May 22, 2013
Super Bass
Is Gian’s love for the Summer King stronger than his hate?
May 15, 2013
The Button Man and the Murder Tree
An all-new Wild Cards story
May 14, 2013
Shall We Gather
When one world brushes another, asking the right question can be magic…
May 8, 2013
Fire Above, Fire Below
The dragon below our city has died. What is to be done?
Gian returns to Sea-john from the Kingdom's wars certain that he has skills beyond killing, death and destruction. He needs to prove to himself that love is just as strong, if not stronger, than his hate. The Summer King gives him this opportunity.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ann VanderMeer.
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) have announced the winners of the 2012 Nebula Awards, the Ray Bradbury Award, and the Andre Norton Award.
Tor.com was eye-wideningly honored to be represented so heavily in the Novelette department by Brit Mandelo for “The Finite Canvas,” Meghan McCarron for “Swift, Brutal Retaliation,” and Rachel Swirsky for “Portrait of Lisane da Patagnia.” All three novelettes can be read for free in the above links. Tor Books was thrilled to have two nominees in the Novel division, Tina Connolly’s Ironskin and Mary Robinette Kowal’s Glamour in Glass.
Congratulations to the winners and all the honorees!
George R. R. Martin’s Wild Cards multi-author shared-world universe has been thrilling readers for over 25 years. Now, in addition to overseeing the ongoing publication of new Wild Cards books (like 2011’s Fort Freak), Martin is also commissioning and editing new Wild Cards stories for publication on Tor.com. In Cherie Priest’s “The Button Man and the Murder Tree,” it’s Chicago in 1971, and Raul is a button man—a professional ender of lives that the Mob needs ended. But something’s odd about his most recent assignments. And then there are those mushrooms growing out of his skin....
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by senior editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden.
[Read “The Button Man and the Murder Tree” by Cherie Priest]
When one world brushes another, asking the right question can be magic….
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by Tor Books editor Paul Stevens.
“Fire Above, Fire Below” is about the crisis that the dying of a dragon living below a major city causes, and the pact made many years earlier to deal with such a situtation.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ellen Datlow.
Nina, one of the few descendants of human colony on Mars that was abandoned by Earth, is surprised to discover that she can breathe the toxic atmosphere of the Martian surface. The crew, thinking that their attempts at terraforming and breeding for Martian adaptability have finally payed off, rejoice at the prospect of a brighter future. But Nina's about to unlock the mystery of the disaster that stranded them on Mars… and nothing will ever be the same.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by senior editor Calista Brill.
“Jack of Coins,” by Christopher Rowe, is about a strange, amnesiac man who is befriended by a rebellious group of teenagers living in a repressive city.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ellen Datlow.
People send their dreams and wishes floating down the Mae Ping River with the hope that those dreams will be captured, read and come true. It is a surprise what some wish for and why. One can never know what’s inside someone’s heart—what they really truly want, and those dreams sometimes reveal our true selves.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ann VanderMeer.
[Read “The Ink Readers of Doi Saket” by Thomas Olde Heuvelt]
Lane doesn’t understand why people have such a hard time following directions. All these paintings are clearly marked “DO NOT TOUCH” for a reason.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by senior editor Calista Brill
John was found as a child on the edge of a farm, and soon began to display amazing powers. He helped mankind, for a time, but as life went on, and on, this superhuman set his sights to the stars instead. With an infinite lifespan and an apparently limitless set of powers, John has to face the hardest of questions. What do you do, what should you do, when you can do anything?
In a village on the distant colony of Kiruna, the outcast Aino has worked hard to created a life for herself. The fragile status quo is upset when the offworlder Petr arrives and insists on becoming a part of her life. But he has no idea what it will cost him, and has cost Aino, to belong to the people who sing with inhuman voices.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ann VanderMeer.
Presenting “The Fox Wife,” an original poem by Theodora Goss in celebration of National Poetry Month on Tor.com, acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ellen Datlow.
Tor.com is celebrating National Poetry Month by featuring science fiction and fantasy poetry from a variety of SFF authors. You’ll find classic works, hidden gems, and new commissions featured on the site throughout the month. Bookmark the Poetry Month index for easy reading.
“Rag and Bone,” by Priya Sharma, is about Tom, who buys unwanted household items and scavenges other materials (including bones) and resells them in an alternative 19th century Liverpool in which the wealthy use the poor for parts from the inside out, should they need them. Colorful, disturbing, and moving as Tom maneuvers warily between the masters he serves and the poor from whom he scavenges.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ellen Datlow.
Presenting “Portrait of the Book As Golem,” an original poem by Jane Yolen in celebration of National Poetry Month on Tor.com, acquired for Tor.com by Tor Books senior editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden.
Tor.com is celebrating National Poetry Month by featuring science fiction and fantasy poetry from a variety of SFF authors. You’ll find classic works, hidden gems, and new commissions featured on the site throughout the month. Bookmark the Poetry Month index for easy reading.
In Gregory Benford's new science fiction story “Backscatter,” life might emerge under the most unlikely conditions...or in the last extremity.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by Tor Books senior editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden.
Presenting “House,” an original poem by Neil Gaiman in celebration of National Poetry Month on Tor.com, acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ellen Datlow.
There's what we know...and what we assume. Read “Running of the Bulls,” a new original short story by Harry Turtledove.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by Tor Books editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden.
It's so hard to find fantasy with realistic women in it, even in fantasy that contains realistic women! (Our kingdom for SENSIBLE FEMALE ARMOR.)
Fans of Terry Pratchett, the quirkier bits of The Hobbit, and tongue-in-cheek fantasy should take a peek at this original short comic by M.K. Reed and illustrator Jonathan Hill, the authors of the recently released graphic novel Americus.
(And not because it also contains the latest issue of Lady Bosoms....)
Sometimes a game, even a sacred game, can have far-reaching consequences. In bear country young Skye learns just how far she is willing to go to play the game properly in order carry on the traditions that came before her and will most likely continue long after she is gone.
This short story was acquired for Tor.com by consulting editor Ann VanderMeer.
Sent to Southern Arizona to investigate rumors of chupacabra running rampant, SEAL Team 666 becomes embroiled in Mexican cartel politics, the loss of one of their own, and the machinations of an American patriot group who wants to lock down the border at any cost.
This novelette was acquired for Tor.com by St. Martin's Press editor Brendan Deneen.
