Josh Vogt

Enter the Janitor (The Cleaners)

Featuring 11 interior illustrations from Michael Rechlin!Welcome to Nexus, the center of all dimensions and universes, where species from every corner of reality join in their mutual obsession with the gladiatorial death matches hosted in spacebound barge arenas. Aboard these heaps of interstellar flotsam, Fate isn't some fickle mistress. She's out for blood.One day, you're living large, enjoying a few savvy wagers on a recent arena bout and imbibing a dozen illegal substances just to take the edge off. The next, you're dead in a barge gutter, food for mutant vermin.Could it get any worse? Sure. You could be the poor sonovasprukker who has to clean up all the corpses.That would be Rahgz, a luckless scavenger who lost every Bit to his name not a day after boarding the barge that's become his prison. Scrounging for every scrap he can choke down, Rahgz spends his cycles dodging murderous coworkers, ducking security droids, and praying the universe ignores his pathetic existence.But after he "volunteers" for an experimental implant that's supposed to enhance his perceptions and decision-making processes, things get...well, stranger than usual.Against all odds, Rahgz's new mental guidance system starts steering him through situations where he's not being constantly left for dead. Unexpected profit, plentiful food, and slightly-less-psychotic companions start getting sucked into his orbit, culminating with him acquiring a gladiatorial servant of his own and joining the ranks of lanista, the celebrated souls who oversee the barge bouts.Swept up in this fluke of good fortune, Rahgz is determined to keep his newfound fame at all costs-but there's always a price to pay for glory.And when Mistress Fate delivers the bill, she's more than happy to carve what she's owed out of flesh, blood, and bone.

Nexus: Blood, Guts, and Glory

Clean-freak college student Dani Hashelheim never imagined she'd discover her latent magical ability in, of all places, a bathroom. But when she ducks into the ladies' room at the library, she's put in the crossfire between an elderly janitor and a ravenous muck-monster that emerges from the sink. Dani's previously unknown power manifests in self-defense, and she floods and burns down the library-at the same time. Enter Ben, the janitor, who works for the Cleaners, a supernatural sanitation company that keeps reality tidy and safe...and a company Dani now works for as well, whether she wants to or not. This puts a significant crimp in her dream to attend med school and become a doctor. Nor is Ben happy, since it's his duty to help Dani adapt to the job and learn to control her chaotic talent before it kills them both. Dani barely has time to try on her new company uniform before she and Ben are hunted down by a cult that wants to cleanse all life from the planet, and believes her power provides the means to do so. While fighting to survive the cult's increasingly violent recruitment attempts, the pair must battle dust devils, navigate a maze of mystical sewers, face down trash golems-and scrub the occasional toilet.

Enter the Janitor

Pierce Fraser

In Sol, the opportunities are limitless. There are fortunes to be made, legends to be forged, beautiful people and places, and endless pleasures to be indulged, whether virtual or in meatspace. At least, that's what the vids say. The vids say a lot of things, really. Nadia had long since stopped listening. Being a genetic mishap in a world of engineered perfection means "opportunity" involves selling her body to fill someone else's pockets, and selling her genome to the Reveidolon corp to supplement her otherwise meager credit cache. A stable existence, perhaps--she no longer scrounges for scraps on the streets, at least--but life in her hometown of Sacroden has become one stagnant trudge from day to day. Certainly devoid of any so-called opportunities. Yet when an influential client has a heart attack and dies right in front of her, she's put square in the bullseye of some of Sacroden's most powerful factions--ones who'll go to any length to protect their secrets and investments. Alone and stripped of any resources or safety net, Nadia is forced to start making opportunities for herself she never would've thought possible. They may not be "golden," but if she can make them work, there's a brand new life waiting for her on the other side. If not, well...there won't be any life left for her at all. Josh Vogt takes on the first novel for the HC SVNT DRACONES tabletop roleplaying universe and brings to life a post-human solar system populated by one of the last great human experiments, who have gone on to form their own lives, moral guidelines and social practices in the absence of their creators.

A Hc Svnt Dracones Novel

Fate's Fangs

Ian Creasey

J. W. Alden

Henry Szabranski

Paul Magnan

Suzanne J. Willis

Fantasy Scroll Magazine is an online, bi-monthly publication featuring science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal short-fiction. The magazine’s mission is to publish high-quality, entertaining, and thought-provoking speculative fiction. With a mixture of short stories, flash fiction, and micro-fiction, Fantasy Scroll Magazine aims to appeal to a wide audience. Issue #11 includes 9 short stories and one graphic story: "Sundark and Winterling" — Suzanne J. Willis "Red Cup" — Paul Magnan "The Water Moon" — Steve Simpson "Battle Lines" — J.W. Alden "Talking with Honored Guests" — Alexander Monteagudo "How I Lost Eleven Stone and Found Love" — Ian Creasey "The Great Excuse" — Jacob Michael King "The Velna Valsis" — Henry Szabranski "Have You Seen Me?" — Josh Vogt "Shamrock - Part 6 - Perseverance" — Josh Brown & Alberto Hernandez Interview with Author Karri Thompson Interview with Author A.L. Davroe Artist Spotlight: Jeremy Vickery Book Review: Tales of My Ancestors (Bruce Edward Golden) Movie Review: Turbo Kid (François Simard, Anouk Whissell) The magazine is open to most sub-genres of science fiction, including hard SF, military, apocalyptic & post-apocalyptic, space opera, time travel, cyberpunk, steampunk, and humorous. Similarly for fantasy, we accept most sub-genres, including alternate world, dark fantasy, heroic, high or epic, historical, medieval, mythic, sword & sorcery, urban fantasy, and humorous. The magazine also publishes horror and paranormal short fiction.

Fantasy Scroll Magazine Issue #11

Tim Waggoner

J. G. Faherty

John Everson

Rose Blackthorn

Jay Caselberg

Tony Knighton

Jeff Hemenway

Sean Eads

Roger Jackson

Geoffrey W. Cole

Stephen T. Vessels

S. G. Larner

Martin Slag

There are uncountable evils lying in wait, ready to consume the souls of mankind. From alien civilizations bent on human destruction, to demonic incursions from beyond the event horizon, to the horrifying malevolence that lives within us all, Equilibrium Overturned grabs you by the throat and drags you screaming into the heart of darkness. Exploring terrifying dystopian societies, post-apocalyptic survival, the white-washing of our own terrifying past, and supernatural worlds both near and far, Equilibrium Overturned offers sixteen shocking revelations into the true origins of evil. Come with us on a journey into malignant terror that will drive a nail through all that remains of your own humanity. Equilibrium Overturned contains sixteen devastating glimpses into the heart of darkness from a group of accomplished horror, science fiction, dark fantasy and speculative fiction authors. The volume is edited by Bram Stoker Award-nominated editors Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson.

The Heart of Darkness Awaits

Equilibrium Overturned

JG Faherty

SG Larner

The end of everything is here. But which apocalypse will be the worst? Find out in Equilibrium Overturned from Bram Stoker Award-nominated editors of acclaimed indie horror anthologies Peel Back the Skin and Dark Visions, Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson. From alien civilizations bent on human destruction, to demonic incursions from beyond the event horizon, to the dangerous malevolence that lives within us all, Equilibrium Overturned drags you into the heart of darkness to explore brutal personal and worldwide apocalypses and the lives wavering on the brink. Survive destroyed worlds and brutal dystopian societies. Experience a prison of the future and the whitewashing of a horrifying past that threatens our very existence. From preventable transgressions, unavoidable doomsdays and personal calamities both near and far, Equilibrium Overturned offers a glimpse into what life may be like at the end of all things. Featuring: "The Final Testimony of Molly Ryder" by Jeff Hemenway - In the future prisoners serve sentences in drug-induced comas. An investigator journeys into the mind of a killer to reveal terrifying repercussions for humanity. "Amnion" by John Everson - A scientist developing a fountain of youth stops at nothing to test his theories with dire consequences for his life and those around him. "Martial Law" by JG Faherty - The United States is in chaos as mysterious invaders turning the streets in a small town into rivers of blood. "Through the Ghostlands" by Rose Blackthorn - Survivors of a global calamity scavange a dead world while pursued by a menacing force that threatens their survival. "The Collected Sylvia, Volume 1 to 1388" by Geoffrey W. Cole - A routine scouting mission to an alien world maroons a couple unwilling to give up hope against terrifying odds. "Perfect Soldiers" by S.G. Larner - An evil that feeds on the hatred and fear of humankind has the armies of Earth resorting to unspeakable measures to fight the planet's last war. "Wombie" by Martin Slag - A small-town veterinarian caring for a sick animal inadvertently uncovers an unimaginable worldwide conspiracy. "No-Man's Land" by Roger Jackson - A regiment of English soldiers battling the Nazi war machine are exposed to an iunimaginable horror. "The Alamo Incident" by Sean Eads - A man investigating the murders of soldiers stationed at the legendary outpost shines a new light into the darkness of Manifest Destiny. "The Butcher of Gad Street" by Stephen T. Vessels - A man with a mysterious purpose sparks a citywide cataclysm, revealing the horrifying nature of mankind. "Queen of Thermodynamic Equilibrium" by Josh Vogt - A revolutionary believing Death is a cleansing force takes her quest to the wreckage of a derelict intergalactic battleship where she aims to breathe new life into old death. "Compartmental" by Jay Caselberg - Human memories bleed unleashes one man's personal apocalypse. "This is Not a Horror Story" by Tim Waggoner - In a surveillance state run amok, a young woman is horrified to learn how much her government knows about her. "Sunrise" by Tony Knighton - Battling oppression, a healthcare nightmare, black market criminals and environmental collapse, a father faces insurmountable odds to save his dying son as the world collapses. Grey Matter Press, the multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated independent publisher, is proud to present the third installment in one of the best supernatural thriller series ever imagined. Grey Matter Press: Where Dark Thoughts Thrive

A decade ago, the dwarf warrior Akina left her home in the Five Kings Mountains to fight in the Goblinblood Wars. Now, at long last, she's returning home, accompanied by Ondorum, a silent companion of living stone. But once you've traveled the world, can pastoral pastimes and small-town suitors ever be truly satisfying? Adding to Akina's growing discomfort is the fact that her father has disappeared into the endless caverns beneath the city. In an effort to save him, Akina and Ondorum must venture below the surface themselves - and into a danger greater than they could ever have imagined! From bold, new voice Josh Vogt comes a fantastic adventure of subterranean battle and the bonds of friendship, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Pathfinder Tales: Forge of Ashes

The Dustpan Cometh

Patricia S. Bowne

Kate Sheeran Swed

Hank Quense

Pauline Alama

Anna Yeatts

Axel Taiari

Rebecca Roland

Gary Emmette Chandler

Fantasy Scroll Magazine is an online, bi-monthly publication featuring science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal short-fiction. The magazine’s mission is to publish high-quality, entertaining, and thought-provoking speculative fiction. With a mixture of short stories, flash fiction, and micro-fiction, Fantasy Scroll Magazine aims to appeal to a wide audience. Issue #7 includes 9 short stories and one graphic story: "No Tale for Troubadours" - Pauline J. Alama "Hell of a Salesman" - Hank Quense "Beyond the Visible Spectrum" - Axel Taiari "Little Sprout" - Rebecca Roland "When the Dead Are Indexed" - Gary Emmette Chandler "Dragon Rodeo Queen" - Kate Sheeran Swed "The Adjunct" - Patricia S. Bowne "Outside In" - Anna Yeatts "Conversations with a Ghost" - Josh Vogt "Shamrock" - Josh Brown & Alberto Hernandez In the non-fiction section, this issue features: Interview with Author Tina Connolly Interview with Author Rachel Pollack Interview with Author Hank Quense Science Corner: 7 Things to Know About Mutations Book Review: A Princess of Mars (Edgar Rice Burroughs) Movie Review: EX_MACHINA (Alex Garland) The magazine is open to most sub-genres of science fiction, including hard SF, military, apocalyptic & post-apocalyptic, space opera, time travel, cyberpunk, steampunk, and humorous. Similarly for fantasy, we accept most sub-genres, including alternate world, dark fantasy, heroic, high or epic, historical, medieval, mythic, sword & sorcery, urban fantasy, and humorous. The magazine also publishes horror and paranormal short fiction.

Fantasy Scroll Magazine Issue #7

Logan Bonner

Crafty Games

Alex Flagg

Shawn Caman

Stephen Toulouse

Dennis Twigg

Discover the secrets of the reborn world of Mistborn in this essential supplement to the Alloy of Law era, and the novels Shadows of Self and Bands of Mourning!

Campaign Setting and Game Supplement: Masks of the Past

Alloy of Law

Josh Vogt

Books

Your next favorite book is out there