Showing results for "The Mercenary" in Science Fiction & Fantasy

Flying Ace Mason “Mace” Dickson was once a legend among fighter pilots. Now, in his middle years, that storied life is a distant memory—until NASA drafts Mace for a black book flight test. He’s transported to a strange world forgotten by time, where he wakes on the desert sands of a bloody battlefield. In this land, warfare isn’t fought from the skies at a distance. It’s vicious and hand-to-hand, and arcane spells can kill a man just as quickly as spear or sword.

He was driven by violent injustice from his home moon of Callisto - and set forth to claim the epic destiny that would blaze across worlds and time. He saw his family destroyed, his sister carried off into sexual slavery, his beautiful lover killed - and he swore revenge against the murderous pirates who held the Jupiter planetoids in a stranglehold of terror. Fired by raw courage, steeled by young might, he rose in the navy of Jupiter to command a personal squadron loyal to the death.

Free from those who would seek to make him their pawn, Kyle is now able to seek his own destiny. His team is shaping up around him, but becoming divine has given him a larger view of things. He never asked for any of this but can he turn his back on all of creation? That may very well be what is at stake. His relationship issues may just have to take a backseat. But let his foes beware, if a team isn't enough then the war god shall raise an army.

Bereaved and exiled from his homeland, Ganry ekes out a living as a wandering mercenary. A contract to protect a 15-year-old princess sees him embark on a quest across the kingdom. Confronted with danger at every turn, they get help from some unlikely companions. And Ganry discovers that there is more at stake than his own survival.

Some writers of science fiction turn out to be reasonably accurate prognosticators of the future. In Mack Reynolds’ Mercenary, the elite 1 percent control the wealth of the nation and thus the nation. War as we know it has been eliminated, and disputes between nations, unions, and corporations are settled on a battlefield by mercenary soldiers with pre-1900 weapons. These battles are televised, and the combatants become heroes, not unlike NFL players. Meet Joe Mauser, one of the best of the best; a tactician and gun for hire.

Reeve has come out on top of his enemies: the gods themselves. The Mage has finally created the first iteration of the System, and although it falls silent, he knows it's still there—planning, plotting, doing who knows what. He has found answers that have led him to far more questions than he had before. Who is pulling the strings behind the scenes? Why are the gods going along so compliantly with his conquest? Where in the nine hells is Jax? Is the Entity still around?

Reeve has continued his war against the gods, building his empire and gathering his forces against the storm to come. They have built new ships, developed new technologies, and brought in new recruits. His friends and budding family are now in a better position than ever to create a galaxy safe for their own—even if that means conquering it in its entirety. Even with the developments on the material and science fronts, Reeve has been found lacking in his war against the gods and their machinations for the total annihilation of the universe.

He finally escaped the cycle of war and death only to find himself kidnapped, taken to a new universe where nothing makes sense. A world where nothing is familiar and insane robots, killer AI, and otherworldly beings he can hardly comprehend are the norm. He must learn to survive these constant threats to his very survival, all the while learning that these new experiences are changing him, molding him into something new...something extraordinary.

Centuries ago, the murder of a beloved king tore apart the Kingdom of Caledun. The land was plunged into chaos and thousands perished. A new order was established in an attempt to return Caledun to its former glory. It failed, but in its place rose the beginnings of the Code. During this same period, the mystical caretakers of the Great Wood retreated from the world of Kal Maran, their disappearance an ominous harbinger of the suffering that was to follow. The Great Wood now grows out of control. Cities, towns, and villages have fallen before the relentless march of the forest.

Have you ever been sick of being the low man on the totem pole? A trio of mercs feel your pain. Chill, Ivan, and Kortez have been slaving away as mercenaries for years. But enough is enough, and they are done putting up with being an afterthought. Striking out alone is a risk, but mercenary work is not exactly in short supply. In the depths of a mine-riddled world, the Swarm is stirring. Chitinous hordes boil up from the depths, claiming lives and resources.

With the Seed of the Sacred Tree and Princess Tinia aboard, Hiro and crew join the battle against Red Flag, the pirate gang that attacked the elves' home planet. Just as the battle is looking hopeless, the Krishna activates a mysterious new barrier--one that seems to have something to do with the Sacred Tree. Meanwhile, Hiro snags the interest of Mary, a buxom mercenary with shady ties. How is Hiro going to shake this gorgeous new troublemaker?

All other business aboard the Black Lotus gets put on the back burner when Hiro is enlisted to ward off an alien monster. This creature could pulverize a planet--it measures a full five hundred kilometers across! Can the Black Lotus hold its own against its gargantuan foe? Is a deep-space David and Goliath moment in the cards?! Speaking of cards... Hiro heads to a casino to gain an edge against a band of unfamiliar space pirates. Blending into their glitzy surroundings requires his loyal crewmates to dig up bunny-girl outfits!

In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers....

In an unprecedented first, Earth sends a message to Mogwa Prime. Unfortunately, the messenger is not met with enthusiasm. Misunderstandings soon threaten all of Humanity. Forced to prove Earth can serve the Empire better than any rival, McGill does his best. Eager to prove our worth to the Galactics, the frontier war between Rigel and Earth is expanded to Storm World. Circled by six moons, the planet is ravaged by wild storms and tides. Battles are fought in raging hurricanes, and death stalks the soldiers on both sides.

Nothing is perfect on Dorbin. Frank knowns the planet is rife with issues that only exacerbate his problems. After being run ragged all over Lornshire, he's eager to find a nice home.

Two expanding interstellar powers are about to meet in battle. After the collapse of the Cephalopod Kingdom, Humanity claimed the 300 rebellious worlds it left behind. But light years away on the far side of a disputed region, a rival power has begun to move. They're stealing our planets, one at a time. Earth Command decides to invade the center of the frontier to set up an advanced base. The mission to DARK WORLD is highly classified and deadly. Legion Varus spearheads the effort, and James McGill journeys to the stars again. How many ships do they have? How advanced is their tech?

When swordswoman Konoha joins Serena's edge-world investigation, Hiro's gobsmacked by her combat chops. Supposedly, Konoha's here to investigate a metal spider with psionic abilities—and check up on Kugi!

Raised in the slums and alleys of Helsin, Argo is tired of lurking. He is exhausted of living meal to meal and tries to elevate himself to a better life. The Rumi Guild he plans to depart, well, they decide to bury him instead of letting him escape their grip. Argo sees the trap coming, avoids the clutches of fate, and runs from everything he's ever known.

Cities, even private individuals, may from time to time hire soldiers; either to supplement their indigenous forces, or to conduct particular ventures, perhaps of reprisal, perhaps even of acquisition. On Gor there are numerous mercenary companies, some larger, some smaller, whose services may be purchased, or bid upon, for given periods of time. The allegiance of these companies is to their pay, and their captains. The forces of Cos and Tyros, powerful maritime ubarates, and their allies, have now beached upon the mainland, and are utilizing the city of Torcodino as a repository for supplies....

Becoming a legendary wizard who defies the odds and gets the job done isn't the only new adventure for Argo. A beautiful wife and happy child bring new requirements, too. What hasn't changed are his loyalty to his family, and earning his living the dangerous way. Despite a quiet life, pressure at home soon pushes Argo to take new jobs, and word comes of a distant region paying big to tackle deadly challenges. Yet, when Argo and his wife arrive to complete the quest, they find dead mercenaries with strange wounds.