What's Inside

Four sizzling tales of human daring and more-than-human lust: 

• Sheldon Shags a Shoggoth: Sheldon was just an ordinary PhD student trying to make the world a better place, and make peace with his body. Then the Anomaly, an ancient extradimensional demon, latched onto his dreams and offered to help make them real. But he never thought they would breach the dimensional boundary and come looking for him. Will Sheldon find what he's looking for? And can he afford the demon's price?

• Michael and the Uncanny Can: Michael Levitz is an archaeologist who has crossed continents in search of love, adventure, and destiny. In 1890, his search leads him to a Japan only recently opened to westerners. In this unfamiliar land, an unlikely encounter with an infamous monster forces Michael to question his understanding of the world—where he believed it was not possible to be a man of science and also believe in dybbuks and demons.

• The Smithy Gets Her Fill: Brunhilde Beryl is the lovable if awkward master blacksmith of Emery Vale. No one knows how to work its precious metals like her. But it's a lonely life—she towers over most men, intimidates others with her success, and has little time to give to her personal life. So, she's delighted when the Madame of the local pleasure house matches her with a handsome infernal mercenary. He's gifted and mutually smitten. It could be fun for a night, or even the start of a wonderful friendship—if she can stand the heat.

• Mani the Maintenance Slut: Carl Lemming is undertaking his first multi-day inspection tour of the understructure of Niantica, an enclosed city home to several million people. He's bracing himself for the 20-plus hours belowdeck with only an android assistant. They're good at their jobs, but not exactly sparkling conversationalists. Then he learns to his surprise that his companion is not a basic drone managed by the Maintenance Intelligence Core, it's running an onboard "shell" with its own distinct personality. And she's beautiful. And a flirt. Suddenly the lonesome, boring and dangerous tour seems anything but boring, albeit no less dangerous.