Podtitul: tajný příběh Leonarda da Vinci Fiktivní román vypráví dobrodružný příběh o cestě Leonarda a mladého Niccola Macchiavelliho balónem do Sýrie a Egypta. V Syrii působí Leonardo jako vojenský kalífův poradce a užívá svých vynálezů k ničení armády Turků. Autor dává hrdinovi možnost uskutečnit všechny své vynálezy a kromě toho seznamuje čtenáře s renesanční Florencií a jejími význačnými osobnostmi.
Dosud nepublikované povídky mnoha úspěšných a uznávaných spisovatelů žánru fantasy. Přehlídka čarodějů nejen literárních, ale i autorských, každý z nich vás okouzlí svým jedinečným způsobem v celkem osmnácti příbězích. Po celé věky zanechávají čarodějové výraznou stopu v lidské kultuře – od tajemných duchovních vůdců pradávných kmenů až po oblíbené postavy celosvětově úspěšných filmů. Vysoké hubené muže ve špičatých kloboucích najdete snad jen v humorných příbězích i spolu s jejich kouzly, která provádějí pouhým mávnutím hůlky. Praví čarodějové jsou mnohem nenápadnější a s magií zacházejí mnohem úsporněji a rafinovaněji. V rukou současných fantastů dokážou upoutat pozornost čtenářů a získat si jejich srdce. Skvělé povídky od Neila Gaimana, Gartha Nixe, Eoina Colfera, Tada Williamse, Patricie A. McKillipové, Petera S. Beagla, Nancy Kressové, Jeffreyho Forda, Terryho Bissona, Genea Wolfa, Orsona Scotta Carda a mnohých dalších v úžasné nové antologii.
Sbírka dvanácti apokalyptických scénářů, v nichž celosvětově známí autoři fantastiky jako Gregory Benford, Gardner Dozois, Nancy Kress, Geoffrey A. Landis, Fritz Leiber, Larry Niven, Frederik Pohl či James Tiptree, Jr. nabízejí hrůzu nahánějící vize konce času, ať už ho způsobili bohové, technologie či sama příroda.
A comprehensive guide to the speculative sub-genre of alternate history fiction, this book maps the unique terrain of this vibrant mode of storytelling and then explains how to write it. First giving a concise conceptual overview and the critical tools to differentiate the different forms of counterfactual fiction, Jack Dann lays out the 'tricks of the trade' such 'Heinleining', how to create recognizable 'divergent points' and how to employ paratextual elements and 'layering' to overcome readers' unfamiliarity with invented counterfactual events and cultures. Alongside this, Dann takes you step-by-step through a complete short story to demonstrate, line-by-line, how alternative history fiction works. As well as Dann's exacting methodology for writing professional quality alternate history stories, this book also features a live-on-the-page Q&A with some of the most esteemed alternate history writers working today, including Kim Stanley Robinson, John Birmingham and Lisa Goldstein among many others, who will detail their own particular hacks, theories, processes, methods and strategies. Combining extensive and deep knowledge of the field with accessible writing advice, this is the ultimate guidebook to the broad and complex sub-genre of counterfactual and alterative history fiction.
Thirty-Five New Stories Celebrating the Wild Side of Australian Fiction
This anthology showcases thirty-five exceptional Australian authors, each contributing original tales that promise to shock, astound, and delight readers. Featuring a diverse range of voices, including bestselling writers like Garth Nix and Trudi Canavan, the collection highlights the vibrant and imaginative landscape of contemporary Australian fiction. With a focus on fantasy, these stories reflect the unique cultural context of Australia while pushing the boundaries of the genre.
A Chilling new anthology of all-original tales of horrorIncludes New Stories by:Ray BradburyGraham JoycePeter CrowtherKim NewmanSara DouglassThomas TessierM. John HarrisonGahan WilsonThe anthology market these days is awash with small, themed works focused on very specific markets, like vampire erotica and tales of werewolves, or it features best of the year reprints. It has been years since anyone has dared to bring out a broad-reaching anthology that seeks to define the current state of the genre with all original tales from both masters and hot new writers.
Tells the stories of an unusual swim meet, the union of a mermaid and a mortal man, an Irish merrow, a selkie or were-seal, surgically created amphibious humans, and nereids
Never before published stories by New York Times bestselling authors Jonathan Stroud, Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Diana Gabaldon, and others. Whether portrayed as fire-breathing reptilian beasts at war with humanity or as noble creatures capable of speech and mystically bonded to the warriors who ride them, dragons have been found in nearly every culture's mythology. In modern times, they can be found far from their medieval settings in locales as mundane as suburbia or as barren as post-apocalyptic landscapes—and in The Dragon Book, today's greatest fantasists reignite the fire with legendary tales that will consume readers' imaginations.Includes the following stories: Dragon’s Deep - Cecelia Holland Vici - Naomi Novik Bob Choi’s Last Job - Johnathan StroudAre You Afflicted with Dragons? - Kage BakerThe Tsar’s Dragons - Jane Yolen and Adam StempleThe Dragon of Direfell - Liz Williams Oakland Dragon Blues - Peter S. Beagle Humane Killer - Diana Gabaldon and Samuel Sykes Stop! - Garth NixUngentle Fire - Sean Williams A Stark and Wormy Knight - Tad Williams None So Blind - Harry Turtledove JoBoy - Diana Wynne JonesPuz_le - Gregory MaguireAfter the Third Kiss - Bruce CovilleThe War That Winter Is - Tanith LeeThe Dragon’s Tale - Tamore PierceDragon’s Storm - Mary RosenblumThe Dragaman’s Bride - Andy Duncan
“I won’t be a figment of your dream,” Ned said aloud, staring ahead, looking to see if there was an end to this dream that contained him. And he remembered what Ahasuerus had said: “. . . You found little happiness in that world which was built on the dreams of the dead. It was a tiny cosmos of old thoughts. But even then you were dreaming of Hell . . .”When Ned Wheeler sets out on a journey from the overly pious yet ribald community that is Junction—situated on the outskirts of Hell—he has a nagging doubt that all is not right with the world. The appearance of ‘a winged and many-eyed bird beast’ had been seen by the god-fearing townsfolk as a portent of ‘the end of days’ and their fears and suspicions, directed toward Ned, persuade him to follow the beast into Hell itself. Little can he imagine the consequences of his actions, let alone comprehend the ensuing events . . . events that will cause him to question the very fabric of his existence and the reality of the world around him.
