Epic Space Fantasy

Lucian has achieved the improbable with his acceptance into the prestigious Volsung Academy. Now, he must do something even more difficult: survive it. As a Novice, he must learn the fundamentals of magic while navigating Academy politics. Lucian must not only pass the grueling Trials but survive other mages' mechanizations. But doing that is difficult when he's being left behind.

Rest and relaxation. That's all Jonx wanted after escaping from not one but two star systems on the brink of being taken over by an overpowered, psychopathic cyborg. Unfortunately, his friend, Zozka, had other plans. "Let's join a Sept," she said. "It's just one small tournament." "It'll be good for the both of us." How could he say no to someone who'd watched his back time and again as they slogged through one battlefield or riftworld after another?

The best science fiction and fantasy stories of 2021, selected by series editor John Joseph Adams and guest editor Veronica Roth. This year’s selection of science fiction and fantasy stories, chosen by series editor John Joseph Adams and bestselling author of the Divergent series Veronica Roth...

Captain Nathan Scott must decide whether to stand and fight to the end, or live to fight another day - even if it means the end of his world.

Though he was later accused of every crime and sexual perversion in the galaxy, Hope Hubris began as an innocent. Because he defended his older sister against the violent lusts of a wealthy scion, Hope and his peasant family were forced to flee Callisto, one of the moons of Jupiter. Pursued by the bloodthirsty scions across the airless desert, they barely escaped with their lives. The illegal space bubble was overcrowded with refugees, all hoping to reach Jupiter for asylum.

Deep in the shattered remnants of a dead moon, an ancient artifact pulses with Supernal Energy—power from before the Multiverse itself. The Hellmarine and his battle-scarred Stygians have stumbled onto a secret that Heaven would kill to possess and Hell would burn worlds to claim.

With Fyrion a distant speck behind us and the resources of the Dragon’s Right Eye out of reach, there’s only one place in the system we can go to gather the materials we need to advance to bronze. Ilirian beckons. But dangers lurk in those dark jungles, and the ruins of a civilization long dead house threats the likes of which no amount of training or meditation could’ve prepared us for. It’s advance or fall behind, and with the infinite sea at my back, there’s only one real option.

Keeping up-to-date with the most buzzworthy and cutting-edge science fiction requires sifting through countless magazines, e-zines, websites, blogs, original anthologies, single-author collections, and more - a task accomplishable by only the most determined and voracious readers. For everyone else, Night Shade Books is proud to introduce the latest volume of The Best Science Fiction of the Year, collecting the finest that the genre has to offer, from the biggest names in the field to the most exciting new writers.

The Swarmers are on the move. As star systems fall one by one, the League of Worlds begins to fragment. The Dread Pirate Zheng Yang advances her Golden Armada toward the League's core, bringing either death or salvation. The Prophet Sharo Khalin consolidates a theocracy, while the League of Worlds concentrates everything toward a last-ditch defense. Unknown to all these major players, the Worlds' only hope lies in Lucian Abrantes, his crew, their starship, and of course, the powerful Orbs of Starsea. But even these powerful artifacts might not be enough to survive the dark days ahead.

The best of the year's science fiction and fantasy stories as selected by the multiple award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan. Distant worlds, time travel, epic adventure, unseen wonders, and much more! The best, most original and brightest science fiction and fantasy stories from around the globe from the past 12 months are brought together in one collection by multiple award winning editor Jonathan Strahan.

A magnificent combination of space opera and epic fantasy quest in the beloved science fantasy tradition of Andre Norton and C. J. Cherryh, author Jo Clayton’s masterful Diadem Saga begins with an unforgettable tale of destiny, self-discovery, survival, and an extraordinary young woman’s coming of age in a world that is not her own.

Regan is back and has had enough of the war. Pushing himself and his forces, he works to put an end to the war that is raging on multiple fronts. At the same time, he sends his forces in the Beneath rumored to be home of the most powerful races on Murgin to find the missing Queen Louella. He quickly finds the Terra wave from Starfall had caused more of a mess than he originally thought, with the Beneath's political situation almost more of a mess than the surface.

American Cavalry Scout Nephi Bennett and the survivors of Crazy Horse Platoon now possess the key to returning home to Earth—a mystic artifact—but its secrets continue to elude even the wisest among them. Fate twists when Bennett's wife, Xochi, is snatched by their old foe Colonel Dietrich, propelling Bennett and his comrades to use the artifact to alter destiny itself in an effort to rescue her. Bennett vanishes into the depths of time, and Captain Brown faces an agonizing decision—unleash an all-out assault on the colonel with his dwindling forces, or succumb to the darkness that encroaches.

In Conquest Born is the monumental science fiction epic that received unprecedented acclaim - and launched C.S. Friedman's phenomenal career. A sweeping story of two interstellar civilizations locked in endless war, it was nominated for the John W. Campbell Award.

Fate had made Owen Deathstalker a rebel hero in an empire choked by tyranny. Embracing his warrior lineage for the sake of freedom, he stoked the flames of revolution, gathering the forces that one day must strike against Imperial authority. That day has come. With his valiant compatriots Hazel d'Ark and Jack Random, Owen must now bring the uprising to a fiery conclusion.

Aran awakens in chains with no memory. He’s conscripted into the Confederate Marines as a Tech Mage, given a spellrifle then hurled into the war with the draconic Krox and their Void Wyrm masters. Desperate to escape, Aran struggles to master his abilities while surviving the Krox onslaught. Fighting alongside him are a Major who will do anything to win, a Captain who will stop at nothing to see him dead, and a woman whose past is as blank as his own.

With The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume 3, award-winning editor Neil Clarke provides a year-in-review and 27 of the best stories published by both new and established authors in 2017.

CONTENTS: Introduction; I Just Make Them Up, See; Someday; The Feeling of Power; Living Space; Satisfaction Guaranteed; The Last Question; Jokester; The Immortal Bard; Spell My Name With an "S"; The Ugly Little...

Legend has it that the Alleluia Files contain the truth about the god of Samaria. Now, a child raised in captivity among the angels will journey the length and breadth of her world to seek the documents that will alter the face of Samaria forever.

The third-year students are about to take on those who know them best. Each other. Using a variation of the classic game of Capture the Flag, Kaiden and his friends must join teams and battle each other. It is time for Kaiden to learn what it means to lead. Then, when they are out on the town, an opportunity is handed to the students on a silver platter. Kaiden has a job offer to help protect a business in San Diego, but he needs more members. Will the students join him?