recipes than meets the eye, Charlotte is certain that the person who attacked Gus won't stop until Gus is silenced once and for all."Red Velvet Villainy" is filled with layered clues and cozy moments, written by Molly Maple, which is a pen name for a USA Today bestselling author.

    Stories of despair, and lingering hope. Stories of a future unknown, where ignorance feeds our souls, and where the only hope that remains in a world gone dim… resides in Tales of Apocalyptic Vision! Michaelbrent Collings, a double Bram Stoker Award finalist and voted one of the Top 100 All-Time Greatest Horror Writers by Ranker, invites you to brave a future unlike any you have experienced. Because the future is what we make of it… and we have made a monster.CRITICAL PRAISE FOR COLLINGS' WORK:"[Collings] has a gift for conjuring unsettling atmospheres and subverting readers' expectations." - Publishers Weekly"Collings is a master." - Scream Magazine"Nightmare fuel... intense and downright scary." - Horror Geek Life"This is the second book by Michaelbrent I've reviewed for Screamfix, so I knew I was in for a treat." - ScreamFix"I read [the book] at one sitting... and gasped aloud several times at expertly-done twists." - The Horror Fiction Review"I have never been disappointed in any of [Collings' books]." - Horror Novel Reviews"If you want excitement, don't miss this one." - Monster Librarian"Collings excels at building good characters" - Hellnotes

    Each story builds a new world all its own: a group of children steal a haunted doll; a runaway bride encounters a sea monster; a vendor sells toy boxes that seemingly control the passage of time; an insomniac is seduced by the Sandman. These visions of modern life wrestle with themes of death and technological consequence, guilt and sexuality, and unmask the contradictions that exist within all of us.  Mesmerizing, electric, and wholly original, Kim Fu’s Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century blurs the boundaries of the real and fantastic, offering intricate and surprising insights into human nature.

    

    It is a unique book that only Jen could write--a story collection accruing the power of a novel as it proceeds--a work that Cynthia Ozick has called "an art beyond art. It is life itself." Beginning with a cheery letter penned by a Chinese girl in heaven to "poor Mr. Nixon" in hell, Gish Jen embarks on a fictional journey through U.S.-China relations, capturing the excitement of a world on the brink of tectonic change.Opal Chen reunites with her Chinese sisters after forty years; newly cosmopolitan Lulu Koo wonders why Americans "like to walk around in the woods with the mosquitoes"; Hong Kong parents go to extreme lengths to reestablish contact with their "number-one daughter" in New York; and Betty Koo, brought up on "no politics, just make money," finds she must reassess her mother's philosophy.With their profound compassion and equally profound humor, these eleven linked stories trace the intimate ways in which humans make and are made by history, capturing an extraordinary era in an extraordinary way. Delightful, provocative, and powerful, Thank You, Mr. Nixon furnishes yet more proof of Gish Jen's eminent place among American storytellers.

    Essays celebrating East and Southeast Asian identity in Britain.A strong, compelling, and quietly beautiful collection of stories that have gone untold for too long, from voices that have too often been sidelined from the artistic mainstream.' Jonathan LiewIn this bold, first-of-its kind collection, East Side Voices invites us to explore a dazzling spectrum of experience from the East and Southeast Asian diaspora living in Britain today.Showcasing original essays and poetry from well-known celebrities, prize-winning literary stars and exciting new writers, East Side Voices takes us many places: from the frontlines of the NHS in the midst of the Covid pandemic, to the set of a Harry Potter film, from a bustling London

    

    A couple encounters a deadly creature during their nighttime dive. A father fights to save his daughter from a harrowing nightmare. A newlywed’s honeymoon is interrupted by the apocalypse. A maid discovers a shocking secret at the exclusive resort she works for. Beach vacations are meant for relaxing and unwinding away from the drudgery of normal life. The sparkling sun, shimmering on cresting waves. A light breeze as you sit with toes in the sand, a cold drink in one hand. Utopia on an island. But what happens when that paradise suddenly becomes a purgatory of pain? What will you do when the beaches fill with bodies and the waters run red with blood? When creatures crawl the coastline and the jungle teems with terror. How will you survive when a tropical respite becomes an arena of peril? Slice of Paradise is an all-original anthology featuring fifteen shocking stories of beach vacation horror. For even more scares, check out the companion anthology Beach Bodies out now from DarkLit Press. This anthology includes stories by Craig Wallwork, Philip Fracassi, Scott J Moses, Mark Towse, Spencer Hamilton, Aiden Merchant, Drew Starling, Ashlei Johnson, Rowan Hill, Simon J. Plant, Alyson Hasson, Sheri White, Denver Grenell, Kay Hanifen, and Nick Kolakowski.

    Animals in this book include ants, mice, birds, dogs, octopuses, sharks, whales. Settings include kitchens, bathrooms, camping grounds, gas stations, graveyards, rocket ships, golf courses. Activities include driving, converting files, setting things on fire, eating pizza, showering, planking, and visiting the White House.

    In this ebullient collection, virgins escape from being sacrificed, witches refuse to be burned, whores aren't ashamed, and every woman gets a chance to be a radioactive cockroach warrior who snaps back at catcallers. Gwen E. Kirby experiments with found structures--a Yelp review, a WikiHow article--which her fierce, irreverent narrators push against, showing how creativity within an enclosed space undermines and deconstructs the constraints themselves. When these women tell the stories of their triumphs as well as their pain, they emerge as funny, angry, loud, horny, lonely, strong protagonists who refuse be secondary characters a moment longer. From "The Best and Only Whore of Cym Hyfryd, 1886" to the "Midwestern Girl [who] is Tired of Appearing in Your Short Stories," Kirby is playing and laughing with the women who have come before her and they are telling her, we have always been this way. You just had to know where to look.

    . . and darkest depths. In this new collection of Agatha Christie short stories, witness the dark side of love—crimes of passion, games of the heart, and deadly affairs. This pulse-pounding compendium features beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, master of charades Parker Pyne, the enigmatic Harley Quin, and the adventurous Tommy and Tuppence, all on the ready to solve a tantalizing mystery.In “The Face of Helen,” a night at the Royal Opera could reach a deadly crescendo for a woman caught in a dicey love triangle; “Finessing the King” delivers a curious ad in the personals that could mask sinister intentions; who’s in danger of getting stung in “Wasp’s Nest” depends on rounding up suspects and solving a murder—before it even happens; and more tales that make for essential reading that Christie fans old and new will simply love to death.

    Hundreds of locks later, Eri can barely recall her own past. An unanticipated alliance with a musician may prove the key to both their freedoms—if Eri doesn't lose herself in the process.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    From quiet horror to caterwauling bloodshed, this quadruple feature is fun for the whole family.A trio of sisters take turns sharing a migraine that challenges their pain tolerance—and sanity ("Our Migraine," Christopher O’Halloran).A man struggles with his inheritance when his absent father—and namesake—dies, leaving him with disturbing visions and an unwanted purpose ("Nos Da, Tad," Antony Frost).A young ghost watches a sinister family gathering complete with a prettier, smarter replica of herself—then, makes sure it’s their last ("I Am Not to be Replaced," Carson Winter).Following the death of his mother, the eldest of five siblings must uncover the true nature of his family’s strange, isolated existence while an apocalyptic event looms ("The Heads of Leviathan," Alex Wolfgang).This is where the family tree meets the family plot. This is Bloodlines.

    Ambivalent mothers, aging suburbanites, restless teens, survivalist parents, and disaffected wives—desire is a live wire, however frayed, a reminder that life, for all its sputtering stall outs, is still worth living. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly says: "Lippmann packs a great deal into a single turn of phrase, balancing vulnerability and humor with luminescent prose. The compression and bursts of poignancy will remind readers of Kathy Fish and Amy Hempel."

    

    Even the rules for working there are fun!But when a routine cleanup presents a mysterious, hand-drawn map, her vacation gets even more exciting than a banana split with hot fudge sauce. And that’s saying a lot!A short story.

    In “Waiting for Ivy” a woman grieving the loss of her infant daughter discovers a listserv of parents whose dead children have been returned, as if the tragedy were a clerical error. In “Corpse Walks Into a Bar” an indigent loner agrees to bury a reanimated corpse, not realizing what it takes to find a resting place when the dead are as self-serving as the living. Characters throughout the collection act on impulses, quixotic to ferocious: a suburban dad leads a violent riot against his neighbor; an eleven-year-old boy puts himself at the nexus of a manhunt for the Boston Marathon bomber. Ultimately, the book plumbs the messiness we bring on ourselves with the best of intentions, and how we find connection and work to build a world we can survive.

    It had once belonged to the Lightwoods, a long time ago." - Lord of ShadowsJulian and Emma are on their travel year when the Clave sends him a message - clean up Blackthorn Hall or ownership reverts back to the Clave. Amidst the clutter and disrepair they discover secrets that Blackthorn Hall has kept hidden for years.This is a Shadowhunters novel that takes place between The Dark Artifices and The Wicked Powers. Per Cassandra Clare, it is set about 15 months after the end of The Dark Artifices.The novel follows the characters from The Dark Artifices and delves into the history of those from The Last Hours.Secrets of Blackthorn Hall will be a novel told in serialized format, with illustrations, sound, and more. New entries posted online every Monday beginning August 16, 2021. The project will also feature artwork from artists like Cassandra Jean.No official cover artwork has been posted to date—the artwork used here is from the official Tumblr page that hosts the novel.

    On a farm during the violent tumult of revolution, a more immediate threat prowls in a short, emotional story about survival by the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic.She is the adventurer of the family. Her brother, the gentle dreamer. Even as they bond over folktales and hold each other close, their world has never felt so dangerous. Revolutionaries and pelones are in conflict, soldiers have turned into scavengers, and an escaped tiger has slipped up the mountain, looking for easy prey. As the darkest of legends becomes real, a young girl will do anything to save her brother’s life.Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Tiger Came to the Mountains is part of Trespass, a collection of wild stories about animal instincts, human folly, and survival from award-winning, bestselling authors. Read or listen to each in a single sitting.

    War is all he has ever known.

    A lonely man finds an abandoned toddler. A second wife in a fundamentalist community questions her religion. A young Australian veteran of the Afghanistan conflict is haunted by a memory from his last mission. Fiona Robertson’s stories traverse the globe to reveal people at moments of change or crisis, as they struggle to repair fractures in their lives and search for something close to happiness.

    It had once belonged to the Lightwoods, a long time ago." - Lord of ShadowsJulian and Emma are on their travel year when the Clave sends him a message - clean up Blackthorn Hall or ownership reverts back to the Clave. Amidst the clutter and disrepair they discover secrets that Blackthorn Hall has kept hidden for years.This is a Shadowhunters novel that takes place between The Dark Artifices and The Wicked Powers. Per Cassandra Clare, it is set about 15 months after the end of The Dark Artifices.The novel follows the characters from The Dark Artifices and delves into the history of those from The Last Hours.Secrets of Blackthorn Hall will be a novel told in serialized format, with illustrations, sound, and more. New entries posted online every Monday beginning August 16, 2021. The project will also feature artwork from artists like Cassandra Jean.No official cover artwork has been posted to date—the artwork used here is from the official Tumblr page that hosts the novel.

    Finding and defending Sara turns everything into technicolor. Still my life is filled with violence and danger, far too much for a beautiful soul like her. Even when I’m sent to prison, she vows to wait for me. But love isn’t meant for men like me. I escape prison to save her once again when I discover there’s a contract on her life. But if I don’t get there in time, will I ever be able to find redemption through the veil of red so much tragedy has cast over my life?This is Morgan's origin story. Find out about his entry into the world of Savage Spring MC in this steamy romance.

    She finally followed her heart to Scotland, the home of her ancestors. When she falls in the woods near her ancestral family home, she awakens with a pair of strong arms wrapped around her – and is convinced that she has finally gone mad.Son of the laird of the McDermonts, Alec is torn between avoiding his arranged marriage and keeping peace with a warring clan. Convinced treachery is on the horizon, he needs a plan – and when he finds Jaime alone in the woods, he senses a way out.When Jaime agrees to a fake marriage, little does she know the depths of Highland clan politics she is falling into. Finding herself caught between Alec and his family, she must help keep the peace before she returns where she belongs… if only she can discover just where that is.This is a steamy Scottish time travel romance and was previously published as Bride for a Time.

    From princesses warring in space, to the all too-near devastation of climate change, to haunting ghost stories in Argentina, and mermaids off the coast of the Caribbean. This is science fiction and fantasy that breaks borders and realms, and proves that stories are truly universal.Authors include Daniel José Older, Yamile Saied Méndez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Mark Oshiro, Romina Garber, David Bowles, Lilliam Rivera, Claribel Ortega, Isabel Ibañez, Sara Faring, Maya Motayne, Nina Moreno, Vita Ayala, J.C. Cervantes, Circe Moskowitz, Linda Nieves Pérez, and Zoraida Córdova.

    Encompassing ten short stories, the collection is loosely linked around African notions of time and place, along with African views of space, cosmology, and metaphysics. The stories are set in invented locations in both Africa and America and play out over a continuum of time.

    From the moment we lay eyes on an adorable puppy or a wonderful adult dog who becomes part of our life journey, we share innumerable moments of pure joy with our furry best friends.With forty-five original pieces by some of India's leading writers, outstanding new voices and individuals who have dedicated their lives to animal welfare, The Book of Dog is a testament to how deeply dogs touch us, to the special bond we have with them and the unique place they hold in our hearts and our lives. Through a series of unforgettable real-life stories-funny, poignant, warm and joyous -- the authors celebrate the remarkable dogs they have known and loved.This book is a must-read for everyone who cherishes dogs and the perfect gift for a dog-lover friend. It will engross and delight readers of all ages as they go through one memorable story after another.--The Book of Dog is a project to which the editor and all the authors have contributed for free. All royalties will go to registered animal welfare charities.CONTRIBUTORSAanchal Malhotra, Abhishek Joshi, Amitava Kumar, Ananya Vajpeyi, Anindita Ghose, Anita Nair, Anuja Chauhan, Arunava Sinha, Ashok Ferrey, Ashwin Sanghi, Atul Sarin, Bulbul Sharma, Cyrus Broacha, Devdutt Pattanaik, Divya Dugar, Fiona Fernandez, Geetan Batra, Gillian Wright, Gulzar, Jai Arjun Singh, Jerry Pinto, Keshava Guha, Mahesh Rao, Maneka Gandhi, Manjula Narayan, Manu Bhattathiri, Mark Tully, Meenakshi Alimchandani, Naomi Barton, Nilanjana S. Roy, Orijit Sen, Paro Anand, Prerna Singh Bindra, Rajdeep Sardesai, Ruskin Bond, Sarnath Banerjee, Shobhaa De, Shrutkeerti Khurana, Sian Morton, Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi, Sooni Taraporevala, Sumita Mehta, Tandrali Kuli, Tishani Doshi, Vikas Khanna.

    From an award-winning team of authors, editors, and translators comes a groundbreaking short story collection that explores the expanse of Chinese science fiction and fantasy.In The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories, you can dine at a restaurant at the end of the universe, cultivate to immortality in the high mountains, watch roses perform Shakespeare, or arrive at the island of the gods on the backs of giant fish to ensure that the world can bloom.Written, edited, and translated by a female and nonbinary team, these stories have never before been published in English and represent both the richly complicated past and the vivid future of Chinese science fiction and fantasy.Time travel to a winter's day on the West Lake, explore the very boundaries of death itself, and meet old gods and new heroes in this stunning new collection.

    

    It was once peaceful… beautiful... prosperous... Then the Elves came to power. Greedy and vengeful, the Elves split into two rival Klayns, The Pyrothian Elves and the Lumaryia Elves. These two Klayns have been fighting for centuries, laying waste to everything in their way. Some rebels, The Drayk's, believe in the prophecy… that a mixed-blood Elf will end the war and unite the world in a new era of peace… …And they believe that mixed-blood Elf is me... an orphan named Nyrieve, raised by Fairies whose true identity has been hidden from her for so long... Me… How can I bring peace to Iryvalya, a world I have barely seen? …but, do I even want to?

    You'll find bushels of red roses but some may be lethal, and watch what you eat at that romantic dinner because that exquisite morsel on your fork may be poisoned. You'll definitely want the bomb squad to inspect that enormous box of chocolates before you open it.Here's who you'll find under the covers of this book:Gregory Ashe - "Responsible Adults"J.B. Sanders - "Glen & Tyler Skip Dessert"Neil Plakcy - "Cabbage Key"Mark Zubro - "Roses Are Dead"Mark McNease - "Paper Hearts: A Marshall James Thriller"Rick R. Reed - "I've Been Inside Your House"Marko Realmonte - "Paris"Brad Shreve - "Bound to Love"Greg Herren - "This Thing of Darkness"Meg Perry - "Speed Murder"Frank W. Butterfield - "Let's Fall in Love"These eleven tales about love will mystify, chill, and thrill you! They might even send you diving under the covers with your very own Valentine!

    

    A teenager explores their identity in a moment of quiet. A petition writer reflects on his life as a dog lies nursing her puppies. A tormented girl tries to find love through a horrific act. A headmaster makes his way to work, treading the fine line between life and death."A precious collection of work, the first and maybe the last of its kind. My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird is a huge accomplishment" MONIQUE ROFFEY, author of The Mermaid of Black ConchMy Pen Is the Wing of a Bird is a landmark collection: the first anthology of short fiction by Afghan women. Eighteen writers tell stories that are both unique and universal - stories of family, work, childhood, friendship, war, gender identity and cultural traditions."This book reminds us that everyone has a story. Stories matter; so too the storytellers. Afghan women writers, informed and inspired by their own personal experiences, are best placed to bring us these powerful insights into the lives of Afghans and, most of all, the lives of women. Women's lives, in their own words - they matter." Lyse Doucet in her IntroductionThis collection introduces extraordinary voices from the country's two main linguistic groups (Pashto and Dari) with original, vital and unexpected stories to tell, developed over two years through UNTOLD's Write Afghanistan project. My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird comes at a pivotal moment in Afghanistan's history, when these voices must be heard.With an Introduction by BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet and an Afterword by Lucy HannahABOUT UNTOLDUNTOLD is a writer development programme for marginalised writers in areas of conflict and post-conflict. Afghanistan has millions of Pashto and Dari speakers with little or no local support for creative writing, literary translation, or literary editing. Support for writers has been hampered by cultural norms, free expression issues, chronic instability, and internal displacement. UNTOLD has been working one-to-one with women on their short stories, with English-speaking literary editors and translators working with the writers to realise the potential of their stories for publication both locally and globally in translation.

    Turtles Have Secret Ears is perfect for home or for classroom read alouds. Kids love shouting out the answers to silly questions like "Can a turtle wear earrings?" This call and response format is a time-tested method for keeping kids engaged and interacting, instead of just chewing on the pages.

    Cyborg knights battle extraterrestrial demons to rescue a peaceful village. A young girl unlocks an ancient power to protect her world from offworld colonists. Here are stories not where magic is science, but with magic and science. Not knights and castles, but knights and starships. Wizards and ray guns. Swords and planets. In D.J. Butler’s “Power and Prestige,” a pair of two-bit mercenaries are hired to solve a murder in a labyrinth beneath a crumbling city at the end of time. A young knight must face down an alien menace and awaken the power within in R.R. Virdi’s “A Knight Luminary,” and in “Saving the Emperor” Simon R. Green takes us deep into the Imperial City of Virimonde . . . and offers a glimpse at how the Deathstalker clan rose to power and fame.  Plus tales from Tim Akers, Jessica Cluess, Hinkley Correia, L.J. Hachmeister, Susan R. Matthews, T.C. McCarthy, Jody Lynn Nye, Tom Toner . . plus a new world from Warhammer 40,000 author Peter Fehervari, and a new chapter in the Sun Eater saga from Christopher Ruocchio. Contributors: Tim Akers D.J. Butler Jessica Cluess Hinkley Correia Peter Fehervari Simon R. Green L.J. Hachmeister Susan R. Matthews T.C. McCarthy Jody Lynn Nye Christopher Ruocchio Tom Toner R.R. Virdi

    Equally provocative and profound, each story is masterfully woven with transgressive themes that burrow beneath the skin.• A poker game yields a strange prize that haunts one man, his game of chance now turned into a life-or-death coin flip.• A set of twins find they have mysterious new powers when an asteroid crashes in a field near their house, and the decisions they make create an uneasy balance.• A fantasy world is filled with one man’s desire to feel whole again, finally finding love, only to have the shocking truth of his life exposed in an appalling twist.• A father and son work slave labor in a brave new world run by aliens and mount a rebellion that may end up freeing them all.• A clown takes off his make-up in a gloomy basement to reveal something more horrifying under the white, tacky skin.Powerful and haunting, Thomas’ transportive collection dares you to examine what lies in the darkest, most twisted corners of human existence and not be transformed by what you find.

    Our writers gave us 206-word stories, one word per bone. We, Bag of Bones Press, have selected and published 206 of these absolute beasts for your enjoyment.For adults only.

    

    V.Castro weaves urban legend, folklore, life experience and heartache in this personal journey beginning in south Texas: a bar where a devil dances the night away; a street fight in a neighborhood that may not have been a fight after all; a vengeful chola at the beginning of the apocalypse; mind swapping in the not so far future; satan who falls and finds herself in a brothel in Amsterdam; the keys to Mictlan given to a woman after she dies during a pandemic. The collection finishes with two longer tales: The Final Porn Star is a twist on the final girl trope and slasher, with a creature from Mexican folklore; and Truck Stop is an erotic horror romance with two hearts: a video store and a truck stop.

    The result is a gripping, wonderfully understated book that oozes humanity, emotion and humour.’ Guardian‘Acutely, brilliantly observed . . . Erskine writes about her characters without sentiment but with compassion and, perhaps most importantly, with a sense of the absurd that finds humour in the darkest of places . . . The stories in Sweet Home are often very funny, even when they unsettle.’ The Times‘Completely brilliant . . . Erskine’s gift for understated black comedy, crisp dialogue and sharp characterisation ensures that Sweet Home is no wallow-in-kitchen-sink misery. Reading it is an enlivening experience and Erskine’s career is one to keep an eye on in the years to come.' Will Gore, ‘Five books to read this Autumn’, Spectator

    Meanwhile, Laura's trying to deal with an Alice who's literally climbing the walls and an infant Hodag that ISN'T on their student housing agreement, and Mary just sort of wants to drown everyone.It's a new day in Buckley Township and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and nobody's having a good time!

    

    Hades would rather be anywhere else than stuck behind a desk judging souls. At least he has a gorgeous coworker.A Hades x Thanatos Short Story.

    

    Here, knitting might cancel Armageddon. A winged being yearns to be an archaeologist. Readers are sucked into a post-apocalyptic London where the different rains are named after former politicians. An enchanted garden grows in a rented flat. Magical realism meets dystopia, with a refreshing twist.Extract: Ticket to Nowhere“Destination?” asked the woman in the railway ticket office. She had pink blotchy skin and dark bags under her eyes.“Nowhere,” I said. “Single or return?”“Can I get an open return for the next train?” “Not during peak hours.” I sighed. “Okay, single then.” I had no idea how long I would be in Nowhere, but had taken a few days off work, anyway.“That’ll be £35.”“For a one-way ticket to Nowhere? That’s a complete rip-off!” “Take it or leave it,” the woman said flatly. “Nowhere’s the cheapest destination on offer. I can do Elsewhere for £44 or Somewhere for £52. We have a special offer to Everywhere for £99, which includes free vouchers for a Nirvana milk-shake and Armageddon hamburger.” “I need a ticket to Nowhere.” I opened my purse and handed over the money. “When does the next train leave?” “In five minutes from platform three.” I took the ticket, picked up my suitcase, and followed the signs to platform three. Pacing resolutely, I was conscious of the click-click of my high heeled boots on the floor. It was dark outside apart from the dim lamps that lit the platform at intervals. A lonely half-moon was hovering high above, and I turned up the collar of my woollen overcoat against the chill of the night. A train slid out of a tunnel, then steadied to a halt. I found a seat in a carriage with few passengers. The train chugged off without enthusiasm into the night, and peering out of the window, I could see nothing, only darkness ahead, darkness behind. I felt anxious to be heading to Nowhere, but I had to go there. I’d much have rather been at home, curled up on the sofa with a novel.My mind flitted once more to the last encounter with Marcus seven months ago: him begging me for one more chance, me striding out angrily with a: “You promised me you’d quit the drugs, so go to hell.” I thought too of the message I’d got two days ago from a mutual acquaintance, saying he’d heard Marcus was in a ‘dangerously bad way’ and was desperate to speak to or see me. The chap hadn’t got Marcus’s address or phone number, but knew he was in Nowhere. The message, which still sent a sliver of fear down my spine, was the reason I was on this train.

    Henry Prize winner Sindya Bhanoo offers intimate stories of South Indian immigrants and the families they left behind, centering women’s lives and asking how women claim and surrender power.Traveling from Pittsburgh to Washington to Tamil Nadu, these astonishing stories about dislocation and dissonance see immigrants and their families confront the costs of leaving and staying, identifying sublime symmetries in lives growing apart. In “Malliga Homes,” selected by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for an O. Henry Prize, a widow in a retirement community glimpses her future while waiting for her daughter to visit from America. In "No. 16 Model House Road," a woman long subordinate to her husband makes a choice of her own after she inherits a house. In "Nature Exchange," a mother grieving in the wake of a school shooting finds an unusual obsession. In "A Life in America," a professor finds himself accused of having exploited his graduate students. Sindya Bhanoo’s haunting stories show us how immigrants’ paths, and the paths of those they leave behind, are never simple. Bhanoo takes us along on their complicated journeys where regret, hope, and triumph appear in disguise.

    

    Althingi: The Crescent and the Northern Star, co-edited by Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad (A Mosque Among the Stars, Islamicates) and Joshua Gillingham (The Gatewatch, Old Norse for Modern Times), is an anthology of historical fiction which explores the intricate and often-overlooked interactions between intrepid Viking voyagers and inquisitive emissaries from the powerful Islamic kingdoms. Featuring stories by an incredible slate of authors writing in the historical Althingi universe, Althingi: The Crescent and the Northern Star offers a glimpse into a fascinating forgotten past and will prove a must-read for fans of both Viking and Islamic history.

    

    Can Bachittar and his new cocktail book bring some excitement to the lives of the young Accountants ? Will Mother finally see one of her daughters happily married?What is Sheryl, the ex-caravan dweller keeping from the others? Now married to the only decent bloke on the block, but why is Sheryl secretly visiting 'The Gods of Leather'? Not those head banging pot heads.It's the usual shenanigans. Rajeev is reunited with his pet goat. Skinny Rita is helping the Sikhs feed the homeless, and Tattoo Tony is in charge of socially distanced drinking in the Dog & Drum.Contains drinking, dancing, hand santizer and masks. Check out this funny little story, set in a corner shop in Yorkshire, England.Perfect one hour read, laugh-out-loud and a guest chapter from our favourite Brummie / Aussie Stephen Ainley.

    These are just some of the gruesome encounters you will find within these pages.Delve into unimaginable terror with Eerie River’s new collection of nighttime frights. This sinister volume contains twenty-four terrifying tales of Monsters and Mayhem.Open the door and let the darkness through.The Deepest Dark by Georgia CookEugene Angove Loses His Marbles by Tim MendeesNightmares by Shelby SudermanThe Old Oak Tree by Rachel L. TilleyBölvetr by Ethan SabatellaThe Happening at Tin Cave by Christopher BondThe Suckling Pig by Tim MendeesMidnight Shift by David GreenWhat Once Was Mine by RJ FullerThe Woman in the Room by E.N. NeelyIf You Don’t Laugh, You Cry by Erica Ciko CampbellFoster Doll by J. M. FaulknerLittle Stars by Chris HewittEverything You Need by Ann WuehlerMid Mourning Snack by Radar DeBoardGhoul’s Kitchen by Nikki R. LeighMalik Alzalam by Hunter LaCrossThree Wishes Upon a Star by Ronald LinsonWails of Anguish by Jessica CaseyThe Banshee and the Bosun by Josh SippieWhere There’s Smoke by William SterlingFoundations by Georgia CookOn the Run by Rowan HillTusk and Nail by Kevin Walsh

    

    

    How does he seem to know Audrey’s deepest, darkest secrets? And what is the true purpose of the program? As Audrey ventures further into the twisted virtual world, she realizes that she’ll have to find out exactly how much Luc knows…Or risk everyone finding out about her.

    Caitlin Marceau’s work ranges from the quietly unnerving to the deeply disturbing, taking in post-apocalyptic futures, supernatural forces, psychological terrors and deals with the devil. One thing’s for certain: these stories will linger in your mind for long after you’ve read them.

    To honor how Black women use their minds, talent, passion, and power to transform society, Harold Green began writing love letters in verse which he shared on his Instagram account. Balm for our troubled times, his tributes to visionaries and leaders quickly went viral and became a social media sensation. Now, in this remarkable collection, Green brings together many of these popular odes with never-before-seen works.A timely celebration of contemporary Black figures who are making history and shaping our culture today, Black Roses is divided into five sections--advocates, curators, innovators, luminaries, trailblazers--reflecting the diversity of Black women's achievements and the depth of their reach. These inspiring changemakers are leaving their mark on the world by creating new beauty in their respective art forms, heading movements, fighting for equality and to change the status quo, and championing new definitions of what's possible in every meaningful way. Green lifts them up to create meaningful connections between these figures and our own lives and experiences.Black Roses spotlights and urges readers to learn more about Allyson Felix, Angelica Ross, Ava DuVernay, Bisa Butler, Bozoma Saint John, Charisma Sweat-Green, Dr. Eve Ewing, Dr. Janice Jackson, Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Eunique Jones-Gibson, Issa Rae, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Matthews, Kamala Harris, Keisha Bottoms, Kimberly Bryant, Kimberly Drew, Lisa Green, Lizzo, Mandilyn Graham, Mellody Hobson, Michelle Alexander, Misty Copeland, Naomi Beckwith, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Rapsody, Raquel Willis, Robin Roberts, Roxane Gay, Shellye Archambeau, Simone Biles, Stacey Abrams, Tabitha Brown, Tamika Mallory, Tarana Burke, Tasha Bell, Tomi Adeyemi, and Tracee Ellis Ross.

    It's time for a wedding. "Sacrifice Your Tears" covers the Lorden-Torquill wedding from Simon's point of view, and from there into the immediate aftermath.He's trying so hard.

    Four novellas set after the events of Copper Mountain:Thaddeus puts his own twist on a diplomatic mission.Tommy finds his introduction to Dimilioc somewhat eventful.Ethan takes responsibility for working out problems with Sergei Vasiliev and his people.A simple mission turns anything but simple for Keziah and Justin.

    These stories push readers to expand their understanding of the world beyond their own front doors.

    Resignation and reinvention are always a breath apart for these characters whose lives have fallen short of their dreams, and for others who never expected more. A healthy-pet-food producer is haunted by a pop song from her past. Nine siblings band together to raise themselves after parental abandonment. A domestic argument reveals a woman’s supernatural gift. A failing musician finds his calling soundtracking another man’s life. Stalked by who you think you are, who others think you are, and who you want to be, Nothing Could Be Further from the Truth is a collection at the threshold of perception and reality.

    Short story in The New Yorker

    Set mostly in Chicago, the stories range from the perspective of a nine-year-old girl intensely observing her new stepmother to a woman trying to make sense of her body after cancer surgery. The collection offers a complex and candid view of class privilege, gender oppression, and the idiosyncratic forms of refuge we take in a culture that demands our self-objectification.   In “Charlie,” a new mother tells the story of her confusing attachment to a former mentor, uncovering the deep pain that has largely defined her life. In “The Fathers,” an awkward bachelor party leads to an unexpected moment of overdue connection between the bride’s father and brothers. The title story tracks the drunken monologue of a nihilistic middle-aged man attempting to seduce a young woman into a threesome, while “The Deal” alternates perspectives between a cynical divorced woman and her adult son, the only person with whom she’s been able to sustain a lasting relationship. Relentlessly self-revealing, these characters vacillate between vulnerability and self-protection, exposing the necessity of both. Dark, comic, and altogether unforgettable, All Roads introduces an original voice attuned to the docility of the stingray as well as the ancient spear of its tail.

    

    Taking place in an unnamed "sliver of Southern suburbia" in the years spanning from the beginning of the Clinton presidency to the eve of Barack Obama's election, each of these exceptional works of short fiction explore how the inequities of our society--in the criminal justice system, education, and healthcare--as well as issues like the "war on drugs"--shape and scar ordinary lives in deeply personal ways.In "False Cognates," a formerly incarcerated attorney struggles with paying raising tuition costs to keep his troubled son in an elite private school. In "There He Go," a young girl whose mother moves them constantly yearns for stability and clings to a picture of the grandfather she doesn't know, inventing stories of his greatness that contrast with the actual man.In this fearless and at times funny collection, Ladee Hubbard transcends stereotypes to provide a fuller portrait of Black American life and its undercurrents. The characters inhabiting her world present diverse configurations of family--grandmothers and granddaughters who live together as roommates; cousins and uncles who form tight bonds; and fathers who are mainly present. Each is part of a community where daycares and babysitters are never taken for granted; where books and words are revered.The Last Suspicious Holdout and Other Stories mirrors and celebrates Black resilience. Though their finances, jobs, and businesses may be vulnerable to forces they cannot control, the neighbors in these stories bravely confront the realities of their lives, and firmly believe that hope is not a promise but a choice.

    When the same theater shows the film twenty years later, will the warnings that this is a really, really bad idea be justified?

    but you have no idea.The Jersey Devil, Wendigo, The Gates of Hell, Bloody Mary, The Lady in White...Primordial pagan religions, the Norse Pantheon, Greek Mythology...Ritual Killings, Alien Invasion, The Occult...We've all heard the stories around the campfire or at the water cooler. We've all shared the legends with hushed whispers or nervous laughter. But do we really know the truth? Do we really know what goes bump in the night? Do we want to?If you are at all interested in ancient tales, spooky legends, the macabre, superstitions, cryptids, or cults then this is the book for you!It is harrowing and hilarious, interesting and irreverent, spooky, and oh so satisfying.Urban Legend, Ghost Stories, and Folklore will bring you the truth about the legends and lore that you've heard of your whole life.Are you ready?

    This is writing that explores characters, stories and experiences beyond the mainstream. Featuring the fascinating, the forbidden, the subversive and even the mundane—in essence, the view from outside. Humorous, serious, autobiographical and revelatory, all aspects of the queer experience are reflected in this sparkling collection. This book is dedicated to the memory of Lucy/Jack Reynolds, the trans child of Sarah Beal, Publisher at Muswell Press, and niece/nephew of co-Publisher Kate Beal. A student, musician and an advocate of LGBTQI rights, she died in March 2020 at the age of 20.

    Perfect crime: From writing crime to being part of one, an author discovers what it takes to commit the perfect crime.Demons: A witness to a crime flees the scene, only to be forced to confront her personal demons.Whose life is it anyway?: A lawyer sets out to discover who's been poisoning her.Of closets and skeletons: A coming-of-age story that quickly takes a sinister turn.Poison pill: A hostile takeover is the least of the problems facing this family-run pharma business. … and other stories.Dive into the twisted minds of some of the most compelling characters that fiction has to offer in these quirky mysteries.

    . . The collection makes the argument that time and again, it is stories that save us.” —Booklist  Thirty-five literary luminaries come together in this stunning collection of all-new works. A must-have for any lover of literature, Small Odysseys sweeps the reader into the landscape of the contemporary short story, featuring never-before-published works by many of our most preeminent authors as well as up-and-coming superstars. On their journey through the book, readers will encounter long-ago movie stars, a town full of dandelions, and math lessons from Siri. They will attend karaoke night, hear a twenty-something slacker’s breathless report of his failed recruiting by the FBI, and travel with a father and son as they channel grief into running a neigh­borhood bakery truck. They will watch the Greek goddess Persephone encounter the end of the world, and witness another apocalypse through a series of advertise­ments for a touchless bidet. And finally, they will meet an aging loner who finds courage and resilience hidden in the most unexpected of places—the next generation. Published in partnership with beloved literary radio program and live show Selected Shorts in honor of its thirty-fifth anniversary, this collection of thirty-five stories captures its spirit in print for the first time.FEATURING Rabih Alameddine * Jenny Allen * Lesley Nneka Arimah * Aimee Bender * Marie-Helene Bertino * Jai Chakrabarti * Patrick Cottrell * Elizabeth Crane * Michael Cunningham * Patrick Dacey * Edwidge Danticat * Dave Eggers * Omar El Akkad * Lauren Groff * Jacob Guajardo * A.M. Homes * Mira Jacob * Jac Jemc * Etgar Keret * Lisa Ko * Victor LaValle * J. Robert Lennon * Ben Loory * Carmen Maria Machado * Juan Martinez * Maile Meloy * Joe Meno * Susan Perabo * Helen Phillips * Namwali Serpell * Rivers Solomon * Elizabeth Strout * Luis Alberto Urrea * Jess Walter * Weike Wang

    THE MAN WITH EIGHT PAIRS OF LEGS is about the ways our bodies are marked by memory, often literally, and the risky decisions we make when pushed to the extreme.Winner of the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, this collection of short stories is a study in compassion and in passion, a must-read for our times.

    Identities conceal secrets. Fairy tales remove the cloak.A fearless girl faces her most cunning foe, and this one stands on two legs.A young man with a secret strives to make a place for himself in a harsh and unwelcoming world.A fugitive who must rescue her lover finds that the life she left behind isn’t what she thought it was.A dragon falls in love with a god, but their differences may keep them apart.A witch strikes a bargain with a forest spy, leaving both with more than they expected. Explore heritage, friendship, and love in many forms in these three retellings and two original tales. Follow five characters as they discover that the past, the present, or the person they thought they knew conceals far more than they imagined.

    Frank, Anne, Monica, and Sarah all reappear from the pages of Montgomery's novel, Beyond the Ripples. New characters: An elderly mother and her son, a police office and spouse, a childhood friend, a counselor, a bystander appear, are all uniquely connected to a murder in downtown Astoria, Oregon.Frank's untimely death creates a spectrum of consequences for his loved ones, acquaintances, and strangers. The ensuing murder accusation throws a trio of characters into darkness, as they reassess earlier beliefs, past decisions and actions. Other characters are impacted in unique and unexpected ways. A police officer is haunted by his past. A young woman awakens from a vivid dream of a friend from before. A mother wonders what she did wrong. A son aches for others to be kind. A daughter questions her father's past, while her mother remembers parts of the man she had forgotten. A stranger ponders the significance of a message she's received.The characters in Humanity's Grace intertwine as they laugh, scream, and cry, do good or create evil. Most of all, they meander through sorrow and sadness, joy and regret, as they remind the reader of the startling and collective beauty of life's connections.

    Richly illustrated by Michigan artist Matthew Spencer in shades of color and gender, the words of Ava Kelly assure that we all belong.Alia Terra: Basme din Tărâmul Dragonilor conține trei povești diverse pentru toate vârstele."Ava Kelly’s book of bilingual Romanian/English fairytales is both necessary and a delight. While queer writing is being suppressed in many countries of Eastern Europe, this volume offers comfort and consolation with queer-normative stories that reach back to the familiar themes of childhood, and provide renewed hope. Mages, princesses, and above all, dragons populate the world of Alia Terra, richly illustrated by Matthew Spencer. Characters go against expectations, and learn to live true to themselves: curses turn into blessings, flying creatures find a new beginning underwater, and even love acquires new meaning. From aromanticism to nonbinary gender, LGBTQIA+ themes in Alia Terra are always portrayed with a gentle kindness that we need in our lives, and an eager, resilient confidence. Read the stories and share them with your loved ones!" - Bogi Takács, Hugo and Lambda Award-winning author

    These fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, brothers, wives, and best friends crack and bend under the pressure of conventional love, running away and toward one another, longing for a space to call home, often giving in to the hollow securities of their lives.In these forty-five flash fictions, you'll find the last two people on Earth, wondering if love or ramen will keep them alive; two brothers racing the Y2K clock as they consider their fear for the future; a son convincing his father to abandon a decrepit house that has come to represent the old man's stubbornness. These stories thrum with the electricity of wonder, challenged by the open wounds of love and guilt -- for parents, for loved ones, for broken selves surviving among their desires to strike out in a world that threatens to harden them into desperate creatures. Dean's clear and urgent prose unites reader and character as they wind down dark and uncertain paths toward the fading light.

    Yet ten years after his suicide, his voice still calls out to be heard. The new owner of Barlow's typewriter wakes in the night to the clacking of the keys and discovers pages filling up with untold stories. Tales of creation and destruction, inspiration and disappointment, imagination and nightmare. Barlow's spirit won't be at rest until he finishes his life's work and gives readers a chance to experience his tales from the typewriter...Book 32 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.

    

    Across 13 short stories by 10 different authors, discover the history, customs, and stories of 12 different successor Chapters, from famed warriors to unsung heroes.READ IT BECAUSEDiscover successor Chapters new and old within this anthology of short stories by some of Black Library's premier authors.DESCRIPTIONThe Space Marine Legions of old are dead, torn asunder in the wake of the Horus Heresy. In their place have risen a thousand Chapters, each unique, each carrying the legacy of their founders across the countless battlefields of the Imperium.The Flesh Tearers spill blood in a war of brutal attrition.The Emperor's Spears keep a tireless watch where their brothers have fallen.The Consecrators search the dark places for relics, artefacts of power from the noble past.The Crimson Fists vow, with bloodied hands, to become Dorn's glorious vanguard once more.These are the Imperium's bulwark against terror, the Emperor's Angels of Death. Forged from the genetic material of the demigod Primarchs, it is by the might of these Adeptus Astartes that the growing darkness of the galaxy is held at bay – for the Space Marines know no fear.CONTENTSExorcists: The Empty Place by Graham McNeillSoul Drinkers: The Phalangite Ascendancy by Ben CounterFlesh Tearers: Disgraced by Chris ForresterEmperor's Spears: The First Primaris by Aaron Dembski-BowdenCarcharodons: The Last Planet by Edoardo AlbertMortifactors: Legacy of Posul by Chris ForresterWolfspear: The Wolves of Raukos by Guy HaleyAngels Penitent: The Sins of My Brothers by Peter FehervariCrimson Fists: Patience Kills by Gary KlosterBlack Dragons: Bless the Curse by Callum DavisConsecrators: Living Relics by David GuymerIron Lords: Iron Watch by Callum DavisEmperor's Spears: Son of the Storm World by Aaron Dembski-Bowden

    From a subby himbo librarian, to married lesbians, to Dommes with ADHD, these kinksters use kink to alleviate anxiety, find connection, and to get off. Hard.Includes a foreword by NYT Bestseller Eden Bradley, and a "Kink is Complicated" essay by Swoonies nominee Stefanie Simpson, as well as two new, exclusive stories!

    Ben Samm is a struggling art journalist who doesn’t believe in ghosts, haunted dimensions, or supernatural powers in art—until he meets the famous painter Jasper Peacock. Ben is desperate to get a revealing interview about this genius’s award-winning portrait Rabbles, a horrific devilish-pointed figure—the reported living muse who inspires the artist.Rabbles resides inside Peacock’s isolated Hampshire estate in the country where Ben conducts the interview. When the meeting goes awry, Peacock coerces Ben into his attic studio. Here the supernatural dimensions of Jasper Peacock’s artistic creations not only threaten to seize Ben’s mind, body, and soul, but reveal Rabble’s dark menacing powers.This is not your ordinary painting on a canvass; this is a mystery of light and shadow that needs cracking. Does Ben have the courage to resist the force of the almighty Rabbles?Welcome art lovers, to the Art of Darkness.“Jasper Peacock” was originally published by Coffin Bell Literary Magazine, 2019.

    There's just one problem though...there is no evidence at all to suggest the teens are murderers. When one of the convicted teens is sentenced to death, there is a race against time to prove the young mens' innocence.Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirsty Gordon: when two little girls disappear from a football game in Australia, the odds of ever finding them alive appear to be slim.Johnny Altinger: a computer whizz looks for love. What he finds is his own demise, with his family left to secure justice.The Pikuls: Diane Pikul seemed to have it all. Her husband was a self-made millionaire who lavished her with whatever her heart desired. To her close friends though, it seemed to be only a matter of time before Diane's "Prince Charming" killed her.

    In “A Sharp Black Line” children go missing whenever a ghostly island appears in the center of a river during a storm, and a father must make a terrible choice.Two young brothers are tasked with burying the family dog, and uncover dark family secrets in “Trigger.” In “Red Hands” a disturbed man goes on a killing spree, and his childhood friend suspects it has something to do with what they found, many years ago, hidden in a cave.A courtroom sketch artist draws the evil she cannot see in “The Devil on the Stand.”A young boy sets out to get photographic proof of the ghosts that haunt his home in “Boo!”Grotesque government experiments, a remote viewer who blurs past and future, a crate that contains ancient evil, and bloodthirsty machines are all part of the world in which these tales take place.Featuring thirteen short stories and one novelette, Burn the Plans is a relentless journey into the dark places we end up when all of our plans go wrong."In his first collection Burn the Plans, Tyler Jones is an author who has found his voice, and it's a confident, assured one. From the opening story's look at guilt and penance to the closing story's tale of a Christmas gone horribly wrong, Burn the Plans features real characters caught up in unreal situations. Recommended!" - John F.D. Taff, Bram Stoker Award-Nominated author of Little Black Spots and The Fearing"At turns disquieting and surreal, Burn the Plans demands we chase shadows through unlit cities and down painful roads. Jones paints the grim portrait of a shattered-glass world and then throws us inside with no way out. In this collection, everywhere and everyone is a haunted house."- Hailey Piper, author of The Worm and His Kings"Original and highly entertaining with storytelling prose that refuses to let go. You're going to have fun with this one." - Chad Lutzke, author of Of Foster Homes and Flies

    I never imagined the muscular, tattooed man he'd grow up to be. But no matter how hot he was, I had to resist the temptation he presented.I needed to focus on making my boutique a success for my son and me.Any desire I felt for him quickly shifted to annoyance as he began targeting my shop. He claimed it was a cluttered eye sore driving customers away from his hardware store. I couldn’t understand why he was so bitter toward me. For the sake of our businesses, and my heart, could we find a way to get along, or would our rivalry turn into an all-out war?

    “THE ETYMOLOGIST RISES”The term “comic book” is an etymologically confusing one, as they (the comics) are most often not humorous, nor are they in the traditional sense books.

    Just his luck, this cunning escape brings him up against an even more dangerous enemy – a feral ork, ready to deliver a proper krumpin'...

    Anderson, Hester Steel, Monica Gribouski, Charlotte Hayward, Amanda M. Pierce, and Emma Jun.Something has changed. People around the world are being awakened and developing strange new powers.In Texas, a girl gains the ability to know when someone will die. In Taiwan, a man discovers he’s become a radio antenna. The residents of Oak House are hiding a whole host of secrets, and in Dorset, even the countryside is mutating. And if you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise.Meanwhile, on the secretive island of Mutopia, someone’s watching.

    In an early story, “The October Devotion,” William Miller’s predicted mid-19th century apocalypse ends up with a girl discovering what might or might not be Lovecraftian salvation in the forest. A soldier brings a dragon home from World War II to east Tennessee in “The Immigrant.” Two stories here take place in Priest’s beloved Clockwork Century universe: “Reluctance,” in which a teen veteran with a war injury lands his dirigible in a town that seems empty, only to end up in a race against time and zombies, and the novella “Clementine,” following the adventures of Maria Isabella Boyd and Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey. Another novella, The Wreck of the Mary Byrd, weaves the story of a disappearing boat in 1870 in the words of the captain and some of the passengers...as well as an unforgettable villain. And there’s so much more.Holy Terror also features an introduction from New York Times’ bestselling author Kevin Hearne, extensive notes on each story from Priest, and an exclusive new novelette, “Talking in Circles” that is sure to become a fan favorite. Get ready to hide under the covers, crack this volume open, and take a delicious trip to the dark side.

    

    A taxidermist dreams of preserving one of his clients after she takes him out for a coffee… A grieving nurse is troubled by her daughter’s fascination with the Iron Lady… In Safely Gathered In, Sarah Schofield probes at the heart of what forms us and what we, in turn, form. The stories collected here expose the spaces that words often fail to reach and examine how objects—both manmade and natural—can reflect the darkest manifestations of grief and disconnection. From the child acting out a family betrayal in the comfort of her dolls house, to the sister making wind-up toys from the dead birds she finds on her doorstep, this debut collection ventures into the surreal and delivers a sense of unease that leaves us questioning why we gather the things we do.

    It's hard just to get through a normal day... And it's even harder when you realize your perfect family has fallen apart.Olivia and Michael have tried for years to have a baby. When they finally did, they had their daughter Addie who brought them the happiness that came with having a child. But when she mysteriously vanished one day, Olivia & Michael were left grieving over a tragedy. Will they ever find their beloved daughter?This prequel is the introduction to The Support Group series!

    A widower and his baby daughter visited by demons. A homunculus climbing out of the skull of a woman's sick father. These stories exist in the borderlands between literary and genre, injecting strange and speculative elements into the mundane. Creatures, spirits, ghosts, robots, superheroes, and the Devil himself populate the pages, as elements of satire, horror, and science fiction enter the everyday tragedies of love, death, and loss. With odes to jazz and cyberpunk, spanning Pittsburgh to Argentina, Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before is twelve tales of the weird, including a previously unpublished story and novelette.

    Wonderful stories. Impressive range. Delightfully, compellingly queer. -Roxane GaySparkling, imaginative, and inventive. -Karen Thompson WalkerThe vision of a singular and exciting artist. -Torrey Peters.The nine stories in Morgan Thomas's shimmering debut collection witness Southern queer and genderqueer characters determined to find themselves reflected in the annals of history, whatever the cost. As Thomas's subjects trace deceit and violence through Southern tall tales and their own pasts, their journeys reveal the porous boundaries of body, land, and history, and the sometimes ruthless awakenings of self-discovery.A trans woman finds her independence with the purchase of a pregnancy bump; a young Virginian flees their relationship, choosing instead to immerse themself in the life of an intersex person from Colonial-era Jamestown. A writer tries to evade the murky and violent legacy of an ancestor who supposedly disappeared into a midwifery bag, and in the uncanny title story, a young trans person brings home a replacement daughter for their elderly father.Winding between reinvention and remembrance, transition and transcendence, these origin stories resound across centuries. With warm, meticulous emotional intelligence, Morgan Thomas uncovers how the stories we borrow to understand ourselves in turn shape the people we become. Ushering in a new form of queer mythmaking, Manywhere introduces a storyteller of uncommon range and talent.

    The violent premier of a film star’s lost noir masterpiece. A housekeeper’s final job for her late employer. An exhumation to retrieve a poetry manuscript. Ghosts haunting atomic test sites of the American west. The dangers facing podcasters, mud loggers, and rural veterinarians. Landlords and gods and rocks and monsters.Toadstones is a collection of short stories firmly in the tradition of the weird tale. They evoke the sensation of catching an unnerving movement out of the corner of your eye, of hearing a sudden and unidentifiable skittering in the walls, of dreaming about a strange city where you meet someone you would have sworn died long ago. Explore the uncanny shadows occluding what we thought was a mundane world in these sixteen (that’s twice eight, or four fours; are you tracking the numerology?) stories.Destined to be an underworld classic, these stories by everyone’s favorite anarchocommunist calling upon the aid of Hell will have you believing in the unbelievable—and thinking twice before you let another repair guy in your house.

    Who was the Beast of Belanglo?The Teacup Poisoner: a young English man’s curiosity for exotic substances is mistaken for a passion for chemistry. In reality, Graham Young has grown obsessed with poisoning the tea of those around him, work colleagues and family alike.The Amazon Review Killer: to say that Todd had a thin skin is an understatement. Any perceived sleight and he could respond with murder.The I-Five Killer: If Randall Woodfield had found a way to control his depraved urges there’s a good chance he would be remembered as a legendary football player. Instead, he will be forever known as the I-Five Killer, a psychotic killer who terrorised the highways before finally being brought to justice.The Sins of the Father: as a young boy Ed Edwards promised that he would grow up to be a notorious criminal. The nuns at his school didn’t disagree, but not even they could have guessed just how depraved the troubled young boy in their care would turn out to be

    

    An unemployed man chooses only to apply for jobs advertised in The Economist; a failed mountain expedition is mocked by the dead bodies of past climbers; and a father and son travel urgently to witness the miracle of Lake Pedder emptying. In What Fear Was, Walter combines beautiful, mesmerising writing with surreal discomfort and absurdist hilarity to completely upend the idea of an Australian short story.'Lyrical and inventive, savage and strange. You’ve never read anyone like Ben Walter. Total mastery of language and imagery, paired with an unrivalled imagination and immense storytelling chutzpah. The shot in the arm Australian literature has been screaming for.' – Robbie Arnott'With its unforgettable descriptions of the natural world, and the unsettling things that sometimes take place there, What Fear Was is an extraordinary collection of stories. Deeply strange, beautifully lyrical and intensely moving; no one in Australia writes like Ben Walter. The weird realism of What Fear Was is wholly unique and deeply valuable in contemporary Australian fiction.' – Ryan O’Neill.'What Fear Was is a darkly funny, surreal and tender collection, wonderfully Tasmanian in its entanglements. You never know where Ben Walter's stories will take you - there are no straight lines here - but it's truly a pleasure to follow his trail.' – Jennifer Mills

    The next morning, I texted to say I wouldn’t be coming back. I lied about having to return to my country to nurse a sick relative. I couldn’t bear to see my story mirrored in his eyes, and to see what we never had. I knew he’d understand.’Women and Love is a thought-provoking collection of seventeen tightly woven tales about the power of love, all its trials and complications, and the shattered lives it can leave in its wake.The stories explore a huge variety of sorts of love surrounding women in wildly differing settings, and features an unforgettable cast including GPs, burglars, inmates, emigrant cleaners, carers, young professionals, and many more. Navigating heavy themes, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ experiences, including gender dysphoria and searching for a sperm donor, the stories leave the reader burning with indignation, full of empathy and wonder.

    Each month we bring you a mix of fiction, articles, interviews and art.Our February 2022 issue (#185) contains:* Original fiction by Isabel J. Kim (“The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse”), Marissa Lingen (“The Plasticity of Youth”), Octavia Cade (“You’re Not the Only One”), Sarah Pauling (“Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic”), John McNeil (“The Old Moon”), Jess Levine (“The Direction of Clocks”), and Arula Ratnakar (“Babirusa”).* Non-fiction includes an article by Douglas F. Dluzen and interviews with Zoraida Córdova and Max Gladstone, and an editorial by Neil Clarke.