Summer in Scotland, and Mari is working on an archaeological dig of a Viking burial ship during Beltane, a time of the year when the veil shrouding the spirit world thins. What could possibly go wrong?

A virulent disease sweeps through the budding civilization on the planet Ose. As people are dropping like flies, the healers' guild is not making headway in finding a cure. Just as every hope seems lost, young Ree comes into her sage powers. Despite having to fight the disapproval from those who think her too young and inexperienced, she comes up with a cure from unusual natural sources. The race is on to get ahead of the epidemic. Time is tight, and a swindler's 'miracle cure' makes matters worse. With Ree and the healers' lives in danger, is the whole planet doomed?

Stories come from any number of places. One could start from a memory, a photo in a magazine or from pondering a news item and wondering, "What if?" This collection arose from that sort of random stimuli. Some are pure imagination of science fiction or fantasy. Others, though, developed from random historical facts or the disturbing news stories of war-torn regions. This is a collection of stories for those who like to think. Includes 4 award-winning short stories.

The steam-powered civilization of Myrn is a thriving adolescent culture. But the rapid industrial development has given rise to greed, and the triumvirate of government, banks and industry leaders has lost sight of those it is supposed to serve and protect. When a mysterious incurable illness sweeps through the impoverished masses, increasing the suffering to breaking point, rebellion seems unavoidable. Society is on the brink of revolution, and the planet is marked for destruction. M'nacht, his son Kes, and his team of researchers investigate a legend about three sacred fossils that could...

There are no monsters on Ose. People can be monstrous enough. Disaster strikes the beautiful world of Ose. Marisily is one of the Sages who can help heal the planet when nuclear winter pushes the civilization back to the brink of destruction. Only she doesn't know her own powers yet. It is survival of the fittest as vicious outlaws destroy all that remains, kidnapping, enslaving and killing those weaker than themselves. With a bounty on her head, alone and betrayed by her own father, can a young woman find the strength and wisdom necessary to rally the good people of Ose and rebuild their...

Life is tough for Zoe in the new world. As a small child, her voice can never be heard and she may as well be invisible. Except as a slave.

There are many things little Azizi has to learn about, like how the destruction of war can force people out of their homes, or take away a father in a blink. But the most important lesson of all bounces around on the frayed edges of a ball...