Four short stories. An odd ancient artifact that travels to unique destinations stealing it from a cave, will the new owner command the universe? Peaceful people are invaded by an oppressive evil race of beings. Nevertheless, are they at risk? An irregular spheroid is discovered. Will the discovery blow your mind? A bullying corporate director searches for a mystical substance. Will he survive?

In print and on-line, science fiction and fantasy is thriving as never before. A multitude of astonishingly creative and gifted writers are boldly exploring the mythic past, the paranormal present, and the promises and perils of myriad alternate worlds and futures. There are almost too many new and intriguing stories published every year for any reader to be able to experience them all. So how to make sure you haven’t missed any future classics? Award-winning editor and anthologist Jonathan Strahan has surveyed the expanding universes of modern sf and fantasy to find the brightest stars in today’s dazzling literary firmament. From the latest masterworks by the acknowledged titans of the field to fresh visions from exciting new talents, this outstanding collection is a comprehensive showcase for the current state of the art in both science fiction and fantasy. Anyone who wants to know where the future of imaginative short fiction is going, and treat themselves to dozens of unforgettable stories, will find this year’s edition of Best Science Fiction and Fantasy to be just what they’re looking for!

"Legendary storyteller Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher--for that world or ours." --

One touch kills. But not at first. Even so, you may wish it had. Beyond Astura is a grand science fiction-epic fantasy reminiscent of The Wheel of Time, The Belgariad, and The Lord of the Rings series all rolled into one. In the third novel of the series, “The Flow of Power”, all sentient beings face a mind afflicting evil, a deadly foe no one could prepare for. The existence and power of the insidious, and alien, One Mind can no longer be denied as it closes in on Crystalyn Creek. She is the only being—a mere human—that has ever thwarted its raw hunger to feed on the emotions and memories stemming from brain neurons throughout its long lifespan. With her sister Jade as the unwilling host, the parasitic creature is far stronger than it ever has been. Defeating such evil without harming her sibling becomes a desperate trial of instinct and survival. With the power of the great river of magic dwindling, Crystalyn’s symbol magic is crucial against the alien’s aggression, with its horde of controlled people and a black dragon. Meanwhile, a young and untrained User of magic makes his way across the land unknowingly tied to Crystalyn’s fate. Even with their collective strength, it may not be enough for anyone to survive what came from the cold darkness of space. Whether of Dark or Light affinity, human or nonhuman, all must stand against it or succumb to a state of mind worse than death…

The old wizard wasn't exactly happy with Valder, who'd led his enemy to his hut. Now hut and magical supplies were destroyed. But he'd promised the young scout a magic sword to get him safely back to his own lines -- and a much-enchanted sword Valder would get! The resulting sword gave perfect protection -- sometimes! It could kill any man -- or even half demon. In fact, once drawn, it had to kill before it could be put down or sheathed. Army wizards told Valder that the sword would keep him alive until he'd drawn it 100 times; then it would kill him! It wouldn't prevent his being wounded, maimed or cut to pieces, but it wouldn't let him die. If his new job as Chief Assassin for the army didn't make him use up the spell, he'd be practically immortal. Not bad, it seemed. There had to be a catch somewhere. There was -- and it was a lulu!

Award-winning anthologists Jane Yolen and Patrick Nielsen Hayden have combed through a year's worth of books and magazines and websites to find the most outstanding fantasy and science fiction stories of 2004--and collected them into a single volume aimed specifically at teens and young adults. Many of today's most popular authors are represented here, including: * Garth Nix, author of Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen, who presents an unforgettable tale of two swords, two daughters, and two endings.... * S. M. Stirling, author of Island in the Sea of Time, sends a likeable young barbarian across the Channel to Alba, for a confrontation with a wizard from faraway Nantucket that will change his life forever... * David Gerrold, creator of "The Trouble with Tribbles," who takes you to a remote countryside surrounded by a mysterious darkness, whose secret has yet to be revealed...

Slate is a thief who specialized in stealing, forging, and planting paperwork. When she is arrested for treason, she finds herself part of a suicide mission with Brenner the assassin and the disgraced paladin Caliban, once a demonslayer, now host to the dead remains of the demon which sent him on a murderous rampage and shattered his world.Their goal is both simple and nearly impossible. Find a way to stop the Clockwork Boys: the massive ivory creatures wreaking ruin upon the countryside. But to do that, they must first cross a war zone, braving plague and magic, to reach Anuket City, the distant home of the enemy.

Have you ever dreamed of zipping to distant stars, jumping through time or setting out on a deadly quest? This book has loads of inspiring ideas for amazing stories and plenty of space to write them down. With lots of helpful tips for building new worlds, and links to websites for more writing tips, activities and inspiration.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, A Checklist, 1700-1974, Volume one of Two, contains an Author Index, Title Index, Series Index, Awards Index, and the Ace and Belmont Doubles Index.

Inspire students' imaginations and teach fiction using leveled texts! Learn how to differentiate instruction with this book featuring excerpts from 15 different classic works including such titles as: The Lost World, A Journey into the Center of the Earth, and The Secret Garden. Each passage is written at four different reading levels with a focus on setting, character, plot, or language usage and features matching visuals. Symbols placed in the lower corner of each page represent the reading level range and are designed to help teachers differentiate instruction. Comprehension questions are also provided to complement each reading level. A Digital Resource CD is included with a modifiable version of each passage in text format and full-color versions of the texts and image files. This resource is correlated to the Common Core State Standards.