George R. R. Martin Presents Wild Cards: Sleeper Straddle

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An original collection of interwoven short stories set in the Wild Cards universe, where an alien virus mutates some and grants superpowers to others. The virus ravages the world, with effects as random as a hand of cards. Those infected either die, receive superpowers, or undergo bizarre mutations. Croyd Crenson, known as “The Sleeper,” is both the Wild Card’s greatest failure and success. He randomly hibernates for days, weeks, or months, awakening with a new appearance and powers—sometimes a joker, sometimes an ace, and sometimes a blend of both. Since his infection in 1946, he has awoken in a singular body—until now. His latest awakening has split him into six different incarnations, each a unique piece of the original. One incarnation recognizes the disaster this has caused and enlists the clever Tesla—a joker with ace powers—to locate and gather the remaining versions of himself before sleep claims them again, leaving Croyd permanently fractured. This journey through Croyd’s colorful life unfolds through the perspectives of those who have encountered him. As Tesla investigates, he must act quickly, for not every Croyd is as amiable as the first, and they’ll do whatever it takes to survive.