But despite riches, fame, and his own wedding to look forward to, Sir Minalan cannot merely ignore the rapt attention a band of aggressive goblins seems to be giving one particular tree . . .

    On the brink of total victory, the black horde mysteriously vanished, leaving terrified survivors . . . and rumors. As the centuries passed, the holocaust faded into legend, and finally myth. But death is stalking heroes once more, and the ultimate army has already been unleashed.The only hope lies in destroying the source—before all life is extinguished. Fate has chosen Elseerian for the impossible feat, but as he embarks on the harrowing journey the invasion must be delayed. With time as their only weapon against extinction, the elves issue a desperate call . . . for every race to ally. Facing annihilation, many will realize that survival lies in unity, courage sleeps in ordinary citizens, and average people can turn the tide of war.But even if the world can gather in the name of survival, the best they can last is Seven Days . . .The Second Draeken War is a combined edition of Elseerian, The Gathering, and Seven Days, and marks the first trilogy in The Chronicles of Lumineia.

    She has defeated powerful sorcerers and thrown down corrupt lords.Yet can she defeat her own memories?Sent to solve a series of bizarre murders, Caina faces an enemy capable of twisting her thoughts. And this time, all of Caina’s skill might not save her. For how can she defeat a foe who wields her own memories as weapons?

    For over two decades, the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, best-selling and beloved author, discovered and nurtured a new generation of authors. 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, Leah Cypess, 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 27 includes stories by Pauline J. Alama, Steve Chapman, Patricia B. Cirone, Nathan Crowder, Leah Cypess, Linda A. B. Davis, Layla Lawlor, Melissa Mead, Jonathan Moeller, Michael H. Payne, Deborah J. Ross, Jonathan Shipley, Dave Smeds, Catherine Soto, Michael Spence, Elisabeth Waters, and Julia H. West.

    When Malia discovers an injured Jegudun in the valley, she risks everything — exile from the village, loss of her status as clan mother in training, even her life — to befriend and save the surprisingly intelligent creature. But all of that pales when she learns the truth: the threat to her people is bigger and more malicious than the Jeguduns. Lurking on the edge of the valley is an Outsider army seeking to plunder and destroy her people. It’s only a matter of time before the Outsiders find a way through the magic that protects the valley — a magic that can only be created by Taakwa and Jeguduns working together.

    Parker published by Eclipse Online

    She returns for the sake of her brother, Prince Hafgrim, but it is for her father, the king, she is now most concerned. Are the rumors of his illness--or worse, his death--true?Hawks and doves still war among the battlements of Windberth, Knights still drill within the citadel courtyard, but behind the walls of the keep itself, something dark awaits.Memories of Adria's life at Windberth stir, and the reason she left three years before is revealed. But did she truly understand the reason herself?Is Adria's life her own to live, or has it already been decided for her?~24,000 words

    But not everything is beautiful in Jewel of the North, and as veteran detective Kathryn Kitaen shows him the ropes, Michael begins to wonder if he's in over his head...METAMOR CITY is a futuristic urban fantasy series popularized by the award-winning Metamor City Podcast (www.metamorcity.com). Since launching in September 2007 the series has garnered over 3 million downloads and two Parsec Awards for outstanding audio fiction.

    This book contains a complete toolkit for running a RuneQuest game, including complete rules, five different magic systems (folk, animism, mysticism, sorcery, theism), and a complete bestiary

    But in a war fought between Orcs, Humans, and the monsters known as the Reapers, who best deserves that title? And will any of them fight for the weak? Or are the weak doomed always to be prey?

    Together with their performance troupe, musician Oliveah Oslund and diviner Madilaine Savannon arrive for the festivities anticipating nothing more than a week of revelry. Instead, an encounter with a mysterious man incites a bizarre chain of events that will haunt them for the remainder of the summer.As the season comes to a close, Oliveah and Madilaine find themselves drawn to the royal city of Aralexia to attend the yearly tournament hosted by the king. Confronting a host of allies and enemies including thieves, mages, assassins and warlords, it is there they attempt to find the answer hidden within the deceptions, half-truths, omens and auguries concealing Dhanen’Mar’s darkest secret.

    The second coming of Dark Faith cries from the depths with 26 stories of sacrifice and redemption.Sublet an apartment inside God's head. Hunt giant Buddhas in a post-apocalyptic future. Visit a city where an artist’s fantastic creations alter reality. Discover the deep cosmic purpose behind your office vending machine. Wield godlike powers and suffer the most heartbreaking of human limitations.Join Max Allan Collins, Mike Resnick, Jay Lake, Jennifer Pelland, Laird Barron, Tom Piccirilli, Nisi Shawl, and a host of genre’s best writers for an exploration into the things we hold dear and the truths that shatter us.Table of Contents:Poem "The Most" by Katerina Stoykova-Klemer"Subletting God's Head" by Tom Piccirilli"The Cancer Catechism" by Jay Lake"The Big Blue Peacock" by Nick Mamatas"Kill the Buddha" by Elizabeth Twist"Robotnik" by Lavie Tidhar"Prometheus Possessed" by Matt Cardin"Night Train" by Alma Alexander"The Sandfather" by Richard Wright"Sacrifice" by Jennifer Pelland"Thou Art God" by Tim Waggoner"Wishflowers" by Tim Pratt"Coin Drop" by Richard Dansky"Starter Kit" by R.J. Sullivan"A Little Faith" by Max Allan Collins and Matthew Clemens"The Revealed Truth" by Mike Resnick"God's Dig" by Kelly Eiro"The Divinity Boutique" by Brian J. Hatcher"The Birth of Pegasus" by K. Tempest Bradford"All This Pure Light Leaking In" by LaShawn M. Wanak"Fin De Siècle" by Gemma Files"The Angel Seems" by Jeffrey Ford"Magdala Amygdala" by Lucy A. Snyder"A Strange Form of Life" by Laird Barron"In Blood and Song" by Nisi Shawl and Michael Ehart"Little Lies, Dear Leader" by Kyle S. Johnson"I Inhale the City, the City Exhales Me" by Douglas F. Warrick Cover Artist: AnderzakAbout the Editors:Maurice Broaddus is the author of the Knights of Breton Court series as well as the novellas Orgy of Souls (co-written with Wrath James White) and Devil's Marionette. He has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, from Weird Tales to the Dark Dreams series to Apex Magazine. He can be found on the web at www.mauricebroaddus.com.Jerry Gordon is the Bram Stoker nominated co-editor of Dark Faith and Last Rites. His fiction has appeared in Apex Magazine, Shroud, and The Midnight Diner. He lives in Indiana with his wife and new son. When he’s not changing diapers, you can find him blurring genre lines at www.jerrygordon.net.

    Settle down and indulge yourself in wild flights of fancy brought to life by your fellow travellers.”The Nun & Dragon is a local like no other – share in the wild and wonderful tellings of a gifted panoply of authors, tales replete with wonder, a liberal coating of mysticism, the odd splash of darkness and a sprinkling of grim humour.

    He had enough of leadership during the bloodbath that was the Eastern Front of the Second World War. But the Gods of Refuge had prophesized such, and humans had come to the world in their numbers in fulfillment of that prophecy. And so he had become first King, and then Emperor, welding the disparate peoples together into one Empire. He had not wanted to take on the Nazi Empire of Tarakesh, the evil transplanted from his world by the follower of Hitler, Heinrich Stuppleheim. He had seen enough war, and wished to spare his people the evils of even a winning campaign. And then his bride, the Empress Gwenara Elyssisus von Mannerheim, was kidnapped from his Capital like the merest commoner. Now Kurt must ride the trail of war again, if he wishes to save her from a fate worse than death. And her soul from a fate far worse than damnation.Kurt must do this alone. But his Immortal friends, Ismael Levine and Paul Mason-Smythe, are determined to stand with him, no matter the cost, no matter his wishes. The fate of the free peoples of the world is at stake. To lose will give Heinrich and the Death Gods he serves the advantage they seek. And that advantage will lead the world down a dark path from which there will be no recovery.

    Princess Elise d'Orleans, niece to King Louis XIII, is a spoiled brat used to having everyone cater to her every need. She hates Amorgos, hates the races living there, and hates the fact that everyone believes she is their Redeemer. She is supposedly the One to free them from enslavement of their common enemy, the Asmodai. But most of all, Elise hates the fact that the only other human in Amorgos is a stinky peasant who doesn't kowtow to her every whim. Pierre Tonnelier, the village journeyman cooper, finds an extraordinary necklace in the woods outside Chateau de Saint-Germain en Laye, a castle in the French countryside outside Paris. He is forced to sell this unusual piece to pay off his father's debts. What he didn't contend with was the necklace taking him on a strange journey along with an egotistical royal pain in the derriere! Shield of the Palidine chronicles the journey of Elise to find the true Redeemer, Pierre's transformation to a warrior of immense abilities, and their unbridled love, despite all the tensions of class, bigotry and intolerance. Barbara T. Cerny is an information technology specialist and supervisor at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and a retired Army officer. She is married and has two children and has authored Of Angels and Orphans, Tressa, and Grays Hill. Publisher's website: http: //sbpra.com/BarbaraTCerny

    Desperate to marry off his beautiful but "tomboyish" duaghter, Esuseeke, the Emperor of Oyo, consults the Oracle. The Oracle tells the Emperor Esuseeke must marry the greatest warrior in all Onile (Afrika). To determine who is the greatest warrior, the Emperor hosts a grand martial arts tournament inviting warrior from all over the continent. Unknown to the warriors and spectators of the tournament a powerful evil is headed their way. Will the warriors band together against this evil?

    Two years later, as a captain in the mercenary Hell Patrol, responsibility has found him again, whether building relationships in the chow line or saving lives on the battlefield.After completing their most recent contract, the Hell Patrol is looking forward to a long-deserved rest. But when a former employer conspires against them, many are thrust into new roles, including Jonrell. While on the run for their lives, Jonrell's skills are put to the test as he reins in the clashing personalities of the surviving Hell Patrol members. Walk Through Fire is a stand-alone novella of approximately 36,000 words. It is a prequel that takes place ten years prior to the events of the epic fantasy Rise and Fall: Book One of the Blood and Tears Trilogy. A free 9,000 word excerpt of Rise and Fall is included in the purchase of Walk Through Fire.

    A prophecy calls three to save the land, a crafter, a healer and a warrior. As the land begins to fall to the dark magic, the three Chosen Ones must discover their destiny and their duty if their world and the light magic is going to survive.

    He sends them to acquire the things he needs for his plans of world domination, most of the time forgetting to warn them of the dangers they will face, possibly because that would just scare them witless or possibly because henchmen are expendable anyway. An ancient evil, a beautiful sorceress and a tribe of savage Orcs guard the sinister secret of the lost city of Komoria. Goran and Malik must find a way to steal the Spheres of Doom from under their noses and survive to tell the tale.Henchmen is darkly comic sword and sorcery novelette from the bestselling creator of Gotrek and Felix.