Anthologies

Synchronic: 13 Tales of Time Travel introduces 13 varied and original takes on the pitfalls and paradoxes of time travel—from some of today’s most talented voices. From Michael Bunker’s story of a father, a son, and the legendary Santa Anna Gold, to Jason Gurley’s heart-wrenching tale of an astronaut forever torn from his young wife and daughter, these stories will keep you on the edge of your seat, and often have you guessing right up until the final word. You’ll meet a prison therapist who treats his patients by going back and preventing their crimes; a woman who can’t stop reliving her life, no matter how much it hurts; a space marine suffering from a time-altering brain injury; a woman who will betray the man she loves to correct a horrible mistake; a vengeful soul from ages past; and a time cop charged with preserving the timelines of multiple universes. You’ll experience a world where time travel is so common, reality itself hangs by a thread; a love story that overcomes the unforgiving barriers of time; a thrilling encounter with a pack of T. rex; a historian’s efforts to alter Roman history; and the first manned mission to the Red Planet—or is it? So sit back and enjoy. Just be sure you’ve got plenty of time.

Dive into the hottest new movement in British science fiction with this anthology featuring some of its biggest stars. This bundle contains four science fiction novels from bestselling British authors, three exclusive short stories, one of which is lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Andy Bigwood, and two essays. Find out more at www.empireatwar.co.uk THE NOVELS- Their Darkest Hour by Christopher G. Nuttall. Aliens take control of Britain's cities and force the remainder of the British military to go on the run. With the government destroyed, the population must choose between fighting and collaborating with the alien overlords. Discovery of the Saiph by P.P. Corcoran. The Marco Polo leads mankind to Proxima Centauri outside Earth's Solar System where the ship's scientists detect power readings they are artificial, alien and emanate from Planet III... a wasteland that suffered a devastating nuclear bombardment many thousands of years before. Archaeologists discover an alien library deep underground and are astonished to unlock its secrets with human DNA. C.R.O.W. by Phillip Richards. Andy Moralee knew that life with his new company of Dropship Infantry would be hard, but nothing could prepare him for life in one of the toughest units in the Union army. New arrivals, nicknamed 'Crow' by their platoons, are the lowest form of life in his Company, and he finds himself at the mercy of unforgiving commanders and bullies, all the time knowing that the real enemy are waiting for him at the end of his journey through the void. The enemy know that the Union are coming, they have dug in and fortified, and they are ready Marine Cadet by Tim C. Taylor. 2565 A.D. When seventeen-year old Marine Cadet, Arun McEwan, forges an unlikely friendship with an alien scribe, he crashes into a world of treachery and conspiracy. How can he possibly survive three more years until graduation when every day brings a new deadly threat? But survive he must because his new alien allies show him glimpses of his destiny -- a vision of a better future that only he can forge. A dream called the Human Legion THE EXCLUSIVE SHORT STORIES- Haven One-Eight by P.P. Corcoran. A relentless foe seeks to murder the Faithful in their haven, but who are these unstoppable servants of Satan? The answer will shock you. The President's Son by Tim C. Taylor. The characters in the Human Legion series have been isolated from the rest of humanity for centuries, but their distant ancestors were taken as children from Earth. In The President's Son, a short story exclusive to this collection, we hear the story of that first group of slave children. Fallen Witness - artwork by Andy Bigwood and words by Tim C. Taylor. The third short story in the collection is special. The sumptuous cover artwork for The Empire at War was produced by Andy Bigwood, whose cover art has twice before won the best artwork award from the British Science Fiction Association. Andy has supplied seven fantastic pieces of artwork that are interspersed with the other stories. Box Set Exclusive Preview- Phillip Richards presents an intriguing peak at his new SF series with the opening chapters of Escape from the Hive. AND FINALLY, WORDS FROM TIM C. TAYLOR- SitRep: The State of British Military SF Roll Call: British Military SF authors.

Twenty stories from twenty great writers. The title, Existence is Elsewhen, paraphrases the last sentence of André Breton’s 1924 Manifesto of Surrealism, perfectly summing up the intent behind this anthology of stories from a wonderful collection of authors. Different worlds… different times. It’s what Elsewhen Press has been about since we launched our first title in 2011. Here, we present twenty science fiction stories for you to enjoy. We are delighted that headlining this collection is the fantastic John Gribbin, with a worrying vision of medical research in the near future. Future global healthcare is the theme of J A Christy’s story; while the ultimate in spare part surgery is where Dave Weaver takes us. Edwin Hayward’s search for a renewable protein source turns out to be digital; and Tanya Reimer’s story with characters we think we know, gives us pause for thought about another food we take for granted. Evolution is examined too, with Andy McKell’s chilling tale of what states could become if genetics are used to drive policy. Similarly, Robin Moran’s story explores the societal impact of an undesirable evolutionary trend; while Douglas Thompson provides a truly surreal warning of an impending disaster that will reverse evolution, with dire consequences. On a lighter note, we have satire from Steve Harrison discovering who really owns the Earth (and why); and Ira Nayman, who uses the surreal alternative realities of his Transdimensional Authority series as the setting for a detective story mash-up of Agatha Christie and Dashiel Hammett. Pursuing the crime-solving theme, Peter Wolfe explores life, and death, on a space station; while Stefan Jackson follows a police investigation into some bizarre cold-blooded murders in a cyberpunk future. Going into the past, albeit an 1831 set in the alternate Britain of his Royal Sorceress series, Christopher G. Nuttall reports on an investigation into a girl with strange powers. Strange powers in the present-day is the theme for Tej Turner, who tells a poignant tale of how extra-sensory perception makes it easier for a husband to bear his dying wife’s last few days. Difficult decisions are the theme of Chloe Skye’s heart-rending story exploring personal sacrifice. Relationships aren’t always so close, as Susan Oke’s tale demonstrates, when sibling rivalry is taken to the limit. Relationships are the backdrop to Peter R. Ellis’s story where a spectacular mid-winter event on a newly-colonised distant planet involves a Madonna and Child. Coming right back to Earth and in what feels like an almost imminent future, Siobhan McVeigh tells a cautionary tale for anyone thinking of using technology to deflect the blame for their actions. Building on the remarkable setting of Pera from her LiGa series, and developing Pera’s legendary Book of Shadow, Sanem Ozdural spins the creation myth of the first light tree in a lyrical and poetic song. Also exploring language, the master of fantastika and absurdism, Rhys Hughes, extrapolates the way in which language changes over time, with an entertaining result. Contents: Inside and OutTM V.5 – From Here to ETERNITY by J.A. Christy In the bleak Long Winter by Peter R. Ellis Something to beef about by John Gribbin Earthsale by Steve Harrison Ambrosia by Edwin Hayward Jekking the Oofers by Rhys Hughes Luceria by Stefan Jackson Homo Sapiens Inferior by Andy McKell Face the Music by Siobhan McVeigh Degeneration by Robin Moran The Writer Did It! by Ira Nayman The Girl in Black by Christopher G. Nuttall Hide and Hunt by Susan Oke The Song of the Sky by Sanem Ozdural Forbidden Fruit by Tanya Reimer Precipitation by Chloe Skye Bird Brains by Douglas Thompson The Last Days by Tej Turner The Copy by Dave Weaver Murder in M-23 by Peter Wolfe

From distant planets to space-borne combat, from desperate attempts to win a race to the last hope of a beleaguered world, fifteen stories of Military SF and space opera, written to celebrate the 10th anniversary of independent publisher NewCon Press 1. Introduction 2. The Last Tank Commander - Allen Stroud 3. Between Nine and Eleven - Adam Roberts 4. Taking Flight - Una McCormack 5. The 10 Second War - Michael Brookes 6. Decommissioned - Tade Thompson 7. Another Day in Paradise - Amy duBoff 8. Round Trip - Robert Sharp 9. Arm Every Woman - Nik Abnett 10. Hill 435 - Tim C. Taylor 11. The Wolf, The Goat, and the Cabbage - Janet Edwards 12. Pickaxes and Shovels - Christopher Nuttall 13. The Gun - Ian Whates 14. Tactics for Optimal Outcomes in Negotiations with Wergen Ambassadors - Mercurio D Rivera 15. The Story of the Ten - Jo Zebedee

Fourteen outstanding authors. Fourteen extraordinary stories. One bestselling universe. It’s the Twenty-Second Century. The galaxy has opened up to humanity as a hyperactive beehive of stargates and new technologies, and we suddenly find ourselves in a vast playground of different races, environments, and cultures. There’s just one catch: we are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain. Enter the Four Horsemen universe, where only a willingness to fight and die for money separates Humans from the majority of the other races. Enter a galaxy not only of mercenaries, but also of Peacemakers, bounty hunters, and even a strung out junkie in the way of a hired assassin. Edited by bestselling authors and universe creators Mark Wandrey and Chris Kennedy, “A Fistful of Credits” includes all-new stories in the Four Horsemen universe by a variety of bestselling authors—and some you may not have heard of…yet. The fourteen authors take on various aspects of the universe, giving you additional insight into a galaxy that isn’t at war…but definitely isn’t at peace. There’s only one thing for sure—anything’s possible for a fistful of credits! Inside you’ll find: Foreword by Dr. Charles E. Gannon "The Last Alpha" by Mark Wandrey "Breach of Contract" by Terry Mixon "Paint the Sky" by Jason Cordova "Surf and Turf" by Jon R. Osborne "Stand on It" by Kevin Ikenberry "Lost and Found" by Jon Del Arroz "Gilded Cage" by Kacey Ezell "Legends" by Christopher Woods "With the Eagles" by Doug Dandridge "Dead or Alive" by Paul Corcoran "Hide and Seek" by Christopher Nuttall "Information Overload" by Charity Ayres "Enough" by Chris Kennedy "CASPer's Ghost" by Brad R. Torgersen Want to keep up with the Four Horsemen universe? Visit Chris Kennedy Publishing and subscribe to the mailing list!

Join the adventure through dystopian worlds, to outer planets and into a speculative future. Welcome to the Future Days Anthology. 17 authors imagine a future with thrilling tales, starships, unlikely heroes and exotic aliens all of which combine to make Future Days a must-read sci-fi fantasy short story collection. Featuring USA TODAY bestselling author Christopher Nuttall. Amazon bestselling sci-fi authors Rick Partlow and PP Corcoran and award-winning author RB Kelly, alongside rising stars in the sci-fi fantasy genre. The stories: “The Good Citizen” by Aline Boucher Kaplan Out of work? Need to pay the bills? Don’t worry the government is looking for a few good people to work in the colonies. And, oh yeah, its compulsory. “Cell Effect” by Christopher Cousins Saiden has abilities. Abilities the government wants to weaponize. Only one thing stands in their way, Ret Saiden. “Greener Pastures” by Justin C. Fulton When the line between a utopian virtual world and harsh reality become blurred, the choices we make can be fatal. “Orbital Burn” by David M. Hoenig Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Who would have thought convicted criminal Slade would be one of them? “A Winter’s Day” by Edward Ahern Ever-Young Cryogenics promise its clients a brief spell of life every decade. But, what happens when your family grow old and die, but you don’t? “Colony” by Gunnar De Winter In a hierarchical society decided by birth, instructions must be followed. Unless you are a radical and want to destroy the system. “The Pink Shar-Ship Switcher” by James Worrad Jada is a businesswoman intent on climbing the corporate ladder by sealing a lucrative deal. That is, until a Being from another reality intervenes. “Custodian” by Johnny Pez Only a special kind of person volunteers to stay awake during the long voyages between the stars while the rest of the crew sleeps. But what happens when he gets lonely? “The Caller” by Lisa Timpf A job she hates on a world with too many problems. But what if she can escape to a new world and start again? Can she leave everything she knows, and loves, behind? “The Trickle-Down Effect” by Mark Lynch Denton, a man who would do what needed to be done to survive in the ‘Pit’. The lowest, dirtiest, crime ridden part of a mega city forgotten by the ‘One Percenters’ living in their luxurious towers. “Jericho” by Matthew William A new world. Ripe for colonization. Pre-prepared by nanite Seedlings for the arrival of their human designers. But what happens when the designers become your God? “Ghosts” by award winning author RB Kelly. The storms bring the Seekers. Machines with one purpose, to bring death. Only sometimes death is not quite death. “Mother” by Amazon #1 bestselling author Rick Partlow. A mother’s love is the strongest of all. Protect and nurture your children to your dying breath. Even if that means genocide. “The Cull” by Amazon #1 bestselling author PP Corcoran. Humanity has reached its peak. Genetic manipulation makes humans faster, smarter and stronger. But at what cost? “The Rescue” by Claire Davon. An Alien shuttle is downed. Lt. ‘Dee’ Delaney must find it and secure the alien survivors until help arrives. Easy. If Delaney can trust her own people. “The Man-Eater” by USA TODAY bestselling author Christopher G. Nuttall. Three ships vanished testing the new faster than light engine. A desperate scientist wants to prove his engine works. How? Why you steal it of course. “Castrum” by JCH Rigby Sergeant Joel Edwards is wakened seconds before being dropped into combat. A faceless enemy. A nameless place. All he knows, is a cyborg is ready for anything.

Thirteen outstanding authors. Thirteen aviation stories that never happened. Throughout the human experience, historians have wondered, “What if?” What if Americans had fought on the side of Germany in World War I? What if Germany had invested in naval aviation in World War II? What if Russia had started World War III? Wonder no more, for these questions, along with many others, are answered within the pages of this book. Told by a variety of award-winning authors, like Sarah Hoyt, the 2018 Dragon Award Winner for Alternate History, Richard Fox, the 2017 Dragon Award Winner for Best Military Science Fiction, and Kacey Ezell, the winner of the 2018 Baen Reader’s Choice Award, “To Slip the Surly Bonds,” deals with aviation warfare that never happened in our world…but easily could have. The second book in the exciting new “Phases of Mars” anthology series, there is something for everyone inside! From fighting alongside the Red Baron, to flying a P-38 Lightning, to present day air warfare, “To Slip the Surly Bonds” traces a century of aviation warfare…that wasn’t. From learning how the PBY got to the new world in Taylor Anderson’s “The Destroyermen” series…to fighting the French in a very different Vietnam, this book has it, so come aboard and find out “what if” all of these things had changed history…just a little. You’ll be glad you did! Inside you’ll find: Friends In High Places by Joelle Presby and Patrick Doyle In Dark’ning Storms by Rob Howell Perchance To Dream by Sarah A. Hoyt Trial of the Red Baron by Richard Fox The Kaiserin of the Seas by Christopher G. Nuttall Through the Squall by Taylor Anderson The Lightnings and the Cactus by James Young Catching the Dark by Monalisa Foster Do The Hard Thing by Kacey Ezell Tail Gunner Joe by William Alan Webb Red Tailed Tigers by Justin Watson Zero Dark 30 by JL Curtis Per Ardua Ad Astra by Jan Niemczyk

Eighteen outstanding authors. Sixteen stories of ground warfare that never happened. Throughout the human experience, historians have wondered, “What if?” What if Sherman had fought for the South in the U.S. Civil War? What if Germany had fought to the end in World War I? What if World War III had actually happened? Wonder no more, for these questions, along with many others, are answered within the pages of this book. Told by a variety of award-winning authors, like Sarah Hoyt and Kevin J. Anderson, the 2018 Dragon Award Winners for Alternate History, S.M. Stirling, the 2019 Dragon Award Winner for Alternate History, David Weber, a three-time Dragon Award Winner for Best Military Science Fiction, and Brad R. Torgersen, the winner of the 2019 Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction, “Trouble in the Wind,” deals with ground combat that never happened in our world…but easily could have. The third book in the exciting “Phases of Mars” anthology series, there is something for everyone inside! From fighting Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae, to the early death of Napoleon, to scouting the bush in Angola, “Trouble in the Wind” traces a history of ground warfare…that wasn’t. From warfare in Taylor Anderson’s “The Destroyermen” series…to S.M. Stirling’s “Black Chamber,” this book has it, so come aboard and find out “what if” all of these things had changed history…just a little. You’ll be glad you did! Inside you’ll find: The Sting of Fate by William Alan Webb To Save the Republic by Sarah A. Hoyt Here Must We Hold by Rob Howell The Heretic by Monalisa Foster Secondhand Empires by Brad R. Torgersen A Shot Heard ‘Round the World by Kevin J. Anderson & Kevin Ikenberry Marching Through by David Weber To the Rescue by S.M. Stirling The Blubber Battle: The First Falklands Campaign by Joelle Presby & Patrick Doyle Drang Nach Osten by Christopher G. Nuttall Fighting Spirit by Philip S. Bolger An Orderly Withdrawal by Taylor Anderson Mr. Dewey’s Tank Corps by James Young Soldiers of the Republic by Justin Watson Unintended Consequences by Peter Grant Nemo Me Impune Lacessit by Jan Niemczyk

Have you ever wanted to go to magic school? To cast spells and brew potions and fly on broomsticks and - perhaps - battle threats both common and supernatural? Come with us into worlds of magic, where students become magicians and teachers do everything in their power to ensure the kids survive long enough to graduate. Welcome to ... Fantastic Schools. Follow the daughter of a witch who wants to learn white—not black—magic, a trio of students sent on a mysterious task, a kidnapped student trying to escape, a troll who wants to study among the humans, and a magic-less boy with a chance to learn magic, if he survives his first month at a magical university. Follow us into worlds different, magical ... ... And very human. Includes stories by: Christopher Nuttall Roger D. Strahan Denton Salle Karina Fabian Frank B. Luke George Phillies Aaron Van Treeck Becky R. Jones Jay Barnson Emily Sorensen Peter Rhodan Rhys Hughs J.F. Posthumus Barb Caffey

Have you ever wanted to go to magic school? To cast spells and brew potions and fly on broomsticks and - perhaps - battle threats both common and supernatural? Come with us into worlds of magic, where students become magicians and teachers do everything in their power to ensure the kids survive long enough to graduate. Welcome to ... Fantastic Schools. In this set of stories, welcoming younger readers but still entertaining to all ages, we look at the lighter side of magic schools. Follow a young girl entering school for the first time - and another, desperate to go to a school that actually suits her. Watch a bully get her comeuppance and accompany young students as they go on a field trip, follow an expelled student trying to build a new life, and others learning the nature of magical creatures ... ... And many more.

Want somebody dead? If you do, the solution’s easy. Hire LifeEnders, Inc. You pay. We slay. Whether you know it or not—whether you believe it or not—the world is a dangerous place full of criminals, terrorists, monsters, sorcerers, extra-terrestrials, inter-dimensional predators, and embarrassing relatives. And, for the right price, they can all go away. Twenty years ago, LifeEnders became the first legal corporation of assassins to operate on U.S. soil. Today, LEI has a hit man in every state and many foreign nations. Getting rid of the scammer who catfished Grandma only requires the requisite credit line, and porch thieves now think twice if a security camera might identify them. You pay; we slay. No questions asked. But it’s not just about putting a target in the cross-hairs. Sometimes the job requires ‘Special Skills,’ and that costs extra. If a giant orange rhinoceros appears in the sky? Call LEI and let the Special Activities Division handle it…and don’t forget your credit card. The first Hit World anthology brings together an all-star lineup of amazing authors guaranteed to keep you awake past bedtime. Sorry. (Not Sorry)

Have you ever wanted to go to magic school? To cast spells and brew potions and fly on broomsticks and—perhaps—battle threats both common and supernatural? Come with us into worlds of magic, where students become magicians and teachers do everything in their power to ensure the kids survive long enough to graduate. Welcome to ... Fantastic Schools. Meet a student who discovers the hard way what happens when he is transformed into a monster, another who mixes magic and music to remarkable effect, a student who wants to trigger a magical industrial revolution, an assassin posing as a tutor with a mission he cannot deny, two students who have to learn to work together – or else – and a student who starts her school newspaper and discovers a conspiracy that strikes at the heart of a proud institution … … And many more. Stories by: Christopher G. Nuttall, N. R. Lapoint, Gorg Huff & Paula Goodlett, Roger Strahan, Thomas K. Carpenter, Erin N.H. Furby, James Pyles, J.F. Posthumus, Declan Finn, Des M. Astor, Cathy Smith, Shana M. Buck, Andrew Young, E.F. Buckles, C. E. Perez

You’ve met the students of magic schools, but what about the staff? What is it like to work in a magic school, to teach students and serve as their mentors and disciplinarians and everything else young minds need? We know their types … the headmasters – kindly or unpleasant; the teachers – friendly or cruel; the matrons and assistants and inspectors and janitors, all of whom have their own role to play beyond being characters in a student-themed story. But what is it like to be them? Come meet a teacher trying to set up a whole new school, in the face of heavy opposition, and another who has to deal with a fairy infestation; meet a teacher who has a mission of his own and another who must take a stand against his own headmaster, for fear of letting the school be plunged into darkness …

They defend the weak, no matter the time, place, or foe. They stand up for others in the cold dark of space, the dusty Wild West, and lands of mystical empires. They fight with any weapon that can help them save those behind them, whether it’s battlemechs, magic, swords, or even Sharps rifles. Along the way, they discover they can be more than they ever thought. So come join us as we visit, in fourteen great stories, the worlds of Hanuvar, the Black Company, Kish, the Milesian Accords, and more great universes… because there are always those who stand up for those who can’t. We call them paladins.

Have you ever wanted to go to magic school? To cast spells and brew potions and fly on broomsticks and - perhaps - battle threats both common and supernatural? Come with us into worlds of magic, where students become magicians and teachers do everything in their power to ensure the kids survive long enough to graduate. Welcome to ... Fantastic Schools. Meet the students struggling to master magic after an invasion from a magical world in 1944, with allies who have agendas of their own; meet the first witch of Whitehall School, who’ll be the first if some of her teachers and peers have their way. Meet a student slipping into the magical world, barely scratching the surface of the wonders and horrors to come; meet students who find themselves in the wrong class and yet learning valuable lessons. And many – many – more …

World War II. The Great Patriotic War. The Big One. No matter what the name, the Second World War was a great and terrible conflict that swung frequently on the hinge of fate. This short story collection brings together both acclaimed writers and capable newcomers to explore fresh “what ifs” of humanity’s most expansive conflict. If you’re a fan of World War II and alternate history, prepare to be entertained. It doesn’t end on the deck of a battleship, but rest assured Big Ones is satisfying all the same.