A handful of Messengers brave the night between the increasingly isolated populace behind protective wards. Arlen Bales will search anywhere, dare anything, to save the world. Maybe Abban, a merchant in the Great Bazaar of Krasia who purports to sell anything, has the answer.

    From the Book of Revelation to The Road Warrior, from A Canticle for Leibowitz to The Road, storytellers have long imagined the end of the world, weaving eschatological tales of catastrophe, chaos, and calamity. In doing so, these visionary authors have addressed one of the most challenging and enduring themes of imaginative fiction: The nature of life in the aftermath of total societal collapse. Gathering together the best post-apocalyptic literature of the last two decades from many of today's most renowned authors of speculative fiction - including George R. R. Martin, Gene Wolfe, Orson Scott Card, Carol Emshwiller, Jonathan Lethem, Octavia E. Butler, and Stephen King - Wastelands explores the scientific, psychological, and philosophical questions of what it means to remain human in the wake of Armageddon. Whether the end of the world comes through nuclear war, ecological disaster, or cosmological cataclysm, these are tales of survivors, in some cases struggling to rebuild the society that was, in others, merely surviving, scrounging for food in depopulated ruins and defending themselves against monsters, mutants, and marauders. Wastelands delves into this bleak landscape, uncovering the raw human emotion and heart-pounding thrills at the genre's core. --back coverContains the following stories:Introduction by John Joseph AdamsThe End of the Whole Mess by Stephen KingSalvage by Orson Scott CardThe People of Sand and Slag by Paolo BacigalupiBread and Bombs by M. RickertHow We Got In Town and Out Again by Jonathan LethemDark, Dark Were the Tunnels by George R. R. MartinWaiting for the Zephyr by Tobias S. BuckellNever Despair by Jack McDevittWhen Sysadmins Ruled the Earth by Cory DoctorowThe Last of the O-Forms by James Van PeltStill Life With Apocalypse by Richard KadreyArtie’s Angels by Catherine WellsJudgment Passed by Jerry OltionMute by Gene WolfeInertia by Nancy KressAnd the Deep Blue Sea by Elizabeth BearSpeech Sounds by Octavia E. ButlerKillers by Carol EmshwillerGinny Sweethips’ Flying Circus by Neal Barrett, Jr.The End of the World as We Know It by Dale BaileyA Song Before Sunset by David GriggEpisode Seven... by John LanganAppendix: For Further Reading

    This stellar collection of YA dystopian tales explores survival of the fittest in terms of love, passion, and humanity. When the survival of the human race is at stake, what will it take for the bond between two people to hold strong together? Featuring some of the most well known and best-selling names of the dystopian genre, as well as the hottest up-and-coming authors, this anthology includes works from Jeanne DuPrau (City of Ember), Kiera Cass (The Selection), William Sleator (Interstellar Pig), Jesse Karp (Those That Wake), Diana Peterfreund (Secret Society Girl), Carrie Vaughn (The Kitty Norville Series), and Carrie Ryan (New York Times bestseller The Forest of Hands and Teeth).Contents:Hidden Ribbon by John ShirleyThe Salt Sea and the Sky by Elizabeth BearIn the Clearing by Kiera CassOtherwise by Nisi ShawlNow Purple With Love's Wound by Carrie VaughnBerserker Eyes by Maria V. SnyderArose from Poetry by Steve BermanRed by Amanda DownumFoundlings by Diana PeterfreundSeekers in the City by Jeanne DuPrauThe Up by Nina Kiriki HoffmanThe Dream Eater by Carrie Ryan357 by Jesse KarpEric and Pan by William SleatorThe Empty Pocket by Seth CadinNow with two all new stories.

    Harvey, A Heated Promotion is the story of two men whose glimpses, each of the other s possible future, lead them to a strange and paralyzing standoff.The Dark Enforcer Tired of being bullied, a comic book store owner summons The Dark Enforcer, mighty protector of the oppressed, to vanquish his enemies.Table Scraps Most politicians would kill for a high approval rating. The powerful Lorrimer family doesn t need your approval but they kill anyway. Conspiracy expert Isaac Salt is determined to uncover all the Lorrimer s secrets, even if it means sneaking onto their private island. But what s waiting for him there is the last thing he expects.Mercy Mercy Mathers looks like a blonde angel, but everyone knows she s the wildest party girl in Clarion High. But when her boozy, slutty antics cause the death of nearly the entire high school football team s starting lineup, Mercy seeks forgiveness by way of religion. Once she s saved, Mercy feels compelled to save the bad boys she once sought out for her own pleasure. But bad boys tend to be bad, and to prevent them from backsliding, Mercy has to sacrifice them before they can fall from grace. But what guy would ever guess that the sexiest, most beautiful girl in school is a homicidal maniac on a mission from God?Talking in the Dark Victor Rippon is a lonely man from a small town. Ever since his wife left him, he lives a quiet, bleak existence, with no friends to speak of. His only real interest is his favorite writer, Rex Christian. Victor is obsessed with Rex s horror stories, which somehow seem more real to him than his own boring life. Why do Rex s stories have such hypnotic power over his readers? As Christmas draws near, Victor has a chance encounter with Rex and learns the answer to this and the age-old question: Where does a writer really get his ideas?The Final Battlefield After a four-year tour of duty in Vietnam, Private Daniel Conway is glad to be home in Clover Ridge, Iowa. But his joy is short-lived he is being haunted by frightening visions of the Hangman, a vicious Viet Cong officer with a penchant for torture. Pushed to the brink of madness by the continual appearances of his tormentor, Daniel is forced to ask himself an unthinkable question: Has the Hangman followed him home?"

    It's even more savage inside the twisted minds of murderers who conceal their malevolence behind smiling masks and strike out without pity. This spine-tingling collection contains 23 new stories of suspense from some of the bestselling authors in the genre. Authors include Clive Barker, Lawrence Block, David Morrell, Ray Bradbury, and many more.CONTENTSThe dripping / David Morrell --The wringer / F. Paul Wilson --A season of change / Richard T. Chizmar --Good vibrations / Richard Laymon --The Tulsa experience / Lawrence Block --Trolls / Christopher Fahy --Small deaths / Charles de Lint --White lightning / Al Sarrantonio --Hitman / Rick Hautala --Vympyre / William F. Nolan --And eight rabid pigs / David Gerrold.Bringing it along / A.R. Morlan --Redemption / Jack Ketchum --The graveyard ghoul / Edward D. Hoch --The rings of Cocytus / Katherine Ramsland --Late last night / John Maclay --Beasts in buildings, turning 'round / J.N. Williamson --Dark side of the moon / Babara Collins --Honor bound / J.M. Morgan --The instrumentalist / William Relling Jr. --Corpse carnival / Ray Bradbury --The book of blood / Clive Barker.

    Inescapably troubling and bizarre, these sixty stories are severe and immediate. From Siamese twin country western acts to an alcoholic Santa Claus to movie theaters used as execution chambers, to death by orgasm, to modern-day savages in Hawaii, to beds that have sexual lives of their own, to pleasure by self-mutilation, these stories are a scape of ominous excess and psychological revelation. Matheson's heralded style is, as always, both distilled and hypnotic.

    The results are individual glimpses of a shared vision, and a reading experience unlike any you've had before.A strange man comes to an even stranger encampment...a bouncer becomes the linchpin of an unexpected urban movement...a courier on the run has to decide who to trust in a dangerous city...a slacker in a "zero-footprint" town gets a most unusual new job...and a weapons investigator uses his skills to discover a metropolis hidden right in front of his eyes.Welcome to the future of cities. Welcome to Metatropolis.Contents:Introduction (METAtropolis) - essay by John ScalziIn the Forests of the Night - novella by Jay LakeStochasti-city - novella by Tobias S. BuckellThe Red in the Sky Is Our Blood - novelette by Elizabeth BearUtere Nihil Non Extra Quiritationem Suis - novella by John ScalziTo Hie from Far Cilenia - novella by Karl Schroeder

    This rich collection showcases the best of the genre?from short-story masters such as Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, and Poppy Z. Brite; zombie stalwarts such as David J. Schow and Jack Ketchum; "bizarro" founders such as Carlton Mellick III; and popular up-and-comers such as Max Brooks and S.G. Browne?and will satisfy the insatiable hunger of zombie fans everywhere.A series of captivating essays about zombies in folklore and in popular culture by John Skipp, award-winning zombie anthologist and author, enrich an already extraordinary collection by discussing the past, present, and future of the living dead. And a resources section encompassing the best of long-form fiction, movies, websites, games is included for any reader interested in learning more about the wider world of the undead.Sure to sate the hungriest zombie fans with classic as well as contemporary servings of tangled entrails and other unspeakable meals, Zombies: Encounters with the HungryDead will be shambling out of bookstores in October 2009.

    16,000 words in length.

    From the early days of “Todd” the Wraith to Teal’c’s first experience of the SGC, from Atlantis’ past and future to good old-fashioned SG-1 adventures, Stargate SG-1 & Atlantis: Far Horizons brings you a wealth of exciting stories from across the Milky Way and Pegasus galaxies. Whether you’re a fan of STARGATE SG-1 or STARGATE ATLANTIS, there’s something for everyone in our first anthology of Travelers’ Tales, with ten short stories from ten fantastic Stargate authors: * Jo Graham * Melissa Scott * Peter J. Evans * Amy Griswold * Keith R.A. DeCandido * Suzanne Wood * Diana Dru Botsford * Geonn Cannon * Sabine C. Bauer * Sally Malcolm So step through the Stargate with us and see what’s waiting beyond the event horizon…

    Standing in the control room, there to take over the running of it from his father, Mark quickly realises this is more than a handover. He's about to find out that Eden has secrets. Dark secrets. Secrets that reveal the truth about the apocalypse. Secrets that change the way he looks at his father forever. Secrets that change the way he looks at everything forever. What the reviewers say about Eden: “Eden is deep, dark, and thought provoking.” “The plot and pacing are wonderfully constructed, and the characters’ emotions come through incredibly clearly.” “… stop wasting time reading the awesome reviews, grab this book, and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed!” “It ran the gamut of emotions; anger, surprise, shock and heartbreak. I was in tears at the end of the story.” “Two thumbs up!” “You need to read this, like, now.” “I could not have asked for a better glimpse into this under-utilised facet of the zombie apocalypse.”

    But it is no ordinary carnival. It's The Dark Carnival.And when The Dark Carnival comes to town, there's no promise that anyone can leave...alive.Contributors include: Kristen Strassel, Meghan Schuler, Claire C. Riley, J. Elizabeth Hill, Jessi Esparza, Debra Kristi, Ryan Bartlett, Michelle Ceasar Davis, Brian LeTendre, Ken Mooney, Eli Constant, Mari Wells, Lucas Hargis, Kat Daemon, T.A. Brock, Calyn Morgan, Emily McKeon, Gregory Carrico, Kristin Hanson, Nicole R. Taylor, C. Elizabeth Vescio, Brian W. Taylor, Kate Michael, Ezekiel Conrad, Jamie Adams, Bobby Solomons, Mark Matthews, Jamie Corrigan, Kristin Rivers, Kristen Jett, Sheila Hall, Suzy G, Kim Culpepper, Ruth Shedwick, J.C. Michael, Wulf Francu Godgluck, Ashly Nagrant, Amy Trueblood, Vanessa Henderson, Tawney Bland, Julie Hutchings and Stevan Knapp.

    Customers who step over her threshold find an eccentric collection of gifts, but Miss Moonshine has a rare knack for providing exactly what they need: a strange Advent calendar whose doors give a glimpse of a happy ending; a vintage typewriter that types a ghostly message from Christmas past; a mirror in a silver case that reflects the person you’d like to be. Step inside Miss Moonshine’s quirky shop, and the thing you need most for Christmas will be right there, waiting for you... Nine romantic novelists from Yorkshire and Lancashire, including best-selling and award-winning authors, have joined together to create this collection of uplifting festive stories guaranteed to warm your heart. This intriguing mix of historical and contemporary romances will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the magic of Christmas. Praise for Miss Moonshine: "A warm and unforgettable collection of happy ever afters" Anne Williams, Amazon top 1000 Reviewer "Each story is heart-warming, fun and engaging to read. One of those rare books that is literally unputdownable...It is joyous, uplifting, and it leaves you on a high. Joy incarnate!" Frankie Reviews "As each story ended, I was left with a rosy, warm glow, and an eager anticipation of what was to come in the next magical story." Jo at Jaffa Reads Too

    A dormitory argument reveals something unusual about Marietta, and something equally unexpected about Alicia. In Guardian and Stylist columnist Lucy Mangan's story, student librarian Evelyn is wary of her lively, lacrosse-playing classmates. When one of them becomes a regular visitor to the hushed domain of the library, can Evelyn really trust her? Sunita Sharma joins Malory Towers surrounded by a sense of mystery, in Narinder Dhami's fabulous story. But is Sunita really as glamorous as Gwendoline imagines? In Rebecca Westcott's heartwarming story, Darrell and friends fear the worst when spoilt Gwendoline's cousin joins the school. But Maggie is very different from her stuck-up relative . . .

    Then there's a group of tales that Poe acknowledged reading, and that clearly influenced him: tales of premature burial, of a man trapped beneath a great clanging bell, of a doomed girl reborn and doomed again. To describe this book as a "must" for all admirers of Edgar Allen Poe is surely unnecessary: it's so self-evident.