The Trouble With Heroes

These 22 all-new tales pay tribute to the true heroes—the people who enable and put up with heroes. From what it’s like to be Hercules’ wife (complete with an appearance by Hercules in drag) to the trials of H.P. Lovecraft’s housekeeper, from the perils of being King Kong’s girlfriend to the downside of dating a shapeshifter, this anthology turns heroism on its head, revealing the behind-the-scenes drama, as opposed to glorious rescues. From the Pied Piper’s power trip to David acting like a giant you-know-what after slaying Goliath, these stories show heroes in all their ignominy and shine a light on the unsung faithful standing in their shadows.

"Heroes--from Oberon to Robin Hood, from Odysseus to King Arthur--everyone loves reading about their adventures, and many probably dream about meeting these 'heroes' in real life...or actually becoming a hero. But what are these larger than life legends really like when they are not off slaying dragons, beheading giants, or rescuing damsels in distress? Are they kind, thoughtful, and fun to be around? The Trouble with Heroes is all about the other side of heroism. From what it's like to be Hercules' wife, to the trials of H. P. Lovecraft's housekeeper, to the perils of being a giant ape's girlfriend, to the downside of dating a shapeshifter, to getting too up close and personal with the Greek gods, here are the behind-the-scenes stories that give heroismsome entirely new twists..."--p. [4] of cover.

The Navy high command is stunned when Captain Damion refuses to carry out an order to shell a Vietnamese village.

The people of Gaia think themselves blessed to be living on the most perfect colony world ever discovered. Now it's threatened and all the obvious heroes are dead. That leaves only an unlikely hero and the woman who loves him. But at what price? "...a moving exploration of the consequences of war and power on those who fight as well as those left behind." Romantic Times

“A coming-of-age story of friendships young, old, and canine.” —Kirkus Reviews “[A] good-natured tale of two unlikely friends determined to save a life.” —Publishers Weekly Shiloh meets Raymie Nightingale in this funny and heartwarming debut novel about a ten-year-old that finds himself in a whole mess of trouble when his new friend Maisie recruits him to save the dog next door. Hank Hudson is in a bit of trouble. After an incident involving the boy’s bathroom and a terribly sad book his teacher is forcing them to read, Hank is left with a week’s suspension and a slightly charred hardcover—and, it turns out, the attention of new girl Maisie Huang. Maisie has been on the lookout for a kid with the meatballs to help her with a very important mission: Saving her neighbor’s dog, Booler. Booler has seizures, and his owner, Mr. Jorgensen, keeps him tied to a tree all day and night because of them. It’s enough to make Hank even sadder than that book does—he has autism, and he knows what it’s like to be treated poorly because of something that makes you different. But different is not less. And Hank is willing to get into even more trouble to prove it. Soon he and Maisie are lying, brown-nosing, baking, and cow milking all in the name of saving Booler—but not everything is as it seems. Booler might not be the only one who needs saving. And being a hero can look a lot like being a friend.

Zeus and the Olympians head to the Peloponnese to save Apollo’s twin sister, who’s under a sleep spell, in this Heroes in Training adventure. Zeus and the Olympians are off to find Apollo’s twin sister, Artemis, who was captured by the Cronies and separated from her brother. But Titan Crius, who rules the area, has Artemis under a special spell that is making her sleep, which doesn’t make a rescue easy! Can the Olympians manage to sneak away from Crius and his pesky Pandi—warriors with ears that can hear for miles—and save a sleepy Artemis, or are they in for a tough awakening?