Julie E. Czerneda Books

Esen, a shapeshifting alien, faces new challenges in a treacherous universe in this third installment of the Web Shifter's Library series. As she embarks on her adventures, she must use her unique abilities to overcome threats and navigate complex situations, highlighting themes of resilience and adaptability in a hostile environment.

Picco’s Moon was where it all began for Esen-alit-Quar, Youngest of Ersh’s Web. It was here where Ersh, the Oldest, had chosen to make her home; here, too, where Esen received her early training as a shapeshifter and a member of the Web.When Ersh’s Web was destroyed, Esen and her human friend Paul survived, and together they founded Esen’s Web, a group composed initially of the two of them but one which expanded slowly to include a chosen few selected by Paul. For in their universe there were all too many species ready to destroy Esen, should they discover her true nature.Still, despite the need for concealment, life had been good to Esen and Paul. They now had well-established identities, a thriving business, and numerous friends. It seemed as though they’d finally created a safe haven for themselves. At least until they received word that someone was mining Picco’s Moon, desecrating Ersh’s Mountain.Esen and Paul had no choice. They had to go to Picco’s Moon and put a stop to the situation. But before they could even set out, they found themselves under attack on every front. Their carefully built haven gone, and loyal friends suddenly transformed into vengeful enemies, was there anywhere Esen and Paul could run, anyone they could turn to for help, any way to defeat a foe they couldn’t even identify?

Caught in a web of her own making Esen-alit-Quar had violated the First Rule of her species when she revealed her existence to a human named Paul Ragem. And though both Paul and Esen had survived, others of Esen’s Web had not been so fortunate.Es could hardly believe that fifty years had passed since the terrifying events which had nearly cost her her life and which had forced Paul to give up everything a human treasured―family, friends, even his own identity―to protect the secret of her continued survival. In that time they had built a new life together out on the Fringe.They had a successful export company, friends and associates. Esen, now known as Esolesy Ki and wearing the form of a Lishcyn―a species rare enough in the Commonwealth and never seen in the Fringe―was perfectly content to remain on the world of Minas XII, leaving it to Paul to travel the starways on company business.Meanwhile she used their vast information resources to search for any signs that others of her kind had found their galaxy. What neither Es nor Paul could foresee was that a simple “vacation” trip would plunge the two of them into the heart of a diplomatic nightmare―and threaten to expose both Es and Paul to the hunters who had never been convinced of their destruction.

The first book in the Web Shifter's Library series returns to the adventures of Esen, a shapeshifting alien and member of an ancient yet endangered race, who must navigate the perils of a hostile universe. Esen's back! And the dear little blob is in trouble, again. Things began so well. She and her Human friend Paul Ragem are ready to celebrate the first anniversary of their greatest accomplishment, the All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture, by welcoming his family back. He hopes. Having mourned his supposed death years ago, understandably, feelings are bent. Instead, they’ve unexpected guests, starting with an old acquaintance. Paul's father has gone missing under dire circumstances. Before he can convince Esen to help him search, a friend shows up to use the Library. A crisis on Dokeci Na is about to explode into violence. To stop it, Evan Gooseberry needs answers. Unfortunately, the artifact he brought in trade holds its own distracting secret. A touch of very familiar blue. Web-flesh. The race is on. Paul, to find his father. Esen, to search for a mysterious legacy while helping Evan avert an extinction. What none of them realize is the price of success will be the most terrible choice of all.

After her partner is kidnapped and the Earth is attacked by an alien race called the Ro, biologist Dr. Mackenzie Connor is forced into helping an alien archaeologist discover the truth behind the area of space known as the Chasm. Reprint.

They are the last survivors of their race beings who live on and communicate through energy, who are capable of assuming the shape of any other species. When their youngest member is assigned to a world considered safe to explore, she is captured by the natives. To escape, she must violate the most important rule of her kind, and reveal the existence of her species to a fellow prisoner--a human being. Now her race is in danger of extinction, for even if the human does not betray her, the Enemy who has long searched for her people may finally discover their location.Esen-alit-Quar, Esen for short, Es in a hurry or between friends. The dear little blob has only begun her adventures.

The introduction of the alien Quill by terraforming crews led to unforeseen consequences as the initially harmless fungal life evolved into a formidable threat. As chaos ensued and many stations collapsed, the survivors face a desperate struggle for survival. Their only hope lies in discovering a method to eradicate the now dangerous Quill, setting the stage for a gripping battle against an unexpected enemy.

Twelve captivating stories delve into themes of wonder, suspense, and terror, showcasing the imaginative prowess of Hall of Fame author Julie E. Czerneda. Readers will encounter aliens, a perilous birthday cake, a unique vacation, and a wizard's dire fate on a beach. The collection includes the new novella "A Pearl from the Dark," exploring the shadows of Night's Edge. This anthology invites fans to explore the darker, more intricate aspects of Czerneda's storytelling beyond her well-known novels.