Fantasy Adventure Short Stories

Adam Rubin is back with this companion to The Ice Cream Machine, inviting you into six thrilling new worlds filled with daring and danger, mystery and mayhem—not to mention explosions! In a swanky New York City hotel, a reclusive guest appears to have spontaneously combusted. On a school field trip to a human anatomy museum in space, two kids try to pull off the greatest prank in history.

In this new collection of five short stories from New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Maberry, listeners get an eclectic sampling of the writer's work - from SF parody to murder mystery and beyond.

Storytellers have long imagined what exists beyond the edges of the map. The need to seek and discover the unknown is embedded in who we are, no matter the culture or era. To celebrate this sense of wonder, award-winning editor John Joseph Adams has gathered together some of the best SF&F writers working today, collecting adventure and mystery in this spectacular anthology. Explore the rich tradition begun centuries ago with this all-new compilation full of imagination and delights. What lies beyond the edge of the unknown? Only you, brave listener, can find out.

He believed shadow casters were extinct. Now he’s sworn to protect them. Cylos dreams of the old days from his father’s stories, when the legendary shadow casters defended the world. But it’s been over twenty-five years since the Purge, and he’s convinced casters are little more than fairy tales… and without their protection, Malgar is descending into chaos. But after he strikes an unlikely friendship with an old hermit in the mountains above his village, Cylos makes a shocking discovery: shadow casters are still alive.

* * * re released with new content * * * Sahvin Kazza, a Narovian feline humanoid was an alien undercover on Earth when he was kidnapped by alien slavers thinking he was human. He was sold into slavery and sent to the mines on Breskaa where he thought his life would end. Enter the Farseek Mercenaries, who are traveling through the Sargus Empire, searching for their stolen people who were kidnapped from Farseek and sold into slavery throughout the Empire. The mercenaries hate slavers and slavery, so while they are freeing their enslaved people, they free all the slaves on Breskaa. Savin ...

As Jed and Marie prepare for our heroine's final World exhibition in Paris, Jed grapples with the complexity of time, his undying love for his beloved, and the end of an era in their lives. Their journey to this Exhibition in 1900 becomes a pivotal moment, not just marking the end of their public life together but also drawing them into a confrontation with forces that threaten their very existence and the future of humanity. Jed is faced with a foe who has planned and engineered a winning combination of circumstances so he can finally return triumphant to Pluto. Can Jed outwit such a ...

In the vibrant heart of Barcelona, amidst the grandeur of the 1888 World Expo, our hero and heroine are thrust into a whirlwind of unforeseen encounters and perilous adventures. The presence of a former contact sets the stage for an emotional and complex reunion. As the city buzzes with excitement for the Expo, counter-agents, armed with insider knowledge, threaten to plunge the event into chaos and ignite a war that could reshape the future of empires. Jed, distanced for some time from the cosmic battles that defined his past, is drawn back into a struggle that challenges his loyalties, ...

Are the Tresians using the weather as a weapon against their enemies to sabotage the 1897 World Exhibition in Brussels, Belgium? Tormented by the sound of unending rain, Marie finds some light relief, becoming involved with the art nouveau movement, along with her women’s rights work. Yet a morally ambiguous situation with the Expo’s stakeholders has her on high alert, calling for Jed’s help - as the Tresians predicted. Jed is mired in the mud with his work, sensing impending danger, yet sidetracked by the storms' effects. Can the couple piece together what awaits them and thwart an ...

En route to the 1893 World Expo in Chicago, Jed and his love embark on a new chapter in their lives, filled with excitement and the promise of innovation. Their relationship is deep and complex, shaped by past rescues, secret missions, and a shared love for the unknown. Each has their own reflections. Marie navigates the complexities of the exhibition and her advocacy work on women's suffrage. She also contemplates her relationship with Jed, his secrets, and their intertwined destinies. Jed grapples with the weight of his decisions and their impact on his future and the broader universe. ...

Thrust back into a new conspiracy, Deborah must come to terms with who she is and the love that got away. Fresh off her success in London, Deborah is requested to travel to New York City for the upcoming 1854 Expo. She agrees despite struggling to comprehend all that has happened in London. Her entanglement with the enigmatic Jed, who disappeared after stopping the assassination of Queen Victoria, continues haunting her, but why she doesn’t know? Deborah arrives in New York, unsuspecting of the new danger she is in. She knows life is about to spice up when Jed mysteriously reappears with ...

Onboard ship to the 1879 Sydney and Melbourne 1880 Expos, consultants Jed and Marie meet Robert and Jane. Discussing issues on women's rights sparks tension and a clash with Robert's traditional values. Yet Jed has a hint that something else is amiss. While Jed and Marie excitedly move forward with their part in the expo, little do they know a dark plot is unfolding. Counter-agents are set on sabotaging the Expo, coming up with some very creative ideas! The targets? Jed and Marie. As the danger escalates, Robert becomes an unwitting pawn, leading to a cliff-edge confrontation that will ...

Returning home was supposed to be a break. It became anything but. Fresh off her successes around the world, Deborah was looking forward to a little downtime. Instead, she finds herself at the heart of an interplanetary conspiracy to start a war. Deborah reluctantly dives into the past in search of clues to the long history of the Venusians and Plutonians on Earth. It may prove her undoing, for there are some who want the past to remain secret. Making matters worse is her feelings for the mysterious Jed and Geoffrey, the man she loves. Torn between them, Deborah is about to face her ...

It's the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Will it go ahead? Dive into the exciting world of the 1876 World Expo where hope and innovation shine bright! In this riveting tale, Jed orchestrates the event with the help of Marie, an expert in perfecting the Expo's final touches. Little do they know their efforts have, once again, drawn the attention of the Plutonians, a cunning foe desperate to thwart humanity's progress. As the Expo unfolds with groundbreaking technologies and inspiring ideas, the Plutonians escalate their tactics, putting ...

World Expo, Paris, 1878, is the stage for the ethereal romance of Jed, Venusian guardian, and Marie, our Austrian heroine, who now has a unique connection to the Light. As they reunite amidst the splendors of the event, Marie's haunting dreams of distant travels and healing Light become the backdrop to their love story and the linchpin to events. Jed eagerly anticipates a rendezvous with Marie, the woman who holds the key to his heart. However, a romantic reacquaintance is sidelined by the Tresians, orchestrators of a movement among the priesthood, accusing the Expo of blasphemy and ...

The undersea city of Etrusia has been deliberately infected with the plague. With no one to man the controls, the air supply is severely compromised. Implosion is imminent. Draggar took over when the provisional government failed, and is trying to save the lives of as many people as he can, but without help, he knows his task is futile. Rumor has it that Quildor commissioned the refitting of a Great Ship that can leave the planet. If it exists, can Draggar find it in time? And if so, can it get to the surface before the aftershocks of implosion destroy it? In this essential companion to The...

The Library Story: A Journey Through Pages and Possibilities A Novella In a world where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, "TheLibrary Story beckons readers into a realm where love transcends time and reality bends to the will of fate. Step into a world where every book whispers secrets, and every corner of the library holds a story waiting to be discovered. "The Library Story" invites you on an enchanting journey through the labyrinth of shelves, where the scent of aged paper mingles with the promise of adventure. In this captivating tale, follow our protagonist as they stumble upon a ...

A thousand worlds in one place. That’s what seventeen year old, Ridge Baker, thought when he walked into the Cedarville, North Carolina library. Having recently moved to this small town, he knew the library would become a safe place for him to hang out from the outside world. Since he was a little boy, he had been constantly teased about his stuttering speech impediment. Staying quiet and reading books were his means of coping with this. His mom, though, forbid him from reading as it reminded her of what his late dad loved to share with him before he passed away. Yet Ridge was determined ...

This collection of wonderful short stories represents the efforts of twenty 7th and 8th grade students attending Macon County, Tennessee Junior High School – eighteen writers, and two cover artists.

In this Episode Lock and Lucas enter the prestigious Waystar Academy. Between studying, dueling, and endless assignments they will find their greatest challenge. People. Really good stuff… ★★★★★ “Pros: characters and the relationships between them are great, pace is great, story is great (thanks for not flashing stats every two minutes!) Cons: books are short but published often (so sort of balances out but at these lengths it would be best to publish even faster), some typos… not a problem for me but some people are fanatical about it. I just highlight the errors as I go. I...

Penniless, homeless, and virtually lifeless, the vagrant “Doughface” Jack is about to discover that where medical marvels meet the mysteries of the human mind, amazing things happen. The Tramp acquires a capability beyond his imagination and without equal on Earth. Riding the rails, Jack runs afoul of a local sheriff and ends up with a crushed skull. He’s as good as dead until a savvy country doctor performs a bit of medical magic.