Maxima Library

While her writing is of course essentially science fiction, it could as easily be considered fantasy. Her themes vary, but she is frequently concerned with social issues in which societies are in conflict and where there are no simple solutions. She is also often concerned with the implications of sex roles and sex role stereotyping.

The Dark Intruder and Other Stories is a collection of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s SF short stories.

Facing the gallows for defending his honor—by killing the captain of the guard—the mighty Conan jumps feet first into a rescue attempt of one of his fellow prisoners. When Conan learns his rescuers are the daring Rebels of the White Rose, he joins their blood-soaked insurrection. But Conan’s struggles are only beginning, for the road to the throne is defended by the Final Guard—indestructible warriors made of stone. Conan must draw steel against these indomitable foes and pray that Krom will guide his blade both strong and true.

A picaresque novel with fantasy elements, set in a city not unlike Venice. However, it is a Venice without Christianity or monotheism, existing within an alternate version of Renaissance or Early Baroque Italy.

In 1937 Ernest Hemingway traveled to Spain to cover the civil war there for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Three years later he completed the greatest novel to emerge from "the good fight,"

For Whom the Bell Tolls

. The story of Robert Jordan, a young American in the International Brigades attached to an antifascist guerilla unit in the mountains of Spain, it tells of loyalty and courage, love and defeat, and the tragic death of an ideal. In his portrayal of Jordan's love for the beautiful Maria and his suberb account of El Sordo's last stand, in his brilliant travesty of La Pasionaria and his unwillingness to believe in blind faith, Hemingway surpasses his achievement in

The Sun Also Rises

and

A Farewell to Arms

to create a work at once rare and beautiful, strong and brutal, compassionate, moving and wise. "If the function of a writer is to reveal reality," Maxwell Perkins wrote to Hemingway after reading the manuscript, "no one ever so completely performed it." Greater in power, broader in scope, and more intensely emotional than any of the author's previous works, it stands as one of the best war novels of all time.

Death in the Afternoon is a non-fiction book by Ernest Hemingway about the ceremony and traditions of Spanish bullfighting. It was originally published in 1932. The book provides a look at the history and what Hemingway considers the magnificence of bullfighting, while also being a deeper contemplation on the nature of fear and courage.

Any discussion concerning bullfighting would be incomplete without some mention of the controversy surrounding it. Toward that end Hemingway commented, "anything capable of arousing passion in its favor will surely raise as much passion against it."

Since he was no one, he could be anyone. He'd been an important part of the team putting together the International Data Bank, which would track every single move made by every single human being. As the project neared completion he realized that no one would ever truly be free again. At the very last moment he blanked his file, changed his face, and created a back door into the system. Now he was nameless, had no past, left no traces, according to the IDB he no longer existed. But he could become anyone at anytime for any reason. Project RUMOKO plans to use atomic explosions to create artificial island in the ocean. Someone is trying to sabotage the Project. Our nameless hero has been hired to find out who that Someone is. But when he finds out who and why he has some hard decisions to make that have far reaching consequences.

Ten thousand years ago, humans and fairies fought a great battle for the magical island of Ireland. When it became clear to the fairy families that they could never win, they decided to move their civilisation underground and keep themselves hidden from the humans. All the fairy families agreed on this, except the eighth family, the demons.

The demons planned to lift their small island out of time until they had regrouped and were ready to wage war on the humans once more. However, the time spell went wrong, and the island of Hybras was catapulted into Limbo, where it has remained for ten thousand years.

Now, the tainted time spell is deteriorating and demons are being sucked back into the present space and time. The Fairy Council are naturally concerned about this and are monitoring any materialisations. When the spell’s deterioration accelerates, the materialisations become unpredictable. Even the fairy scientists cannot figure out where the next demon will pop up.

But someone can. Artemis Fowl, the teenage criminal mastermind, has solved temporal equations that no normal human should be intelligent enough to understand. But Artemis Fowl is no normal human.

So when a confused and frightened demon pops up in a Sicilian theatre, Artemis Fowl is there to meet him. Unfortunately, he is not the only one. A second, mysterious party has also solved the temporal equations, and manages to abduct the demon before Artemis can secure him.

This is a disaster for the fairy People, because this demon was no ordinary fairy. He was the last demon warlock, and as such held the key to the survival of the entire demon race.

It is up to Artemis and his old comrade Captain Holly Short to track down the missing demon and rescue him before the time spell dissolves completely and the lost demon colony returns violently to Earth.

Criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl is back… and so is his cunning enemy from Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Opal Koboi. At the start of fourth adventure. Artemis has returned to his unlawful ways. He's in Berlin, preparing to steal a famous impressionist painting from a German bank. He has no idea that his old rival, Opal, has escaped from prison by cloning herself. She's left her double behind in jail and, now free, is exacting her revenge on all those who put her there, including Artemis.

They are the Party Set, the social elite whom everyone follows and envies. They stay in cryogenic stasis until the next grand party. For them the passing of years can be nothing more than the passing of a few days. Members of The Set watch as society changes rapidly around them. They are aloof, immutable, a relic of an older age. But they are not immune to the forces of time that press on them at each and every party as they get more and more out of touch with the world around them. Then the impossible happens, a member of The Set is almost killed in a vicious attack by another member of The Set. Now they must deal with a society that they only barely comprehend.

Welcome to a Steampunk wild west starring Doc Holliday, with zombies, dinosaurs, robots, and cowboys. The time is April, 1885. Doc Holliday lies in bed in a sanitarium in Leadville, Colorado, expecting never to leave his room again. But the medicine man and great chief Geronimo needs him for one last adventure. Renegade Comanche medicine men object to the newly-signed treaty with Theodore Roosevelt. They are venting their displeasure on two white men who are desecrating tribal territory in Wyoming. Geronimo must protect the men or renege on his agreement with Roosevelt. He offers Doc one year of restored health in exchange for taking on this mission. Welcome to the birth of American paleontology, spearheaded by two brilliant men, Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, two men whose genius is only exceeded by their hatred for each other’s guts. Now, with the aid of Theodore Roosevelt, Cole Younger, and Buffalo Bill Cody, Doc Holliday…

A collection of twenty-three stories, all originally published between 1955 and 1975, includes "Gypsy," "Goat Song," "Sister Planet," and "Operation Changeling."

It’s August 19, 1884. The consumptive Doc Holliday is preparing to await his end in a sanitarium in Leadville, Colorado, when the medicine man Geronimo enlists him on a mission. The time the great chief has predicted has come, the one white man he’s willing to treat with has crossed the Mississippi and is heading to Tombstone—a young man named Theodore Roosevelt. The various tribes know that Geronimo is willing to end the spell that has kept the United States from expanding west of the Mississippi. In response, they have created a huge, monstrous, medicine man named War Bonnet, whose function is to kill Roosevelt and Geronimo and keep the U.S. east of the river forever. And War Bonnet has enlisted the master shootist John Wesley Hardin. So the battle lines are drawn: Roosevelt and Geronimo against the most powerful of the medicine men, a supernatural creature that seemingly nothing can harm; and Holliday against the man with more credited kills than any gunfighter in…

A collection of eighteen stories along with seven limericks and two untitled songs. Volume 3 includes three of Anderson's Hugo and Nebula award-winning stories, "The Saturn Game", "No Truce with Kings", and "Hunter's Moon".

Welcome to a West like you’ve never seen before! With the O. K. Corral and the battle with the thing that used to be Johnny Ringo behind him, the consumptive Doc Holliday makes his way to Deadwood, Colorado. But when a gambling loss drains his bankroll, Doc aims for quick cash as a bounty hunter. The biggest reward? Young, 20-year-old desperado known as Billy the Kid. With a steampunk twist on these classic characters, nothing can be as simple as it seems.

Welcome to a West like you’ve never seen before, where electric lights shine down on the streets of Tombstone, while horseless stagecoaches carry passengers to and fro, and where death is no obstacle to The Thing That Was Once Johnny Ringo. Think you know the story of the O.K. Corral? Think again, as five-time Hugo winner Mike Resnick takes on his first steampunk western tale, and the West will never be the same.

Legally, the United Planets Organization could do nothing about the repressive, backward planetary governments of Falange, Stalin and Doria. It was imperative, however, that something be done. The UP had proof that a race of highly advanced, warlike aliens existed somewhere in the depths of space — the human-held worlds had to be ready to meet the challenge when it came. For this reason the secret corps, Section G, was formed. No government could be allowed to hold up the progress of mankind; Section G was ordered to bring them down — by any means necessary!

In a time when dragons are thought to be a myth, Damon finds that there may be one remaining, one last great secret. The answers lie at the other end of Dire. However, there is more than distance and the possibility of a dragon, there is also a king who cannot rule, people who are hiding the truth, and others who use their powers for personal gain. The story twists and turns, never taking the reader where expected, and it does so with sharp wit and compassion.

The last dragon has been set free by Kendra. With that release, Damon's small powers are reduced, and Kendra now begins to take control of the dragon. However, their plans are disrupted when they find themselves the innocent combatants in a war with the mages. They do not know the rules of magic, nor how to properly use it. Those around them fare no better. Princess Elizabeth rides to bring help, but events progress so fast that she may arrive too late.
Their first task is to explore the remains of the cave where the dragon was held prisoner for hundreds of years, yet even in that there is danger and wyverns are intent on preventing them from learning the secrets of Mercia. While there are answers revealed, more problems arise. Who are they fighting against? And why? The dragon is at the center of part of it, but the web of lies and danger expands daily. With the help and protection of the dragon they may survive.

The mages of Dire have disappeared, Magic no longer works, and the royalty in nearby kingdoms are dying, one after the other. The answers lie across the sea in a land known as Kondor. The old city of Dagger lies at the edge of the Brownlands, and both the mages and sorceresses have congregated there. Damon and Kendra follow, with the Last Dragon always nearby.

Damon is captured by slavers and will be sold at the markets in Kaon. Kendra and her dragon are free, but the Brownlands hold other dangers waiting to trap her. What they have learned about magic and the mages so far is mostly wrong. They begin learning the truths that solve many of their questions, as well as what needs to be done.

The battle for Kaon is near. Kendra's dragon is leading the way. One final push will win the war-but it is all too easy. Something is wrong. The fourth book in the series pulls together the threads of the last three and delves into the story in a fresh new approach. The scope is increased, the goals are more defined, and in the end, only one side can win.

Kendra, Elizabeth, and Damon must learn how to defend against more kingdoms falling. At the same time, they must find a way to fight back. The last book in the series holds more answers, higher excitement, and the interplay between Damon and the others continues to reveal humor, intelligence, and surprise after surprise.

One crown can unite them—or destroy them all.The three kingdoms lie splintered, their aging dragon riders content with stories of glorious battle victories. But a new evil creeps across the land. Inyene, a powerful noblewoman of the Northern Kingdom, plunders valuable resources to power mechanical dragons in her quest to gain a foothold in the Middle Kingdom. From there she will ascend the High Throne, once again uniting the realms under a single crown.For the wearer of the Stone Crown can wield unlimited power—if it can be found.Narissea has spent a quarter of her sixteen years slaving away in the mines, accused of a crime she didn’t commit. When word reaches her of the horrors assailing her village, Narissea knows she must act despite the risk. Already her arm is scarred with four brands signifying previous escape attempts. If she’s unsuccessful in her fifth, it will mean death.But her life forever changes when she stumbles upon an injured dragon, discovers an ancient shrine, and learns the true purpose behind Lady Inyene’s mechanical abominations.Now, Narissea has only one choice: gain Inyene’s trust and find a way to thwart her plans, even if it means sacrificing that which she desires most of all.

Her freedom.

This novel contains violence.

She can save her people—or doom the world.

Narissea and her dragon Ymmen face an impossible choice. Armed with a map discovered in the hidden shrine, she’s forced to lead Inyene’s heir, Abioye, through the wilds of the Plains to claim the ultimate prize. For only the wearer of the Stone Crown can command all dragons, and take the High Throne that rules over the three kingdoms.

To place the crown’s power into Inyene’s hands is unthinkable. Yet failure to obtain it means certain death.

But the small band is not alone. Vicious mercenaries seek the crown for their mysterious patron and attack Narissea’s expedition when they least expect it. In the ensuing chaos, the map is torn in two, forcing Narissea to rely on her memories of landmarks and stories passed down by the village elders to make her way through the Plains and its treacherous Sea of Mists.

When Inyene suspects betrayal, she sends her mechanical dragons against the beleaguered band, and the sands erupt in an epic clash of forces. Narissea’s desperate decisions threaten to alter destinies, but she’ll do whatever it takes to save her people.

No matter the consequences.

Fleet, introduced in the last book, is selected to investigate the dragon-master who helped Raymer escape the dungeons. His pride in the appointment is tempered when Camilla from book one is sent with him. They travel to the Drylands Family and beyond, and what they find changes the future of the Dragon Clan, and threatens its existence. Besides fighting against the King, they have an unknown enemy—one that is ready to attack—and the Dragon Clan is unprepared.

Gray is dispatched to the port of Fleming on the Endless Sea to investigate the sudden appearance of rogue green dragons. Stinson, Gray’s nemesis since childhood, is assigned to accompany him into the drylands and beyond. Their partnership is contentious, but Gray discovers information that changes everything—and threatens the end of the Dragon Clan. His actions might upset the delicate balance of power, and end a truce. Worse, war is coming and the king is unprepared, perhaps even traitorous.

Hannah and Sage escape to the port city of Indore where they attempt to escape--but the young mage follows. Hannah must elude him and others, as well as learn more of her craft so she can return to the Kingdom of Wren and claim her rightful inheritance--and seek revenge. The forces against her mount, but she will not back away. This book is not intended to stand alone, but is a continuation of the first Mage's Daughter.

She sacrificed her freedom to save the kingdom from a tyrannical ruler—and may have doomed them all.

No sooner has Narissea successfully recovered the Stone Crown and used its power to fend off Inyene, the evil Metal Queen, then she realizes the crown can’t be removed. And it’s consuming her mind with its poisonous whispers. Irrational commands and uncharacteristic rage burst forth before she considers their impact. Dragons across the land are enslaved by forced obedience to her every word. And those who fought alongside her abandon the quest to keep the artifact from Inyene.

But it’s the voices that drive Narissea toward madness. Voices of the world’s dragons that never cease thundering through her skull—until one breaks through the rest: The voice urging her to take up the throne as High Queen.

In desperation, Narissea consults Torvald’s scholar king to help unravel the mysteries of the crown’s creation and crush its growing control over her. But the Stone Crown has a will of its own—and it will use whatever means necessary to accomplish its evil goal.

Now Narissea must find a way to destroy the crown.

Before it destroys her.

All Gareth must do is steal a dragon's egg and live to tell about it. He’s warned by night whispers to flee from his tiny mountain village of Dun Mare. All he believes about his life and home is a tangle of falsehoods. Gareth finds himself alone in a strange world of tempest seas, flying dragons, and powerful foes vying for the mental powers he may possess, and for control of the egg. They are only the beginning of Gareth's story.

After thirty years of peaceful living on Bitters Island, Gareth is struck down, nearly killed and his mind attacked. His father is dead, but he managed to send Gareth one last warning. To complicate matters more, Gareth finds his Grandson has powers equal to, or greater, than his. They discover a warped mind every bit as powerful as Gareth’s. But he must identify the source of the mental powers. Gareth must make an alliance with the Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and even the King that has tried to kill him for half a century.

Seth is a stepchild, a slave to be sold at will. Tired of the beatings and mistreatment, he steals a canoe and paddles away just before winter sets in. However, he does not have the supplies or knowledge to survive a winter. He searches for what he needs--and finds much more, including dragons, a crazy old man, and enough mystery to last a lifetime. Ahead of him lie excitement, dragons, and more, but as a short introduction to the Dragon Clan series, telling you more would ruin it for you.

If you’re thinking of reading this 23k novella as the introduction to your first Dragon Clan story, you have a lot to look forward to. Each of the Dragon Clan novels is about a different member of the family, but all the stories are interlinked, with common places, people, and goals. Enjoy this short story and then the entire Dragon Clan series.

An orphan named Camilla has the birthmark of the Dragon Clan - an intricate design of a dragon flowing from her hip to the ugly head peering over her shoulder. She knows enough to conceal it. When dragons fly nearby, the design on her back tingles. She's told that one day she will call down dragons - whatever that means, but first, she must avoid the assassins sent by the King. He has already murdered her family, and Camilla must escape and find sanctuary.

Raymer has been locked in the Summer Palace dungeon for a year. His only crime is being born of the Dragon Clan. The cell next to him holds an emissary of a rival kingdom, an irreverent giant of a man named Quint. Together they plan a daring escape, but once free they find that only the two of them can prevent a war and save innocent lives. Raymer learns of the special abilities he has with dragons and must use those abilities to control a dragon and prevent a war while also protecting the secrets of the Dragon Clan.

Princess Hannah learns the King has died. She is now positioned to become Queen, if she can sail across a sea, cross mountains, prevent a war, and save another kingdom. All that has happened to her in the previous books culminates in her return to her homeland, but six years additional have passed and things change, not always for the better. If she ever believed she would return to cheering crowds and be welcomed by the other royals, she understands that won't happen. As with all of Hannah's books (3) the reader never knows what will happen next.

Anna, the fast-talking clever girl from Gray's Story, learns of the deception and dangers discovered across the Endless Sea. She understands war is coming, but knows she can help her people. Anna decides to sail to the land of Breslau and gather information to win the war, but she needs help--a lot of it, and failure may mean the end of the Dragon Clan. Raymer, who bonded with a red dragon agrees to travel with her, and take his dragon with them. Perhaps between them they can prevent a war--or start one.

Hannah's finger can ignite a magical flame. But only mages deal with elemental fire, and all mages are men. The mage whispered to be her father is returning, and she intends to display her flame where he can see it. Her life changes with the dowsing of a flame. She has no friends, an uncertain future, and jealous enemies at every turn. But five years of working in the morning kitchen while listening to the gossip and cruel whispers serves her well. Her wit, sharp tongue and determination are honed to a razor edge and prepare her for the future.

Poul Anderson's stories are classics from the golden age of science fiction and beyond. A master storyteller, Anderson wrote tales ranging from the immediate to the distant future, from Earth to far-flung galaxies, from hard science fiction to fantasy - all the elements stirred and blended as only Anderson could! THE QUEEN OF AIR AND DARKNESS is the second volume of The Collected Works of Poul Anderson and collects his best works from a writing career that spans over 50 years.

Poul Anderson wrote stories ranging throughout time and space, from the near future to the far future, tales set on Earth, other planets, and galaxies distant… sometimes with a bit of time travel added to the brew. Call me Joe is the first of a multi-volume compendium of Poul Anderson’s best works from a writing career that spans over 50 years and contains 26 stories, including: «Call Me Joe», «Enough Rope», «Starfog», «The Helping Hand», «The Man Who Came Early», «The Sharing of Flesh" (1969 Hugo winner), «Time Patrol», «Tomorrow’s Children», «Wildcat».

For thousands of years, the Terran Empire had known peace. Then came violent creatures whose only desire was destruction. They had quietly amassed an arsenal of weapons. They were ready for war. But Earth was not! The first planet to be conquered would be an obscure world of medieval peasants. It would be slaughter--unless some highly unconventional espionage was tempted, by three altogether unusual Terran agents.

A Minga woman invites Northwest into the forbidden Venusian fortress where she lives. It turns out to be even more dangerous than expected.

All The World’s A Happy Stage. Until the knives come out… «Lyorn» is the next adventure in Steven Brust’s bestselling Vlad Taltos series. Another Opening… Another Cataclysm? Vlad Taltos is on the run. Again. This time from one of the most powerful forces in his world, the Left Hand, who are intent on ending his very lucrative career. Permanently. He finds a hidey-hole in a theatre where the players are putting on a show that was banned centuries ago… and is trying to be shut down by the House that once literally killed to keep it from being played. Vlad will take on a number of roles to save his own skin. And the skins of those he loves. And along the way, he might find a part that was tailor-made for him. One that he might not want… but was always his destiny.