Piroska F. Nagy Book order (chronological)

In 1885, the promise of quick wealth and wild dreams turns Texas's Austin into a city of fear, haunted by the "Maid Killers." The first victim, a mixed-race housekeeper, is brutally murdered in her bed, followed by six more women, including the beautiful blonde Eula Phillips, the love of bank clerk Will Porter. A decade later, Porter lives in New York as the famous writer O. Henry, but he remains haunted by the horrors of his past and a relentless blackmailer. Responding to a mysterious letter, he returns to Texas to track down a sadistic killer, confronting the demons of his tortured mind along the way. Steven Saylor, having paused his Gordianus series thirteen years prior for this work, weaves a captivating tale that skillfully blends history, literature, and vivid imagination, utilizing real characters and true crimes, rivaling the masterpiece "The Angel of Death" by Caleb Carr.

To prepare for an impending attack from a hostile alien race, government agencies create child geniuses trained as soldiers. Among them is Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, who lives with his kind yet distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and his beloved sister Valentine. While Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program, it is Ender who is selected to attend the orbiting Battle School for intense military training. Ender quickly rises to prominence in the Battle Room, where children engage in mock battles in zero gravity. However, he grapples with feelings of isolation, rivalry, and immense pressure from adult instructors, alongside a deep-seated fear of the alien invaders. His internal struggles include loneliness, the fear of mirroring his cruel brother, and a fierce loyalty to Valentine. As he navigates these challenges, questions arise about whether Ender is the general Earth needs. The war with the Buggers has persisted for a century, and the search for the ideal commander has been ongoing. Ender's siblings, each unique in their own right, hold the potential to reshape the world—if it can survive the conflict.