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Probability Sun | Nancy Kress | [
"hard SF",
"science fiction",
"space opera"
] | Chapter 56 | They threw a party. Everyone came, scientists and techs and officers. Even Grafton showed up, reserved but pleasant to everyone but Kaufman, whom he avoided. Kaufman understood. Marbet was still in the brig, and the POW was still secured in his cell, but Grafton wasn't sure what Kaufman would try next. Neither was Kauf... |
Fire Upon The Deep | Vernor Vinge | [
"Science Fiction",
"Space Opera"
] | Chapter 28 | Afterwards, Ravna slept well. It was halfway through the morning when she drifted back toward wakefulness. The ring of her phone was monotonously insistent, loud enough to reach through the most pleasant dreams. She opened her eyes, disoriented and happy. She was lying with her arms wrapped tightly around ... a large p... |
(John Fury 2) Lieutenant Fury | G. S. Beard | [
"historical fiction",
"naval"
] | Chapter 20 | Fury looked up as a knock on the cabin door heralded the arrival of Midshipman Francis.
'The flagship's signalling sir. All captains to repair on board.'
'Very well Mr Francis. Hoist the acknowledgement and have the boat's crew ready.'
'Aye aye sir,' Francis replied, turning to slip out of the cabin.
'And Mr Franci... |
Significant Zero | Walt Williams | [
"nonfiction",
"memoir",
"video games"
] | Chapter 41 | My last day in Santa Monica, Tony brought his wife, Janice, to the studio to record some lines. We had a few female characters to record, but only enough lines for a half day's recording.
The days leading up had been a nonstop tirade of ball busting and shit talking. Nothing was off limits except getting offended. I d... |
Jacqueline Carey | [
"Moirins Trilogy Book 1"
] | Chapter 45 | I knew the very day that Jehanne took Raphael back.
It was early evening when she breezed into my quarters, planning to give me a careless kiss and a promise of more time on the morrow. I was reading a treatise on the propagation of apple trees by a long-dead duc named Percy de Somerville. She plucked it out of my han... | |
Significant Zero | Walt Williams | [
"nonfiction",
"memoir",
"video games"
] | Chapter 24 | D. T. didn't get out of the office much after that. The Fox kept him in New York, working on BioShock and any other game that needed an extra hand. Meanwhile, I was flying around the country with Ken, demoing the game for the press. BioShock never failed to excite, even outside of our scheduled meetings.
One afternoon... |
(The Pantheon Saga 1 | C. C. Ekeke | [
"superheroes"
] | Chapter 20 | "The Underlanders were a minor threat in the UK. Then the Champions drove them out," Robbie Rocket explained with a lazy smile. His Canadian accent was thick. "Now they're stateside."
Quinn smiled while sitting across from the superhero in the V-Jet's rear passenger cabin. Other Vanguard members moved about with busin... |
Venetia | Georgette Heyer | [
"historical romance",
"regency"
] | Chapter 12 | Venetia awoke on the following morning conscious of a feeling of oppression which was not lightened by the discovery, 'presently, that her sole companion at the breakfast-table was Mrs. Scorrier. Charlotte being still in bed, and Aubrey having told Ribble to bring him some coffee and bread-and-butter to the library. Mr... |
Inkdeath | Cornelia Funke | [
"fantasy"
] | Over | 'I did it!' cried God. And he looked down at Sparrow and pointed at the vanishing marvel. 'I did it! I made a Swift!'
—Ted Hughes, How Sparrow Saved the Birds, from The Dreamfighter
The White Woman appeared as soon as Mo closed the blood-soaked Book again. At the sight of her the Piper forgot the swift, and Violante'... |
Grunge | Larry Correia | [
"action",
"horror",
"urban fantasy"
] | Chapter 42 | We hit the warehouse with a full-court press. Most of team Happy Face was hitting the main roll-up doors while Flaming Warthogs were hitting the offices. Milo had been attached to our team since we had the job of lich suppression.
We'd gotten blueprints of the warehouse but according to them there wasn't much to it. T... |
Establish | Matthew Peed | [
"LitRPG",
"fantasy",
"science fiction"
] | Regan POV | As I made my way back to the dungeon, I thought about what I'd learned today. Somehow, the Shadow Guild was connected to the necromancers. I wasn't sure if it was a distant connection that was just related to how the mana worked or something else entirely, but I had the perfect person to ask. I'd let him off because I ... |
High Steaks | Daniel Potter | [
"comedy",
"fantasy"
] | Because This Plan Is Sure to Work | O'Meara walked directly behind me and Rudy as we escorted Grace through the tunnels. Rudy lit the way with his iPhone flash, sending the neighborhood phantasms scrambling for cover.
The bootfalls behind me seemed to grow louder as we approached the gate, and my efforts to keep Grace distracted from the nature of O'Mea... |
Tyrant | Christian Cameron | [
"historical fiction"
] | Chapter 16 | The Sakje town had a market as big as any on the Euxine. Twenty stalls competed to sell every edged implement from the simplest eating knife to the heavy rhompheas, the new, heavy swords favoured by the Thracian hillmen. Simple short swords were available at every booth, from plain iron weapons with serviceable bone hi... |
Collected Works of Algernon Blackwood | Algernon Blackwood | [
"fantasy",
"horror"
] | Chapter 74 | But he was hardly settled—there had not even been time to warm the sheets again—when he was aware that the test, instead of being over, was, indeed, but just beginning; and the detail that conveyed this unwelcome knowledge to him, though small enough in itself, was yet fraught with a crowded cargo of new alarms. It was... |
(A Cyberpunk Saga 1 | Matthew A. Goodwin | [
"scifi",
"cyberpunk"
] | Chapter 28 | They stood before Powers, who was grinning with surprise.
"Where have you three been all my life?" he asked with excitement. "Efficiency like this, I could have taken over the whole neighborhood years ago!"
"We are good at some things," Moss allowed.
"Don't be so modest," he said. "You did in an hour what the idiots... |
The Heroes | Joe Abercrombie | [
"dark fantasy",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 4 | Finree could not have said how long she had been awake, sitting on her travelling chest at the window with her arms resting on the cold sill and her chin resting on her wrists. Long enough to watch the ragged line of the fells to the north become distinct from the sky, for the quick-flowing river to emerge glittering f... |
(The Journals of Matthew Quinton 2) The Mountain of Gold | J. D. Davies | [
"historical fiction",
"adventure"
] | Chapter 26 | The march back to the ship was ten times worse than that to the village. We were past the worst time of all, that between ten and noon, but the sea wind was weak that day, and the palms barely moved, the vultures circling them like sentries. I felt like a man walking through hell-fire. The soldiers, commendably smart a... |
(DC Comics) Harley Quinn | Paul Dini | [
"superheroes"
] | Chapter 23 | After a while, Harleen realized she was starting to drift. Worrying over all of the problems here kept her from focusing properly. She was getting to be like Dr. Percival—just doing whatever she had to do for the day, then going home, except she wasn't drinking herself into a stupor. The upside of her scrimping through... |
Woodcutter, The.txt | R.O. Lane | [] | Chapter 45 | 15
Little Elk led the way once more down into the cold waters of the Cheyenne River and walked across. Grit followed, leading the horse with Colleen aboard. When they reached the campsite, he lifted her down and said, "Now what can I do to help?"
"Oh, I don't know," she said. "I'm so sore and beat up. I must be a sig... |
The Horus Killings | Paul Doherty | [
"historical fiction",
"mystery"
] | Geb: an Egyptian Earth God, often depicted as a crocodile. | The great double doors of Lebanese cedar had been closed. The light from the torches, candles and cressets glittered in the mirror-like bronze sheets on the door. Amerotke studied the shimmering glare. It reminded him of sunlight on water. He made himself comfortable on the cushions and pushed away the small table in f... |
The Wanderer | Fritz Leiber | [
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 136 | Sally Harris and Jake Lesher, blanket-wrapped, hooked their elbows for extra safety over the low ridge of the penthouse roof. Two feet below the eaves, the wavelets glittered richly with the beams from the Wanderer's needle-eye face, which Jake alternately called the Clutching Hand—for the coiled Serpent—and Pie in the... |
(Villains 1) Vicious | V. E. Schwab | [
"superheroes",
"urban fantasy"
] | Chapter 81 | Serena Clarke lived alone. Eli could tell from the moment they walked in, when she slipped her shoes off by the door. The place was clean, calm, and unified. It had one cohesive taste, and Serena didn't look around for anyone before turning on him and raising the gun.
"Hold up," said Eli, shrugging his coat off. "This... |
(Free | Joseph R. Lallo | [
"steampunk"
] | Chapter 17 | Perhaps it was because the most organized of their enemies had their attentions elsewhere, or perhaps it was because the growing reputation of the crew had given the majority of their disorganized enemies pause, but the journey to Keystone and back had been uneventful. The reaction of the locals had been evenly split b... |
(Tales from the Flat Earth 5) Night's Sorceries | Tanith Lee | [
"high fantasy",
"dark fantasy"
] | Chapter 5 | At sunrise, the priests awoke from a refreshing slumber—to find all the means to hand for breaking their fast (though such a brief fast it had been) with the utmost appetite.
Although the luxurious couches and cushions had remained, and the breakfast, there was no sign either of the hosts or any of their attendants. T... |
Fanuilh | Daniel Hood | [
"fantasy",
"mystery"
] | Chapter 6 | It was not wise of you to tell the Aedile, Fanuilh thought at Liam, after he had brought meat from the kitchen. Soaked to the skin despite his heavy cloak and unhappy at having had to make the ride all the way out to Tarquin's house in the early morning rain, Liam snapped back.
"Well, there wasn't much I could do othe... |
Rats, Bats and Vats | Dave Freer | [
"comedy",
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 59 | Virginia had never realized how sweet the feeling of the night wind on her face could be. She couldn't believe that they were out and free! She could feel the lessening in the tension with the sudden tired-voiced banter among her rescuers.
"No more explosions! I don't understand why you bats are so set on bangs when y... |
Fowl Murder | Victoria Tait | [
"mystery"
] | Chapter 49 | Rose was disappointed by the commissioner's news, but not entirely surprised by the lack of evidence at the casino. At least the presence of the van keys proved Daniel had been up on the roof and, so it followed, had fallen from it. She was sure his death was linked with Aisha's. If so, the case, or cases now, were rai... |
Side Quests | Kris Schnee | [
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 45 | White space, nothing else. Lush gardens and fountains faded into view.
"Hello?" she said.
Salmacis appeared with a confused Rosecross, and a live Goldenstar. The doctor said, "Good morning, madame. Do you recognize me? Good. The conversion was successful, but the long-term effects remain to be seen. I'm allowed to dr... |
(Seekers 2) Great Bear Lake | Erin Hunter | [
"fantasy",
"adventure"
] | Kallik | The white bear cub Kallik crouched at the top of the slope, taking a last look at the burning metal bird and the body of Nanuk slumped beside it. She knew that she had to find the place where the spirits danced on the ice, but it was hard to tear herself away from the stubborn, lonely she-bear who had protected her. Na... |
Rebellion | Dave Willmarth | [
"LitRPG",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 24 | Allistor took his time finding the bridge. He wandered the corridors of the ship, peeking into rooms or down side corridors as he went. The ship was huge, with several decks, and he was lost after just a few turns. He decided the bridge was likely on the highest deck, so he kept going until he found an elevator. When t... |
Startide Rising | David Brin | [
"Science Fiction",
"Space Opera"
] | Creideiki | It had been his first restful sleep in weeks. Naturally, it had to be interrupted.
Creideiki was used to taking his rest in zero gee, suspended in moist air. But as long as they were in hiding, antigravity beds were banned, and sleeping in liquid was the only other way for a dolphin.
He had tried for a week to breath... |
Amazonia | James Rollins | [
"thriller",
"adventure",
"action"
] | Habitation | AUGUST 16, 4:13 A.M.
[ AMAZON JUNGLE ]
Louis floated in his canoe, awaiting news from his trackers. Dawn was still hours away. Stars shone in the clear sky, but the moon had set, casting the swamp into deep shadows. Through night-vision scopes, Louis watched for any sign of his men.
Nothing.
He grimaced. As he wait... |
(Save Me 3) Breaking South | Alyson Santos | [
"sports",
"music",
"romance",
"contemporary"
] | Chapter 4 | Hello, friend. How I've missed
Your honest echo I hold so dear.
Hello, foe. How I resist
Your graceless way of drawing fear.
Hello, demon. Glad I've found you.
The angel takes my breath away.
She pretends, while you're hell-bent on preserving true decay.
[ GENEVIEVE ]
I'm already counting the seconds until I ca... |
Magicians 03 | Lev Grossman | [] | Chapter 31 | One day, about a week after Quentin got back from Antarctica, Lionel knocked on his door. It was two thirty in the afternoon.
"Ten minutes." Lionel didn't wait for him to open it. "In the lobby. Bring your gear."
By the time Quentin got there Lionel was already down the hall at the other suite.
Mid-afternoon had bec... |
(New Crobuzon 1) Perdido Street Station | China Mieville | [
"steampunk",
"new weird"
] | Chapter 54 | Judgement
"We have to leave."
Derkhan spoke quickly. Isaac looked up at her dully. He was feeding Lin, who squirmed uncomfortably, unsure of what she wanted to do. She signed at him, her hands tracing words and then simply moving, tracing shapes that had no meaning. He flicked fruit detritus from her shirt.
He nodde... |
The Sangrook Saga | Steve Thomas | [
"dark fantasy",
"fantasy",
"horror"
] | Chapter 9 | He awoke to a knock on the door. Pashel could sense that Darbo was on the other side and opened the door with a flick of the mind. Unlocking and unlatching were among the first spells an inquisitor learned. Pashel lay face-down on his bed and felt Darbo take a seat by his legs.
"I sensed it when you woke up last night... |
Rescue | R.A. Mejia | [
"LitRPG",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 28 | Race leads us through the city back toward the Colosseum, and the sounds of training and sparring are everywhere when we enter the district of gladiator trainers. We walk past the Colosseum itself along with the fanciest training facilities and instead approach a large spartan-looking building. It's a simple single-sto... |
Not Here to Be Liked | Michelle Quach | [
"contemporary"
] | Chapter 19 | That Friday, due to Tim O'Callahan's unexpected absence from school, James has a last-minute Bugle assignment for Len. "Or, I guess it's for you, too, Eliza," he adds, waving at me.
I saunter reluctantly over to Len's corner.
"Okay," says James. "Since Tim was out sick today, I'm wondering if you two could cover for ... |
(Tales from the Flat Earth 2) Death's Master #.txt | Tanith Lee | [] | Chapter 89 | Some days passed, counted by the flaring and dimming of the glass sun. Zhirem went about the garden courtyard, or through those by-ways of the princess's apartments that were not kept locked against him. The courtyard had a roof of crystal vanes, which presently were shut that he might not escape into the outer environ... |
Odyssey | Michael P. Kube-McDowell | [
"science fiction"
] | The operator's interface was standard, and the functions of those few controls which weren't were clear at a glance. He touched the power switch, and the display came alive with information on the vehicle's status. The most important item was near the bottom: POWER CELL. . . . . .100,000 Kw . . . OK | The robot was politely knocking on the window and trying to attract Derec's attention, but Derec ignored it. With a touch on one of two small joysticks in the armrest at his right hand, Derec unshipped the small crane which lay crosswise behind the control cab.
Since the controls had been designed primarily for robots... |
Cities in Flight | James Blish | [
"fantasy",
"science fiction",
"science fiction fantasy",
"space opera"
] | A Planet Called Heaven | NOTHING could be seen of Heaven from the air. As the city descended cautiously, the spindizzy field became completely outlined as a bubble of boiling black clouds, glaring with blue-green sheets and slashes of lightning, and awash with streams of sleet and rain. At lower altitude the sleet disappeared, but the rain inc... |
Stonehenge | Bernard Cornwell | [
"historical fiction",
"prehistory"
] | Chapter 24 | Next day, in the fresh swirling wind that followed the night's rain, Camaban led Haragg, Saban and Cagan to the Sea Temple. It lay a fair walk west of the settlement on a low rocky headland where the sea broke white. Cagan would not go near the temple where his sister had died, but cowered in some nearby rocks, whimper... |
The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | [
"adventure",
"epic fantasy",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 241 | After emerging from the Underthing, I made my careful way through a window and a locked door into the women's wing of the Mews. I knocked softly on Fela's door, not wanting to wake anyone accidentally. Men were not allowed unescorted in the women's wing of the Mews, especially not during the late hours of night.
I kno... |
Tex Murphy and the Poisoned Pawn | Aaron Conners | [
"comedy",
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 66 | Larry Hammond had said that Call's message back in Blue Diamond told him—or whoever else showed up—to find the STG passcards, but also to contact the N.S.F.P.D. if Call hadn't joined them within a few days.
Maybe the reason for that was now plugged into my speeder's USB port. I had to hope it would lead me to his base... |
(Harry Hole 12) Knife | Jo Nesbø | [
"crime",
"Nordic noir",
"Norway"
] | Chapter 91 | Harry stopped abruptly in the middle of Stensparken. He had taken a slight detour to give himself time to think, but had forgotten it was Sunday. Angry barking competed with the excited cries of children, which in turn competed with the shouted commands of the owners of the dogs and children. Yet all this hadn't manage... |
Queerpunk | Cecilia Tan (ed) | [
"LGBT",
"erotica",
"cyberpunk",
"short stories"
] | Chapter 12 | She came out of it slowly, pulling herself up from where she had slumped in her chair, reaching up with trembling fingers and pulling out the buds. Moving at all took almost more effort than she had strength to meet. The room was dark to her eyes. Even the shifting light seemed dimmed.
Nur had been taken away from her... |
Last Stand | Various | [
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 12 | "Swiftsure's batteries are now trained and locked on to Unit HWK."
"Final human message has been posted to Unit YNC. A copy has been sent to Dinochrome Brigade Command."
"We do not want you off-line Unit HWK but there seems little hope from the humans."
"Captain Erin Donaher left recommendations for the next generat... |
Sandeagozu | Janann V. Jenner | [
"animal fiction",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 14 | Dervish couldn't believe his eyes. Manu was sit-ting in his cage, on his habitual perch, with the rattlesnake wound around his wrist. The rough scales of the rattler's body made a grotesque and lethal-looking bracelet and Manu stared intently at the rattler's head. "They must be mindspeaking " thought Dervish. Then he ... |
Curious Beginnings | V. A. Lewis | [
"LitRPG",
"fantasy"
] | Companion | "Now!"
I yelled at Haec as I flung myself out of the way of the large fangs bearing down on me. My companion struck the Arachne on its hind legs. The giant Demon with eight jointed appendages fell, its two back legs broken by his Crushing Blow.
I leapt up to the head of the wild Demon as all of its dozen eyes snapped... |
As Iron Falls | Bryce O'Connor | [
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 6 | "Damn."
Syrah looked to Raz, brow knit in concern.
"What's wrong?" she asked in a worried voice. "Are they coming?"
Raz raised a finger to his lips, and the woman fell quiet. He was listening again, trying to make out if the sound of horses, driven hard along the road at their back, could be anyone else. It had been... |
(Spells, Swords and Stealth 1) NPCs | Drew Hayes | [
"fantasy",
"humor",
"tabletop RPGs"
] | Chapter 58 | The demon's scream made nearly everyone present clutch their ears in pain. It rang out across the tournament field, causing a section of the stands to shake and collapse, then continued onward where it startled some unsuspecting birds roosting a mile away. As horrible as the sound was, it might as well have been the st... |
Iron Man Extremis | Marie Jevins | [
"superheroes",
"Marvel"
] | Chapter 9 | "He's off on his wild-man-in-the-woods kick again, isn't he?" said Maya, standing next to Tony at the end of a two-mile dirt road near Occidental in California's Sonoma County.
"I like it better than his minimalist raw-foodist phase."
Tony pushed ahead through some tall grass to get to Sal's front door. The house loo... |
The Arcade and Other Strange Tales | Brett Weiss | [
"urban fantasy"
] | Chapter 27 | Every night he rises from his home beneath the topsoil, and every night he kills, and every night as the first drop of warm, salty blood touches his tongue, long-dead memories resurface.
He remembers a time when his strange children were hungry, and he refused to kill for them as he now does for himself. Before he can... |
Cage of Souls | Adrian Tchaikovsky | [
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 63 | Secrets of the Swamp (Part 2)
There was a tree, huge, but still a tree amongst trees, roots drowned in the murky water amidst bulges and boils of weed. There were similar deformities at the feet of some of its neighbours, and it took a long time for me to realise that they were not natural growths at all but the work ... |
Forests of the Night | S. Andrew Swann | [
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 5 | He had the cabby drop him off next to the lake.
Nohar walked out on a pier, carrying Cat. He picked a chunk of crumbling asphalt and placed it into the pillowcase. After making sure the knot was tight, Nohar picked up the bundle and looked at it. It was a shapeless mass, but blood had seeped through and the outline of... |
(Spells, Swords and Stealth 2) Split the Party | Drew Hayes | [
"fantasy",
"humor",
"tabletop RPGs"
] | Chapter 32 | The bandits were stealthy, by most definitions of the word. They moved carefully, with lanterns covered and feet sure. No telltale snaps of twigs gave them away. Any rustling they made could have easily been little more than the wind or some stray beast. Words were locked away in their mouths; only simple hand gestures... |
(People of the Longhouse 1) People of the Longhouse | W. Michael Gear | [
"historical fiction",
"Native Americans"
] | Chapter 19 | Sindak swung his club up over his shoulder and whispered, "I don't like this. They look too eager to see us."
"They probably just want to get started on the trail."
"I don't think those are impatient expressions on their faces—they're murderous."
"You're imagining things."
A soft morning breeze whispered through th... |
Archform | L.E. Modesitt Jr | [] | Cornett | Wednesday morning was usually an easy morning, but since I had my appointment with the dean at ten-fifteen, I had to get up earlier to fit in everything. For some reason, the formulator wouldn't accept any of the breakfast menu codes. I'm anything but a morning person. I don't even watch the news. I couldn't ever eat a... |
(Thousand Tales 1) Virtual Horizon | Kris Schnee | [
"fantasy",
"virtual reality"
] | Chapter 132 | Like Typhoon's home the Isles were mostly sea and sky, wide open to Horizon's wings. They'd all reached an understanding with the Talespinner-class AI who ran the place, allowing them to visit without changing races.
Which marked them as special. A couple of human players were grilling fish at a campfire when they spo... |
Democracy's Might | Christopher G. Nuttall | [
"science fiction",
"space opera"
] | Chapter 129 | Porter caught onto his command chair as the single missile struck home, sending shuddering vibrations though his ship and threatening to knock him to the floor. It wasn't a dangerous hit – only one missile had made it through the point defence network to strike home – but it was intimidating enough to make him seriousl... |
A Lush and Seething Hell | John Hornor Jacobs | [
"horror"
] | Chapter 25 | The home of Jorge Campos was a tidy affair, ringed in planters with thick, oily-leaved vegetation I could not recognize. I went to the shop across the street and bought a Fanta and drank it under the awning near my Yamaha. It was so sweet, I felt the fuzzy divergent sensations of a sugar rush and the soporific of a hea... |
The Great Illyrian Revolt | Jason R. Abdale | [
"history",
"nonfiction"
] | War in Bato's Backyard: Rome attacks the Daesidiates | Rome now turned its attention to the Perustae and Daesidiates. These two Dalmatian tribes were daunting opponents. According to Paterculus, their superb skills in warfare, their ferocious temper and, above all, their natural strongholds situated either atop mountains or in easily-defended narrow passes made them 'almos... |
The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume I | Arthur Conan Doyle | [
"mystery"
] | Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration | "Now, Watson," said Holmes, rubbing his hands, "we have half an hour to ourselves. Let us make good use of it. My case is, as I have told you, almost complete; but we must not err on the side of overconfidence. Simple as the case seems now, there may be something deeper underlying it."
"Simple!" I ejaculated.
"Surely... |
Rock Revenge | Cari Quinn | [
"romance"
] | Chapter 2 | Margo Kagan slumped back against the door. Her heart jumped when Simon's warmup scales started. When he reached for a higher, harder note, she closed her eyes for a second before straightening and heading back into the main part of their room.
The connecting door to Nick and Lila's room was still open and she heard th... |
Wicked Haunted | Daniel G. Keohane (ed) | [
"horror",
"short stories"
] | Chapter 69 | The next few days passed without incident. I hoped at first that the ghost had gone back to where she'd come from, but as time went by I began to feel that something wasn't right. I often sensed that I was being watched. I would see movement out of the corner of my eye, or notice things I hadn't touched misplaced. I we... |
Complete Works | Jules Verne | [
"adventure",
"science fiction",
"steampunk"
] | Chapter 242 | A STATION TO SIR JOHN'S LIKING.
So the Russian mathematician was found! When they asked him how he had passed those four days, he could not tell; he thought the whole story of the crocodiles was a joke, and did not believe it. He had not been hungry; he had lived upon figures. Matthew Strux would not reproach his coun... |
The Two Faces of Tomorrow | James P. Hogan | [
"science fiction",
"space opera"
] | Chapter 5 | "So was that what they call an intelligent computer?" Laura's voice was lined with mildly mocking satisfaction as she removed the plate of curried chicken from the small dispensing hatch in the wall at the end of the booth. Dyer turned his head from gazing out over the river far below the window alongside them. He miss... |
(Worldbreaker Saga 2) The Empire Ascendant | Kameron Hurley | [
"fantasy",
"LGBT",
"science fiction fantasy"
] | Chapter 13 | Harajan bordered an underground sea. Tactically, structurally, that seemed like a terrible idea, but it was another of the old holds built by the Talamynni, maintained by the Dhai, and inherited by the Saiduan. The Talamynni had an eye for making the illogical a reality. One level below the hold was a vast glass and ir... |
Sphere of Eternity | L. J. Davies | [
"fantasy"
] | Ilivar | Only my head could escape the ice as I lay in a smouldering heap of steam and meltwater. I opened my eyes to look over myself. My scales had lost their glow, occasionally flickering in a few patches before returning to their natural colour. I eventually managed to raise a forepaw to the side of my face where only minut... |
Dungeon Core Academy | Alex Oakchest | [
"LitRPG",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 3 | As amazing as my new bud was, it presented me with quite a dilemma. A serious one.
Then again, was it really serious? Or did I have so little to do here, that any old dilemma took on more importance to me? Either way, I had to decide what to do.
This little green nub fixed to one of the vines was an essence bud. Thes... |
(Upper Kingdom 1 | H. Leighton Dickson | [
"post-apocalyptic",
"anthro"
] | Chapter 134 | It was sheer luck that she happened on a bookstore.
She had wandered alone for a good two hours, taking in the sights and smells of the marketplace. This was so different from the market on the narrow mountain path on the road to Sha'Hadin, but then again, perhaps not so different. People were people. They all needed ... |
High Gloom | Eric Ugland | [
"LitRPG",
"action",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 16 | Agonizing pain flared in my back, something so horrible I knew exactly what had happened. Mainly because it had happened to me before. Weird to think that I knew what being stabbed in the back felt like.
I tried to say something, but my mouth wasn't working. It felt like not much of me was working, and my knees were s... |
King Rat | China Mieville | [
"fantasy",
"horror",
"urban fantasy"
] | Chapter 6 | A long way off to the south, somewhere in the heart of the city, a siren sounded mournfully. The smell of smoke still clung faintly to the air. It mingled with exhaust fumes and the whiff of rubbish, all made chill and even refreshing by the night.
Above the black bags and deserted streets rose the walls of North Lond... |
(The Guild Wars 11) Eye of the Storm | Chris Kennedy | [
"scifi",
"mercs"
] | CIC, EMS Pegasus, Hyperspace | Alexis Cromwell had honestly planned to avoid direct combat command until her children were at least a year old. Unfortunately, things often don't work out the way you plan.
She'd briefly considered just sending Drizz or Stacy, but in the end she'd decided to organize into two squadrons, with her taking overall comman... |
(China 1) River Town | Peter Hessler | [
"China",
"travel",
"memoir",
"school"
] | Chapter 99 | Fireworks at midnight called in the new year. I had left the Huang home early, because I was a little tired, and I was getting ready for bed when the sound started, low and steady like thunder rolling over the hills. The noise grew louder, echoing across the river valley, and I went out on my back balcony to watch.
Th... |
Blackfog Island | Jeffery Russell | [
"comedy",
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 23 | Weather had come as a surprise to Cardamon. The dwarven realm of Kheldurn was almost entirely underground and weather was just something that they didn't tend to get much of. Dwarves raised near the surface got to go on occasional field trips to the outside but Cardamon had been born and raised in The Deep where the su... |
Chaos on CatNet | Naomi Kritzer | [
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 69 | My drink has bubbles like bubble tea, but glowing.
Glenys looks genuinely alarmed. "Are you sure you should drink that?" she whispers. "Isn't this the guy you think kidnapped your mother?"
Given that this was served up from behind the bar (by yet another robot), either the drinks are safe, or he keeps lethal ingredie... |
8-bit Christmas | Kevin Jakubowski | [
"historical fiction",
"slice of life"
] | Chapter 20 | For the first time in my life I woke up depressed on a Saturday morning. Four days had passed since the infamous PTA witch-hunt, and things had gotten significantly worse. The front page of the Batavia Republican on Thursday ran the headline "NINTENDO NO!" with an accompanying story explaining how all local shops and b... |
Will | Will Smith | [
"biography",
"memoir",
"nonfiction",
"music",
"rap",
"contemporary"
] | ALCHEMY | Tanya had secured us an apartment in Marina del Rey. She knew somebody who knew somebody, and it was only 1,300 bucks a month. I didn't really care.
There were 7,700 dollars left in Bucky's brown paper bag. He had been shot in the head in front of his house. It was a setup. Reggie explained this was the classic playbo... |
The North Water | Ian McGuire | [
"adventure",
"historical fiction",
"thriller"
] | Chapter 49 | Baxter's man is waiting at the quayside. His name is Stevens, and he says he is an office clerk, although he doesn't much resemble one. He is close to six feet tall, broad in the chest and belly with dark pinprick eyes, muttonchop whiskers, and a paucity of teeth. Sumner packs his meager necessaries in a sack and says ... |
Double or Nothing | Craig Schaefer | [
"urban fantasy"
] | Chapter 27 | We went back and forth for a while, tossing ideas in the air, watching them burn to ash at our feet. I told them everything Nadine had said. Everything but the part about the envelope in my pocket, sealed with a cherry-lipped kiss.
"I hate to say it," Emma sighed. "I really hate to say it—"
Caitlin glared at her. "Th... |
The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume II | Arthur Conan Doyle | [
"mystery"
] | THE ADVENTURE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOL | We have had some dramatic entrances and exits upon our small stage at Baker Street, but I cannot recollect anything more sudden and startling than the first appearance of Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc. His card, which seemed too small to carry the weight of his academic distinctions, preceded him by a few sec... |
Knives in the Night | Nathan A. Thompson | [
"LitRPG",
"epic fantasy",
"fantasy"
] | SAFEHOUSES | [ Davelon's Perspective ]
I touched my chest gingerly, then traced the fresh line to my shoulder and down the length of my right arm, trying to figure out how I felt about getting my first tattoo. I still couldn't believe that I actually had one, and that Mama wasn't beating me over the head and calling me a fool boy ... |
Kushiel's Avatar | Jacqueline Carey | [
"erotica",
"fantasy",
"romance"
] | Chapter 25 | I met with Sibeal, Drustan's sister, in the Royal Mews.
There had been, I gathered, no few offers of lover's tokens or of marriage for the Cruarch of Alba's sister during her time in Terre d'Ange. Insofar as I heard, Sibeal had refused them all, with a serene grace against which no one could take offense. Instead, she... |
Shadowfever | Karen Marie Moning | [
"romance",
"urban fantasy"
] | Chapter 37 | I stepped out of the shower and looked at myself in the mirror. Since dragging my aching body up the back stairs of BB&B to my bedroom twenty minutes ago, my bruises had faded by forty percent. I traced my fingers across a particularly bad one on my collarbone. I'd thought I heard a crack and was worried something had ... |
Verses for the Dead | Douglas Preston | [
"mystery",
"thriller"
] | Chapter 48 | As pendergast steeled himself for the final leap, he heard a noise, a chunk, come from the direction of the boat. Grove's head snapped forward as if he'd been slapped from behind. His rifle jerked up and went off, the round going wild. Grove's expression turned to one of pure astonishment. Then he did a pirouette that ... |
Bloodfeud | Ben Galley | [
"fantasy"
] | Chapter 50 | Dizali was swirling around a glass of brandy, wondering how to berate the Brothers further. Unless they could beat it, kill it, or rush it, they were quickly proving close to useless. It sat on his nerves like a fat pigeon on a wire.
'What do the maids have to say for themselves?' he said, taking a liberal sip.
Hanis... |
(Ivory Carver 2) My Sister the Moon | Sue Harrison | [
"historical fiction",
"prehistoric"
] | Chapter 60 | Samiq built a fire from driftwood and seal bones and closed his ears to Three Fish's complaining.
"I would have stayed in the cave one more night," she said. She tucked the tail of her hair into the collar of her suk and turned her back against the wind. "It is too cold here."
"You wanted to leave," Samiq said. "We w... |
Collected Works of Algernon Blackwood | Algernon Blackwood | [
"fantasy",
"horror"
] | Chapter 22 | 'No man worth his spiritual salt can ever become really entangled in locality.' —A. H. L.
The house, like the description of himself in the letter, was big and old. It consisted of three rambling wings, each added at a different period to an original farmhouse, and was thus full of unexpected staircases, sudden rising... |
The Digital Coyote | Kris Schnee | [
"science fiction"
] | Chapter 89 | It was a fun quest. Sunset had been meaning to work on his magic skill, and the Penultimate Lodge was a great place for it. Getting there had taken some neat gadgets from Misha to help him open a hole in Threespace and fly through, then land on a wooden asteroid full of educational traps and puzzles. He gained one new ... |
Berserk of Gluttony, vol 4 | Isshiki Ichika | [
"LitRPG",
"fantasy",
"light novel"
] | Bloodthirsty | With Rafale's teeth still scraping along the blade of the black sword, I drove him back, straight through the outer wall of the research facility. Then I leaped back to check on Aaron.
"Aaron, are you hurt?"
"I'll be fine, but I've lost a good amount of blood."
Aaron's wound was already closing, thanks in large part... |
Kim Stanley Robinson | [
"Mars 2"
] | Social Engineering | [ Prologue ]
Where were you born?
Denver.
Where did you grow up?
Rock. Boulder.
What were you like as a child?
I don't know.
Give me your impressions.
I wanted to know why.
You were curious?
Very curious.
Did you play with science kits?
All of them.
And your friends?
I don't remember.
Try for anything.
... | |
Geektastic | Holly Black | [
"short stories",
"humor",
"geek"
] | SF TV: THE SCIFI CHANNEL VS. PBS AND THE MAJOR NETWORKS | After practice Montgomery took the bus over to Ellen's house for what would be, barring some wonderfully cataclysmic event, an incredibly boring afternoon.
The lone female member of Team Geek promised she would start slowly, beginning with socially acceptable nerd TV (Lost, Heroes, Smallville, BuffytheVampireSlayer), ... |
(Across Realtime 1 | Vernor Vinge | [
"scifi",
"time travel",
"cyberpunk",
"singularity"
] | Chapter 40 | Della Lu caught up on the situation reports as she ate breakfast. She wore a fresh jumpsuit, and her straight hair gleamed clean and black in the bright fluorescent lights of the command center. One might think she had just returned from a two-week vacation—not from a night spent running all over the hills, trying to p... |
C.J. Cherryh | [
"The Russian Stories 1"
] | Chapter 30 | Pyetr was angry at him, Sasha thought unhappily, while Pyetr drank his way to bed.
His relatives were like that. They said they placed no belief in his curse. But they still looked at him and frowned when things went wrong. Sometimes when she was angry, Aunt Ilenka would say "~Things happen when you're around. I don't... | |
Lonesome Dove | Larry McMurtry | [
"adventure",
"western"
] | Chapter 72 | Call and dish were just getting into their dry pants when Augustus came riding up. It was not until they heard the sound of his horse crushing the hailstones that they turned around. Call saw at once that Gus was riding a different horse from the one on which he had ridden off, but he himself looked fit.
"'I god, I ne... |
(Assassin's Creed 6) Black Flag | Oliver Bowden | [
"historical fiction",
"scifi",
"based on video game",
"naval",
"pirates",
"Assassin's Creed"
] | Chapter 10 | I still couldn't accept it, though, and I found myself travelling into town the next day, my journey taking me to Hawkins Lane. All I knew was that Matthew Hague planned to pay her a visit in the morning, and as I sidled up the highway and passed the row of houses among which was hers, I wondered if he was in there alr... |
Inverarity | [
"Alexandra Quick 3"
] | The Witch of Old Larkin Pond | Almost two thousand miles away, Emilia Quick was dangling her feet over the surface of a murky brown pond, staring into water so choked with weeds and algae that she could barely see her own reflection.
Not that there was anything special to see; she knew what she looked like well enough. Skinny, green eyes, black hai... | |
(Bambi's Classic Animal Tales 3) A Forest World | Felix Salten | [
"animal ficiton",
"children's"
] | Chapter 7 | TAMBO HAD RUBBED THE VELVET off his antlers, as the wise stags did every year.
He could not see how richly pearled they were, nor how their twelve points glistened like ivory. But he knew his crown was beautiful, and the knowledge filled him with pride and strength.
Ever since his birth he had acted in obedience to h... |
Awfully Appetizing | Leod D. Fitz | [
"horror",
"urban fantasy"
] | Chapter 37 | Sherry was waiting for me in the shade of the library. She'd traded her pink dress for black pants, black combat boots, and a black button up shirt which she hadn't buttoned up very far at all.
That particular omission probably had some relationship to the young man she sat next to. Clean shaven with carefully combed ... |
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