Gold Dust
Catherine Asaro

Major Bhaajan has long fought for equality, on the battlefields of the Skolian Empire’s wars, in courtly intrigues, or from the shadows of the Undercity. Now her Dust Knights have a chance to compete in the Interstellar Olympics, and in the process reveal their fight against all those who oppress them by competing—and winning—against their supposed “betters” on the greatest athletic stage of human space. But first they must get there. The road to the Olympics has its challenges: the classists of their own Skolian Imperialate, the genetically engineered Traders, and the many rules of the Olympic competition itself. Major Bhaajan must navigate life changes, sabotage, the needs of her people, and the desires of her partner as she guides the Dust Knights to a chance at Gold.

The Familiar Spirit
D.J. Butler &
Aaron Michael Ritchey

Cunning man Hiram Woolley and his son Michael carry an itinerant preacher across the border into Mexico. There, the pair is dragged into investigating an impossible murder. They track the killer across a land haunted by robbers, by its history of oppression and revolution, by ancient conflict and modern racial strife, and by the insanity that flows from loneliness and exile. They battle bandits and also an elusive ghostmaster who blights the land with the spirits of the uneasy dead. But before the killer can be brought to justice, Hiram will learn that the most haunting thing of all is family.

Rebel
David Weber &
Richard Fox

The Five Hundred elite families who rule the Terran Federation have grown steadily wealthier and more powerful, thanks to the war against the Terran League. War may be hard on the people who get caught in its path, but it’s very good for business, and the Five Hundred own the shipyards. There’s growing hatred and resentment of the Fringe Worlds, whose children do the dying in the Five Hundred’s war. But the Five Hundred have made sure the Fringe knows what will happen to any system that goes “out of compliance.” Their tightening fist has created rebels. Created, and possibly fatally underestimated, the rebel Terrence Murphy.

Freelancers of Neptune
Jacob Holo

The Solar System ain’t what it used to be!

In the far distant future, Saturn’s rings are gone, Mercury is a gas giant, and Earth is remembered only as a unit of measure. Nearly godlike AIs reshaped the Solar System in eons past, but they too are now nothing more than a fading memory.

Captain Nathaniel Kade wants is a decent, uneventful job to help put his finances back in order. What he gets is Vessani S’Kaari, a mysterious and beautiful cat girl who tried—and failed—to steal a pirate ship. Vessani’s in over her head and is clearly more trouble than she’s worth, but she also has a lead on the greatest trove of lost technology the Solar System has ever seen. Nathan pulls her butt out of the fire, and together they assemble a team to seek this long-lost bounty. But other interested parties have their eyes on the prize; the Jovian Everlife has dispatched a fleet with one of their elite, many-bodied agents in command, and he’d like a few words with Nathan and his new crewmember.

1635: The Weaver's Code
Eric Flint &
Jody Lynn Nye

Margaret de Beauchamp is in London seeking tax relief from the Earl of Cork. While waiting for an audience, she decides to indulge herself and visit the “up-timer” ambassadors. Imprisoned in the Tower, they are allowed to entertain. She learns an escape plan is in place, but vital parts are missing. Agreeing to assist the charming rogue, Harry Lefferts, she finds herself ever more entangled with the up-timers. Visiting Magdeburg, she brings back technology that could save the wool trade. But all of England is in chaos and the young gentlewoman and her up-timer allies find themselves threatened by spies, raiders, and even pirates.