Catherynne M. Valente

Even time travel can’t unravel loveTime-travel is a way for writers to play with history and imagine different futures – for better, or worse.When romance is thrown into the mix, time-travel becomes a passionate tool, or heart-breaking weapon. A time agent in the 22nd century puts their whole mission at risk when they fall in love with the wrong person. No matter which part of history a man visits, he cannot not escape his ex. A woman is desperately in love with the time-space continuum, but it doesn’t love her back. As time passes and falls apart, a time-traveller must say goodbye to their soulmate.With stories from best-selling and award-winning authors such as Seanan McGuire, Alix E. Harrow and Nina Allan, this anthology gives a taste for the rich treasure trove of stories we can imagine with love, loss and reunion across time and space. Including stories by: Alix E. Harrow, Zen Cho, Seanan McGuire, Sarah Gailey, Jeffrey Ford, Nina Allan, Elizabeth Hand, Lavanya Lakshminarayan, Catherynne M. Valente, Sam J. Miller, Rowan Coleman, Margo Lanagan, Sameem Siddiqui, Theodora Goss, Carrie Vaughn, Ellen Klages

The sea is full of mysteries and rivers shelter the unknown. Dating back to ancient Assyria, folkloric tales of mermaids, sirens, rusalka, nymphs, selkes, and other seafolk are found in many cultures, including those of Europe, Africa, the Near East and Asia. Dangerous or benevolent, seductive or sinister — modern masters of fantasy continue to create new legends of these creatures that enchant and entertain us more than ever. Gathered here are some of the finest of these stories. Immerse yourself in this wonderful — and sometimes wicked — watery world!

This fifth volume of the year's best science fiction and fantasy features thirty-three stories by some of the genre's greatest authors, including Elizabeth Bear, Aliette de Bodard, Ursula K. Le Guin, Jay Lake, Kelly Link, Robert Reed, Lavie Tidhar, Catherynne M. Valente, Genevieve Valentine, and many others. Selecting the best fiction from Analog, Asimov's, Clarkesworld, F&SF, Strange Horizons, and other top venues, The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy is your guide to magical realms and worlds beyond tomorrow.

Selected from the Hugo award-nominated Clarkesworld Magazine, Realms collects the work of twenty-five visionary writers of short fiction, including such World Fantasy, Philip K. Dick, Tiptree, Hugo, and Campbell Award winners and finalists as Jeffrey Ford, Mary Robinette Kowal, Jay Lake, Cat Rambo, Tim Pratt, Robert Reed, Mike Resnick, and Catherynne M. Valente — and amazing stories from up-and-comers like Karen Heuler, Paul Jessup, Yoon Ha Lee, Margaret Ronald, and many more

'Like Douglas Adams writing on a sugar high' Publishers WeeklyThe greatest contest in the galaxy is back! The stakes are high, the stage is electric, the glam is on point, and yet again the fate Planet Earth depends on the players' ability to ROCK.Yes, yes, of course Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes saved the world.But what have they done for us lately?The Metagalactic Grand Prix is back. The stage is set for the 101st season of this part-gladiatorial contest, part-beauty pageant, part-concert extravaganza, and the stakes couldn't be higher.But while Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes are busy preparing for the contest (after finishing in tenth place the last time round) the fate of the Earth is once again threatened.Malevolent forces are gathering, hatching a nefarious plot to disrupt the peace and take down these upstarts. But will humanity be able to rise again?Return to the world of the hilarious Space Opera in this exhilarating new novel from New York Times bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente.'Electric and breathless, it has the heart of Douglas Adams and the soul of David Bowie' Chuck Wendig on SPACE OPERA

Return to the greatest contest in the galaxy in this "beguiling, bewitching" (Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of the October Daye series) sequel to the hilarious USA TODAY bestseller Space Opera from New York Times bestselling author and finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy and Ursula K. Le Guin awards, Catherynne M. Valente. The Metagalactic Grand Prix--part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past returns and the fate of the Earth is once again threatened. The civilizations opposed to the humanity have been plotting and want to take down the upstarts. Can humanity rise again?

'Like Douglas Adams writing on a sugar high' Publishers WeeklyThe greatest contest in the galaxy is back! The stakes are high, the stage is electric, the glam is on point, and yet again the fate Planet Earth depends on the players' ability to ROCK.Yes, yes, of course Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes saved the world.But what have they done for us lately?The Metagalactic Grand Prix is back. The stage is set for the 101st season of this part-gladiatorial contest, part-beauty pageant, part-concert extravaganza, and the stakes couldn't be higher.But while Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes are busy preparing for the contest (after finishing in tenth place the last time round) the fate of the Earth is once again threatened.Malevolent forces are gathering, hatching a nefarious plot to disrupt the peace and take down these upstarts. But will humanity be able to rise again?Return to the world of the hilarious Space Opera in this exhilarating new novel from New York Timesbestselling author Catherynne M. Valente.'Electric and breathless, it has the heart of Douglas Adams and the soul of David Bowie' Chuck Wendig on SPACE OPERA

Enhance your experience of The War Within, the first expansion in World of Warcraft's World Soul Saga, with this immersive short story anthology featuring an all-star cast of bestselling, award-winning authors. From deep beneath the surface of Azeroth, a mysterious voice cries out for heroes. But before these brave souls heed the call, they must answer to their own voices within . . . . * Anduin's wanderings at last lead him to the solitude he seeks, until his peace is shattered in a heartrending tale by Christie Golden. * Andrew Robinson takes Gazlowe to a struggling goblin city, where he aims to inspire its citizens to more worthy ambitions. * Thrall grapples with his son's coming of age in a heartfelt story by Jonathan Maberry about what it means to love and let go. * Delilah Dawson gives voice to Alleria Windrunner, desperate to connect with her son in a tense, bittersweet journey home.These tales-besides more from Catherynne M. Valente and Courtney Alameda-portray the poignant, introspective moments set to proceed World of Warcraft's highly anticipated The War Within expansion. As these larger-than-life heroes grapple with their next steps, a greater threat looms, one that will lead them to raise arms again to fight for the fate of Azeroth. Despite the chasm of varied backgrounds, allegiances, and choices that divide them, these tales prove that even in the darkest times, home unites us all.

Horror's favoriteauthors throw open the doors to the Horadric Library, inviting Diablo fansa glimpse into the terrors that lurk beneath the world of Sanctuary. . . . While the EternalConflict rages forever onward, horror and superstition of a purely Sanctuaryvariety still prey on the hearts of the people. In a time long sinceforgotten, the Horadric Order was taskedwith recording local legends, cautionary tales, and stories of themost twisted horror, in the hope that some innocents might be saved by theirknowledge. Now, the vaults are open. Direct from the Diablo developmentteam and horror's preeminent minds comes Tales from the HoradricLibrary, a short story collection exploring the darkest corners ofSanctuary, and the evils that dwell there. This beautiful deluxe book hasoriginal artwork and metallic ink on its illuminated pages.

"I loved every speck of it." --Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon From New York Times bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente comes an inventive middle grade fantasy that follows a boy journeying away from the only home he's ever known and into the magical realm of the dead to fulfill a bargain for his people. Osmo Unknown hungers for the world beyond his small town. With the life that Littlebridge society has planned for him, the only taste Osmo will ever get are his visits to the edge of the Fourpenny Woods where his mother hunts. Until the unthinkable happens: his mother accidentally kills a Quidnunk, a fearsome and intelligent creature that lives deep in the forest. None of this should have anything to do with poor Osmo, except that a strange treaty was once formed between the Quidnunx and the people of Littlebridge to ensure that neither group would harm the other. Now that a Quidnunk is dead, as the firstborn child of the hunter who killed her, Osmo must embark on a quest to find the Eightpenny Woods--the mysterious kingdom where all wild forest creatures go when they die--and make amends. Accompanied by a very rude half-badger, half-wombat named Bonk and an antisocial pangolin girl called Never, it will take all of Osmo's bravery and cleverness to survive the magic of the Eightpenny Woods to save his town...and make it out alive.

Tetley Abednego is the most beloved girl in Garbagetown, but she's the only one who knows it. She's the only one who knows a lot of things: that Garbagetown is the most wonderful place in the world, that it's full of hope, that you can love someone and 66% hate them all at the same time. But Earth is a terrible mess, hope is a fragile thing, and a lot of people are very angry with her. Then Tetley discovers a new friend, a terrible secret, and more to her world than she ever expected. Catherynne M. Valente, the bestselling and award-winning creator of Space Opera and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland returns with the enchanting, dark, funny, angry story of a girl who made two terrible mistakes: she told the truth and she dared to love the world.

When humans enter the End, a pair of endermen must decide which side theyâ??re really on. For as long as they can remember, the twin endermen Fin and Mo have lived in the mysterious land of the End.

FINALIST FOR HUGO AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL 2019FINALIST FOR LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL 2019IN SPACE EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU SINGA century ago, intelligent space-faring life was nearly destroyed during the Sentience Wars. To bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity and understanding, the Metagalactic Grand Prix was created. Part concert, part contest, all extravaganza, species far and wide gather to compete in feats of song, dance and/or whatever facsimile of these can be performed by various creatures who may or may not possess, in the traditional sense, feet, mouths, larynxes or faces. This year, humankind has discovered that it must fight for its destiny not with diplomacy, gunships and stoic councils - but with glitter, lipstick and electric guitars. A washed-up glam-rock trio from London, Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes, has been chosen to represent humanity on the greatest stage in the galaxy. The fate of Earth lies in their ability to ROCK.

2019 HUGO AWARD FINALIST, BEST NOVEL The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets the joy and glamour of Eurovision in bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente's science fiction spectacle, where sentient races compete for glory in a galactic musical contest...and the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth. A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented--something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding. Once every cycle, the great galactic civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix--part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Species far and wide compete in feats of song, dance and/or whatever facsimile of these can be performed by various creatures who may or may not possess, in the traditional sense, feet, mouths, larynxes, or faces. And if a new species should wish to be counted among the high and the mighty, if a new planet has produced some savage group of animals, machines, or algae that claim to be, against all odds, sentient? Well, then they will have to compete. And if they fail? Sudden extermination for their entire species. This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick, and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny--they must sing. Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes have been chosen to represent their planet on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of Earth lies in their ability to rock.

An official tie-in to the hit video game Mass Effect: Andromeda by James Tiptree Jr. and Locus Award-winner Catherynne M. Valente. The Quarian ark Keelah Si'yah sails toward the Andromeda galaxy, carrying 20,000 colonists from sundry races including the drell, the elcor, and the batarians. Thirty years from their destination, a routine check reveals drell lying dead in their pods, and a deadly pathogen on board. Soon, the disease is jumping species, and it quickly becomes clear that this is no accident. It's murder, and the perpetrator is still on board. The ship's systems rapidly degrade, and panic spreads among the colonists, for the virus yields a terrible swelling of the brain that causes madness, hallucinations, and dreadful violence. If the ship's crew can't restore their technology and find a cure, the Keelah Si'yah will never make it to the Nexus.

From the New York Times bestselling author Catherynne Valente comes a ferocious riff on the women in superhero comics. The Refrigerator Monologues is a collection of linked stories from the points of view of the wives and girlfriends of superheroes, female heroes, and anyone who's ever been "refrigerated" comic book women who are killed, raped, brainwashed, driven mad, disabled, or had their powers taken so that a male superhero's storyline will progress. In an entirely new and original superhero universe, Valente subversively explores these ideas and themes in the superhero genre, treating them with the same love, gravity, and humor as her fairy tales. After all, superheroes are our new fairy tales and these six women have their own stories to share.