Wild Cards I: Expanded Edition
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About this ebook
Soon to be a TV show on Hulu!
Back in print after a decade, expanded with new original material, this is the first volume of George R. R. Martin's Wild cards shared-world series
There is a secret history of the world—a history in which an alien virus struck the Earth in the aftermath of World War II, endowing a handful of survivors with extraordinary powers. Some were called Aces—those with superhuman mental and physical abilities. Others were termed Jokers—cursed with bizarre mental or physical disabilities. Some turned their talents to the service of humanity. Others used their powers for evil. Wild Cards is their story.
Originally published in 1987, Wild Cards I includes powerful tales by Roger Zelazny, Walter Jon Williams, Howard Waldrop, Lewis Shiner, and George R. R. Martin himself. And this new, expanded edition contains further original tales set at the beginning of the Wild Cards universe, by eminent new writers like Hugo–winner David Levine, noted screenwriter and novelist Michael Cassutt, and New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn.
Now in development for TV!
Rights to develop Wild Cards for TV have been acquired by Universal Cable Productions, the team that brought you The Magicians and Mr. Robot, with the co-editor of Wild Cards, Melinda Snodgrass as executive producer.
The Wild Cards Universe
The Original Triad
#1 Wild Cards
#2 Aces High
#3 Jokers Wild
The Puppetman Quartet
#4: Aces Abroad
#5: Down and Dirty
#6: Ace in the Hole
#7: Dead Man’s Hand
The Rox Triad
#8: One-Eyed Jacks
#9: Jokertown Shuffle
#10: Dealer’s Choice
#11: Double Solitaire
#12: Turn of the Cards
The Card Sharks Triad
#13: Card Sharks
#14: Marked Cards
#15: Black Trump
#16: Deuces Down
#17: Death Draws Five
The Committee Triad
#18: Inside Straight
#19: Busted Flush
#20: Suicide Kings
The Fort Freak Triad
#21: Fort Freak
#22: Lowball
#23: High Stakes
The American Triad
#24: Mississippi Roll
#25: Low Chicago
#26: Texas Hold 'Em
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
George R. R. Martin
George R.R. Martin is the author of fifteen novels and novellas, including five volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire, several collections of short stories, as well as screenplays for television and feature films. Dubbed ‘the American Tolkien’, George R.R. Martin has won numerous awards including the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is an Executive Producer on HBO’s Emmy Award-winning Game of Thrones, which is based on his A Song of Ice and Fire series. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Read more from George R. R. Martin
Inside HBO's Game of Thrones Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShadows & Reflections: A Roger Zelazny Tribute Anthology Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Federations Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Way of the Wizard Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Epic: Legends of Fantasy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related to Wild Cards I
Titles in the series (14)
Wild Cards XII: Turn of the Cards Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Death Draws Five: A Wild Cards Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Joker Moon: A Wild Cards Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild Cards XI: Dealer's Choice: Book Three of the Rox Triad Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDeuces Down: A Wild Cards Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Atonement Tango: A Tor.com Original Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThree Kings: A Wild Cards Mosaic Novel (Book Two of the British Arc) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When the Devil Drives: A Tor.com Original Wild Cards Story Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Hammer and Tongs and a Rusty Nail: A Tor.com Original Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe City That Never Sleeps: A Tor.com Original Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNaked, Stoned, and Stabbed: A Tor.com Original Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRipple Effects: A Tor.com Original Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSkin Deep: A Tor.com Original Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHearts of Stone: A Tor.com Original Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
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Reviews for Wild Cards I
29 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A collection of short stories all by different authors but set in the same world where an alien virus as turned some people into Aces (superpowers), Jokers (disfigured), or just dead. It starts in the 1940s and the stories are in chronological order until the 1980s. Just like any set of short story collection, it can be hit or miss, but most of these stories are hits and none of the misses are that bad. I like how they are all set in the same universe as it gives each story more weight. While not completely connected, each story does either characters that may be present in the story or a call-back or mention of another character from a different story. Each character is more grounded and real with grit and flaws. None of the stories have typical superhero stories and not all the characters are even heroes.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Surprisingly good. This first volume of Wild Cards is a series of short stories by a variety of authors, but it is written as if it is a novel, with good continuity. I greatly enjoyed it and now I'm reading the second volume. George R.R. Martin did an exceptional job of editing, and also wrote some of the stories.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5insanely creative
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was fascinating, and even more so to be reading it so long after it came out (it was originally published in 1986, and boy does it show.) I can definitely see it as a strong factor in the turn towards "gritty" superhero stories, as well as a commentary on race, class, the AIDS crisis, and various other timely issues. As with any collection of shorts, it's a trifle uneven, but it's coherent enough that I would occasionally forget that this chapter wasn't actually written by the same people as the last three. Definitely recommended if you're into the superhero genre.