Tanya X. Short

Erin Cole

Mary Fan

Julie Ann Dawson

Tim McDaniel

M.E.L.I. 

James Zahardis

Jaime Lackey

Danielle N. Gales 

Since 2009, the Bards and Sages Quarterly has brought fans of speculative fiction an amazing variety of short stories from both new and established authors. Each issue sets out to introduce readers to the wealth of talent found in the horror, fantasy and science fiction genres. Our authors have included Nebula, Hugo, and Pushcart winners and nominees. In this Issue: An Interview with Sci-Fi Author Mary Fan After refusing to sell his grandmother’s old phonograph to a peculiar man, Evan learns what it means to defy the desires of ancient forces in “A Song from the Old Country.” An almost indestructible princess discovers the truth of her strength, and her heritage, in “Rebirth.” A young man concocts a scheme to get his parents to stop pressuring him to find someone to sue in “Victims.”

Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2014)

Each issue of The Society of Misfit Stories Presents… is a celebration of long-form fiction. These novelettes and novellas will entertain and surprise fans of the form. In this issue, Kerri Caldwell, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Mark Cassell, Paul Mills, Crystal Lynn Hilbert, J.T. Seate, Scott Forbes Crawford, and Mark James Russell. Some of the stories in this issue include: When his automaton creation runs amok, a wheelchair-bound contractor finds himself at the threshold between worlds in Hole in the Sky. A vampire seeks the aid of his favorite bartender to help him life a curse in The Minutiae of Being Dead. A woman takes the law into her own hands after uncovering the horrific secret behind a small-town police department in Desert Heat and the Hereafter.

The Society of Misfit Stories Presents... (September 2020)

Jason Fahrion

Adam Skipper

Not everything is black and white. Sometimes, everything is a shade of gray. In this roleplaying game supplement for the 3.5/OGL system, explore the mysteries of those that walk the path between good and evil, law and chaos. With unique feats, spells, magic items, and prestige classes, The Book of Silvered Shadows unlocks the secrets of true neutrality in a world where everyone expects you to pick a side. Arm yourself against the extremists around you, and embrace the shadows.

A Sourcebook on the Matter of Neutrality

The Book of Silvered Shadows

Now in our 14th year of publication, the Bards and Sages Quarterly strives to bring fans of speculative fiction a variety of new and established voices to enjoy. Each issue features an eclectic range of styles and voices to delight audiences. This issue features works by Alice Hathaway, Xan van Rooyen, Naomi Libicki & Alter S. Reiss, Julie Reeser, Jeff Rona, Jeff Dosser, Craig Fishbane, and Dylan King. A selkie on a quest for revenge against the one responsible for her sister's death undercovers more than she bargained for in "Hallfrid." A passenger at a Tokyo train station transforms into a miniature version of a Japanese movie monster...then things really start to get weird in "The Subterranean Beasts of Electric Town." In the competition for souls, the Devil turns to a digital platform in "Patron of the Dark Arts." These and other tales in this issue.

Bards and Sages Quarterly (January 2022)

Welcome to The Bards and Sages Quarterly, a journal of speculative fiction. With each issue, we strive to bring readers a wide range of character-driven fiction from established and emerging authors in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction fields. The Bards and Sages Quarterly is the perfect sampler to explore the incredible range of storytelling found in the speculative genres. Some of the tales in this issue include: When a chicken's heart beats longer than it should, Mathilde must choose what to believe in if she hopes to save her sick daughter in The Movement of a Heart. In Speak, a man tries to provide for his family in a world where your economic circumstances determine how well you can communicate. A group of social outcasts selected by aliens to escape the upcoming destruction of earth decide to hold one last party before they go in About last Night.

Bards and Sages Quarterly (October 2021)

The Society of Misfit Stories Presents this eclectic collection of exceptional novelettes and novellas from some of the most unique voices in the speculative genres. This diverse anthology offers readers an enticing assortment of high fantasy, alien adventure, paranormal investigations, haunts both real and imagined, and more. In Volume II: Last Chances by Michael Gardner The Good Seed by Tom Howard The Last Hunt by Claire Salcedo Justice is Blind by Dawn Vogel Indigo Alyeska by Rhonda Eikamp Rolling Reality by Margret A. Treiber Up In Smoke by Milo James Fowler The Case of the Yuletide Bride by Aaron Vlek Fire in the Woods by T.R. North Red Sun Rising by Mike Adamson The Municipality of Lost Souls by Jeannie Wycherley Zombie Island by Derek Muk Forbidden Fruit by Calvin Demmer The Thousand-Year Colony by Russell Hemmell The Mail Order Bride by Nidhi Singh A Whisper in Scales by E. K. Wagner The Soul in the Machine by Daniel Kilkelly Three Times a Ronin Shouts by S.H. Mansouri A Portrait of Life by Fred McGavran Emily in the Wall by Neil Davies The Borrowscale Defection by Susanne Dutton Blood and Sand: A Cult Love Story by Larry Griffin Metal Skin by Francis J Burns Down in the Clockwork City by Mark William Chase Let Them Eat Cake by Aaron Moskalik The Abbot's Garden by Stewart C Baker The Man that Moved the Mountain by Nestor Delfino A Totem's Tale by Beeman Post-Modem Alchemy by Michael Andre-Driussi A Christmas Tree by Rhema Sayers Unseen by Jacob Adams Unwelcome Guests by Shannon Lawrence Single Combat by David W. Landrum The Resurrection of Hasan II by Hamad Al-Rayes The Worst of Times by Elana Gomel

The Society of Misfit Stories Presents: Volume Two

What would you do if a 300 year old vampire decided that you would make the perfect Van Helsing for his own twisted game?A series of bizarre kidnappings leads detective Mitch Grogan to the home of the wealthy and eccentric Darius Hawthorne. What he discovers there unleashes a chain of events that not only threatens his life, but also his sanity. Grogan finds himself caught up in a deadly game with a three hundred year old vampire looking for a worthy adversary. But how can a burnt-out cop with a crumbling marriage compete against a centuries' old immortal with unlimited resources and supernatural powers?More than boredom drives the cunning Hawthorne, however. His attempts to push Grogan to the breaking point are more than cruel entertainment. They also serve as a test to see whether or not the mortal is ready to help him hunt an even more deadly foe: one that would see the whole world burn to remove the vampiric corruption from it.Large Print Version includes the bonus short story "Dames and Games."

A Game of Blood (Large Print)

Each issue of The Society of Misfit Stories Presents… is a celebration of long-form fiction. These novelettes and novellas will entertain and surprise fans of the form. In this issue: stories by T.L. Barrett, Michael Benson, Sarah Cannavo, Mitch Lam, Aaron Moskalik, Jeff Sullins, and Elizabeth Wilcox Includes: Ekagani's Parade: A man accidentally discovers what will happen in the end of days, and is trapped in the realization that there is nothing he can do to stop it. Out on Arrowhead Road: Tired of being cheated by his partner, a Kentucky bootlegger takes action to regain control of his life and the operation. But he soon discovers that getting rid of his partner isn't as easy as he first thought. Elysian Grove: An unauthorized "retirement home" hides a secret that some consider dangerous to society

Society of Misfit Stories Presents... (May 2020)

Faith Carroll

Some consequences are eternal. Inspired by legends and folklore from around the world, Death's Shadow: The Book of Vampires combines the vampire mythos with the unique multiverse view of Karma system to bring Storytellers everything they allow their players to take on the roles of vampires. Death's Shadow provides just enough pre-generated material for Storytellers to easily launch their games, but leaves enough unanswered questions to allow them to take the concepts and make them their own. This sourcebook includes the origins of the vampire as understood in the Karma multiverse, examples of vampire strains, information on Thralls, and details on those individuals that hunt the undead. Requires the use of the Karma Core Rules Book.

A Sourcebook for the Karma Roleplaying System

Death's Shadow: the Book of Vampires

Dr. Nancy Werlock is one of the most successful marriage counselors in the Delaware Valley. Some credit her uncanny empathy. Some credit her quick wit and quirky sense of humor. But Nancy also has a unique set of skills she didn’t learn from any psychology training. Nancy is a sixth generation demonologist, and though she upset her mother when she decided to pursue a mundane professional instead of taking up the family business, she’s kept her magical skills sharp by integrating a few choice spells into her counseling practice. Nancy Werlock’s Diary follows Nancy’s daily trials and troubles as she struggles to juggle her professional obligations with her familial ones. Each set of stories is a stand-alone collection that provides a window into the life of a modern day warlock. And while Nancy may have a few arcane tricks at her disposal, her problems are surprisingly relatable (even when her mother is giving her a guilt trip from beyond the grave). This compilation includes Episodes eight through thirteen, which were previously released individually as digital shorts.

Julie Ann Dawson

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