Keith R. A. DeCandido

No One Wields Guilt like a Jewish Mother... Unless it's a Jewish Aunt... Bram Gold became a Courser-a supernatural hunter-for-hire-after his parents were killed twelve years ago by a golem run amuck. Now the person responsible wants to hire Bram. It's happening again. This time a golem has been sighted at the synagogue where Bram's Aunt Esther serves as rabbi-and which has been targeted by thieves and vandals. And just like a dozen years ago, the powerful golem is out of control. Can Bram corner the creature and put a stop to its spree before someone else's family is torn asunder?***The next book in a new series of urban fantasy thrillers taking place in the Boogie-Down Bronx from best-selling, award-winning author Keith R. A. DeCandido.

An Ancient Evil Threatens to Awaken in the BronxBram Gold is a Courser-a hunter-for-hire paid to deal with supernatural creatures, mystical happenings, and things that go booga-booga in the night. His typical day is dealing with crazed unicorns, local charlatans trying to bind the loa, and werewolves running around the dog park... But when binding spells begin to fail around the Bronx, and the borough's immortals start turning up dead, Bram must prevent more magical murders, before an ancient god awakens to level the city.***The first in a new series of urban fantasy thrillers that take place in the Boogie-Down Bronx from best-selling, award-winning author Keith R. A. DeCandido.

Humans and elves, dwarves and gnomes, wizards and warriors all live and do business in the thriving, overcrowded port city of Cliff's End, to say nothing of the tourists and travelers who arrive by land and sea, passing through the metropolis on matters of business or pleasure-or on quests. The hard-working, under-appreciated officers of the Cliff's End Castle Guard work day and night to maintain law and order as best they can. A fire in the neighboring city-state of Barlin has resulted in hundreds of refugees pouring into Cliff's End, forcing the creation of a new neighborhood-Albinton, which everyone calls "New Barlin"-and a new police precinct-Phoenix Precinct. Violence against the refugees is on the rise. Lieutenants Danthres Tresyllione and Torin ban Wyvald are called to the latest act of brutality, which has resulted in a vicious murder. But what appears to be a simple hate crime turns out to be far more complicated, as Danthres and Torin's investigation leads them to corruption in the Castle Guard-and in the castle itself An all-new adventure of the Cliff's End Castle Guard

There are creatures lurking in our world. Obscure creatures long relegated to myth and legend. They have been sighted by a lucky-or unlucky-few, some have even been photographed, but their existence remains unproven and unrecognized by the scientific community. These creatures, long thought gone, have somehow survived; creatures from our nightmares haunting the dark places. They swim in our lakes and bays, they soar the night skies, they hunt in the woods. Some are from our past, and some from other worlds, and others that have always been with us-watching us, fearing us, hunting us. These are the cryptids, and Systema Paradoxa tells their tales.***When there are talks of a monster sighted in the waves off the Atlantic City boardwalk, Coursers Valentina Perrone and Sarah el-Guindi-supernatural hunters-for-hire-are called in by the local Boss to... handle it. But echoes of the past send them into the heart of the Pine Barrens, where more than one secret hides, along with their answers. Will history repeat itself? Or will the monsters find safe haven? Either way, in the end, they discover there is always more than one way to deal with a problem.

THE DARKEST HOURS by Jim Butcher When Black Cat foils Spider-Man's attempts to stop the Rhino rampaging through Times Square, she informs him the Rhino is just a distraction. The real threat comes from a group of Ancients, members of the same race as the being called Morlun, seeking revenge for Spider-Man defeating them years before. Spidey must rely on Black Cat if there's any hope of stopping them again, before they can steal his life force . DOWN THESE MEAN STREETS by Keith R. A. DeCandido A mysterious drug known as Triple X has been giving users super-powers as well as rendering them mentally and physically unstable. Only by teaming up with a police force that hates him can Spider-Man find the source behind this lethal drug and protect people from those using it. But one of Spider-Man's most fearsome enemies may be behind it all as part of a greater scheme to bring down the city. DROWNED IN THUNDER by Christopher L. Bennett The ongoing conflict between Spider-Man and his longtime outspoken nemesis, crusading newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson, reaches a whole new level when JJJ exploits several mysterious attacks on Manhattan island in his propaganda war against the web-slinger.

The great metropolis of Super City is the home of dozens of costumed heroes: Spectacular Man, the Terrific Trio, the Bruiser, the Superior Six, and more. This isn't their story... When the heroes are done punching out the villains, it's left to the stalwart men and women of the Super City Police Department to restrain them, arrest them, and hope that this time there's enough evidence to actually convict them. SUPER CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTTHE CASE OF THE CLAW The mutated spree killer known as the Claw has returned, leaving bloody victims all over Super City. While Homicide detectives try to find out who the Claw really is, uniformed officers must deal with the Bolt's escape from the drunk tank, and the bumblings of aspiring hero Knight Dude. Meanwhile, the Superior Six claim they'll cooperate with the police and stop the Claw-but they're busy fighting the Brute Squad and stonewalling the cops. The SCPD must find out the Claw's deadly secret, before he claims another victim

THE TALES OF THE SCATTERED EARTH: Once, long ago, there was one Earth. It was said that many deities gazed down upon it protectively, and there was balance between them all. Then something went wrong. The balance shifted-toward darkness. Earth was shattered, her people destroyed, her remains scattered far and wide. But the gods survived the cataclysm. They scattered as well, each pursuing a fragment of their former domain. And, when they overtook those shards, the gods drew upon what power remained to them to restore their worshippers to life. These new followers rose from dust and imperfect memory, for the gods too had been injured. Each claimed a new home, and a new life, and each thought itself-at least at first-to be the only Earth. All memory of their former world was lost, except vague memories of the gods who gave them new life. Then, one day, a single great event drew all their eyes to the stars-and beyond. And each of them felt a yearning. Something in them desired to be whole again, or at least to understand. These are their stories. These are The Tales of the Scattered Earth. GUILT IN INNOCENCEThe Olodumare Hegemony rules the entire solar system. Led by Oba Isembi, the primary agents of his rule are the Ori-Inu: highly trained telepathic operatives, who do the Oba's dirty work. They are found and trained by Orisha. When Ori-Inu start disappearing, Isembi sends his finest Orisha, Hembadoon, to investigate. But when he is injured in a refinery explosion, it's up to Folami-Isembi's best, most powerful Ori-Inu-to learn the truth about the missing operatives. Folami uncovers a conspiracy to overthrow Isembi, encounters an old comrade whom she thought was dead, and awakens hidden memories that rock her very identity to its core A new tale of the Scattered Earth, and the first of many new adventures of the Olodumare Hegemony by international best-selling, award-winning author Keith R. A. DeCandido GUILT IN INNOCENCE is the third full-length novel in The Tales of the Scattered Earth, joining Aaron Rosenberg's BIRTH OF THE DREAD REMORA, HONOR OF THE DREAD REMORA, and Crossed Paths, and David Niall Wilson's THE SECOND VEIL. Each author begins with their own world, their own culture, their own story...but there is something out there...something that will draw them altogether. Watch for more from these authors, as well as a brand new world and novel from award-winning author Melissa Scott in the summer of 2014

A COLLECTION OF THE FINEST SHORT FICTION BY AWARD-WINNING, INTERNATIONAL BEST-SELLING AUTHOR KEITH R. A. DeCANDIDOFor more than twenty years, Keith R. A. DeCandido has told stories in a variety of universes and genres. Now, some of his finest short fiction from across those two decades are gathered here, plus some new, never-before-published tales of wonder, including a brand-new fantastical police procedural featuring the Cliff's End Castle Guard and a brand-new urban fantasy set in Key West, Florida featuring Cassie Zukav, weirdness magnet, both written especially for this collection From the urban grittiness of "The Ballad of Big Charlie" to the space opera of "The Stone of the First High Pontiff." From the modern-day thriller of "-30-" to the lighthearted cats-and-dogs-and-squirrels romp of "Sunday in the Park with Spot." From a murder mystery in a high fantasy setting in "Partners in Crime" to a murder mystery in a modern publishing setting in "Editorial Interference." From a tale of New York City occupied by magical creatures in "Under the King's Bridge" to a story of Key West filled with Norse gods in "Seven-Mile Race." Plus the short-shorts "A Vampire and a Vampire Hunter Walk Into a Bar," "Wild Bill Got Shot," and "Behold a White Tricycle."

Humans and elves, dwarves and gnomes, wizards and warriors all live and do business in the thriving, overcrowded port city of Cliff's End, to say nothing of the tourists and travelers who arrive by land and sea, passing through the metropolis on matters of business or pleasure--or on quests. The hard-working, under-appreciated officers of the Cliff's End Castle Guard work day and night to maintain law and order as best they can. Cliff's End is rocked by the death of Lord Albin. As soon as the funeral ends, Albin's son Blayk takes over and starts instituting wholesale changes in how the Cliff's End Castle Guard is run: enforced retirements of older guards (including Captain Osric), surprise promotions (including Grovis to replace Osric as Captain of the Guard), sword requalifications for all guards, and much more. Worse, Blayk has split up Lieutenants Torin ban Wyvald and Danthres Tresyllione and given them new partners. Lieutenant Dru, still devastated by the loss of Lieutenant Hawk, also has a new partner. All three detectives catch separate cases, but the more they investigate, the more they realize that all three are related--and connected to a conspiracy that targets the King and Queen themselves An all-new adventure of the Cliff's End Castle Guard

Humans and elves, dwarves and gnomes, wizards and warriors all live and do business in the thriving, overcrowded port city of Cliff's End, to say nothing of the tourists and travelers who arrive by land and sea, passing through the metropolis on matters of business or pleasure--or on quests. The hard-working, under-appreciated officers of the Cliff's End Castle Guard work day and night to maintain law and order as best they can. A new drug called Bliss is sweeping across the slums of Goblin Precinct. It makes people feel better--but if they take too much, they overdose and die. It doesn't truly become a concern for the Castle Guard until one of the overdoses turns out to be a former elf lord who is wanted for war crimes. The Captain of the Guard must put his best detectives, the half-elf Danthres Tresyllione and the ex-soldier Torin ban Wyvald, on the case to find out what happened to the elf. But when the magickal examiner discovers the truth behind Bliss, it becomes a firestorm of controversy that brings the Brotherhood of Wizards into the case--and that never ends well... An all-new adventure of the Cliff's End Castle Guard

Humans and elves, dwarves and gnomes, wizards and warriors all live and do business in the thriving, overcrowded port city of Cliff's End, to say nothing of the tourists and travelers who arrive by land and sea, passing through the metropolis on matters of business or pleasure-or on quests. The hard-working, under-appreciated officers of the Cliff's End Castle Guard work day and night to maintain law and order as best they can. This volume brings together ten pieces of short fiction-some previously published, some brand-new for this book-featuring the Castle Guard: new cases for Lieutenants Torin ban Wyvald and Danthres Tresyllione to solve, as they deal with animated furniture, a hrancit demon, a closet spewing filth, a senile dragon, and more. Plus one of Lieutenant Iaian's old cases comes back to haunt him, Lieutenants Dru and Hawk investigate a massacre committed by a vampire, the survivors of the heroic quest from Dragon Precinct return (and get into trouble), and the untold story of Danthres and Torin's first case together is finally told Ten adventures of the Cliff's End Castle Guard

Thirteen authors, including Narrelle M. Harris, Jody Lynn Nye, and Sarah Stegall, come together in the second edition of Baker Street Irregulars to pen an original collection of short stories on the iconic and timeless character, Sherlock Holmes. In this new edition of Baker Street Irregulars, a cast of authors riff on the iconic figure of Sherlock Holmes in over a dozen captivating new ways. In Keith DeCandido’s “Six Red Dragons,” Sherlock is a young girl in modern New York City. In Sarah Stegall’s “Papyrus,” Sherlock is a female librarian in ancient Egypt. In Daniel M. Kimmel’s mesmerizing “A Scandal in Chelm,” Sherlock is a rabbi. Derek Beebe sends Sherlock to the moon, while Mike Strauss, in “The Adventure of the Double Sized Final Issue,” casts him as a comic book character. The backdrops run the gamut from a grade school classroom to Jupiter, from rural, post-Civil War to an alien spaceship. While preserving the timeless charm and intrigue of Sherlock Holmes, these authors pen stories of the world’s greatest detective as you’ve never seen him before.

Humans and elves, dwarves and gnomes, wizards and warriors all live and do business in the thriving, overcrowded port city of Cliff's End, to say nothing of the tourists and travelers who arrive by land and sea, passing through the metropolis on matters of business or pleasure-or on quests. The hard-working, under-appreciated officers of the Cliff's End Castle Guard work day and night to maintain law and order as best they can. Arra Cynnis is the youngest child in one of the most powerful families in the wealthy district of Unicorn Precinct. When she's found murdered, with the culprit's identity hidden from the magickal examiner's spells, the Captain of the Guard sends his best investigators. Ex-soldier Torin ban Wyvald and half-elf Danthres Tresyllione have two viable suspects: Arra's fianc , who is the cousin of another member of the Castle Guard, or the unknown person with whom Arra was having a torrid affair. Torin and Danthres must navigate the difficult political waters of Cliff's End's upper classes in an attempt to determine the girl's killer. Complicating the case is the unexpected appearance of Torin's estranged father, who has come to return the detective to his far-off homeland of Myverin, and he won't take no for an answer . . . . An all-new adventure of the Cliff's End Castle Guard

Humans and elves, dwarves and gnomes, wizards and warriors all live and do business in the thriving, overcrowded port city of Cliff's End, to say nothing of the tourists and travellers who arrive by land and sea, passing through the metropolis on matters of business or pleasure--or on quests. The hard-working, under-appreciated officers of the Cliff's End Castle Guard work day and night to maintain law and order as best they can. Gan Brightblade is one of the world's greatest heroes and a personal friend of the Lord and Lady of Cliff's End. So when he's brutally murdered in grubby lodgings in Dragon Precinct, on the eve of a great quest, the Captain of the Guard puts his two best investigators on the case. The half-elf Danthres Tresyllione and ex-soldier Torin ban Wyvald soon discover that the crime scene is empty of any forensic evidence--physical or magickal. They have no clues, and heat is on. The Lord and Lady want their friend's murder solved--now. The populace is mourning the loss of a great hero. The ever-unhelpful Brotherhood of Wizards could take over the case at any minute. And then another member of Brightblade's party turns up dead....

STARFLEET CORPS OF ENGINEERS Their motto: Have tech, will travel Need to build a subspace accelerator while under attack by a deadly local predator? Need to rescue a starship from interphase without getting trapped there yourself? Call in the Starfleet Corps of Engineers team, specifically the crack team from the "U. S. S. da Vinci." Under the guidance of Captain David Gold and his first officer, former "Starship Enterprise"(TM) engineer Commander Sonya Gomez, the crew of the "da Vinci" can construct six impossible things before breakfast. Overseen by Captain Montgomery Scott from his office at Starfleet Headquarters, the S. C. E. crew put their lives on the line to rescue a space station from catastrophe, and face off against a deadly alien race of technology thieves with the aid of Lieutenant Nog from Space Station "Deep Space 9" (TM).