Lt. Thomas Mullin i considered the best tracker around. So when a senator's son turns up missing, Mullin is called into find him. It doesn't Quite a few travelers and cowboys have disappeared recently in the same area. And the desolate, inhospitable land is offering no clues—only shallow graves.

Jack Paine, is battling alcoholism after a troubled youth, and his current case makes the struggle harder. Calling for an envelope as instructed by a phone call from a client, Morris Grumbach, Paine finds Grumbach dead, an apparent suicide. He has left photos of three men for the detective, slim clues to deeply buried crimes.

The things that live in the Earth A haunted computer A fragrant flower that signals the end of the human race Billy the Kid's killer beginnings - in the womb Here, then, are 17 remarkable horror stories by Stoker Award winner, World Fantasy, British Fantasy and International Horror Guild Award finalist Al Sarrantonio. In Hornets and Others you'll find a murderous jar of moonshine, a blood-red wind, a green face that commands carnage, a possessed coat that turns its wearer into a psychotic slasher. Plus two brand new stories, about a man made of glass and a horror beyond the stars! Also the title story: the acclaimed novella "Hornets," the very first tale in the Orangefield cycle, about the warmest Halloween ever, and the orange-and-black-striped insect that brings death to the town of Orangefield. And much more...

Dalin Shar's dream for the 26th Century is to bring Earth's poisoned Lost Lands back to life and restore his home planet to its former glory. Until that happens, relocation to a more inhabitable planet is his people's last chance for survival. But the last free place in the Five Worlds is desired by more than one warrior of the stars...

INTERPLANETARY WARThe Five Worlds of humanity were powerless to stop Prime Cornelian, High Leader of Mars, from decimating Venus with his legions of plasma soldiers. Now he turns to the settled moon of Saturn under the control of Wrath-Pei. Millions of lives face a horrible fate as the forces of these two madmen battle each other across the vastness of space...THE EXILED KINGImprisoned on the remote and savage ice world of Pluto, Dalin Shar's destiny lies on the usurped throne of Earth. But the methane atmosphere whipped by violent storms and prowled by mutant beasts makes escpae nearly impossible. Yet escape he must with the Five Worlds teetering on the brink of oblivion, the solar system has never been in greater need of heroes...PRAISE FOR JOURNEY:"Wars and rebellions, doomed romances, and a high-tech villain that makes Darth Vader look timid. This is great stuff!" Simon R. Green, author of DEATHSTALKER

Jack Paine, is battling alcoholism after a troubled youth, and his current case makes the struggle harder. Calling for an envelope as instructed by a phone call from a client, Morris Grumbach, Paine finds Grumbach dead, an apparent suicide. He has left photos of three men for the detective, slim clues to deeply buried crimes. Paine drives from Manhattan to the tonier suburbs, questioning Grumbach's daughters and his lawyer, but always running into stone walls. When the investigator falls in love with one daughter, Rebecca, he tries harder to gather evidence of incredible acts and to save Rebecca and himself as they're stalked by killers, intent on keeping scandal from ruining their sneaky games. Thriller fans should like Jack Paine a lot, and await more stories about the appealing detective.

On Mars, in the distant future, the princess Haydn's arranged marriage cannot save her beloved Republic. Her arch-enemy, the warrior-woman Frane, seeks to make herself Queen while Haydn—the legitimate heir— must flee for her life. A reluctant symbol for those who would restore the monarchy, Haydn is too young and unprepared to assume the throne—but determined to become a great Queen.

Here, to treasure, a new story collection from award-winning horror master Al Sarrantonio. In Halloween and Other Seasons you'll find:Summer that never ends...A sleepover that turns into an unending nightmare...A Summer camp that offers a one-way ticket...The strangest Halloween ever...All this and much, much more in Halloween and Other Seasons: there's a neighborhood rivalry that grows to monstrous proportions; a hedgerow with an appetite; the ultimate Charles Fort story; and the end of the world from the beginning.Halloween and Other Seasons contains 18 gems of weirdness, including Al Sarrantonio's very first published story.Sarrantonio first two Cemetery Dance collections, Toybox and Hornets and Others, are out-of-print collector's items so don't be caught short. Join a writer who has been hailed as "A writer of great stories" (Ray Feist) and "A very talented writer" (The Washington Post). Order Halloween and Other Seasons today!

Product DescriptionLittle Selene was bored. And then came the mysterious Toyman, carrying a very special toybox, filled with wonders and terrors beyond imagination. As Selene peered into the toybox, the stories tumbled out: a quiet little girl whose horrible secret bursts forth at a Halloween party ... a doll made of corn that hides a very nasty surprise ... a depraved celebration for the last vampire ... All of these and many more awaited Selend - and now they wait for you - inside the toybox. Go ahead, open it, if you dare. Toybox is the first ever collection of stories by horror master Al Sarrantonio, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of more than twenty novels and editor of the landmark horror anthology 999. Toybox itself was nominated for an International Horror Guild Award for best collection. "A dark treasure chest full of incomparable horror fiction." - Edward Lee, Author of Monstrosity "A True creative wonder. An artist." - Thomas F. Monteleone, Author of The Reckoning. "Will linger long after you've closed the boo." - SF Chronicle "A very talented writer..." Washington Post Book World

As the twenty-fifth century draws to a close, Prime Cornelian, a ruthless usurper of Martian rule, will do anything to control all of human civilization, and the fate of all humankind is in the hands of the exiled King of Earth, Dalin Shar. About the AuthorAl Sarrantonio, the author of twenty-eight books, is a winner of the Bram Stoker Award and has been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and the British Fantasy Award. He is the editor of numerous books, including the highly acclaimed anthology 999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense. His short stories have appeared in magazines such as Heavy Metal, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, Realms of Fantasy, Analog, Fantastic and Amazing, as well as in anthologies such as The Year’s Best Horror Stories, Visions of Fantasy: Tales from the Masters, Great Ghost Stories, and The Best of Shadows. His best stories have been collected in Toybox.

Young Princess Clara must defend her crown, as the atmosphere gradually leaks away from the Red Planet.

HORRORWEEN For untold ages a dark presence has shrouded the small town of Orangefield. In addition to the plentiful pumpkins that gave the town its name, Orangefield is home to the dreaded Lord of Death himself, Samhain. Despite rumors of his existence, and rare, brief sightings, Samhain has long been content to leave the local inhabitants alone. But that's about to change… When a boy from the town disappears, detective Bill Grant is convinced Samhain is responsible. But even Grant cannot imagine the horrific extent of the Lord of Death's grand scheme. As what may prove to be the last Halloween approaches, the fate of the world will depend on the survival of a small group of people, pawns in a terrifying game of cosmic proportions. HALLOW’S EVE After twelve years, Corrie Phaeder is returning home to Orangefield—the last place in the world he wants to be. Orangefield is a town of nightmares, a town where the impossible and the horrific happen all too often, where ghosts rise screaming from their graves, and where trick-or-treating goblins have no need for scary costumes. Something is waiting patiently for Corrie's homecoming. This Halloween, a messenger from a realm of shadows, with the body of a scarecrow and the head of a pumpkin, will usher Corrie into what might prove to be his last nightmare, a battle to the death with the ultimate darkness. HALLOWEENLAND In Orangefield, Halloween is never normal—and this year will be no exception. For Orangefield is now the home of Halloweenland, a bizarre carnival run by the mysterious Mr. Dickens. No one who sees the carnival doubts that it's a very strange place, but its real secrets can hardly be imagined. Orangefield is also the home of Detective Bill Grant, who thinks he's seen it all. He's on the trail of an odd little girl, a girl who could hold the end of the universe in her hand. The trail will lead Grant to Ireland, the ancient home of the Lord of the Dead, then back to Orangefield, where, on what may be the last Halloween, the ultimate battle between Life and Death will take place.

Jack Paine was on what passed for a vacation, or maybe it was a regrouping, an opportunity to forget the events of the last year and especially of the last month.  When the phone rang, he tried to ignore it.  There were only a few people who knew where to reach him, and none of them would try.  But the phone kept ringing.  And Jack Paine finally answered it. Of course, it was bad news.  Bob Petty, a friend from Paine's days on the force, had disappeared.  Petty's wife, Terry, knew that he hadn't gone undercover; they'd worked out a code for situations like that.  All Bob had said in his last phone call to his wife was, "If you ever come near me I'll kill you and the kids." Jack Paine is a retired cop with a private license and a telescope he uses to watch the heavens.  It's a simple life, good when he's got clients, and he manages when he doesn't.  But this call was leading to something Paine wasn't sure he could manage:  Now that Petty had disappeared, bodies were beginning to appear and the trail always led back to his old friend. Paine doesn't think his friend has turned.  But something is very wrong, something that goes beyond the deep-rooted corruption he beings to uncover, something that goes deeper...and much further back. And in the Arizona desert, where day's heat turns deathly cold at night, and where the stars scream for attention, Jack Paine turns over the last stone...

VENUS ISN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF THEM Dalin Shar's dream for the 26th Century is to bring Earth's poisoned Lost Lands back to life and restore his home planet to its former glory.  Until that happens, relocation to a more inhabitable planet is his people's last chance for survival.  But the last free place in the Five Worlds is desired by more than one warrior of the stars... Prime Cornelian, alien High Leader and conqueror of Mars and Titan, needs new ground to plant his seeds of evil.  And the grand prize of the galaxy is ideal for the tyrant's invasion.  To rule it, his ravenous appetite for power must devour everythying in its path - including Dalin, exiled king of Earth.  Now they're both hurtling toward Venus, both vying for possession.  This is a race that will be won, not by the strong or the swift-but by the lucky... PRAISE FOR RETURN: "Crisp dialogue, strongly drawn characters, and fast action!  Space-based action at its best!" - William F. Wu

EDITORIAL REVIEW: This landmark anthology presents thirty groundbreaking stories from the masters of speculative fiction heralding the future of the genre with original and revolutionary works. All-new, original stories by € Ursula K. Le Guin € Gregory Benford € Joe Haldeman € Joyce Carol Oates € and many others