BEING A HERO ISN’T EASY WHEN YOU’RE UP AGAINST A KING! The time has come for Atreyu Academy’s annual field trip, which is taking place at Mars Beach Resort Dome—a resort that mimics some of the most beautiful beaches on Earth. Alex is going there with Alice, Ariel, Jasmine, and Michelle as a chaperone. What sounds like a simple task is made more complicated by Ariel and Michelle’s constant bickering devolving into violent fights. To make matters worse, the man who King Lucifer said would be coming to claim Ariel and Michelle has arrived at Mars without Alex’s knowledge—and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make those two his!

Not Quite the Triumphant Return He Expected. Alex has returned to Mars alongside Gabrielle and Nyx, but there are many problems he must face now that he is back. Jasmine hasn’t been seen at school for the last several days and Kazekiri has been acting withdrawn. Alex has no idea what is happening, but he knows something is wrong, and if he doesn’t want to lose two of the people he has grown to love, then he’ll need to find out what’s going on and how to fix it.

Caspian and Elincia have completed their mission in Dorumhold. The slave-trading operation has been wiped out and the Sorceress charged with ruling put back in place. Now, all that’s left is for them to return to Casadinia and report on their success. Or so they believe. But the danger isn’t over yet. In fact, it is just beginning. And it all starts when they return to Casadinia and find out that Sylvia is being charged with treason.

Sometimes life gives you lemons. Other times it gives you bodacious alien babes. Alexander S. Ryker has decided to let Gabrielle continue living with him, despite now knowing that she is the daughter to the Emperor of the Galaxy. Whether this was a sound decision remains to be seen. Between the two of them constantly making inventions that explode, the sexy situations that he invariably winds up, and a host of alien suitors who wish for Gabrielle’s hand in marriage—and who are willing to do anything to get it—Alex is about to find himself beset by dangerous and erotic scenarios. The life of a wannabe hero is never easy.

THE HERO GOES INTERGALACTIC! Alex Ryker has finally accepted not only Gabrielle’s feelings for him, but also his own unusual lust for her—and the other women surrounding him. But just because he’s learned to accept who he is and how he feels doesn’t mean the problems have ended. Alex’s would-be-rival and Gabrielle’s sort-of-childhood-friend, Arthur, has a problem on his hands. His siblings have decided he isn’t fit for the throne and have sought to overthrow him with a rebellion, while he was away trying to woo Gabrielle for her hand in marriage. Alex, Gabrielle, and Nyx must travel with Arthur to another solar system entirely and help him stop a war.

A DECISION MUST BE MADE Kazekiri has been conflicted the entire time she has lived with Alex and the others. Her love for him is constantly at odds with her morals and it’s driving her crazy. She just cannot stand the idea of being a part of his harem, but she doesn’t like the idea of being apart from him either. However, a decision has to be made, and her choice will affect more than just her.

BEING A HERO ISN'T A WALK ON MARS! Alexander S. Ryker dreams of becoming a hero, but dreams are hard to achieve when you’ve caused several million credits worth of property damage. Being expelled from the Mars Police Academy isn’t helping his case. Crushed, Alex encounters a girl named Gabrielle Angelise in a meeting that will change his life forever. Gabrielle is an alien! She’s also on the run. Alex wonders if this is the chance that he’s been waiting for, the chance to finally become a hero. Opportunities like this don’t come often, or ever, and so Alex steps up to protect Gabrielle and make his dream a reality. He will become a hero—if the strain from living with an alien bombshell doesn’t kill him first!

A Tail of Fan Service! Kevin Swift has faced many problems since becoming Lilian’s mate: bullies, the older sister of bullies, the older sister’s jabronis, bratty kitsune, yōkai assassins, anti-yōkai militant groups, tentacle monsters, and the mightiest Celestial Kitsune in the entire world. He’s survived through it all, growing stronger and more mature in the process—at least, he likes to think so. But another problem is about to descend upon him, one that will affect far more than just him. The Sons and Daughters of Humanity are making their move, and neither Kevin nor his family are in any way prepared for the coming storm.

The Mystery Fancier Volume 9 Number 6, November-December 1987, contains: "Cornell Woolrich, The Last Years (Conclusion)," by Francis M. Nevins Junior, "Further Gems from the Literature," by William F. Deeck, and "Mystery Mosts," by Jeff Banks.

THE BATTLE IS WON Although it happened sooner than anticipated, Neveria has survived the Demon Beast Invasion. With the threat having passed, Eryk has decided it’s finally time for him to create his own sect, one that will do the things the Nevarian Spiritualists and Imperial Royal Guards cannot. But not everything is calm. Empress Hilda has shocking information that could shake the foundation of everything Eryk thought he knew, Kari’s youngest brother is acting even more surely than usual, and creating a guild from scratch, without the aid of his friends from the past, is much harder than he anticipated. The Demon Beast Invasion might be over, but Eryk’s life is only just beginning.