Short Story Collections

War is a serious business - or is it? Christopher Anvil turns his sardonic sense of humor loose on the subject in this slightly twisted look at the future of war.

A rip-roaring collection of amusing and beguiling “what if?” speculative fiction tales from science fiction humorist and droll storyteller extraordinaire Christopher Anvil. A generous volume of cunning and humorous science fiction from a master storyteller Christopher Anvil. First, Anvil’s tale of the consequences for civilization—and humanity itself—on The Day the Machines Stopped . Next, a gambler is captured by aliens who are investigating the Earth as a possible target for colonization. The aliens have science and technology far in advance of humans—but, unfortunately for them, they have never developed the human art of bluffing . And finally, for the first time in book form, Anvil’s stories of universal troubleshooter and paradox-resolver extraordinaire Richard Verner. Need to know why the government’s missiles keep falling from the sky? Whether a judge has been kidnapped or gone into hiding to avoid a dangerous ruling? Who that dead body belongs to that interrupted a perfect vacation? Verner’s on the case. About Christopher Anvil: “Droll and exciting. . .”— Houston Chronicle “. . .a delightful pleasure. . .I’ve always loved Anvil’s, ah, peculiar sense of humor.”— New York Times best-seller and military SF master David Weber “. . .rousing adventure. . .SF fun.”— Locus