Who Needs a Friend, When You Have a Familiar? Animals have been our companions since the dawn of time, but in science fiction and fantasy, often that bond is taken one magical—or technological—step further. In Familiars we asked authors to put their own unique spin on this idea, resulting in this collection of fifteen stories that explore the range of familiar bonds—from cats to caterpillars, squids to squirrels, and everything in between. With settings from fantasy to science fiction, and stories ranging from humor to horror, there's something to appeal to everyone! Featuring stories by Brian Hugenbruch, Lawrence Harding, Jean Marie Ward, Jordan Bricco, Alexander G.R. Gideon, Gini Koch & Bebe Bayliss, Russell Hugh McConnell, Kari Sperring, Alicia Cay, Jim C. Hines, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Shanna Germain, Jacey Bedford, A. Katherine Black, and Jason Palmatier. The buddy system is back, baby!

Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? All questions we would ask Death when our times comes. But more than likely we will find the answers are not what we expected, but better than we fear. Death has walked the entire width and breadth of the universe. He's watched the birth of stars, galaxies, and countless lives over the eons. And he has witnessed the end of all things. He's searched for God, and held a girl's hand as she prepares to cross the veil. But his journey always surprises him. There is magic, and mystery, and knowledge beyond mortal comprehending. The Man Comes Around is the first volume in a series of collections featuring interconnected stories about Death's travels through existence.

How do you mend a broken soul? Mathers has disappeared and if Aleister Crowley is to have a hope of finding him, he will need to recover the power he's lost. But what is the cost of a life? And is Aleister willing to pay it to recover his own? Elaine Simpson spent a decade running from the sins she committed as a Witch Hammer. Now the monsters who continue to use the Malleus Maleficarum to justify murdering magicians will kill everyone she loves if she doesn't stop them once and for all. But if they taught her anything it's how to kill monsters