A sampler of short stories taking place before and connected to SCALE-BRIGHT in chronological order. Chinese mythology retold from the time of humanity's creation to contemporary Hong Kong.
"The Crows Her Dragon's Gate" (first published in BENEATH CEASELESS SKIES, 2013. Ed. Scott H. Andrews). The story of Xihe, the mother of suns, when she was young and the world was new: how she met her husband, lost herself, and found it again.
"Woman of the Sun, Woman of the Moon" (first published in GIGANOTOSAURUS, 2012. Ed. Ann Leckie). Houyi rose in heaven, bow and arrow in hand: the hunt was her joy, the slaying of demons her delight. But most delightful was a serving girl called Chang'e.
"Chang'e Dashes from the Moon" (first published in EXPANDED HORIZONS, 2012. Ed. Dash). Chang'e has been a prisoner on the moon while the world turns and cities rise. For centuries Houyi has looked for a way to free her wife, and now she has found it in a distant grand-niece: a young mortal woman named Julienne. ** Views: 640
Eleven hundred years after the apocalyptic destruction of the United States of America, peace between the remaining warring tribes has finally been achieved. Despite this peace, the Pelbar stronghold Threerivers retains its secretive and reclusive ways, keeping its distance from the other remaining tribes and guarding against change. A strict matriarchy, Threerivers remains the most conservative Pelbar community under the unquestioned and unyielding rule of its leader, Udge.Life in Threerivers continues without change until two young twin brothers, Brudoer and Gamwyn, accidentally initiate events that threaten the established order. The resulting chain of consequences sends Gamwyn on a quest to the far reaches of this postapocalyptic world. Within Threerivers, Brudoer's imprisonment threatens the long-established matriarchal rule of the Pelbar stronghold.The Fall of the Shell is the fourth book in the classic series of postapocalyptic novels about the people of Pelbar. Views: 640
Like every other day in his working life, U.S. postal worker Trent Bixby is delivering the mail. But when Mrs. Neibauer's black poodle drops an American Girl doll at his feet, he fears that something terrible has happened. In this short story about a hero who stumbles across an unexpected surprise, the shocking truth about Mrs. Neibauer is revealed and a tragedy is avoided.Like every other day in his working life, U.S. postal worker Trent Bixby is delivering the mail. But when Mrs. Neibauer's black poodle drops an American Girl doll at his feet, he fears that something terrible has happened. In this short story about an unassuming government worker who stumbles across an unexpected surprise, the shocking truth about Mrs. Neibauer is revealed and a tragedy involving an innocent 8 year old girl is avoided. Views: 640
Enjoy Sarah Ladd's Whispers on the Moors novels as an e-book collection! The Heiress of Winterwood Amelia Barrett gave her word. Keeping it could cost her everything. The Headmistress of Rosemere Patience Creighton has devoted her life to running her father's boarding school. But when the enigmatic master of the estate appears at her door, battered and unconscious, the young headmistress suddenly finds her livelihood—and her heart —in the hands of one dangerously handsome gentleman. A Lady at Willowgrove Hall Her secret cloaks her in isolation and loneliness. His secret traps him in a life that is not his own. Views: 640
Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening, a techno-political spy thriller, combines relentless action, crisp dialogue, fully drawn characters, and thought provoking plot twists. Part 1, a novella, establishes the story lines and introduces the principal characters, including Brendan Whelan—the leader of the Sleeping Dogs unit and the deadliest man on the planet.The President of the United States has been targeted for assassination—by his own party’s power structure. A national election is pending and the killing must look as if the opposition party is responsible. Desperate to prevent the crime and avoid an overwhelming defeat, the opposition turns to the only force that can stop it this late in the game—a mysterious hunter-killer team known only as the Sleeping Dogs. This blackest of black ops units was formed to carry out the wettest, most illegal missions. Later, a U.S. President, fearing discovery of the unit’s existence could spark an international crisis, ordered its members terminated with extreme prejudice. They escaped and went underground. Now, 20 years later, they are asked to leave the safety of their anonymity and risk their lives for their country one more time. A seemingly unconnected car crash rapidly escalates into a series of plot twists and rising body count involving Russian agents, crooked politicians, Ukrainian gangsters, a billionaire international arbitrageur, a secret society of individuals in the military and intelligence communities, the CIA, a doggedly determined FBI agent, and the six deadliest men on earth—the surviving Sleeping Dogs. Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening is a techno-political spy thriller that combines relentless action, crisp dialogue, fully drawn characters, and thought provoking plot twists. Squarely on the same page with David Baldacci, Brad Thor, Lee Child and other best-selling thriller writers.Part 1, a novella, establishes the story lines and introduces the principal characters, including Brendan Whelan—the leader of the Sleeping Dogs unit and the deadliest man on the planet. Views: 640
This short story shows Coop before he became The Hitchhiker. He was a normal boy, with a dark secret. He carried the weight of a curse with him constantly. Whenever someone touched him, their thoughts and emotions flooded his mind. The fear of being thought of as crazy by ones own parents can be traumatizing! However, God had something great in store for this young man. Not a curse, but a gift.Who was Coop before he was The Hitchhiker? Was he always confident that his ability was a gift? When did he let his parents in on the secret? How did they respond? Before Coop became The Hitchhiker, he was a normal boy, with a dark secret. He carried the weight of a curse with him constantly. Whenever someone touched him, their thoughts and emotions flooded his mind. The fear of being thought of as crazy by ones own parents can be traumatizing! However, God had something great in store for this young man. Not a curse, but a gift.. This short story covers two different instances. It goes back in time, to eight year old Coop, before his parents knew about his mind reading ability. As well as simultaneously showing him as an adult and confront his parents about using his gift for God's kingdom. The tale shows Coop change from thinking of his ability as a curse to being ready to see how God will use it for good. It is a short glimpse at Coop before he became The Hitchhiker. Views: 640
When the Saint goes fishing, he catches an unusual specimen in the shape of a young lady claiming to be Adolf Hitler’s daughter. And when the Ungodly also arrive on the scene, it seems clear the fish will just have to wait…
**About the Author
Leslie Charteris was born in Singapore on May 12th, 1907. With his mother and brother, he moved to England in 1919 and attended Rossall School in Lancashire before moving on to Cambridge University to study law. His studies there came to a halt when a publisher accepted his first novel. His third book, entitled Meet the Tiger!, was written when he was twenty years old and published in September 1928. It introduced the world to Simon Templar, aka the Saint.
He continued to write about the Saint until 1983 when the last book, Salvage for the Saint, was published. The books, which have been translated into over thirty languages, number nearly a hundred and have sold over 40 million copies around the world. They’ve inspired, to date, fifteen feature films, three TV series, ten radio series, and a comic strip that was written by Charteris and syndicated around the world for over a decade. He enjoyed travelling but settled for long periods in Hollywood, Florida, and finally in Surrey, England. He was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger by the Crime Writers’ Association in 1992, in recognition of a lifetime of achievement. He died the following year.
To find out more about Leslie Charteris and his work, visit www.lesliecharteris.com. Views: 639
The happily-ever-after of Holly Goldberg Sloan's acclaimed debut, I'll Be There, is turned on its head in this riveting, emotional sequel about friends, enemies, and how those roles can shift in a matter of moments.
Emily Bell has it all. She's in love with a boy named Sam Border, and his little brother has become part of her family. This summer is destined to be the best time of their lives--until a charismatic new girl in town sets her sights on Sam. Now Emily finds herself questioning the loyalty of the person she thought she could trust most.
But the biggest threat to her happiness is someone she never saw coming. Sam's criminally insane father, whom everyone thought they'd finally left behind, is planning a jailbreak. And he knows exactly where to find Emily and his sons when he escapes...and takes his revenge. Views: 639
What's one impulsive night between old friends?
Tied together by tragedy, business tycoon Garrett Gage has always vowed to protect Kate Devaney—at all costs. What he doesn't expect is that she'd someday need protection from him. When did Kate blossom from an orphaned little girl into a breathtaking woman? And what possessed him to forsake a deathbed vow and take vulnerable Kate into his arms, into his bed?
Now that they'd been intimate, things have changed—more than Garrett could possibly know. Kate is carrying his child. And along with that, a secret that could change everything… Views: 639
A short story about a young woman named Anne, who has several male friends, and her male roommate is interested in her. A story of possible loves and the friendships that endure.It's spring break and a visit to the Alderman farm leads to another exciting adventure in Camelot. Marcus, the elfin mage known as the Keeper, has been captured by Bellator, the mightiest of the twelve Immortals. Bellator is holding Marcus for ransom until Excalibur, the sword blessed by the Creator, is returned to him, but no one knows where the sword is located. Was the final prophecy of Venus given to provide hope in times of darkness or was it intended as a warning? Is Ben really the chosen one? Will he save Camelot... or destroy it? Views: 639
PANDORA’S STAR
JUDAS UNCHAINED
2380. The Intersolar Commonwealth, a sphere of stars, contains more than six hundred worlds interconnected by a web of transport “tunnels” known as wormholes. At the farthest edge of the Commonwealth, astronomer Dudley Bose observes the impossible: over one thousand light-years away, a star . . . disappears. Since the location is too distant to reach by wormhole, the Second Chance, a faster-than-light starship commanded by Wilson Kime, a five-times-rejuvenated ex-NASA pilot, is dispatched to learn what has occurred and whether it represents a threat.
Opposed to the mission are the Guardians of Selfhood. Shortly after the journey begins, Kime wonders if the crew of the Second Chance has been infiltrated. But soon enough he will have other worries. Halfway across the galaxy, something truly incredible is waiting: a deadly discovery whose unleashing will threaten to destroy the Commonwealth . . . and humanity itself. Views: 639
This is a short story. Dragonfire is the name of the game, a new, totally immersive computer game set in a fantasy world. Figurative dragons lurk in hidden places, the stakes are high, and losing the game means losing your life - or does it?She paced the room, looking out the window, waiting for the sun to set. She didn't think anyone would be coming over after her father was arrested; it'd be too dangerous to pay condolences to the daughter of a warlock. Still, she couldn't take any chances. She couldn't be interrupted, and she couldn't speak to anyone until the next morning. The last rays of bright red light filtered through the curtain and left Elizabeth in the night's embrace. She opened the jar, read the spell one more time, making out letters under the moon's meager glow, and then set up the candle. She walked around the tiny flame, careful not to put it out, and began chanting, weaving a part of her own soul into the words and feeding it to the fire. “The harm to me is harm to you and all your kin and all your blood.”The flame leaped, grew larger, consuming the wax in half the time it should have. Elizabeth watched the candle burn in silence, watched energy, the soul of fire, glide through the air and hug her body. She sensed the reassurance of the spell, its protection. With a needle Elizabeth pricked her finger and let one drop of blood fall on the flame just as it was about to die. The wick hissed, and the last of the energy that smelled and tasted of vengeance came to Elizabeth. Views: 639
'Blood and art. Honestly Elliot, what more natural occupation for a vampire could there be?' Elliot pays a visit to his favourite tattooist, for some new ink and a few unexpected truths...'Blood Work' is the 10th instalment of 'Harlem's Deck', a serial Noir about cute boys with big swords and things that go bump in the night. Tailored for fans of Tru Blood, Zombieland or Bayonetta-like sillines'Blood and art. Honestly Elliot, what more natural occupation for a vampire could there be?' Elliot pays a visit to his favourite tattooist, for some new ink and a few unexpected truths...'Blood Work' is the 10th instalment of 'Harlem's Deck', a serial Noir about cute boys with big swords and things that go bump in the night. Tailored for fans of Tru Blood, Zombieland or Bayonetta-like silliness.(...Back cover write up...)The city of Neppon drifts through the shallows, where the walls circling the mortal realm are thin. Here the daemons gather out of the surrounding night, drawn by its promise of candle flame warmth.As the election for the city's mayoral office approaches, one man stands head and shoulders above the other candidates. His reputation? A bastion for everything that is good and honest, in a world beset from all sides by horrors. But Jaret Roscan carries a secret. A secret that could bring ruin to his political career, and chaos to his beloved city.One person carries the key to his salvation. The question is, will they come forward in his hour of need?Harlem's Deck; a story in instalments. Keep your hand close to your chest... Views: 639
