''
Wild Cards
''Wild Cards'' is a series of science fiction superhero shared universe anthologies, mosaic novels, and solo novels. They are written by a collection of more than forty authors (referred to as the "Wild Cards Trust") and are edited by George R. ...
'' is a series of science fiction superhero
shared universe
A shared universe or shared world is a fictional universe from a set of creative works where one or more writers (or other artists) independently contribute works that can stand alone but fits into the joint development of the storyline, charact ...
anthologies,
mosaic novel
A mosaic novel is a novel in which individual chapters or short stories share a common setting or set of characters with the aim of telling a linear story from beginning to end, with the individual chapters, however, refracting a plurality of viewp ...
s, and solo novels written by a collection of authors known as the Wild Cards Trust and edited by
George R. R. Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948) also known by the initials G.R.R.M. is an American author, television writer, and television producer. He is best known as the author of the unfinished series of Hi ...
and
Melinda M. Snodgrass
Melinda Marilyn Snodgrass (born November 27, 1951) is an American science fiction writer for print and television. In February 2021 Melinda was the Screenwriting Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the 39th annual Life, the Universe, & Everyt ...
. Set largely during an
alternate history
Alternate history (also referred to as alternative history, allohistory, althist, or simply A.H.) is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which one or more historical events have occurred but are resolved differently than in actual history. As ...
of post-
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
United States, the series follows humans who contracted the Wild Card virus, an alien virus that rewrites
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...
and mutates survivors; those who acquire minor or crippling physical conditions are known as Jokers, and those who acquire superhuman abilities are known as Aces.
As of the publication of ''House Rules'' in February 2025, the series consists of thirty-four books. ''Wild Cards'' began publication through
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by parent company Random House, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin Jr., Sidney B. K ...
, under its
Spectra imprint
Imprint or imprinting may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series
* "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror''
* ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film
...
, in January 1987. Bantam published the series until 1993 and released twelve installments.
Baen Books
Baen Books () is an American publishing house for science fiction and fantasy. In science fiction, it emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, and military science fiction. The company was established in 1983 by science fiction publisher an ...
published three books from 1993 to 1995. From 2002 to 2005, ibooks Inc. published two more installments, including one solo novel.
Starting in 2008, ''Wild Cards'' was published by
Tor Books
Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles.
History
Tor was founded by Tom Doherty, ...
, an imprint under
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers (occasionally known as the Macmillan Group; formally Macmillan Publishers Ltd in the United Kingdom and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC in the United States) is a British publishing company traditionally considered to be on ...
. By August 2022, Tor Books had released thirteen novels.
Tor also reprinted several earlier novels. Reprinting rights to the first eight novels were acquired by ibooks Inc. in 2000. The company reissued the first six novels before declaring
Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Chapter 7 of Title 11 U.S. Code is the bankruptcy code that governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. This is in contrast to bankruptcy under Chapter 11 and Chapter 13, which govern the process of ''re ...
shortly after the death of founder
; ibooks' assets were acquired by Brick Tower Press.
As of November 2021, Tor Books reprinted the first twelve, sixteenth & seventeenth novel.
''Wild Cards'' is currently published by Bantam Books, with three novels released between 2023 and 2025.
Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC (formerly Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Marvel Enterprises, Inc.) was an American entertainment company founded in June 1998 and based in New York City, formed by the merger of #Marvel Entertainment Group, Marvel Ente ...
has published two ''Wild Cards'' mini-series, thirty-two years apart. The first, released via their
Epic Comics
Epic Comics (also known as the Epic Comics Group)Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins: The Truth About the Epic Comics Group!" Marvel comics cover-dated November 1982. was an imprint of American publishing company Marvel Comics, active from 1982 to ...
imprint, was published from September to December 1990 and featured an original storyline based on events that occurred in the early novels. A second limited series, this time adapting stories from the first novel, ran from June through October 2022.
Books
Bantam Books (1987–1993)
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by parent company Random House, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin Jr., Sidney B. K ...
, under its
Spectra imprint
Imprint or imprinting may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series
* "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror''
* ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film
...
, published twelve books between 1987 and 1993, including two solo novels written by
Melinda M. Snodgrass
Melinda Marilyn Snodgrass (born November 27, 1951) is an American science fiction writer for print and television. In February 2021 Melinda was the Screenwriting Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the 39th annual Life, the Universe, & Everyt ...
and
Victor Milán
Victor Woodward Milán (August 3, 1954 – February 13, 2018) was an American writer known for libertarian science fiction and an interest in cybernetics.
Life and career
Milán was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In 1986 Milán won the Prometheus Awa ...
.
Baen Books (1993–1995)
Baen Books
Baen Books () is an American publishing house for science fiction and fantasy. In science fiction, it emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, and military science fiction. The company was established in 1983 by science fiction publisher an ...
published a new triad between 1993 and 1995 subtitled ''of a New Cycle''. In 2002, Martin commented that he felt the triad was creatively "three of the strongest volumes ''Wild Cards'' ever had" and that the series "came back strong" after stumbling with a previous storyline; however, he conceded that the triad was "very dark", acknowledging it was a commonly voiced complaint, and that he felt switching publishers was a mistake.
ibooks Inc. (2002–2006)
In 2000, ibooks Inc. purchased two new installments and the rights to reprint the first eight books of the series; the two new books were published between 2002 and 2006, including a solo novel by
John J. Miller.
The company filed for
Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Chapter 7 of Title 11 U.S. Code is the bankruptcy code that governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. This is in contrast to bankruptcy under Chapter 11 and Chapter 13, which govern the process of ''re ...
in July 2005, shortly after the death of founder
.
In December 2006, J. Bolyston & Co. Publishers, parent company of the Brick Tower Press imprint, acquired all of Preiss' assets, including those of ibooks, for $125,000.
[ ] Brick Tower Press offered
e-book
An ebook (short for electronic book), also spelled as e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in electronic form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. Al ...
versions of its titles, including ''Deuces Down'' and ''Death Draws Five'', via
Humble Bundle
Humble Bundle, Inc. is a digital storefront for video games, which grew out of its original offering of Humble Bundles, collections of games sold at a price determined by the purchaser and with a portion of the price going towards charity and ...
in February 2016.
Tor Books (2008–2022)
Tor Books
Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles.
History
Tor was founded by Tom Doherty, ...
, an imprint under
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers (occasionally known as the Macmillan Group; formally Macmillan Publishers Ltd in the United Kingdom and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC in the United States) is a British publishing company traditionally considered to be on ...
, published the series in both print and e-book format, releasing thirteen new installments from November 2008 to August 2022.
Bantam Books (2023–present)
Wild Cards returned to its original publisher, Bantam Books, in 2023.
Novellas
Tor Books published an ebook novella in March 2020 as a companion to the novel, "Inside Straight":
*"American Hero"
Short stories
Tor Books published 23 short stories through its website from January 2013 to July 2022:
* "When We Were Heroes" by
Daniel Abraham (January 16, 2013), edited by Martin
* "The Button Man and the Murder Tree" by
Cherie Priest
Cherie Priest (born July 30, 1975) is an American novelist and blogger living in Seattle, Washington.
Biography
Priest is a Florida native, born in Tampa in 1975. She graduated from Forest Lake Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist Church, Seventh- ...
(May 15, 2013), edited by Martin
* "The Elephant in the Room" by
Paul Cornell
Paul Douglas Cornell (born 18 July 1967) is a British writer. He has worked in television drama and ''Doctor Who'' fiction, being the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield.
Other British television dramas f ...
(May 29, 2013), edited by Martin
* "Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza" by
Carrie Vaughn
Carrie Vaughn (born January 28, 1973) is an American writer, the author of the urban fantasy '' Kitty Norville'' series. She has published more than 60 short stories in science fiction and fantasy magazines as well as short story anthologies and ...
(October 15, 2014), edited by Martin
* "Prompt. Professional. Pop!" by
Walter Jon Williams
Walter Jon Williams (born October 28, 1953) is an American writer, primarily of science fiction. Previously he wrote nautical adventure fiction under the name Jon Williams, in particular, ''Privateers and Gentlemen'' (1981–1984), a series of hi ...
(November 21, 2014), edited by Martin
* "Discards" by
David D. Levine (March 30, 2016), edited by
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Patrick James Nielsen Hayden (born Patrick James Hayden January 2, 1959), is an American science fiction editor, fan, fanzine publisher, essayist, reviewer, anthologist, teacher and blogger. He is a World Fantasy Award and Hugo Award winner ...
* "The Thing About Growing Up in Jokertown" by
Carrie Vaughn
Carrie Vaughn (born January 28, 1973) is an American writer, the author of the urban fantasy '' Kitty Norville'' series. She has published more than 60 short stories in science fiction and fantasy magazines as well as short story anthologies and ...
(December 21, 2016), edited by Martin
* "The Atonement Tango" by
Stephen Leigh
Stephen W. Leigh (born February 27, 1951) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer, artist, and musician. He also works as a lecturer at Northern Kentucky University, teaching creative writing. He has published speculative fiction as St ...
(January 18, 2017), edited by Martin
* "When the Devil Drives" by Melinda Snodgrass (July 5, 2017), edited by Martin
* "Evernight" (February 21, 2018) by
Victor Milán
Victor Woodward Milán (August 3, 1954 – February 13, 2018) was an American writer known for libertarian science fiction and an interest in cybernetics.
Life and career
Milán was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In 1986 Milán won the Prometheus Awa ...
, edited by Martin
* "The Flight of Morpho Girl" (May 2, 2018) by
Caroline Spector and
Bradley Denton
Bradley Clayton Denton (born 1958) is an American science fiction author. He has also written other types of fiction, such as the black comedy of his novel ''Blackburn'', about a sympathetic serial killer.
He was born in Towanda, Kansas, and atte ...
, edited by Martin
* "Fitting In" (October 24, 2018) by
Max Gladstone
Max Gladstone (born May 28, 1984) is an American fantasy author. He is best known for his 2012 debut novel ''Three Parts Dead'', which is part of '' The Craft Sequence'', his urban fantasy serial ''Bookburners'', and for co-writing '' This Is How Y ...
, edited by Martin
* "How to Move Spheres and Influence People" (27 March, 2019) by
Marko Kloos
Marko Kloos is a German author of military science fiction and high fantasy. Born in Germany, Kloos lives and works in the United States.
Work
Kloos is best known for his ''Frontlines'' series of military science fiction novels. Featuring the p ...
, edited by Martin
* "Long is the Way" (May 15, 2019) by
Carrie Vaughn
Carrie Vaughn (born January 28, 1973) is an American writer, the author of the urban fantasy '' Kitty Norville'' series. She has published more than 60 short stories in science fiction and fantasy magazines as well as short story anthologies and ...
and
Sage Walker
Sage Walker is an American science-fiction writer based in New Mexico. She contributed to the ''Wild Cards'' series and won the Locus Award in 1997 for her debut novel, ''Whiteout''.
She was born in Oklahoma. She earned a B.S. in Zoology and then ...
, edited by Martin
* "The City That Never Sleeps" (August 28, 2019) by Walton Simons, edited by Martin
* "Naked, Stoned, and Stabbed" (October 16, 2019) by
Bradley Denton
Bradley Clayton Denton (born 1958) is an American science fiction author. He has also written other types of fiction, such as the black comedy of his novel ''Blackburn'', about a sympathetic serial killer.
He was born in Towanda, Kansas, and atte ...
, edited by Martin
* "The Visitor: Kill or Cure" by
Mark Lawrence, edited by Martin
* "Berlin is Never Berlin" by
Marko Kloos
Marko Kloos is a German author of military science fiction and high fantasy. Born in Germany, Kloos lives and works in the United States.
Work
Kloos is best known for his ''Frontlines'' series of military science fiction novels. Featuring the p ...
, edited by Martin
*"Hammer and Tongs and a Rusty Nail" by
Ian Tregillis, edited by Martin
* "Ripple Effects" by
Laura J. Mixon, edited by Martin
* "Skin Deep" by
Alan Brennert
Alan Brennert (born May 30, 1954) is an American author, television producer, and screenwriter. Brennert has lived in Southern California since 1973 and completed graduate work in screenwriting at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Care ...
, edited by Martin
* "Hearts of Stone" by
Emma Newman
Emma Newman is a British science fiction and fantasy writer, Podcast, podcaster and audiobook narrator. Her award nominations include the British Fantasy Award (categories: "best fantasy novel", "best newcomer") for ''Between Two Thorns'' in 201 ...
, edited by Martin
* "Grow" by
Carrie Vaughn
Carrie Vaughn (born January 28, 1973) is an American writer, the author of the urban fantasy '' Kitty Norville'' series. She has published more than 60 short stories in science fiction and fantasy magazines as well as short story anthologies and ...
, edited by Martin
One additional short story, "Lies My Mother Told Me" by Spector, was published in the ''
Dangerous Women'' anthology, also edited by Martin. The anthology was released on December 3, 2013.
Wildcards.com has also published:
* "I Have No Voice and I Must Zoom Meeting" by Paul Cornell
Notes
References
External links
* {{Official website, https://www.wildcardsworld.com/
''Wild Cards'' seriesat
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers (occasionally known as the Macmillan Group; formally Macmillan Publishers Ltd in the United Kingdom and Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC in the United States) is a British publishing company traditionally considered to be on ...
, parent company of
Tor Books
Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles.
History
Tor was founded by Tom Doherty, ...
Wild Cards