The old wizard wasn't exactly happy with Valder, who'd led his enemy to his hut. Now hut and magical supplies were destroyed. But he'd promised the young scout a magic sword to get him safely back to his own lines -- and a much-enchanted sword Valder would get! The resulting sword gave perfect protection -- sometimes! It could kill any man -- or even half demon. In fact, once drawn, it had to kill before it could be put down or sheathed. Army wizards told Valder that the sword would keep him alive until he'd drawn it 100 times; then it would kill him! It wouldn't prevent his being wounded, maimed or cut to pieces, but it wouldn't let him die. If his new job as Chief Assassin for the army didn't make him use up the spell, he'd be practically immortal. Not bad, it seemed. There had to be a catch somewhere. There was -- and it was a lulu!

Slate is a thief who specialized in stealing, forging, and planting paperwork. When she is arrested for treason, she finds herself part of a suicide mission with Brenner the assassin and the disgraced paladin Caliban, once a demonslayer, now host to the dead remains of the demon which sent him on a murderous rampage and shattered his world.Their goal is both simple and nearly impossible. Find a way to stop the Clockwork Boys: the massive ivory creatures wreaking ruin upon the countryside. But to do that, they must first cross a war zone, braving plague and magic, to reach Anuket City, the distant home of the enemy.

Through Dungeons Deep delves into the art of role-playing, showing players and Game Masters how to have more fun and excitement with fantasy role-playing games. First published more than 25 years ago, this book was an instant classic. Long out of print, the original edition sells for several times its cover price. This Norton Creek Press reprint makes the book available (and affordable) again. Robert Plamondon wrote Through Dungeons Deep after realizing that the most important part of role-playing games-role-playing-is barely mentioned in gaming systems. When it is, it is often confused with rules. But role-playing really boils down to make-believe, and the real fun in role-playing games comes from unlocking your imagination. But it's also important to carry a length of rope and wear shoes you can run in.

The late SYDNEY J. BOUNDS' vivid new story PLAGUE PIT tells the horrifying story of what happens when an out-of-control modern technology meshes with an Ancient Evil, and is the first of several all-new stories by this much-loved master of fantasy leading off this special collection of science fiction, fantasy and supernatural stories, including: THIS WORLD IS OURS, a bizarre tale of the future by the late PHILIP E. HIGH, another great writer who is no longer with us; PRISONER OF TIME, an engrossing short novel of the weird consequences of a scientist's revenge by JOHN RUSSELL FEARN; SLEEVE OF CARE, a classic chilling fantasy by E. C. TUBB; plus many other entirely new stories by: BRIAN BALL, ANTONIO BELLOMI, ERIC BROWN, JOHN GLASBY, TONY GLYNN. Another Cosmos Books paperback original collection!

In a novel filled with lush imagery and exhilarating action, Faith Hunter creates a near-future world caught in the throes of an ambiguous apocalypse - where a woman with everything to hide finds her true destiny revealed. As humanity struggles with religious strife and seraphs and demons fight a never-ending battle, a new species has arisen. "Neomages" are human in appearance, but able to twist left-over creation energy to their will. A threat to both humans and seraphs, they are confined in luxurious Enclaves. Thorn St. Croix is no ordinary neomage. Nearly driven insane by her powers, she is smuggled out of an Enclave and now lives among humans, channeling her gift of stone-magery into jewelry making. But when Thaddeus Bartholomew, a dangerously attractive policeman, tells her that her ex-husband has been kidnapped, Thorn risks revealing her identity to find him. And for Thorn, the punishment for revelation is death.