W200007 July 2000 Monthly Baen Bundle

Lt. Leary Commanding

by David Drake

With the Lightnings

by David Drake

The Fata Morgana

by Leo Frankowski

T.N.T: Telzey Amberdon & Trigger Argee Together

by James H. Schmitz edited by Eric Flint

Doomed Paradise

The ancient tales of European Man, carefully recorded by pious monks and hedge wizards alike, are insistent about the Western Isles. One of the tales of Doubting Thomas, the apostle, has it that he Christianized these islands and stayed there until the end of his days. The Arthurian legends clearly state that Arthur's father, Uther, came from the Western Isles.

Ancient and Medieval maps agree in showing them as being off the Western Coast of France. Lyonnesse was a part of the Western Islands, as was the City of Ys, Avalon, and the Land of Dahout.

Up until the time of the First Crusade, there are records of pilgrims visiting the Holy sites of the Western Islands. The remains of mercantile records of those days hint of trade with the islands of the west. Irish records and legends, which are generally regarded as reliable back to preChristian times, have many references to great floating islands being pushed by ocean currents and winds alike past the Emerald Isle, and sometimes becoming snagged there for a time.

The Icelandic Eddas make similar references.

Modern sailors and travelers sometimes sight great, many tiered cities near the ocean's horizon, but these people are rarely believed. It is easier for modern, technocentric man to believe in an optical illusion, the Fata Morgana.

This book is about two modern, hardheaded engineers who find the Western Islands.

 

"When I teach science fiction, I use Frankowski's books as an example of how to do it right."
—Gene Wolfe

TOURISTS RUSH IN WHERE 
DREA    MERS FEAR TO TREAD . . .

 Where does your mind go when you fall asleep

To the Dreamland, where seven Sleepers dream the ever-changing landscape drawn by the trillions of sleeping minds from the Waking World. Where form follows function, so a hovel today may be a castle or a cave tomorrow. Where the people battle nightmares with only the strength of their will and sanity.

Chuck Meadows is a Visitor from the Waking World, on an astral vision quest around the Dreamland. He has come on this arduous and dangerous journey to the Dreamland in hope of discovering the reason for the deep misery of his soul. With the aid of his spirit guide, Keir, the other members of the group, and the Dreamlanders he will meet along the way, he has to solve the puzzle before it literally tears him apart.

But not all Dreamlanders are eager to assist Chuck on his quest. There is an element lurking throughout the land that resents the Visitors and all they stand for. They hate the intrusion by Waking minds into their realm. They are furious that Visitors wield almost limitless influence while they have nothing. They intend to send a message back to the Waking world to leave them alone forever. The leader of the conspiracy is waiting only for the right moment to strike. He has a secret weapon that no one, Dreamlanders or Waking Worlders, can withstand. Chuck and his companions are unaware of the doom that awaits them—but they have unseen allies as well as enemies. Chuck must learn the truth about them and about himself before it is too late.

  "There's plenty of entertaining satire throughout . . . [with] humor and unusual setting." 
—Locus

"The entire premise is fun . . . reads a lot like Piers Anthony's Xanth series. Nye . . . is an author to watch." —Kliatt

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE . . .

With the Earth in the path of the rapacious Posleen, the peaceful and friendly races of the Galactic Federation offer their resources to help the backward Terrans—for a price.

Humanity now has three worlds to defend.

As Earth's armies rush into battle and special operations units scout alien worlds, the humans begin to learn a valuable lesson: You can protect yourself from your enemies, but may the Lord save you from your allies.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Ringo had visited 23 countries and attended 14 schools by the time he graduated high school. This left him with a wonderful appreciation of the oneness of humanity and a permanent aversion to foreign food. He chose to study marine biology and really liked it. Unfortunately the pay was for beans. So now he manages a quality control database and the pay is much better. He hopes to someday upgrade to SQL Server. At that point life will be complete.

With his bachelor years spent in the airborne, cave diving, rock-climbing, rappelling, hunting, spear-fishing, and sailing, the author is now happy to let other people risk their necks. He prefers to read (and of course write) science fiction, raise Arabian horses, dandle his kids and watch the grass grow. Someday he may even cut it. But not today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe he'll just let the horses.

PERFECTION IS A DANGEROUS ILLUSION

Where does your mind go when you fall asleep.

To the Dreamland, where seven Sleepers dream the ever-changing landscape drawn by trillions of sleeping minds from the Waking World. Where form follows function, so a hovel today may be a castle or a cave tomorrow. Where the people battle nightmares with only the strength of their will and sanity.

Juele is the youngest and most promising new student to enter the strange new world of the School of Light. At this legendary institution, she will learn how to master illusion, the highest form of art in the Dreamland. Her talent has excited the interest of many of the senior students, the professors, but most important of all, the Idealists. They are the elite of the Illusionists, a tightly knit group of talents who admit Juele to their mysterious circle in the Ivory Tower.

Her mentor, an Idealist named Rutaro, has embarked upon a project to surround the Castle of Dreams with an image of perfection, in which Juele will play a key role. But other students who are jealous of Juele's good fortune set out to pervert Rutaro's design. What they have in mind bears no resemblance to reality. The worst part is that no one, not Rutaro, nor the King, the ministers, or even Roan, the King's Investigator, seems to notice that the government of the Dreamland is plunging into deadly chaos. Juele is faced with having to find the reality within the fantasy with the only skill she has at hand: illusion.

W200006 June 2000 Monthly Baen Bundle

Fortune's Stroke

by Eric Flint and David Drake

Destiny's Shield

by Eric Flint and David Drake

My Brother's Keeper

by Charles Sheffield

Tale of the Fox

by Harry Turtledove

SEER'S BLOOD

When Blaine Kendricks discovers strangers in Shadow Hollers, she thinks they've come to trade. She couldn't be more wrong.

When Dacey Childers comes to Shadow Hollers' Blaine's family thinks he's there to hunt game. They couldn't be more wrong.

When the Annekteh come to Shadow Hollers, they think the isolated community living there has no way to resist their invasion.

They're pretty much right on target.

But the last man of the lost seer's blood has returned, and is about to draw Blaine into his magic, his adventure ... and the most dangerous hunt she could ever imagine.

Praise for the fantasy of Doranna Durgin:

"A pure joy to read." -A.C. Crispin,
author of V, Sarek, the "Starbridge" Series, etc.

... first rate ... the maturity of its vision and the skill of its crafting are startling . ,"
-Dragon

a rare, shimmering aura of mystic legend."
-Romantic Times

THE MAN WHO WOULDN'T BE KING

Ever since the catastrophic Werenight isolated the Northlands from the Elabonian Empire, Gerin the Fox has hoped to settle down as the peaceful ruler of Fox Keep ... but destiny seems to have other ideas. The Voice of the god Biton prophesies danger to the Northlands.

Gerin has already beaten off invaders, both human and inhuman. But this time he faces an invasion by the Gradi, led by their cold, fierce gods. Gerin has to fight fire with fire by invoking all the supernatural help he can get from the capricious god Mavrix, the aloof but powerful Biton, and the more elemental gods of those who live beneath the ground.

And just when things can't get worse-they get worse. Gerin's neighbor, Aragis the Archer, has made one provocative move after another, and Gerin reluctantly decides that war is inevitable. But suddenly, the Elabonian Empire again turns its unwelcome attention to the Northlands, which it regards as a subject territory. Gerin and Aragis are now allies against a common enemy ... and a very formidable one, with forces that outnumber both their armies put together!

"Harry Turtledove has established himself as the grand master. . . "
-Poul Anderson

Publisher's Note: Tale of the Fox was previously published in parts as King of the North and Fox and Empire.

A hundred years ago Count Dracula, Vlad Tepes to some, joined forces with Sherlock Holmes in a pact of blood and honor. Herein his new biographer picks up the thread of the Count's adventures:

Book I:

As an old friend of the family, Dracula is faced with a nest of evil vampires-evil enough, as the Count can attest, to make a vampire shudder.

Book II:

A L0VE AFFAIR FOR THE AGES ...

Five hundred years ago their paths first crossed. He possessed her totally, not quite against her will. Until she fled. And was captured. And was punished. And is fleeing still.

OR A LIVING HORROR THAT HAS LOOSED 
THE BONDS OF TIME

Publisher's Note: Vlad Tapes has been published in parts as An Old Friend of the Family and Thorn. This is the first unitary edition.

"Can it be that we've unfairly maligned Dracula
We're almost convinced of it ... he's a persuasive devil. He'll have you cheering. . . ."
-Publishers Weekly

"Fred Saberhagen is one of the best writers in the business."
-Stephen R. Donaldson

Into Harm's Way!

Lieutenant Daniel Leary of the Republic of Cinnabar Navy commands the corvette Princess Cecile; his friend Signals Officer Adele Mundy has the latest in spy apparatus and the skill to prowl the most tightly guarded database. All they lack are enemies, and fate is about to supply that need in abundance!

A hostage uses the Princess Cecile to regain his freedom-and his throne!
  An ally intrigues with enemies of Cinnabar-knowing the plot can only be safeguarded by destroying the Princess Cecile!
  A pirate chief joins in a cutthroat battle with a rival-and the Princess Cecile is a pawn!

Daniel, Adele, and their crack crew must battle bureaucrats and traitors, the winds of a barren desert and the strains of a voyage never before attempted. If they succeed at every stage, their reward will be the chance to fight another enemy: one which can blow them and a hundred ships like theirs to vapor!

DEATH IS ALWAYS AN OPTION

BUT DEFEAT CAN NEVER BE

Action, color and heroics merge with the gritty realities of war and politics in a story that never slows down. Indeed, how could it slow down, with

LT. LEARY, COMMANDING

THEY'RE DYNAMITE

Telzey Amberdon is one of the most powerful xenotelepaths in the known galaxy. Trigger Argee is a crack shot, with reflexes that make lightning look lethargic, and also a top agent of the galaxy's Federation of the Hub. Separately, they have been making life miserable for human criminals, unfriendly aliens, and nefarious members of all species. But when a danger to the entire Hub civilization brought these two together, the galaxy would never be the same!

"Here, read this-you'll love it!" -Janet Kagan,
-Hugo-Winner and author of the bestseller Uhura's Song

"Wonderfully fresh." -The Horn Book

"Telzey Amberdon ... is strong, competent, and fun to be with." 
-A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction

"[A] typical James Schmitz mix of humor, strange mental powers, and mild anarchy. Delightful."
-The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction

A Friendship Forged in Hell!

Daniel Leary is a lieutenant in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy with no money and no prospects since he quarreled with his ruthless, politically powerful father.

Adele Mundy is a scholar with no money and no prospects since her family was massacred for conspiring against the Government of Cinnabar.

Kostroma is a wealthy planet which depends on diplomacy to stay independent in a galaxy whose two great powers, Cinnabar and the Alliance, battle for supremacy.

In a few hours, diplomacy is going to fail Kostroma. Daniel, Adele, and the scratch crew they gather aren't much to stand in the way of a powerful invasion fleet, but just possibly they're enough.

Men and women who hold courage cheap and honor more dear than life itself face impossible odds in a novel of color, intrigue and slashing action. From the corridors of a treason-ridden palace through the perils of unknown seas and hellish jungles to a final blazlng climax in space, the heroes never bow and the action never flags.

They have nothing on their side but each other—and heaven help whatever tries to stand in their way!

EVIL FROM BEYOND TIME

The Malwa Empire squats like a toad across 6th century India, commanded by ruthless men with depraved appetites. The thing from the distant future that commands them is far worse.

AN ADVISOR WITHOUT A BODY

Those who oppose the purulent Hell the Malwa will make of Earth have sent a crystal, Aide, to halt their advance. Aide holds all human knowledge-but he cannot act by himself.

A CHAMPION FOR ALL TIMES

Count Belisarius, the greatest general of the age and perhaps of all ages, must outwit the evil empire — and then, when there is no longer room to maneuver, to meet it sword-edge to sword-edge, because,

no matter what it costs

EVIL CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO RULE MEN!

"It isn't often you come across a book or series you recommend to everyone. This one is an exception. Buy all the Belisarius books. Read them. No! After all, misery, loves company, and I shouldn't have to be the only one waiting this hard for number four!"
—David Drake

"The battle scenes and strategies are as expert as expected in a book with Drake's name on it. . . "
— Publishers Weekly

EVIL FROM BEYOND TIME 
RULES THE GREATEST 
EMPIRE ON EARTH!

Link, the supercomputer from a future that should not exist, has used terror and gunpowder weapons to forge the Malwa Empire: harnessing the vast manpower of the Indian subcontinent and using the barbarian races of the periphery to bind the whole together. No power on Earth in the 6th century could stand against Link's evil.

Aide, a human soul embodied in a jewel, has come back to halt evil's progress. Aide has no power but that of truth, but truth is the only power that could move the greatest general of the age, Belisarius.

With his sword, his paladins, and his genius, Belisarius has turned the armies of Byzantium into a weapon capable of blunting the first assault of the Malwa hordes. Now, supported by allies from all the world yet free, Belisarius, with his wife and co-commander Antonia, faces overwhelming Malwa numbers in a ring that tightens about them.

There is no room for maneuver and no safety in defeat. The armies of Good and Evil gathered on the fertile plains of Mesopotamia will decide the fate of the world.

And the fate of all the future!

The Malwa Empire has conquered 6th century India and is forging the subcontinent's vast population into an invincible weapon of tyranny. Belisarius, the finest general of his age, must save the world. Guided by visions from a future that may never be, he and a band of comrades penetrate the Malwa heartland, seeking the core of the enemy's power. And when Belisarius leads the forces of good, only a fool would side with evil.

TIME-SHARING TWINS

Lionel Salkind was a rising musical star. His twin brother, Leo Foss, was a researcher in government work that he couldn't talk about. Then the helicopter they were flying crashed.

When he woke up, Lionel learned that both he and Leo had sustained fatal injuries, and he was only alive because the surgeon had used organs from Leo to repair Lionel's slightly less damaged body. More than half of Lionel's brain was gone, and had been replaced with Leo's Lionel, in fact, had become.

HIS BROTHERS KEEPER

"Sheffield's science is fascinating and convincing and so are his scientists."
  -Joe Haldeman

"Charles Sheffield is one of the very best hard science fiction writers in the world."
-Kim Stanley Robinson

"Sheffield's uncommon vision and storytelling skill will keep you on the edge of your seat." 
-David Brin

"One of the most imaginative, exciting talents to appear on the science fiction scene. . . "
-Publishers Weekly

W200003 March 2000 Monthly Baen Bundle

Ashes of Victory

by David Weber

Worlds of Honor

by David Weber

The Honor of the Queen

by David Weber

In just a few short years, David Weber has shot to the forefront of science fiction! The core of his work is Honor Harrington, the toughest, smartest starship captain in the galaxy. Now Weber invites you to join him and his invitees as they explore Honor's universe.

The Host and His Guests:

David Weber himself is on board, first telling how young Honor Harrington and her treecat Nimitz faced the impossible task of rescuing the victims of an avalanche in a sub-zero blizzard, then revealing a chapter in the history of the telepathic treecats when a young human who bonded with a treecat was a Very Important Person. Specifically, she was a Manticoran crown princess and the heir to the throne of the empire.... Roland Green offers a hard-hitting account of what happened when Manticore and the People's Republic of Haven went eyeball-to-eyeball over a strategically vital planet.... Linda Evans looks at life among the treecats, before Honor.. .. Jane Lindskold tells how Honor's monarch, Elizabeth III, had to learn the hard way what monarchy is all about....

". .. something for every taste in Weber's fandom .. . intriguing background glimpses of Honor's—and Nimitz's—worlds." —Publishers Weekly

"Recommended." —Library Journal

"Heartwarming and insightful..." —VOYA

W200005 May 2000 Monthly Baen Bundle

The Cradle of Saturn

by James P. Hogan

Ripping Time

by Linda Evans and Robert Asprin

Bull God

by Roberta Gellis

MOMMA DOESN'T TALK 
ABOUT THAT PARTY ... ;-)

When gods still walked the Earth, a king could pray for d have a white bull rise from the sea to confirm his claim to the throne. But a god's price was high, and Minos did not keep his promise to the god Poseidon, the god meddled with Minos' wife ... and the Minotaur, a child with the head of a bull, was born. The question is, did Poseidon intend his son to be worshiped as a new god, or is he the god's curse on Knossos, a monster that will. destroy it

Adriadne was the Minotaur's half-sister, the only one who would touch him and care for him when he was born. She was also high priestess of Dionysos, sworn to interpret his Visions, but one Vision destroys her peace. Dionysos Sees that the bull-head must die or bring disaster upon the realm. Can Ariadne agree to the slaughter of the deformed half-brother who clings to her as the only one who cares for him Can she protect the Minotaur in defiance of Dionysos' vision and dare the god's wrath Should she

Praise for Roberta Gellis:

". . . rich tapestry of detail, well-drawn characters, suspenseful story line" —Publishers Weekly

"A master spinner of tales." —Romantic Times

"First rate. . . intriguing" —New York Daily News