Showing results by publisher "Next Chapter Audio Ltd" in Science Fiction & Fantasy

When Kevin Murdock, martial artist and outdoorsman extraordinaire, is revived from suspended animation aboard a transport pod, he and his nine fellow occupants have no idea what to expect. Murdock argues for caution after seeing something strange: animals also inhabit their new environment, all of them larger than their Earthly counterparts. Conflict soon erupts between Murdock and James Whittier - a politician with a lust for power and control.

In ancient Finland, young Vierra begins her passage to adulthood. It's a time when Viking warriors prowl the land, and riches are in reach of the powerful. The medieval north of myth is a dangerous place, and powers both natural and supernatural are ready to take away everything she holds dear. Vierra sets to overcome the odds with iron will and sharp wit, but fate has more in store for the young woman.

The crystal skulls have been united in Sterling Temple to complete the great spell. The flow of the seasons has returned, bringing back a life of peace and plenty. This doesn't sit well with Matheus Hawk, who is busy plotting the Realm's destruction, fanning the burning coals of his hatred for the crew of The Griffin. An approaching storm threatens the Realm. In the north, the warrior Queen Morgasta prepares her barbarians for invasion, and across The Great Expanse marches an even greater threat: The Soul Eaters.

As the confrontation between King Kosar and Prince Jarand looms, forest fire, subterfuge, clandestine troops, and poison all threaten Prince Tarkyn and the woodfolk. When the Wizardess of the Lost Forest comes to Tarkyn’s aid, she reveals a shocking secret that threatens their very future. Bolstered by her unparalleled power, Tarkyn and his followers desperately attempt to stave off a civil war. But can Tarkyn find the strength to change the course of their realm, and save them all from the destructive, power-hungry rivals?

As civil war spreads through the realm of the sorcerers, the woodwolf become under attack by unknown abductors. When his attempts to prove his loyalty and protect his people go disastrously awry, Sorcerer Prince Tarkyn finds himself distanced from his companions and threatened by a curse. Trying to save his new people from his vengeful twin brothers, Tarkyn faces pressure from sorcerers and woodfolk alike. Soon, he is drawn in a battle he's not ready for.

Betrayed and left to die in the bowels of Karpella Castle, Torben’s plan lies in tatters. He's lost his fortune and an ancient threat has been unleashed on the world of Ulskandar, leaving him to fight for his life. A resurgent evil once again threatens the Kingdom of Dazscor & Aramore. Torben must join friends old and new to thwart the mage Aristotles, or risk the land falling under the shadow of a malign deity that wishes to enslave all to its will. Will Torben have the strength to join a fight hundreds of years in the making - or will he fall prey to the Dead God?

Every world has its heroes, and every hero has tales to tell. Britannia, Queen Victoria's realm, is not the least of these, for its many heroes are varied and inextricably linked. If but one falters, then others might follow .In a Victorian world off-kilter with our reality, a malevolent entity and an incarnation of past evil seek to overpower Britannia and its weakened queen. The disenchanted Sir Belvedere Magnanimous Wainthrop, the Lion of Britannia, will brave time and space to battle this unholy alliance and return glory to the empire. Destiny will test their courage and resolve.

Archaeology student Chione has vivid dreams about the discovery of an opulent tomb. After the founder of the Institute of Archaeology learns that Chione’s dreams might be connected to events in Egypt, he accepts an offer to examine a mysterious site in the Valley of the Queens. When they discover a burial chamber, ancient spells transport Chione and her ex-boyfriend, archaeologist Aaron Ashby, 3,500 years into the past. There, they learn of Tutankhamon and Tauret, a priestess in Pharaoh's Court.

This collection of 29 science fiction vignettes are at turns touching, humorous, and thought-provoking. Each begin cradled in the comfort of the familiar, but take listeners along a winding path to the unexpected. Serving as poignant reminders of the ephemeral nature of life and death, these stories encapsulate what it means to be human and to be captivated by music, love, and life itself.

Professor Luke Mann is the leader of a team heading back to the Languedoc, year 1305. Their goal? To study the environment, refine delta T and, in Luke's words, "to change the universe". With him is Artemisia Wormwood: A Medieval historian who needs the money to save the life of her dying sister. But time travel is untested, and dangerous. Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, a village in Languedoc, is a desert of souls. Monastery, pilgrimage path, and legend; that's all there is. Perfect for scientists who have promised their work will not interfere with history.

A splintered portal spell strands 16-year-old Mira in a magical realm where she is befriended by a sprite assassin and attacked by goblins. Mira must learn how to survive a world callously ruled by the Sidhe and with a revolution of the downtrodden races of the land looming over her head.

What if a man with a Gila-Monster head decided to try his luck with online dating? What if the government conducted a secret experiment in which they altered the color of people's skin? What if a famous serial killer was hired to kill a Nazi war criminal hiding in the US? What if the corpse of John Wayne was reanimated so he could appear in a low-budget zombie movie? Find out the answers to these and many other questions in Fever Dreams and Drunken Scribbles, a powerful, one-of-a-kind story collection by a master storyteller.

After three people disappear into the mysterious portals that hold the empire together, Culann Penrose is called in to investigate. After he discovers that the ancient system binding the gates is crumbling, he orders them to be shut down. Meanwhile the Druids, still seething at his denunciation of magic 20 years ago, oppose Penrose’s plans.

In the third book in the Quantum Touch series, a hidden enemy threatens to drive the world into turmoil - but will time-traveling Fritz find a way to bring peace to the globe? When he opened a portal into the Oval Office, Fritz Russell reluctantly agreed to help make the world a safer place. He saved hostages, prevented a nuclear war, and began a life of excitement and danger he never saw coming - but when a terrorist group captures the President, Fritz must turn to using the portal as a weapon to save him.

Socrates Blackwing - wizard, warrior, and bounty hunter - has fallen into disfavor with his grandfather, The General. It's the year 2070, and Socrates is stationed against his will in Tacoma, PC-Washington. Socrates's mission is to report back his assessment of the people living in this Plane of Reality, and locate the ne'er-do-wells from his own Known Seven Planes that may have crossed over to wreak havoc, to send them back. But is his magic stronger than the technology of 2070, and what will he do when confronted with one of his own kind?

Kevin Murdock, martial artist extraordinaire and longtime resident of the planet Oomah, is still center stage - and reluctant - to mentor any of the new batch of colonist arrivals. He alone is the remaining fair law on the planet. The new arrivals are with few leaders, and more clueless or dangerous individuals. Meanwhile, some of the previously arrived colonists are stirring up hate and discontent. Surprise awaits Murdock and his family.

As the world descends into ever darker chaos, Alaric Lambrecht seeks vengeance. No matter the cost. In Washington, evil takes another step toward true power. In the West, the Eighth Battalion advances a terrible plan. The Shades' refuge is in ashes. Alaric's path takes him deep into Eighth Battalion territory and on a collision course with Raven Ivany and Zero, bringing Shadows and Shifters, Sages and Shades all together with a common enemy. The question is, can they together take the fight to the mastermind who is tearing the country apart - and defeat him?

In this collection of short stories, you’ll meet vampires, zombies, elves, and aliens. You’ll step into an old haunted house. You’ll even witness a trial of the Kafkaesque sort, set in the distant year 2668. But you’ll never guess how any of these stories are going to end. Twisted Tales from the Northwest are chilling, subtle stories of latent horror. There’s not much blood spilt, but still, maybe you should refrain from listening to this one at night.

The Summer of Fire has burned away. The younger gods and their champion have defeated Krynok the Hunter, General Salamander has been destroyed, and slowly Tartaria is reuniting to heal the Clans and the land. The world has been left dazed and flattened, trying to pick up the pieces. Those who survived find themselves standing amongst the ruins with empty hearts, waiting for faces they will never see again. It has not occurred to many that this might be the greatest challenge of all.

As the SuperGates open, civilizations once separated by unimaginable distances can now interact for the first time. And, of course, what follows is tension. In a desperate attempt to preserve the fragile peace, Antaur calls a summit to discuss a potential alliance with Leyria. Jack Hunter and Anna Lenai are assigned to protect the delegation from mercenaries loyal to Admiral Telixa Ethran. Melissa Carlson investigates a growing fascist movement on Leyria, hoping that her world can change course before it’s too late.