Showing results by author "Christopher Woods" in All Categories

Then you're in for a treat. Volume three of our popular anthology series is sure to scratch that questionable itch. With stories by Michael Knost, William Joseph Roberts, Philip K. Booker, Christopher Woods, D. Raymond Smith, David Badurina, H.P. Holo, James Palmer, Jason Cordova, Lee Ellis, M Leigh, Michael Morton, Michael Craig, and Guest Editorial by Faith Hunter.

The world has Fallen, but life goes on.... Matthew Kade was a corporate assassin - one of the best agents Obsidian Corporation had. But then the bombs began falling, and the old world ended. Now he must navigate the new world he finds himself in, a world where the strongest survive, and the weaker do their bidding...or die. Kade was always one of the strongest, though, so when a rich man’s daughter goes missing, he turns to Kade to find her and bring her back. But she has already been gone three days, and in the Fallen World, that is an eternity.

What do you do when the world falls? For Zebediah Pratt - or “Zee” to his friends - the answer is easy; he goes back to the family farm to support his father. By pooling resources with their neighbors in the countryside, they’re able to stand up to the lone gunmen who are on the lookout for easy prey in a world where the rule of law no longer applies. It looks like they will be able to make it. But when the dregs of society come leaking out to the countryside from the ruins of nearby Philadelphia, things change, and the Pratts realize something - they have to do more.

Matthew Kade was a corporate assassin—one of the best agents Obsidian Corporation had. But then the bombs began falling, and the old world ended. Now he must navigate the new world he finds himself in: a world where the strongest survive, and the weaker do their bidding…or die.

At a time when humans were just starting to venture forth into the Galactic Union as mercenaries, Martin Quincy survived long enough to do something no one else had - he retired. There was only one problem. He got bored. What does a "Legend" do when even the merc life gets boring? He starts his own company! Along with Kal Turner, they marshaled their Torvasi and Andori troopers and began taking contracts. A force for good, Quincy went about the galaxy, killing aliens and getting paid, while righting all the wrongs he found along the way. His only problem was that he was successful.

In the late 2020s and early '30s, corporations managed to render the major governments of the world obsolete. The big corporations owned most of the territories as well as the majority of the world's wealth. While many of the old traditions were still observed in various parts of the world, the true power was with the corporations. In the late '30s, what would be known as the Corporate Wars began as larger companies initiated hostile takeovers in a whole new fashion. Employees, armed with corporate weapons, warred for dominance. On May 1st, 2067, it all ended in a nuclear fire.

At a time when Humans were just starting to venture forth into the Galactic Union as mercenaries, Martin Quincy survived long enough to do something no one else had - he retired. There was only one problem: He got bored. After battling aliens for many years - killing aliens and getting paid - retirement didn’t suit him, and he decided to strap on the combat armor and go back to the stars. Along with his old friend Kal, Martin joined Cartwright’s Cavaliers, humanity’s best merc company. Life was exciting! But he got bored. Again.

In the late 2020s and early 30s, corporations managed to render the major governments of the world obsolete. The big corporations owned most of the territories as well as the majority of the world’s wealth. While many of the old traditions were still observed in various parts of the world, the true power was with the corporations. In the late 30s, what would be known as the Corporate Wars began as larger companies initiated hostile takeovers in a whole new fashion. Employees, armed with corporate weapons, warred for dominance. It was a bloody time.

It’s the 22nd century. The galaxy has opened up to humanity as a hyperactive beehive of stargates and new technologies, and we suddenly find ourselves in a vast playground of different races, environments, and cultures. There’s just one catch: We are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain.

Colin Rourke has lived his entire life knowing he has been hunted by creatures from a world connected to ours by portals. Raised by two Soulguards and gifted with abilities far beyond any known to them, he is trained from the moment he can walk to fight these beings. Now he is almost old enough to join the Soulguard and take his place as a defender of humanity in a secret war that has been fought in the shadows for over a thousand years.

On May 1st, 2067, the world fell. One thing Zebadiah Pratt - or Zee to his friends - won’t abide, though, is slavery, even in a Fallen World. So when friends of his find a shipment of gene-modified child slaves, he knows something must be done. There’s only one problem: The slaves came from an island owned by the infamous Dr. Laroue, a noted geneticist and the creator of many of the imprints the Obsidian Corporation used to create its super-soldiers. He’s going to need help.

Join the last vestiges of Humanity and their alien allies (the reptilian Thrynn, the insectoid Velox, and the plant-based Elowan) as they attempt to carve out their own territory in a sector of space filled with wondrous opportunity and deadly threats. Brave explorers seek out new worlds to colonize while merchants cruise from starport to starport, their holds laden with exotic goods. Not all in this futuristic setting have noble intent. For every prospector and trader attempting to make a difference, a dozen pirates, smugglers, and mobsters engage in all manner of criminal enterprise.

Harmon Tomeral and his friends wanted nothing more than to go to space, and they have beaten the odds, time and again. They developed a mech and won the Top Fleet Marine Competition. They brought back a battlecruiser from an unknown system and made it their own. They made allies who helped them achieve great victories, and they ultimately founded new colonies in what has become known as the Salvage System.

After Second Kansas the world waits for the other shoe to drop. The Kresh have come twice and been held off by Colin Rourke and the Soulguard. Defenses are growing, and the forces of Earth are arming themselves for war. Colin is trying to come to terms with the darkness inside of him with the help of Lyrica Jayne. But that darkness may be just what the world needs when millions of Kresh pour through another Great Gate.

Rippleton Torn has a couple of problems—he loves the ladies and he loves to gamble. Unfortunately, while he’s pretty good with the ladies, he’s not a great gambler, and he’s just lost his ship in a card game. That’s a problem because—somehow—he still needs to deliver a cargo he has contracted. On the plus side, he won a night of unbridled passion with a Davini. When he finds that Davini women aren’t built like humans and what that night would entail, well, Ripp needs a ship…fast.

Salvage System is a beacon of hope, and a number of other races continue looking toward it as an inspiration for how to live and govern themselves, and - in some cases - for assistance in defending themselves and throwing off oppressive regimes. But the galaxy is a big place, and many of the races in it aren’t friendly. Would these forces like to take over Salvage System and acquire its resources? Absolutely.

The last thing Rictor Hughes expected when he chose to give his life in Kansas to save others was to wake up. Even more surprising was to find himself on the other side of the exploding gateway in a facility under the care of an Artificial Intelligence with psychological issues. The world outside is inhabited by millions of the Kresh and millions of humans under their control.

Harmon Tomeral and his friends wanted nothing more than to go to space, and they have beaten the odds, time and again, to get there. They developed a mech and won the Top Fleet Marine competition. They brought back a battle cruiser from an unknown system and made it their own. They made allies who helped them achieve great victories, and they, ultimately, founded new colonies in what has become known as the Salvage System.

Vampires, witches, and zombies, oh my! Within this Halloween special, you'll find a uniquely satisfying collection of horror tales and stories of the macabre.

Edited by Jamie Ibson and Chris Kennedy, We Dare is a collection of 15 all-new stories that explores the use of augmented humanity in the near future. From getting a new personality loaded with the skills you need for a mission to nanobots that keep you from being killed to creating an indestructible tank, anything is possible!