So what is detective fiction? Where does the idea of solving mysteries come from? The biblical cross-examination of the two elderly lechers by Daniel to save the life of an innocent; Oedipus's discovery of the truth about origins by questioning witnesses; Scheherazade's story of a dead young woman hidden in a chest and a vizier ordered to find the murderer within three days or forfeit his life; Yuan and Ming dynasty tales of local magistrates who are involved with many cases simultaneously; Edgar Allan Poe's C. August Dupine who solves the mystery of the death of two women living in the Rue Morgue, a fictional street in Paris. Detective fiction has been around for ages, and has taken many forms, all in the pursuit of solving a puzzle, answering a question that has eluded others. In this anthology, more than a dozen creative authors have sent their mystery-solving sleuths to other worlds, both fantastical and futuristic. Join us in solving our other-worldly puzzles!

Sometimes communication is not as straightforward as we might expect. From body language to Morse code, conveying messages comes in a wide variety of forms. How do we get our message across?The stories and novellas in this anthology plumb the depths of the imagination, seeking to understand what might come to be if we were forced to communicate with those who no longer or never did understand us.

Crime solving becomes extraordinary when the rules of Planet Earth as we know it don't apply.

Steampunk tales of bravery and derring-do, of dreams and hopes, of characters big and small. Come along with us on this steam-driven rollercoaster ride of adventure!