Do you love the sound of a peg leg stomping across a quarterdeck? Or maybe you prefer a parrot on your arm, a strong wind at your back? Adventure, treasure, intrigue, humor, romance, danger — and, yes, plunder! Oh, the Devil does love a pirate — and so do readers everywhere! Swashbuckling from the past into the future and space itself, Fast Ships, Black Sails, edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer, presents an incredibly entertaining volume of original stories guaranteed to make you walk and talk like a pirate. Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.

Will Barrent had no memory of his crime . . . but he found himself shipped across space to a brutal prison-planet. On Omega, his only chance to advance himself - and stay alive - is to commit an endless series of violent crimes. The average inmate's life expectancy from time of arrival is three years. Can Barrett survive, escape, and return to Earth to clear his name?

A team of space archaeologists makes an astonishing discovery about an ancient alien race in this science fiction tale from "a master of his craft" ( Los Angeles Times ). Graduate student Tom Rice is thrilled to embark on his first deep-space archeological expedition. He is part of a team from Earth, venturing out in search of artifacts from a civilization that ruled the universe many millennia ago. Called the High Ones, the members of this long-gone society left tantalizing clues about their history and culture scattered throughout space. One such clue, a "message cube" containing footage of the ancient ones, is more interesting than all of the others combined. It seems to indicate that the High Ones aren't extinct after all--and just like that, Tom Rice's archeological mission has become an intergalactic manhunt, one filled with ever-increasing danger that will send the explorers hurtling headlong into the greatest adventure--and peril--of their lives.

Kerrick, a young Tanu hunter captured and raised by the Yilane, cold-blooded, intelligent reptiles, escapes and struggles to unite all human clans against the Yilane threat.

Angelo Perino lives life on the bleeding edge of speed and success--a race car driver of humble origins who dominates on and off the track. Loren Hardeman is the ruthless patriarch of an auto empire, fighting to keep his family from self-destructing under the weight of its own greed and decadence. The two men, bound by their passionate vision as well as their charismatic power over women, come together to create the world's fastest, most advanced automobile, "The Betsy"--named after Hardeman's great-granddaughter, who has captured Perino's heart. Their creation threatens to disrupt the industry, whose power brokers are determined to prevent it no matter the cost. This pits Hardeman's own grandson, the company's current CEO, against him, revealing the depths to which Hardeman went to build his empire--including murder, incestuous adultery, and organized crime. As the family feud escalates, Perino makes his move to conquer Hardeman's empire... as well as his great-granddaughter. From master storyteller Harold Robbins, The Betsy pulls back the curtain on the glittering world of fame, fortune, and passion of the auto industry, giving a look into a world riddled with scandal, graft, family drama, and product recalls.

The thrilling follow-up to Alpha continues the Jad Bell series from New York Times bestselling author Greg Rucka. Still recovering from traumas both physical and emotional, Jad Bell is tasked with bringing in the Uzbek, principal organizer of the terrorist attack that nearly cost Bell his ex-wife and daughter. But the Uzbek's just the beginning: his employer, the Architect, has already set in motion another, even more devastating attack. At the center of it all are two women under deep cover. One, as beautiful as she is deadly, has just been dispatched on American soil to execute the Architect's deadly plans. The other is an American just emerging from a complex web of lies, whose intel may be the only hope Bell has to stop the assault before it begins. But after years of pretending to be somebody else, can she be trusted?

In the tradition of Ready Player One and The Matrix, New York Times bestseller Andrew Klavan's MindWar is a complex thriller about a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers a hidden gift--a gift that could make him a hero . . . or cost him everything. New High Score! New Record Time! Rick nodded with grim satisfaction. He laid the game controller aside on the sofa and reached for his crutches. Rick Dial was the best quarterback Putnam Hills High School had ever seen. Unflappable. Unstoppable. Number 12. But when a car accident left him crippled, Rick's life as he knew it ended. He disavowed his triumphant past. He ignored his girlfriend. He disappeared into his bedroom--and into the glowing video screen. But Rick's uncanny gaming skills have attracted attention. Dangerous attention. Government agents have uncovered a potentially devastating cyber-threat: a Russian genius has created a digital reality called the Realm, from which he can enter, control, and disrupt American computer systems . . . from transportation to defense. The agents want Rick, quick-thinking quarterback and gaming master, to enter the Realm and stop the madman--before he sends America into chaos. Entering the Realm will give Rick what he thought he'd never have again: a body as strong and fast as it was before the accident. But this is no game, there are no extra lives, and what happens to Rick in the Realm happens to Rick's body in reality. Even after Rick agrees to help, he can't shake the sense that he's being kept in the dark. Why would a government agency act so aggressively? Can anyone inside the Realm be trusted? How many others have entered before him . . . and failed to return? "Edgar Award-winning Klavan's well-orchestrated fantasy thriller features . . . an imaginative mix of gaming action with real-life stakes. With just the right cliff-hanger ending, this trilogy opener shows promise." --Booklist Readers love MindWar's creative worldbuilding, high-stakes virtual reality battleground, relatable protagonist, and themes of morality, inner strength, redemption after personal failure, and good vs. evil.

Spider-Man! Ghost Rider! Wolverine! The Hulk! When these unlikely heroes first banded together to briefly become the new Fantastic Four, they made Marvel history. Now this fan-favorite team returns in an all-new adventure! Set shortly after the events of the group's first appearance, brace yourself for a wild ride and guest stars aplenty - including, of course, the original FF! And a series of mystery villains you'll never see coming! But can even this powerhouse quartet handle the heat from a demonically possessed Human Torch?! Or will they need a little extra firepower to avoid being toast? Writer Peter David dances between the raindrops of continuity to spin a new tale of this fabled fantastical foursome! Collecting NEW FANTASTIC FOUR #1-5.

In the year 1492, the Inquisition has all of Spain in its grip. After centuries of pogrom-like riots encouraged by the Church, the Jews - who have been an important part of Spanish life since the days of the Romans - are expelled from the country by royal edict. Many who wish to remain are intimidated by Church and Crown and become Catholics, but several hundred thousand choose to retain their religion and depart; given little time to flee, some perish even before they can escape from Spain. Yonah Toledano, the 15-year-old son of a celebrated Spanish silversmith, has seen his father and brother die during these terrible days - victims whose murders go almost unnoticed in a time of mass upheaval. Trapped in Spain by circumstances, he is determined to honor the memory of his family by remaining a Jew. On a donkey named Moise, Yonah begins a meandering journey, a young fugitive zigzagging across the vastness of Spain. Toiling at manual labor, he desperately tries to cling to his memories of a vanished culture. As a lonely shepherd on a mountaintop he hurls snatches of almost forgotten Hebrew at the stars, as an apprentice armorer he learns to fight like a Christian knight. Finally, as a man living in a time and land where danger from the Inquisition is everywhere, he deals with the questions that mark his past. How he discovers the answers, how he finds his way to a singular and strong Marrano woman, how he achieves a life with the outer persona of a respected Old Christian physician and the inner life of a secret Jew, is the fabric of this novel. The Last Jew is a glimpse of the past, an authentic tale of high adventure, and a tender and unforgettable love story. In it, Noah Gordon utilizes his greatest strengths, and the result is remarkable and moving.

At the end of the third millennium, the Earth Empire is ready to collapse in on itself. Factions within an elite that controls thousands of worlds struggle in the vacuum left by the death of the Divine Empress. Nothing must get in the Doctor's way.

#1 New York Times Bestselling author "As dark and twisted as anything Hammett or Chandler ever dreamed up" Kirkus, Starred Review Harvey Mapes is a 26-year-old security guard who learned everything he knows about being a private eye from books and TV ... and who is about to discover that the differences between fact and fiction can be fatal. (Formerly published as "The Man with the Iron On Badge") CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR "WATCH ME DIE" "Approaching the level of Lawrence Block is no mean feat, but Goldberg succeeds with this engaging PI novel." Publishers Weekly "A wonderfully fresh voice in the mystery genre, Goldberg will delight fans of Janet Evanovich and Robert Crais," - Rick Riordan, author of "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" "Lee Goldberg bravely marches into territory already staked out by some fierce competition--Donald Westlake, Lawrence Block, the early Harlan Coben--and comes out virtually unscathed." The Chicago Tribune "Goldberg has a knack for combining just the right amount of humor and realism with his obvious love for the PI genre and his own smart ass sensibilities. [...]A terrific read. Goldberg is the real deal and should be on everyone's must read list." Crimespree Magazine "A quick, fun read with a satisfying and unexpected ending. Harvey Mapes is a hero I hope we see in a sequel." -- Phillip Margolin, author of "Gone But Not Forgotten"

Before they were heroes... 'Rescue? Is that what you call it? Throw a rock and then run? And I bet that's as far ahead as you'd planned.' Penelope made a face. 'Boys! Always thinking about heroics and never about what needs to happen day to day.' Odysseus, Prince of Ithaca, has always been safe, sheltered, protected - and bored! The Age of Heroes is past. The wars are over. The monsters have all been slain. Or so he believes. Are there any adventures left for a thirteen-year-old boy who wants, more than anything, to be a hero? His time comes when Odysseus, his best friend Mentor, a spoiled princess named Helen and her outspoken cousin Penelope are kidnapped by pirates. It is the start of an adventure-filled journey that leads them to the ancient island of Crete. There, Odysseus must face the deadly secret in the Labyrinth, where the Minotaur once devoured all who were unfortunate enough to enter. Now another, more deadly monster roams the maze. There the boy destined to fight in the Trojan War and survive the perilous voyage of the Odyssey discovers the hardest part of being a hero: living long enough to tell the tale.

"Just ahead lies all the fun and games which Darwin missed" ... So sayeth Jack "The King" Kirby in describing the creative spark behind his enchanting Devil Dinosaur, an alternate-reality fable that recounts what might have happened had humans and dinsoaurs roamed the Earth at the same time - and in typical "King" Kirby fashion, finds the author wondering, "Who says they didn't?" One of his latter-day titles from his final stint at Marvel, Devil Dinosaur's nine-issue run came and went in 1978, going mostly unrecognized for its gritty charm and episodic mythologizing. Seemingly crafted for an audience far younger than the other fare he was generating for Marvel at the time, Jack's grand tale is a prehistoric fable that seems to sell the notion that cooperation, friendship and loyalty were the lights that guided man out of the swamps and into civilization. Putting into play these notions were Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy, brothers bonded not by blood, but rather an uncommon spark of curiosity about their sourrounding world. It was this curiosity - this compulsion to investigate and not take for granted the conventional wisdom of others - that separated them from their peers and put them at the vanguard of evolution. Naturally, the dinosaurs in Devil's world came in many shapes and sizes, from triceratops, pterodactyls, and ankylosaurs to tyrannosaurs rex - Jack draws 'em all! And aside from Devil, Moon Boy finds himself rejected by his Small Folk kin for making friends with a fearsome T. Rex, and bullied by the Killer Folk that try to gain dominance in the forest by force! Devil and Moon Boy's curiosity often leads them into heaps of trouble, but that's where the fun is for readers! Besides the vicious Killer Folk, led by the warlord Seven Scars, the boy and his dinosaur are beset by a host of dinosaurs, giant spiders and armies of enormous ants, and are visited by aliens from outer space! But in the end, it is their friendship and fierce loyalty to each other that manifests itself in courageous heroism that eventually wins the day - and as Jack seems keen to note through subtext, evolves the species! Nearly thirty years after they were first created, this Omnibus edition dusts off the rare and woefully ignored pages of Jack Kirby's wild adventures in a prehistoric land and restores them for a new generation of readers - perfect for any child, or the child within you!

Continuing the alternate-Bronze-Age epic begun in Harry Turtledove's Beyond the Gap: The glaciers came and covered the world with ice. Now they are in retreat. North of the city of Nidaros, north of the forest, north of the steppes where the nomadic Bizogots hunt, a gap has opened in the ice-wall. And down through that gap come the men who call themselves "Rulers." Their terrifying cavalry rides wooly mammoths. Their bows can shoot arrows farther than those of the southerners. Their wizards wield power that neither the shamans of the Bizogots nor the wizards of Raumsdalian Empire can match, a magic that can melt the stone beneath a man's feet, call down blasting fire from the sky, or decimate a tribe with plagues that have no cure. Scattered survivors of the Bizogot tribes hide from the Rulers. The Empire is shattered. The feckless Emperor Sigvat II is in hiding. Against the Rulers stands Count Hamnet Thyssen and his small band of friends. Jarl Trasamund of the Three Tusk Bizogots. The adventurer Ulric Skakki. And, most important, Marcovefa, the female shaman of a cannibal tribe that lives atop the Glacier itself. Marcovefa has magic that the Rulers cannot counter. But there are many Rulers, and they have many wizards. Marcovefa is but one. Perhaps Hamnet and his allies can save their lands from the Rulers. But first they must seek out the legendary Golden Shrine – and the Golden Shrine has not been seen by human eyes since the time before the glaciers came.

"The adventures of a young John Difool before he became the most famous Sci-Fi anti-hero. We are instantly plunged back into the unique atmosphere of the world of "The Incal," as we witness John Difool's search for his identity and his origins, his first meeting with Deepo, and the appearance of many of the series' key characters, such as the Metabaron or Diavaloo"--

Four original tales of everybody's favorite teenage wall-crawler feature the Grey Gargoyle, Hydro-Man, and the Whirlwind.

Witness the terrifying future of the Incredible Hulk! Could our hero truly be destined to rule a ravaged world with a gamma fist as the despotic Maestro?! Or will a time-torn Bruce Banner be able to change his own nightmarish fate? One of the greatest Hulk tales ever told fully earns its Epic status! Plus, more adventures with Bruce, Rick Jones and the Pantheon! A monster at Loch Ness - but not the one Hulk went looking for! A showdown with Nick Fury! A royal rumble with Madman! Hulk and She-Hulk double-team the Bi-Beast! Silver Surfer and the Starjammers join the intergalactic Trojan War! And Rick is getting married...if he can survive his bachelor party! COLLECTING: VOLUME 20: INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) 407-419, ANNUAL 20; HULK: FUTURE IMPERFECT 1-2; INCREDIBLE HULK ASHCAN EDITION; MATERIAL FROM MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECIAL 3

"all will be impressed by Turtledove's immersive ancient world." − Publishers Weekly A new novel by one of the most acclaimed writers of alternate history in the world; a New York Times bestselling author who has been crowned as 'the Master of Alternate History' by Publisher Weekly and has won virtually every major award associated with the genre. Salamis is the fifth (standalone) novel in Harry Turtledove's critically acclaimed Hellenic Traders universe, detailing the adventures of two cousins, Menedemos and Sostratos, who work as seaborne traders following the death of Alexander the Great. This time the stage is one of the greatest sea battles ever fought in ancient times; the Battle of Salamis of 306 BC . The small, free, and independent polis of Rhodes is trying to stay neutral between the local great powers, each ruled by one of Alexander the Great's marshals: Asia Minor, controlled by one-eyed Antigonos, and Egypt, under the rule of Ptolemaios. As tensions between the great powers escalate, Menedemos and Sostratos are trying to resolve their own problems, oblivious to the fact that one of the greatest navel fleets in ancient history is about to set sail. Ptolemaios, needing shipping to carry weapons for the army he intends to land, coerces Menedemos into bringing their ship, the Aphrodite , along as part of his expeditionary force. And so, very much against their will, Menedemos and Sostratos become small parts of one of the ancient world's most significant naval battles.

"Owls to Athens demonstrates Turteltaub's excellent research skills ... an entertaining and intelligent story"-SF Site "Scholar and bestselling author [Turteltaub], encapsulates his vision of the ancient world through the eyes of these two engaging merchants."-Historical Novel Society After some long and perilous journeys, Menedemos and Sostratos finally head back to Athens just in time for the Dionysia, a bacchanalian festival of plays and celebrations. Like earlier installments in the series, Owls to Athens has the cousins going through various adventures, trade negotiations and sexual escapades, all set against a finely painted mosaic of Hellenic life in the fourth century BCE. However, this time, most of their time is spent in the City of Athens instead of sailing on the high seas. But even in the City, life can be treacherous, particularly when Menedemos decides to have an affair with one of the most influential and dangerous women in Athens.

Through multiple perspectives, tells of London in the near future where, when the government stops distributing a behavioral modification drug, Concentr8, chaos erupts and five teens take a man hostage, seemingly at random, changing all of their lives forever.