Fiction River

Series · 22

books · 2014-2019

By Steve Perry, Chuck Heintzelman, Valerie Brook, and more

Books in series

Fantasy Adrift

2014

From fairy tales fractured into unrecognizability to Russian mobsters hanging out with zombies, from New World slavery to modern Alaskan cruise ships, the stories in Fantasy Adrift sail across the genre. Two writers make their fiction debuts next to bestsellers Steve Perry and Dean Wesley Smith to take readers on a journey of the imagination—as only Fiction River can do. Includes stories by Irette Y. Patterson, Leslie Claire Walker, Eric Stocklassa, Rebecca S.W. Bates, Kara Legend, Steve Perry, Dean Wesley Smith, Steven Mohan, Jr., Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Dayle A. Dermatis and JC Andrijeski. Foreword: Sailing Forward by Dean Wesley Smith Introduction: Stories on Demand by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Legacy by Irette Y. Patterson Shaman by Leslie Claire Walker The Red-Stained Wishing Tree by Eric Stocklassa Shifting Jinn by Rebecca S.W. Bates Still Red by Kara Legend Generations by Steve Perry In the Play of Frigid Women by Dean Wesley Smith Old Magics by Steven Mohan, Jr. My Real Cousin Ruby by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Leave a Candle Burning by Dayle A. Dermatis The Magic Man by JC Andrijeski

Universe Between

2014

Between the earth and the sky, between the past and the present, between the musical notes and the silence exist universes. Millions of them. The eighth volume of Fiction River presents fourteen universes, all different, all powerful. From a planetary survey ship moored in an alien ocean to a comic book convention near a strange Louisiana town, each of these universes go somewhere familiar and strange at the same time. Foreword: Balancing Act by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Introduction: That Space on the Line by Dean Wesley Smith Slow Answer by Lee Allred One-Night Stands for Love and Glory by David H. Hendrickson Lunar Command: Dark Side by Richard Alan Dickson Are We Alone in the Universe? by Darcy Pattison Unsubscribe by Phaedra Weldon The Sun Dial Trail by Rebecca S.W. Bates The Mooring Buoy by Jamie McNabb Slow World by Steven Mohan, Jr. Snake Bi by Kellen Knolan Between the Lines by Karen L. Abrahamson Perfect Notes by Scott William Carter The Space Between Hope and Dreams by Kristine Kathryn Rusch The Atlantis Fifty by Dean Wesley Smith Sky in the Ground by Rob Vagle

Fantastic Detectives

2014

Fantastic detectives come in many forms, from dogs to elves to eggs. (Yes, eggs.) And fantastic detective stories come in all mystery subgenres, from cozy to hard-boiled. (Remember. Eggs.) All of these forms and subgenres combine to create one of the most delightful additions to the Fiction River anthology series. With stories featuring New York Times bestseller Kevin J. Anderson’s popular zombie detective Dan Shamble and USA Today bestseller Dean Wesley Smith’s most beloved character, Poker Boy, Fantastic Detectives provides Fiction River’s most creative volume yet! Foreword: Just Great Stories by Dean Wesley Smith Introduction: Fantastic Writers by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Case Cracked by Joe Cron Living with the Past by Dayle A. Dermatis All She Can Be by Karen L. Abrahamson Under Oregon by Kara Legend Role Model by Kevin J. Anderson Death in Hathaway Tower by Ryan M. Williams Trouble Aboard the Flying Scotsman by Alistair Kimble Containing Patient Zero by Paul Eckheart Canine Agent Rocky Arnold vs. The Evil Alliance by Juliet Nordeen An Incursion of Mice by Kristine Kathryn Rusch They’re Back! by Dean Wesley Smith

#11

Pulse Pounders

2015

Starts with a bang. Ends with a bang. And a lot of bang in between. Pulse Pounders. Ranging from straight thriller to science fiction, fantasy to pulp adventure, these stories make your heart race. Share the excitement as a woman held hostage in a chair has only a few minutes to escape, and a man trapped in a time loop revisits a crisis point in the past. Including an original never-before-published Frank Herbert story, these page-turners show why Adventures Fantastic says Fiction River “is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” Table of Contents “The Chair” by JC Andrijeski “Change of Mind” by Kevin J. Anderson & Peter J. Wacks “A Man of His Times” by Patrick O’Sullivan “Tower One” by Thomas K. Carpenter “Big and Shady” by David Farland “Daisy Wong: The Hell of the Unprepared Sinners” by Jamie McNabb “The Yellow Coat” by Frank Herbert “Fraternization” by Ron Collins “Frostburnt” by Brigid Collins “The Scent of Amber and Vanilla” by Dayle A. Dermatis “The Mer” by Phaedra Weldon “Sole Survivor” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “Three Strikes” by Chuck Heintzelman

#14

Valor

2015

Future wars will be fought with new technologies and even on new planets, but one military constant will remain: the need for human valor. Eleven skilled authors explore science fiction’s military dimension as they rocket toward a doomed interplanetary invasion, grapple with cold-hearted aliens on the galaxy’s lonely rim, and outwit space conquerors with nothing but their wits and two strong fists. This latest volume of Fiction River celebrates the bravery and courage beating within the human heart. “\[Fiction River\] is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today. Check out an issue and see why I say that.” —Keith West, Adventures Fantastic Table of Contents “H-Hour” by Steven Mohan, Jr. “John Henry” by Steve Perry “Charlie Company” by JC Andrijeski “Jelly’s Heroes” by Louisa Swann “The Happy Man” by Jamie McNabb “Ice Dogs” by Kris Austen Radcliffe “Embedded” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “Neo Nihon” by Paul Genesse “In the Shadow of Pittsburgh” by Kara Legend “Milk Run” by Lee Allred “Beloved of the Electric Valkyrie” by Scott R. Parkin

#15

Recycled Pulp

2015

The old becomes new again as fifteen talented authors go back to the lurid pulp titles of yesteryear through today’s rich, nuanced storytelling. Enjoy original tales featuring rebel angels fighting a heavenly enforcement squad, a cop whose life might depend on ordering the right deli sandwich, and a wizard who has just three days to pay off the loan on his tower or lose his very soul. Whatever your taste in stories, Recycled Pulp is sure to have something that will amaze, surprise, and delight you. “…a unique collection 15 tales worthy of the Fiction River name. … Don’t miss Recycled Pulp for a great set of unique and fast-paced tales of the imagination!” —Astro Guyz Table of Contents “The Revolt of the Philosophers of Fomalhaut” by Phaedra Weldon “Marvelous Contrivances of the Heart” by Cat Rambo “The Flower of the Tabernacle” by Annie Reed “Lost in the Tarnished Cube” by Thomas K. Carpenter “Crypt of the Metal Ghouls” by Angela Penrose “The Imperfect Otter Empire” by Dayle A. Dermatis “The Unknowable Mansion of the Night” by Sandra M. Odell “The Portal of Wrong Love” by Dean Wesley Smith “Sacred Poet from the Future” by Kelly Cairo “Swamp of the Prehistoric Clan” by Christy Fifield “The Magnificent Citadel” by Rebecca M. Senese “Night of the Dancing Champions” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “The Delicatessen from Beyond the Monolith” by Lisa Silverthorne “Prism of the Crab Gods” by Kelly Washington “The Gleaming Crater” by Thea Hutcheson

#17

Sparks

2016

Everyone faces dark times. Everyone looks for a light to get through. These fifteen stories show teen heroes/heroines using creativity and heart to find their inner “spark” to overcome adversity, evil, or ignorance. In this anthology for all ages, join a girl who struggles to accept the zombie working at her school, a second-rate superhero who might just have what it takes after all, and a young magic-user who must decide whether to break the rules to save the day. These compelling young heroes/heroines prove sometimes it simply takes a spark to light a fire in the darkness. Table of Contents: “Dead Fred” by Liz Pierce “Under the Skin” by Leslie Claire Walker “Subpar Super” by Lee Allred “Terrors” by Deb Logan “And Through the Haze You See Your God” by Chuck Heintzelman “The Laser Point” by Diana Benedict “Timeless” by Thomas K. Carpenter “The Weaver” by Michele Lang “Roxie” by Annie Reed “Moonshine” by Kim May “Murklyn” by Sharon Joss “A Family to Choose” by Rebecca M. Senese “Impressions in the Snow” by Mark Leslie “Salem Week” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “Ignite the Night” by Dayle A. Dermatis

#18

Visions of the Apocalypse

2016

The end of the world might come in many forms: ecological disaster, alien invasion, cosmic chaos…the possibilities for destruction seem endless. So, how will those facing the end of the world deal with impending doom? The fourteen talented authors of Fiction River’s latest volume explore just that. From an intrepid adventurer fleeing a world-destroying terror to a man who discovers the most savage destroyers of civilization are closer than he thought, to a chilling tale of our whole planet hurled into the icy black reaches of space, these gripping stories demonstrate why Astro Guyz calls Fiction River “a wonderful, mind-expanding read.” “These enjoyable twisting short stories seem more like a stop in the Twilight Zone than pulp fiction.” —Midwest Book Review on Fiction River: Recycled Pulp Table of Contents “String of Pearls” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Shoes I Wore This Morning” by J. Daniel Sawyer “The Dust Devil, the Riffraff, and the Big Orange Sunset” by Valerie Brook “Goin’ to the Chapel” by Rebecca M. Senese “With Wings the End” by Rob Vagle “Cogs in the Machine” by Paul Eckheart “The Faerie Invasion” by Anthea Sharp “Demon-touched” by Travis Heermann “Same Time Next Year” by M. E. Owen “The Story That Has to Be Written” by Louisa Swann “Tyrph Rights” by David Stier “Paradox. Lost.” by Stefon Mears “The Night of Brahma” by Leigh Saunders “Three Degrees Above Zero” by Doug Dandridge

#19

Haunted

2016

Nothing compares to a good ghost story. And in Haunted, some of the best short fiction writers in the business explore the many different ways to haunt someone: literally, figuratively, happily, angrily… From a man haunted by his wife’s favorite appliance to a possessed building protective of its new family to a chilling twist on the modern practice of ghosting, the thirteen authors of Fiction River’s latest volume provide unforgettable stories that will haunt the reader for years to come. “If you would deign to be inspired by a mixture of good manners and the macabre, leather and lace and clockwork nightmares, romance and horror, please pick this up and see if it doesn’t warm the cockles of your modern cynicism.” —Elitist Book Reviews on Fiction River: Alchemy & Steam Table of Contents “She’s No Shimmer” by David H. Hendrickson “Land of the Living” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Clean” by Michael Kowal “The Ghost of Station Four” by Angela Penrose “The Clockwork Harp” by Anthea Sharp “Christmas Ghosts in Silver Chains” by Dave Raines “Hoarding” by Thea Hutcheson “Machowski’s Watch” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Crow War of Willows Beach” by Brenda Carre “Mother Daughter” by Brigid Collins “The Ribbon Tree” by Leah Cutter “Holly Hock” by Kerrie L. Hughes “Ghosting” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

#20

Last Stand

2016

History offers many heroic tales of final battles. And in Last Stand, sixteen courageous authors offer their take on the topic. From a heartwarming tale of not-so-friendly business competition to a battle of the gods—sort of—for the fate of the world to a tale of looking for love in all the wrong places. These inventive stories make Last Stand one of the most creative—and memorable—Fiction River volumes yet. “Editor Dean Wesley Smith has compiled an outstanding volume ... I highly recommend it.” —Adventures Fantastic on Fiction Time Streams Table of Contents “The Great Ice Cream War of Grover’s Hollow” by Annie Reed “Slow Motion” by Eric Kent Edstrom “Do Not Resuscitate” by Dory Crowe “Sunset, Fall, Home” by Dan C. Duval “’Til Death Do Us Part” by Kerrie L. Hughes & John Helfers “Circle ’Round” by M. L. Buchman “Unto the Ether” by M. E. Owen “Bury My Son at Home” by Angela Penrose “The Flare” by Laura Ware “What’s Left of Me” by Bonnie Elizabeth “The Counter” by Rob Vagle “The Toymaker of Kelsium Rye” by Chuck Heintzelman “Magic and Sacrifice” by Felicia Fredlund “Lady Elizabeth’s Betrothal Ball” by Anthea Sharp “Suppose They Gave a Ragnarok and Nobody Came?” by Lee Allred “Death Bunnies of Toxic Island” by Travis Heermann

#21

Tavern Tales

2017

Think you know a tavern tale when you hear one? Think again. The seventeen stories in this volume run the gamut of genre and mood. Bars filled with glitter and ghosts stand alongside taverns filled with orcs and adventurers. Exclusive members-only drinks served at the end of the universe war with coffee bars with strange employee policies in the Pacific Northwest. Dive bars, afterlife bars, gay bars-you name it, and you'll find it in Tavern Tales. So, grab a drink and get ready for one of the most entertaining Fiction River volumes yet. ..".remarkable tales... Table of Contents Quest for Beer" by Stefon Mears "Closing the Big Bang" by Michele Laframboise "Hero #8" by Ron Collins "Girls That Glitter" by Dayle A. Dermatis "The Kids Keep Coming" by David H. Hendrickson "One Last Round at Cozy's Tavern" by Lisa Silverthorne "Wider Horizons" by Diana Benedict "Grounds for Dismissal" by Anthea Sharp "The Next Dance" by Jamie Ferguson "Schrodinger's Bar" by Kim May "The Gods Are Out Inn" by M. L. Buchman "The First Ingredient" by Eric Kent Edstrom "The Legend of Long-Bow and Short-Staff" by Brenda Carre "Freedom Unbound" by Dory Crowe "Killing Spree" by Brigid Collins "The Hot Eagle Roadhouse" by Chuck Heintzelman "Death at the Pines" by Annie Reed

#22

No Humans Allowed

2017

Humans prove great fodder for fiction. But what about the universe of possibilities offered by the nonhuman protagonist? The eighteen daring humans of Fiction River’s latest volume explore just that. From a goblin who must choose whether to risk everything for love to a heroic rat adventuring at sea to sentient underpants (yes, underpants), these nonhuman tales demonstrate why Adventures Fantastic says: “If you haven’t checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There’s something for everyone.” “…a great set of unique and fast-paced tales of the imagination!” —Astro Guyz on Fiction River: Recycled Pulp Table of Contents “In the Beginnings” by Annie Reed “At His Heels a Stone” by Lee Allred “In the Empire of Underpants” by Robert T. Jeschonek “The Sound of Salvation” by Leslie Claire Walker “Goblin in Love” by Anthea Sharp “Slime and Crime” by Michèle Laframboise “Always Listening” by Louisa Swann “Here I Will Dance” by Stefon Mears “Rats at Sea” by Brenda Carre “Sense and Sentientability” by Lisa Silverthorne “When a Good Fox Goes to War” by Kim May “The Game of Time” by Felicia Fredlund “The Scent of Murder” by Angela Penrose “Still-Waking Sleep” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Inhabiting Sweetie” by Dale Hartley Emery “The Legend of Anlahn” by Eric Kent Edstrom “Sheath Hopes” by Thea Hutcheson “We, The Ocean” by Alexandra Brandt

#23

Editor's Choice

2017

Editing an anthology can prove tricky business. Wonderful stories sometimes find themselves on the rejection pile simply because they do not fit in the editor’s vision of that anthology. So, editor Mark Leslie decided to save some of those amazing stories for this latest volume of Fiction River: Editor’s Choice. These tales run the gamut from YA fantasy to cozy crime to slipstream to horror. And they represent the incredible diversity of styles, voices, and genre that inspired Adventures Fantastic to call Fiction River “one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” Table of Contents “The Four Thirty-Five” by Annie Reed “Bertie’s Choice” by Jamie McNabb “Mirror Skillz” by Dave Raines “Holding the Door” by Elliotte Rusty Harold “Trees” by Diana Benedict “The Blood is on the Wall” by Felicia Fredlund “The Glass Girl” by Leah Cutter “Breaking Kayfabe” by Kelly Washington “Lemonade and Larceny” by Lauryn Christopher “First Day, Every Day” by M. L. Buchman “Touch” by Michael Kowal “The Rock of Ages” by Ron Collins “He Saw” by Dan C. Duval “Bad Dates Bite” by Kerrie L. Hughes “No Farther” by Laura Ware

#24

Pulse Pounders Adrenaline

2017

Adrenaline. Ranging from straight thriller to science fiction and fantasy to mainstream crime, these fifteen stories promise to make your pulse pound. Join an ex-president as he tries to escape the mother of all assassination attempts, a heroine on a mission straight from Hell, and a story of war so powerful it will burn into the memory. Strap in and find out why Adventures Fantastic says Fiction River “is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” “… fans of the unconventional will be well satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly on Fiction River: Pulse Pounders Table of Contents “The Wrong Side of the Tracks” by Kelly Washington “The Ex” by Michael Kowal “The Demon from Hell Walks into a Speakeasy” by Ron Collins “Blood Storm” by Bob Sojka “So Many Ways to Die” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Egg Thief” by Debbie Mumford “Dust to Dust” by Annie Reed “O’Casey’s War” by Patrick O’Sullivan “Looting Dirt” by David Stier “The Mark of Blackfriar Street” by Scott T. Barnes “Death in the Serengeti” by David H. Hendrickson “Rude Awakening” by Kevin J. Anderson “Cleaning up the Neighborhood” by Dæmon Crowe “Redline” by Travis Heermann “L.I.V.E.” by Eric Kent Edstrom

#25

Feel the Fear

2017

Fear. The word alone evokes a powerful response. And in Feel the Fear, editor Mark Leslie takes readers on a haunting tour of the many ways fear presents itself. From genuine horror stories filled with frightening monsters to the real-life horror of losing a loved one to the terrifying idea of losing one’s own mind, these tales run not only the genre gamut but also the emotional gamut. With each fearful twist, the sixteen talented writers in this volume prove why Adventures Fantastic says “\[Fiction River\] is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” Table of Contents “Murmuration of a Darkening Sea” by Lee Allred “Swimming on the Grass” by David Stier “Get Inside” by Dayle A. Dermatis “The Dark Queen” by J. F. Penn “Fear in Black and White” by Dory Crowe “A Fall of Life and Death” by Michael Kowal “High Places” by Laura Ware “Legs” by Steven Mohan, Jr. “Power Outage” by Bonnie Elizabeth “The Taste of Red” by T. Thorn Coyle “The Playground of Lost Children” by Erik Lynd “Tin Can Man” by Annie Reed “Piggyback” by Robert T. Jeschonek “The Well” by Lauryn Christopher “Mechanical Advantage” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Visit” by Anthea Lawson

#26

Superpowers

2017

Many wish for superpowers. But even Superman has his kryptonite. These fifteen stories of super powerful young heroes/heroines demonstrate the humanity possible even among those possessed of great gifts. In this anthology for all ages, join a young girl who must protect those she loves most from a powerful evil, a young goddess who must decide whether to embrace her powers, and a young boy who must choose between superpowers and loyalty. This latest volume demonstrates why Adventures Fantastic “If you haven’t checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There’s something for everyone.” Table of Contents “Villainous Aspirations” by Stefon Mears “A Kiss Too Sweet” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Clunkety” by Brenda Carre “Power Trip” by Lee Allred “Pocket Full of Ashes” by Anthea Sharp “The Ordinary” by Valerie Brook “Dawn” by Jody Lynn Nye & Rebecca Moesta “Fatty Boombalatty” by Kerrie L. Hughes “Passion for the Game” by Brigid Collins “Just Stop It!” by David H. Hendrickson “Normal Boy” by Rebecca M. Senese “Sophie Rosenblatt, Hero At Large” by Annie Reed “Flowers in Winter” by Kelly Washington “Hidden Talents” by Dayle A. Dermatis “The Ballad of Osmosis McGuire” by Travis Heerman

#27

Justice

2018

Justice comes in many forms. And the wide variety of stories presented in this latest volume of Fiction River make that case. Of the fifteen powerful stories in this volume, some will twist your heart, others will pound you in the gut, and still others will make you feel like the world has meaning. From a man avenging a wrongful conviction, to heroic women fighting to reclaim their homeland, to kids trying to find justice in the chaotic world of adults, this volume will prove one you won’t soon forget. Table of Contents “The Ball Breaker’s Summer Club” by Valerie Brook “Grace” by Michael Kowal “Pariah” by Louisa Swann “Spoils” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Night Takes You” by Leslie Claire Walker “My Honor to Kill You” by Dan C. Duval “A Pearl into Darkness” by Lisa Silverthorne “Mercy Find Me” by Diana Deverell “Best Served…Salted” by Lauryn Christopher “Domus Justice” by Michèle Laframboise “Uncle Philbert” by Dory Crowe “Bone” by T. Thorne Coyle “A Vulture Waits” by Rob Vagle “The Supporters in Panama City” by Brigid Collins “The Darks of Their Eyes” by Robert T. Jeschonek

#28

Wishes

2018

Forget the old adage that cautions against wishing. The sixteen stories in this latest Fiction River contain just the right amount of heart, magic, pathos, and even hope. From a daughter hoping to save her father with a crash-course in wishery to an unfortunate victim at the wrong end of someone else’s wish, these stories show teens trying to wish away their problems—with often unexpected results. But no matter the dilemma, this volume of Fiction River promises to lift your spirits and remind you just how much magic the universe offers. “While written for a YA audience, the tales in this collection can reach all ages…” —Tangent Online on Fiction River: Superpowers Table of Contents “The Rock of Kansas” by Eric Kent Edstrom “Movie Boy and Music Girl” by Ron Collins “Upon\a\Starship.pgm” by Brigid Collins “Ellen Double Prime” by Alexandra Brandt “Twin Wishes” by Jamie Ferguson “Granted” by Robert Jeschonek “If Wishes Were Kisses” by Lesley L. Smith “A Winged Heart” by T. Thorn Coyle “What Alanna Wished, How, and Why” by Dave Raines “Blame it on the Ghosts” by Annie Reed “Family, Fair and True” by Dayle A. Dermatis “True” by Leslie Claire Walker “How I Became a Fairy Godmother” by Bonnie Elizabeth “Starfish at Ebbtide” by Lisa Silverthorne “Turquoise Trail” by Diana Deverell “As Fast as Wishes Travel” by Dale Hartley Emery

#29

Pulse Pounders

Countdown

2018

The relentless ticking of a clock as time slips away marks the breathless pace of these remarkable stories. In Fiction River’s third edition of its Pulse Pounders series, these sixteen authors push the envelope of the thriller form. From a man desperately searching for his missing little girl to a chef racing to finish a cooking competition to an airship captain facing a deadly adversary, these stories will keep your pulse racing until the very end. “… fans of the unconventional will be well satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly on Fiction River: Pulse Pounders Table of Contents “Payback is a Bitch” by Diana Deverell “Death-Blind” by Robert Jeschonek “The Airship Adventures of Captain Jane Fury” by Anthea Sharp “Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest” by Henry Martin “The Tomb of Arisel” by Bonnie Elizabeth “Goodnight, Madison” by Lisa Silverthorne “Romancing the Puffin” by Louisa Swann “Dominant Species” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Three Seconds” by T. Thorn Coyle “Blood Chase” by Leah Cutter “Caterpillar Boot Man” by Valerie Brook “The Case of the Dead Son” by Laura Ware “Breakfast at Luigi’s” by Thea Hutcheson “Black Phantom, Gray Op” by Stefon Mears “The Last Ramekin” by Liz Pierce “The Princess, the Huntsman and the Monster” by Erik Lynd Fiction River is an original fiction anthology series. Modeled on successful anthology series of the past, from Orbit to Universe to Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine, the goal of Fiction River is to provide a forum for “original ground-breaking fiction of all genres.” Each Fiction River volume comes in ebook and trade paperback format, published by WMG Publishing, and features some of the best new and established fiction writers in publishing. Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch are award-winning editors, as well as award-winning writers, and act as series editors for the anthologies. For more information about the authors or Fiction River, go to www.fictionriver.com.

#30

Hard Choices

2018

In this latest volume of Fiction River, editor Dean Wesley Smith pulls together an eclectic but cohesive group of stories filled with difficult decisions. From a man who must question the line between justice and vengeance to a teenage fixer fighting hypocrisy to a post-apocalyptic survivor’s mission to deliver one last message, each of these stories demonstrates extremely hard choices—and some very real consequences. “The Fiction River series is a wonderful mind-expanding read…” —Astro Guyz Table of Contents “Equal Justice” by Annie Reed “Payback” by Tonya D. Price “Eric the Monkey” by Dan C. Duval “Prospecting” by Ron Collins “Toots” by Michael Kowal “The Devil’s Muse” by Laura Ware “Clean and Godly in Denmark” by Diana Deverell “Killshot” by Annie Reed “Four Hundred Yards” by Dale Hartley Emery “A Life with Meaning” by David Stier “Nightmare Scenario” by Chuck Heintzelman “Echo” by Leslie Clare Walker “Haunted” by Jamie Ferguson “Skinwalker” by Valerie Brook “Missiles of October” by Dan C. Duval “Girl with a Mission” by Dayle A. Dermatis “A New Day” by Kendall Heintzelman “They Taught Us Wrong” by M.L. Buchman “Tendrils” by Leigh Saunders “Little Byte and Big Pieces” by Valerie Brook Fiction River is an original fiction anthology series. Modeled on successful anthology series of the past, from Orbit to Universe to Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine, the goal of Fiction River is to provide a forum for “original ground-breaking fiction of all genres.” Each Fiction River volume comes in ebook and trade paperback format, published by WMG Publishing, and features some of the best new and established fiction writers in publishing. Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch are award-winning editors, as well as award-winning writers, and act as series editors for the anthologies. For more information about the authors or Fiction River, go to www.fictionriver.com.

#31

Feel the Love

2019

Love. An essential and important part of the human experience. And in Feel the Love, editor Mark Leslie takes readers on a journey through the various forms of that powerful emotion. From the heartwarming to the heartbreaking, these eighteen talented writers brilliantly capture the concept of love. Comforting and thoughtful, uplifting and warm, these stories might just restore your faith in humanity. Table of Contents "Thief" by Michael Kowal "Death's Other Cousin" by Lisa Silverthorne "Making Amends" by David Stier "Frostwitch vs. the Ravages of Time" by Dayle A. Dermatis "The Goddess Killer" by Lauryn Christopher "Love Locks" by Dale Hartley Emery "Love Bots" by Daemon Crowe "Loving Abby" by Angela Penrose "Foiled" by Brigid Collins "A Love to Remember" by Tonya D. Price "The Refurbished Companion" by Kelly Washington "The Secret of Catnip" by Stefon Mears "Lifeblood" by Alexandra Brandt "Who Loves the Unloved?" by Laura Ware "Henry and Beth at the Funeral Home" by Joe Cron "Truth and Lies" by David H. Hendrickson "With Love in Their Hearts" by Robert Jeschonek "Every Day New, Bright and Beautiful" by Annie Reed

#32

Fiction River

Superstitious

2019

Superstitions pervade every culture and belief system. Often, the origins of such superstitions elude their practitioners. The seventeen authors in this latest volume of Fiction River create their own superstitious tales in fascinating stories ranging from dark and moody to light and fun, from introspective and thought-provoking to high-ratcheted tension. Distinct and realistic elements of humanity, love, fear, family, friendship, life, and death provide unforgettable experiences that prove we all practice some form of superstition, whether we admit it or not.

Authors

David Bruns (www.davidbruns.com) has served as an officer on a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine and traveled the world as a high-tech corporate itinerant. Today, he writes futuristic speculative fiction, contemporary thrillers, and everything in between. He is the creator of the sci-fi/fantasy series, The Dream Guild Chronicles, the military sci-fi thriller Invincible, and co-author of The SynCorp Saga corporate sci-fi series. A graduate of the prestigious Clarion West Writer’s Workshop, his short fiction has appeared in more than two dozen spec fic venues, such as Compelling SciFi and Future Chronicles. In his spare time, he co-writes national security thrillers with retired naval intelligence officer, JR Olson. Their next book, Rules of Engagement, will be released by St. Martin’s Press in June 2019.

Dale Hartley Emery

Author · 1 books

Dale Hartley Emery writes fiction in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, and mystery. His short stories include Tailor’s Tears, Yantriel’s Privy, and The Last Whiskey Bacon Cheddar Burger at Saint Florian’s Abbey. Dale has worked as a failed shoemaker, reluctant dairy farmer, and ruthless ice cream man. For several years he monitored the nuclear test ban treaty, making sure those pesky commies didn’t blow up the planet. (They didn’t.) When he isn’t writing, Dale advises software teams and leaders about how to play nice together. Colleagues in Dale’s industry once created a special award for him for being reasonable. Dale lives in California with his wife.

Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Author · 168 books

Kris Austen Radcliffe

Leah Cutter writes page-turning fiction in exotic locations, such as New Orleans, ancient China, the Oregon coast, rural Kentucky, Seattle, Minneapolis, Budapest, and other places. Her fiction includes literary, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, and horror, and has been published in magazines, anthologies, and on the web. Read more stories by Leah Cutter at www.KnottedRoadPress.com. Follow her blog at www.LeahCutter.com.

A science-fiction lover since childhood, Michèle Laframboise has written 19 novels and published more than 80 short-stories, in French and English, earning a wide recognition. You can read her in French and English, in the magazines Solaris, Galaxies, Brins d’Éternité, Tesseracts, Fiction River, Compelling Science Fiction, Future SF Digest, Asimov's et Analog. She has also penned humorous comic books and blogs. Drawing from her scientific background, Michèle elaborates intricate plots filled with sense of wonder, poetry and adventure. Ex-scientifique devenue auteure de science-fiction, Michèle Laframboise a publié 19 romans et plus de 80 nouvelles, récoltant plusieurs distinctions au Canada et en Europe. Ses nouvelles sont parues dans les revues Solaris, Galaxies, Brins d’Éternité, Tesseracts, Fiction River, Compelling Science Fiction, Abyss&Apex, Future SF Digest, Asimov's et Analog. Dessinatrice enthousiaste, elle a aussi publié une douzaine de BD et entretient un blog illustré. En dessins ou en mots, Michèle concocte des intrigues captivantes se déroulant dans des mondes empreints de poésie.

Alexandra Brandt

Author · 2 books

Alexandra Brandt spent most of her childhood dressing up in fairy wings and parading in front of the mirror telling stories to herself. Not much has changed – she still loves a good costume, and tells herself stories every day. Her short stories currently appear in Fiction River anthologies and your favorite ebook retailers. When not spinning tales, reading, or debating worldbuilding details with her writer husband, she writes web copy and functions as a content marketer and graphic designer. She also dabbles in art, watches too many Sci-Fi TV shows, and welcomes any excuse to sit down and play tabletop games – from D&D to board games to cards. Follow Alexandra on Facebook:

Anthea Sharp

Author · 46 books

Growing up, Anthea Sharp spent her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, plays the fiddle, hangs out in virtual worlds, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at antheasharp@hotmail.com, follow her on twitter, find her on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AntheaSharp), and visit her website.

USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestseller M. L. “Matt” Buchman started writing on a flight south from Japan to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Just part of a solo around-the-world trip that ultimately launched his writing career. From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks. Booklist says: 3x “Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot. As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.

T. Thorn Coyle

Author · 24 books

TT. Thorn Coyle has been arrested at least four times. Buy her a cup of tea or a good whisky and she'll tell you about it. A salty-tongued, tattooed mystic, Thorn is author of the alt-history urban fantasy series The Panther Chronicles, the novel Like Water, and two short story collections. The Witches of Portland will be out in Spring, 2018. She has also written multiple non-fiction books including Sigil Magic for Writers, Artists & Other Creatives, Kissing the Limitless, and Evolutionary Witchcraft. Thorn's work appears in many anthologies, magazines, and collections. She has taught magical practice in nine countries, on four continents, and in twenty-five states. Her other occupations have been numerous, and include working four years each on the Pacific Stock Options floor (as a young Anarchist punk with a blue, flat-top Mohawk), in a woman-run peep show, and full time in the San Francisco soup kitchen she ended up volunteering at for twenty years. All of this, along with her activism, informs her fiction. An interloper to the Pacific Northwest, Thorn joyfully stalks city streets, writes in cafes, and talks to crows, squirrels, and trees. Thorn is active on: Twitter @ThornCoyle Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tthorncoyle Medium https://medium.com/@ThornCoyle Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ThornCoyle http://www.thorncoyle.com

Debbie Mumford

Author · 8 books

Debbie Mumford specializes in fantasy and paranormal romance. She loves mythology and is especially fond of Celtic and Native American lore. She writes about faeries and dragons and other fantasy creatures for adults as herself and for tweens and young adults as Deb Logan. Visit Debbie’s website to learn more about her currently available work.

J.C. Andrijeski

Author · 96 books

Also publishes under the name Julie Light JC Andrijeski is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes sexy, apocalyptic and cyberpunk-y science fiction romance and mystery books, often with a metaphysical bent. Current works include the gritty, epic, psychic warfare romance, ALLIE'S WAR, which follows Allie Taylor and her antihero partner, Revik, in their attempts to save the world from a dark, psychic force. Her dystopian science fiction romance series, ALIEN APOCALYPSE, features Jet Tetsuo, survivor and slave under alien conquerors, and her GATE SHIFTER series is about a shape-shifting alien and a tough-girl PI from Seattle. Her newest launch is QUENTIN BLACK, a science fiction romance and mystery series that’s a spin-off from Allie’s War but set in our own version of Earth. JC has a background in journalism, history and politics, travels extensively and has lived abroad in Europe, Australia and Asia, and from coast to coast in the continental United States. She currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand. To learn more about me and my writing, please visit http://jcandrijeski.com. For more about the Allie's War series, visit http://allieswarseries.com If you want to get an automatic email when JC's next book is released, join THE REBEL ARMY at tinyurl.com/JCAndrijeski.

Robert T. Jeschonek

Author · 14 books

Robert T. Jeschonek is an award-winning writer whose fiction, comics, essays, articles, and podcasts have been published around the world. His young adult fantasy novel, My Favorite Band Does Not Exist, won the Forward National Literature Award and was named one of Booklist’s Top Ten First Novels for Youth. His cross-genre science fiction thriller, Day 9, is an International Book Award winner. He also won the Scribe Award for Best Original Novel from the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers for his alternate history, Tannhäuser: Rising Sun, Falling Shadows. Simon & Schuster, DAW/Penguin Books, and DC Comics have published his work. He won the grand prize in Pocket Books' nationwide Strange New Worlds contest and was nominated for the British Fantasy Award. Visit him online at www.thefictioneer.com. You can also find him on Facebook and follow him as @TheFictioneer on Twitter. Sign up for the Robert T. Jeschonek newsletter right here: http://eepurl.com/tpKhr

A native Oregonian, Diana Deverell was a US Foreign Service Officer and served in Washington DC, San Salvador, and Warsaw, before she moved to rural Denmark to write fulltime. Her latest release is LAY BARE THE LIE, the sixth book in the Nora Dockson legal thriller series, featuring a woman ex-con turned appeals lawyer. The first five books in order are HELP Me NORA, RIGHT THE WRONG, HEAR MY PLEA, JUDGE ME NOT, and OPEN THE DOOR. “Mercy Find Me”, a story spun off the series, was a finalist for the 2019 Derringer Award for short mystery fiction. and is now available as an ebook short story. Diana debuted as a published writer in 1998 with 12 DRUMMERS DRUMMING, her first Casey Collins International Thriller. 12 Drummers Drumming, her first international thriller. The latest thriller in the series is CHINA BOX. The four-book series spans seventeen years in the career of her heroine, State Department intelligence analyst Casey Collins. Diana has also written the political thriller BITCH OUT OF HELL starring security pro Bella Hinton and told in Bella’s own salty words. Bella is the heroine of “Payback is a Bitch,” a short story appearing in the Fiction River – Pulse Pounders: Countdown, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. Before shining in stories of her own, Bella played a supporting role in several international thrillers taking place from the Cold War to the present. Diana’s published short fiction includes five stories starring FBI Special Agent Dawna Shepherd which are available as ebook short stories. Dawna’s early adventures are collected in RUN & GUN: A Dozen Tales of Girls with Guns and she plays a supporting role in BITCH OUT OF HELL and three international thrillers.

Felicia Fredlund

Author · 1 books

Felicia Fredlund writes in multiple genres and for both adults and young adults. Her quest is to entertain, offering her readers exciting adventures and emotional rollercoasters. She also edits anthologies. Her own first adventures happened through video games and later she added on computer games as well as board and card games. She studied game design and game programming, but switched over to more conventional computer science. Learning is one of her passions. Felicia currently has two series running: a high fantasy series called Sorceress Islands and a YA science fantasy series called Shadow Courier. She has several short stories published and more are coming. She’s also working on more series as well as more volumes in her current series. She edited Fiction River: Last Stand with Dean Wesley Smith and her story “Magic and Sacrifice” appeared in that volume. She has since appeared in several more Fiction River volumes.

Steven Mohan, Jr. has professionally published more a half million words of military science fiction including the BattleTech novel A Bonfire of Worlds. He has sold original fiction to markets as diverse as INTERZONE, POLYPHONY, and PARADOX, as well as several DAW original anthologies. His short stories have won honorable mention in THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION and THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR and he has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

Dayle A. Dermatis

Author · 14 books

www.DayleDermatis.com ——————————————————————————————— Want to say THANKS or help an author out? Go to Patreon.com/Dayle or DayleDermatis.com/free-fiction/ ——————————————————————————————- LATEST PUBLICATIONS Ghosted – snarky urban fantasy Researching History for Fantasy Writers – nonfiction Umberto Scolari and the Five Mysteries – Renaissance Italy mystery collection ——————————————————————————————— UNCOLLECTED ANTHOLOGY Redefining the boundaries of urban and contemporary fantasy UncollectedAnthology.com

Lisa Silverthorne

Author · 13 books

Also credited as L.S. Silverthorne and Lisa S. Silverthorne.

Sometimes credited as Phaedra M. Weldon. Born in Pensacola, Florida, Phaedra is the eldest of four children. She began writing in notebooks with her best friend in middle school. After leaving college for a job in the Graphic Arts industry, Phaedra continued her love of writing in her spare time and was lucky enough at a writer's conference to meet Dean Wesley Smith, who later became her writing mentor, along with his wife, the bestselling mystery/fantasy/romance/science fiction writer, Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Phaedra lives in Atlanta, Georgia. When not writing, she and her daughter spend their time playing games, letterboxing, or watching anime. Series: * Zoe Martinique

F&SF writer Cat Rambo lives and writes in the Midwest. They have been shortlisted for an Endeavour Award, Locus Award, World Fantasy Award and most recently the Nebula Award. Their debut novel, BEASTS OF TABAT, appeared in 2015 from WordFire Press, the same year she co-edited AD ASTRA: THE SFWA 50TH ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK. Forthcoming books include EXILES OF TABAT (novel, Wordfire Press) and DEVIL'S GUN (novel, Tor Macmillan). They are a former two-term President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and still volunteers with the organization. They run the popular online writing school focused on fantasy and science fiction, the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. (academy.catrambo.com) If you would like to sign up to receive news of stories and appearances, check out their Patreon campaign at http://www.patreon.com/catrambo

Joslyn Chase is a prize-winning author of mysteries and thrillers. Any day she can send readers to the edge of their seats, chewing their fingernails to the nub and prickling with suspense, is a good day in her book. Joslyn’s story, “Cold Hands, Warm Heart,” was chosen by Amor Towles as one of the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2023. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Fiction River Magazine, Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem, Mystery Magazine, and Pulphouse Fiction, among others. Known for her fast-paced suspense fiction, Joslyn’s books are full of surprising twists and delectable turns. You will find her riveting novels most anywhere books are sold. Her love for travel has led Joslyn to ride camels through the Nubian desert, fend off monkeys on the Rock of Gibraltar, and hike the Bavarian Alps. But she still believes that sometimes the best adventures come in getting the words on the page and in the thrill of reading a great story. Join the growing group of readers who’ve discovered the thrill of Chase! Sign up for Joslyn’s readers’ group at joslynchase.com and get VIP access to great bonuses—like your free copy of No Rest: 14 Tales of Chilling Suspense—as well as updates and first crack at new releases. Connect with Joslyn https://www.facebook.com/StoryChase/

Eric is the author of the fantasy series Starside Saga, the YA dystopian series The Scion Chronicles, and the YA sf series Bigfoot Galaxy. His short stories have been featured in numerous anthologies. He lives in Wisconsin with his family. Follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

J.F. Penn

Author · 4 books

I'm the award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the ARKANE Action Adventure Thriller series, the Brooke & Daniel Crime Thrillers, and the Mapwalker Fantasy Adventure trilogy, as well as other horror and dark fantasy books and short stories. Reading order: https://jfpennbooks.com/pages/reading... The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft." The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London. The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ... A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short stories bound together by a book of human skin. Inspired by Dante's Inferno. You can buy books directly from me https://jfpennbooks.com/ I have a blog and podcast at http://www.BooksAndTravel.page I'm passionate about writing and I love reading. My favorite authors include James Rollins, Jonathan Maberry, John Connolly, Daniel Silva, and I also read a lot of travel books.

C.A. Rowland writes short stories in many genres. Her first amateur sleuth paranormal mystery set in Savannah, Georgia, The Meter's Always Running, was published in June 2020. Ms. Rowland is a member of Sisters In Crime, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and Riverside Writers.

Dean Wesley Smith

Author · 115 books

Pen Names Edward Taft Dee W. Schofield D.W. Smith Sandy Schofield Kathryn Wesley Dean Wesley Smith is the bestselling author of over ninety novels under many names and well over 100 published short stories. He has over eight million copies of his books in print and has books published in nine different countries. He has written many original novels in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and romance as well as books for television, movies, games, and comics. He is also known for writing quality work very quickly and has written a large number of novels as a ghost writer or under house names. With Kristine Kathryn Rusch, he is the coauthor of The Tenth Planet trilogy and The 10th Kingdom. The following is a list of novels under the Dean Wesley Smith name, plus a number of pen names that are open knowledge. Many ghost and pen name books are not on this list because he is under contractual obligations not to disclose that he wrote them. Many of Dean’s original novels are also under hidden pen names for marketing reasons. Dean has also written books and comics for all three major comic book companies, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, and has done scripts for Hollywood. One movie was actually made. Over his career he has also been an editor and publisher, first at Pulphouse Publishing, then for VB Tech Journal, then for Pocket Books. Currently, he is writing thrillers and mystery novels under another name.

Angela Penrose lives in Seattle with her husband, five computers, and some unknown number of books, which occupy most of the house. She writes in several genres, but SFF is her first love. She majored in history at college, but racked up hundreds of units taking whatever classes sounded interesting. This delayed graduation to a ridiculous degree, but (along with obsessive reading) gave her a broad store of weirdly diverse information that comes in wonderfully handy to a writer.

Since the age of seven, Leslie Claire Walker has wanted to be Princess Leia—wise and brave and never afraid of a fight, no matter the odds. Leslie hails from the concrete and steel canyons and lush bayous of southeast Texas—a long way from Alderaan. Now, she lives in the rain-drenched Pacific Northwest with a cast of spectacular characters, including cats, harps, fantastic pieces of art that may or may not be doorways to other realms, and too many fantasy novels to count. She is the author of the Awakened Magic Saga, a collected series of urban fantasy novels, novellas, and stories filled with magical assassins, fallen angels, faeries, demons, and complex, heroic humans. The primary series in the saga are the Soul Forge, set in Portland, Oregon, and the Faery Chronicles, set in Houston Texas. She also authors stories for The Uncollected Anthology on a mission to redefine the boundaries of contemporary and urban fantasy. Leslie takes her inspiration from the dark beauty of the city, the power of myth, strong coffee, whisky, and music ranging from Celtic harp to jazz to heavy metal. Rock on!

Paul Genesse

Author · 6 books