Imagine being the last remaining priestess in the service of a powerful but aloof god. That's the scenario that propels Andre Norton's fascinating short story, "The Gifts of Asti." Dedicated priestess Varta continues to adhere to her ceremonies, rituals and prayers, even when it appears that Asti isn't listening. Will the god intervene to save Varta from death at the hands of invading hordes?

Scottish writer John Galt is hailed by many critics as one of the first authors to explicitly take on political themes in his fiction. In The Entail, Galt tackles the touchy issue of the value of inherited wealth as opposed to that which is earned and accumulated through one's own labor.

Think humor writing is solely the province of modern writers? Think again. The early nineteenth-century novel Headlong Hall is a hilarious foray into the world of the British upper class, where well-funded heirs have nothing but time on their hands to pursue increasingly bizarre hobbies and interests. In Headlong Hall, a group of these obsessives is gathered together at the lavish Welsh estate of Squire Harry Headlong Ap-Rhaiader,

Take an unforgettable celestial voyage with sci-fi luminary Alan E. Nourse in the classic short story Derelict. When an intrepid crew of skywatchers spots a mysterious star ship, they're initially elated by the once-in-a-lifetime find. But their discovery brings with it a slew of unanswered questions—and potentially deadly consequences.

In 1919, American writer James Branch Cabell caused a stir with the publication of his racy, uproariously hilarious medieval allegory Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice. Almost immediately, the novel drew the ire of censors, and Cabell soon found himself being prosecuted for indecency. Taboo is Cabell's fictionalized response to the kerfuffle, and it is brimming with his keen insight and witty barbs.

Although he began his career as a serious literary novelist, writer Thomas Anstey Guthrie first gained a wide readership when he began publishing humorous tales and essays, many of which also happened to have a supernatural element. The collection The Black Poodle and Other Tales brings together some of Anstey's most side-splitting forays into the humor genre.

In this gripping page-turner from well-regarded sci-fi scribe Alan E. Nourse, a group of scientists has finally stumbled across a cure for the common cold. One particularly egotistical member of the team, the ironically named Dr. Coffin, is determined to capture the limelight and receive all of the accolades. But what appeared at first to be a medical miracle may have unintended consequences that no one could have foreseen.

Known for his biting wit, American author and satirist Ambrose Bierce got his start in the literary world by publishing essays and articles in California-based periodicals. The Fiend's Delight brings together an eclectic selection of these early pieces.

"Crackpot" is what everybody calls the Pott family. So when they go to buy a new car and come back with a wreck, nobody is surprised—except for the Potts themselves. First, the car has a name, and she tells them what it is! Then they find out that she can fly ... and swim.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a car on a mission to stop a criminal gang in its tracks—and she's taking the Potts with her. Jump into the world's most loved magical