New Releases by Sean Williams

Long-standing foes must put aside their ancient grudges and deep-seated distrust to uncover and defeat a threat to the galaxy before it can escape its isolation—forcing Sith and Jedi to raise their lightsabers together. “When I look into you, I see no loyalty. . . . I sense only tangled allegiances. . . . Given a choice, I would never trust you.” From across the galaxy they’ve come: agents of both the Republic and the Sith Empire, an investigating Jedi Padawan, an ex-trooper drummed out of the Republic’s elite Blackstar Squad, and a mysterious Mandalorian. An extraordinary auction has drawn them all together—in quest of a prize only one can claim. Each is prepared to do what he must to possess the treasure, whose value may be the wealth of a world itself. No one intends to leave empty-handed. All have secrets, desires, and schemes. And nothing could ever unite them as allies—except the truth about the deadly danger of the object they covet. But can Sith and Jedi, Republic and Empire—enemies for millennia—join as one against the certain doom of the galaxy?

What if future criminals played games of skill for their freedom? Would spellcasters dare use magic to skew chance in their favor? What if aliens judged us based on the games we play? Can a dying woman literally cheat Death? Games are about more than winning and losing. They’re about risk and reward, strategy and blind fortune, our need to win and our fear of being outplayed. And when magic and science infuse a game, the stakes can be of cosmic importance. Each move could decide life or death. Are you ready to play? In this anthology, seventeen of today’s leading fantasy and science fiction authors explore the role games play in worlds both seen and unseen. Join Aliette de Bodard, Jennifer R Povey, Ed Greenwood, Cory Swanson, David Hankins, Cat Rambo, Wulf Moon, Jo Miles, James Alan Gardner, Karen Aria Lin, Mike Rimar, Eric Choi, Tris Lawrence, Mark Silcox, Melissa Yi, Michael Picco, and Sean Williams as they share with us games played for unimaginable stakes. The board is set, the cards are dealt—now it’s GAME ON!

A suspenseful middle-grade fantasy full of mystery, twists and skulduggery from the author of the critically acclaimed Her Perilous Mansion.

A picture book celebration of #GirlDads everywhere by The Dad Gang CEO, Sean Williams! Told in upbeat rhyming verse, Girl Dad is a picture book that honors the strong men who raise, love, and uplift strong girls. This keepsake is a fun read-aloud and perfect gift for the special dad in your life. Perfect for fans of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and Made for Me by Zack Bush. Share Girl Dad with the dads in your life, on Father''s Day or any day.

An -3500. Tassaa Bareesh, la matriarche du cartel du crime hutt, organise une mystérieuse vente aux enchères. Des représentants de la République et de l''Empire s''y pressent, ainsi que des invités incognito plutôt disparates parmi lesquels : un Padawan, une ancienne de l''Escouade républicaine Blackstar, un contrebandier et un énigmatique Mandalorien. Par-dessus le marché, l''émissaire de la République n''est pas celui qu''il prétend être et la délégation impériale compte une impitoyable Apprentie Sith dans ses rangs. Aucun de ces protagonistes n''a réellement l''intention de participer aux enchères. Tous projettent de voler le butin : deux morceaux de métal fondu d''un vaisseau qui proviendrait d''un monde inconnu, riche de ressources insoupçonnées. Mais ce trésor se révèle portentiellement mortel. Aussi, Sith et Jedi, Empire et République, devront accomplir l''impensable : s''allier pour vaincre une menace capable de détruire la galaxie...

Matter transporters, dead worlds, and ghostly encounters. Parallel worlds, time-travel, and dangers that lurk in the shadows. Little Labyrinths brings together 17 vignettes and microfictions from one of Australia’s premier authors of science fiction and fantasy. Collected together for the first time, these brief tales and startling asides cover territory that is playful, experimental, and infused with speculative wonder. Once dubbed Australia’s King of Genre Fiction, Williams’ work will remind you of the strange, exciting, and mysterious pleasures that come from losing yourself in the smallest stories.

"Musics of the World offers a rich introduction to world music"--

In these essays, Sean Williams -- the best-selling author of over 120 short stories and fifty novels -- shares his thoughts on the aspects of writing craft and the publishing business that young authors should know. Drawn from essays, keynotes, and presentations delivered over a decades-long career, "Eyes on the Stars" features Williams''s thoughts on balancing passion and professionalism, understanding the new writer''s career path, embracing the delicate art of writing media tie-ins, and reaching for the stars with your writerly ambitions. Whether you''re looking for writing advice from one of the preeminent writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy working in Australia today, or you''re a fan of William''s work who''d like to capture a slice of his creative philosophies, this chapbook is chock full of advice from a veteran of the Australian genre scene

In the action-packed, drama-filled, politically incorrect sequel to The Last Man, The Last Man: Rise of the Pink Army picks up a few weeks after the events of the first book, with the introduction of various new characters and new theaters to the war. One thing becomes obvious to our antiheroes, everything comes with a price. Ian still continues his quest to become the man and leader he was born to be while slowly realizing that morality in this war is a sham; he understands this now completely, but is there anything left of the boy who would once jump through flaming hoops to help others? Mandy now faces a paradox, a powerful new ally who threatens not only her leadership of the Pink Army, but her relationship with Ian. From rocky beginnings in Ireland to war winning triumphs in North Africa and the Middle East, the battle between the Femtheists and the Pirates has now entered a new level of brutality and intensity, including a cliff-hanger that will leave readers on the edge of their seats waiting for the final bout.

A poetic look at experiences through the author''s life. The Dreamer''s Heart is written to inspire through the darkest of times. The author who has dealt with depression and anxiety through his life, puts his words that he has written from his view to inspire the mind, heart and soul through various styles from romance to just a general outlook on life through poetry

Sci-fi and fantasy of tomorrow . . . . . . selected by masters of today. Where can you find the hottest new talent all in one book? Right here. This year’s winning stories include a diverse collection of brilliantly realized worlds of dystopian politics, magical realism, post-apocalyptic adventure, and romance, dark fantasy and more. You’ll love this anthology because these writers push the boundaries—and break beyond them . . . these illustrators envision the impossible—and render it real . . . these stories challenge the way we see ourselves—and present the world in a new way. Buy Writers of the Future Volume 36. 24 Award-winning Authors and Illustrators Bonus short stories by: L. Ron Hubbard • Katherine Kurtz • Jody Lynn Nye • Nnedi Okorafor Art and writing tips by: Echo Chernik • L. Ron Hubbard • Mike Perkins • Sean Williams Edited by: David Farland 16-page color Gallery of Artwork Cover art by: Echo Chernik Soar to new heights of Science Fiction & Fantasy. 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. 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: “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: “The Illustrators of the Future Contest and the Art of This Anthology” by Echo Chernik: As a successful advertising and publishing illustrator, Contest 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. “These are the people who are going to be creating trends.” —Brandon Sanderson

Are we pre-wired with the ability to influence outcomes around us or is this gift learned? Why do some advance quickly in their career or get their small business off to a great start and some don''t? Why do some build lasting relationships and others start to lower their standards?Most people would agree the power of influence is both in our DNA and learned over time with experience and wisdom. In addition, some may add that success is often driven by leveraging trusting relationships; both the relationships you hopefully have cultivated with ease, as well as, those which forced you to learn valuable lessons. Regardless of how we get there, our ability to influence the outcomes of relationships is paramount. Some of us maintain excellent relationships with our inner circle while struggling to connect with those who don''t act or look like us. Some of us figured out leadership, however, still struggle with life. Either way, "The Dynamics of Leverage" explores the people around us who we aim to influence. Whether our manager in the office or our children at home. It also taps into who you are, your Personal Negotiation Style, Six Dynamic of Influence, and Influence Techniques you may leverage in leadership and life. Just when you think it can''t get any better, "The Dynamics of Leverage" introduces 12 Rules for your leadership quest, your ultimate quality of life, and from time to time a decent lunch. Sparked by a six-year Influential Leverage study originally aimed at Corporate Professionals, "The Dynamics of Leverage touches a wide audience of people just looking for better outcomes in their relationship with colleagues, clients, family, and friends.

In a class for the newly deaf, former musician Simon meets G and his quest to create an entirely new form of music helps him better understand her, himself, and his relationship to the hearing world.

From New York Times bestselling authors Garth Nix and Sean Williams comes this funny, exciting fantasy adventure about two friends and a couple of swords with attitude. Odo and Eleanor are excited to be knights. Only ... they''re stuck at home waiting for something bigger to come along. That ''something bigger'' comes to them in the form of an old man named Egda, a warrior named Hundred and an ancient legend about a sleeping dragon. Odo, Eleanor, and their trusty and talkative swords, Biter and Runnel, are plunged into a quest that will take them (as all good quests must) to unfamiliar lands, where they will fight unseen enemies and unlock unbelievable secrets in order to prevent an unbearable impostor from taking the crown. Also, they will need to keep an eye out for dragons. As they did with Have Sword, Will Travel, fantasy masters Garth Nix and Sean Williams have crafted a tale full of fire, laughs and twists for adventurous readers of all ages.

Exodus on Kodi: Step by step instruction on how to install exodus on Kodi Kodi is a free and open source media center platform that allows you to aggregate all of your various media sources and streams into one, easy to navigate, source. The fact that it is open source means that anyone is free to develop new add-ons for the program, which in turn means that the program''s utility will continually improve. This book will guide you on how to install the latest Exodus on Kodi. You will learn about Kodi, Kodi best add ons, addons for Kodi, Kodi apps, Kodi-tv. You will discover what makes Kodi the preferred media player and open source cross-platform for millions of users. More importantly, you will learn different methods to install so that you can begin to enjoy all the features that Kodi has to offer. Here is a preview of what you will learn... - What is kodi? - The new Kodi 17 Krypton - Settings and Configuration - Upgrading Kodi - How to unstail exodus on kodi - Is Kodi Iegal or illegal

So much more than a traditional revision resource, this Study and Revision Guide has been carefully designed to give students clear guidance on every aspect of the GCSE course and prepare them thoroughly for their final exams. // Written by an experienced teacher and examiner and endorsed by WJEC, it provides high quality support you can trust. // The innovative design allows the content of each topic to be covered in a three-step sequence: knowledge and understanding (AO1) pages begin each topic, followed by (AO2) application of knowledge and then (AO3) analysis & evaluation. // Comprehensive support for Unit 1 / Component 1 Introduction to Physical Education. // Clear and succinct presentation of the key information needed per topic, ensuring students are fully equipped for assessment. // Provides a clear focus on the assessment needs for exam success. // Recap and summaries per topic present information in diagrammatic and visual styles to aid the revision process.

In this “fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek adventure” from New York Times–bestselling authors, best friends journey with a magical sword to save their kingdom (Publishers Weekly). It is strange enough that Odo and Eleanor have stumbled upon a sword in a dried-up river outside their village. It is even stranger that Odo is able to remove it from where it’s buried. And it’s remarkably strange when the sword starts to talk. Odo and Eleanor have unearthed Biter, a famous fighter from earlier times. By finding Biter, Odo instantly becomes a knight—a role he is exquisitely unsuited for. Eleanor, however, would make a perfect knight—but she’s not the one with the sword. Finding Biter is only the start—boy, girl, and sword must soon go on a quest to save their kingdom from threats in both human and dragon form, in this new fantasy triumph from Garth Nix and Sean Williams.

''An alchemical blend of elemental magic, tragic romance and the coming of age of a young boy who is yet to come into his own power which exists, poised between Earthsea and Mad Max, where the magic of fantasy meets the wonder of science fiction.'' -- Locus In a world where the huge, red-sanded deserts are ruled by Stone Mages and the vast coastlines by Sky Wardens, any child with magic ability is taken away to the Haunted City to be trained in the Change. Fundelry is a small town much like any other in the Strand. The people have little tolerance for anyone who stands out, and Sal and his father are strangers, running from someone ... or something. Sal is rescued from the local bully by Shilly and her teacher Lodo, a mysterious tattooed man who seems to know more about Sal than Sal himself. And, strangely, Sal''s father seems to want to say put for a while. But soon the Sky Wardens will come to Fundelry -- before then Sal must uncover the connection between Lodo and the mother he never met, in order to escape a fate that seems to have been chosen for him before he was even born ...

Not just an epic videogame from BioWare and LucasArts, Star Wars: The Old Republic™ spawned a New York Times bestselling series of novels—which are now together in one electrifying ebook bundle. Fatal Alliance, Deceived, Revan, and Annihilation tell four daringly original stories of Jedi and Sith that embody this unique, beloved era in Star Wars Legends storytelling. . . . FATAL ALLIANCE by Sean Williams From across the galaxy they’ve come: a Jedi Padawan, an ex-trooper drummed out of the Republic’s elite Blackstar Squad, and a mysterious Mandalorian. An extraordinary auction has drawn them all together, in quest of a prize whose value may be the wealth of a world itself. None intend to leave empty-handed. All have secrets, desires, and schemes. And nothing could ever unite them as allies—except the truth about the deadly danger of the object they covet. But can Sith and Jedi, Republic and Empire, join as one against the certain doom of the galaxy? DECEIVED by Paul S. Kemp A Sith warrior to rival the most sinister of the Order’s Dark Lords, Darth Malgus brought down the Jedi Temple on Coruscant in a brutal assault that shocked the galaxy. But if war crowned him the darkest of Sith heroes, peace will transform him into something far more heinous—something Malgus would never want to be but cannot stop becoming, any more than he can stop the rogue Jedi fast approaching. Her name is Aryn Leneer—and the lone Jedi Knight that Malgus cut down in the fierce battle for the Jedi Temple was her Master. REVAN by Drew Karpyshyn Hero, traitor, conqueror, villain, savior—Revan has been all of these. He left Coruscant a Jedi, on a mission to defeat the Mandalorians. He returned a Sith disciple, bent on destroying the Republic. The Jedi Council gave Revan his life back, but the price of redemption was the loss of his memories. All that’s left are nightmares—and deep, abiding fear. One thing he’s certain of: Something very dark is plotting against the Republic. With no idea how to identify the threat, let alone stop it, Revan may be doomed to fail. But only death can stop him from trying. ANNIHILATION by Drew Karpyshyn After his triumphant destruction of a Sith superweapon arsenal, covert agent Theron Shan is recruited for an even more dangerous mission. A power struggle has the Empire in flux, but Darth Karrid remains bent on total domination, using a fearsome Imperial cruiser in her reign of terror. Now, joined by a hotheaded smuggler and Karrid’s former Jedi Master, Theron must match wits and weapons with a crew of the most cold-blooded dark side disciples. And if they don’t seize their one chance to succeed, they will have countless opportunities to die.

The Future Is Ourselves The world is rapidly changing. We surf future-shock every day, as the progress of technology races ever on. Increasingly we are asking: how do we change to live in the world to come? Whether it’s climate change, inundated coastlines and drowned cities; the cramped confines of a tin can hurtling through space to the outer reaches of our Solar System; or the rush of being uploaded into cyberspace, our minds and bodies are going to have to drastically alter. Multi-award winning editor Jonathan Strahan brings us another incredible volume in his much praised science-fiction anthology series, featuring stories by Madeline Ashby, John Barnes, James S.A. Corey, Gregory Benford, Benjanun Sriduangkaew, Simon Ings, Kameron Hurley, Nancy Kress, Gwyneth Jones, Yoon Ha Lee, Bruce Sterling, Sean Williams, Aliette de Bodard, Ramez Naam, An Owomoyela and Ian McDonald.

The mind-bending conclusion to the Twinmaker series, perfect for fans of the Uglies series, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sean Williams. Clair''s world has been destroyed—again. The only remaining hope of saving her friends is for her and Q to enter the Yard, the digital world of Ant Wallace''s creation. The rules there are the same as those of the real world: Water is real; fire is real; death is real. But in the Yard there are two Clair Hills, and their very existence causes cracks that steadily widen. Getting inside is the easy part. Once there, she has to earn the trust of her friends, including the girl who started it all—her best friend, Libby. Together they must fight their way through the digital and political minefield in the hope of saving the world once and for all. And this time Clair has to get it right . . . or lose everything.

Action and danger fuel this near-future thriller in a fresh take on technology, identity, and the lengths one girl will go to save her best friend. The explosive conclusion to the Twinmaker series.

Jesse is in trouble, and this time Clair can''t help him. When Ant Wallace''s trap springs shut in New York, it''s up to Jesse to save a horribly injured Ray while at the same time dodging Mallory and an army of dupes. As if that isn''t bad enough, the city around him is acting strangely, as though it isn''t entirely . . . real. With the help of a new friend, and friends thought long-dead, Jesse must escape New York in order find Clair and help save the world.

I should state at the outset that I am NOT a writer, yet somehow I''ve ended up writing a children''s book. I am a 45-yr old father of three girls ages 23, 15 and almost 7. Yep, that''s right! We have three girls that are all 8 years apart. You do not want to plan an outing for this crew. The family dynamics are bananas! This unusual spread in age has however given me a very interesting perspective on parenting and preparing a child for success. Consequently, we have a pretty good shot at not screwing the youngest daughter up too much thanks to her older sister having been the test pilot! As I think about the tools, toys, and resources we had at our disposal for my oldest daughter almost 20 years ago, it''s laughable in comparison to what my youngest has available to her today. While I''m happy that my youngest is the beneficiary of a much more advantageous set of circumstances, I also want her to have at least a little appreciation and insight into how people and things in her little world all come together to make society hum along. As she explores all the things that this world has to offer I want her to understand that someone had to conceptualize them, design them, build them, transport them, sell them and yes... pay for them. To convey this effectively the message would have to be packaged in a way that she and other little ones could embrace. With this in mind I created the Hugglesworth Bears. The Hugglesworth Bears all have distinctly different professions and different paths that lead to their respective professional interests. The book tells the story of some of the normal challenges they faced and overcame as little cubs in route to their respective successful careers. The book also walks through the different educational and vocational paths that the bears took to move into their professions. It is my hope the the Hugglesworth Bears will help little kids connect the dots. They will gain just a little insight into what it takes to become some of the professional figures that they see in their everyday lives and even some that they don''t see that are key contributors to society as well. It is my hopes that other parents will find value and promise in these stories just as I have in sharing them with my daughter.

M. T. Anderson meets Cory Doctorow in the exciting sequel to Twinmaker, from #1 New York Times bestseller Sean Williams, who also coauthors the Troubletwisters series with Garth Nix. Clair and Jesse have barely been reunited when the world is plunged into its biggest crisis since the Water Wars. The d-mat network is broken. The world has ground to a halt. People are trapped, injured, dying. It''s the end of the world as Clair knows it—and it''s partly her fault. Now she''s been enlisted to track down her friend Q, the rogue AI who repeatedly saved her life—and who is the key to fixing the system. Targeted by dupes, abandoned by her friends, and caught in a web of lies that strike at the very essence of who she is, Clair quickly finds powerful and dangerous allies. But if she helps them, will she be leading her friend straight into a trap? Caught between pro- and anti-d-mat philosophies, in a world on the brink of all-out war, Clair must decide where she stands—and who she stands with, at the end.

Praise for Jump: ''A thrilling, existential head-trip'' - Alaya Dawn Johnson If you betrayed a friend, how far would you go to earn their forgiveness? If someone had saved your life, would you risk your life to save them? If you could bring someone back from the dead, who would you choose? Clair and Jesse have barely been reunited when the world is plunged into crisis - the d-mat network is broken. People are trapped, injured and dying, and it''s partly Clair''s fault. Peacekeepers enlist Clair to track down Q, the rogue AI - artificial intelligence - who saved her life and is the key to fixing the system. Targeted by dupes and abandoned by her friends, Clair finds powerful allies in the most unlikely places. But who can she trust? Q won''t respond to her calls for help, and if Clair finds her, will she be trapping her friend in a life of servitude or sending her to death by erasure? Caught between pro- and anti-d-mat philosophies, in a world on the brink of all-out war, Clair must decide where she stands - and who she stands with - at the end.

“The Troubletwisters are back and the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been” in this fantasy adventure by the New York Times–bestselling authors! (School Library Journal) Jack and Jaide Shield have defended themselves against The Evil before—but it’s never been as dangerous as this. It isn’t just the town of Portland that’s threatened, it’s the whole Earth . . . and certain dimensions beyond. The Wardens have devised a plan to get rid of The Evil once and for all. The only problem is that destroying The Evil may also mean abandoning some innocent people—including one of the twins. The battle against The Evil is going to places it’s never been—places Jack and Jaide would have never even imagined possible. Their mission is clear: survive the storm that’s coming, and save the ones who are missing . . .

Clarkesworld is a Hugo Award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine. Each month we bring you a mix of fiction (new and classic works), articles, interviews and art. Our April 2014 issue contains: Original Fiction by Michael Swanwick ("Passage of Earth"), Benjanun Sriduangkaew ("Autodidact"), Kali Wallace ("Water in Springtime") and Sean Williams ("The Cuckoo"). Classic stories by Susan Palwick ("Going After Bobo") and Dominic Green ("Shining Armor"). Non-fiction by Julie Novakova ("Realms of Dark, Deep and Cold"), an interview with Ben Tanzer, an Another Word column by Daniel Abraham, and an editorial by Neil Clarke