Wild Cards is a series of science fiction superhero shared universe anthologies, mosaic novels, and solo novels written by a collection of authors known as the Wild Cards Trust and edited by George R. R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass. Set largely during an alternate history of post-World War II United States, the series follows humans who contracted the Wild Card virus, an alien virus that rewrites DNA 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 Texas Hold'Em in October 2018, the series consists of twenty-six books. Wild Cards began publication through Bantam Books, under its Spectraimprint, in January 1987. Bantam published the series until 1993 and released twelve installments. Baen Books published three books from 1993 to 1995. From 2002 to 2005, ibooks Inc. published two more installments, including one solo novel. Wild Cards is currently published by Tor Books, an imprint under Macmillan Publishers. As of October 2018, Tor Books had released nine novels.[1][2]
Several novels were also reprinted. 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 shortly after the death of founder Byron Preiss; ibooks' assets were acquired by Brick Tower Press.[3][4][5] As of November 2021, Tor Books reprinted the first twelve, sixteenth & seventeenth novel.[6][7][8]
Marvel Entertainment has published two Wild Cards mini-series, thirty-two years apart. The first, released via their Epic Comics 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.[9]
Baen Books 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.[37]
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.[5] The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2005, shortly after the death of founder Byron Preiss.[3] 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.[4][5] Brick Tower Press offered e-book versions of its titles, including Deuces Down and Death Draws Five, via Humble Bundle in February 2016.[41]
Tor Books, an imprint under Macmillan Publishers, currently publishes the series in both print and e-book format. It released six new installments from November 2008 to August 2016.
On his blog in March 2016, Martin said that Tor Books acquired three installments after High Stakes. Working titles for the books were Texas Hold 'Em, Mississippi Roll, and Low Chicago. Saladin Ahmed, Max Gladstone, Marko Kloos, and Diana Rowland contributed to the triad.[46]
No.
Title
Original release
18
Inside Straight Edited by Martin with assistance from Snodgrass
A mosaic novel edited by George R. R. Martin assisted by Melinda M. Snodgrass. There are stories from eight authors that were woven into the novel. The stories, in the order of their first appearance in the novel are:
A mosaic novel edited by George R. R. Martin assisted by Melinda M. Snodgrass. There are stories from seven authors that were woven into the novel. The stories, in the order of their first appearance in the novel are:
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.[75]
Wildcards.com has also published:
"I Have No Voice and I Must Zoom Meeting" by Paul Cornell[76]
Notes
^ abcdThe 2010 Tor Books reprint of Wild Cards, originally published in 1987 by Bantam Books, added stories by Michael Cassut, David D. Levine, and Carrie Vaughn, as well as a story with no listed author.[6]
^ abcdefgSeveral novels attribute authors by narrating character. Those novels are Jokers Wild, Ace in the Hole, Dead Man's Hand, Dealer's Choice, Black Trump, Suicide Kings, and High Stakes.
^ abThe 2015 Tor Books reprint of Aces Abroad, originally published in 1988 by Bantam Books, added stories by Kevin Andrew Murphy and Carrie Vaughn.[20]
^ abThe 2018 Tor Books reprint of One-Eyed Jacks, originally published in 1991 by Bantam Books, added stories by Kevin Andrew Murphy and Carrie Vaughn.
^ abThe 2019 Tor Books reprint of Jokertown Shuffle, originally published in 1991 by Bantam Books, added stories by Cherie Priest and Carrie Vaughn.
^Reilly, Robert (1988). "Martin, George R.R., ed. Wild Cards: A Mosaic Novel". In Collins, Robert; Lantham, Robert (eds.). Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual 1988. Meckler. p. 249. ISBN978-0-88736-249-1.
^Martin, George R. R.; Bryant, Edward (2001). Wild Cards (Wild Cards, Book 1) (Volume One) (v. 1). ISBN0743423801.
^de Lint, Charles (1988). "Martin, George R.R., ed. Wild Cards II: Aces High". In Collins, Robert; Lantham, Robert (eds.). Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual 1988. Meckler. pp. 249–250. ISBN978-0-88736-249-1.
^Martin, George R. R. (September 2001). Wild Cards, Aces High (Volume 2). ISBN1596872837.