The first volume of George R. R. Martin's WILD CARDS shared-world series, back in print after a decadeand expanded with new, original material. There is a secret history of the worlda 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 Acesthose with superhuman mental and physical abilities. Others were termed Jokerscursed 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 Iincludes 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 Hugowinner David Levine, noted screenwriter and novelist Michael Cassutt, and New York Timesbestseller Carrie Vaughn.