Search Worlds Without End

13 new stories about TESTING the bonds of fellowship on fantastical worlds

The bonds of friendship and fellowship are key to many fine fantasy and science fiction novels, most notably Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring. Now top tale-spinners offer their own unique takes on fellowship in thirteen original stories, featuring a girl who finds her best friend through a portal to another world, an adventure on an alternate Earth where a not-quite Holmes and Watson take on a fascinating challenge, a group of urban mages playing the "True Game" for high stakes, a squire determined to help his master's ghost fulfill his final mission, and more. Together, these stories dramatically illustrate how fellowships can alter destiny and change worlds.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction - essay by Kerrie Hughes
• Almost Brothers - novelette by Paul Genesse
• The Quest - novelette by Donald J. Bingle
• Sweet Threads - shortstory by Jody Lynn Nye
• Trophy Wives - novelette by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
• The Eye of Heaven - shortstory by Chris Pierson
• Overcast - shortstory by Alan Dean Foster
• Friends of the High Hills - shortstory by Brenda Cooper
• Scars Enough - shortstory by Russell Davis
• Concerning a Gambit of Fraternity - shortstory by Steven E. Schend
• Revenge is a Dish Best Served with Beers - novelette by Fiona Patton
• The Enigma of the Serbian Scientist - novelette by S. Andrew Swann
• Cirque du Lumière - novelette by Bradley P. Beaulieu
• Friendly Advice - novelette by Alexander Potter
• About the Authors - essay by uncredited

Let the games begin!

These thirteen original stories by veterans of the fantasy realms take role-playing games and universes to a whole new level.

From a teenager who finds a better future in virtual reality; to a private investigator hired to find a dying man's grandson in the midst of a virtual reality theme park; from a person gifted with the power to pull things out of books into the real world; to a psychologist using fantasy role-playing to heal his patients; from a gaming convention where the real winners may not be who they seem to be; to a multi-layered role-playing game that leads participants from reality to reality and games within games-these imaginative and fascinating new tales will captivate both lovers of original fantasy and anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of role-playing games.

Table of Contents:

• 1 - Roll On! - essay by Margaret Weis
• 5 - Introduction (Gamer Fantastic) - essay by Kerrie Hughes
• 8 - Escapism - short fiction by Chris Pierson
• 32 - Gaming Cycle - short fiction by Donald J. Bingle
• 45 - Rescuing the Elf Princess Again - short fiction by Ed Greenwood
• 59 - Roles We Play - short fiction by Jody Lynn Nye
• 79 - Mightier Than the Sword - [Magic Ex Libris] - novelette by Jim C. Hines
• 102 - Griefer Madness - (2009) - short fiction by Richard Lee Byers
• 124 - Mission from Hel - short fiction by Bill Fawcett
• 145 - The Gods of Every Other Wednesday Night - short fiction by Stephen Leigh [as by S. L. Farrell]
• 169 - "You Forgot Whose Realm This Really Is!" - short fiction by Brian M. Thomsen
• 179 - The War on Two Fronts - short fiction by Jean Rabe
• 197 - Aggro Radius - short fiction by David D. Levine
• 219 - Being Played - short fiction by Steven E. Schend
• 251 - Game Testing - short fiction by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
• 295 - Ernest Gary Gygax (1938-2008) - essay by Ed Greenwood
• 301 - About the Authors (Gamer Fantastic) - essay by uncredited
• 308 - About the Editors (Gamer Fantastic) - essay by uncredited