Best of
Speculative-Fiction

2003

The Rough Guide to the Lord of the Rings: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Middle-Earth


Paul SimpsonAngie Errigo - 2003
    Tolkien. It serves as an introduction to those who have seen the films but fear the books are for anoraks and is of sufficient depth for devoted Tolkienites. It tracks the evolution of the Lord of the Rings phenomenon from Ronald Tolkien's upbringing and contemporaries such as C.S. Lewis to the revival of fantasy fiction, the obsessive fans and the trilogy's influence on figures from George Lucas to J.K. Rowling. There is also an in-depth look at the characters, a guide to Middle Earth and a rundown of the best film locations to visit, including practical details of how to get there and where best to stay.

Set This House in Order


Matt Ruff - 2003
    . . . It was no ordinary murder. Though the torture and abuse that killed him were real, Andy Gage's death wasn't. Only his soul actually died, and when it died, it broke in pieces. Then the pieces became souls in their own right, coinheritors of Andy Gage's life. . . .While Andy deals with the outside world, more than a hundred other souls share an imaginary house inside Andy's head, struggling to maintain an orderly coexistence: Aaron, the father figure; Adam, the mischievous teenager; Jake, the frightened little boy; Aunt Sam, the artist; Seferis, the defender; and Gideon, who wants to get rid of Andy and the others and run things on his own.Andy's new coworker, Penny Driver, is also a multiple personality, a fact that Penny is only partially aware of. When several of Penny's other souls ask Andy for help, Andy reluctantly agrees, setting in motion a chain of events that threatens to destroy the stability of the house. Now Andy and Penny must work together to uncover a terrible secret that Andy has been keeping . . . from himself.

The Book of Athyra


Steven Brust - 2003
    Accompanying him on his journeys are two leathery-winged jhereg who share a telepathic link with Vlad—and triple his chances against even the most powerful of enemies… In Athyra, Vlad finds he’s ready to retire himself and his jhereg companions, but the biggest hitters of the House of the Jhereg have something else in mind. In Orca, Vlad must repay a debt to a boy who saved his life—even if it means breaking a financial scandal big enough to bring down the House of the Orca, and possibly the entire Empire…

The Twig Trilogy (Edge Chronicles #4-6): Includes Beyond the Deepwoods, Stormchaser & Midnight Over Sanctaphrax


Paul Stewart - 2003
    Initially, Twig’s dreams of exploration seem fulfilled. But a much higher destiny awaits him.In Midnight Over Sanctaphrax, the third title in the trilogy, Twig, now a sky pirate captain, is the only one who can save the Edgelands from disaster. But the task is daunting: his crew lost and his memory shattered. Can he make the journey back into the Deepwoods to recover his memory and take action?

Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the Mysterious Island


Jules Verne - 2003
    In 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea we meet the enigmatic Captain Nemo and The Nautilus. Even after many adventures and much derring-do Nemo's secrets remain his own, and at the end of the novel we are left with many mysteries concering this mysterious and tragic man. In The Mysterious Island we once again encounter Captain Nemo. The years have mellowed him some, and he reveals his surprising secrets. Two wonderful sea adventures!

Latro in the Mist


Gene Wolfe - 2003
    Latro forgets everything when he sleeps. Writing down his experiences every day and reading his journal anew each morning gives him a poignantly tenuous hold on himself, but his story's hold on readers is powerful indeed, and many consider these Wolfe's best books.

Quicksilver


Neal Stephenson - 2003
    In which Daniel Waterhouse, fearless thinker and courageous Puritan, pursues knowledge in the company of the greatest minds of Baroque-era Europe -- in a chaotic world where reason wars with the bloody ambitions of the mighty, and where catastrophe, natural or otherwise, can alter the political landscape overnight.(back cover)

Cursed


Mel Odom - 2003
    SPIKE Sulking around the Slayer in Sunnydale, the vampire Spike has often run into demons intent on punishing him for throwing in with the White Hats. But when there are hints of a more organized campaign dedicated to vanquishing the vampire with a chip in his head, Spike sets off on the trail of whoever's put a hit out on him. Meanwhile, in the City of Angels, the vampire with a soul finds that the search for a mystical object is tied to his days as the vicious Angelus. Then Spike -- his former partner in carnage -- arrives in L.A. Each nursing a grudge, and with the specter of Buffy in both of their (cold, dead) hearts, the two vampires reluctantly work together...until their torturous past catches up with them!

Elfquest Archives, Vol. 1


Wendy Pini - 2003
    1 introduces the legend of Cutter and his Wolfrider clan of elves. Existing on a prehistoric world in which humans and elves are bitter enemies, the Wolfriders live a dangerous life of fatal battles, deadly hunts, and tribal traditions. Proud of their history but unaware of their origin, the Wolfriders are on an eternal quest to learn the mysteries of their past. A fast-paced tale of action and conflict, this hardcover edition includes the Wolfriders' fateful battle with a band of humans, their surprising discovery of another clan of elves, and Cutter's first meeting with his lifemate Leetah.

The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure


Storm Constantine - 2003
    The author of many acclaimed works of science fiction and fantasy, she is best known for her daring, stylish and provocative Wraeththu trilogy (The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit, The Bewitchments of Love and Hate, The Fulfilments of Fate and Desire). The series, which chronicled the rise of a new race of seductive androgynous beings with awesome powers, was hailed as a modern fantasy masterpiece, winning an avid international following of devoted readers.Now, with The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure, Storm Constantine returns once again to the saga of the Wraeththu with a new epic that reveals previously unknown truths about the origins of these remarkable beings. Long before the Wraeththu assumed total mastery of the Earth and dominion over the dwindling remnants of the human race, they were a wild and passionate people, living in scattered tribes, worshiping strange gods, increasing their numbers by transmuting humans into their own kind. But all that changed on a festival night that surpassed all others, a night when the world changed forever and the Wraeththu began to realize their awesome potential.It was a time when the archmage Thiede wove the strands of Wraeththu destiny. When two young Wraeththu hara came together to produce a miraculous new life. When Pellaz, a brash and reckless young leader, rose from destruction to take his place in Wraeththu history. And a child called Lileem found a path of passion and power that led to unknown worlds of mystery.A tale of intrigue and betrayal, bloodshed and pleasure, dark and dangerous supernatural forces, ardent and consuming passions, The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure is a thrilling new chapter in a compelling fantasy epic.

The Science of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials


Mary Gribbin - 2003
    Drawing on string theory and space-time, quantum physics and chaos theory, award-winning science authors Mary and John Gribbin reveal how Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy is rooted in scientific truth.

The Steerswoman's Road


Rosemary Kirstein - 2003
    If she asks, you must reply. A steerswoman will speak only the truth to you, as long as she knows it—and you must do the same for her. And so, across the centuries, the Steerswomen— questioning, searching, investigating—have slowly learned more and more about the world through which they wander. All knowledge the Steerswomen possess is given freely to those who ask. But there is one kind of knowledge that has always been denied them: Magic.When the steerswoman Rowan discovers a small, lovely blue jewel of obviously magical origin, her innocent questions lead to secret after startling secret, each more dangerous than the last—and suddenly Rowan must flee or fight for her life. Or worse, she must lie.With every wizard in the world searching for her, Rowan finds unexpected assistance. A chance-met traveler turned friend, Bel is a warrior-poet, an Outskirter, and a member of a barbaric and violent people. Or, so it would seem.For Bel, unknowing, possesses secrets of her own: secrets embedded in her culture, in her people, in the very soil of her homeland. From the Inland Sea to the deadly Outskirts, surrounded by danger and deceit, Rowan and Bel uncover more and more of the wizards’ hidden knowledge. As the new truths accumulate, they edge closer to the single truth that lies at the center, the most unexpected secret of them all. . . .

Oryx and Crake


Margaret Atwood - 2003
    Snowman, known as Jimmy before mankind was overwhelmed by a plague, is struggling to survive in a world where he may be the last human, and mourning the loss of his best friend, Crake, and the beautiful and elusive Oryx whom they both loved. In search of answers, Snowman embarks on a journey–with the help of the green-eyed Children of Crake–through the lush wilderness that was so recently a great city, until powerful corporations took mankind on an uncontrolled genetic engineering ride. Margaret Atwood projects us into a near future that is both all too familiar and beyond our imagining.

The Silverwing Trilogy (Boxed Set): Silverwing; Sunwing; Firewing


Kenneth Oppel - 2003
    Now Shade's many fans can follow his journeys once again in this handsome boxed set.Books in this set include:"SilverwingSunwingFirewing"

General Practice


James White - 2003
    In this vast hospital in the depths of space, the thousands of staff, human and alien both, have a single mission: to care for all patients, of all species. For decades, these dramas of humanity and humor have commanded a following among science fiction readers. Now, in a single omnibus, the seventh and eighth volumes of the series-Code Blue: Emergency and The Genocidal Healer-return to print, along with an introduction by John Clute.

The Martian Tales Trilogy


Edgar Rice Burroughs - 2003
    In the first installment, Carter wins the affections of the "princess of Mars" and the respect of the Martian warlords whom he befriends. The excitement continues in The Gods of Mars when Carter engages the Black Pirates in airborne combat above the dead seas of Mars and leads a revolt to free the Martian races from a religion that thrives on living sacrifices. In the third book, Warlord of Mars, Carter overcomes the forces of evil that would destroy the planet. By the end of the trilogy the Martians all clamor for a triumphant John Carter to be their king.About the Author:Born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 1, 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs grew to maturity during the height of the Industrial Revolution and witnessed the emergence of the United States as a twentieth-century world power. Hailing from a well-to-do family, Burroughs was given an aristocratic education steeped in Latin and Greek, but he was drawn more to an itinerant life of adventure than to a life in the boardroom. The author of Tarzan of the Apes (1912), Burroughs did not confine himself to a single genre; he also wrote medieval romances (The Outlaw of Torn, 1914), westerns (The War Chief of the Apaches, 1927), and mainstream novels (The Girl from Hollywood, 1922).

Trading in Danger / Remnant Population


Elizabeth Moon - 2003
    For Ky, it's no contest: Even running the prestigious Vatta Transport Ltd. shipping concern can't hold a candle to shipping out as an officer aboard an interstellar cruiser. It's adventure, not commerce, that stirs her soul. And despite her family's misgivings, there can be no doubt that a Vatta in the service will prove a valuable asset. But with a single error in judgment, it all comes crumbling down. Expelled from the Academy in disgrace--and returning home to her humiliated family, a storm of high-profile media coverage, and the gaping void of her own future--Ky is ready to face the inevitable onslaught of anger, disappointment, even pity. But soon after opportunity's door slams shut, Ky finds herself with a ticket to ride--and a shot at redemption--as captain of a Vatta Transport ship. It's a simple assignment: escorting one of the Vatta fleet's oldest ships on its final voyage ... to the scrapyard. But keeping it simple has never been Ky's style. And even though her father has provided a crew of seasoned veterans to baby-sit the fledgling captain on her maiden milk run, they can't stop Ky from turning the routine mission into a risky venture--in the name of turning a profit for Vatta Transport, of course. By snapping up a lucrative delivery contract defaulted on by a rival company, and using part of the proceeds to upgrade her condemned vehicle, Ky aims to prove she's got more going for her than just her family's famous name. But business will soon have to take a backseat to bravery, when Ky's change of plans sails her and the crew straight into the middle of a colonial war. For all her commercial savvy, it's her military training and born-soldier's instincts that Ky will need to call on in the face of deadly combat, dangerous mercenaries, and violent mutiny....

More Tomorrow: And Other Stories


Michael Marshall Smith - 2003
    MORE TOMORROW & OTHER STORIES features 30 of the author's best stories, plus an introduction by award-winning editor Stephen Jones and an afterword by Michael Marshall Smith.More TomorrowBeing Right*Hell Hath Enlarged HerselfSave As...The HandoverWhat You Make It*Maybe Next TimeThe Book of Irrational NumbersWhen God Lived in Kentish TownThe Man Who Drew CatsA Place To StayThe Dark LandTo See The SeaTwo ShotLast Glance Back They Also ServeDear AlisonTo Receive Is BetterThe Munchies*AlwaysNot WavingEverybody GoesDyingCharmsOpen Doors*LaterMore Bitter Than DeathA Long Walk, For The Last TimeThe VaccinatorEnough Pizza

The Lights of Tenth Street


Shaunti Feldhahn - 2003
    They have a well-meaning but shallow church. What Sherry doesn't know is that Doug has a shameful struggle with his thought life. When an exotic dancer's life intersects theirs, this suburban couple has to make a hard choice: do they risk their convenience and security for her sake, or do they cross to the other side of the road? The dark forces will not easily give up their most important pawn. But Ronnie must come out of the darkness, for only she can unravel a plot of devastating destruction.

Dreamsongs, Volume I


George R.R. Martin - 2003
    Martin is a giant in the field of fantasy literature and one of the most exciting storytellers of our time. Now he delivers a rare treat for readers: a compendium of his shorter works, collected into two stunning volumes, that offer fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master.Gathered here in Volume I are the very best of George R.R. Martin's early works, including never-before-published fan pieces, his Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker Award-winning stories plus the original novella The Ice Dragon, from which Martin's New York Times bestselling children's book of the same title originated. A dazzling array that features extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume I, is the perfect collection for both Martin devotees and a new generation of fans.Contents:- Introduction by Gardner Dozois One: A Four-Color Fanboy (2003)- Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark (1967)- The Fortress (2003)- And Death His Legacy (2003)Two: The Filthy Pro (2003)- The Hero (1971)- The Exit to San Breta (1972)- The Second Kind of Loneliness (1972)- With Morning Comes Mistfall (1973)Three: The Light of Distant Stars (2003)- A Song for Lya (1974)- The Stone City (1977)- This Tower of Ashes (1976)- And Seven Times Never Kill Man (1975)- Bitterblooms (1977)- The Way of Cross and Dragon (1979)Four: The Heirs of Turtle Castle (2003)- The Lonely Songs of Laren Dorr (1976)- The Ice Dragon (1980)- In the Lost Lands (1982)Five: Hybrids and Horrors (2003)- Meathouse Man (1976)- Remembering Melody (1981)- Sandkings (1979)- Nightflyers (1980)- The Monkey Treatment (1983)- The Pear-Shaped Man (1987)

Aye, and Gomorrah


Samuel R. Delany - 2003
    In Venice an architecture student commits a crime of passion. A white southern airport loader tries to do a favor for a black northern child. The ordinary stuff of ordinary fiction--but with a difference! These tales take place twenty-five, fifty, a hundred-fifty years from now, when men and women have been given gills to labor under the sea. Huge repair stations patrol the cables carrying power to the ends of the earth. Telepathic and precocious children so passionately yearn to visit distant galaxies that they'll kill to go. Brilliantly crafted, beautifully written, these are Samuel Delany's award-winning stories, like no others before or since.

The Wizard Hunters


Martha Wells - 2003
    Every weapon in the arsenal of Ile-Rien's revered wizards has proven useless.And now the last hope of a magical realm under siege rests within a child's plaything.

The Fluted Girl (Great Science Fiction Stories)


Paolo Bacigalupi - 2003
    She had been given the stolen black eyes of an Indian girl. Pigment drugs drained color from her skin. Then surgeries and cell knitters completed her transformation into a performance artist for the rich. This story is part of the publisher's Great Science Fiction Stories audio series. It's on 1 CD approximately 62 minutes in length. The author was recently awarded the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for best short science fiction.

Narbonic


Shaenon K. Garrity - 2003
    Along with her evil intern Mell Kelly and her newest hire, hapless computer guy Dave Davenport, shell do battle with Antonio Smith Forensic Linguist, win the heart of Prof. Lupin Madblood, quell a rebellion of superintelligent gerbils, and face the greatest evil of all...her mother.

Things That Never Happen


M. John Harrison - 2003
    Banks.Over the last thirty years, M. John Harrison has been inspiring readers and writers alike across the world. His return to science fiction in 2002 with the magnificent space opera LIGHT was a monumental triumph, shortlisted for every major award in the genre. He combines brilliant storytelling with complex plots and evocative, mesmerising writing.THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPEN is M. John Harrison's definitive collection of short fiction, twenty-four dazzling stories of science fiction and fantasy; the perfect introduction to one of Britain's most brilliant writers.Contents:Settling the World (1975)Running Down (1975)The Incalling (1978)The Ice Monkey (1980)Egnaro (1981)Old Women (1984)The New Rays (1982)The Quarry (1983)A Young Man's Journey to London (1985)Small Heirlooms (1987)The Great God Pan (1988)The Gift (1988)The Horse of Iron and How We Can Know It and Be Changed by It Forever (1989)Gifco (1992)Anima (1992)Isobel Avens Returns to Stepney in the Spring (1994)Empty (1995)Seven Guesses of the Heart (1996)I Did It (1996)The East (1996)Suicide Coast (1999)The Neon Heart Murders (2000)Black Houses (1998)Science & The Arts (1999)

A Treasure Deep


Alton Gansky - 2003
    Famous engineer Perry Sachs pursues a booby-trapped bounty with vision and faith, but must fend off the increasingly desperate attempts of a modern-day murderer.

Little Gods


Tim Pratt - 2003
    Within these pages you will encounter a train to the underworld, a feral bicycle, a thief with peculiar eating habits, an amnesiac superhero, a haunted zoot suit, star-crossed monsters, fallen angels on vacation and other wonders. From fast-paced sorcerer-punk to weird Westerns, from the loss of childhood innocence to the heat death of the universe, these stories will delight, surprise and move you.

Mojo: Conjure Stories


Nalo HopkinsonNisi Shawl - 2003
    Although the stories explore the myths and legends of personal magic, the subject matter ranges widely from African warriors in the holds of slave ships to abused children plotting revenge to drag queens to the undead living in affluent closed communities. In Neil Gaiman's "Bitter Grounds," an anthropology professor is on his way to a conference in New Orleans to present a paper on the legend of the Haitian coffee girls, undead children who allegedly went door-to-door selling a chicory coffee mixture just before the dawn. When his car breaks down on a backwoods road, he runs into a mysterious Samaritan who comes into his life for a very definite reason. The introduction by Luisah Teish, a popular spiritualist and author of Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals, says it all: "Reader, Be Aware! There's a conjuring going on. You are being lured, with the turning of each page, into the myth and mystery of our DeepBlack magical heritage." Unlike many anthologies, this collection of 19 original stories has no weak spots. Every tale is strong, unique, and noteworthy in its own right. Fans of Nalo Hopkinson works like Brown Girl in the Ring and the short story collection Skin Folk will cherish this brilliant collection. Paul Goat Allen

Master Walk


Sharon Lee - 2003
    He faces pirates, politics, police, and plots. All he has to do is survive. . .In Master Walk, award-winning science fiction authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller bring a new YA universe to life. Introducing The Advocacy, a rough-and-tumble civilization that has a mix of sentient races and a lot to learn."Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are so good, it's scary." -- S. L. Viehl, author of the StarDoc series"Nobody else in the field combines space opera and comedy of manners with the same deftness and brio as these two." -- Debra Doyle, co-author of the Mageworlds novels". . .classic space adventure. . .is full of action. . . The world building is outstanding. . ." -- Booklist

The Taking of Mistworld


Simon R. Green - 2003
    He stoked the flames of revolution, gathering the forces that, one day, must strike against Imperial authority. That day has come. Owen and the rebel forces must now bring the uprising to a fiery conclusion. But the desperate cause will need more than an army of courageous fighters to succeed, for the cunning Empress Lionstone has evil surprises to unleash.

Echo Tree: The Collected Short Fiction of Henry Dumas


Henry Dumas - 2003
    From the Deep South to the simmering streets of Harlem, his characters embark on surreal and mythic quests armed only with wit, words, and wisdom. Championed by Toni Morrison, Walter Mosley, and Quincy Troupe, -Dumas’s books have long been out of print. All of his short fiction is collected here, for the first time, and includes several previously unpublished stories. Henry Dumas was born in Sweet Home, Arkansas, moved to Harlem, joined the Air Force, attended Rutgers, worked for IBM, and taught at Hiram College in Ohio and Southern Illinois University. In 1968, at the age of thirty-three, he was shot and killed by a New York Transit Authority -policeman.

Opening Gambit


Simon R. Green - 2003
    Now as he gathers his unlikely force -- the legendary washed-up hero Jack Random, the beautiful pirate Hazel d'Arc, the original Deathstalker long since presumed dead, and the alien Hadenmen -- the eyes of the downtrodden are upon him...while the freedom of a galaxy awaits!

The Mothers and Fathers Italian Association


Thomas F. Monteleone - 2003
    Monteleone (The Blood of the Lamb), collects the "MAFIA" columns this outspoken commentator on the horror field has published over 27 years in a range of genre publications, most recently Cemetery Dance. As his friend Richard Chizmar says in the introduction, "Tom tells it like it is." This provocative and amusing chronicle is a must-read for anyone interested in the ups and downs of a professional horror writer.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Pellucidar: The Inner World, Vol 1


Edgar Rice Burroughs - 2003
    In the great tradition of scientific romances, what they encounter inside our planet quickly turns human knowledge on its head. They discover savage tribes, strange animals and nascent civilizations and become involved in wars, retribution and empire-building-all while rescuing and falling in love with beautiful, scantily clad maidens. Pellucidar: the Inner World - classic science fiction from a more innocent time that will delight readers both old and new.

Noor


Sorayya Khan - 2003
    Set in modern-day Islambad, Pakistan, the book depicts an extraordinary child who enables her mother, Sajida, and her grandfather, Ali, to confront the pasts they have chosen to suppress. Through Noor's artwork, her family members are transported through their haunted memories of the 1970 cyclone that claimed the lives of a million people and the violent atrocities of the 1971 conflict between East and West Pakistan that eventually created the independent country of Bangladesh. As Noor's drawings bring to life sights, sounds, smells, and sensations from the past, her family is forced to admit of the betrayals and disillusionments that they thought had been buried with time. Moving, heartbreaking, and unsettling by turns, Noor is a novel about the horrors of war, the power of forgiveness, and, most important, the strength of the human spirit.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fairies


Anna Franklin - 2003
    Legends of fairy creatures--ranging from tiny winged sprites to giants to elves to brownies to tree spirits--can be found in every corner of the world. Filled with hundreds of exquisite illustrations, this comprehensive directory provides a global, multi-ethnic, multicultural overview of fairies. Nearly 3,000 entries, arranged alphabetically offer glimpses into other worlds and times. There are items from Celtic and Scandinavian traditions, Greek and Norse mythology, Native American culture, the Far East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and more. Cross-referencing makes it easy to explore the themes that span the globe. An extensive introduction explores the origins of fairy folklore and provides general background on common beliefs. A Selection of the One Spirit Book Club.*fairy lore from around the world

The Bones of the Earth


Ursula K. Le Guin - 2003
    Set in Le Guin's beloved Earthsea universe. In the story, a profound relationship develops between apprentice Silence and his wizard teacher, Dulse. In Silence's thoughts, Dulse discovers more about himself. Readers hungry for tales of great wizards and the return of Le Guin's characters will find satisfaction in this work. [This work is part of a print collection.

The Changeling Plague


Syne Mitchell - 2003
    But when a desperate dying man takes an illegal gene therapy drug, he unleashes a worldwide plague that rewrites the DNA of everyone he encounters.

The Two Sams


Glen Hirshberg - 2003
    "Dancing Men" depicts one of the creepiest rites of passage in recent memory, when a boy visits his deranged grandfather in the New Mexico desert. In "Mr. Dark's Carnival," a college professor confronts his own dark places in the form of a mysterious haunted house steeped in the folklore of grisly badlands justice. "Struwwelpeter" introduces us to a brilliant, treacherous adolescent whose violent tendencies and reckless mischief reach a sinister pinnacle as Halloween descends on a rundown, Pacific Northwest fishing village. Tormented by his guilty conscience, a young man plumbs the depths of atonement as he and his favorite cousin commune with the almighty Hawaiian surf in "Shipwreck Beach." With The Two Sams author Glen Hirshberg uses his remarkable gift for capturing mood and atmosphere to suggest the possibility that the most troubling ghosts of all are not the ones that hover above us and walk through walls, but those that linger in our memories and haunt our souls.

Custer's Last Jump and Other Collaborations


Howard Waldrop - 2003
    'One Horse Town' breathes fresh life into an ancient tale, combining elements from the sack of Troy, Homer's early days, the last day in the life of a Trojan warrior, and the archaeological dig at Troy. In 'Custer's Last Jump!' the legendary Crazy Horse uses Confederate monoplanes in his famous battle against General Custer. 'A Voice and Bitter Weeping' paints a grim post-nuclear age where Israeli mercenaries fight Texans in a never-ending, hopeless war. Mystery, intrigue, and treachery abound in the Heian Japan setting of 'The Latter Days of the Law', where a clever man must find a lost prince.

Thunderland


Brandon Massey - 2003
    But by some miracle he did recover, only to wake up to a whole new world.

Trilobite: The Writing of Threshold


Caitlín R. Kiernan - 2003
    Brite's The Seed of Lost Souls, and David Morrell's Testament: the Unpublished Prologues, this huge (nearly 30,000 words!) limited edition (only 500 copies!) chapbook contains rare glimpses into CaitlÌn R. Kiernan's new novel, Threshold. Inside you'll find alternate openings, deleted chapters, nonfiction related to the novel, and short stories about the same characters, most of it unpublished. Trilobite: the Writing of Threshold contains: 1. Author's Foreword -- An essay on the writing of the book; 2. Original Unused Prologue -- "... the dead and the moonstruck..."; 3. Second Unused Prologue -- untitled; 4. Original Chapter 4 -- "Dane" (completely excised from final ms.); 5. Excerpt from Original Chapter 1 -- untitled; 6. Related Short Stories -- "The Well of Stars and Shadow" -- A prequel, with Dancy as a small child in the Florida swamps (previously published only online) and "In The Water Works (Birmingham, Alabama 1888)" -- Essentially, a pro-prologue to Threshold, in which Chance Matthews' great-grandfather discovers the thing under the mountain; and 7. Author's Afterword -- An essay on the geology and paleontology of the area where Threshold is set -- Birmingham and Red Mountain.

The Arabian Nights


Mary Zimmerman - 2003
    Scheherazade's cliffhanger stories prevent her husband, the cruel ruler Shahryar, from murdering her, and after 1,001 nights, Shahryar is cured of his madness, and Scheherazade returns to her family. This adaptation offers a wonderful blend of the lesser-known tales from Arabian Nights with the recurring theme of how the magic of storytelling holds the power to change people. The final scene brings the audience back to a modern day Baghdad with the wail of air raid sirens threatening the rich culture and history that are embodied by these tales.

A Redwall Journal


NOT A BOOK - 2003
    Now the legendary creator of the Redwall epic turns the tables, inviting his readers to become writers with a journal of their very own. Echoing the times of Redwall, this special book features a velvety cover, a die cut window, and spot art throughout. And with a quote from Brian himself, young writers will be inspired to fill the pages. A must for every Redwall enthusiast, and for writers of all ages.

Moreau Omnibus


S. Andrew Swann - 2003
    Andrew Swann blend the thrills of science fiction, mystery, and intrigue with the chills of genetic engineering-in a highly acclaimed series that takes the creations of Dr. Moreau and Dr. Frankenstein into the future...

The Literary Agent [A 'The Company' Story]


Kage Baker - 2003
    A time travelling Hollywood agent seeks out Robert Louis Stevenson to develop a script outline for his next project.

Other Cities


Benjamin Rosenbaum - 2003
    Twelve of the stories in Other Cities were previously published as a weekly series on Strange Horizons. The entire series is presented here for the first time and each story is illustrated with the art of Boston artist and architect Peter Reiss. Cities are seemingly inevitable, seductive, depressing, and inebriating. In his Other Cities series Benjamin Rosenbaum takes us on a tour of fourteen imaginary cities: from "The White City" -- where two sisters fight one another and their fate -- to Bellur -- which celebrates its censors -- from Ponge -- that's already enough about that -- to Zvlotsk -- where by 1912 detective work accounted for a third of the economy from Jouiselle-aux-Chantes -- the city of erotic forgetting -- to Stin -- the city for those who are tired of other cities -- Rosenbaum's stories illuminate the hidden corners of the world the train rider suspects exist at the stop after theirs, the tourist knows the locals will never reveal, and the mapmakers keep for themselves.

The Companions


Sheri S. Tepper - 2003
    Multi-coloured shapes of dancing light have been spotted; strange sounds are heard in the night; the researchers name them the Mossen and send for a linquist to ascertain if it is evidence of intelligent life. Jewel Delis has accompanied her half-brother Paul to this verdant paradise. Her task is to help Paul decipher the strange language of the Mossen - but she has a secret mission too. A new law on Earth means the imminent massacre of all beasts great and small, so Jewel must discover if Moss holds the promise of sanctuary for the doomed animals - once humankind's beloved companions. Time is running out for Jewel's creatures, but it might be running out for Humanity too: the Planet Moss, itself a living entity, is not sure it cares for any of the species currently living on its surface.

Shadowmen: Heroes and Villains of French Comics


Jean-Marc Lofficier - 2003
    Meet Arsène Lupin the Gentleman Burglar and Fantômas the Lord of Evil; Captain Nemo and Robur the Conqueror; Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte-Cristo and Cagliostro; the Phantom of the Opera and Belphegor, the Ghost of the Louvre; Monsieur Lecoq and Rouletabille, the first detectives; the gangs of the Black Coats and the Vampires; Rocambole, Judex, and the Nyctalope, the first super-heroes; Harry Dickson, the American Sherlock Holmes; Doctor Cornelius and Doctor Omega; Fascinax and the Sâr Dubnotal, investigators of the occult; Antinea, Queen of Atlantis and Eugene Sue's Mysteries of Paris! Shadowmen book includes biographies of the authors, reviews of their major works, biographies of the characters, timelines and concordances, bibliographies and filmographies, including television, radio and comics, and an index.

A Roll of the Dice


Catherine Asaro - 2003
    Coltman's immersion into the colony world's female-dominated culture has progressed far beyond his expectations, guided principally by his exceptional skill at Quis, a dice game played by a privileged but socially reclusive group of men known as the Calanyi. When word of Coltman's Quis prowess spreads to the high levels of the government, he is kidnapped and forced to marry against his will into the Calanyi ... a luxurious captivity for which there is no escape. Hugo Award Nominee, HOMer Award Winner, Analog Reader's Choice Winner, Nebula Award Preliminary Ballot Nominee, Nebula Award Finalist

The Official Guide to Bionicle


Greg Farshtey - 2003
    One Destiny.Live the legend with a new line of books based on BIONICLE, the first-ever, best-selling LEGO action figure.A comprehensive guide to the richly detailed BIONICLE universe. Fans have received only glimpses into the characters and backstory of the BIONICLE world through the website and popular comic books, and they're hungry for more. This official guide is filled with information on every BIONICLE character and spectacular full-color CGI art. Fans will love extras that include a BIONICLE glossary, the BIONICLE alphabet, and exclusive teasers to upcoming storylines. A must-have for any collector, this book is the perfect introduction to the BIONICLE toys and the story that lies beyond them.

The Sword of the Land


Noel-Anne Brennan - 2003
     Rilsin was fated to rule the land of Saeditin-until a bloody coup killed her family around her, and she was drafted into service to the new queen, her own cousin. Now, Rilsin must choose between a long-awaited peace-and a betrayal that could ruin the very kingdom she pledged to protect...

Baby's First Mythos


C.J. Henderson - 2003
    Henderson, Baby's First Mythos is a lavishly illustrated tome that blasts your child's soul as it teaches them their ABC's - Mythos-style! A foreward by Dr. Robert M. Price, Ph.D., professor of both theology and philosopy, founder & editor in chief of Crypt of Cthulhu, executor of the Lin Carter estate, current head of Lovecraft's KLM club (the worlds first professional sci fi/horror club).

Stealing Some Time: Volume 1


Mark Kendrick - 2003
    "It is 2479 AD. Technical Sergeant Kallen Deshara and his team have traveled from the 25th century to the 19th. Their mission: to eliminate powerful ion storms caused by the very device that opened the portal to the past. If they don't succeed, their present may cease to exist! Once done, they'll return home and the future will be as it should be. But Kallen didn't plan on meeting Aaric Utzman, a young cartographer from post-colonial America. Nor did he plan to fall in love with him. He must find a way for them to stay together or Aaric will have been dead for over six hundred years after Kallen's return. No matter what he decides, the past, the present, and the future will be irrevocably altered."

The Amulet of Komondor


Adam Osterweil - 2003
    When they find a computer game version of DragonSteel at a mysterious shop in the local mall, they jump at the chance to play it. But it turns out to be more than your average video game. Joe and Katie become the actual cartoonish characters of the game, journeying through the world of Komondor on a quest to find the five pieces of the DragonSteel amulet, which they need to save Komondor and Earth from three evil emperors. Using their skill with video games and the help of a colorful cast of new friends -- including an English Golem with a penchant for grammar and a doll-collecting baby prophet -- they take an exciting trip through Komondor and even deal with real-world problems concerning anxious parents, romance, and the FBI.“Written in a lighthearted tone and packed with amusing puns, this fast-paced adventure is filled with action that is over the top and enjoyable.” —School Library Journal“This slapstick novel will find its audience among fans of fantasy, computer gaming, and manga.” —Booklist“[S]tory is similar to the premise of the computer game Myst, but takes it one step beyond and actually transports the kids into the fantasy world of Komondor." —Christian Schools International“The linguistic fun starts with the title and ripples through this fast-paced adventure for middle- and high-schoolers until their parents start swiping the book for their own enjoyment. Keep a dictionary handy to get the most pleasure from this story. The illustrator, who has designed covers for Tony Hillerman mysteries and Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegone Days, uses the style of illustrations found in Japanese fantasy games to show how the characters look as they move back and forth across the computer screen like a modern-day Alice. The author brings the high-speed chase of a plot to a literally warm-and-fuzzy conclusion, which reminds readers to pay attention to word meanings, including those in the title.” —ForeWord Magazine“A riveting story of a computer game gone awry.” —The Midwest Book Review“A timely book that fans of Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! will relate to and enjoy … This well-paced, simply-written, action-filled story, will ring authentic to young readers’ ears.” —Children’s Literature

Monterra's Deliciosa & Other Tales &


Anna Tambour - 2003
    Love and compulsion. An ocean in Kansas, the Magic Lino, the real story behind the one told by Robert Louis Stevenson, a chef dying of ennui, gathering bluebirds, paying with candywrap. And the greatest story ever told--by Asher E. Treat, of course. The glorious chaos of singing, prancing, perfumed and stinking, the dead and the busy, tragic and achingly otherwise--life itself.

Eye on Science Fiction: 20 Interviews with Classic SF and Horror Filmmakers


Tom Weaver - 2003
    Actors (including Mike Connors, Brett Halsey, Natalie Trundy and Richard Kiel), writers, producers and directors recall legendary genre figures Lugosi, Chaney, Jr., Tod Browning and James Whale; films ranging in quality from The Thing to Macumba Love and Eegah; behind-the-scenes tales of cult TV series (Twilight Zone, Batman, Lost in Space, more) and serials; and, of course, the usual barrage of outlandish movie menaces, this time including the Fly, Flesh Eaters, Monolith Monsters, ape men, voodoo women and spider babies! And all in the candid, no-holds-barred style that has made Weaver ?king of the interviewers? (Classic Images)!

Three Marys


Paul Park - 2003
    In Three Marys, his new novel, Park returns to first-century Palestine to recreate with penetrating insight the historical community of Jesus, and to follow the first tangled strands of Christianity after his death. Here is Jesus's world as it very likely was, confused, conflicted, rife with messianic rumor and factional ambition; here is the brazen cruelty of Roman occupation and the domestic oppression that mirrored it, seen through the eyes of the women who knew Jesus best. This is the story not only of Christ but of the three Marys who survived him and were true to him, each in their own way. Their inner and outer narratives, sometimes tortured, sometimes rhapsodic, make up the spare but radiant tapestry of this novel. There is Mary of Magdala, visionary and wandering, perhaps Jeshua's wife; there is his mother Mary, tough, charismatic, earthy, ultimately desolated by his loss; and there is Mary of Bethany, the girl who followed Jeshua in his last days and has to bear the burden of her undying brother Lazarus for decades afterwards. Outcasts because of their sex, yet possessors between them of some fragmented sense of the true ineffable nature of Christ the man and Christ the messiah, they are presented with luminous tragic humanity and given proper voice at last. Paul Park is one of contemporary American literature's most subtle and original explorers of religious experience. As exotic in coloring and as rich in understanding as his superb science fantasy novels, Three Marys is a masterpiece of historical and spiritual reconstruction.

Robots Don't Cry


Mike Resnick - 2003
    

Ravenous Ghosts


Kealan Patrick Burke - 2003
    Seventeen tales of mystery, madness, and monsters, by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke.

Quicksilver


Neal Stephenson - 2003
    edition includes 16 pages of supplementary materials.Cover design by Richard L. AquanCover illustration from the Mary Evans Picture Library; painting of Great Fire of London on stepback

Trampoline: An Anthology


Kelly LinkSusan Mosser - 2003
    Twenty astounding stories by Karen Joy Fowler, Glen Hirshberg, Samantha Hunt, Shelley Jackson, Rosalind Palermo Stevenson, Greer Gilman, and more.

The Haunted Hillbilly


Derek McCormack - 2003
    As the story evolves with its magical poetic cadence, Nudie, in grand Svengali-style, makes, then breaks, the career of Hank, a country-and-western singer at the Grand Ole Opry. A blend of fact and fancy, The Haunted Hillbilly conjures the seamy gay underside hidden beneath country music’s sparkly, sequinned surface.