80 books

Short Fiction by Fritz Leiber (2020)

<p><a href="https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/fritz-leiber">Fritz Leiber</a> is most famous for his “Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser” stories, but he also wrote in many other genres. Between 1950 and 1963 he wrote a number of short stories that appeared in <i>Galaxy</i> magazine, including one in the same universe as <a href="https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/fritz-leiber/the-big-time"><i>The Big Time</i></a> and the Change War stories (“No Great Magic”).</p>

The Woman Who Couldn't Scream by Christina Dodd (2017)

***"Merida Falcon is a world-class beauty, a trophy wife who seems to have it all--except she has no voice.*** For nine bitter years, Merida lived to serve her wealthy elderly husband, never leaving his side, always doing his bidding-- On his death, Merida vanishes--and reappears in Virtue Falls with a new name, a new look, and a plot to take revenge on the man who loved her, betrayed her and walked away, leaving her silent, abused, and bound to an old man's obsession. But Merida faces challenges **Her school friend Kateri Kwinault is the newly elected sheriff of Virtue Falls.** A chance meeting with her former lover intrigues him and brings him on the hunt for her, and meeting him face to face shakes her convictions. **Will she have time to discover the truth about the events that occurred nine years ago? For someone in Virtue Falls is stalking women and slashing them--to death."*-- provided by publisher.***

The Woman Who Couldn't Scream by Christina Dodd (2017)

**A beautiful, mute woman returns to Virtue Falls, Washington, to exact revenge on a deadly enemy in The Woman Who Couldn't Scream, a mesmerizing, emotional thriller from bestselling author Christina Dodd.*--Goodreads*** ***"Merida Falcon is a world-class beauty, a trophy wife who seems to have it all--except she has no voice.*** For nine bitter years, Merida lived to serve her wealthy elderly husband, never leaving his side, always doing his bidding-- On his death, Merida vanishes--and reappears in Virtue Falls with a new name, a new look, and a plot to take revenge on the man who loved her, betrayed her and walked away, leaving her silent, abused, and bound to an old man's obsession. But Merida faces challenges **Her school friend Kateri Kwinault is the newly elected sheriff of Virtue Falls.** A chance meeting with her former lover intrigues him and brings him on the hunt for her, and meeting him face to face shakes her convictions. **Will she have time to discover the truth about the events that occurred nine years ago? For someone in Virtue Falls is stalking women and slashing them--to death."*-- provided by publisher.***

Never Whistle at Night by Shane Hawk (2023)

Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home. These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.

Conflux by Jordan Wakefield (2020)

**IT’S A BAD, BAD WORLD OUT THERE** - Two teenage girls who don’t even know their own names. A nightmarish town that wants to eat them alive. When fate brings them together, will a murderous town full of sin and psychotic criminals pull them apart? This book doesn’t pull punches. Packed with tension and betrayal, horror and triumph, Jordan Wakefield’s CONFLUX: THE LOST GIRLS follows two teenage runaways with pasts shrouded in darkness as they navigate a world ruled by drugs, violence, and dark conspiracies. With police, human traffickers and sexual deviants on their tail, they must make it out alive together. But when you don’t know yourself, can you trust the person next to you? First in the Conflux series, THE LOST GIRLS will push you off the edge of your seat and have you begging for more.

Lirien and Her Friends Save the Magic Forest by Unknown (2023)

**Lirien and Her Friends Save the Magic Forest** by William Bold **A Fantasy Adventure for Children** Step into the Enchanted Magic Forest ! The Story: Lirien and Her Friends Save the Magic Forest Embark on an enchanted journey through the Magic Forest with Lirien and her friends in this spellbinding children's fantasy adventure. The Magic Forest is a place where colorful flowers bloom, playful animals frolic and mischievous elves play. But when a mysterious poisonous rain threatens to destroy the forest, Lirien, Nym, and Eleri must come together to uncover the source of the toxic rain and save their beloved home. Join Lirien and her friends as they embark on an adventure to save their beloved forest and learn valuable lessons about friendship, determination, and the power of working together. **The Lessons:** Discover the Power of Teamwork, Perseverance and Creativity As they navigate through the dangers of Rascal's castle and discover the importance of environmental protection, children will learn valuable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and creativity, all with the goal of making the world a better place for future generations. **The Illustrations**: Bring the Magic Forest to Life The book is beautifully illustrated with detailed and vibrant drawings that will transport children to the magical forest and bring the story to life. The illustrations are a delight to the eyes and will captivate children's imagination. **Target Audience**: for children aged 5-12 who love fantasy and adventure Written by the talented William Bold, "Lirien and Her Friends Save the Magic Forest" is a must-read that will inspire, educate and entertain young readers. Don't miss out on this magical tale, order your copy today!

Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares (2007)

With unraveled embroidery and fraying hems, the Traveling Pants are back for one last, glorious summer. Lena: Immerses herself in her painting and an intoxicating summer fling, fearing that the moment she forgets about Kostos will be the moment she sees him again. Carmen: Falls under the spell of a sophisticated college friend for whom a theatrical role means everything and the heritage of the Pants means nothing. Bridget: Joins a dig for an ancient city on the coast of Turkey and discovers that her archaeology professor is available in every way except one. Tibby: Leaves behind someone she loves, wrongly believing he will stay where she has left him. Join Ann Brashares's beloved sisterhood once again in a dazzling, fearless novel. It's a summer that will forever change the lives of Lena, Carmen, Bee, and Tibby, here and now, past and future, together and apart

Should I share my ice cream? by Mo Willems (2011)

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In Should I Share My Ice Cream? Gerald has a big decision to make. But will he make it in time? Using vocabulary that is perfect for beginning readers (and vetted by an early-learning specialist), Mo Willems has crafted a funny story about the challenges of doing the right thing. Fans of the Geisel Award-winning duo will eagerly eat it up!

War dogs by Greg Bear (2014)

"They came in peace, bearing gifts. The Gurus were a highly advanced species who brought amazingly useful and sophisticated technology to the human race. There was, of course, a catch. They warned of a far more malevolent life form, beings who have hounded the Gurus across the cosmos. The media have taken to calling them the Antagonists -- or Antags -- and they have already established a beachhead on Mars. For all they've done for us, the Gurus now need our help. Enter Master Sergeant Michael Venn, a veteran Skyrine who is dropped onto the Red Planet with his band of brothers on a mission to turn back the Antag tide. But the Skyrines will face impossible odds just to survive -- let alone make it home alive. "--

The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander (2007)

From its unforgettable opening scene in the darkness of a forgotten cemetery in Buenos Aires, Nathan Englander's debut novel The Ministry of Special Cases casts a powerful spell. In the heart of Argentina's Dirty War, Kaddish Poznan struggles with a son who won't accept him; strives for a wife who forever saves him; and spends his nights protecting the good name of a community that denies his existence. When the nightmare of the disappeared children brings the Poznan family to its knees, they are thrust into the unyielding corridors of the Ministry of Special Cases, a terrifying, byzantine refuge of last resort. Through the devastation of a single family, Englander brilliantly captures the grief of a nation.From the Paperback edition.

Killer Year by Lee Child (2008)

Some of the rising stars in the crime, suspense, and mystery genres reveal their talents in an anthology of short stories, each of which is introduced by such mentors as Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, and Lee Child.

Out of my mind by Sharon M. Draper (2010)

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school, but no one knows it. Most people — her teachers and doctors included — don't think she's capable of learning, and until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows...but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write. Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind — that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice, but not everyone around her is ready to hear it. From two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you'll never, ever forget. (Back Cover)

The New Space Opera #1 by Gardner R. Dozois (2008)

The brightest names in science fiction pen all-new tales of space and wonder: ⍾ Gwyneth Jones: “Saving Tiamaat” ⍾ Ian McDonald: “Verthandi’s Ring” ⍾ Paul J. McAuley: “Winning Peace” ⍾ Robert Reed: “Hatch” ⍾ Greg Egan: “Glory” ⍾ Kage Baker: “Maelstrom” ⍾ Peter F. Hamilton: “Blessed by an Angel” ⍾ Ken Macleod: “Who’s Afraid of Wolf 359?” ⍾ Tony Daniel: “The Valley of the Gardens” ⍾ James Patrick Kelly: “Dividing the Sustain” ⍾ Alastair Reynolds: “Minla’s Flowers” ⍾ Mary Rosenblum: “Splinters of Glass” ⍾ Stephen Baxter: “Remembrance” ⍾ Robert Silverberg: “The Emperor and the Maula” ⍾ Gregory Benford: “The Worm Turns” ⍾ Walter Jon Williams: “Send Them Flowers” ⍾ Nancy Kress: “Art of War” ⍾ Dan Simmons: “Muse of Fire” ­

Off the Grid by C. J. Box (2016)

There's no hiding off the grid. Joe Pickett's old friend Nate Romanowski is off the grid, lying low while the FBI search for him. But they're not the only ones looking. Nate finds himself confronted by agents who need his help assessing a potential terror threat in Wyoming's Red Desert – in return they'll make Nate's criminal record disappear. Nate knows they can't be trusted – but with his liberty at stake, he has to comply... for now. Meanwhile, Joe's heading south, under orders from State Governor Rulon to investigate a rash of crimes and an uptick in secretive federal activity along Interstate 80... As they pursue their quarries, both men will be drawn deep into the Red Desert, 9,000 square miles of bleak, punishing terrain, home to a secret that could take them both down.

Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst (2010)

Greece, 1940. Not sunny vacation Greece: northern Greece, Macedonian Greece, Balkan Greece—the city of Salonika. In that ancient port, with its wharves and warehouses, dark lanes and Turkish mansions, brothels and tavernas, a tense political drama is being played out. On the northern border, the Greek army has blocked Mussolini’s invasion, pushing his divisions back to Albania—the first defeat suffered by the Nazis, who have conquered most of Europe. But Adolf Hitler cannot tolerate such freedom; the invasion is coming, it’s only a matter of time, and the people of Salonika can only watch and wait.At the center of this drama is Costa Zannis, a senior police official, head of an office that handles special “political” cases. As war approaches, the spies begin to circle, from the Turkish legation to the German secret service. There’s a British travel writer, a Bulgarian undertaker, and more. Costa Zannis must deal with them all. And he is soon in the game, securing an escape route—from Berlin to Salonika, and then to a tenuous safety in Turkey, a route protected by German lawyers, Balkan detectives, and Hungarian gangsters. And hunted by the Gestapo.Meanwhile, as war threatens, the erotic life of the city grows passionate. For Zannis, that means a British expatriate who owns the local ballet academy, a woman from the dark side of Salonika society, and the wife of a local shipping magnate. Declared “an incomparable expert at his game” by The New York Times, Alan Furst outdoes even his own finest novels in this thrilling new book. With extraordinary authenticity, a superb cast of characters, and heart-stopping tension as it moves from Salonika to Paris to Berlin and back, Spies of the Balkans is a stunning novel about a man who risks everything to right—in many small ways—the world’s evil.

The Cocaine Chronicles by Gary Phillips (2005)

The best fiction anthology of cocaine-themed tales to blow through in years, featuring ALL NEW stories from Susan Straight, Lee Child, Jerry Stahl, Ken Bruen, Laura Lippman, Bill Moody, Nina Revoyr, Emory Holmes II, James Brown, Gary Phillips, Jervey Tervalon, Kerry West, Donnell Alexander, Deborah Vankin, Robert Ward, Manuel Ramos, and Detrice Jones.Nothing to snort at, this ambitious anthology of jaw-grinding criminal behavior is masterfully curated by acclaimed authors Phillips and Tervalon. Cocaine, that most troubling and fascinating of substances is the subject, the subtext, the whys and whereofs in The Cocaine Chronicles, a collection of original short stories that are funny and harrowing, sad and scary, but at all times riveting. The anthology contains tough tales by a cross-section of today's most thought-provoking writers.

Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton (2006)

"You've stumbled on to something much larger than you can possibly imagine."In the dead of night, a cloaked figure drags a heavy box through snow-covered streets. The chest, covered in images of mythical beasts, can only be opened when the fangs of its serpent's-head clasp taste blood.Centuries later, in an Oxford library, a boy touches a strange book and feels something pierce his finger. The volume is blank, wordless, but its paper has fine veins running through it and seems to quiver, as if it's alive. Words begin to appear on the page--words no one but the boy can see. And so unfolds a timeless secret . . . .From the Hardcover edition.

Deadly Gamble by Linda Lael Miller (2006)

Mojo's got an uncanny knack for winning at slots, but her home sweet home is Bad-Ass Bert's Biker Saloon. She'd love to go undercover with an irresistibly hot cop, but he's got baggage as big as his biceps. Mojo survived a mysterious childhood tragedy, but she's never quite figured out who she really is or how to get on with her life. Now the wisecracking Mojo is seeing ghosts--the ectoplasmic kind--and turning up baffling clues to her real identity. And she'll need all her savvy and strange new talent to keep someone from burying her--and the truth--for keeps.