Short Stories

Melkart the Castaway

By MARK MELLON

When a powerful triton destroys his ship, the Phoenician giant Melkart washes up on a foreign shore-and is rudely welcomed by a tyrant who would enslave him!

Its Own Reward

By ROB FRANCIS

A pair of bounty hunters happen upon a large promissory note on their latest mark...enough to retire! But will the money prove more trouble than it's worth!?

The White Giant's Map

By RICHARD RUBIN

A fierce battle has annihilated the allies Fletcher has made on the alien world he now calls home! But a dying foe offers him a boon-a map to fabulous treasure!

The Chamber of Worms

By MATTHEW X. GOMEZ

Heinrick and Viona have been hired by a noble to retrieve a family heirloom from an abandoned manor house-but there's more to this job than meets the eye!

After the House of the Laughing God

By MICHAEL RAY

A gig to "rescue" a young magic user proves exceptionally fruitful for a merc who is up to his eyes in gambling debts! But will his success pay dividends or bring death?!

The Way He Should Go

By JOSHUA M. YOUNG

Rostam has spent many years studying under the monks of Uqbar and wandering the ruined world, but nothing could prepare him for discovering a precursor child!

Tilting the Wick

By J. COMER

Mankind's lost colony of Pendleton's World has been wracked by religious war-but a new discovery may either fan the flames of conflict or bring about a new era!

Slave or Die

By BENJAMIN COOPER

Convicted of a crime he has no memory of, prisoner T196-A3 has been sentenced to solitary labor on an automated penal installation where he must work or starve!

He Who Rides on the Clouds

By TREVOR R. DENNING

A cult has resurrected the worship of an ancient evil earth god! Can retired space cop Aleksis Leonard rescue the children being trafficked to feed the beast!?

To Rest Among the Stars

By SU-RA-U

It is the most dangerous job in the galaxy-hunting space dragons in the ether! But the humans who risk life and limb to do so are what make space travel possible!

Ecliptical Musings

By BILL SUBOSKI

A young woman is accosted by a group of thugs! Her rescuer, John Dellon, an eccen-tric billionaire and visionary, has a secret to share with her-if he finds her worthy!

...plus many more!