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Some are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them, others seek the receipt of greatness in the hopes of returning it for something a little less save the worldy. Susan doesn't know how to save a world, especially one she has just been magically transported to, no one seems to want to listen to her though and she soon finds herself wishing destiny had called someone else.Like many Susan is a little lost, unfortunately the world doesn't seem to pull the car over so she can make up her mind about which direction to head in. Stuck in a dead end job she didn't want in the first place she wishes to be anywhere else doing anything else. Through no fault of her own she finds herself in the world of Mach B'alif, tasked with saving their entire world from its dark ruler, and today was supposed to be just another day of filing.These are the opening chapters to Susan's tale of prophecy and power struggles, destiny and denial and one lost girl trying to find her way home with no intent on being anyone's chosen savior. Views: 808
So I was driving to work when this angry suicidal lawyer crashed into me. She and I were flung out of our bodies, into the sky. So far, not a good day.Captured, argued over, sold, our souls ended up in a cage called Paradise, where two evil spirits were market-testing new temptations for a sales conference.Then a snake appeared. It was OK though: he was offering counselling.'Paradise - A divine comedy' shows what happens when what's hidden inside us, comes out. Reviews:'‘Hitchhikers Guide meets Screwtape meets Pilgrims Progress meets the Discworld!’ (Phil Grasham)'...absolutely loved it. A hysterical surrealist take on what is out there after life on earth, or next to life on earth, or simultaneous with life on earth, or whatever. A story of Gods in kilts, crystal clear memories, and walls made of our pixelated fears. Delightful. (Jeannette M, Goodreads.com)Sometimes you want to hit the main character on the back of the head and tell him to stop being a wuss, but how would you react if you had to build a paradise controlled by some used-car-salesman-style gods? If you like quirky and surreal stories about the afterlife, then I would highly recommend Paradise. (Katie Webb, Goodreads.com)What a great book! Loved the characters, the creativity, the dialogue, the imaginative idea of evil spirits keeping humans as pets …. a delightfully comic but definitely insightful look into the human psyche and soul. It’s a mark of a good book (for me, at least) when I look forward to picking it up again to read and am slow to put it down. I loved every aspect of it. (Susan Sutton, author)An interview with Glenn MyersQ. So what is this book like and what books do you like the most?A. Off-beat, quirky. British humour I guess. About the afterlife or at least about near-death experiences and the soul.Q. Why this subject?A. We spend loads of time grooming our appearance, because that's what people see. But what are we like on the inside? If your soul was like a landscape, what would it look like? How would it change? What would be attacking it or wearing it down? I thought it would be a lot of fun to picture that. Q. And you get to ask big questions?A. I think the best comedy does. Life, death, love, redemption: all those, but handled lightly. I see comic fiction like a ridge walk on a mountain range -- scary drops each side, but a carefree stroll on the top. Q. With two warring characters at the heart?A. Three actually. The main protagonist Jamie is at war with Keziah the girl who crashed into him and so sent them both to the afterlife. If he's smug, laid-back and bone idle, she's spiky, focussed and driven. They just don't get on. There's no possible world, living or dead, where they could ever get on. Yet they have to work together. And hovering in the background is Jamie's ex-girlfriend Caroline, who he's completely failed to love and she's left him. So they're all struggling. They're all lost souls. And of course the stress of being dead, of your soul exposed, and of being experimented on by evil spirits, all that tends to crank up the conflict. So there's missed love and disappointment and secret goodness and slow discovery. Such wonderful fun to write!Q. There’s a lot of food mentioned in the books: Afghan (murtabak), Indian (for example, roti prata), Singaporean Chinese (Hainanese Chicken Rice) and Malay (Mee Goreng, Laksa, Nasi Lemak). Have you eaten all these foods? A. Yes. It’s important -- vital research. Views: 803
Mark and Michelle just have to survive. Well, they also have to make it home from Titan. And if they don't have a full load of Methane in the giant Gas-harvesting Balloon Ship Sojourner, everything they and dozens of other families invested will be lost. Loneliness, constant repairs, violent gas storms and government seizure aren't the only things keeping them awake at night.Stalling and Steffor inhabit different worlds, yet they are connected. Together, but unbeknownst to one of them, they race towards an inevitable, if unimaginable collision. As a Guardian, Steffor protects the Provider’s Citizens from a host of dangers inherent to a world of perpetual wilderness. When not serving as a resident hero, Steffor spends his time training for the Dive. Qualified for this season's championship, manifesting his future fame seems certain, if not for events manifesting a different future for Steffor and his peaceful society. A future in direct lockstep with destiny. On Antium, artificial intelligence fast approaches the point of exceeding human intelligence. Despite its aggressive development and implementation of technology over that past century, hubris hinders the Church of Salvation from seeing the Singularity's inevitable arrival, much less process its implications on the future. The lethal weakness of their enemy identified, Stalling Alterian and his cadre of gifted conspirators accelerate the Singularity’s arrival to lead a fertile insurrection against the merciless theocracy. Committed to saving their society, or die trying, moments away from completing the crucial and final phase of their clandestine mission, Stalling discovers a fatal error in his calculations that threatens to destroy it all. Absent of any solution and the enemy closing in, can Stalling impose his technological miracle onto humanity before the noose pulls tight? Praise for KNOWN AFTERLIFE:“…more of a profound level of meaning than we read in other novels in this genre.” Grady Harp, Amazon.com Top 50 Reviewer, Vine Voice, Hall of Fame Reviewer"Bravo! Brilliant and Intricate...Copeland does an expert job of reminding us that reality is what we make it and our beliefs, allegiance and loyalty are ours alone to give." Jay Mittener, Amazon.com Top 500 Reviewer"All is can say is--Interesting!... At the end of the book, I found myself doing a lot of soul searching." Karma, Amazon.com Reviewer“An intelligent and entertaining funfest…Copeland assumes that I have come to his book with imagination and the desire to enter a new creation, and he definitely delivers the goods. Well, done!” bertiejf's, Amazon.com reviewer“Thought-provoking and exciting…a surprisingly deep exploration of the role of religion in society…that isn't heavy-handed or evangelical, primarily because we get two very different takes on it, which keeps one viewpoint from dominating.” T. February, Amazon.com reviewer Views: 800
Dark Fantasy story of a post-apocalyptic encounter with ancient creatures of legend. From the collection Meat for the Storytelling: Stories of the goblin world.Dark Fantasy story of a post-apocalyptic encounter with ancient creatures of legend. From the collection Meat for the Storytelling: Stories of the goblin world.A man wanders into the old underground transportation system tunnels and is captured by hostile creatures and taken into the darkest reaches of an underground cavern system. Slowly his vision adjusts to the minimal light from crystal reflections in the stone and he begins to see his captors, but would he have been better off to remain blinded by the darkness? Views: 799
Presenting this year’s collection of fresh voices, fabulous worlds, and fantastic new characters. 24 Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators. Accompanied by Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, Jody Lynn Nye, Jerry Pournelle, Ciruelo and Echo Chernik and Edited by David Farland. Your search for something new and different in sci-fi and fantasy ends here.
Each year, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests’ blue-ribbon judges search the world to discover and introduce to you the very best new talent in sci-fi and fantasy. Created by L. Ron Hubbard, whose commitment to help new writers and artists gave rise to the annual Writers of the Future anthologies...a launching pad for writers and artists who are sure to command our attention for decades to come.
Contents:
Introduction (L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 34) • essay by Dave Wolverton [as by David Farland]
Illustration Gallery • 16-page color gallery of artwork
Illustrators of the Future • essay by Echo Chernik
Turnabout / short fiction by Erik Bundy • interior artwork by Adar Darnov
A Smokeless and Scorching Fire / short fiction by Erin Cairns • interior artwork by Kyna Tek
The Howler on the Sales Floor / short fiction by Jonathan Ficke • interior artwork by Sidney Lugo
The Minarets of An-Zabat / short fiction by Jeremy TeGrotenhuis • interior artwork by Brenda Rodriguez
Suspense (1937) • essay by L. Ron Hubbard
The Death Flyer • short fiction by L. Ron Hubbard • interior artwork by Ven Locklear
Odd and Ugly / short fiction by Vida Cruz • interior artwork by Reyna Rochin
Mara's Shadow / short fiction by Darci Stone • interior artwork by Quintin Gleim
Theme • essay by Orson Scott Card
The Lesson (excerpt from The Way of Kings) • short fiction by Brandon Sanderson • interior artwork by Bea Jackson
Paying It Forward • essay by Jerry Pournelle
What Lies Beneath / short fiction by Cole Hehr • interior artwork by Maksym Polishchuk
The Face in the Box / short fiction by Janey Bell • interior artwork by Bruce Brenneise
Flee, My Pretty One / short fiction by Eneasz Brodski • interior artwork by Alana Fletcher
Passion and Profession • essay by Ciruelo Cabral [as by Ciruelo]
Illusion • essay by Jody Lynn Nye; inspired by Ciruelo's Dragon Caller
A Bitter Thing / short fiction by N. R. M. Roshak • interior artwork by Jazmen Richardson
Miss Smokey / short fiction by Diana Hart • interior artwork by Anthony Moravian
All Light and Darkness / short fiction by Amy Henrie Gillett • interior artwork by Duncan Halleck
The Year in the Contests • essay by editor
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"Children of a Sunless Land" is the first installment in the "Deaf Swordsman Series"."Children of a Sunless Land" is the first installment in the "Deaf Swordsman Series".Told in serial form, the Deaf Swordsman Series is a collection of stories featuring the fantastical deaf swordsman, Vohro Vahllenu. These set of stories is a sprawling epic of good and evil, bringing together the supernatural and weird, featuring dark fantasy adventures sure to resonate with both the hardcore and casual reader of dark fantasy literature.The stories begin and end in chaos, promising the reader a wild ride through the darkest bowels of the imagination while offering moments of deep reflection. Here are the terror-inducing tales of children clad in beastly armor, of people consumed by their own shadows, and of dark nights spent under the auspices of an angry moon.Embark on perilous journeys into unknown places like an abandoned asylum floating in the open, midnight sky, or an eerie forest characterized by the continuous sounds of echoing whispers. These are some of the places you'll venture into, following a fierce avenger armed with nine of the deadliest blades known to mankind, as he rides from the seen into the unseen, where hope and doom are bound only by the thinnest threads of humanity.Series No. 1: Children of a Sunless Land: 8,000 words (the equivalent to 30 paperback pages).*Includes illustrations. Views: 798
Neill isn't sure who hired him to repair Clara's roof--he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love? Views: 795
What would it take for you to trade a life in the skies, earning your freedom, for a death sentence deep within the lunar mines?When you're racing for your life, you don't let a thing like death slow you down. Love, on the other hand, can seal your fate.The Latrodectus mactans species of the black widow spiders are cannibalistic by nature, but Ebony is not a normal black widow. When she murders her husband by accident, instead of eating him, she is tormented by guilt. Her best friend can't understand her unusual behavior, and Ebony believes she is a freak of nature, spending the rest of her life obsessed with searching for happiness and self acceptance. Views: 795
Who can save your world, when your gods have abandoned it?Aedlem is one of the few left in Panlithia who believes they are not really gone. In fact, the rising generation doesn't believe they ever really existed. When a cruel alien species invades and enslaves the population, can Aedlem's faith in the mysterious Ghosts of the Sky help him lead his people to freedom once again?Pel has a story to tell. There's the girl who grew up destitute, addicted, single mother to a son she can't protect; the father who left the family, then disappeared; the old family friend, angel and demon both; the Dandelion Knight. But why tell it tonight, before a crowded theater in a city under siege? A companion novella to THE DANDELION KNIGHT. Views: 795
This is a fictive book about a boy how want’s to be a girl and want’s to be a Wiccan. | Dear diary it's a long time since I have written in you last and I'm sorry for that but I have made so much until now, my life has just been a way down to the underworld for my brain. I actually haven’t had it so bad since my dad died, I'm 18 now.While serving hors d'oeuvres to the beautiful people at a glittery Hollywood party, an aspiring young screenwriter named Vish meets Sparky, a charismatic stranger who claims he can do amazing things for Vish’s career. Vish’s attempts to find out more about Sparky set in motion a string of bizarre events, leading to a cushy writing gig on a hit TV series and a too-good-to-be-true romance with Troy, a sweet-natured starlet with a dangerous alter ego. After Troy dumps him without explanation, a heartbroken Vish tries to discover what went wrong in their relationship. His quest for answers leads him deep into Los Angeles’ seedy, supernatural underbelly, where struggling artists are a disposable commodity and fame often comes at a mortal cost. Vish finds himself at the center of a high-stakes battle between ancient forces for dominance in the entertainment industry. With a foul creature living in the earth beneath his apartment complex, a vicious coterie of murderous surf bums dogging his every move, and a disturbing lack of trustworthy allies, Vish’s best chance for survival lies with the mysterious and powerful Sparky. Vish must track down Sparky before he becomes the latest victim of Hollywood’s deadly allure. Views: 794
Claire Nevin identifies herself in many ways: Irish immigrant, apprentice healer, and most importantly, sister. When her troubled sibling sends her an unexpected package by rail, the gift and the man who delivers it threaten to redefine Claire's life once again. Fighting to hold on to all she's built, will she lose what matters most? Views: 793
It's Temperance Hall's big day - her chance to exact revenge and ruin some lives. Just the kind of thing she relishes. But when all the skeletons in her closet converge in a tragic car wreck, only her mind-reading chauffeur understands the full significance of this life-changing event.This slipstream short story may leave you with second thoughts about . . . your thoughts.After a tragic accident, football superstar Joel Harper finds himself rolling his wheelchair into a new school in a strange town. Soon he's making friends of misfits, taking lessons in Iron Maiden, and dodging a ruthless bully with a penchant for switchblades. Little is he aware, something ancient and wounded has awoken deep beneath the tiny mountain community, and all of Honaw will know its pain."Classic horror and true romance . . . Barnett's writing is pure poetry, and this one is his goriest, grittiest yet," Sarah Wathen - YA Books Central Views: 791
The voices have accused him of unrepentant sin. He is ready to take desperate measures to absolve himself of guilt from his past and to stop the relentless torment. Prepare yourself for a descent into madness and pray it's not too late.The first thing Mixer knew with certainty was that he was hungry. The feeling grew more intense each day until it became unbearable and Mixer began to lash out. Quietly, steadily he ate away at his enemy and, in a few weeks, where there had been two, now there was only one.History had been erased. The land had been eroded and the global population had crashed. Into this new world came an evolutionary change, a genetic mutation that could make humans perform in ways they'd never done before. Those who survived learned to fear the abilities of those who carried the gene and banished any who displayed the slightest difference. As time went on, the gene appeared to die out. But it wasn't entirely gone. In a world still largely ignorant and illiterate, nine children struggle to survive, sometimes even against their own. Views: 791
