Modern Science Fiction

Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia is in nearly as much peril as her struggling kingdom. Esquaveta desperately needs to forge an alliance, and to that end, Tullia's father has arranged a marriage between her and an odious prince. However, one month before the "wedding of the century," Tullia falls in love with a lowly apprentice scribe. The king turns to Anatole, his much-maligned magician. Seventeen years earlier, when Anatole first came to the castle, he was regarded as something of a prodigy.

I haven't heard from my mother in six years—which is why I was surprised to receive a summons from her. The peremptory kind. With nothing but a set of map coordinates to guide me, what exactly was I to expect? The short answer? Trouble, for Mother Dearest is in rather a lot of it. And like daughter, like mother, for there’s a shiny artefact in the offing, and only a few gigantic lindworms in the way. Who isn’t up for a minor little challenge like that?

Magic has been slowly fading from the enchanted forest ever since the greedy humans invaded. The native folk were kind in sharing their homeland, but peace couldn't last forever. Conflict stirs while Barne, half human/half native, is stuck in the middle. Trapped between two worlds he must try and find himself before choosing a side. In a world where he never really belongs, Barne searches to find his smile using all means necessary. But there's a dark secret that holds his happiness hostage... In a world of swords and sorcery, darkness and despair, nothing comes without a price.

When a woman with perfect memory sets out to solve a riddle, the threads she tugs on could bring a whole city crashing down. The God-King who made her is at risk, and his other servants will do anything to stop her. To become the God-King's Amanuensis, Manet had to master all seven perfections, developing her body and mind to the peak of human performance. She remembers everything that has happened to her, in absolute clarity, a gift that will surely drive her mad.

Sweet, supportive, dependable, selfless. Long before she had children of her own, journalist Carrie Mullins knew how mothers should behave. But how? Where did these expectations come from—and, more importantly, are they serving the mothers whose lives they shape? Carrie's suspicion, later crystallized while raising two small children, was that our culture’s idealization of motherhood was not only painfully limiting but harmful, leaving women to cope with impossible standards—standards rarely created by mothers themselves.

It's a period of turmoil in Britain, with the country's politicians electing to remove the UK from the European Union, despite ever-increasing evidence that the public no longer supports it. And the small town of Lychford is suffering. But what can three rural witches do to guard against the unknown? And why are unwary hikers being led over the magical borders by their smartphones' mapping software? And is the immigration question really important enough to kill for?

Rumour’s got a lot to say for itself, and the message is clear: the regulator’s ready. You know. The magickal regulator. The bright and shiny thing with which we, Team Improbable, propose to restore magick to a fading Britain. Somebody’s got to test it, and that somebody is us. Which means wading into the depths of a long-dead realm that nobody’s entered in centuries. And I may have had some practice at that, but this time it’s different. This time, somebody’s still home. And they really aren’t happy about trespassers. Looks like disaster’s on the agenda. Again.

Stranded far from home, and unable to return, I am in bigger trouble than ever. I know I say that a lot, but this time it's really true. Not that there aren’t advantages to my particular predicament. If one must put up with a dangerous degree of magickal potency, one is duty-bound to… put it to use, no? Certainly nothing insane, irresponsible and potentially life-threatening. As if. But we'll need every possible advantage in the Hyndorin Mountains. For there, hidden behind layers of secrets, could be the answers we are looking for.

Dispatched overseas — far, far overseas — we're in hot water. Again. Following in the footsteps of a long-lost king, we're on the road to the mysterious Vales of Wonder. The upside? It's a hot-bed of magickal marvels, the likes of which we've literally never seen before. The downside? Danger. Because who ever said adventure would be easy? Fortunately, we have help. One reviled but aggravatingly handy beast specialist: check. One world-famous, awe-inspiring, purple-clad troll scholar: check. One perambulatory, half-mad house with a crush on Jay: check.

Infinity Wanderers 12 is the Spring 2025 edition of the magazine, featuring a cover by Robin Stacey, appropriate for our times. The lead story is 'The Destination' by Belle Waring, and other fiction comes from Nicholas Woods, Mark Reasoner, David Wesley Hill, Allison Maschhoff, and Nelly Shulman, with short fiction from William McCann. Matias Trevieso Diaz authors two might-have-been pieces, one on the Battle of Poitiers, and one on Charles XII of Sweden. Poetry comes from Pawel Markiewicz, Ben Macnair, Glenis Moore, and Grey Wolf, whilst Ian Haight contributes the co-translation of the ...

Another young, African-American man is shot and killed by local law enforcement. As rioters take to the streets in outrage, a group that has waited for this very moment moves and takes control, effectively shutting down an entire city. The demand is simple: "Give us what we have been promised for over a century...EQUALITY."

Looking for an escape from reality? Look no further than Science Fiction Short Stories Vol. 03 by The Shadowplay Collective. This collection of short stories will take you on an adventure through the depths of space and the unknown depths of the human mind. With each turn of the page, you'll find yourself transported to a different world, filled with wonder, danger, and excitement. In Science Fiction Short Stories Vol. 03, The Shadowplay Collective has created a universe that is both familiar and completely alien. From the bustling streets of a futuristic metropolis to the endless expanse ...

Alice Wyndham has been plagued by visions of birds her whole life...until the mysterious Crowley reveals that Alice is an "aviarist": capable of seeing nightjars, magical birds that guard human souls. When her best friend is hit by a car, only Alice can find and save her nightjar. With Crowley’s help, Alice travels to the Rookery, a hidden, magical alternate London to hone her newfound talents.

"A failed ritual annihilates modern life." Manhattan, NY: The E-Train slams into James Bixby, a strapping young artist on the rise, after a life-saving rescue attempt goes awry. Belfast, Ireland: A bullet severs Olivia Young's spinal cord while she defends a doctor colleague--the second bullet pierces her heart. Then they awaken--unharmed. "Selected" and thrust into a deadly ritual, James' and Olivia's lives--along with the lives of five others--will decide humanity's fate: surrender to the old Gods' rule or live on in blissful ignorance. Follow their frantic struggle as Magnus--a secret ...

He wanted to bring his fiancée back from the dead. If he's not careful, he'll join her. Evans's world was turned upside down when he lost his fiancée Senna in a tragic accident. He misses her so desperately that he's resorted to the dark arts to bring her back. Frank Altemus is a doctor with strange connections to the occult who promises to revive Senna from the afterlife in exchange for Rohan's help on a "special" expedition.

In the modern world, life lessons are not always as black and white as who wins a race between a tortoise and a hare. Modern Day Fables features eleven lessons for us adults, we who face challenges that present a palette of grays in which the morals are often more gritty, trampled on, hard fought, hard won, and not always glorious. In these eleven fables, travel the subterranean world of lessons not oft told because they are challenging to the status quo, and championing of the individual who stands alone amid the world around us. Decide what you think, who wins and who loses, who stands ...

Als Friedrich Nietzsche im Jahre 1878 sein aphoristisches Werk "Menschliches, Allzumenschliches" herausbrachte, war schlagartig klar, dass hier einer der ganz Großen der Philosophie die Weltbühne betreten hatte. Die hier vorliegende Sammlung vereint die Teile "Von den ersten und letzten Dingen", "Zur Geschichte der moralischen Empfindungen", "Aus der Seele der Künstler und Schriftsteller", "Der Mensch im Verkehr", "Der Mensch mit sich allein", sowie eine Auswahl aus seinem 1887 veröffentlichten Werk "Die fröhliche Wissenschaft".

Best-selling urban fantasy and paranormal suspense author M. D. Massey invites listeners back to the world of the Junkyard Druid for his second short story collection! This 35,000-word volume features even more characters from the Colin McCool series, starring in three separate novelette-length stories: "Old Ghosts", "The Goblin King", and "Going Under".

Are you ready to embark on a journey through the vast expanse of the universe? Look no further than Science Fiction Short Stories Vol. 11 by The Shadowplay Collective. This collection of short stories will transport you to distant worlds and introduce you to characters that will leave a lasting impression on your mind. In this volume, The Shadowplay Collective takes readers on a thrilling ride through the depths of space and time. From the far reaches of the galaxy to the depths of the human psyche, these stories will keep you on the edge of your seat. The settings are vividly described, ...

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unique tales inspired by traditional literary forms appeared frequently in socialist-leaning British periodicals, such as the Clarion, Labour Leader, and Social Democrat. Based on familiar genres, these stories were meant to entertain readers of all ages - and some challenged the conventional values promoted in children’s literature for the middle class. Acclaimed critic and author Michael Rosen brings together more than 40 of the best and most enduring examples of these stories in one beautiful volume.