Honor Harrington is arguably the most popular character in modern science fiction, but there are many other stories in the Honorverse besides those in which she has the central role. This fifth volume in the popular Worlds of Honor series explores some of those stories with the help of such top writers as best-selling author Jane Lindskjold, New York Times best-selling author Timothy Zahn, and more—including an all-new Honor Harrington adventure, set in her younger years, when a mob of space pirates made the mistake of tangling with Commander Harrington. That was a fatal mistake—for the pirates . . .
About the Author
David Weber is the science fiction phenomenon of the decade. His popular Honor Harrington novels repeatedly make the New York Times best seller list and can’t come out fast enough for his devoted readers. He has also written the popular Safehold series for Tor, and a best-selling epic SF adventure series in collaboration with John Ringo, with four novels so far: March Upcountry, March to the Sea, March to the Stars and We Few. His Wind Rider’s Oath, another New York Times best seller, continues his popular Bahzell fantasy adventure series.
A Classic Novel of Adventure in Time and Alternate Worlds by a Best-Selling Master of Science Fiction—Plus Stories Set in the Same Universe by David Weber, Harry Turtledove, Walter John Williams, Jane Lindskold, John Maddox Roberts and More Top Writers.
Mike Gabrieli’s brother Tom had mysteriously disappeared after gaining pos- session of a priceless Aztec artifact. Mike sets out to find his brother, never suspecting that he is about to be shuttled back and forth in time, and between alternate universes. The descendants of the Incas plan to keep Pizarro and his conquistadors from overthrowing their ancestors’ empire. In spite of Mike’s sympathy for their cause, if he helps them he may wipe out the world he was born into, and himself along with it.
In addition to Fred Saberhagen’s classic novel The Mask of the Sun, seven top writers have contributed stories set in the same universe, including NY Times best-selling authors David Weber and Harry Turtledove. expanding on Fred Saberhagen’s concept in this volume of exciting alternate history adventure.
About the Author
Fred Saberhagen was the top-selling author of many popular science fiction and fantasy series, told in over forty novels and sixty short stories. His Berserkers menaced the universe for over 40 years. His “Swords” and “Lost Swords” stories caught the imagination of many fantasy readers. Equally intriguing are his exploits in the area of historical fantasy where figures such as Hitler and Lincoln, Daedalus and the pharaohs, populated his alternate worlds. On the border of history and fantasy he created a unique picture of an old favorite, Dracula. Many of his works also appeared in audio and e-book format. Before abandoning himself to imagination, he served in the US Air Force, worked as a civilian electronics technician, and wrote and edited articles on science and technology for the Encyclopedia Britannica. Born and raised in Chicago, he later lived and worked with his wife, Joan Spicci, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he died in 2007.
Prince Manfred and his mentor and bodyguard, the deadly warrior Erik, survived dangers and enemies both natural and supernatural, and if they thought that their new mission was going to be anything but more of the same, they soon gave up on that hope. Returning from Jerusalem, they and their escort of knights of the Holy Trinity are escorting an envoy of II Khan Mongol to the lands of the Golden Horde-between the Black Sea and the Carpathians, which happen to be eastern bastion against their old enemies, the demon Chernobog and his possessed puppet, the Jangellion.
Unfortunately, what began as a diplomatic mission leads to Manfred and his knights being caught up in an inter-clan civil war, rescuing a fugitive woman and her injured brother, and becoming involved in the problems of Prince Vlad, Duke of Valahia, who has been held as a hostage by King Emeric of Hungary until freed by Countess Elizabeth Batholdy to use as bait to capture a group of nonhumans. Instead, the wolflike nonhumans, who masquerade as gypsies, free Prince Vlad, and help him to return to his homeland to raise revolt against Hungary and to renew age-old magics.
Manfred and Erik are forced into an alliance of convenience between the Golden Horde and the ancient magical forces of Valahia, as directed by the troubled Vlad. The magic calls for blood and Vlad is deathly afraid of it—and at the same time, is irresistibly drawn toward it . . .
Old soldiers never die... except inside, when they lack a reason to live. Old soldier Wes Stauer is dying inside, from sheer lack of purpose.
And then comes the knock on the door: "Our leader's son and heir has been kidnapped. We don't know where he is. We need you to get him back for us. The people who have him are numerous, warlike, and well armed. But money is no object."
And then old soldiers-sailors and airmen, too-stop fading away and come back into sharp focus.
Praise for Tom Kratman:
"Kratman's [Caliphate] is a brisk page turner full of startling twists... he's a professional military man... so he's certainly up to speed on the military and geopolitical conceits of the book." -Mark Steyn, Maclean's Magazine
"Kratman's written the future [in Caliphate], and it's scary." -John Ringo
When Jame returned to Knorth hall to help her brother Torisen name all the fallen fighters' death banners stored there, she made the disturbing discovery that those banners splattered with their owners' blood also have trapped their owners' souls. She also found a contract proving her cousin Kindrie to be legitimate, proving that there are three full-blooded Knorth. Three full-blooded Knorth means that the Three-Faced God can be manifested—something that none of the three are likely to want to do, if they have any choice in the matter.
Returning with this unwelcome knowledge to school at Tentir, Jame continued to dodge the attentions of an unwanted admirer, strengthen her link to her feline hunting ounce, work with the rathorn colt Death's-head to insure that it doesn't resume its attempts to kill her, and, of course, kept causing plenty of unintended havoc. She also had to help fight off attacks from hillmen, repel a stampede of yarkcarn (think warthogs the size of mammoths), fight in the Winter War (a mock conflict—or, at least, that's how it was supposed to be), and solve the mystery behind the death of her evil uncle, who somehow is still spectrally manifesting himself in nasty ways. No doubt about it—Jame is back, and with a vengeance, as the popular and critically-praised fantasy adventure series continues.
"Hodgell has crafted an excellent and intricate fantasy with humor and tragedy, and a capable and charming female hero. Highly recommended." —Library Journal
Two development teams have utterly vanished planet-side. A third is on the way to set things back on track. But ruthless mercenary "facilitator" Myles Callen and his crew are in for a surprise—for they about to encounter a planet as magnificently strange as the vast alien artifacts of Arthur C. Clarke or Stanislaw Lem's sentient oceans. And behind it all a new physical law so unexpected and fundamental that it may change the universe forever!
New York Times best-seller James P. Hogan delivers another stunningly visionary tale in the grandest tradition of SF!
"Readers who like their science hard will find this one a diamond."
— Publishers Weekly on James P. Hogan's Mission to Minerva.