Bøker av Robert Collins

This book explores the tensions which have arisen in the disapora as a result of large numbers of Russian migrants entering established overseas parishes following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Robbin, a thief and cheater, is approached by another thief, Cedric. The older outlaw proposes to rob the Duke of Fallwood. Though Fallwood isn't rich, the Duke is old and has been hoarding the taxes he's collected over his long reign. Robbin proposes a safer scheme. Instead of robbing the manor they could cheat the Duke out of part of his fortune.The two go to Fallwood and undertake their scheme, pretending to be merchants. But as Robbin tries for a safe steal, Cedric keeps trying for a quick steal. Then the Duke makes a proposal of his own over his own grand-daughter. What will Robbin do to save himself from those schemes?

Casyn is a young Prince of Duvonna and heir to the kingship. He lives in a time of peace and magic, but conflicts and troubles are still present in his domain and in those of Duvonna's neighbors.His rise to power will see him win duels and display his wits. What Casyn will struggle with at times is the morality of the choices he makes as Prince and then King. Can a strong and wise King also be a moral man?

An old wizard of Brittigord has a notion to use magic to create a monster to defend his kingdom. The King supports the idea but his son does not.Meanwhile, the witch lover of a Princess in a rival kingdom has made a dark discovery about magic.Are these two notions doomed to clash tragically? What suffering will result from "the Behemoth of Brittigord?"

Once again Du and Gray the dragon are given a mission by the ruler of the Kingdom of the Coast. This time they're to go north to the Snow Kingdom to learn about that land. There are rumors of men being able to use magic and trouble between the young King and his uncle.Gray has some new spells to demonstrate while away, and Du is pondering her future. Could this journey north be more than just an adventure for them? Could it be the start of a very different adventure for the former bandit and the one dragon in the world?

Owen Brown has followed his father, John Brown, and his brothers to Kansas Territory to fight the wicked institution of slavery. He's met one of the native medicine men of the Territory, who teaches him something the white men call "magic."Owen encourages his father to learn native magic. It could be a tool in their struggle against the nation's great sin, slavery. John Brown is persuaded, and the two learn from the native.Over the next decade, Owen will use magic in the service of his cause. It will take him across the Territory during "Bleeding Kansas," and across the nation when the Civil War comes. His powers will increase, but so will his duty to himself, his beliefs, and to those around him.

Venda's brothers die at sea due to the foolishness of the master of a pirate ship. She leaves the Snowlands and joins the master's ship. This starts her on a grand adventure at sea, trusting in her wits and her friend's magic as a pirate.

Zi is the daughter of a silk merchant who is unsure about where her life should go. Suddenly she's whisked away to another land by magic by a witch named Ysina. Zi finds herself on an adventure to return home. She meets strange beings and experiences all sorts of spells. But has more than adventure found her?

Jilla used to be known as a woman who bested men in duels. Now she travels the world, searching for wealth to steal, women (and men) to love, and the odd danger (magical or not) to overcome. This tale finds Jilla the Rogue dealing with young nobles, the mistress of one of them, and the choice of being a rogue or an actor.

Edith of Barnfield is the daughter of a merchant. He doesn't think she should follow in his trade. That decision will drive her to witness a mighty battle, engage with a Princess, and resist those who would mistreat the subjects of her kingdom.

David Chalmers is attending Mo-Kan 2, a science fiction convention in Kansas City. He's there because a national Doctor Who group has big plans for the future. During the con he meets fellow fan Lila Woodson and the members of another fan group, the Space Rats.Will this convention alter David's future? Will Lila win the costume contest? Should we be afraid of Doctor Who: The Wrath of Kroll?

Cari is a thief tempted to break into a wizard's house. But instead of treasure she hears the wizard tell a tale of magical airships and an evil emperor. His tale turns out to be true, launching Cari into a tale of her own with battles, witches, daring escapes, and a pretty Princess.

Violetta is the cousin of the Lord of Crossroads. She has no interest in the usual pursuits of the nobility. She wants to be one of the Defenders and fight injustice.However, Violetta has no ability to cast spells. What she does have is the ability to think, to reason, to lie, and to follow where the truth takes her. Twice before with Defenders she proved her skill and courage. She's therefore sent to the Royal Academy of Magery to learn what the Defenders learn.In these five novellas, Violetta travels the kingdom in search of cheaters, liars, and murderers. It's not work for a Lady, but it is work for Violetta, the Sun Spirit.

Here's a collection of stories you won't find anywhere else. Inside are tales of a spooky mansion eager to be bought; disappointed model railroad denizens; and a doorknob that greets your hand, literally.Also part of this collection are the sagas of Surgard the Northerner. Journey with the heroic and witty Surgard as he faces down foolish giants, singing dwarves, duplicitous wizards, suspicious savages, and worst of all, a monster with an attorney!And last but not least is the tale of the Valley Springs Resort. It's a place on a distant world where visitors can relax and have a good time. You might not think such a place has much of a story. You'd be wrong, which is why you need to go there.

Zi and Ysina are in the kingdom Zi grew up in. Ysina is teaching a few witches while both tell the King about magic. Before they're about to leave for home, a report comes of a dragon raiding farms and stealing livestock.Zi and Ysina have to go in search of this dragon. Along the way they find bandits. They also find that while they can help solve some problems, others must be solved by those concerned about those problems.

Tulla breaks the rule his town leader set down, and visits the men in strange boats from the east. They come with a message: magic has returned to the world.Tulla learns magic from the strangers, Allan and Prince George. He also learns that Allan has used magic, as "The Defender" to fight for justice. Tulla decides to do the same, starting with the arrogant and corrupt leader of his town. From then on, Tulla will travel the Mountain Kingdom as "The Black Fox," trying to better his homeland.This collection contains five novellas, telling the tales of "The Black Fox." If you're already a fan of "The Defender" series, you shouldn't miss this collection of related tales!

Ruzi helped Adahilara throw off its wicked King. Two years later the new King asks her to go abroad. The infamous "City of Pirates" may have struck at ships sailing around Adahilara. The pirates threaten efforts to extend trade east. She's to investigate the matter and return with a solution.Yet there's only so much one witch can learn by asking questions. Ruzi decides to pay a visit to the City of Pirates. She does find out more about the pirates, but she also discovers that the daughter of the Pirate King is dismissed by those around her. Is there more that Ruzi can do than just observe? Can she come up with a plot to stop the pirates?

Terezia is the daughter of a merchant. She and her her father are visiting the city of Alhira, the seat of the kingdom across the sea from her home. Her father is trying to expand his trade. Terezia is trying to decide what to do with her life. She wants to help her father but isn't sure how. Will her decision be affected by a handsome stranger, or one of the local witches? What future will Terezia choose?

Andrew Manson is an inventor with a passion for mechanics and a knack for getting embroiled in mysteries.From Florida to New York City, to Washington, and back again, Andrew finds himself dealing with shady characters in an America where airships won the Civil War.Will Andrew be able to get his combustion engine working? Will he ever escape trouble? And what about the fashionable young woman in the Airship Dress?This volume contains all five Andrew Manson mystery stories, including the previously published short novels WILLOW HILL and EIGHTY HOUSE.

A young man comes to Inga the witch to ask for a love potion. She tells him that using such a potion would be wrong. Instead she encourages him to get over his shyness with a young woman by writing to her. It's not her usual work, so will this sort of magic be helpful to anyone?

A young woman named Cassia, journeyman in the Slavers' Guild of the Settled Domains, is tasked to capture a mysterious outlaw named The Blue Pistol.Her encounter with him will shatter her life and subject her to physical and emotional agony.But in understanding his battle and her own past, Cassia will seek to overcome her pain and prove that she can be of value to those who are willing accept her.

Balia is born with a mighty talent for magic and a destiny not in the land of her birth. Naturally that leads to travel and adventure. Is she going to spend her whole life looking for her place? Or will she find her destiny sooner rather than later?

It's the fall of 1983. David Chalmers is a high school senior who hangs around with a group of fellow science-fiction fans, but feels few attachments to them. Alison Hughes runs with the popular crowd, but she's as smart as she is pretty, and wonders if they're becoming predictable.Over the course of a few weeks events will cause David and Alison to think about what it means to be friends. Are friends just people you spend time with? What does it mean when you're someone's friend? Why should any of that be important?

Gwen Conner's world isn't your typical fantasy setting. She solves mysteries in a land where magic is used to create telephones, dictation machines, and streetcars. It's also a world of scheming criminals, cheating spouses, and charming con artists. This collection contains fourteen Gwen Conner stories.This collection combines the previous two volumes of collected short stories into one single volume. It includes the stories "Spook Wagon," "The "Affair" of the Love Letters," and "The Plum Grove Robbery Case," among others.

Katherine, the daughter of the Baron of Tall Glen, prefers manly pursuits like riding and being able to fight. Her King enlists Kat in a secret mission to travel to a neighboring kingdom. There she will help freed slaves and keep an eye on that land. Kat finds herself in an adventure she didn't expect, and experiencing feelings she didn't think she'd feel.

Du gets her first important mission from the King. People are fleeing the kingdom of Adahilara to the Bands of the Peaks. The refugees are too many mouths for the Bands to feed, endangering the peace between the Bands and the Kingdom of the Coast.Du and her friend, Gray the dragon, are tasked to take action. While they find important help, they know that a few humans and a dragon can't launch a rebellion and overthrow a King. They could, however, use their wits and magic to undermine his rule. Will that be how they wage a rebellion?

To get out of debt, spacer Jake Bonner takes on two odd jobs. The first, chauffeur pop star Evvie Martini on her tour; the second, helping Daniel and Clarissa Rosen overthrow their planet's tyrannical ruler.Unfortunately for Jake, Evvie finds out about his second assignment and, hoping to advance her career, invites herself to the revolution. From there the absurdity grows for Jake and his band of "freedom fighters."Expert Assistance pokes fun at revolutions, pop culture, and some of the cliches of sci-fi.

This collection of fantasy stories contains tales of magic and might, as well as tales of invention and compassion. Also part of this collection are two novellas, one expressing concern for the future of the land while other portrays hope for another.These stories have been previous published in magazines and in self-published collections, as have both novellas. All are gathered in a single volume for the first time.

The law is not on Hanna's side when her father dies, as local law prevents her from inheriting his merchant business. Her cousin, the youngest son of the Baron, asks for her help in exposing the wickedness of his older brother to their father. If she does so, he'll be in her debt. What will she do to collect on that debt?

Here are four novellas set in the world of the Defender.The first two tell of the dramatic changes that happened long before the Defenders arose when magic was weakening. The second two involve the present fate of the Witch Lands, and how magic and knowledge might improve the lives of those who live there.If you're a fan of the Defender series, you'll want to read these novellas that fill out this world!