Corrupts Absolutely?: Dark Metahuman Fiction

Dark metahuman fiction featuring stories from Peter (Ex-Heroes) Clines, Weston (Seal Team 666) Ochse, Joe (Dead World) McKinney, Cat Rambo, and many more. • The only family member to survive the 9/11 attacks. • A sidekick-turned-construction-worker. • Teenaged products of an institute for unwanted metahumans. • A man who can make anyone do anything. Are they heroes? Are they villains? Sometimes they're both. Often at the same time. Corrupts Absolutely? collects twenty tales from veteran authors and newcomers, each with a unique perspective on what it might really be like to be superhuman in today's day and age. In the center of such a roiling mass of uncertainty and excitement lies one important truth: the fight against good or evil is never as important as the fight for or against oneself. CONTENTS Retribution – Tim Marquitz Hollywood Villainy – Weston Ochse Mental Man – William Todd Rose The Real Church – Jeremy Hepler Ozymandias Revisited – A.S. Fox Enlightened by Sin – Jason M. Tucker Bedtime Story – Peter Clines The Origin of Slashy – Jeff Strand Conviction – Edward M. Erdelac Threshold – Kris Ashton Oily – A.D. Spencer Hero – Joe McKinney Pride – Wayne Ligon G-Child – Malon Edwards Past Imperfect: A Scorpion Story – Warren Stockholm Illusion – Karina L. Fabian Sabre – Anthony Laffan Crooked – Lee Mather Fixed – Trisha J. Wooldridge Acquainted with the Night – Cat Rambo Gone Rogue – Wayne Helge Max and Rose – Andrew Bourelle Cover art by Malcolm McClinton. Design by Shawn T. King. PRAISE “The editor has done a fine job of assembling a batch of stories filled with attitude and badassery.” —Superheronovels.Com “Lincoln Crisler has taken pains to choose this myriad collection of stories exploring the theme of Metahumans acting out inhumanely and there are quite a few zingers to this collection. This is a collection very much in the vein of Masked by Lou Anders; however, with a tenebrious and twisted bent to it.” —Fantasy Book Critic "Corrupts Absolutely? is a great anthology with a concept that never gets old. Each of the stories is incredibly unique, even the ones that deal with a similar power or theme. I had a great time with this and I didn't dislike a single story. That's hard to do. Highly Recommended!" —Only the Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy “Lincoln Crisler’s compilation is commendable for showing a range of variations on its theme. The contributors address the motif from different aspects and genres. Aficionados of horror will find several tales to whet their genre appetite.” —Hellnotes “…the large majority of the stories establish intriguing conditions, insert equally intriguing characters, add appropriately devastating consequences to either action or inaction, and let the chips—or bodies—fall where they may. Recommended.” —Michael Collings “Really got me to thinking about who really is a 'Hero' and a 'Villain' and where is the line drawn.” —Melsworld “…The perfect collection for horror fans with a taste for superhero prose or lovers of hero tales who enjoy a bit of corruption with a horror flavor.” —Dreadful Tales