Wild Cards (anthology)
Wild Cards is the first volume in the shared universe fiction series edited by George R. R. Martin. It was first published in 1987 and contained a dozen short stories establishing the Wild Cards universe, introducing the main characters and setting up plot threads that still continue to play out over the rest of the on-going series. In 2010 this volume was reissued with three new stories by three new writers added to the volume's original contents. These expanded the original Wild Cards history to reflect new story and character developments introduced in later volumes of the on-going series.
Stories
The original Wild Cards novel was published in 1987, and consisted of 11 short stories and five interludes (written by Martin) that expand upon the background of the Wild Cards world. An appendix on "The Science of the Wild Card Virus" (written by Milán) that explains how Xenovirus Takis-A works. Both the interludes and the appendix take the form of excerpts from literature within the universe.
Wild Cards was republished in 2003 by iBooks, which added a number of art pieces by Mike Zeck.[1] In 2010 Tor Books reissued the anthology with the addition of three new chapters, "Captain Cathode and the Secret Ace" by Michael Cassutt, "Powers" by David Levine, and "Ghost Girl Takes Manhattan" by Carrie Vaughn.[2]
| Story | Author(s) | Description | 1987 Edition | 2003 iBooks Ed. | 2010 Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Prologue" | George R. R. Martin | Introduces Dr. Tachyon and Xenovirus Takis-A. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Thirty Minutes Over Broadway!" | Howard Waldrop | Introduces Jetboy and his failed attempt to prevent the release of Xenovirus Takis-A. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "The Sleeper" | Roger Zelazny | Introduces Croyd Crenson, "the Sleeper". | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Witness" | Walter Jon Williams | Introduces Golden Boy and the Four Aces. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Degradation Rites" | Melinda M. Snodgrass | Details Dr. Tachyon's doomed love story with Blythe van Renssaeler | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Interlude One" | George R. R. Martin | "Red Aces, Black Years" | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Captain Cathode and the Secret Ace" | Michael Cassutt | Script writer Karl von Kampen investigates the victims of the Medusa Killer | No | No | Yes |
| "Powers" | David D. Levine | Frank Majewski uses his time-stopping powers to serve his county | No | No | Yes |
| "Shell Games" | George R. R. Martin | Introduces the Great and Powerful Turtle. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Interlude Two" | George R. R. Martin | Jokertown Clinic opening | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "The Long, Dark Night of Fortunato" | Lewis Shiner | Introduces Fortunato and the Masonic conspiracy that will influence the plot of the next two books in the series. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Transfigurations" | Victor Milán | Introduces Mark Meadows, aka Captain Trips. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Interlude Three" | George R. R. Martin | Wild Card Chic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Down Deep" | Edward Bryant Leanne C. Harper |
Introduces Rosemary Muldoon, "Sewer" Jack Robicheaux and Bagabond. Sets up the mob storyline that will come to fruition in later books. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Interlude Four" | George R. R. Martin | Fear and Loathing in Jokertown | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Strings" | Stephen Leigh | Introduces Puppetman and Gimli and sets up the political plot threads that will play out in later books. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Interlude Five" | George R. R. Martin | 35 Years of Wild Cards | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Ghost Girl Takes Manhattan" | Carrie Vaughn | Introduces Wraith | No | No | Yes |
| "Comes a Hunter" | John J. Miller | Introduces Yeoman and Chrysalis and sets up the Asian gang plot threads. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Epilogue: Third Generation" | Lewis Shiner | Introduces Kid Dinosaur. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Appendix: The Science of the Wild Card Virus" | Victor Milán | The Science of the Wild Card Virus | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "Afterword" | George R. R. Martin | The author talks about how Wild Cards was developed | No | Yes | No |
| "Excerpts from the Minutes of the American Metabiological Society Conference on Metahuman Abilities" | (None listed) | A scientist lectures about how he believes all Wild Card powers are a form of psionic ability | No | No | Yes |
Notes
- ↑ "Interior Art From i-Books [Byron Preiss]". WildCardsBooks.com. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ↑ "WILD CARDS 1 REISSUED". GeorgeRRMartin.com. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
| Preceded by (none) |
Wild Cards 1987 |
Succeeded by Aces High |