New Releases by Elizabeth Moon

Madison Lee has always been the resilient type. With an absent father and a mother who goes through marriages the way most people go through wine tasting, she''s had to be. So when she finally finds the love of her life and he vanishes, she has no choice but to get through this too. Except Gabriel Delacroix comes back, and he comes back better than ever: he''s a vampire. Madison has loved and believed in the supernatural since she was a child, so the return of her lover and the hypnotically enchanting world he now belongs to is delightful. There''s only one problem: Gabriel has the choice to age with her, or gain immortality, and he doesn''t have a lot of time left to decide...

Contains over 20 black and white illustrations by the author. It is quite well known that when a small child falls from the sky in the land of Speria, they are to be taken to the monastery at Crescent Isle to learn to control their powerful supernatural abilities. Their fate not yet sealed, some of these children are thought to be cursed, outcast from society and deemed to be evil by nature. In the enclosed valley of Tuksa, one such child has just begun his journey.

Aim Neonatal hypoglycaemia is common, and can cause brain damage and death. We aimed to determine if prophylactic oral dextrose gel given to newborn babies at risk prevents neonatal hypoglycaemia and thus reduces its potential sequelae. Method First, we conducted an eight-arm placebo controlled randomised dosage trial to select the most effective dose of dextrose gel in prevention of neonatal hypoglycaemia. Secondly, the main trial is ongoing to determine the effect of the selected prophylactic dose on admission to neonatal intensive care. Thirdly, follow-up is ongoing to determine the later benefits and harms of prophylactic dextrose gel. To formally evaluate the evidence for dextrose gel in prevention of neonatal hypoglycaemia we undertook a Cochrane systematic review. Finally, we investigated the effect of prophylactic dextrose gel on neonatal hypoglycaemia and survival in lambs. Findings We demonstrated that the incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia can be reduced with a single dose of dextrose gel 200 mg/kg, with a number needed to treat of ten. We have used this dose in finalising the protocol for the main multicentre randomised placebo controlled trial, which is recruiting 2,129 babies, with the primary outcome being admission to neonatal intensive care. Secondary outcomes include hypoglycaemia, breastfeeding, healthcare costs and later neurosensory disability. In the first 100 babies assessed at age two years’ corrected age, we achieved 90% follow-up. Although 30% had neurosensory disability, this cohort has better developmental scores than previous cohorts of babies at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia. Lambs randomised to dextrose gel did not have higher blood glucose concentrations or better survival than those randomised to placebo. Low temperature at one hour after birth, rather than birthweight or blood glucose concentrations was associated with decreased survival. Conclusion Prophylactic oral dextrose gel is effective in reducing the incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia in babies at risk. If ongoing studies show that admission to neonatal intensive care is avoided, and there are no harms demonstrated at follow-up, then oral dextrose gel for prevention of neonatal hypoglycaemia is likely to be rapidly translated into standard clinical practice, with potential for improving outcomes while reducing costs.

The galactic order has been shattered, and amidst the chaos heroes will rise...and fall—as Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Moon brings her stellar Familias Regnant saga to a spectacular conclusion. Across Regnant space, the fight to put down the mutinous factions of the Fleet continues. Though the initial assaults have been contained, the mutineers are still at large. And the dangerous seditious elements are not limited to the military alone. Within the Familias, the aged leaders of the great septs continue to hoard the mysterious rejuvenation drugs that may allow them to rule forever. And that is something that the ambitious younger generations of the ruling families can no longer abide... Heroic Fleet loyalist Esmay Suiza has been coldly ousted from the service after her elopement to Barin Serrano is discovered and her religious status comes under suspicion. But she''s not about to back down from her sworn duty, and races to confront the members of the Grand Council—one of whom owes her a great service... But unbeknownst to anyone, a powerful leader in the ranks of the Fleet has already turned against them, and their common enemy is determined to destroy the Familias Regnant in a final conflagration... "SF readers will delight in the twisting, thorny adventure in the compelling continuation to this popular series." -- Publishers Weekly "Fans of David Weber''s "Honor Harrington" series will appreciate Moon''s space opera of high politics and military adventure."— Library Journal "A fun fast-paced mix of space and soap opera."— Locus "A triumphant coda."— Booklist

Fleet Lieutenant Esmay Suiza never wanted to become a hero. After a traumatic, war torn childhood and years of being plagued by nightmares, she is content to spend her years with the Fleet following orders and staying under the radar. Even after she finds herself the leader in a fierce battle against a treasonous captain, and the center of a subsequent military trial, Suiza wants nothing more than to return to the ranks. Then she''s promoted and sent to the deep space repair ship Koskiusko. Suiza once again finds herself in the heart of danger. The Bloodhorde, a violent group of barbarian warriors, has made plans to sabotage her ship and clear the path for a full invasion. Suiza is thrust into command, leading the revolt against the invaders before a second wave of brutality threatens the lives of her fellow soldiers. From New York Times bestselling and Nebula Award-winning author Elizabeth Moon comes a riveting, action packed science fiction tale of war with an unforgettable hero.

Elizabeth Moon, the "New York Times" bestselling author of the celebrated "Deed of Paksenarrion" and "Paladin''s Legacy" epic fantasy series, presents "Deeds of Honor," a brand new collection of short stories set in the world of Paksenarrion. With two exclusive, never-before-published stories featuring characters from the "Paladin''s Legacy" series, "Deeds of Honor" gathers together lore and legends from Paksenarrion''s world, along with tales from the "Paladin''s Legacy" era, all revised and updated for this special compilation. Rich with the vivid and immersive storytelling for which Elizabeth Moon is known, the eight short stories in "Deeds of Honor"-collected here for the first time, with all-new author notes-are certain to please any fan of the Paksenarrion saga. Deeds of Honor: Tales of Paksenarrion''s World "Point of Honor" - "Falk''s Oath" - "Cross Purposes" - "Torre''s Ride" - "A Parrion of Cooking" - "Vardan''s Tale" - "Those Who Walk in Darkness" - "The Last Lesson"

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS Acclaimed author Elizabeth Moon spins gripping, richly imagined epic fantasy novels that have earned comparisons to the work of such authors as Robin Hobb and Lois McMaster Bujold. In this volume, Moon’s brilliant masterwork reaches its triumphant conclusion. The mysterious reappearance of magery throughout the land has been met with suspicion, fear, and violence. In the kingdom of Lyonya, Kieri, the half-elven, half-human king, struggles to balance the competing demands of his heritage while fighting a deadly threat to his rule: evil elves linked in some way to the rebirth of magic. Meanwhile, in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia, a set of ancient artifacts recovered by the former mercenary Dorrin Verrakai may hold the answer to the riddle of magery’s return. Thus Dorrin embarks on a dangerous quest to return these relics of a bygone age to their all-but-mythical place of origin. What she encounters there will change her in unimaginable ways—and spell doom or salvation for the entire world. Praise for Crown of Renewal “Mesmerizing . . . [Elizabeth] Moon offers convincingly realized characters persuasively shaped by the extraordinary richness, depth and texture of the world they inhabit. . . . Such is the allure of an extremely talented writer at the the height of her powers.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Elves, demons, warped magicians, ancient artifacts, time travel, and an agrarian-based society make for an evocative story. . . . The depth of each character’s emotions . . . show the author’s writing power.”—Booklist Praise for Elizabeth Moon Limits of Power “Thoughtful and deeply character driven, full of personal crises as heartbreaking and hopeful as any dramatic invasion . . . Fantasy fans will be delighted by this impressive foray.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) Echoes of Betrayal “This is an excellent series, and Echoes of Betrayal is particularly well done. [Moon is a] consistently entertaining writer, and this book lives up to her standards.”—San Jose Mercury News “Rousing action and intriguing plot twists.”—Kirkus Reviews Kings of the North “Moon’s characters navigate an intricate maze of alliances and rivalries. . . . Close attention to military detail gives the action convincing intensity.”—The Star-Ledger “Her storytelling is as electrifying as ever, and her readers should be delighted with this new vista of a well-known world.”—Booklist

Elizabeth Moon is back with the fourth adventure in her bestselling fantasy epic. Moon brilliantly weaves a colorful tapestry of action, betrayal, love, and magic set in a richly imagined world that stands alongside those of such fantasy masters as George R. R. Martin and Robin Hobb. The unthinkable has occurred in the kingdom of Lyonya. The queen of the Elves—known as the Lady—is dead, murdered by former elves twisted by dark powers. Now the Lady’s half-elven grandson must heal the mistrust between elf and human before their enemies strike again. Yet as he struggles to make ready for an attack, an even greater threat looms across the Eight Kingdoms. Throughout the north, magic is reappearing after centuries of absence, emerging without warning in family after family—rich and poor alike. In some areas, the religious strictures against magery remain in place, and fanatical followers are stamping out magery by killing whoever displays the merest sign of it—even children. And as unrest spreads, one very determined traitor works to undo any effort at peace—no matter how many lives it costs. With the future hanging in the balance, it is only the dedication of a few resolute heroes who can turn the tides . . . if they can survive. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Elizabeth Moon''s Crown of Renewal. Praise for Limits of Power “It’s easy to become fully immersed in, and absorbed by, the narrative: [Moon’s] great strength lies in the patient accumulation of telling detail, yielding an extraordinarily rich picture of the world’s politics, philosophy, military structure, history, magic and alien cultures, where men and women stand as equals even in force of arms.”—Kirkus Reviews “Thoughtful and deeply character driven, full of personal crises as heartbreaking and hopeful as any dramatic invasion . . . Moon deftly avoids big literary explosions, preferring instead a slow boil that builds pressure without relief. There are plots within plots, but the complex story is never confusing. Fantasy fans will be delighted by this impressive foray.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) Praise for Elizabeth Moon “This is an excellent series, and Echoes of Betrayal is particularly well done. [Elizabeth Moon is a] consistently entertaining writer, and this book lives up to her standards.”—San Jose Mercury News “Moon’s characters navigate an intricate maze of alliances and rivalries. . . . Close attention to military detail gives the action convincing intensity.”—The Star-Ledger, on Kings of the North “A triumphant return to the fantasy world she created . . . No one writes fantasy quite like Moon.”—The Miami Herald, on Oath of Fealty

Paksenarrion was the finest paladin her world would ever see. But she could never have fulfilled her destiny had it not been for one who came before: Gird, the Liberator. When Gird leads his peasant army against their mageborn rulers, he knows that his sworn follower Luap is the king''s bastard son. But in spite of his oath to seek no throne and to renounce his heritage, Luap cannot not forget his past. And when he discovers a distant land that he can reach by magic, his loyalties are divided. What harm would it do if he were to break his oath and crown himself king of this far-off land? Deep in the western mountains, in a sanctuary abandoned by the elder races, Luap finds out - as do those who follow him. Liar''s Oath is the second of two prequels to the hugely popular DEED OF PAKSENARRION trilogy.

“This is an excellent series, and Echoes of Betrayal is particularly well done. [Elizabeth Moon] is a consistently entertaining writer, and this book lives up to her standards.”—San Jose Mercury News All is not well in the Eight Kingdoms. In Lyonya, King Kieri is about to celebrate marriage to his beloved, the half-elf Arian. But uncanny whispers from the spirits of his ancestors continue to warn of treachery and murder, and a finger of suspicion points in a shocking direction. Meanwhile, in Tsaia, the young king Mikeli grapples with unrest among his own nobility after granting the title and estates of a traitorous magelord to a Verrakaien—who not only possesses the forbidden magic but is a woman. The controversial decision and its consequences put the king’s claim to the throne in peril. But even greater danger looms. A dragon’s wild offspring are sowing death and destruction, upsetting the ancient balance of power. A collision seems inevitable. Yet when it comes, it will be utterly unexpected—and all the more devastating for it. “Fans of epic fantasy . . . should enjoy this series.”—Library Journal “Rousing action and intriguing plot twists.”—Kirkus Reviews Includes a preview of the next book in the Paladin’s Legacy series, Limits of Power

HUNTING PARTY: Heris Serrano was destined for a life in the Regular Space Service - until a treacherous superior officer forced her to resign her commission. This was the end of everything that gave her life meaning. But her new life aboard a rich old lady''s space cruiser is nothing like she expected and she is soon fighting for her life. SPORTING CHANCE: On her first cruise, Heris exposed a sinister ''hunting club'', where one of the hunters was first in line to the throne. To avoid scandal, Lady Cecelia volunteered to take her nephew the Prince home. His behaviour becomes increasingly erratic, Cecelia suspects foul play and once again Heris must investigate. WINNING COLOURS Heris has at last been offered a chance for vindication and reinstatement in her beloved Fleet - and reconciliation with her family. But it means standing alone against the military might of an interstellar criminal cartel with only a few small ships ...

Kylara Vatta has had to leave a glowing future as a military cadet far behind, and now carves out a living in the brutal cut-throat world of interplanetary trading. Her chosen way of life is tough but rewarding and she thinks she is more than capable of holding her own. That is, until a threat emerges that nobody could have forseen . . . ''Continues to get better with every volume . . . roll on the next one'' Guardian

Esmay Suiza, a very junior-grade lieutenant from a non-Fleet family, had surprised herself and everyone else by becoming the youngest and lowest-ranking member of Fleet ever to win a major battle. Finding herself the senior surviving officer in a mutiny against a treacherous captain, she''d had no choice - it was do or die. And she''d risen to the challenge with flying colours, saving Heris Serrano and her crew in the process. But instead of offering congratulations, Fleet are barraging her with awkward questions. And her actions, successful though they were, have landed her in the firing line of a court martial for treason . . . ONCE A HERO is the fourth volume of The Serrano Legacy, an action-packed science fiction series from an author who has ''established herself as one of the best-known and most acclaimed writers of SF adventure'' (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY)

In a future age, Gird will be known as the patron saint of warriors. And although he inspired legend, he was once just a man with a cause. Poverty, fear and anger shaped Gird, as he struggled to survive under an oppressive aristocracy of mageborn magic-wielders. His innate hunger for justice and love for ''his'' people have taken him from humble beginnings to leadership of a peasant army. Where reason has failed, it seems the only way to end tyranny is rebellion, with perhaps some help from the gods. But Gird''s fondness for drink threatens his mission and his life, as his strengths are tempered with weakness. In his passion to achieve his goals, Gird has also overlooked a great danger in his own camp. He knows his follower Luap is the bastard son of a king. But in spite of Luap''s oath to seek no throne and to renounce his mage heritage, he cannot forget his past. And this will shape the Fellowship of Gird in a way no one wanted or predicted.

Paksenarrion wasn''t planning to submit to an unwelcome marriage and a lifetime of poverty, so she left her village with a plan and her grandfather''s sword. And a few weeks later, she was installed as Duke Phelan''s newest recruit in a company of soldiers for hire, her arms training about to begin. But when Paks sees combat, she''s stabbed with an ensorcelled knife and barely survives. Then the near-misses start mounting up, raising questions about this young fighter. Is she attracting evil because she is a danger to them all? Or is there another reason malignant forces seek her life? Paks will face the spider-minions of the Webmistress Achrya, orcs and the corrupted men who serve blood mage Liart, Master of Torments. She will also earn the gratitude of elves and of her Duke. And through conflict she will learn she has powers of her own and a destiny. To become a gods-chosen Paladin of Gird, and a target for the ultimate torture.

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Elizabeth Moon''s Kings of the North. For the first time in nearly twenty years, Elizabeth Moon returns to the thrilling realm of her superb Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy. Thanks to Paks’s courage, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary who earned a title—and enemies—in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia, where Prince Mikeli suddenly faces the threat of a coup. Acting swiftly, Mikeli strikes at the powerful family behind the attack: the Verrakaien, magelords steeped in death and evil. Mikeli’s survival—and that of Tsaia—depend on the only Verrakai whose magery is not tainted with innocent blood. Two kings stand at a pivotal point in the history of their worlds. For dark forces are gathering against them, knit in a secret conspiracy more sinister and far more ancient than they can imagine.

Thank you, Mr. Vance / Dean Koontz -- Preface / Jack Vance -- The True vintage of Erzuine Thale / Robert Silverberg -- Grolion of Almery / Matthew Hughes -- The Copsy Door / Terry Downling -- Caulk the witch-chaser / Liz Williams -- Inescapable / Mike Resnick -- Abrizonde / Walter Jon Williams -- The Traditions of Karzh / Paula Volsky -- The Final quest of the Wizard Sarnod / Jeff Vandermeer -- The Green bird / Kage Baker -- The Last golden thread / Phyllis Eisenstein -- An Incident at Uskvesk / Elizabeth Moon -- Sylgarmo''s Proclamation / Lucius Shepard -- The Lamentably comical tragedy (or the laughably tragic comedy) of Lixal Laoavee / Tad Williams -- Guyal the Curator / John C. Wright -- The Good magician / Glenn Cook -- The Return of the Fire Witch / Elizabeth Hand -- The Collegeum of Mauge / Byron Tetrick -- Evillo the Cunning / Tanith Lee -- The Guiding nose of Ulf?nt Banderoz / Dan Simmons -- Frogskin cap / Howard Waldrop -- A Night at Tarn House / George R.R. Martin -- An Invocation of incuriosity / Neil Gaiman.

Elizabeth Moon’s thrilling Vatta’s War series, featuring the no-holds-barred space-faring heroine Kylara Vatta, has secured her reputation as a master of first-rate military science fiction. Now Commander Vatta is back–locked and loaded and ready to win the fight against the marauding forces of ruthless space pirate Gammis Turek. For Ky, it’s not just about liberating the star systems subjugated by Turek and defending the rest of the galaxy’s freedom. There’s also a score to be settled and payback to be meted out for the obliteration of the Vatta Transport dynasty . . . and the slaughter of Ky’s family. But the enemy have their own escalation efforts under way–including the placement of covert agents among the allies with whom Ky and the surviving Vattas are collaborating in the war effort. And when a spy ring linked to a wealthy businessman is exposed, a cracked pirate code reveals a galaxywide conspiracy fueling the proliferation of Turek’s warship fleet. Matching the invaders’ swelling firepower will mean marshaling an armada of battle-ready ships for Ky to lead into combat. But a violent skirmish leaves Ky reeling–and presumed dead by her enemies. Now, as Turek readies an all-out attack on the Nexus system–a key conquest that could seal the rest of the galaxy’s doom–Ky must rally to the challenge, draw upon every last reserve of her strategic skills, and reach deep if she is to tear from the ashes of tragedy her most decisive victory.

With the Vatta’s War series, award-winning author Elizabeth Moon has claimed a place alongside such preeminent writers of military science fiction as David Weber and Lois McMaster Bujold. Now Moon is back–and so is her butt-kicking, take-no-prisoners heroine, Kylara Vatta. Once the black-sheep scion of a prosperous merchant family, Kylara now leads a motley space force dedicated to the defeat of a rapacious pirate empire led by the mysterious Gammis Turek. After orchestrating a galaxy-wide failure of the communications network owned and maintained by the powerful ISC corporation, Turek and his marauders strike swiftly and without mercy. First they shatter Vatta Transport. Then they overrun entire star systems, growing stronger and bolder. No one is safe from the pirate fleet. But while they continue to move forward with their diabolical plan, they have made two critical mistakes. Their first mistake was killing Kylara Vatta’s family. Their second mistake was leaving her alive. Now Kylara is going to make them pay. But with a “fleet” consisting of only three ships–including her flagship, the Vanguard, a souped-up merchant cruiser–Kylara needs allies, and fast. Because even though she possesses the same coveted communication technology as the enemy, she has nowhere near their numbers or firepower. Meanwhile, as Kylara’ s cousin Stella tries to bring together the shattered pieces of the family trading empire, new treachery is unfolding at ISC headquarters, where undercover agent Rafael Dunbarger, estranged son of the corporation’s CEO, is trying to learn why the damaged network is not being repaired. What he discovers will send shock waves across the galaxy and crashing into Kylara’s newly christened Space Defense Force at the worst possible moment.

“Marvelously compelling . . . consummate military-adventure science fiction.”—SciFi In the aftermath of the cold-blooded assassinations that killed her parents and shattered the Vatta interstellar shipping empire, Kylara Vatta sets out to avenge the killings and salvage the family business. Ky soon discovers a conspiracy of terrifying scope, breathtaking audacity, and utter ruthlessness. The only hope against such powerful evil is for all the space merchants to band together. Unfortunately, because she commands a ship that once belonged to a notorious pirate, Ky is met with suspicion, if not outright hostility . . . even from her own cousin. Before she can take the fight to the enemy, Kylara must survive a deadly minefield of deception and betrayal. Praise for Engaging the Enemy “A fast-paced space adventure, with a heroine that will captivate readers.”—Omaha World-Herald “Excels in character development as well as in its fast-paced action sequences and intricate plotting.”—Library Journal “You’ll have fun with this one, for Moon keeps things moving.”—Analog

“An utterly satisfying adventure . . . In Kylara Vatta, Moon has created another tough and complex heroine.”—Scifi Though the exciting military career she hoped for never materialized, Ky Vatta still sees plenty of combat. An unknown adversary has launched a full-throttle offensive against Vatta Transport Ltd., Ky’s father’s interstellar shipping empire—killing most of Ky’s family. Fighting for her very survival, Ky is determined to avenge her family’s deaths. Teaming up with a band of stranded mercenaries, her black-sheep cousin Stella, and Stella’s roguish ex-lover, Ky struggles to penetrate the tangled web of political intrigue that surrounds the attacks. Amid suspicion and deception, she is prepared to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that Vatta stays in business. What she’s not prepared for is the shocking truth behind the terror— and a confrontation with murderous treachery. . . . Praise for Marque and Reprisal “The intrigue-filled plot lends a marque of distinction.”—Entertainment Weekly “Excellent plotting and characters support the utterly realistic action sequences: swift, jolting, [and] merciless.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A gripping, action-packed book.”—Omaha World-Herald

"Filled with fast-paced action and well-conceived characters.”—Booklist Kylara Vatta is the only daughter in a family full of sons, and her father’s only child to buck tradition by choosing a military career instead of joining the family business. For Ky, it’s no contest: Even running the prestigious Vatta Transport Ltd. shipping concern can’t hold a candle to shipping out as an officer aboard an interstellar cruiser. It’s adventure, not commerce, that stirs her soul. And despite her family’s misgivings, there can be no doubt that a Vatta in the service will prove a valuable asset. But with a single error in judgment, it all comes crumbling down. Expelled from the Academy in disgrace–and returning home to her humiliated family, a storm of high-profile media coverage, and the gaping void of her own future–Ky is ready to face the inevitable onslaught of anger, disappointment, even pity. But soon after opportunity’s door slams shut, Ky finds herself with a ticket to ride– and a shot at redemption–as captain of a Vatta Transport ship. It’s a simple assignment: escorting one of the Vatta fleet’s oldest ships on its final voyage . . . to the scrapyard. But keeping it simple has never been Ky’s style. And even though her father has provided a crew of seasoned veterans to baby-sit the fledgling captain on her maiden milk run, they can’t stop Ky from turning the routine mission into a risky venture–in the name of turning a profit for Vatta Transport, of course. By snapping up a lucrative delivery contract defaulted on by a rival company, and using part of the proceeds to upgrade her condemned vehicle, Ky aims to prove she’s got more going for her than just her family’s famous name. But business will soon have to take a backseat to bravery, when Ky’s change of plans sails her and the crew straight into the middle of a colonial war. For all her commercial savvy, it’s her military training and born-soldier’s instincts that Ky will need to call on in the face of deadly combat, dangerous mercenaries, and violent mutiny. . . . “Compelling . . . a superior novel . . . Trading in Danger [has] originality and intelligence.”—SciFi