Sowing the seeds of the barbarian's momentous career, this chronicle of Conan's youthful conquests—both martial and carnal—also showcases master storytellers Busiek and Ruth's work at its finest.• "[Ruth's art] is gorgeous to look at, conveying a different but equally lush vision of Cimmeria and the rest of Hyboria."—The Fourth Rail• Collects Conan #8, #15, #23, #32, #45, and #46.

    The roster of contributors over the years includes Mercedes Lackey, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charles de Lint, Diana L. Paxson, Emma Bull, Jennifer Roberson, and countless others.The original stories featured here include such stellar authors as Deborah J. Ross, K.D. Wentworth, Dave Smeds, and exciting newcomers whose voices are sure to be heard again.Enter a wondrous universe..."Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress"Volume 23 includes stories by Dave Smeds, Michael Spence, Elisabeth Waters, Gerri Leen, Tom Inister, Patricia B. Cirone, Pauline J. Alama, Marian Allen, Melissa Mead, K.D. Wentworth, Catherine Mintz, Jonathan Moeller, Kristin Noone, Leah Cypess, Linda L. Donahue, Resa Nelson, Deborah J. Ross, Michael H. Payne, Catherine Soto, and Mercedes Lackey.

    Yet, to protect the friends he has come to love as family, he's willing to put his life on the line... and does! Collecting the comic book adaptations of R.A. Salvatore's The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, and The Halfling's Gem into one massive volume!

    Howard in 1932 via a series of fantasy stories sold to Weird Tales magazine, the character has since appeared in books, comics, major motion pictures and a television series. This is a complete collection of stories by the creator of Conan - Robert E. Howard.

    Howard captivated readers with his indomitable, battle-scarred barbarian hero Conan. Though Howard's life ended prematurely in 1936 at the age of 30, Conan lives on as one of the genre's most enduring icons. This beautifully designed collection contains nine essential Conan stories along with a full-length Conan novel. Also included is The Hyborean Age, Howard's fascinating history of the raw, blood-drenched world Conan inhabited, an alternative Earth that preceded Tolkien's Middle Earth. And Their Memory Was a Bitter Tree features a color map of this realm and an interior painting by cult artist Brom, along with a series of Frank Frazetta's seminal Conan paintings, appearing for the first time with the stories for which they were created.

    His Great Wife Shani bears him a son, and heir to his growing empire. But the ancestors have plans of their own. Shani bears him meji, twins boys considered an abomination among the Sesu but a blessing to Shani's people, the Mawena. Thus begins the story of two brothers destined to transform their world. One brother, Ndoro, fights for his place among the Sesu hoping to shed the stigma of abomination. The other, Obaseki, grows to a man among the Mawena, struggling with a gift that alienates him from his family. Both are forced to seek their destiny, travelling through teeming savanna, mysterious forests, haunted cliffs and torrid deserts, fulfilling a prophecy that changes them and their world forever.

    The Dread Empire, spanning from the highest peaks of the Dragon's Teeth to the endless desert lands of Hammad al Nakir, from besieged Kavelin to mighty Shinshan, the Empire Unacquainted with Defeat, with its fearless, masked soldiers, known as the Demon Guard... An Empire Unacquainted with Defeat collects all of Glen Cook's short fiction set in the vast world of the Dread Empire, from "The Nights of Dreadful Silence", featuring the first appearance of Bragi Ragnarson, Mocker, and Haroun bin Yousif, to the culture-clashing novella "Soldier of an Empire Unacquainted with Defeat"; from "Silverheels", Cook's first published work of fiction, to "Hell's Forge", a haunting tale of cursed pirates and strange lands, appearing here for the first time. Also including a detailed introduction and extensive story notes by Glen Cook, An Empire Unacquainted with Defeat charts the development of this influential American author and the massive, multifaceted world that he created.Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.

    Saunders, critically acclaimed author of the cult classic Imaro novels, has created yet another heroic-fantasy icon in an Africa of a different place and time. Orphaned at a young age, Dossouye becomes a soldier in the women’s army of the kingdom of Abomey. In a war against the rival kingdom of Abanti, Dossouye saves her people from certain destruction; but a cruel twist of fate compels her to go into exile. Mounted on her mighty war-bull, Gbo, Dossouye enters the vast rain forest beyond the borders of her homeland, seeking a place to call her own. The forest is where Dossouye will either find a new purpose in life… or find her life cut short by the many menaces she encounters.

    Elric. Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. Jirel of Joiry. All could call Return of the Sword home and be proud of it. Join warriors male and female, young and old, in struggles of supremacy, survival, and sacrifice. Witness the spectacle of their deeds; ride with them into battle; stand beside them in the breach; marvel at their heroics. Rejoice beside them, tremble before them, weep with them, die with them . . . triumph with them. This is a storyteller's collection of heroic deeds. Within its covers you will find tales by award-winning short story authors S.C. Bryce, Bruce Durham, and Angeline Hawkes; classic works by fan-favorite novelists E.E. Knight and Harold Lamb; and stories from new novelists Michael Ehart and James Enge and numerous other up-and-coming authors. Do your reading time a favor - pick up a copy of Return of the Sword today!

    Appearing as a warrior from a rival clan, Areyn slays the king of the Lochvaur, knowing that he can shift the balance in the world of mortals. But the king's death brings an unlikely adversary. Lachlei, the queen of the Lochvaur, proves to be a daunting warrior. Swearing vengeance against the rival clan, Lachlei thrusts her people into a deadly war against demons and undead.

    During this time of intense conflict, many a good book has been burned out of existence; lost forever to the fires of Law. Herein lays the manuscript for one such book, thought to be lost, yet somehow, during an investigation of its contents, the magicks within were exposed to the world. Magic of the Young Kingdoms contains a wealth of information, not just for those allied with Chaos. Within you will find new runes, along with advice on how to use them effectively. Summoning spells, the likes of which have not been seen before, shall allow you to conjure the most fearsome demons to work for you or with you. Included are step by step guides to the Elemental Paths, along with in depth descriptions and last known locations of ancient texts, filled with magical secrets far beyond even the most experienced sorcerer's imagination. The dark art of necromancy is described at length, with extensive advice to guide you through the process and keep you safe from the dangerous pitfalls that are ever present within this discipline. There is also an extensive guide to the dream worlds and their safe navigation, as one wrong move or wrong thought, could leave you stranded there forever.