Wild Cards I: Expanded Edition

George R. R. Martin · Wild Cards Trust

Nov 2010 · Wild Cards Book 1 · Sold by Tor Books

About this ebook

Soon to be a TV show on Hulu!

Back in print after a decade, expanded with new original material, this is the first volume of George R. R. Martin's Wild cards shared-world series

There is a secret history of the world—a history in which an alien virus struck the Earth in the aftermath of World War II, endowing a handful of survivors with extraordinary powers. Some were called Aces—those with superhuman mental and physical abilities. Others were termed Jokers—cursed with bizarre mental or physical disabilities. Some turned their talents to the service of humanity. Others used their powers for evil. Wild Cards is their story.

Originally published in 1987, Wild Cards I includes powerful tales by Roger Zelazny, Walter Jon Williams, Howard Waldrop, Lewis Shiner, and George R. R. Martin himself. And this new, expanded edition contains further original tales set at the beginning of the Wild Cards universe, by eminent new writers like Hugo–winner David Levine, noted screenwriter and novelist Michael Cassutt, and New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn.

Now in development for TV!
Rights to develop Wild Cards for TV have been acquired by Universal Cable Productions, the team that brought you The Magicians and Mr. Robot, with the co-editor of Wild Cards, Melinda Snodgrass as executive producer.


The Wild Cards Universe
The Original Triad
#1 Wild Cards
#2 Aces High
#3 Jokers Wild

The Puppetman Quartet
#4: Aces Abroad
#5: Down and Dirty
#6: Ace in the Hole
#7: Dead Man’s Hand

The Rox Triad
#8: One-Eyed Jacks
#9: Jokertown Shuffle
#10: Dealer’s Choice

#11: Double Solitaire
#12: Turn of the Cards

The Card Sharks Triad
#13: Card Sharks
#14: Marked Cards
#15: Black Trump

#16: Deuces Down
#17: Death Draws Five

The Committee Triad
#18: Inside Straight
#19: Busted Flush
#20: Suicide Kings

The Fort Freak Triad
#21: Fort Freak
#22: Lowball
#23: High Stakes

The American Triad
#24: Mississippi Roll
#25: Low Chicago
#26: Texas Hold 'Em


At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

There was one character, that had his own story and cameo-ed in two others that never seemed to fit. He seemed more mystical in origin than any other character. Other than him not fitting in with the rest of the book, it was great to finally read the beginning of the series.

Sci-fi...50's communist paranoia. ..urban grit..."magic"...sex ! Remember first reading this series, almost 30yrs ago. Only got as far as vol.5/6, but re-read it every 8yrs or so. Now, can read again in THIS format. Love new covers,just wish i come see the originals again. Loved Dr.Tachyon's altered appearance on each new volume

I first started reading the Wild Cards series in the late '80s right when they were first published. I had all of the paperbacks and re-read the series every so often. I loaned the books to another person and ended up losing them. I am glad I can get digital copies off of Play and enjoy them again. This edition has been expanded and there are a some extra stories that were not in the original release. The additions seem to fit in fairly well and do not disrupt the flow. If you think you would enjoy stories of superheroes and super villains set in an alternate history version of our earth then this series if for you. The books are considered "mosaic" novels in that the are mainly comprised of a collection of short stories from various authors but are blended in this "shared universe" so that characters cross over and events flow between each story so that we end up with an overall cohesive tale. This first book sets up the origins of the "Wild Card" virus and the initial introduction of the super-powered "Aces" and the deformed "Jokers" in a span of time from post WWII through to the (then current) 1980s. Several characters such as the "Sleeper", the "Turtle" and Fortunato that are introduced in this first book play prominent roles in future books.

About the author

GEORGE R. R. MARTIN is the author of the internationally bestselling fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (basis of HBO's popular Game of Thrones series) and editor of the multi-author collaborative Wild Cards series. Martin’s many awards include four Hugos, two Nebulas, the Bram Stoker, and the World Fantasy Award.

MELINDA M. SNODGRASS has worked on numerous shows in Hollywood, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, and she has written pilots and feature films. She coedits of the Wild Cards series and writes writes the urban fantasy Linnet Ellery books (beginning with This Case Is Gonna Kill Me) under the name Phillipa Bornikova.