jpskewedthrone | Entries tagged with anthology highlight

And our last anthology highlight (until later this year) will be for WERE-! This anthology was funded along with ALIEN ARTIFACTS in Zombies Need Brains' first dual Kickstarter. The concept--were-creatures other than werewolves--obviously captured the imagination of many writers, not just our anchors. There were tons of submission to the open call, which made picking out the few we needed to flesh out this anthology difficult.

Here's the back cover description and the Table of Contents for WERE-!

Werewolves rule the night in urban fantasy, but everyone knows there are other were-creatures out there just as dangerous and deadly, if not as common, each with their own issues as they struggle to fit into—or prey upon—society. What about the were-goats? The were-crows and were-wasps?

Here are seventeen stories of urban fantasy by today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that introduce you to some of those other were-creatures, the ones hiding in the dark background shadows, waiting to bite. Join Seanan McGuire, Ashley McConnell, Susan Jett, Eliora Smith, David B. Coe, April Steenburgh, Gini Koch, Mike Barretta, Elizabeth Kite, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jean Marie Ward, Katharine Kerr, Sarah Brand, Anneliese Belmond, Faith Hunter, Patricia Bray, and Phyllis Ames as they take you into the hidden corners of our world to see some lesser known were-creatures. You may want to bring along some silver...just in case.

“Best In Show” by Seanan McGuire
“We Dig” by Ashley McConnell
“Eyes Like Pearls” by Susan Jett
“Among the Grapevines, Growing” by Eliora Smith
“A Party For Bailey” by David B. Coe
“Cry Murder” by April Steenburgh
“Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs the Masters of Mediocre Doom”
by Gini Koch
“Paper Wasp” by Mike Barretta
“Point Five” by Elizabeth Kite
“The Promise of Death” by Danielle Ackley-Danielle Ackley-Mcphail
“The Five Bean Solution” by Jean Marie Ward
“Witness Report” by Katharine Kit Kerr
“Attack of the Were-Zombie Friendship With Benefits” by Sarah Brand
“The Whale” by Anneliese Belmond 
“Anzu, Duba, Beast” by Faith Hunterr 
“Shiftr” by Patricia Bray 
“Sniff For Your Life” by Phyllis Ames

https://smile.amazon.com/Were-Seanan-McGuire-ebook/dp/B01JK2QIJK

WERE- Cover Art

Crossposts: http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com/491703.html

Today's anthology highlight is ALIEN ARTIFACTS, one of the two anthologies that Zombies Need Brains kickstarted last year. The kickstarter was a wild ride, with it funding within the first few days and then growing from there. This is mainly due to the core group of strong followers ZNB has managed to gather during the first two Kickstarters, and of course the stellar group of authors we've got for out Table of Contents. Patricia Bray and I were a little overwhelmed with the open call submissions as well, since we got far more than we expected. It was difficult to narrow those down to ones that fit into the limited space in the two anthologies.

Here's the rundown the theme and the Table of Contents. As usual, this anthology is available in trade paperback and ebook formats in all the usual places, and of course at the ZNB online store (visit www.zombiesneedbrains.com and click on "store").

What might we run into as we expand beyond Earth and into the stars? As we explore our own solar system and beyond, it seems inevitable that we’ll run into aliens…and what they’ve left behind. Alien artifacts: what might they reveal about us as we try to unlock their secrets? What might they reveal about the universe?

In this anthology, nineteen of today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors explore how discovering long lost relics of alien civilizations might change humanity. Join Walter H. Hunt, Julie Novakova, David Farland, Angela Penrose, S.C. Butler, Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin, Juliet E. McKenna, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Andrija Popovic, Jacey Bedford, Sofie Bird, James Van Pelt, Gini Koch, Anthony Lowe, Jennifer Dunne, Coral Moore, Daniel J. Davis, C.S. Friedman, and Seanan McGuire as they discover the stars and the secrets they may hold—both dark and deadly and awe-inspiring.

“Radio Silence” by Walter H. Hunt 
“The Nightside” by Julie Novakova 
“The Familiar” by Dave David Farland 
“Me and Alice” by Angela Penrose 
“The Other Side” by SC Butler 
“The Hunt” by Gail Martin & Larry N. Martin 
“The Sphere” by Juliet E McKennaa 
“Shame the Devil” by Sharon Lee & Steve Millerr
“The Captain’s Throne” by Andrija Popovic 
“Weird is the New Normal” by Jacey Bedford 
“And We Have No Words to Tell You” by Sofie Bird
“Titan Descanso” by James Van Pelt 
“Alien Epilogue” by Gini Koch
“The Haint of Sweetwater River” by Anthony Lowe
“Music of the Stars” by Jennifer Dunne 
“The Night You Were a Comet” by Coral Moore 
“The God Emperor of Lassie Point” by Daniel J. Davis
“Pandora” by C.S. Friedman
“Round and Round We Ride the Carousel of Time” by Seanan McGuire

https://smile.amazon.com/Alien-Artifacts-Seanan-McGuire-ebook/dp/B01JK5WB34

Crossposts: http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com/491501.html

Today I'm highlighting Zombies Need Brains' second anthology project, TEMPORALLY OUT OF ORDER. This was a fun project, mostly just because of the topic: gadgets acting "temporally" out of order, rather than "temporarily" out of order. Patricia Bray and I had a blast reading the stories and putting this one together, and since I'd already run a Kickstarter, I wasn't pulling my hair out in frustration (as much) while trying to get the funding. The Kickstarter ran smoother and funded much quicker than the first, which is always nice. It was obvious that ZNB had gained a little ground in the "awareness" area; people were beginning to notice us.

Here's the run-down of the theme and the Table of Contents. This anthology is available in many ebook formats and also as a trade paperback. And remember you can always get it through the ZNB online store (www.zombiesneedbrains.com and click "store").

It’s frustrating when a gadget stops working. But what if the gadget is working fine, it’s just “temporally” out of order? What would you do if you discovered your cell phone linked you to a different time? Or that your camera took pictures of the past?

In this collection, seventeen leading science fiction authors share their take on what happens when gadgets run temporally amok. From past to future, humor to horror, there’s something for everyone.

Join Seanan McGuire, Elektra Hammond, David B. Coe, Chuck Rothman, Faith Hunter, Edmund R. Schubert, Steve Ruskin, Sofie Bird, Laura Resnick, Amy Griswold, Laura Anne Gilman, Susan Jett, Gini Koch, Christopher Barili, Stephen Leigh, Juliet E. McKenna, and Jeremy Sim as they investigate how ordinary objects behaving temporally out of order can change our everyday lives.

“Reading Lists” by Seanan McGuire
“Salamandar Bites” by Elektra Hammond
“Black and White” by David B. Coe
“Dinosaur Stew” by Chuck Rothman
“Not All Is As It Seems” by Faith Hunter
“Batting Out of Order” by Edmund Schubert
“Grand Tour” by Steve Ruskin
“A is for Alacrity, Astronauts, and Grief” by Sofie Bird
“The Spiel of the Glocken” by Laura Resnick
“The Passing Bell” by Amy Griswold
“Destination Ahead” by Laura Anne Gilman
“Where There’s Smoke” by Susan Jett
“Alien Time Warp” by Gini Koch
“Cell Service” by Chris Barili
“Temporally Full” by Stephen Leigh
“Notes and Queries” by Juliet E McKenna
“Temporally Out of Odor: A Fragrant Fable” by Jeremy Sim

https://smile.amazon.com/Temporally-Out-Order-Seanan-McGuire-ebook/dp/B011W96IB2

TEMPORALLY OUT OF ORDER Cover

Crossposts: http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com/490869.html

I'd like to highlight the very first release from Zombies Need Brains today, the anthology CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: STEAMPUNK VS ALIENS, edited by Patricia Bray and myself. This was our third outing as editors, but it was a particular fun and harrowing ride, because it was our first attempt to fund an anthology using a Kickstarter and then produce the anthology ourselves. There was a steep learning curve for me as a "virgin" publisher. While I knew in some sense how publishing worked (having published multiple books through DAW by then), it was still a walk through the dark with a pen-light. This anthology was the result. Here's a description of the theme (although that's kind of obvious in the subtitle) and the Table of Contents. Plus a link to the paperback if you're so inclined. Again, you can get this at Zombies Need Brains' online store as well, among other things.
When aliens reach Earth, they encounter the clockwork mechanisms and Victorian sensibilities of a full-blown steampunk civilization. Inspired by the classic science fiction adventure tales of the nineteenth century, leading fantasy and science fiction authors bring us tales of first contact with a twist, as steam power meets laser cannons...and dirigibles face off against flying saucers.
Clockwork Universe contains fourteen stories from some of the genre's top authors, including: Ian Tregillis, Leah Cutter, Bradley P. Beaulieu, J.R. Hargenrader, Gini Koch, Jason Palmatier, C.B. Pratt, Jean Marie Ward, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin, David J. Fortier, Brad Hafford, S.C. Butler, and Seanan McGuire.
"The Cavorite Job" by Ian Tregillis
"Gracie's Fire" by Leah Cutter
"Quinta Essentia" by Bradley P. Beaulieu
"When Comrade Ekaterina Died for the Motherland" by J.R. Hargenrader
"A Clockwork Alien" by Gini Koch
"Heart of the Empire" by Jason Palmatier
"The Red Queen and the White" by Cynthia Pratt
"The Wizard of Woodrow Park" by Jean Marie Ward
"Of Wings and War" by Tansy Rayner Roberts
"Airship Down: A Sound and Fury Adventure"
by Gail Martin & Larry N. Martin
"Steamsuit" by David J Fortier
"Fingers of Steam, Veins of Gold" by Brad Hafford
"Heart of Clockwork" by SC Butler
"Lady Antheia's Guide to Horticultural Warfare" by Seanan McGuire

https://smile.amazon.com/Clockwork-Universe-Steampunk-vs-Aliens/dp/1940709008

CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE Cover

Crossposts: http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com/490610.html

I thought I'd highlight each of the anthologies that Patricia Bray and I have edited over the years, both those published by DAW Books and by Zombies Need Brains. First up is our first outing, AFTER HOURS: TALES FROM THE UR-BAR! Here's the description, Table of Contents, and a link to the Kindle edition. It's also available in other ebook formats and in paperback. If you'd like it in paperback, it looks like you might have to get it from the ZNB online store now (https://squareup.com/market/zombies-need-brains-llc), which means it's probably going out of print shortly. (I may have to get ZNB more copies, if that's the case.)

The first bar, created by the Sumerians after they were given the gift of beer by the gods, was known as the Ur-Bar. Although it has since been destroyed, its spirit lives on—in each age there is one bar that captures the essence of the original Ur-Bar, where drinks are mixed with magic and served with a side of destiny and intrigue.

“An Alewife In Kish” by Benjamin Tate
“Why the Vikings Had No Bars” by SC Butler
“The Emperor’s New God” by Jennifer Dunne
“The Tale That Wagged the Dog” by Barbara Ashford
“Sake and Other Spirits” by Maria V. Snyder
“The Fortune-Teller Makes Her Will” by Kari Sperring
“The Tavern Fire” by Db Jackson
“Last Call” by Patricia Bray
“The Alchemy of Alcohol” by Seanan McGuire
“The Grand Tour” by Juliet E McKenna
“Paris 24” by Laura Anne Gilman
“Steady Hands and a Heart of Oak” by Ian Tregillis
“Forbidden” by Avery Shade
“Where We Are Is Hell” by Jackie Kessler
“Izdu-Bar” by Anton Strout

https://smile.amazon.com/After-Hours-Ur-Bar-Jo…/…/B00475AXEM

AFTER HOURS Cover

Crossposts: http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com/490446.html

Today, I'm going to highlight another of the SF&F themed anthologies that Patricia Bray and I have edited. THE MODERN FAE'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING HUMANITY was published by DAW Books and was our second outing with editing. Here's the description and Table of Contents, with a link to the paperback edition on Amazon. It's also available as an ebook and of course you can get it from the Zombies Need Brains online store in paperback.

What if the fae were still here, living among us? Perhaps living in secret, doing their best to pass for human. Or perhaps their existence is acknowledged, but they're still struggling to fit in. How have they survived? Are they outcasts clinging to the edges of society, or do their powers ensure success in the mortal realm?

Here are fourteen fabulous tales--ranging from humor to dark fantasy--that explore how the creatures of the fae realm are fitting into the modern world.

From a mortal who offers to do internet marketing for Oberon...to a woman bent on reclaiming her baby from the Queen of the fae...to a dryad grove menaced by urban expansion...to a Selkie in need of a new home and career...these are original looks at how the world of the imagination can survive and perhaps even thrive in the everyday mortal lands.

“We Will Not Be Undersold” by Seanan McGuire
“Changeling” by Susan Jett
“Water-Called” by Kari Sperring
“The Roots of Aston Quercus” by Juliet E. McKenna
“To Scratch an Itch” by Avery Shade
“Continuing Education” by Kristine Smith
“How To Be Human™” by Barbara Ashford
“How Much Salt” by April Steenburgh
“Hooked” by Anton Strout
“Crash” by S.C. Butler
“Fixed” by Jean Marie Ward
“A People Who Always Know” by Shannon Page & Jay Lake
“The Slaughtered Lamb” by Elizabeth Bear
“Corrupted” by Jim C. Hines

https://smile.amazon.com/Modern-Guide-Surviving-Humanity-Collectors/dp/0756407192