Book excerpt: Heroic tales of combatants across genres and centuries from today’s popular authors—includes a new Song of Ice and Fire novella by George R. R. Martin. From George R. R. Martin’s Introduction to Warriors: “Our contributors make up an all-star lineup of award-winning and bestselling writers, representing a dozen different publishers and as many genres. We asked each of them for the same thing—a story about a warrior. Some chose to write in the genre they’re best known for. Some decided to try something different. You will find warriors of every shape, size, and color in these pages, warriors from every epoch of human history, from yesterday and today and tomorrow, and from worlds that never were. Some of the stories will make you sad, some will make you laugh, and many will keep you on the edge of your seat.” The stories in the first volume of this book are: Introduction: Stories of the Spinner Rack, by George R. R. Martin Forever Bound, by Joe Haldeman The Eagle and the Rabbit, by Steven Saylor And Ministers of Grace, by Tad Williams The King of Norway, by Cecelia Holland Defenders of the Frontier, by Robert Silverberg The Mystery Knight, by George R. R. Martin Many of these writers are bestsellers. All of them are storytellers of the highest quality. Together they make a volume of unforgettable reading.