In the modern world, paranormal dangers lurk all around. When there is no chosen one to be found, no altruistic half-vampire around, and no superheros flying overhead, it's up to average people to do the business of defeating evil. They have no powers, no prophecies, and all the odds are stacked against them. In this short story collection, regular folk find themselves up against nightmare creatures, conniving warlocks, and all manner of supernatural dangers. All set in contemporary environments. Read these nine new tales of magic and adventure today. This anthology contains the following stories: Flight Response by Jay Barnson An army helicopter pilot has a harrowing experience with a mind-controlling sorcerer in Vietnam. Several years later, the sorcerer has resurfaced, but will this wild chance at revenge end in tragedy? Small Town Sorcery by Bryce Beattie Supernatural terrors plague a child at night, and her father doesn't seem to be concerned. What nightmare is he trying to hide? In The Forests Of The Night by Misha Burnett Politics. Power always brought out the politicians, looking for an angle to drive in a wedge and gain some leverage. Magic was power, money was power, and this case was dripping with both. From the case files of Erik Rugar comes another tale of magic, mystery, and a detective who is always over his head. La Bruja by Carlos Carrasco A New Orleans Police Detective and an Exorcist join forces to rescue a young girl from the clutches of a demonic cult. The trail leads them into the bullet-riddled inner-city streets of the Big Easy where lives and souls are held cheap and rival gang-bangers wage a bloody race war. Living Land by JD Cowan After the show, a rockabilly drummer follows a girl who looks like she might be in trouble. The two are swept away into an unexplainable land, where existence turns in on itself. Under a Mango Sun by Michael DeCarolis An agent of Thailand's supernatural crime division must infiltrate Bangkok's seedy underbelly to get to the bottom of an enchanted animal smuggling ring, where she finds herself in over her head. The Undying Past by Dale W. Glaser A private investigator is coerced into tracking down the cause of a curse on an ancient manor. Will he find the answer before the curse claims his life? Green Shadow by Jason J. McCuiston Some New Age cults are fads. Some are nefarious. A rare few actually worship dark gods. When an Afghanistan vet is hired to bring back a runaway girl, he comes face-to-face with the latter. Prey of the Hamadame by Mark J. Schultis A mysterious beast is preying on factory workers. A pregnant woman's husband has disappeared. Can an outcast detective find him before it is too late?

An army of the living and an army of the dead converge on the Crossroads, and the fate of two worlds hangs in the balance. Sean Williams can see the ghosts of the dead rising in Maple Bend. They can see him, too--including the vengeful spirit of a serial murderer hunting him. To save Maple Bend from the plans of the Man in the White Suit, Sean must put the dead to rest--but doing so may cost him the girl who haunts his dreams. Beyond the Crossroads, a powerful army approaches, led by the evil daughter of the Man in the White Suit. Jenny Morgan, an inexperienced witch self-exiled to this magical parallel version of West Virginia, stands with the defenders to halt a vastly superior force. But is she truly part of the last line of defense against the darkness, or is she the key to its victory?

Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, a monstrous evil rises, and the only one who can stand against it is a teen-aged witch who doesn't believe in magic. Grieving and lost after the death of her parents, Jenny Morgan is sent to West Virginia to live with an aunt she's never met. It's there that Jenny is confronted with an unbelievable family heritage of witchcraft and magic - something she immediately dismisses as old-fashioned superstitions. However, once her new home is threatened by deadly horrors straight out of myth and folklore, her aunt's stories become impossible to ignore. Now Jenny and her three new friends - friends with dark secrets all their own - are the only ones who stand a chance of stopping the growing evil, but only if Jenny can embrace her arcane heritage. little does Jenny know, that wielding her power will attract the attention of an even greater evil - the same immortal entity her parents died to protect her from.

Spring 2017 special Eldritch Earth issue.Burroughsian adventure on a prehistoric Lovecraftian Earth.Novella The First American, by Schuyler Hernstrom Short Stories War of the Ruby/Shapes In the Fog, by Brian K. Lowe Darla of Deodanth, by Louise Sorensen In the Gloaming O My Darling, by Misha Burnett The Queen of Shadows, by Jay Barnson Beyond the Great Divide, by S.H. Mansouri Through the Star-Thorn Maze, by Lynn Rushlau The Bears of 1812, by Michael Tierney A Killing in Karkesh, by Adrian Cole Poetry My Name is John Carter (Pt. 4), by James Hutchings

Ride into the Wild West with ten steampunked expansions of classic American tales. A Princess of Jasoom: An intrepid young researcher reaches for the stars from the Arizona desert, and finds love where she least expects it. Winged Hope: The widow of a brilliant inventor fights insurmountable odds to see her husband's dreams realized and save the life of her daughter. The Van Tassel Legacy: A stranger arrives in Sleepy Hollow to unearth old conspiracies and bring the Van Brunts to justice. Invested Charm: A mysterious woman doles out justice in Boston society, but who will catch her first: organized crime or the law? Payoff for Air Pirate Pete: A pair of train-robbing outlaws bite off more than they can chew when they kidnap the son of a railroad bigwig. Rise of the House of Usher: A mad scientist gains power over life and death at the cost of his family's sanity, if not their very lives. The Silver Scams: A fast-talking confidence man ensnares all of Holland in his scheme to eliminate dikes forever . . . for a price. Nautilus Redux: Captain Nemo's crew stumble upon an island castaway who claims to be Captain Ahab of the Pequod. Only Moby Dick knows the truth. Mr. Thornton: Hounded by tragedy and betrayal, a gifted young blacksmith wanders from The Ohio to The Yukon searching for honor, loyalty, and justice. West End: A heartbroken Theodore Laurence follows the siren song of steam to Jamaica, where love and law collide with explosive results.

The fiendish Man in the White Suit continues his centuries-old plan to dominate both Earth and the world Around the Bend, but he now holds a personal grudge against those who have set back his plans. Jenny and her companions, now trapped in a parallel version of Appalachia, desperately seek a way to defeat their immortal, seemingly invincible enemy. With opponents on both sides of the Crossroads between worlds, Jenny, Jack, Sean, and Jessabelle must delve into ancient mysteries lost to the surviving Wardens and spy on the current actions of the dangerous Coven. Their quest even takes them to the brutal void between worlds, and will demand sacrifices that would have been unimaginable in their quiet modern-day lives only a few months before. The final battle against the Man in the White Suit and his forces is joined in Blood Creek Devil, the fourth and final chapter of the Blood Creek saga.

Proof that short fiction can still be exciting. StoryHack is a magazine focusing on action and adventure fiction in a wide variety of genres. In this issue, you'll read: Claws of the Puma by Paul R. McNamee - In the rainforests of Brazil, poaching loggers and traditional rubber tree tappers are at war. Journalist Sarah Stoughton gets more than she bargained for when she is caught up in the violence, and comes face to face with the legendary man of the jungle, the Puma. Shoot First by Jay Barnson - Flint and another agent are assigned to confiscate a dangerous cursed magical artifact from a street gang, only to find that the entire operation was a set-up by a local crime boss and an analyst from within the Order. Inside the Demon's Eye by JD Cowan - A young adventurer searches the Black Lands for a lifesaving treasure. He may not get the chance to find it, as he is being stalked by a malevolent force. Get to the River by Luke Foster - A park ranger plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with a gang of killers on the scorching hot floor of the Grand Canyon in July. Scourges, Spells, and Serenades by Joanna Maciejewska - An archanist must work alongside a high mage to find her missing cousin. The trail leads them to the arena of a secret demon cult, where their skill will be put to a deadly test. Showdown at Stone Ridge by Jason J. McCuiston - by - A military deserter is spared the noose if he will travel to the mining town of Stone Ridge and stop the desperados. What he finds in Stone Ridge is not bandits, but a land baron with an army, led by a Djinn. How can he possibly stand against such paramilitary might and magic? Master of Thieves by Aaron Zimmerman - For years Alex has admiringly followed the exploits of the two greatest thieves of her generation. Tonight, she wants to settle the question once and for all: who is the greatest thief of all? The Dealer's Tale by Jon Mollison - A pregnant blackjack dealer walks a deadly line as she prepares to betray her mafia-owned boss to the feds.

The Double-Stuffed Winter Issue of Cirsova Heroic Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, featuring: Novelettes The Vault of Phalos, by Jeffery Scott Sims Shadow Visions, by Preston Dennett Short Stories The Lady of the Amorous City, by Edward M. Erdelac A Suit of Haidrah Skin, by Rob Lang ...Where There Is No Sanctuary, by Howie K. Bentley The Last Dues Owed, by Christine Lucas The Witch of Elrica, by Jennifer Povey The Bubbcat, by Sean Monaghan Wall Wardens, by Lynn Rushlau Lost Men, by Eugene Morgulis The Unfolding of the World, by Harold R. Thompson The Sands of Rubal-Khali, by Donald Jacob Uitvlugt The Priests of Shalaz, by Jay Barnson Dust of Truth, by Joyce Frohn The Ride, by Edward McDermott My Name is John Carter (Pt.3), by James Hutchings The Phantom Sands of Calavass, by S.H. Mansouri Essay The Feminine Force Awakens, by Liana Kerzner

Steampunk-just corsets and monocles? Not today! Gear up for high-flying heists, cutlass-clashing duels, and steam-powered mayhem. From gritty alleyways to sky-high airships, this anthology throws you into the heart of adventure-where pirates rule, danger lurks, and only the bold survive. So, tighten your goggles, grab your cutlass, and hold on tight. The skies are calling-are you in?