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From back cover Daw paperback February 1996: SECOND CONTACT Nearly two centuries after the starship Phoenix disappeared into the heavens, leaving an isolated colony of humans on the world of the atevi, it unexpectedly returns to orbit overhead, threatening the stability of both atevi and human governments. With the situation fast becoming critical, Bren Cameron, the brilliant, young paidhi to the court of the atevi is recalled from Mospheira where he has just undergone surgery. But his sudden and premature return to the mainland is cause for more then mere physical discomfort. For during his brief absence, his government has sent in his paidhi-successor, Deanna Hanks -- representative of a dangerous archconservative faction on Mospheira who hate the atevi. And though she should despair when Bren is once again able to fill his post, no recall order comes. Cut off from his government and haunted by the continuing threat of assassination, Bren realizes his only hope may be to communicate directly with the Phoenix as the spokesman of the atevi -- an action which may cut him off for good from his own species. Yet if he doesn't take this desperate and illegal action, he may be forced to helplessly bear witness to the final destruction of the already precarious balance of world power.

The first book in the Vows and Honor trilogy unites swordmaster and sorceress in a quest for revenge in this thrilling epic fantasy She was Tarma. Born to the Clan of the Hawk of the nomadic Shin’a’in people, she saw her entire clan slain by brigands. Vowing blood revenge upon the murderers, she became one of the sword-sworn, the most elite of all warriors. And trained in all the forms of death-dealing combat, she took to the road in search of her enemies. She was Kethry. Born to a noble house, sold into a hateful “marriage”, she fled life’s harshness for the sanctuary of the White Winds, a powerful school of sorcery. Becoming an adept, she pledged to use her talents for the greatest good. Yet unlike other sorcerers, Kethry could use worldly weapons as well as magical skills. And when she became the bearer of a uniquely magical sword that drew her to those in need, Kethry was led to a fateful meeting with Tarma. United by sword-spell and the will of the Goddess, Tarma and Kethry swore a blood oath to carry on their mutual fight against evil. And together, swordsmaster and sorceress set forth to fulfill their destiny….

Presents essays, short stories, and poems grouped in four categories: What is a fantasy?, What can fantasy teach us?, What's real and how do you know?, and Thinking on your own, by authors from Isaac Asimov to Patricia Wrede.

Includes fifty folktales from around the world, relating them to contemporary fantasy, science fiction, and cartoon themes.

A short story collection, edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg: The Last of the Deliverers by Poul Anderson The Feeling of Power by Isaac Asimov Poor Little Warrior! by Brian W. Aldiss The Iron Chancellor by Robert Silverberg The Prize of Peril by Robert Sheckley Or All the Seas with Oysters by Avram Davidson Two Dooms by C. M. Kornbluth The Big Front Yard by Clifford D. Simak The Burning of the Brain by Cordwainer Smith The Yellow Pill by Rog Phillips Unhuman Sacrifice by Katherine MacLean The Immortals by James E. Gunn

Collection contains: Robert Bloch - Sweets to the Sweet (selected by Stephen King) Philip K. Dick - The Father-Thing (selected by Ed Gorman) Richard Matheson - The Distributor (selected by F. Paul Wilson) M.R. James - A Warning to the Curious (selected by Ramsey Campbell) Arthur Machen - Opening the Door (selected by Peter Atkins) H. P. Lovecraft - The Colour Out of Space (selected by Richard Laymon) Robert Aickman - The Inner Room (selected by Peter Straub) Nathaniel Hawthorne - [Young Goodman Brown]( (selected by Rick Hautala) H. P. Lovecraft - The Rats in the Walls (selected by Michael Slade) Dennis Etchison - The Dog Park (selected by Richard Christian Matheson) Robert Bloch - The Animal Fair (selected by Joe R. Lansdale) Ramsey Campbell - The Pattern (selected by Poppy Z. Brite) Edgar Allan Poe - [Tell-tale Heart]( (selected by Joyce Carol Oates) Ambrose Bierce - [Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge]( (selected by Dennis Etchison) Edogawa Rampo - The Human Chair (selected by Harlan Ellison) blurb: What do today's top horror writers read—and why? This was the question posed to some of the most influential authors in the field today. This book is their answer. Here are fifteen of the most memorable stories in the genre, each one personally selected by a well-known writer, and each prefaced by that writer's explanation of his or her choice. Here's your chance to enjoy familiar favorites, and perhaps to discover some wonderful treasures. In each case, you'll have the opportunity to see the story from the perspective of a master of the field.

The protective barrier set so long ago over Valdemar is crumbling, and with the realm imperiled by the dark magic of Ancar of Hardorn, Princess Elspeth, Herald and heir to the throne, has gone on a desperate quest in search of a mentor who can teach her to wield her fledgling mage-powers and help her to defend her threatened kingdom.

In Conquest Born is the monumental science fiction epic that received unprecedented acclaim—and launched C.S. Friedman's phenomenal career. A sweeping story of two interstellar civilizations—locked in endless war, it was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award.

In Storm Rising, mysterious mage-storms are wreaking havoc on Valdemar, Karse, and all the kingdoms of the West, plaguing these lands not only with disastrous earthquakes, monsoons, and ice storms, but also with venomous magical constructs - terrifying creatures out of nightmare. Both Valdemar's Heralds and Karse's Sunpriests struggle to marshal their combined magical resources to protect their realms from these devastating, spell-fueled onslaughts. But as the situation becomes bleaker and bleaker, the still fragile alliance between these long-hostile lands begins to fray. And unless Valdemar and Karse can locate and destroy the creator of the storms, they may see their entire world demolished in a final magical holocaust.

When Benton Collins returned from Barakhai-where magic had turned all but the royal family into inadvertent shapeshifters-he thought his adventures were at an end. But the friends he'd left behind still needed his aid, and Ben had to return to join in their desperate quest...

On her long journey home from school after a fight that will surely lead to her expulsion, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her uncertain future. As she trudges through the immense Green Cloak forest, her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves, as a galloping horse bursts from the woods. The rider is slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king of Sacoridia. Before he dies, he begs Karigan to deliver the “life and death” message he bears to King Zachary. When she reluctantly he agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to complete his mission, whispering with his dying breath, "Beware the shadow man...". Taking on the golden-winged horse brooch that is the symbol of the Green Riders, Karigan is swept into a world of deadly danger and complex magic, her life forever changed. Compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is accompanied by the silent specter of the fallen messenger and hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

From the back cover: BROTHERS OF EARTH The leader of the Hanan was a Priestess-Ruler in a world of humanoid aliens. Yet she was more closely related to her human prisoner, Kurt Morgan, thought their star nations had been bitter enemies for two thousand years. She granted Kurt Morgan his life, but for a price: that he remain indebted to his captors, immersed in an alien environment which threatened to drive him mad. Beset with doubts, Kurt accepted the terms of his capture and despite his misgivings became intrigued with his life. For he shared something unique with his captor -- both of them had survived the destruction of their worlds. And then they realized that the world on which they now lived was on the brink of a devastating war, and they were perhaps the only two sentient beings there who understood the ultimate sacrifice that might come from such a conflict. Could they save this world, or would they die with their adopted planet, humanity's orphans at the edge of space? HUNTER OF WORLDS The Iduve were the most advanced spacefaring race in the galaxy. They traveled where they pleased in giant city-sized vessels, engrossed with their own affairs. The Iduve were humanoid, but they differed from Earth's own humans in one significant way: they were pure predators incapable of human emotion. Aiela was a world-survey officer who found himself abducted to serve the Iduve clanship Ashanome. Forcibly mind-linked with two other captives, life for Aiela became wholly dedicated to the service of his captors. But then the Ashanome came to the world of Priamos, a war-torn planet caught in a struggle between humans and the alien race known as the amaut. When she discovered that her fugitive brother was hiding there, Chimele, leader of the Ashanome, was willing to sacrifice this entire world to destroy him. And Priamos' only hope for survival lay with Aiela and his fellow captives....

A short story collection, edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg: The highest treason / Randall Garrett Hothouse / Brian W. Aldiss Hiding place / Poul Anderson What is this thing called love? / Isaac Asimov A prize for Edie / J.F. Bone The ship who sang / Anne McCaffrey Death and the senator / Arthur C. Clarke The Quaker cannon / Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth The moon moth / Jack Vance A planet named Shayol / Cordwainer Smith Rainbird / R.A. Lafferty Wall of crystal, eye of night / Algis Budrys Remember the Alamo! / T. R. Fehrenbach

A collection of short stories about the Civil War by writers of science fiction.

A group of today's top fantasy writers were asked to name the most memorable stories that have influenced them. The result is this collection of 17 stories by authors ranging from Roger Zelany and Barbara Kingsolver to Jack Vance and Charles Dickens. The authors preface each story with an explanation of their choice.Selected and introduced by Fantasy's finest...Terry PrachettRobert SilverbergKatherine KurtzFred SaberhagenMorgan LlewelynGeorge R.R. MartinAndre NortonGene WolfLandmark stories by...L. Sprague de CampRoger ZelaznyM.R. JamesBarbara KingsolverJack VanceManly Wade WellmanCharles Dickens

Filled with magic, intrigue, romance and adventure, Mercedes Lackey's world of Valdemar is one of the most popular domains in fantasy literature. Home to the Heralds and their mysterious horselike Companions, the magical Tayledras Hawk-people, and of course, the powerful gryphons, Valdemar has garnered a devoted global following. Now these 17 new tales by fantasy's greatest authors are sure to add their own chapter to the history of this enchanting land.

A collection of science fiction short stories that take place on and around the various planets of our own solar system.

TIGER Left as an infant to die in the desert, and enslaved by the Southron tribe who found him, he had won his freedom and his name by slaying a deadly sandtiger. Now he was a legendary sword-dancer--possibly the best in the South. But his true origins were still unknown. DEL Born in the frozen North, she had seen her family brutally murdered and her youngest brother carried away to be sold into slavery. Compelled by her rage for vengeance, she had become the most deadly sword-singer in the North. In the three years since Tiger and Del's fateful meeting, these mismatched companions have become true partners, their alliance forged by blood, magic, danger, adventure...and something more. Exiled from both the North and the South, the two have now set sail to search for Tiger's homeland--but no journey is ever without complications for Tiger and Del. Shipwrecked, nearly drowned, abducted by pirates, bedeviled by magic, the Southron sword-dancer and the Northern sword-singer finally do arrive at their destination. But before the mystery of his origins can be solved, Tiger must face another truth about himself which may prove more dangerous than any sword-dance. His own personal brand of magic, long denied by Tiger, is finally manifesting. And because of its very uniqueness, Tiger's awakening power may prove his undoing.

From the author of the acclaimed "The Mists of Avalon" comes the first in a series of omnibus volumes of her bestselling Darkover series. Included in this volume are the two most powerful and important novels in this groundbreaking saga.

After spending her youth in the Terran Empire, Margaret Alton returns to Darkover, the planet of her birth. There she discovers she has the Alton Gift--forced rapport and compulsion--one of the strongest and most dangerous of the inherited "Laran" gifts of the telepathic Comyn--the ruling families of Darkover. And even as she struggles to control her newfound powers, Margaret finds herself falling in love with the Regent to the royal Elhalyn Domain, a man she has been forbidden to marry, for their alliance would irrevocably alter the power balance of their planet!

Make a Prison - short story by Lawrence Block The Wind People - short story by Marion Zimmer Bradley No, No, Not Rogov! - short story by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger [as by Cordwainer Smith] What Rough Beast? - novelette by Damon Knight The Alley Man - novella by Philip José Farmer Day at the Beach - short story by Carol Emshwiller The Malted Milk Monster - short story by William Tenn The World of Heart's Desire - short story by Robert Sheckley (variant of The Store of the Worlds) The Man Who Lost the Sea - short story by Theodore Sturgeon A Death in the House - novelette by Clifford D. Simak The Pi Man - short story by Alfred Bester Multum in Parvo - short story by Jack Sharkey What Now, Little Man? - novelette by Mark Clifton Adrift on the Policy Level - short story by Chan Davis [as by Chandler Davis]

560 p. : 18 cm

"The Insane Ones" by J. G. Ballard "Christmas Treason" by James White "Seven-Day Terror" by R. A. Lafferty "Kings Who Die" by Poul Anderson "The Man Who Made Friends with Electricity" by Fritz Leiber "Hang Head, Vandal!" by Mark Clifton "The Weather Man" by Theodore L. Thomas "Earthlings Go Home!" by Mack Reynolds "The Streets of Ashkelon" by Harry Harrison "When You Care, When You Love" by Theodore Sturgeon "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" by Cordwainer Smith "Gadget vs. Trend" by Christopher Anvil "Roofs of Silver" by Gordon R. Dickson

In the era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a time of war and unrest, King Carolin of Hastur and his friend Keeper Varzil Ridenow work selflessly to put an end to the destruction caused by the long range weapons of the magical matrix Towers. But Eduin Deslucido-who once called Carolin brother-has been consumed with a vengeful rage, and will stop at nothing to destroy the king and his plan for peace.

Legendary fighters and fugitives from both the North and the South, Tiger and Del continue their quest to uncover the mysteries of Tiger's origins and discover that he is heir to a powerful magic that could hold the key to his ultimate fate. Note: a 7th book was issued in 2013 Sword-Bound

With Elspeth, the heir to the throne of Valdemar, come of marriageable age, Talia, the Queen’s Own Herald returns to court to find Queen and heir beset by diplomatic intrigue as various forces vie for control of Elspeth’s future. But just as Talia is about to uncover the traitor behind all these intrigues, she is sent off on a mission to the neighboring kingdom, chosen by the Queen to investigate the worth of a marriage proposal from Prince Ancar. And, to her horror, Talia soon discovers there is far more going on at Prince Ancar’s court than just preparation for a hoped-for royal wedding. For a different magic than that of the Heralds is loose in Ancar’s realm—an evil and ancient sorcery that may destroy all of Valdemar unless Talia can send warning to her Queen in time!

In this long-awaited sequel to Green Rider, Karigan G'ladheon finds herself in a world of deadly danger and complex magic. Compelled by forces she cannot understand, she becomes one of the legendary Green Riders-magic messengers to the king. Pursued by the ghost of the First Rider, Karigan will re-enter the life of the Green Riders-just as an ancient evil is reawakening...

Fifteen years ago, a young author surprised and enchanted readers with his first novel—the story of Fritti Tailchaser, a courageous tom cat in a world of whiskery heroes and villains, of feline gods and strange, furless creatures called M'an. The book was Tailchaser's Song, the author was Tad Williams. The legend was born.

Storm Breaking is the third book in the Mage Storm Trilogy. As mysterious, magical onslaughts ravage Valdemar and the kingdoms of the West, the western allies have traveled far to locate the ruins of the Tower of Urtho, Mage of Silence, and excavate his legendary Vault, hidden stronghold of some of the most powerful magical weapons ever devised. They now know that the mage storms are an ‘echo’ through time of the prehistoric Cataclysm which permanently warped their world more than two thousand years ago. If they don’t find a way to stop these magical vibrations they will culminate in another Cataclysm- this time destroying their world for good.But Urtho’s Vault is not the only thing buried below the Dorisha Plains, and camped in the ruins of what was once the workplace of the most ingenious mage their world has ever known, the desperate allies soon realize that their solution may lie beneath their feet. The saving of their world just might be accomplished by the work of a man who has been dead for millennia!

With her phenomenal Mage Winds trilogy, bestselling author Mercedes Lackey captivated fans across the country. Now in the first volume of the series sequel, she continues the same storyline, returning readers to a war-torn Valdemar in preparation to confront an ancient Eastern Empire--ruled by a monarch whose magical tactics by be beyond any sorcery known to the western kingdoms.

The Tunnel Under the World - novelette by Frederik Pohl The Darfsteller - novella by Walter M. Miller, Jr. The Cave of Night - short story by James E. Gunn Grandpa - novelette by James H. Schmitz Who? - novelette by Theodore Sturgeon (variant of Bulkhead) The Short Ones - novelette by Raymond E. Banks Captive Market - short story by Philip K. Dick Allamagoosa - short story by Eric Frank Russell The Vanishing American - short story by Charles Beaumont The Game of Rat and Dragon - short story by Cordwainer Smith The Star - short story by Arthur C. Clarke Nobody Bothers Gus - short story by Algis Budrys Delenda Est - novelette by Poul Anderson Dreaming Is a Private Thing - short story by Isaac Asimov

Mariana - short story by Fritz Leiber The Day the Icicle Works Closed - novelette by Frederik Pohl The Fellow Who Married the Maxill Girl - novelette by Ward Moore Mine Own Ways - short story by Richard McKenna Make Mine Homogenized - novelette by Rick Raphael The Lady Who Sailed the Soul - novelette by Genevieve Linebarger and Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger [as by Cordwainer Smith] I Remember Babylon - short story by Arthur C. Clarke Chief - short story by Henry Slesar Mind Partner - novelette by Christopher Anvil The Handler - short story by Damon Knight The Voices of Time - novelette by J. G. Ballard

A collection of 14 stories about the lost worlds of Darkover.

Science fiction and fantasy offer writers the opportunity to look at our own world differently, to create entire worlds of their own, and to take contemporary values and transform them. Thus, in a world where many women are still struggling for equality, the genre allows women to come fully into their own, as authors create strong, believable women characters who either flaunt popular conventions about the roles appropriate to women, or live in a society where women have true equality. In Women of War, sixteen remarkable writers have taken up the challenge of creating strong, well-rounded female protagonists, who are more than able to hold their own whether in space, on distant worlds, in our own future, or in fantasy realms where a civilization's fate may be balanced on the edge of a sword.