New Release Books by Jody Lynn Nye

The Sci-Fi and Fantasy of Tomorrow Selected by Masters of Today 28 Award-winning Authors and Illustrators Get ready to get carried away . . . to places no one has ever gone before. Turn the page . . . from dark fantasy to dystopian nightmare, from magical realism to military science, from paranormal urban fantasy to post-apocalyptic power trips . . . and beyond. Take flight on a starship powered by a godlike being, willing to go to any length to know what it is to be human. Delve into the psyche of a scientist who must choose between ambition and compassion while compelled to participate in a secret and sadistic government project. Get lost in the chilling Museum of Modern Warfare, where one woman is about to discover life-changing secrets. Experience the stories that challenge our sense of self—and our sense of the world. And that’s just the beginning of your journey. . . . Discover the mesmerizing power of these new stories, thought-provoking new ideas, brilliant new horizons, and astounding new writers and illustrators—the chosen ones, selected by today’s bestselling science fiction and fantasy authors and artists. ___________________________ 3 Bonus Short Stories by L. Ron Hubbard • Jody Lynn Nye • Kristine Kathryn Rusch “The Dangerous Dimension” by L. Ron Hubbard: Meek Dr. Henry Mudge has a dramatic personality change after discovering a mathematical equation that transports him to any place in the universe he can think of. . . . “The Phoenixes’ War” by Jody Lynn Nye: When a lover’s gift to her king turns out to be a perilous trap, the Phoenixes and their priestess face a test that will decide the fate of two realms. . . . “Museum of Modern Warfare” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: When an ambassador is asked to inspect the controversial Museum of Modern Warfare, she discovers life-changing secrets. . . . ___________________________ Art and Writing Tips by L. Ron Hubbard • Orson Scott Card • Craig Elliott “Magic Out of a Hat” by L. Ron Hubbard: From a challenge to write a story inspired by a completely uninspiring wastebasket, Ron provides timeless insight on generating a solid story idea and also reveals a bit of the effusive spirit that he brought to the magic of writing. “On Magic Out of a Hat” by Orson Scott Card: Card discusses and expands upon Hubbard’s article breaking down the techniques Ron used to create a story from a simple object. Card also explores the history of memorable speculative fiction and what makes it great. “The Rewards of Imagination” by Craig Elliott: In addition to his fine-art work, Craig has had a hand in designing many of today’s most popular animated films. Here Craig expounds on the value and need for creative artists and their impact on our society.

Soar to new heights of Science Fiction & Fantasy. Who are the top science fiction writers and illustrators of the future? The answer is here. Get to know tomorrow’s brightest creative talents chosen by some of today’s bestselling authors and celebrated artists including Kevin J. Anderson, Orson Scott Card, Larry Elmore, Brandon Sanderson, Dan dos Santos, and Robert J. Sawyer. Enter brilliantly realized worlds of dystopian politics, magical realism, post-apocalyptic adventure and romance, dark fantasy and more. Explore universes of unlimited possibility in which a cereal box becomes a Pandora’s box of good and evil . . . a troupe of artistic androids risk everything to catch the eye of a critic . . . and the foundation of a family, the very key to their existence, is not only inhabiting a home, but becoming it. Discover the writers who push the boundaries—and break beyond them . . . the illustrators who envision the impossible—and render it real . . . the stories that challenge the way we see ourselves—and see the world in a new way. The future of science fiction and fantasy is in your hands. Anthology includes: 12 award-winning stories, 16 full-color illustrations, 4 bonus stories, and 4 articles offering art and writing tips. ___________________________ 4 bonus short stories by L. Ron Hubbard, Katherine Kurtz, Jody Lynn Nye and Nnedi Okorafor. “Borrowed Glory” by L. Ron Hubbard: For a single day of glory and the settlement of a dispute among immortals, a life can be a satisfactory price. “The Green Tower” by Katherine Kurtz: The magic is strong in the Green Tower, and two young girls struggle to discover its secrets. “The Phoenix’s Peace” by Jody Lynn Nye: The Phoenix has always been the guardian of Dembia. Now there’s trouble in the land, and mysteriously, the Phoenix has left two golden eggs. “The Winds of Harmattan” by Nnedi Okorafor: A young woman seeks her destiny in the African winds of Harmattan. ___________________________ Art and writing tips by Echo Chernik, L. Ron Hubbard, Mike Perkins, and Sean Williams. “The Illustrators of the Future Contest and the Art of This Anthology” by Echo Chernik: As a successful advertising and publishing illustrator, Illustrators of the Future Coordinating Judge and art director, Echo gives the story behind the cherished art included in this anthology. “Steps in the Right Direction” by L. Ron Hubbard: In this interview, Ron describes the practical philosophy and energetic disciplines he applied with such telling success to his own career as a professional author. “Breaking In” by Mike Perkins: Marvel and DC artist for Captain America, Thor, and Spider-Man shares valuable advice for anyone wanting to make it as a professional artist and illustrator. “Making Collaboration Work for You or Co-writing with Larry and Sean” by Sean Williams: New York Times bestselling author, provides insight on the pitfalls and advantages of collaborating with another author. ___________________________ “Science fiction as a genre has always looked to the future and the Writers of the Future looks to the future of science fiction.” —Kevin J. Anderson “Writers of the Future has my heartiest support and unqualified recommendation.” —Terry Brooks “Writers of the Future, as a contest and as a book, remains the flagship of short fiction.” —Orson Scott Card “L. Ron Hubbard ignited the spark of imagination, which in the minds of these new artists has become a blaze.” —Bob Eggleton “Some of the most excellent speculative fiction that you can find anywhere. They’re cutting edge. They’re new.” —Nnedi Okorafor “Without Writers of the Future, I wouldn't be where I am today.” —Patrick Rothfuss “These are the people who are going to be creating trends.” —Brandon Sanderson “The Illustrators of the Future is an amazing compass for what the art industry holds in store for all of us.” —Dan dos Santos “Packed with brilliant stories and thoughtful essays, all wonderfully illustrated by the artist winners―always a joy to behold.” —Robert J. Sawyer

Witches, Warriors, and Wise Women celebrates diversity through urban fantasy stories featuring less-heard voices and overlooked heroes. This, the first volume of the Concrete Dreams series, brings women to the fore with stories of witches solving murders and righting wrongs, warriors battling evil, and wise women finding the truth and settling scores.

FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TRAVIS S. TAYLOR AND JODY LYNN NYE.A teenage girl and her fellow Bright Sparks must do what it takes to stay alive and achieve success in this sequel to Moon Beam. Barbara Winton and the rest of the Bright Sparks, Dr. Keegan Bright’s team of young scientists, find themselves facing a challenge that will test all of their scientific skills and personal courage. They are competing in the first ever race to completely circle the Moon. The Sparks, and twenty-five other teams, have to count on one another as they face thousands of kilometers of unknown dangers, where even a simple accident can have fatal consequences. They form close friendships with racers from all over Earth, but also have to deal with former Spark, Pam, a mysterious and threatening figure whose departure from the Sparks program is shrouded in mystery. While the Sparks compete in the race, Dr. Bright himself is part of a groundbreaking project to seek out rare minerals underneath a crater. On the far side of the Moon, in the airless, frozen depths beneath the lunar surface, disaster strikes. On the thinly settled Moon only the Bright Sparks may be close enough help him. The young scientist find themselves not only racing for victory, but to save their beloved mentor. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Praise for prequel Moon Beam: “Taylor and Nye offer up a tense escapade with engaging characters and a fast-paced plot, but their true focus is on scientific detail, plausibility, and ingenuity . . . it’s an entertaining and even educational offering, perfect for those who demand science in their science fiction.”—Publishers Weekly Praise for the work of Jody Lynn Nye: "Infused with humor to keep you entertained and action to make you turn the pages."—Kirkus on Jody Lynn Nye’s Rhythm of the Imperium “I thoroughly enjoyed it, the plot, the settlement, the whole nine yards, and especially the twitch of humor at odd moments...a book I can thoroughly recommend.” —Anne McCaffrey “An unusual story well-told, with characters it's a real pleasure to spend time with.” —David Drake "[An] innovative take on the well-loved theme of fairies and dangerous wishes." —Publishers Weekly on Wishing on a Star by Jody Lynn Nye and Angelina Adams About Travis S. Taylor: “[E]xplodes with inventive action.—Publishers Weekly on Travis S. Taylor’s The Quantum Connection. “[Warp Speed] reads like Doc Smith writing Robert Ludlum. . .You won’t want to put it down”—John Ringo

4 Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators Accompanied by Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, Jody Lynn Nye, Jerry Pournelle, Ciruelo and Echo Chernik and Edited by David Farland Your search for something new and different in sci-fi and fantasy ends here. Presenting this year’s collection of fresh voices, fabulous worlds, and fantastic new characters. Each year, the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contests’ blue-ribbon judges search the world to discover and introduce to you the very best new talent in sci-fi and fantasy. Created by L. Ron Hubbard, whose commitment to help new writers and artists gave rise to the annual Writers of the Future anthologies—a launching pad for writers and artists who are sure to command our attention for decades to come. “Writers of the Future, as a contest and as a book, remains the flagship of short fiction.” —Orson Scott Card “The best new stories by new writers, anywhere.” —Larry Niven “These are the people who are going to be creating trends.” —Brandon Sanderson “Science fiction as a genre has always looked to the future and the Writers of the Future looks to the future of science fiction.” —Kevin J. Anderson “See the best of the best culled for you, curated and selected in a single volume every year.” —Robert J. Sawyer

Fiction has a special role in the way we relate to each other. Fiction can take us outside of our own experience and give us a small hint of what it's like to be someone else. Speculative fiction - including steampunk - has always been a metaphorical mirror to our own society, allowing us to see ourselves and our behaviors from the outside in ways that we otherwise couldn't. It's not magic. It's the interworking of dozens of finely machined gears. It's the craftswoman adjusting the tension on a spring so it doesn't break. It's the stoker making sure the furnace fires stay burning. It's the conductor collecting tickets, the passengers watching the landscape roll by, the excited child standing next to the engineer who gets to pull the cord and hear the train's steam whistle. It might not be magic, but it's still amazing. Especially with a project like Steampunk Universe, making an anthology of steampunk stories that feature diverse characters who are disabled or aneurotypical. Join editor Sarah Hans, our cover artist James Ng, and contributors Ken Liu, Jody Lynn Nye, Maurice Broaddus, Malon Edwards, Emily Cataneo, Pip Ballantine and nine others today.

You've finished your book. Wonderful! What's the next step? No, not sending it to your agent or publisher. It's time to revise. Smooth out the rough spots. Fill in the missing details. Raise your book to the next level so readers will rave over it. We'll help you through the steps you need to make the book the best it can be.

SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, HUMOR * Cranky Goblin Cooks * Unscrupulous Chemists * Lecherous Space Pirates * Disagreeable Alien Symbiotes * Soul-Searching Snot Elementals The Unidentified Funny Objects series serves an annual dose of funny. zany, and unusual science fiction and fantasy stories. All-new fiction from the genre's top voices! Our sixth volume features a Mad Amos story by Alan Dean Foster, a Harry the Book tale by Mike Resnick, and an Alexander Outland short by Gini Koch. Jim Hines reimagines a Game of Thrones with goblins in it, Ken Liu begs a sentient AI to spare him, and Esther Friesner takes us on a tour of Chelm, complete with dragons and gratuitous footnotes. There are also tales of an interdimensional secret agent, a warrior-writer on a quest from an evil god, a necromancer intent on rehabilitating the image of his profession, and many more. TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword by Alex Shvartsman “A Game of Goblins” by Jim C. Hines “The Breakdown of Parasite/Host Relationship” by Paul R. Hardy “From This She Makes a Living?” by Esther Friesner “Twenty-Nine Responses to Inquiries About My Craigslist Post: Alien Spaceship for Sale $200, You Haul” by Tina Connolly “Tyler the Snot Elemental Scours the Newspaper, Searching for Change” by Zach Shephard “Agent of Chaos” by Jack Campbell “Display of Affection” by P. J. Sambeaux “The Great Manhattan Eat-Off” by Mike Resnick “An Evil Opportunity Employer” by Lawrence Watt-Evans “Common Scents” by Jody Lynn Nye “A Mountain Man and a Cat Walk into a Bar” by Alan Dean Foster “Lost and Found” by Laura Resnick “A Crawlspace Full of Prizes” by Bill Ferris “Return to Sender” by Melissa Mead “The Friendly Necromancer” by Rod M. Santos “An Open Letter to the Sentient AI Who Has Announced Its Intention to Take Over the Earth” by Ken Liu “Approved Expense” by David Vierling “Alexander Outland: Space Jockey” by Gini Koch “Dear Joyce” by Langley Hyde “Impress Me, Then We’ll Talk About the Money” by Tatiana Ivanova (translated from Russian by Alex Shvartsman)

Everyone has their eyes set on the black depths of space...but what about the deep abysses of the ocean? What dark monsters swim unseen beneath the waves? What ancient wonders lie hidden, waiting to be discovered? What sirens call, either here on Earth or in the icy waters of a far off planet...or even at the bottom of a wine glass? So much remains to be explored below the surface, where light fades and the pressure kills. Here are seventeen stories from today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that take us into those depths, whether we want to or not. Join Seanan McGuire, Michael Robertson, Esther Friesner, F. Brett Cox, Wendy Nikel, Marsheila Rockwell & Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Jody Lynn Nye, Bill Kte’pi, Jenna Rhodes, Susan Jett, James Van Pelt, J.D. Koch, Misty Massey, A. Merc Rustad, David Farland, Sara M. Harvey, and Nicky Drayden as they explore unfathomable trenches, underwater volcanoes, and abyssal plains. Take the plunge...into the Deep End!

STAY ALIVE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON What happens when you get the one thing you wanted most in life? Lonely 16-year-old farm girl Barbara Winton has been following one reality show for years. Then in an instant she goes from fangirl to participant when the call comes from Dr. Keegan Bright: She’s been selected out of a horde of applicants to join him on the Moon. She’ll be one of his Bright Sparks, six students with expertise in STEM and plenty of their own ingenuity chosen to work with Dr. Bright and given big responsibilities to undertake new projects important to the growth of the colony. Her first task? Build a radar telescope using an entire crater on the far side of the Moon. But Barbara soon learns that life on a burgeoning frontier outpost like the Moon is a far cry from safe, civilized Earth. The loner from farm country must find a way to weld a functional team out of fiercely independent thinkers. Not only are they a bit trickier to work with than farm robots, not only is the working environment incredibly dangerous—she also has to perform this miracle in front of millions of fans. . . . Lexile Score: 770 At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Praise for the work of Jody Lynn Nye: "Infused with humor to keep you entertained and action to make you turn the pages."—Kirkus on Jody Lynn Nye’s Rhythm of the Imperium “I thoroughly enjoyed it, the plot, the settlement, the whole nine yards, and especially the twitch of humor at odd moments...a book I can thoroughly recommend.” —Anne McCaffrey “An unusual story well‑told, with characters it's a real pleasure to spend time with.” —David Drake "[An] innovative take on the well‑loved theme of fairies and dangerous wishes." —Publishers Weekly on Wishing on a Star by Jody Lynn Nye and Angelina Adams About Travis S. Taylor: “[E]xplodes with inventive action.—Publishers Weekly on Travis S. Taylor’s The Quantum Connection. “[Warp Speed] reads like Doc Smith writing Robert Ludlum. . .You won’t want to put it down”—John Ringo

In fantasy stories, we read about people with mental illness who are susceptible to magic, closer to breaks in reality, more likely to be able to see the invisible. Depression is depicted as just a symptom of the quest being too hard and a love interest will snap the character right out of it. People with schizophrenia can see spirits and demons, but these people are discarded as the detritus of society once they are no longer useful to the plot. Bipolar disorder is often represented in the villains, those with the visions of God and their own invulnerability. People with PTSD can just get over it as the plot requires.These narratives are damaging and ignore the lives of people with mental illness to the point of romanticizing and erasing their experiences. The stories in this anthology challenge those narratives and show what can be accomplished when we take care of ourselves and seek help. They show the reality of being mentally ill, even though the settings are fantastical and magic abounds. These stories reveal how mental illness and its treatment can affect the magic that lies within all of us.

While mankind can scarce hope to pierce the Veil without crossing it, a few intrepid souls will ever bend their will against the aether, combining artifice and the arcane to uncover its secrets. Be it heaven or hell or the limbo in between, the hereafter is about to get 'Punked.

SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, HUMOR * Aztec Astronauts * Punster Prophets * Apocalyptic Apps * Cantankerous Cryptids * and the Duck Knight Fifth annual volume of the Unidentified Funny Objects anthology series features eighteen lighthearted science fiction and fantasy tales from the masters of the genre. Read about planetary adoptions, secret agent princesses, alien cooking reality shows, rigged elections, magical insurance agents, and much more.

An anthology of stories inspired by Greek & Roman mythology.

The fourth volume of the annual Unidentified Funny Objects series features the theme of dark humor. What happens when you ask some of the genre's masters to interpret this theme? The enclosed twenty-three darkly humorous tales range from black comedy to biting satire to morbid irony and everything in between. Inside this book you'll find Faustian bargains gone awry, time-traveling ghosts, flawed supervillains, talking hamsters, and much more. Featuring stories by: George R. R. Martin Neil Gaiman Andrew Kaye Caroline M. Yoachim Esther Friesner Brent C. Smith Laura Pearlman Tim Pratt Piers Anthony Ian Creasey Oliver Buckram Anaea Lay Karen Haber Eric Kaplan Jody Lynn Nye Tina Gower Zach Shephard Mike Resnick James Aquilone Michael J. Martinez Tina Connolly Gini Koch Jonathan Ems

Robert Asprin’s “excellent, lighthearted fantasy series” (Epic Illustrated) continues with more antics from magician Skeeve and his eclectic team at M.Y.T.H., Inc. Business is slow for M.Y.T.H., Inc., and its president, Bunny, is getting nervous that the company might not meet its quarterly goal. So when a job comes in that’s worth an absurd amount of gold—and also happens to take them to Winslow, the most luxurious vacation resort in any dimension—the team jumps at the opportunity to recoup some cash and maybe catch some R&R. Only, magician Skeeve has an unsettling feeling that this mission might be trickier than it seems. Someone in Winslow is messing with the magic lines and working hard to ensure that the M.Y.T.H. crew gets nowhere near the powerful relic that they’ve been hired to find. And as the mysterious manipulation turns deadly, Skeeve, Bunny, Aahz, and the rest of their partners find themselves in a race not only to finish the job but also to escape paradise alive…

Thirteen authors explore what it is to pioneer the future in tales fraught with danger and remorse, tempered with hope, luck, and serendipity. We face the monsters. We face the truth. We face ourselves. Whether the frontier is that of science or space, at some point one must ask ...If we had known, would we have followed this course?

Celebrations help us to mark moments in time that are meaningful, some for religious reasons, others cultural and historical. New York Times bestselling author Jody Lynn Nye has written about holidays from many points of view, in this world, in another; in the past, present and future. What holidays-and holiday stories-have in common is that people choose to come together for these festive events to discover joy and mystery. Gathered together for the first time, these eleven fantastic tales showcase the wonder and mystery of Christmas, Passover, Lammas Night, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras, and Valentine's Day. Have a happy, magical holiday season!

Book Three in the View from the Imperium series from humorous SF master Jody Lynn Nye. Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago and his trusty constant companion, the unflappable Parsons, are back. And this time they've got a planet to save. The Zang, an elder race of the galaxy, may be a shrinking population, but they're also intelligent, curious, and powerful. What's more, they practice a most unusual art form: they bonsai star systems. Eager to witness this first hand, Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago, accompanied as always by his personal assistant Parsons, sets out on a several-week jaunt to see the Zang destroy a moon to enhance the beauty of a star system. But the trip is sidelined when Kinago's uncle offers to take him to the seldom seen human homeworld, Earth. Unable to resist, Kinago goes along, only to find on his return that the planet he's just visited may be in danger of being eradicated. Earth lies within the protective sphere of the Zang, but enemies of the Imperium are lobbying to have Sol system turned over to them. It is up to Kinago and Parsons to save Earth. Kinago has the key, but will he be able to persuade the Zang to spare the human homeworld before it's too late? At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

"Every child deserves one miracle," is the motto of the Fairy Godmothers Union. Raymond Crandall is skeptical whether he wants to be a part of something that sounds so hokey, but his Grandma Eustatia insisted he join. To his shock, Ray discovers that the fairy godmothers use real magic to grant those wishes, but the proper use of magic and the responsibility that goes with it are not easily learned. While he studies with Mrs. Rose Feinstein, a rival force, the Demons, Djinni and Efreets Guild, is also recruiting apprentices -- from the local street gangs. Ray discovers that granting wishes to children touches something in himself that he never knew was there. The DDEG want that power for themselves and are prepared to go to terrifying lengths to get it. The Fairy Godparents are in danger. Can Ray pull off a miracle for all of them, without jeopardizing the people that he loves?

t's the most unusual medical unit in the galaxy - and it makes house calls. A fully equipped starship lab, Taylor's Ark is run by Dr. Shona Taylor, a specialist in environmental medicine. She has a menagerie of very special assistants, including an Abyssinian cat, a dog, rabbits, mice, and an alien ottle named Chirwl. Now, this highly trained crew faces the ultimate medical mystery. On Chirwl's home world, humans and ottles alike are aging at an alarming rate. And if Dr. Taylor doesn't find a fast cure, the entire colony will die ... of old age.

Keith Doyle has made it to graduate school! In between classes and hanging out with his magical friends, the Little Folk, he has a new job as a copywriter for PDQ advertising agency, working on a campaign for a revolutionary electronic device. His plans for the party to end all parties on Hollow Tree Farm are coming along nicely. Things are not so rosy for the Little Folk. They're being haunted not only by malevolent spirits passing through their cellar, but a Big Person who has discovered Keith's supposedly well-camouflaged invitation to all creatures magical. Keith finds himself in danger trying to keep out of the hands of the industrial spy to protect not only the trade secrets of his client's firm, but his friends and their home. Can Keith's ingenuity and his limited magic keep the elves from being revealed to the world? Will the party ever take place? Will Keith ever get his hands on one of those wonderful devices?

ORIGINAL TRADE PAPERBACK. New York Times best-selling authors S.M. Stirling, Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint, and Jody Lynn Nye return with four novellas. The cat-like Mrem, our heroes, battle the deep reptilian intelligence of humanoid dinosaurs in a Bronze Age world. SEQUEL TO EXILECLAN OF THE CLAW. Second entry in a series with four linked novellas from multiple best-sellers S.M. Stirling, Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Jody Lynn Nye! After the extinction asteroid does not strike Earth, the dinosaurs keep evolving_but so do the mammals. We mammals have achieved humanlike shapes, but now its cold-blooded, magic-using reptiles against the hot-blooded, hot-tempered descendants of cats.In a heroic, Bronze Age world similar to 300, the Mrem Clans expand their rough-and-tumble territory, but now they face the Lishkash, reptilian masters of a cold-blooded empire of slave armies and magic. Its mammalian courage and adaptation against reptile cunning in a clash of steel and will that determine who shall inherit the Earth. Exiled Series ExileClan of the Claw By Tooth and Claw At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Ten years ago, four editors joined forces to bring the dark and dangerous root of the faerie legend into the modern day. And that's how Bad-Ass Faeries was born. After a decade, love for this award-winning series is still going strong. In celebration, we give you: The Best of Bad-Ass Faeries.

Holl, Keith Doyle's best friend, has finally tied the knot with his beloved, Maura in the Little Folks' new home, Hollow Tree Farm. Keith has good news of his own: he has started on an internship as a copywriter with a Chicago advertising agency, coming up with slogans and designs for new products, but the project he is really enthusiastic over is chasing air sprites in a hot air balloon. Unfortunately, one of the agency's client businesses is using the Little Folks' land as a dump for toxic waste. Holl's young cousin Dola sees them do it, but they see her, too. To prevent anyone else from finding out, then men kidnap her and Holl and Maura's new baby, Asrai. All of the Little Folk are called in to hunt for them. Keith reaches out to the new and wonderful air creatures he's found in hopes of bringing the baby and her brave guardian back to the farm.

Keith Doyle, believer in myths, goodhearted nerd, general busybody, and business major at Midwestern University, discovers to his joy-and horror-that a secret village of pointy-eared, magical little elves are occupying a vacant level of the library building. Their leader, The Master, tutors students to pass difficult courses. Marcy, the girl of Keith's dreams, is already a member of the class. But the library is in danger of being torn down, thanks to a modernization campaign led by Keith himself. The students of the secret class hate him. Marcy is devastated. It looks as though the elves' home will be destroyed. Keith and the Little Folk need one another. The only thing that can save Keith's social life is elven magic. And the only thing that can save the elves is the magic of ... free enterprise.

Keith Doyle, business major at Midwestern University, with an unofficial minor in mystical studies and magic overseen by his Little Folk friends, flies off to spend the summer on an educational tour of archaeological sites of the British Isles and Ireland with his best friend, Holl. They hope to locate signs of Holl's long-lost relations as well as to help fulfill a traditional rite that will permit Holl to marry his beloved Maura. Keith's reckless exploits attract the attention of not only magical folk who are far less friendly than the Little Folk back home, but human smugglers. The Master and Keith's girlfriend Diane are forced to come to their aid. Can Keith keep from losing his college credits and Holl his one chance at happiness?

Sequel to A View from the Imperium. Jeeves in space! Rollicking adventure featuring a seemingly dense, lovable nobleman and his indespensible, droll aide, Parsons. Lieutenant Lord Thomas Kinago sets out from the Imperium homeworld for the Autocracy of the Uctu, a galactic region with a geckolike overlord known, eponymously, as the Autocrat. Thomas is ostensibly on a pleasure cruise with his cousin Jil to enjoy the pleasures of the Gecko culture. (Jil is herself fleeing a spot of trouble in the Central Worlds after she rebuffed the unwanted amorous interest of a local crime boss) In fact, Thomas is on a mission for the mysterious Mr. Frank, the head of the secret service, to discover how prohibited goods, including a small fighter ship, are being smuggled into the Autocracy. His crew’s overt assignment is to find out why legitimate shippers are being detained at checkpoints, sometimes for months, without explanation. As usual, Thomas’s reputation for sudden enthusiasm and goodhearted mayhem precede him. It is all his trusted aid Parsons can do to keep his leader on course. Thomas’s newest interest is superstitions, and he is driving everyone to distraction by telling fortunes, and even inventing a new method or two. Yet while the Autocrat, a new and fairly young Uctu female, finds Thomas a curious diplomat, she also rather likes him—much to Parsons’s relief. It seems Thomas needs free passage within the Uctu home system before he can investigate the illegal contraband trade. What’s more, the smuggling ring is quite determined to cancel Thomas’s visit before he can cancel them. As usual, it’s up to Parsons to find a way to lead his hapless master to victory—or at least keep him from getting himself killed by a very determined enemy. Praise for Jody Lynn Nye’s An Unexpected Apprentice: “I thoroughly enjoyed it, the plot, the settlement, the whole nine yards, and especially the twitch of humor at odd moments...a book I can thoroughly recommend.” —Anne McCaffrey “An unusual story well-told, with characters it's a real pleasure to spend time with.” —David Drake