December 2025

In this issue: We take a long awaited deep dive into the MHI archives in Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 and decide what’s Plausibly Deniable.

eARCs

Monster Hunter Files Volume 2

Praise for Larry Correia and the Monster Hunter International series:

“[A] no-holds-barred all-out page turner that is part science fiction, part horror, and an absolute blast to read.”
—Bookreporter.com

“If you love monsters and action, you’ll love this book. If you love guns, you’ll love this book. If you love fantasy, and especially horror fantasy, you’ll love this book.”
—Knotclan.com

“A gun person who likes science fiction—or, heck, anyone who likes science fiction—will enjoy [these books] . . . The plotting is excellent, and Correia makes you care about the characters . . . I read both books without putting them down except for work . . . so whaddaya waitin’ for? Go and buy some . . . for yourself and for stocking stuffers.”
—Massad Ayoob

“This lighthearted, testosterone-soaked sequel to 2009’s Monster Hunter International will delight fans of action horror with elaborate weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, disgusting monsters, and an endless stream of blood and body parts.”
—Publishers Weekly on Monster Hunter Vendetta

 

From the Case Files of Monster Hunter International

For well over a century, Monster Hunter International has kept the world safe from supernatural threats far and wide. Now, join us as we delve some of the wilder stories from the library archives which have never seen the light of day. The Monster Hunter Files Vol. 2 continues the secret lore and mythical battles against the forces of evil, and the fallout from these conflicts.

Deadly mermaids attacking a small northeastern port village . . . ancient Roman heroes . . . combat exorcists . . . Decision Week . . . ancient Greek muses . . . all these and more within, all revealed with meticulous care and research of Albert Lee, MHI’s archivist.

Featuring stories from New York Times best-selling author Larry Correia, Steve Diamond, Kacey Ezell, Brad R. Torgersen, Marisa Wolf, and more!

Complete list of contributors: Larry Correia, Jason Cordova, Brad R. Torgersen, Robert E. Hampson, Steve Diamond, Jack Wylder, Hinkley Correia, Kacey Ezell, LawDog, Marisa Wolf, Mike Massa, Spearman Burke & Nick Nethery, and Melissa Olthoff.

Get The Monster Hunter Files, Volume 2 eARC here.

 

Plausibly Deniable

Praise for Editor, Jamie Ibson:

“This anthology not only provides plenty of bang for your reading buck, but also serves as an exemplar of what makes this kind of collection so powerful and necessary.”
—Locus on Depth Charge

Some Operations Are Never Meant to See Daylight.

When the plan goes sideways, when the body count climbs, when someone’s sudden but inevitable betrayal rears its ugly head, and when the brass needs a scapegoat and a shred of deniability? That’s when they call in these people—spies, mercenaries, wet-work specialists, and consultants whose names never seem to appear in any official report.

From modern black ops to cyberpunk Atlanta, from a near-future Kurdistan to the cold silence between the stars, Plausibly Deniable pulls no punches and kicks down doors on the kinds of missions the nice, respectable people pretend not to know about. We’ll ride shotgun with the cyborgs, soldiers, spies, space pilots, and exosuit pilots while they play Spy-vs-Spy-vs-Spy over weaponized DNA, steal paydata, run heists, take no prisoners, and do anything up to and including a pudding wrestling match to get the gear they should’ve had in the first place. We’ll get to see what shouldn’t be seen, to know what they don’t want you to know, and to find out the true story of whodunnit.

Edited by Jamie Ibson, a wide array of established authors and rising stars contribute to this undeniably original anthology, including Jody Lynn Nye, Michael Z. Williamson & Jessica Schlenker, Craig Martelle, Jason Cordova & Melissa Olthoff, Jacob Holo & Edie Skye, Kacey Ezell and Nick Steverson, Marisa Wolf, Casey Moores, Jack Clemons, and introducing multiversal man of mystery, Buff Orpington.

They could tell you, but then they’d have to . . . well. You know.

Get Plausibly Deniable eARC here.

 

New Free Fiction at Baen.com

Free Fiction

FREE FICTION

Read, “To Catch a Crow,” a short story by Jason Cordova and Melissa Olthoff, set in the same universe as their novel, To Tread Obsidian Shores

Read, “To Catch a Crow"

 

Free Nonfiction

FREE NONFICTION

In a belated addition to your reading pleasure of November’s Ringer, we also have Andy Presby’s nonfiction article, “The World of Ringer: Living in Saturn’s Rings” on the science and engineering behind Joelle Presby’s hard science fiction work, Ringer 

Read, “The World of Ringer: Living in Saturn’s Rings”

 

Baen Merch

Toast in the holidays and the new year with a mug of good cheer! Click here merch options.

Baen Merch
 

December Ebooks Sale

eBook Sale

POWER UP YOUR CHRISTMAS WITH TIM POWERS TITLES ON SALE

Get $1 OFF

Expiration Date
Alternate Routes
Earthquake Weather
Forced Perspectives
My Brother's Keeper

Details here!

Don't Touch that Dial: 
It's the Baen Free Radio Hour!

Coming soon to the Baen Free Radio Hour: This month on the Baen Free Radio Hour, Toni Weisskopf looks back at the past year and gives us a sneak peak at the Baen spring line up of action-packed works; Jeremy Comeaux speaks with Jason Cordova and Melissa Olthoff about their new collaboration, To Tread Obsidian Shores; and Sean Hazlett interviews Tom Kratman on his latest alternate history work, the incredibly well-researched novel For the Eternal Glory of Rome.

Listen to the Baen Free Radio Hour now.

Missed past episodes? No problem. We’ve got every episode archived for your listening pleasure. All previous episodes are also archived at Baen’s YouTube and Rumble channels. And check out the new optional video podcast format!
 

Baen Books

Monster Hunter Files, Volume 2

The Monster Hunter Files, Volume 2
Edited by Larry Correia and
Jason Cordova

For well over a century, Monster Hunter International has kept the world safe from supernatural threats far and wide. Now, join us as we delve into some of the wilder stories from the library archives which have never seen the light of day. The Monster Hunter Files Vol. 2 continues the secret lore and mythical battles against the forces of evil, and the fallout from these conflicts.

Plausibly Deniable

Plausibly Deniable
Edited by Jamie Ibson

“Who? No idea, never heard of him.” —Spies, mercenaries, operatives, and criminals everywhere. In Plausibly Deniable, we get a peek behind the curtain. We get to see what shouldn’t be seen, to know what they don’t want you to know, and to find out the true story of whodunnit. With Stories by Jody Lynn Nye, Michael Z. Williamson & Jessica Schlenker, Craig Martelle, Jason Cordova & Melissa Olthoff, Jacob Holo & Edie Skye, Kacey Ezell and Nick Steverson, Marisa Wolf, Casey Moores, Jack Clemons, and introducing multiversal man of mystery, Buff Orpington

 

Sheepfarmer's Daughter

Sheepfarmer's Daughter
Elizabeth Moon

Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter may be the daughter of a humble sheep farmer in the far north end of the kingdom, but she dreams of so much more. After refusing her father’s orders to do the sensible thing and marry the pig farmer down the road, Paks runs away to join a band of mercenaries, dreaming of daring deeds and military glory. But life in the army is different than she imagined, and her daydreams at first seem to be turning into nightmares. But Paks refuses to let her dreams die—and does her duty with honor and integrity. Her path is an arduous one, but it will transform her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.

The Icarus Coda

The Icarus Coda
Timothy Zahn

For years Gregory Roarke and his Kadolian partner Selene have worked for the ultra-secret Icarus Group, hunting for the mysterious Icari teleportation portals so valued by the Commonwealth. But their job has now come to a wrenching end. The two of them are fugitives and things are looking grim, with multiple puzzles and questions intertwined around Bubloo and the portals, and the future of the Spiral hanging in the balance. And then, the Patth assassination squad arrives . . . 

 

Get the January 2‌0‌2‌5 Ebooks bundle.

*This Baen Ebooks subscription bundle will dissolve on December 30, 2‌0‌2‌5. After that date, these books will be available for individual sale only.*

 
 
June contest

Don’t forget to check out the Baen new book releases. Enter the December Contest. And for upcoming appearances by Baen authors and editors, check here.

 

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