List of Wild Cards books and short stories
Wild Cards is a series of science fiction superhero shared universe anthologies, mosaic novels, and solo novels written by a collection of authors known as the Wild Cards Trust and edited by George R. R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass. Set largely during an alternate history of post-World War II United States, the series follows humans who contracted the Wild Card virus, an alien virus that rewrites DNA and mutates survivors; those who acquire minor or crippling physical conditions are known as Jokers, and those who acquire superhuman abilities are known as Aces.
As of the publication of High Stakes in August 2016, the series consists of twenty-three books. Wild Cards began publication through Bantam Books, under its Spectra imprint, in January 1987. Bantam published the series until 1993 and released twelve installments. Baen Books published three books from 1993 to 1995. From 2002 to 2005, ibooks Inc. published two more installments, including one solo novel. Wild Cards is currently published by Tor Books, an imprint under Macmillan Publishers. As of August 2016, Tor Books released six novels.[1][2]
Several novels were also reprinted. Reprinting rights to the first eight novels were acquired by ibooks Inc. in 2000. The company reissued the first six novels before declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy shortly after the death of founder Byron Preiss; ibooks' assets were acquired by Brick Tower Press.[3][4][5] Tor Books reprinted the first novels from November 2010 to October 2015; it expects to issue a reprint of the sixth novel in October 2016.[6][7][8]
Books
Bantam Books (1987 – 1993)
Bantam Books, under its Spectra imprint, published twelve books between 1987 and 1993, including two solo novels written by Melinda M. Snodgrass and Victor Milan.
No. | Title | Original release | ibooks Inc. reprint release | Tor Books release | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wild Cards Edited by George R. R. Martin |
January 1987 ISBN 978-0-553-26190-5[9] |
July 31, 2001[10] ISBN 978-0-7434-2380-9 |
November 23, 2010[6] ISBN 978-0-7653-2615-7 | |||
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2 | Aces High Edited by Martin |
April 1987[11] ISBN 978-0-553-26464-7 |
October 2001[12] ISBN 978-1-59687-283-7 |
December 20, 2011[13] ISBN 978-0-7653-2616-4 | |||
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3[lower-alpha 2] | Jokers Wild Edited by Martin |
October 1987[14] ISBN 978-0-553-26699-3 |
February 2002[15] ISBN 978-1-59687-284-4 |
February 11, 2014[16] ISBN 978-0-7653-2617-1 | |||
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4 | Aces Abroad Edited by Martin |
May 1988[17] ISBN 978-0-553-27628-2 |
August 27, 2002[18] ISBN 978-0-7434-5241-0 |
January 13, 2015[19] ISBN 978-0-7653-3558-6 | |||
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5 | Down and Dirty Edited by Martin |
November 1988[20] ISBN 978-0-553-27463-9 |
January 7, 2003[21] | October 27, 2015[7] ISBN 978-0-7653-3559-3 | |||
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6[lower-alpha 2] | Ace in the Hole Edited by Martin |
January 1990[22] ISBN 978-0-553-28253-5 |
February 25, 2003[23] ISBN 978-0-7434-5837-5 |
October 4, 2016[8] ISBN 978-0-7653-3560-9 | |||
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7[lower-alpha 2] | Dead Man's Hand Edited by Martin |
July 1990[24] ISBN 978-0-553-28569-7 |
N/A | — | |||
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8 | One-Eyed Jacks Edited by Martin |
January 1991[25] ISBN 978-0-553-28852-0 |
N/A | — | |||
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9 | Jokertown Shuffle Edited by Martin |
August 1991[26] ISBN 978-0-553-29174-2 |
N/A | — | |||
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10 | Double Solitaire Written by Snodgrass and edited by Martin |
March 1992[27] ISBN 978-0-553-29493-4 |
N/A | — | |||
11[lower-alpha 2] | Dealer's Choice Edited by Martin |
October 1992[28] ISBN 978-0-553-29161-2 |
N/A | — | |||
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12 | Turn of the Cards Written by Milan and edited by Martin |
January 1993[29] ISBN 978-0-553-56152-4 |
N/A | — | |||
Baen Books (1993 – 1995)
Baen Books published a new triad between 1993 and 1995 subtitled of a New Cycle. In 2002, Martin commented that he felt the triad was creatively "three of the strongest volumes Wild Cards ever had" and that the series "came back strong" after stumbling with a previous storyline; however, he conceded that the triad was "very dark", acknowledging it was commonly voiced complaint, and that he felt switching publishers was a mistake.[30]
No. | Title | Original release |
---|---|---|
13 | Card Sharks Edited by Martin |
February 1993[31] ISBN 978-0-671-72159-6 |
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14 | Marked Cards Edited by Martin |
March 1994[32] ISBN 978-0-671-72212-8 |
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15[lower-alpha 2] | Black Trump Edited by Martin |
July 1995[33] ISBN 978-0-671-87679-1 |
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ibooks Inc. (2002 – 2006)
In 2000, ibooks Inc. purchased two new installments and the rights to reprint the first eight books of the series; the two new books were published between 2002 and 2006, including a solo novel by John J. Miller.[5] The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2005, shortly after the death of founder Byron Preiss.[3] In December 2006, J. Bolyston & Co. Publishers, parent company of the Brick Tower Press imprint, acquired all of Preiss' assets, including those of ibooks, for $125,000.[4][5] Brick Tower Press offered e-book versions of its titles, including Deuces Down and Death Draws Five, via Humble Bundle in February 2016.[34]
No. | Title | Original release |
---|---|---|
16 | Deuces Down Edited by Martin |
June 25, 2002[35] ISBN 978-0-7434-4505-4 |
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17 | Death Draws Five Written by Miller and edited by Martin |
February 1, 2006[36] ISBN 978-1-59687-297-4 |
Tor Books (2008 – present)
Tor Books, an imprint under Macmillan Publishers, currently publishes the series in both print and e-book format. It released six new installments from November 2008 to August 2016.
On his blog in March 2016, Martin stated that Tor Books acquired three installments after High Stakes. Working titles for the books are Texas Hold 'Em, Mississippi Roll, and Low Chicago. He also announced that Saladin Ahmed, Max Gladstone, Marko Kloos, and Diana Rowland will contribute to the triad.[37]
No. | Title | Original release | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Inside Straight Edited by Martin with assistance from Snodgrass |
January 22, 2008[1] ISBN 978-0-641-91260-3 | |||
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19 | Busted Flush Edited by Martin with assistance from Snodgrass |
December 9, 2008[38] ISBN 978-0-7653-1782-7 | |||
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20[lower-alpha 2] | Suicide Kings Edited by Martin with assistance from Snodgrass |
December 22, 2009[39] ISBN 978-0-7653-1783-4 | |||
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21 | Fort Freak Edited by Martin with assistance from Snodgrass |
June 21, 2011[40] ISBN 978-0-7653-2570-9 | |||
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22 | Lowball Edited by Martin and Snodgrass |
November 4, 2014[41] ISBN 978-0-7653-3195-3 | |||
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23[lower-alpha 2] | High Stakes Edited by Martin and Snodgrass |
August 30, 2016[2] ISBN 978-0-7653-3562-3 | |||
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Short stories
Tor Books published five short stories through its website from January 2013 to March 2016.
- "When We Were Heroes" by Daniel Abraham (January 16, 2013), edited by Martin[42]
- "The Button Man and the Murder Tree" by Cherie Priest (May 15, 2013), edited by Martin[43]
- "The Elephant in the Room" by Paul Cornell (May 29, 2013), edited by Martin[44]
- "Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza" by Carrie Vaughn (October 15, 2014), edited by Martin[45]
- "Prompt. Professional. Pop!" by Walter Jon Williams (November 21, 2014), edited by Martin[46]
- "Discards" by David D. Levine (March 30, 2016), edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden[47]
One additional short story, "Lies My Mother Told Me" by Caroline Spector, was published in the Dangerous Women anthology, also edited by Martin. The anthology was released December 3, 2013.[48]
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 The 2010 Tor Books reprint of Wild Cards, originally published in 1987 by Bantam Books, added stories by Michael Cassut, David D. Levine, and Carrie Vaughn, as well as a story with no listed author.[6]
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Several novels attribute authors by narrating character. Those novels are Jokers Wild, Ace in the Hole, Dead Man's Hand, Dealer's Choice, Black Trump, Suicide Kings, and High Stakes.
- 1 2 The 2015 Tor Books reprint of Aces Abroad, originally published in 1988 by Bantam Books, added stories by Kevin Andrew Murphy and Carrie Vaughn.[19]
References
- 1 2 "Inside Straight". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- 1 2 "High Stakes". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- 1 2 "ibooks & Byron Preiss Visual Publications File Chapter 7". ICv2. February 23, 2006. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- 1 2 "News Briefs". Publishers Weekly. December 18, 2006. Retrieved July 10, 2016 – via EBSCO Information Services. (subscription required)
- 1 2 3 Rambraut, Dag (November 18, 2007). "Interview with George R.R. Martin". SFFWorld.com. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Wild Cards I". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- 1 2 "Wild Cards V: Down and Dirty". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- 1 2 "Wild Cards VI: Ace in the Hole". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Reilly, Robert. "Martin, George R.R., ed. Wild Cards: A Mosaic Novel". In Collins, Robert; Lantham, Robert. Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual 1988. Meckler. p. 249. ISBN 978-0-88736-249-1.
- ↑ "Wild Cards (Wild Cards, Book 1) (Volume One) (v. 1)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ de Lint, Charles. "Martin, George R.R., ed. Wild Cards II: Aces High". In Collins, Robert; Lantham, Robert. Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual 1988. Meckler. pp. 249–250. ISBN 978-0-88736-249-1.
- ↑ "Wild Cards, Aces High (Volume 2)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Wild Cards II: Aces High". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Jokers Wild (Wild Cards, Book 3)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Wild Cards, Jokers Wild: Jokers Wild (Wild Cards, Book 3) (Volume 3)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Wild Cards III: Jokers Wild". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Aces Abroad (Wild Cards, Book 4)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Wild Cards IV: Aces Abroad (v. 4)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- 1 2 "Wild Cards IV: Aces Abroad". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Down and Dirty (Wild Cards, Book 5)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Down and Dirty (Wild Cards, Book 5) (v. 5)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Ace in the Hole (Wild Cards)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Wild Cards VI: Ace in the Hole (Vol 6)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Dead Man's Hand (Wild Cards, Book 7)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "One-Eyed Jacks (Wild Cards, Book 8)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Jokertown Shuffle (Wild Cards)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Double Solitaire (Wild Cards, No. 10)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Dealer's Choice (Wild Cards XI)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Turn of the Cards (Wild Cards, Book 12)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "About Wild Cards". So Spake Martin. Westeros.org. December 15, 2002. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Card Sharks (Wild Cards: New Cycle, Book 1)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Marked Cards (Wild Cards: A New Cycle, Book 2)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Black Trump (Wild Cards: A New Cycle, Book 3) (Wild Cards: New Cycle)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Humble Bundle: Sci-fi Classics". Humble Bundle. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Wild Cards XVI - Deuces Down (Vol 5)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards XVII: Death Draws Five". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Wild Cards Times Three". Not A Blog. Livejournal.com. March 16, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Busted Flush (Wild Cards)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Suicide Kings (Wild Cards)". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Suicide Kings". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Suicide Kings". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Abraham, Daniel (January 16, 2013). "When We Were Heroes". Original Fiction. Tor Books. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Priest, Cherie (May 15, 2013). "The Button Man and the Murder Tree". Original Fiction. Tor Books. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Cornell, Paul (May 29, 2013). "The Elephant in the Room". Original Fiction. Tor Books. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Vaughn, Carrie (October 15, 2014). "Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza". Original Fiction. Tor Books. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Williams, Walter Jon (November 21, 2014). "Prompt. Professional. Pop!". Original Fiction. Tor Books. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Levine, David D. (March 30, 2016). "Discards". Original Fiction. Tor Books. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Dangerous Women Arrives on Tor.com: Featuring a New Song of Ice and Fire Story". Tor Books. July 24, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
External links
- Wild Cards series at Macmillan Publishers, parent company of Tor Books