Fantasy Short Stories

Welcome to the Crucible - an artificial planet larger than our sun - an ever-growing patchwork of countless other worlds, filled with creatures, sentient beings and societies stolen from across the universe by the mythical Architects. Across this dizzying juxtaposition of alien biospheres, the enigmatic and godlike Archons seek to unlock the secrets at the heart of the Crucible. Everyone else is just trying to survive....

In a post-apocalyptic America, range rider Deaver Teague is trying to get to the town of Moab to replace his dead horse. Along the way, he's picked up by the Aal family’s pageant wagon. When Deaver decides to help them set up their next show, he becomes embroiled in a family crisis.

This story is included in Orson Scott Card's collection The Folk of the Fringe.

Pirate captain Torius Vin’s navigator, Celeste, isn’t your typical crew member. She’s a naga - half woman, half serpent - and can read the night skies like an open book. When Celeste is kidnapped during a trade run to legendary Katapesh, Torius and his crew must race to unravel a web of betrayal and evil magic in the bazaars of the dangerous City of Trade.

Arthur Cain was a hero to his city, the most accomplished and respected of the firefighters in his entire district. But when a call comes in from the so-called "Halfbreed Heights", the monsterfolk part of the city, Arthur's life gets flip-turned upside down. Though he saved the life of a matronly lamia that day, he was also partially crippled and forced into early retirement. Now unable to fit the image of her personal superman, Arthur's wife divorces him and leaves him to move into a cheaper home in the same monsterfolk slum that caused his current situation.

Unicorns aren’t real. Everyone knows that. Mike doesn’t believe in them either. Why should he? Then, one day, a mysterious woman appears, riding on the back of a cat and declaring she’s the Keeper of the Unicorns. What Unicorns? As if that wasn’t looney enough, the cranky lady instructs Mike to tell her story to the world. Baffled, the young man refuses. He’s not crazy, after all – or is he? Suddenly finding himself stuck in the worst nightmare imaginable, Mike is left wondering whether he’s even awake. The monstrous cockroach crawling toward him sure looks real ...

"Saturn Rising" was first published in the March 1961 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is regarded as one of the most influential science fiction writers of all time. He was named a grand master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

"Chico", a story by Robert McCammon, was first published in his short fiction collection Blue World.

Roshad is a sorcerer and street thief in the great caravan city of Ular Kel. Bors is a nomadic warrior and heir to the Horse Throne. As a pair, the two are members of the mysterious Iridian Fold, an organization in which lovers seek to perfectly blend their consciousness to become an elite combat unit. But when Bors’ father forbids their union, are Bors and Roshad willing to start a war to defend their love?

A Short, Steamy Firefighter Romance That Will Ignite Your Heart He’s a brooding firefighter with a protective streak. She’s a single mom determined to keep her world safe. Their chemistry? Absolutely scorching. "Fire Captain Marcus Reid is the epitome of strength and bravery—a man who runs headfirst into danger to save lives. But beneath the uniform and intensity lies a heart of gold. Juliet knows the risks of falling for a hero like Marcus; she’s already experienced the heartbreak of loving someone who faces danger every day. Now, she’s focused on giving her teenage son a stable ...

When a God of War barged into his apartment, Jake had no idea what to expect... but it wasn't being forced into a never-ending war against evil invaders, or that the battle would strangely resemble the MMORPG games he loved. Working hard and building himself up from almost nothing, Jake would need every bit of knowledge and preparation to master his new class of Summoner. Joined by a sly Demoness with an ancient past and a shy Valkyrie hoping to prove herself in battle, they'll find excitement and enjoyment as they level and grow in power.

Desiree just turned eighteen and wants to get a tattoo for her birthday. Her and her friend Alice go down to get one at the local tattoo parlor, but Desiree is too nervous to go through with it. Since an artist had been called on to take care of her, the two women go out for coffee instead. Desiree immediately likes Clarissa, but more so, starts to feel something that she has never felt before for a woman. Desiree desires the older tattoo artist and it finally pushes her to go back in with more courage. She asks Clarissa to give her the tattoo and when Clarissa puts her hands on her, it ...

As a master of the art of narrative and one of the leaders in the Golden Age of Science Fiction, L. Ron Hubbard’s Sci-Fi and Fantasy stories helped reshape the future of speculative fiction. The universe is yours as you explore fabulous worlds of unfolding mystery and unlimited potential. Discover the herald of possibility in these fantasy adventures.

A famous naturalist seeks a near-extinct species of bird found only on the rarest of lands in "Audubon in Atlantis." A young American on a European holiday finds himself storming an enchanted German castle in "The Catcher in the Rhine." The philosopher Sokrates plays a key role in the Athenian victory over the Spartans in "The Daimon." Centaurs take a sea voyage aboard "The Horse of Bronze" to a land where they encounter a strange and frightening tribe of creatures known as man.

"The Deep Range" was first published in the April 1954 issue of Argosy (UK). It was later expanded into the novel of the same name. Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is regarded as one of the most-influential science fiction writers of all time. He was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

A collection of horror/thriller stories for readers who would enjoy a stroll through a graveyard after midnight. Hark! Don’t read this book if a deranged maniac has escaped from the local asylum. Otherwise, enjoy the horror.The creepers include: THE MASQUERADE CURSE: Five master criminals are abducted and brought to a decaying island hotel, where the vengeful son of a ruined tycoon tries to determine which one is responsible. THE IMPOSSIBLE KILLER: A detective discovers a series of brutal murders are the work of a supernatural entity that kills anyone whose name it hears. TWICE DOOMED: ...

A garrison on asteroid Y-3, a beautiful place actually. First published in 1953 by Philip K. Dick, this science fiction short story proposes that if you're overworked, become a plant, and that is just what the personnel on asteroid Y-3 are doing. The problem becomes how does Dr. Henry Harris who has been sent to resolve the problem avoided becoming one of them and taking root?

Step into the realm of high adventure and untamed magic with Kothar: Barbarian Swordsman, a seminal collection by the prolific author Gardner Francis Fox. First unleashed upon the world of fantasy literature in 1969, this compilation marks one of Fox's most enduring legacies within his impressive oeuvre of 156 paperbacks. Celebrated for its vibrant energy and boundless imagination, Kothar: Barbarian Swordsman secured its place in the hearts of fantasy enthusiasts and significantly influenced the creation of Dungeons & Dragons, as acknowledged by its creator, Gary Gygax, in Appendix N. This ...

This volume of Shrunken Man Short Stories contains the following works by Albert Robinson: A Night at Tonie's Collegebound REAR-ENDED...II: Double Trouble The Expo

A fast-paced fifty-page short story book about two budding astronauts, a space hound named Chewie and a rather pissed off creature in the form of a Kraken. Contains epic storytelling, dark humor and general silliness.

Tempest Michaels has a zombie problem. Crazy people craving human flesh have been appearing without warning in hoards in towns across Kent. He is just as mystified as everyone else, but when the elderly husband of the recent viral internet sensation known as Zombie Granny asks him to prove she is no such thing, he has to take the case. Then outside his office, people start screaming...