Showing results for "Humans" in Dark Fantasy

In this new collection, Richard Thomas has crafted 14 stories that push the boundaries of dark fiction in an intoxicating, piercing blend of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Equally provocative and profound, each story is masterfully woven with transgressive themes that burrow beneath the skin.

The comfortable and safe mortal lands of the Nameless World have been left behind. The petty kingdoms with their endless feuds, the supposedly great empires with their innumerable intrigues and tragedies, even the Strange Lands that consider themselves to be the last bastion of true freedom. The Mad General has traversed them all, from one end to the other. What lies ahead? The road to the Land of the Immortals.

Baxter has been packed off to Hexpoort, a magical training school for MK6 agents. It sucks, but Baxter slowly learns to control his fledgling abilities and takes his first steps to becoming a dreamwalker. Lessons with Jackie Ronin lead them to suspect that the Obayifo may be involved with a doorway that Baxter inadvertently opened when operating the Mantis. Baxter and Jackie are plunged into the most dangerous place they've encountered yet: Cape Town Fashion Week.

Baxter Zevcenko's life is pretty sweet. He's making a name for himself as the kingpin of his smut-peddling high school syndicate, the other gangs are staying out of his business, and he's dating the girl of his dreams, Esme. But when Esme gets kidnapped, things start to get seriously weird, and the only man drunk enough to help is a bearded, booze-soaked, supernatural bounty hunter who goes by the name of Jackson "Jackie" Ronin.

As the King wages his never-ending war against the demons infiltrating The Breach, the nobles have grown weary, and some don’t believe the threat is real. So, Evan must travel across Rahma to win back the lords’ loyalty to the king. And he’s more motivated than ever now, because he will soon become a father. But Evan quickly realizes the kingdom’s unrest is greater than he realized. Thankfully, he’s a Dragon Lord. And dragons always get what they want.

Having won the king’s favor, Evan sets his sights on rebuilding the city of Hatra to its former glory. Until mummified harpies begin to attack them. Suspicious that the villainous Green Glass Sect is behind these latest assaults, Evan starts looking for answers, making allies, and consolidating his power. Luckily, he’s a kick ass dragon lord now. And dragons have no problem crushing their enemies.

Now tested in battle, Evan aims to become the heir of Hatra. Once that he’s a lord, Evan has even more on his plate, from rebuilding the city’s aqueducts to fighting demonic hordes. On top of all that, the King of Rahma gives Evan a quest to prove his worth: to find the lost sword of Hatra, which was last seen 1,000 years ago.

With Evan and Alyona’s campaign around Rahma drawing near, Evan is under a time crunch to make safe the city. First, he must clear out any beasts and enemies that lurk in the tunnels beneath Hatra. Then he needs to complete the reconstruction of the Lunar Palace. And finally, he’s got to deal with the assassins that have somehow infiltrated his home. Just another day for a Dragon Lord.

As Evan focuses on rebuilding Hatra, he discovers the project, and the city, are much bigger than he first thought. And things are lurking in the shadowed ruins. Then a phoenix princess comes flying out of the desert, and she begs Evan to save her people from deadly creatures that have pursued them relentlessly. Evan’s not one to turn down a beautiful princess, and besides, there is treasure to be found in the desert. Maybe it’s time to start his own dragon hoard...

Evan’s royal campaign to win over the people of Rahma has taken him to the northern peninsula. And straight to the gates of the underwater city of Pullis. The Green Glass Sect is up to no good under the sea, and it’s up to Evan and his party to save the merfolk from traitors and the ever-corrupting presence of miasma.

As a species, people have tamed the Earth. Individually, in the face of a superior predator, we're all just as helpless as the day we were born. And a superior predator is out there. Humans may be the Apex predator, but there's something even more deadly. It's the Super Apex.