Lowball
Edited by George R.R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass.
A brand-new Wild Cards novel, edited by New York Times #1 bestselling author George R. R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass.
Decades after an alien virus changed the course of history, the surviving population of Manhattan still struggles to understand the new world left in its wake. Natural humans share the rough city with those given extraordinary — and sometimes terrifying — traits. While most manage to coexist in an uneasy peace, not everyone is willing to adapt. Down in the seedy underbelly of Jokertown, residents are going missing. The authorities are unwilling to investigate, except for a fresh lieutenant looking to prove himself and a collection of unlikely jokers forced to take matters into their own hands — or tentacles. The deeper into the kidnapping case these misfits and miscreants get, the higher the stakes are raised.
Edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author George R. R. Martin and acclaimed author Melinda M. Snodgrass, Lowball is the latest mosaic novel in the acclaimed Wild Cards universe,
featuring original fiction by Carrie Vaughn, Ian Tregillis, David
Anthony Durham, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Mary Anne Mohanraj, David D.
Levine, Michael Cassutt, and Walter John Williams.
Perfect for old fans and new readers alike, Lowball delves deeper into the world of aces, jokers, and the hard-boiled men and
women of the Fort Freak police precinct in a pulpy, page-turning novel
of superheroics and mystery.
Contents:
- “The Big Bleed,” by Michael Cassutt, starring STUNTMAN
- “Those About to Die,” by David Anthony Durham, starring INFAMOUS BLACK TONGUE
- “Galahad in Blue” by Melinda Snodgrass, starring FRANCIS XAVIER BLACK of the NYPD
- “Ties That Bind” by Mary Anne Mohanraj, starring MICHAEL STEVENS of the NYPD
- “Cry Wolf” by David D. Levine, introducing THE CARTOONIST
- “Road Kill” by Walter Jon Williams, starring GORDON THE GHOUL
- “Once More, for Old Time’s Sake” by Carrie Vaughn, starring EARTH WITCH, CURVBALL, DRUMMER BOY, and JOHN FORTUNE
- “No Parking...“ by Ian Tregillis, starring RUSTBELT
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George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin is one of the most influential and celebrated authors in the world of fantasy literature. Known for his epic storytelling, intricate world-building, and morally complex characters, Martin has captured the imagination of millions of readers globally. Born on September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey, he began his writing career as a young man and quickly became known for his distinctive narrative style. With works spanning across novels, short stories, and television scripts, Martin has established himself as a master of fantasy and speculative fiction.
Wild Cards
Into a world hungry for peace, comes a spaceship ferrying chaos...
An alien bomb is detonated above the planet, shedding an indiscriminate gene virus on an Earth barely recovered from the horrors of World War ll. The result: Wild Cards. ACES blessed with superhuman powers and JOKERS cursed with bizarre physical and mental disfigurements.
This is their story.
Wild Cards consists of thirty-one books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

