George R R Martin Lot 12 Complete Original Series Wild Cards #1

Description: Complete 12 Original Series Wild Cards PaperbacksGeorge R. R. Martin, editor This is a lot of the original 12 books in the Wild Cards series published by Bantam Books between 1987 and 1993. There have been several extensions to the series from other publishers. Included are:1. Wild Cards (1986)2. Aces High (1987)3. Jokers Wild (1987)4. Aces Abroad (1988)5. Down and Dirty (1988)6. Ace in the Hole (1989)7. Dead Man's Hand (1990) (Novel by George R.R. Martin & John J Miller)8. One-Eyed Jacks (1991)9. Jokertown Shuffle (1991)10. Double Solitaire (1992)11. Dealer's Choice (1992)12. Turn of the Cards (Novel by Victor Milan) The books are used mass market paperbacks (approx 4 by 7 inches) in good condition. Spines are creased on almost all books. Covers are uncreased on five books; the others have small corner folds. There are no marks and just a few page corner folds. Pages have tanned lightly in all books.About the books:========================================================================================================================================================================================This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wild Cards".Wild Cards is a science fiction and superhero anthology series set in a shared universe. The series was created by a group of New Mexico science fiction authors, but it is mostly pulled together and edited by best-selling author George R. R. Martin with assistance by Melinda Snodgrass, also a contributor to the series. There were twelve initial volumes released by Bantam, those being published between 1987 and 1993, before the series switched publishers, going to Baen, which released three new volumes between 1993 and 1995; then it was on to a third, iBooks, which published two new volumes and also reprinted the first six, all between 2002 and 2006; then it was on to its fourth and current publisher, Tor in 2008, that continues the series and has issued four new volumes, with a new one likely forthcoming in late 2012.While most of the books are made up of individual short stories, they generally focus on a central theme or event. There were also several longer storylines which run through several of the books. Some volumes use the format of a mosaic novel. This involved several writers writing individual story lines, which were then edited together into one seamless novel-length story. Finally, several volumes in the series are a complete novel written by a single author.Wild Cards was inspired by superhero comics, and many of the authors play with the conventions of the medium, while some characters are based on existing heroes (for example, Jetboy was modeled on the Hillman Periodicals' character Airboy). Many of the original authors were also inspired by a long-running Albuquerque, New Mexico campaign of the role-playing game Superworld, gamemastered by George R. R. Martin, and many modeled their characters on their in-game persona.SettingThe series relates an alternate history of the earth after World War II. In 1946 an alien virus that rewrites human DNA is accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It kills 90% of those who come into contact with it (referred to as 'drawing the Black Queen'). However, 9% mutate into deformed creatures (known as 'Jokers') and the remaining 1% gain superpowers (known as 'Aces'). There is also a class known as 'Deuces' - Aces who have acquired useless or ridiculous powers, such as the ability to levitate up to two feet, or to grow body hair at will. The airborne virus eventually spreads all over the world, affecting tens of thousands.The Wild Cards universe is distinguished from most superhero comic book fiction by several thematic elements. Early on the authors decided to pursue a more realistic, or naturalistic approach to storytelling. Few of the Ace characters in Wild Cards have secret identities, or are traditional crime-fighting superheroes in the mold of Spider-Man or Batman. Wild Cards remained set within a recognizably real world with recognizably real people and pop culture and, because of the historical setting of many of the stories, had characters who aged realistically during the course of the series. The majority of Wild Card victims live in the run-down ghetto of Jokertown, while the fortunate Aces become glamorous celebrities. In addition, Wild Cards took a more graphic approach to violence, and particularly to sex, than most superhero stories do.Another aspect of the series is its use of real people, such as Buddy Holly, Grace Kelly and Richard Nixon. Unlike most superhero universes, the events of Wild Cards alter history in many ways - a notable example being Fidel Castro remaining in New York to play baseball, and the lack of a Communist takeover in Cuba thereafter.======================================================================================================================================================================================== Shipping to U.S. addresses will by Media Mail (upgrade to Priority Mail available upon request and payment of extra cost). I'm mailing from the East Coast and Media Mail usually takes from 5 to 10 days to the West Coast but can occasionally take longer. Alaska and Hawaii longer still. Please take that into consideration. 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Price: 59.99 USD

Location: Cockeysville, Maryland

End Time: 2025-01-05T18:39:34.000Z

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