Balefires

Balefires is the long-awaited collection of David Drake's weird and fantastic fiction, featuring many stories set in the worlds of his fantasy novels (Ranks of Bronze, Lord of the Isles, etc.). More than just a collection of stories, Balefires features extensive story notes that chronicle the development of the writing career of one of science fiction's most popular writers, and provides detailed snapshots of the larger-than-life editors, publishers, and writers with whom Drake has worked with throughout his career. Publishers Weekly Best known for his hard-hitting military SF, Drake ( Some Golden Harbor ) has also written some impressive fantasy and horror, as shown by this collection of 24 stories from all phases of his career. Firefight and The Hunting Ground are as gritty as any of the Hammer's Slammers series, while U.S. soldiers in Vietnam battle unexpected enemies in Arclight, Something Had to Be Done and Best of Luck. Fans of sword and sorcery will find The False Prophet as exciting as any adventure of Conan or Elric, but anchored by the realism evoked by the author's extensive classical scholarship. The controversial Smokie Joe is genuinely horrifying, while Than Curse the Darkness reveals why some humans worship Lovecraft's dark gods. Drake is perhaps at his best in tales like The Red Leer and The Barrow Troll, which deal with the changes that violence brings about in its wielders. Illuminating introductory author notes explore each story's origins. (May) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information Balefires is the long-awaited collection of David Drake's weird and fantastic fiction. Before Drake was a best-selling author of military science fiction, he was a prolific writer of horror and fantasy short fiction. Balefires collects some of his earliest professional sales (including his first sale to Arkham House.) In addition, Balefires brings together many stories set in the worlds of his fantasy novels (Ranks of Bronze, Lord of the Isles, etc.) and contains original fiction. More than just a collection of stories, Balefires features extensive story notes that chronicle the development of the writing career of one of the science fiction's most popular writers, and provides detailed snapshots of the larger than life editors, publishers and writers that Drake has worked with throughout his career. Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.