A collection of novellas by some of today's most acclaimed science fiction writers--including David Drake, David Weber, Eric Flint, S. M. Stirling, and Mark L. Van Name--chronicles the exploits and adventures of guilds of star-traveling merchants and their not-so-obedient human slaves and mercenaries.
Eric Flint was the creator of the
New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series, the best-selling alternate history series of all time. Beginning with
1632, Flint--along with dozens of cowriters--chronicled what happened when the 20th-century town of Grantville, West Virginia, was transported through time and space to 17th-century Europe. In addition, Flint was the author, with
New York Times best seller David Weber, of the Crown of Slaves Saga, as well as the Belisarius series with best-selling author David Drake. Flint was the editor of
Jim Baen's Universe, as well as numerous short story anthologies. Before becoming a writer, Flint worked as a trade union organizer, longshoreman, truck driver, auto worker, steel worker, oil worker, meatpacker, glassblower, and machinist. Eric Flint passed away in 2022.
David Drake was attending Duke University Law School when he was drafted. He served the next two years in the Army, spending 1970 as an enlisted interrogator with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Viet Nam and Cambodia. Upon return he completed his law degree at Duke and was for eight years Assistant Town Attorney for Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has been a full-time freelance writer since 1981. Besides the previous novels in the Lt. Leary series (with the
Lightnings, Lt. Leary, Commanding and
The Far Side of the Stars), his books for Baen include the best-selling Hammer's Slammers series (the most recent entry being
Paying the Piper) and such stand-alone books as
Ranks of Bronze, Starliner, All the Way to the Gallows, Redliners, and many more. For Tor, he has written the best-selling Lord of the Isles fantasy series, the most recent installment being
Goddess of the Ice Realm.
With more than eight million copies of his books in print and 33 titles on the
New York Times bestseller list,
David Weber is a science fiction powerhouse. In the vastly popular Honor Harrington series, the spirit of C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian's
Master and Commander lives on--into the galactic future. Books in the Honor Harrington and Honorverse series have appeared on 21 bestseller lists, including
The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and
USA Today. Additional Honorverse collaborations include the spin-off miniseries Manticore Ascendant with
New York Times best-selling author, Timothy Zahn; and with Eric Flint,
Crown of Slaves and
Cauldron of Ghosts contribute to his illustrious list of
New York Times and international bestseller lists.
Best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, Weber is also the creator of the Oath of Swords fantasy series and the Dahak saga, a science fiction and fantasy hybrid. Weber has also engaged in a steady stream of best-selling collaborations: the Starfire Series with Steve White; The Empire of Man Series with John Ringo; the Multiverse Series with Linda Evans and Joelle Presby; and the Ring of Fire Series with Eric Flint.
David Weber makes his home in South Carolina with his wife and children.
