Author: jmstine

Witches, Demons, Warlocks and More in this Brilliant Fantasy Series!

When Melody meets Michael, a psychic, it's love at first sight. But when she meets his circle of friends and associates, Melody feels like an outsider. That's when Michael knows it's time to give her a strange, ancient manuscript to read, detailing a young knight's experiences in medieval times.

The manuscript tells the story of the knight, also named Michael, running from a battle and making love to a witch named Morgaine. Through her, Michael meets a wizard who promises him immortality in return for his services as a slave. They journey to Egypt, where Michael meets the demon Asmodeus and, in a deal with him, raises the stakes even higher: now he's pledged his soul to the demon in exchange for immortality and other magical gifts.

Melody has no idea what to make of this manuscript, and is even more confused when a mysterious woman named Morgaine arrives and asks for Michael. Still feeling like an outsider, Melody tries to see if she can fit in among Michael's community, deciding to join its women in their Tantric exercises—which, she discovers, are actually a practice of sexually-oriented magic.

But when she sees the leader of the group float in the air, Melody runs out of the house, wondering what on earth she's gotten herself into by falling in love with the famous psychic. Little does she dream of Michael and Morgaine's plans for her, and the part she'll play in the continual unfolding of their story.

Joe Vadalma begins a stunning career as a fantasy novelist with this sexy six-part saga of a witch, a warlock, a demon, and their loves and conflicts through the ages.

Rated Mature; some sexual content.

Cover: Sami Hursey

The Classic of Alternate Earths!

Ancient, encrusted with legend, supposedly empty, the old mansion on Spindrift Key stood like a dark and lowering wraith. In this classic science fiction novel the New York Times called "a fast-moving adventure, told with engaging humor," reporter Elspeth Marriner's nose for news leads her into a world of trouble. ...Make that worlds of trouble.

When she and photographer Mack Fraser, the man she loves to hate, are sent to investigate the old mansion in the Hatteras, they never dream that once they enter, their lives will change irrevocably. For the house is a gateway to alternate Earths, watched over by a mysterious group called the Workers, who guard against more advanced civilizations crossing the dimensional barriers to conquer defenseless neighbors.

From the Workers, Elspeth learns that her and Mack's presence at the house is no accident; they have been personally selected for a dangerous assignment. Their unique combination of talents and knowledge are needed to counter a threat that could plunge the entire world into war. If Elspeth accepted the assignment, she would have to cross to another world, aided only by her native ingenuity, then surmount a succession of plots and counterplots—with death the price of failure. Worse, she would have to work more closely than ever with the detested Mark Fraser.

"Merwin has created characters that are human—House of Many Worlds is entertaining and realistic." —San Francisco Chronicle.

"House of Many Worlds is an exciting, modem science fiction story, with a new and highly unusual twist—outstanding for its realistic characters and expert seasoning of thrills and horror." —H. L. Gold, Galaxy Magazine.

New Horror-Romance from the Author of the Bestselling Morgaine, the Sorceress Series!

Raven Lenore, a tough private and psychic investigator, receives a message from FBI agent and old friend, Martin Kopinski. In his message are pictures of a man brutally murdered—a man whose murder only Lenore can help solve, Kopinski explains, because the case has elements that no one in the FBI is equipped to handle, elements which lie right smack in her area of expertise.

Raven agrees to help, never suspecting that she is about to meet her dream man—two hundred years in the past—and come face to face with the demonic powers of The Thirteen!

Here is an adroit mixture of horror, romance and mystery from the bestselling Joe Vadalma.

Forgotten Stories from SF "Best of" Anthologies!

This unique collection, available exclusively as an ebook, showcases eight "lost" masterworks of science fiction from classic "best of" anthologies that have been out of print and unobtainable for nearly fifty years.

The anthologies from which these stories are culled include The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels 1956, The Best of If, The Best of Fantastic Universe, The Best Science Fiction, The Best of Galaxy, The Best of Planet Stories, and The Science Fiction Hall of Fame.

Featured stories are Nebula Award nominee Ross Rocklynne's satiric "The Diversifal"; Hugo Award winner Frank Riley's "The Cyber and Justice Holmes"; Nebula Award nominee Betsy Curtis' touching "The Peculiar People"; Eric Fennel's delightful space romp "Doughnut Jockey"; Arthur Leo Zagat's disaster epic of science gone awry "The Lanso Screen"; Myrtle Benedict's affecting "Sit by the Fire"; Chester Cuthbert's thought-provoking "The Sublime Vigil" and Jame's Causey's hilarious, "Teething Ring."

"A must-read." —Forrest J Ackerman

Nebula Nominee's "Lost" Future History Series!

In this sf masterwork—which has never been reprinted since its original magazine publication—virtual reality, genetic engineering and technological breakthroughs have extended life, cleaned up the environment, and assured abundance for everyone, ushering in an era of peace and plenty around the world. Everyone tunes in to experience first hand, via the sensipsych, the broadcast adventures of the real-life Hartwells, an adventurous family of explorers who visit new, largely unknown corners of the solar system each week.

But real adventure, even scientific progress, seems dead. Humanity has become a race of drones dreaming its life away. And one group knows it has the answer: violence! Rip up civilization and return humanity it to its roots, the struggle for survival. Never mind the millions, perhaps billions, who will die and suffer. The liberation of humanity from the chains of torpor is worth any price, isn't it?

Enter Anson Nord, science fiction's most unlikely hero. Plump, genial, decent, a through-going suburbanite, Nord's not in favor of violence, but he can see the trap humanity is caught in. So, when revolution breaks out, when the world's media center and power grid is bombed, cutting off the virtual reality broadcasts and power, it will be Anson Nord who leaves his comfortable home and life behind and makes a daring voyage to Jupiter, in search of the Hartwells who have disappeared. There on one of Jupiter's moons await the ruins of an ancient civilization. And, there Nord will make a discovery that points directly to the death of humanity under the weight of perfection—or its liberation in the face of a challenge that will render the revolutionaries' violence unnecessary.

But how can a man who likes to mow his lawn and tune into his favorite virtual reality shows survive the dangers of space, treachery aboard his own ship, the perils of an alien race, and the crushing gravity of Jupiter? The world needs a hero, but is a man like Anson Nord up to the role's demands? Anson Nord would the last person to think so!

Passport to Jupiter is part of golden-age sf writer Raymond Z. Gallun's Demi-Gods series, a future history which will link nanotechnology, "vitaflesh" in which humans can be reborn to live virtually forever, and a Mars colonized by the old who have been reborn young and for whom there is no room left on Earth, to form a picture of the pressures and developments that will drive men and women to the stars. Passport to Jupiter ends with the development of vitaflesh and leads directly to the novel Dawn of the Demi-Gods (otherwise known as People Minus X, though Gallun preferred the former. See the "Related Products" tab).

As Sam Merwin, Jr., author of the Elspeth Mariner crosstime adventures, wrote, Passport to Jupiter is "a grand novel of the not too distant future ... an intensely human story told with a wealth of detail that brings it to vivid life. It is a story of interplanetary sweep, of corruption and calm idealism, of cowardice and heroism. It is in short, a wonderful story."

The First Great Space Opera Hero Returns!

The classic adventures of Hawk Carse, Space Hawk, continue with the second installment of this memorable series from the pages of the legendary 1932 Astounding Science Fiction (now known as Analog).

Hawk Carse came to the frontiers of space when Saturn was the frontier planet, years before law and order were brought to the empires of the far-flung planets. It was a time when the outer limits of the Solar System were being terrorized by the space pirate, Ku Sui, and there was scarcely a pioneer outpost which had not already been the victim of the deadly doctor. In this adventure, Ku Sui abducts Earth's greatest scientists and harvests their living brains in a breathtaking plot to conquer the solar system. Can even Space Hawk foil his fiendish plan?

Blazing rayguns, thrilling space battles, and personal courage highlight this great short novel from the glory days of the science fiction pulps. Here you'll find the original magazine text, and not the censored 1950s book version.

Classic Humorous SF from a Hugo-Winning Author!

Ralph Kennedy, unassuming personnel psychologist, thought he had headaches when he was faced with clients who had psychic talents they couldn't control in What Thin Partitions (first-ever reprint, Futures Past Editions, 2003). Now, through a case of mistaken identity, Kennedy is pressed into service by Space Navy, as an expert in extraterrestrial psychology.

The Space Navy doesn't have any aliens—or anything for Kennedy to do—they just want to be prepared. When his attempts to clear up the confusion get bogged down due to a mirthful mix-up of records, Kennedy has somehow convinced the thick-headed bureaucrats running the Navy that he is their man. But just as boredom sets in and he is dreaming of suicide, a mysterious Black Fleet of alien saucers appears over Washington and demands the Earth government surrender to it or the entire planet will be destroyed. Kennedy finds everyone turning to him for advice he doesn't have.

Then he and the world are saved—or are they?—by the intervention of a squadron of glowing, globe-like ships which beat off the Black Fleet. But when the rescuing aliens from the globes emerge from their ships, Kennedy faces the biggest challenge of his life. For their appearance raises more problems than it solves: the aliens are god-like human beings in white suits and white hats. Earth is so grateful for their rescue that Kennedy finds he is the only one troubled by the alien's providential arrival and appearance.

Here is humorous science fiction with a point by the co-author of the Hugo winning novel They'd Rather Be Right.

Nebula Nominee's "Fantasy Masterpiece"!

Nebula nominee Ross Rocklynne's awe inspiring cosmic masterpiece, People of the Darkness, is a science fiction classic of "vast, nebula-like beings ... follows their life courses through billions of years from galaxy to galaxy." (The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction)

Rocklynne was nominated for the Nebula in 1972 for his novelette, Ching Witch!, and People of the Darkness showcases his talents at their best. SF historian/critic Sam Moskowitz lauds Rocklynne as "a successful exponent of telling the story from the viewpoint of the alien," and hails People of the Darkness as a "fantasy masterpiece of intelligent spiral nebula."

In this book you will encounter one of the most amazing casts of characters in all of science fiction—and not a single one is a human! You will meet Darkness, who rebelled against the ancient teachings of his people and set off on an impossible quest for other realms and other intelligent life; Sun Destroyer, who delighted in demolishing the solar systems built by her brethren the way a kid kicks over a sand castle—until she met Darkness; Yellow Light, offspring of Darkness and Sun Destroyer, who renewed his parents' quest for other realms and beings, but whose destiny was to found a new, vital race to replace the dying People of the Darkness. And, finally, Devil Star, whose act of defiance would paradoxically make him his people's guardian—and the one who finally solved the secrets of life and death. Plus a host of other characters: Darting Green Ray, Swift, Star Dust, Great Red Sun, Dark Fire—and the Oldster.

It's no wonder the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction writes that Rocklynne, "who specialized in space opera constructed around ingenious scientific problems," possessed "one of the most interesting ... florid imaginations of his time," while Ray Bradbury hailed Rocklynne's writing as "Unusual and unexpected" and says, "I liked People of the Darkness!"

"Ki-Gor was the best and most popular of Tarzan's rivals," —Pulp expert Forrest J. Ackerman.

In this adventure, Ki-Gor takes on one of the oldest of all human evils, human trafficking, a scourge which has never died out even to this day. As the original magazine blurb puts it: "Ki-Gor, white lord of the jungle, had sworn an oath. Death to ibn Daoud, dealer in men!" It is logical that he should encounter it, for Africa has always been a prime target for those who would trap and enslave others. A must for fans of Tarzan and other jungle heroes.

As an added treat, this electronic edition reprints the original magazine blurb for the story. With an original Introduction discussing the character, his creators, and the story itself. Plus a complete list of all the Ki-Gor novels from Jungle Stories. With the original pulp magazine cover illustration.

In this adventure, Ki-Gor, the jungle king of the pulps, is lured into a trap by a man who saves Helene's life. Drugged and hypnotized by a power mad despot, Ki-Gor unwittingly leads Helene, along with his two closest friends, the Masai warrior Tembu George, Chief N'Geeso, and their tribes, into the hands of a fiend. A helpless pawn in a madman's scheme, Ki-Gor's only hope is a Zulu wizard (fans of H. Rider Haggard will recognize the inspiration for this character) whose aid the jungle lord has already spurned.

As an added bonus, this electronic edition reprints the original magazine blurb for the story. With an original Introduction discussing the character, his creators, and the story itself. Plus a complete list of all the Ki-Gor novels from Jungle Stories. With the original pulp magazine cover illustration.