Book excerpt: Take a seat at the table, ante up, and get ready to "read" your fellow players... In four stories about poker and the sometimes unusual players that make it so interesting, Authors Rising takes us on a tour of the game, from Mars to Milwaukee. Will Earth's first contact with an alien intelligence still leave time to finish a crucial Hold 'Em hand? Will a mid-level enforcer be able to stay in the game, or be forced out of the syndicate by a jealous Madam? Will a Captain's winnings be enough to save her ship once the shooting starts? Will Lady Luck unravel the bonds of a merc unit's brotherhood? Read these exciting new stories by our up-and-coming authors to find out!