The 2023 Best of British SF/F Bundle

Blurb:

British SF/F has always been somewhat different to its American counterpart. More peculiar, perhaps, a little more reserved. But on this little island off the coast of Europe, tales of wrecked spaceships and ogres, of bio-engineering and A.I., of gunslinging mathematicians and magic are feverishly and expertly written, as I hope this carefully curated collection can demonstrate. If America and Britain are "two countries divided by a common tongue" then it is to the benefit of both, for the speculative fiction of Britain is just as marvellous and strange, while retaining its own unique flavour.

$5

Greensmith by Aliya Whiteley
Falling Dark by Tom Lloyd
Triggernometry by Stark Holborn (novella)
Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky (novella)

$20

The Last Blade Priest by W.P. Wiles
The Coral Bones by E. J. Swift
Selkie Summer by Ken Macleod (novella)
Paper Hearts by Justina Robson (Robert Dreams-3)
Stealing For the Sky by Adam Roberts (novella)
The Vanishing Kind by Lavie Tidhar (novella)

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It's a hat trick, The Vanishing Kind has been in at least 2 previous story bundles because I have them.
Quite a low page count set of items.

The 2023 Write Stuff Bundle

Blurb:

Having a career as a writer these days takes a certain nimbleness. The writer must learn craft, business, and some sideline skills, like consulting and podcasting. Through it all, the writer must discover how to maintain their enthusiasm for the work. They must also look failure in the eyes, and avoid it at all costs. This bundle will help with all of that.

$5

Playing the Short Game by Douglas Smith
On Creating (and Celebrating!) Characters by Ron Collins
Podcasting for Authors by Matty Dalrymple
Successful Independent Consulting by Johanna Rothman

$20

Start Your Novel by Darcy Pattison
Your Writing Matters by Keiko O'Leary
WMG Workshop: How to Make More Than Coffee Money by Dean Wesley Smith
How Writers Fail by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Bundle on Productivity by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith
Building the Writer's Network by Tonya D. Price, MBA (StoryBundle Exclusive)

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Books on Books

Epic Elves 2 Bundle

Blurb:

Elves have been a staple of fantasy since the first fairytales were told, and through the years authors have imagined and re-imagined these magical beings. This collection is no exception. StoryBundle is thrilled to offer these ten stunning and creative takes on elves, serving up the unexpected (Mafia elves! Western elves!) along with classic fairytale retellings and sweeping fantasy worlds, all the while ringing the familiar tropes of pointy ears and perilous magic.

$5

The Stone Tree - The Kingmaker Saga Book One by Thomas K. Carpenter
Cobble by Demelza Carlton
Hidden in Myth by Chrissy Wissler (An Elven Heritage Collection-2)
Hawthorne by Anthea Sharp

$20

Wee Folk by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (StoryBundle Exclusive) (short stories)
Lorelle of the Dark by Todd Fahnestock (Legacy of Shadows-2)
We Seek No Kings by T. Thorn Coyle (The Steel Clan Saga-1)
Elfin by Quinn Loftis (Elfin-1)
A Kingdom Fallen by Nicole Zoltack (Masons of Strife-1)
The Elf Job by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Mission Magic-2)

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Sadly no novel about Elves the Elvish Elvis.

<span class="bold">The Mirth and Magic Humorous Fantasy Bundle</span>

Blurb:

Time to kick back and relax in the sun with an e-reader full of hilarious fantasy books in the new Humorous Fantasy StoryBundle curated by bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson. We have fifteen books covering the funny side of the fantasy genre. Traditional fantasy, magic, urban fantasy, superhero fantasy, even a few goofy horror titles. You'll laugh so hard, orcs will come out your nose!

This is the perfect all-you-can-eat buffet of fun. Anderson contributes two titles, a brand new novel in his "Dragon Business" medieval caper series, Skeleton in the Closet—It's Die Hard in a castle as a group of medieval con men (and one former princess) try to drive away an invading orc army by haunting the castle. He has also collected all of his comedic short fiction into one new volume, The Funny Business. Both of these titles are currently exclusive to StoryBundle, not yet available to the general public.

$5

The Magic Touch by Jody Lynn Nye
Lover's Moon by Mark Leslie and Julie Strauss (A Canadian Werewolf novel)
Just Another Day in Suburbia by Liz Pierce
Superhero Portal by Linda Maye Adams (Dice Ford-1)

$20

Skeleton in the Closet by Kevin J. Anderson (StoryBundle Exclusive) (A Dragon Business dventure)
Eat, Drink and Be Wary edited by Lisa Mangum (shorr stories)
The Funny Business by Kevin J. Anderson (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Tales from the Wood: A Modern Fairytale by R.A. Johnson (shorr stories)
A Good Running Away by Kevin Pettway (Misplaced Mercenaries-1)
Myths and Magic by Kevin Partner
Nowhere Man by David Gerrold
A Cat’s Guide to Bonding with Dragons by Chris Behrsin (Dragoncat-1)
The Nyte Patrol by Alex P. Berg (The Nyte Patrol-1)
Behold the Ape by James Morrow
Fat Vampire by Johnny B. Truant

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Comedy is in the eye of the beholder and in Fantasy's case it very much depends on which eye of the beholder you look in.

The Explore Sci-FI Bundle

Blurb:
Other Worlds Ink is excited to be curating the Explore Sci-Fi Worlds StoryBundle for the second year – this time we have 176 Sci-Fi Worlds for you to explore – that's eleven sci-fi anthologies and collections showcasing 116 authors, but it's available for a limited time only – from July 19th to August 10th. This StoryBundle offers a large selection of ebooks from independent and small press fantasy writers.

This StoryBundle features a wide variety of themes – radiant futures, Frankenstein re-imaginings, space marines, powerful cyborgs and tiny aliens, climate change, augmented reality, and much more. With more than a hundred talented authors, chances are that you'll find some new writers to love.

$5

Man Against the Future by Bryan Young
Kayonga's Decision and Other Stories by Dave Creek
Little Blue Marble 2022 - Warmer Worlds edited by Katrina Archer
The Future's So Bright edited by Water Dragon Publishing

$20

We Dare - No Man's Land edited by Jamie Ibson and Chris Kennedy
A Legacy of Stars by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Androids & Aliens by J. Scott Coatsworth
Save the World edited by J. Scott Coatsworth
Daughters of Frankenstein edited by Steve Berman
Mirror Shards Vol. 2 edited by Thomas K. Carpenter
Tales of the Dissolutionverse by William C. Tracy

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All short stories, so many short stories.. must use discretion.... must not instabuy...

The SFWA Take No Prisoners Bundle


Blurb:

There's something about fantasy that never fails to thrill readers of all ages and backgrounds. Stories filled with magical creatures, wizards, romance, and adventures, both big and small, continue to cast spells over our collective imaginations. In SFWA's Take No Prisoners StoryBundle, there's plenty of adventure, magic, unlikely heroes, and otherworldly creatures to keep you immersed in different worlds for days.

$5

The Ring and the Flag by William L. Hahn (Shards of Light-1)
Shadows of Insurrection by Vanessa MacLaren-Wray (A Patchwork Universe Novel)
She's the One Who Thinks Too Much by Sherrie Cronin (The War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters Book 1) <--- try typing that one fast three times.
Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Day Al-Mohamed

$20

Metropolitan by Walter Jon Williams (Metropolitan-1)
The Stones of Resurrection by Tameri Etherton (Song of the Swords-1)
Sasharia En Garde by Sherwood Smith
A Lonely Magic by S. J. Wynde (Sia Mara-1)
Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse by Jay Veloso Batista (The Forerunner Series-1)
The Runemaster Homicide by Dan Jolley (The Demon-Sleuth Scrolls-1)
In Veritas by C. J. Lavigne
Duster by Adam Stemple
No Demons But Us by A.S. Etaski (Sister Seekers-1)

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More like the Fantasy Writers Association amiright?

Now if you don't mind, I have to steadfastly not buy the previous short story bundle. Where did I put my storybundle password because I definitely need that to make sure I don't buy the previous bundle.

The Potions and Midlife Notions Bundle

Blurb:

All of these books focus more on the mysteries that these older women have been forced into. Or voluntarily stepped into, depending. They have resources that younger women don’t have. They don’t care as much about what other think. Instead, they get things done. And the acts described in these books will astound and delight you.

$5

Murder Casts a Spell by Margaret Morse
The Witch Is Inn - A Water Witch Mystery Book 1 by Leah R Cutter
Coed Demon Sluts: Amanda by Jennifer Stevenson (Coed Demon Sluts-4)
Throwing Shade by Deborah Wilde

$20

The Enchanted Hills by Rebecca Shelley
To Scratch a Witch - A Water Witch Mystery Book 2 by Leah R Cutter
Bitten in the Midlife by Lia Davis and L.A. Boruff (Fanged After Forty-1)
Ghost of a Chance by Katie MacAlister (Karma Marx-1)
Crones edited by Leah R Cutter (short stories-1)
The Case of the Night Mark by Arizona Tape (Samantha Rain Mysteries)
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The Space Opera Sisterhood Bundle

Blurb:

What is it about space opera that makes us love it so much? The action, the exotic settings, the colorful characters, the alien species? The promise of countless adventures in the face of the great unknown?

Or is it mostly just the incredible wow factor of all the ships…the technology…the planets…the ray guns and laser swords? In many ways, it's the ultimate escapist genre, transporting us to places and situations that dwarf our everyday troubles. And yet, at its heart, space opera is all about us—what it means to be human, and how we can triumph over our human limitations.

Whatever your reason for loving the genre, this bundle has what you're looking for in abundance. The eleven books I've selected—each written by a true heroine of the genre—are packed with space opera goodness that will propel you to the furthest reaches of the known and unknown universe.


$5

Dominion Chronicles - The Lyra Cycle: Episodes 1-2 by Rene Astle
Becalmed by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Diving Universe Novella)
Luna City Limited by Julia Huni (Space Janitor Universe)
In Darkness Dwells by James Fox and A.K. DuBoff (Cadicle Universe)

$20

Gray Lady - Books 1 & 2 Omnibus by Robert Jeschonek and Annie Reed (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Paradox by Louisa Swann (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Tales from the Sehnsucht Series - Books 0 and 0.5 by Keyla Damaer (StoryBundle Exclusive) (short stories)
Lone Wolves Heroines - Vol. 1 by Barbara G. Tarn (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Victoria Eternal by Anthea Sharp (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Quinn of Cygnus - Lift Off by AM Scott (StoryBundle Exclusive) (Quantum Fold-1)

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That's a lot of exclusives.

The Trilogies Bundle

Blurb:

Ah, trilogies! Who doesn't love them? Who doesn't love reading them? Ever since Tolkien's publishers split his epic novel into three handy volumes, the trilogy has taken enduring form as the default mode of science fiction and fantasy. Who doesn't want a thousand pages of pure story to dig into at their leisure? To be swept along on spacefaring adventures, explore the mysteries of ancient empires or go questing across strange and fantastical lands?

No one, that's who! Here, in this huge, new trilogies bundle, I got a chance to collect some of my favourite recent books of fantasy and science fiction. Between them, these writers have Hugos and Nebulas and World Fantasy Awards. They come from the US and France, Canada and Malaysia. They travel through time to an alternate Aztec empire and to far-out space. To whimsical fantasylands and ones that are grim and dark. They have action, adventure and romance, not to mention some mind-bending science fictional ideas. I think they're terrific, and I hope you'll agree - that you enjoy them, and find your own endless hours of enjoyment in their many, many pages! – Lavie Tidhar

$5

Rupert Wong 1 - Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra Khaw
The Elfin Ship by James P. Blaylock
Obsidian and Blood 1: Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard
Machineries of Empire 1 - Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
The Bookman Histories 1 - The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar

$33

Rupert Wong 3 - Meat, Bone, Tea by Cassandra Khaw
Rupert Wong 2 - Rupert Wong and the Ends of the Earth by Cassandra Khaw
The Stone Giant by James P. Blaylock
The Disappearing Dwarf by James P. Blaylock
Obsidian and Blood 3: Master of the House of Darts by Aliette de Bodard
Obsidian and Blood 2: Harbinger of the Storm by Aliette de Bodard
Machineries of Empire 2 - Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee
Machineries of Empire 3 - Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
The Worldbreaker Saga - Complete Trilogy by Kameron Hurley
The Bookman Histories 2 - Camera Obscura by Lavie Tidhar
The Bookman Histories 3 - The Great Game by Lavie Tidhar
The Complete Machine Dynasty by Madeline Ashby
The Axiom Book 1 - The Wrong Stars by Tim Pratt
The Axiom Book 2 - The Dreaming Stars by Tim Pratt
The Axiom Book 3 - The Forbidden Stars by Tim Pratt
The Tao Trilogy 1 - The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu
The Tao Trilogy 2 - The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu
The Tao Trilogy 3 - The Rebirths of Tao by Wesley Chu

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In the $5 bundle I have 3 of those from previous story bundles. Despite having the first tim pratt and the 3 lavie tidahrs (surprisingly from the story bundle tidhar bundle) I was feeling interested in this until I notice the $33 price tag for big bundle 65% raise on the normal $20 price (itself up only recently from $15).

Yeah, but...the average number of books contained in the last ten bundles was 12.
(five of these ten bundles contained 10 books each - the other five contained: 11, 13, 14, 15 and 17 books).

Did you ever complain over receiving more than 10 books in half the bundles...for the same price as 10 books?

Here you get 27 books in total, which is 2,25 times the average bundle size.

So - relatively - they would have to ask for $45.- instead of just $33.- for this bundle.

To the Stars Adventure SF Bundle

Blurb:

This new StoryBundle will take your autumn, and your e-reader, to the far edges of the universe. Curated by bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson, this cosmic batch of eighteen books showcases the range of epic science fiction, from galactic empires to time-travel adventures to alien invasions. These books are from classic award-winning science fiction authors and hot new indie authors.

$5

Bright Moment and Others by Daniel Marcus (short stories)
A World Adrift by Douglas A. Van Belle
The Jupiter Game by Todd McCaffrey
All Human Things by Dave Creek

$20

Writers of the Future: Volume 39 edited by Jody Lynn Nye and Dean Wesley Smith (short stories)
The Aeronaut by Bryan Young
Space Cowboy by Justin Stanchfield
War of Omission by Kevin O'Donnell, Jr.
An Alien Light by Nancy Kress
Opening Wonders by Rajnar Vajra
The Falling Star by Scott J. Young
The Complete Robot Empire - Books 1-6 by Kevin Partner
Dekker's Dozen by Christopher D. Schmitz (The Armageddon Seed Cycle-1)
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Seems like a nice lot of standalones, but a lot of them are very recent publishes so....

The 2023 Halloween Bundle

Blurb:

New York Times bestsellers, international bestsellers, winners and nominees of the ITW Thriller Award, the Stoker award, the World Fantasy Award, and the GoodReads Choice For Horror. Omnibuses. Novels and spooky collections. Four exclusives. This StoryBundle has all of that and more. And…the most important part…great reading.

$5

Unexpected Monsters by Annie Reed (short stories)
Hair Raising by Kevin J. Anderson (short stories)
FantasyLife and Other Stories by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (short stories)
Halloween Harvest edited by Mark Leslie (short stories)

$20

Celtic Midnight by Anthea Sharp (StoryBundle Exclusive) (short stories)
Three Sheets to the Wind edited by Dean Wesley Smith (short stories)
Catacomb by J.F. Penn (novella)
From Out of the Night: And 13 Other Chilling Tales by Mark Leslie (StoryBundle Exclusive) (short stories)
Firegazer by Rebecca Cantrell (StoryBundle Exclusive) (short stories)
Halloween & Beyond by Robert Jeschonek (StoryBundle Exclusive) (short stories)
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Apparently Halloween can't carry a novel length story?

The Goosebumps Bundle

Blurb:

R.L. Stine, already renowned in young adult horror, shifted his focus to horror for kids after being inspired by an ad for "goosebumps week" on local TV. Initially planned as a six-book series, it skyrocketed in popularity following the first book's release in July 1992. Over the next five years, Stine authored 62 more Goosebumps books, spawning some spin-off series, a TV show, films, and abundant merchandise.

$5

Trick or Trap by R.L. Stine
Creep from the Deep by R.L. Stine
Monster Blood for Breakfast! by R.L. Stine
Werewolf Skin by R.L. Stine

$20

A Shocker on Shock Street by R.L. Stine
My Best Friend is Invisible by R.L. Stine
Lizard of Oz by R.L. Stine
It Came from Beneath the Sink! by R.L. Stine
The Cuckoo Clock of Doom by R.L. Stine
Escape from HorrorLand by R.L. Stine
Please Don't Feed the Vampire by R.L. Stine
The Haunter by R.L. Stine
Welcome to the Wicked Wax Museum by R.L. Stine
Return of the Mummy by R.L. Stine
The Streets of Panic Park by R.L. Stine

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No explanation needed really.

The Many Ways of Weird Fiction Bundle


Blurb:

Those are some of weird fiction's key characteristics…but there's much more to it than that. Those feelings of disorientation and dislocation, of foreboding and discomfort, are often found across literary genres—the many ways of weird fiction. Those are the highways and byways we've set out to explore in this bundle, diving deep into the works of a gallery of authors who dwell in the realms of the weird.

Let Ramsey Campbell, a grandmaster by any definition, guide you through the shadowy corners of weird horror. Powerhouse authors Brian Evenson, Nancy A. Collins, Richard Gavin, Elizabeth Hand, and David Niall Wilson will lead you even further down the dark and twisty weird horror highway. Even weirder fears and phenomena will grip you in the radically strange works of Harambee K. Grey-Sun and Robert Jeschonek. Just when you think you have this bundle figured out, the offbeat pleasures of Melissa Yuan-Innes will spin you in circles, and explosively challenging and lyrical debut author Charlotte Suttee will hurl you into realms in which all sense of familiarity is lost.


$5

Grotesquerie by Richard Gavin (short stories)
Absalom's Wake by Nancy A. Collins
Weather and Beasts and Growing Things by Charlotte Suttee
Maelstrom by David Niall Wilson

$20

Dog and Pony Show by Robert Jeschonek (StoryBundle Exclusive) (short stories)
The Wise Friend by Ramsey Campbell
Dog Vs. Aliens, Grandma Othello & Shaolin Monks in Space by Melissa Yuan-Innes
Glimmering by Elizabeth Hand
Artwork - An Eve of Light Story by Harambee K. Grey-Sun (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Contagion and Other Stories by Brian Evenson (short stories)

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I blew my weird fiction muscle reading the last China Mieville collection, wait is he still... .yes but apparently not writing.

The Heroines of Magic and Might Bundle


Blurb:

I think the best thing about fantasy and urban fantasy books is that anything is possible. For the Heroines Of Magic And Might bundle, I banded together with nine amazing authors who all included books about heroines who find themselves embroiled in unusual magical situations, either in fantastical lands or in modern day cities. When they have time for romance, these heroines prefer the company of other women but there's always a lot else going on. Whether it's casting spells, tangling with mythical creatures, or sailing fantastical seas, there's never a boring moment.

$5

Red Moon Rising by Gina Kincade and Erzabet Bishop
The Unicorn Herd by Arizona Tape
The Dragon and Her Thief by Ariel Marie
Dead Women Don't Tell Tales by Adrian J. Smith

$20

How to Get a Girlfriend (When You're a Terrifying Monster) by Marie Cardno
Kissed the Mark by Lila Gwynn (Olympia The Bounty Hunter)
Ember Academy for Young Witches Books 1-6 by L.C. Mawson
Crowns & Swords by J.L. Meyrick
The Blood-Born Dragon by JC Rycroft (Everlands-1)
Tides of Magic by Andi R. Christopher (Charley Deacon-1)

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