SHE WANTED TO QUIT BEING HER WORLD'S BEST ASSASSIN—
BUT THE ONLY WAY TO QUIT WAS TO DIE!

Look into the abyss—

For as long as Cally O'Neal could remember, she had lived in danger. While her father was off fighting the invading Posleen she had been raised by her grandfather, practically on the front-lines of a war that had erased five billion humans from the face of the earth.

The abyss looks back—

In the final stages of the war she had officially "died" and been recruited into the elite ranks of the Bane Sidhe, a group of underground warriors dedicated to breaking the stranglehold of the elf-like Darhel. A stranglehold the Darhel held on the Galactic Confederation before the war

and now were extending to their human "allies."

And you become the abyss—

For forty years she has led a life of unremittent, unrecognized, unhallowed slaughter, wearing a constant stream of disguises, sending humans who support the Darhel off to meet their Maker, with her body, mind and soul twisted and "improved" to serve the needs of her own "allies."

Now, on the most important mission of her career, at odds with her superiors, hunting a mole that could destroy her at any moment, and inexorably falling in love with the enemy, for the first time in her life she has to wonder if it's worth it. If being a dragon is the best way to fight the dragon. And if there will be a morning after for the little girl who liked to play with guns and swim with the dolphins.

Cally had been fighting for the future of the human race, but now she is in a war for survival: the survival of her soul.

Science Fiction Adventure Co-authored by a New York Times Best-Selling Author.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

John Ringo is author of the New York Times best-selling Posleen War series which so far includes A Hymn Before Battle, Gust Front, When the Devil Dances (New York Times best seller), and Hell's Faire (New York Times best seller), and is the hottest new science fiction writer since David Weber. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings first-hand knowledge of military operations to his fiction. He had visited 23 countries and attended 14 schools by the time he graduated high school.

Julie Cochrane has degrees and training in chemistry, psychology and computer science, and her hobbies include pistol marksmanship, history, criminology and folk music. She puts all of her wide and varied expertise to good use in this fast-paced novel of interplanetary adventure.

ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH ...

With the defenses of the Southern Appalachians sundered, the only thing standing between the ravening Posleen hordes and the soft interior of the Cumberland Plateau are the veterans of the 555th Mobile Infantry.

Dropped into Rabun Pass, with a couple of million Posleen behind them and fourteen million to the front, the only question is which will run out first: power, bullets or bodies.

But they have a hole card: far to the north the shattered SheVa Nine, nicknamed "Bun-Bun," is undergoing a facelift. Rising from its smoking ashes is a new weapon of war, armed with the most advanced weaponry Terra has ever produced, capable of facing both the Posleen hordes and their redoubtable space-cruisers. Capable of dealing out Hell as only SheVa Nine can.

But when push comes to vaporization, if Mike O'Neal and the other members of the 555th are going to survive, it will come down to how much Posleen butt Bun-Bun can kick.

Prepare to eat antimatter, Posleen-boy.

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 he turned to quality control database management, where the pay was much better. His highest hopes were to someday upgrade to SQL Server, at which point, he thought, his life would be complete. But then Fate took a hand: John has become a professional science fiction writer, and is in the early stages of becoming fabulously wealthy, which his publisher has assured him is the common lot of science fiction writers who write for Baen Books. In addition to his own enthusiastically received military SF series—A Hymn Before Battle, Gust Front, When the Devil Dances, and now Hell's Faire—he is collaborating with New York Times best-selling author David Weber on a new SF adventure series: March Upcountry, March to the Sea, and March to the Stars, with more to come.

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 write science fiction (both alone and in collaboration with David Weber) 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 eat it.

A Deranged Human Who Lives to Deal Death
Stalks an Alien Who Cannot Bear to Kill,
with the Galaxy's Future in the Balance.

Science Fiction Adventure in the Posleen War Universe from a New York Times Best-Selling Author and a New Star of Military Science Fiction.

It's a matter of trust.

For thousands of years the Darhel, a warrior species conditioned to be incapable of killing, manipulated and controlled the human race. Then the humans threw off their yoke and, as humans tend to do, attempted to exterminate them.

Now, for the first time, a Darhel has been assigned to the elite Deep Reconnaissance Team commandos.

Trust, in a small unit, is vital. And there was no trust to be had on either side.

But when the mission encountered an alien device worth more than a king's ransom, it was the humans who betrayed the trust.

Now the despised Darhel must race against the team's sniper to prevent the artifact falling into the wrong hands. The Darhel has empathic powers, superhuman strength and the speed of a cheetah. The sniper has years of experience and enormous ability. The sniper can kill. The Darhel cannot.

The fate of the galaxy and the human race for the next thousand years hangs in the balance and that balance rests on the shoulders of a Darhel.

The Hero has a thousand faces, but is one of them the face of an elf

Praise for the Science Fiction of John Ringo:

"If you want military Sf with a difference, read John Ringo . . . You'll get as much action as you could hope for. . . ."
—Eric Flint

"[Ringo's SF is] peopled with three-dimensional characters and spiced with personal drama as well as tactical finesse."
—Library Journal

"Ringo has become one of the writers whose work I jump first to when books arrive. . . ."
—Philadelphia Weekly Press

". . . Ringo's penchant for describing military action has also grown exponentially . . . a sequel capable of standing on its own."
—Starlog

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

John Ringo is author of the New York Times best-selling Posleen War series which so far includes A Hymn Before Battle, Gust Front, When the Devil Dances (New York Times best seller), and Hell's Faire (New York Times best seller), and is the hottest new science fiction writer since David Weber. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings first-hand knowledge of military operations to his fiction. He had visited 23 countries and attended 14 schools by the time he graduated high school.

Michael Z. Williamson, an 18-year veteran of the US Army and US Air Force, is a state-ranked competitive shooter in combat rifle and combat pistol. As with John Ringo, Williamson's military experience gives him the first-hand knowledge to bring an adventure yarn to vivid life and keep it moving at a breakneck pace. Williamson's first novel for Baen was Freehold (January 2004). He has also written three action-suspense novels in the Target: Terror series for Harper-Collins, which will publish One Shot, One Kill; Scope of Justice; and By the Book in 2004.

In the dark days after the events in the book Gust Front, but before the primary invasion, the Chancellor of Germany faces a critical decision. Over the years, with military cutbacks, the store of experienced military personnel had simply dwindled. After the destruction of Northern Virginia, he realized that it was necessary to tap the one group he had sworn never, ever, to recall: the few remaining survivors of the Waffen SS. Watch On the Rhine is perhaps the most unbiased, and brutal, look at the inner workings of the Waffen SS in history. Meticulously researched, it explores all that was good, and evil, about the most infamous military force in history using the backdrop of the Posleen invasion as a canvas.

About the Author

John Ringo is the author of the New York Times best-selling Posleen War series, so far comprising A Hymn Before Battle, Gust Front, When the Devil Dances, and Hell's Faire. He is also co-author with David Weber of the Prince Roger series, so far consisting of March Upcountry, March to the Sea, and March to the Stars. He has appeared on Fox News as a guest commentator and has written an op-ed column for the New York Post. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, he brings first-hand knowledge of battle and the military life to his SF.

Tom Kratman is author of A State of Disobedience (Baen). In 1974, at age seventeen, he became a political refugee and defector from the PRM (People's Republic of Massachusetts) by virtue of joining the Regular Army. He attended Boston College after his first hitch, then rejoined the Army until after the Gulf War, when he decided to become a lawyer. Every now and again, when the frustrations of legal life and having to deal with other lawyers got to be too much, Tom would rejoin the Army (or a somewhat similar group, say) for fun and frolic in other climes. His family, muttering darkly, still puts up with this. Tom is currently an attorney practicing in southwest Virginia.

After five years of battling invaders, human civilization prepares a strike to drive the aliens from the Earth. But the Clan-Lord of the Sten has learned from the defeats human have dealt him, and has his own battle plan. When he squares off against Major Michael O'Neal, the only winner will be Satan himself. . . .

Stand Against the Posleen Horde!

Earth invaded!  The Posleen aggressors eating what population they don't outright vaporize!  Now the aliens are closing in on a vital choke point for the humans:  the Panama Canal.  No canal, no food.  No food—the North American resistance crumbles, and hope fades.  What's worse, slimeball appeasers within the U.S. State Department (surprise!) are set to sell out the resistance to another race of would-be galactic overlords.

One problem for our enemies:  when the chips are down for humans, heroes have a habit of arising: A captain of industry who whips a corrupt and inefficient Central American kleptocracy into fighting shape within weeks.  A retired Panamanian woman warrior who returns to the field of battle to rally her people in a last stand to save their children.  And a battleship that is literally brought to consciousness by the echoes of ancient naval tradition (and a sentient A.I.) to fight ferociously for her country — and the captain she's come to love.

It's a rip-roaring epic of tactics, heroism, and survival as only two masters of military SF (both of whom served in Panama during their stint in the Army) can tell it. 

Multiple New York Times and USA Today best-seller John Ringo and Tom Kratman, collaborator with Ringo on the intriguing and controversial Watch on the Rhine, deliver another exciting entry in Ringo's hugely popular Posleen War series.

A Heist of Galactic Proportions!

The power to read hidden thoughts. The power to bend the will against its very essence. There�s only one thing you can call it: mind rape. Now an Indowy renegade seeks to use the technology to destroy a powerful human mentat—and to bring down galactic civilization in the process. Master thief and assassin Cally O�Neal faces her most difficult and grittiest ordeal yet. For to steal a mind-control device, she must find a way to mask the burning drive within that allows her to succeed where all others fail. And, as if the stakes weren�t high enough already—the mentat with the death sentence on her head is none other than Cally�s long-lost sister!

Multiple New York Times best-selling John Ringo�s "Posleen War" saga continues as beautiful assassin Cally O�Neil returns in a gripping interplanetary thriller co-authored by John Ringo and best-selling Cally�s War collaborator, Julie Cochrane.

"[F]ast-paced military sf peopled with three-dimensional characters and spiced with personal drama as well as tactical finesse"
—Library Journal on John Ringo�s "Posleen War" saga.

The Posleen War Rages On — Undercover!

Clan O'Neal Battles for the Right—And With Each Other!

The Indowy "Bane Sidhe" conspiracy has grown strong, and the cunning and resourceful Darhel—tacit rulers of the Galactic Federation—have decided that the time has come to wipe that threat from the stars forever.  What the Darhel don't know is that humans have joined the rebellion—led by thief and assassin extraordinaire, Cally O'Neal.  Now Cally is set to destroy a web of alien deceit millennia in the making.  Only one obstacle lies in her path:  the renowned warrior who stood tall and saved Earth from utter destruction during its first invasion by alien hordes—a legend who also happens to be Cally's father!

Multiple New York Times best-selling John Ringo's "Posleen War" saga continues as beautiful assassin Cally O'Neil returns for a third appearance in a gripping interplanetary thriller co-authored by Ringo and best-selling Cally's War collaborator, Julie Cochrane.

"[F]ast-paced military sf peopled with three-dimensional characters and spiced with personal drama as well as tactical finesse"— Library Journal on John Ringo's "Posleen War" saga.

"[V]ivid, strong, and distinct."— Audiofile on John Ringo and Julie Cochrane's New York Times best-selling Cally's War.

The Fight for the Galaxy is On!

Earth's Posleen invasion is contained—at a huge cost in human blood and anguish. Now hard-nosed commander Mike O'Neal discovers that he's saved our world only to unwittingly lead humanity into slavery. It's another twist of the knife in the human back courtesy of those wannabe Masters of the Universe, the Darhel. But the Darhel are about to experience an even nastier revelation of their own. For there are other universes—universes with occupants so ravenous they make the Posleen horde seem like a Boy Scout troop. Occupants with the mind-bending power to open a door between realities—and invade a certain double-spiral galaxy like the plague!  As war turns to rout and slaughter, the Darhel have no choice but to beg the one man who hates them more than anything to lead the counter-attack.  General O'Neal, welcome to your destiny. The galaxy that betrayed you is now depending on you for salvation!

At long last — the latest and greatest entry in military SF master John Ringo's ground-breaking "Posleen War" series, and a direct sequel to his New York Times best-seller Hell's Faire.

"If Tom Clancy were writing SF, it would read much like John Ringo."
—Philadelphia Weekly Press.

"[Combines] fast-moving battle scenes with vignettes of individual courage and sacrifice."
—Library Journal on New York Times and USA Today best-seller John Ringo's "Posleen War" saga.

Of the once innumerable battle clans of the Posleen only a handful survive. And that on the sufferance of a group of despised Indowy and Himmit. Plucked from the maelstrom on Earth they are cast out into the eternal blackness of the stars with only a slighltly insane Indowy and a computer virus to guide them.

What follows is a trail of tears and remembrance as the Posleen retrace the footsteps of their ancestors in a search for their homeworld. A search to determine if the Posleen posess the one thing no Human would give them credit for: A soul.

Returned to their beginnings, the question remains: Is there a new path for the Tular Posleen?

About the Authors:
John Ringo is author of New York Times best-selling Posleen War series which so far includes A Hymn Before Battle, Gust Front, When the Devil Dances, and Hell's Faire, as well as the connected novels Cally's War, Sister Time and Honor of the Clan (with Julie Cochrane), The Hero (with Michael Z Williamson), and Watch on the Rhine and Yellow Eyes (with Tom Kratman), and is the hottest new science fiction writer since David Weber. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings first-hand knowledge of military operations to his novels of high-tech future war.

Tom Kratman, in 1974 at age seventeen, became a political refugee and defector from the PRM (People's Republic of Massachusetts) by virtue of joining the Regular Army. He stayed a Regular Army infantryman most of his adult life, returning to Massachusetts as an unofficial dissident while attending Boston College after his first hitch. Tom is currently an attorney practicing in southwest Virginia. Baen published his first novel, A State of Disobedience and his previous collaborations with John Ringo, Watch on the Rhine and Yellow Eyes.

Now with new content by John Ringo

The aliens had arrived

With gifts, warnings, and an offer we
couldn't refuse....

Our choice was simple: we could be cannon fodder, or we could be ... fodder. We could send our forces to fight and die (as only humans can) against a ravening horde that was literally feeding on its interstellar conquests—or remain as we were—virtually weaponless and third in line for brunch.

We chose to fight.

Thanks to alien technology and sheer guts, the Terrans on two worlds fought the Posleen to a standstill. Thank God there was a moment to catch our breath,  a moment, however brief, of peace—.

Now, for the survivors of the Barwhon and Diess Expeditionary Forces, it was a chance to get some distance from the blood and misery of battle against the Posleen centaurs. A blessed chance to forget the screams of the dying in purple swamps and massacres under searing alien suns.

For Earth it was an opportunity to flesh out their force of raw recruits with combat-seasoned veterans. Political, military and scientific blundering had left the Terran forces in shambles-and with the Posleen Invasion only months away, these shell-shocked survivors might be the only people capable of saving the Earth from devastation.

If the veterans had time to lick their wounds.

Because the Posleen don't read schedules.

Now with new content by John Ringo

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.