Science Fiction Monsters

A host of the smartest young adult authors come together in this collection of scary stories and psychological thrillers curated by Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea's April Genevieve Tucholke. Each story draws from a classic tale or two - sometimes of the horror genre, sometimes not - to inspire something new and fresh and terrifying. There are no superficial scares here; these are stories that will make you think even as they keep you on the edge of your seat.

Self-proclaimed conqueror Auroro and his contracted guide, Rynissie, have hit the road. They have had a simple errand (read: most important task) entrusted to them and are heading to the cave-elf city of Cerulean-in-the-Mountain.... Or at least that was the plan. Auroro has decided to be efficient. They're going to do some jobs along the way and make some money! Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, things are not normal in the forests of Viridia.

May finds herself in a world that most certainly does not feel like a fuzzy mitten. In fact it is a place few living people have ever seen. Here, towns glow blue beneath zipping stars and the people walk through walls. Here the Book of the Dead holds the answers to everything in the universe. And here, if May is discovered, the horrifyingly evil Bo Cleevil will turn her into nothing.

Hades kidnapped me. Yeah, that Hades. Greek mythology is real, and I’m learning the gods are real dicks. I’m tasked with caring for the monsters in the Underworld. Oh, yeah, Demeter is pissed about the whole Persephone thing. She’s kidnapped her daughter and making the monsters fight for sport. Persephone is quite happy in the Underworld according to Hades pet dog...who has three heads and is kind of a goof. I’ve met a Kraken, a minotaur, a phoenix, and a black widow spider. I’ve also met Hephaestus, the God of the Forge, who has been abused by his family.

In the Clandoms, every person is born with wings, along with the ability to fly. But there has always been one deadly restriction to this gift—a rule that must never be broken. Flying in cloudy skies summons gargols, vicious stone monsters that will tear any poor trespassers apart. History doesn't tell where the gargols came from, or why they're so intent on punishing those who soar too high. But now Ellie Meadows thinks she knows why. An aspiring knight turned wanted fugitive, Ellie has seen the truth with her own eyes.

Cyril woke up in a hospital bed with a ruined body and no memory of how it happened. His only chance at a normal life was agreeing to a splicer's experiment with a twisted condition: he was forbidden to learn the circumstances surrounding his injuries. Rose saved a life and wound up exiled from her gang, friendless and broke in Oolytau. Given an out by a notorious mob boss, she found herself in the Tracts working with a man who might be everything she never knew she needed.

After telling a goddess of love and passion that I would conquer her, I was dropped into another world: Mistrim. I have no memory of who I was, I have a wicked awesome power born from my desires, and I have a timer on my arm counting down to my death. Not the worst starting point, I would say. But where there is adversity, there is the opportunity for good fortune. Elves, werewolves, harpies, bunny girls, and more—Mistrim is inhabited by all manner of monsters given humanoid forms—Sentients. And, as I found out, harems are commonplace in Mistrim.

In the absurd land of Nth, Thisby Thestoop can be found within the forlorn walls of Castle Grimstone, down the precarious steps of the Black Mountain dungeon, up to her nose in griffon toenails, gnoll spittle, and troll meat (to give to them, not made of them).

Nate Ellison's just an ordinary, average college student trying to make the grade in Southern California. Well, definitely not ordinary...and totally not average. You see, Nate's a Troman - a nearly seven-foot-tall guy who's half war troll, half human - and he's working undercover as part of a secret government project, the Monster Exchange Program, to investigate crimes that involve the occult. Once on campus, Nate tries to lay low, struggling to navigate college life while also unraveling a mystery involving the disappearance of several beautiful co-eds.

Zed, Brock, and their friends may have saved Freestone from destruction, but the fight against the Dangers is far from over. No one knows what to expect next from the dark power that forced the elves to abandon their city. And the influx of elf refugees in Freestone strains resources and brews resentment among the townspeople. Things have shifted between best friends Zed and Brock, as well, with their friendship crumbling under the weight of the secrets they're keeping from each other.

The F-Rank Foot Soldier Became An S-Rank Monster Rancher is a light-hearted story of new beginnings and new potentials. Follow Riven as he makes the best of his forced retirement, tames monsters, finds friends, and uncovers the mysteries surrounding the world.

Through the Monster Hunt app, Chase Knowles becomes the Alpha of two powerful Huntresses: one a half-dragon female fond of combat and banter, the other a cute warrior fond of reading spell books and wielding two killer blades. Their goal? Hunt these mythological creatures in the parks, rooftops, and back alleys of New York City; build a fighting party to compete in brawls and tournaments in the city and beyond; earn money; and try their damnedest not to get arrested.

Chris is the guy Cosette always wanted. Fun. Funny. Lighthearted and sweet. Chris always manages to find beauty and laughter, even when fighting a chapel full of demons. He's exactly what she needs. Except he's a werewolf and she's a member of the Lunar Court—the only fey court that holds sway over the werewolves. Even on his best day, Chris isn't strong enough to last a few hours in the Lunar Court without becoming a slave. No matter how much Cosette's heart wants him, she knows she has to let him go.

Rossamund has always dreamed of a career in the Navy, fighting tentacled monsters and rescuing damsels from hook-handed pirates. But fate has chosen him for a different path. He is being sent to train as a Lamplighter – to bring light to the inland roads of the Half-Continent, to shine the way for travellers through lands peopled by outcasts, monsters and worse. But for Rossamund to begin his education, he must first undertake a journey of his own – to the great city of High Vesting.

Emily Windsnap is thrilled to arrive at her new home - a secret island near the Bermuda Triangle where humans and merfolk live together, and where being a girl who grows a tail as soon as she enters the water isn't a problem. But, being Emily, she can't resist exploring forbidden places, and as a result she inadvertently wakes the kraken - the legendary sea monster that has been asleep for 200 years! Emily tries to undo the damage as the kraken's terrifying tentacles rise from the deep!

Amy's ventriloquist dummy, Dennis, has lost his head...for real. So Amy begs her family for a new dummy. That's when her dad finds Slappy in a local pawnshop. Slappy's kind of ugly, but at least his head stays on! Amy loves practicing her new comedy routine. It's like this dummy knows what she's thinking. Like he can move by himself. And it's a lot of fun...until Slappy starts a routine of his own. A nasty, horrible routine that isn't funny at all. Slappy may have a new owner, but he's up to the same old tricks....

Garin, a young mage, has a growing harem of hot monster girls! He's tamed a kinky lamia, a busty dryad, and a passionate yuki-onna. The three are happy being his, reveling in the delights of his harem. But one monster girl is being naughty. Kazzi, a fiery salamander, is a sultry and deadly monster girl. Her passion burns so hot that it gets her in trouble. Garin will have to use his magic to discipline the wicked monster girl!

Eli is a young stowaway on a ship bound for North America. A strange birthmark on his arm, in the shape of a dragon, begins to sting. Then he meets a sailor on the ship with a dragon tattoo. The tattoo, and a weird cargo hidden on the ship, hold the secret to Eli's read identity.

Dory is brand-new to her neighborhood, so it's a good thing she has a pet monster to keep her company. When she tells the mailman about her monster, he doesn't believe her. Dory begins to get angry that he's not taking her seriously, so she opens up the mailbox to show him the monster—only to find that the mailbox is empty! Is Dory's monster real, or part of her imagination?

When the legend of Lake Lobo comes true, Kevin’s summer vacation gets pretty creepy. Will his dog protect him, or is his mutt an evil monster?