Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Dean Wesley Smith

In a future where humans engage in galactic commerce with a multitude of unscrupulous aliens, Earth's mega-corporations are held to strict alien laws, and relatives of corporate executives are often abducted as cruel alien revenge for the slightest business infraction. The only chance for a target to hide … is to Disappear--erasure of all personal records, genetic alteration, and a new life with a new name in a new place... moreIn a future where humans engage in galactic commerce with a multitude of unscrupulous aliens, Earth's mega-corporations are held to strict alien laws, and relatives of corporate executives are often abducted as cruel alien revenge for the slightest business infraction. The only chance for a target to hide … is to Disappear--erasure of all personal records, genetic alteration, and a new life with a new name in a new place. For an exorbitant fee under non-negotiable terms of employment, private detective Miles Flint finds the Disappeared. Originally published in Analog, 2000.Locus Poll Award Nominee, Hugo Award Nominee, AnLab Award Nominee less

In a universe where humans and aliens co-exist and have formed a loose government called the Earth Alliance, treaties guarantee that humans are subject to alien laws when on alien soil. But alien laws often make no sense, where murder is sanctioned, and where no one can find safe haven, and the punishments vary from loss of life to loss of a first-born child. One group of private detectives is willing to help the "Disappeared"... moreIn a universe where humans and aliens co-exist and have formed a loose government called the Earth Alliance, treaties guarantee that humans are subject to alien laws when on alien soil. But alien laws often make no sense, where murder is sanctioned, and where no one can find safe haven, and the punishments vary from loss of life to loss of a first-born child. One group of private detectives is willing to help the "Disappeared". Meet the Retrieval Artists, private detectives who help the lost return home. Meet Miles Flint. His occupation: Retrieval Artist. His job: Hunt down the Disappeared, outlaws on the run, wanted for crimes against alien cultures. The catch: Flint isn't working on the side of the law. Miles becomes embroiled in a bizarre case involving a stolen spaceyacht filled with dead bodies...a triple murder, the kidnapping of two human children, and a woman on the run.Flint must enforce the law, giving the children to aliens, solving the murders, and arresting the woman for trying to save her own life. But how is a man supposed to enforce laws that are unjust? How can he sacrifice innocents to a system he's not sure he believes in? How can Miles Flint do the right thing in a universe where the right thing is very, very wrong? less

Miles Flint, a former detective, has taken over Paloma's business, living the solitary life of a Retrieval Artist. Working for families and insurance companies, Flint searches for those on the run from the legal system but does not reveal identities or give information to anyone other than his clients on a "disappeared's" whereabouts... moreMiles Flint, a former detective, has taken over Paloma's business, living the solitary life of a Retrieval Artist. Working for families and insurance companies, Flint searches for those on the run from the legal system but does not reveal identities or give information to anyone other than his clients on a "disappeared's" whereabouts. While searching for the Disappeared, criminals on the run for commiting unspeakable acts of violence against alien cultures, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint investigates two suspicious deaths, leading him to a demented scientist who is now one of the Disappeared.When a powerful attorney visits Flint and begs him to take a case, Flint has no idea that the research will lead him to a murder at the highly publicized and popular Moon Marathon. Flint is intrigued by the case involving another Retrieval Artist who allegedly died due to a dangerous flu virus. Miles believes the death is not an accident. Police Detective Noelle DeRicci, Flint's former partner, investigates the death of a young woman at the same event. She knows the death is not an accident. It soon becomes clear that both deaths are connected. Flint and DeRicci find themselves in their own race, one against time and a certain kind of madness that could threaten everything they know and love. less

A woman dies in the domed city of Armstrong on the Moon. Detective Noelle DeRicci discovers that the victim is a Disappeared, an outlaw in hiding wanted for crimes against an alien civilization. Only DeRicci's old partner, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint brought the Disappeared home, something he would have only done if he believed the alien government would exonerate her for her crimes. But Flint and DeRicci are no longer partners; in fact, they're on opposite sides of the law... moreA woman dies in the domed city of Armstrong on the Moon. Detective Noelle DeRicci discovers that the victim is a Disappeared, an outlaw in hiding wanted for crimes against an alien civilization. Only DeRicci's old partner, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint brought the Disappeared home, something he would have only done if he believed the alien government would exonerate her for her crimes. But Flint and DeRicci are no longer partners; in fact, they're on opposite sides of the law. Flint can't tell DeRicci about his client's role in a war between humans and a mysterious alien race. The Disappeared's death is only the first volley in an escalation of that war, a war that threatens to engulf the entire solar system. The stakes have never been higher, the bad guys never so bad, and the risk of personal catastrophe never more imminent. less

Forensic anthropologist Aisha Costard has been summoned to Mars to examine skeletal remains recently discovered beneath a building erected by the Disty aliens. The bones belong to a human who vanished thirty years ago with her children. She is believed to have been one of the Disappeared, outlaws wanted for crimes against alien civilizations.To investigate the mystery of the skeleton, Aisha turns to Retrieval Artist Miles Flint... moreForensic anthropologist Aisha Costard has been summoned to Mars to examine skeletal remains recently discovered beneath a building erected by the Disty aliens. The bones belong to a human who vanished thirty years ago with her children. She is believed to have been one of the Disappeared, outlaws wanted for crimes against alien civilizations.To investigate the mystery of the skeleton, Aisha turns to Retrieval Artist Miles Flint. Following the trail back three decades and seeking the whereabouts of the victim’s missing children, Miles discovers a deadly secret that could threaten the stability of the entire solar system… less

As a Retrieval Artist, Miles Flint helps the Disappeared, saving the lives of those oppressed under the Earth Alliance regime. He owes his livelihood, and his very sense of honor, to a woman known as Paloma. It was she who was responsible for setting him on this path—and now she has been murdered.Summoned by Paloma’s desperate call, Miles reaches her apartment too late. She is already dead, and a seemingly indifferent police force wants no part of Miles’s offer of assistance... moreAs a Retrieval Artist, Miles Flint helps the Disappeared, saving the lives of those oppressed under the Earth Alliance regime. He owes his livelihood, and his very sense of honor, to a woman known as Paloma. It was she who was responsible for setting him on this path—and now she has been murdered.Summoned by Paloma’s desperate call, Miles reaches her apartment too late. She is already dead, and a seemingly indifferent police force wants no part of Miles’s offer of assistance. So he undertakes his own investigation and uncovers a link between Paloma’s death and the Moon’s largest law firm. The executives there are known to be ruthless—and they have a secret they are clearly willing to kill to protect… less

On Jupiter’s moon Callisto, a mysterious Recovery Man kidnaps Rhonda Shindo after he terrorizes and then abandons her brilliant thirteen-year-old daughter, Talia. While authorities on Callisto search for Rhonda, her employers at the Aleyd Corporation try to gain custody of Talia. Somehow, Callisto authorities realize, she’s part of the crime—even though she was left behind.Meanwhile, Miles Flint is having a crisis of his own... moreOn Jupiter’s moon Callisto, a mysterious Recovery Man kidnaps Rhonda Shindo after he terrorizes and then abandons her brilliant thirteen-year-old daughter, Talia. While authorities on Callisto search for Rhonda, her employers at the Aleyd Corporation try to gain custody of Talia. Somehow, Callisto authorities realize, she’s part of the crime—even though she was left behind.Meanwhile, Miles Flint is having a crisis of his own. In his murdered mentor’s files lies a long-held secret—one that could change his life. His investigation of the secret leads him to the Aleyd Corporation, into the middle of the search for Rhonda Shindo—and to a case that threatens the entire legal system that enables the Earth Alliance to function… less

Hadad Yu “recovers” things for a living. Things, not people, not animals. Things. Until he gets in trouble and must work for the alien Gyonnese. They want a person to answer for her crimes, and they want to use Yu to get her. He reluctantly agrees, and sets off events that will change his life and the lives around him forever. A companion piece to Recovery Man, The Recovery Man’s Bargain explores the motivations of one of the stranger characters in the Retrieval Artist universe.

Retrieval Artist Miles Flint is on a personal mission—to bring down the corrupt law firm of Wagner, Stuart, and Xendor. Then a journalist working with him is found dead—murdered, along with the bodyguard she had hired to protect her. And Miles may be next.But before he can begin to investigate the death, he has a more personal crisis to deal with—his daughter Talia is missing... moreRetrieval Artist Miles Flint is on a personal mission—to bring down the corrupt law firm of Wagner, Stuart, and Xendor. Then a journalist working with him is found dead—murdered, along with the bodyguard she had hired to protect her. And Miles may be next.But before he can begin to investigate the death, he has a more personal crisis to deal with—his daughter Talia is missing.Talia, who is one of six clones of Miles’s long-dead child, has gone off on her own mission—she wants to find the other five. As Miles pursues her, he begins to fear that her search for her “sisters” and his for the killer are somehow connected—and that Talia may also be in danger from the ruthless reach of WSX… less

All of his short life, Paavo Deshin has seen ghosts. The same two ghosts who have now approached him on the school playground, ghosts who look older and actually smell bad. Paavo's cry for help brings the authorities, a few lawyers, and Retrieval Artist Miles Flint, who learns some secrets about the ghosts--and about Paavo's parents. This short stand-alone science fiction novel in the Retrieval Artist series received a Special Mention from the prestigious international UPC contest... moreAll of his short life, Paavo Deshin has seen ghosts. The same two ghosts who have now approached him on the school playground, ghosts who look older and actually smell bad. Paavo's cry for help brings the authorities, a few lawyers, and Retrieval Artist Miles Flint, who learns some secrets about the ghosts--and about Paavo's parents. This short stand-alone science fiction novel in the Retrieval Artist series received a Special Mention from the prestigious international UPC contest.This stand-alone short novel fits after the full novel Duplicate Effort in the timeline. less

The long-awaited return of the Retrieval Artist series!Four years ago, a bomb destroyed part of the dome protecting Armstrong, the largest city on the Moon. Now, as the city celebrates its survival with an event it calls Anniversary Day, a larger threat looms—one that begins with the murder of the mayor, and spreads across the Moon itself.Even with every new technological device at her disposal, Moon Security Chief Noelle DeRicci can’t stay ahead of the unfolding disaster... moreThe long-awaited return of the Retrieval Artist series!Four years ago, a bomb destroyed part of the dome protecting Armstrong, the largest city on the Moon. Now, as the city celebrates its survival with an event it calls Anniversary Day, a larger threat looms—one that begins with the murder of the mayor, and spreads across the Moon itself.Even with every new technological device at her disposal, Moon Security Chief Noelle DeRicci can’t stay ahead of the unfolding disaster. As the situation gets worse, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint hurries to his daughter’s school to protect her. And Detective Bartholomew Nyquist finds himself in the middle of everything, from that first bombing to the Anniversary Day crisis itself. less

The Moon, shaken by the Anniversary Day tragedies, deals with devastation. The Earth Alliance believes another attack imminent, but no one knows where or when it will strike. Just like no one knows who ordered the attacks in the first place.The Moon’s chief security office, Noelle DeRicci, does her best to hold the United Domes government together. But Retrieval Artist Miles Flint, dissatisfied with the investigation into the Anniversary Day events, begins an investigation of his own... moreThe Moon, shaken by the Anniversary Day tragedies, deals with devastation. The Earth Alliance believes another attack imminent, but no one knows where or when it will strike. Just like no one knows who ordered the attacks in the first place.The Moon’s chief security office, Noelle DeRicci, does her best to hold the United Domes government together. But Retrieval Artist Miles Flint, dissatisfied with the investigation into the Anniversary Day events, begins an investigation of his own. He builds a coalition of shady operatives, off-the-books detectives, and his own daughter, Talia, in a race against time. A race, he quickly learns, that implicates organizations he trusts—and people he loves. less

To pay off her law school debts, Kerrie works in the public defender’s office at the Interspecies Court. She has more clients than she can defend, most of them from cultures she does not understand. The public defender’s office loses almost all of its cases, but sometimes it gets a win. Kerrie thinks she has a winner. But does she? Or will winning the case mean she loses at everything else?

A deadly conspiracy…The Anniversary Day bombings on the Moon sent shockwaves throughout the Earth Alliance. No one knows who created the clones responsible and turned them into ruthless killers. No one knows where or when they’ll strike next.The bombings compel Earth Alliance Frontier Marshall Judita Gomez to launch an unauthorized investigation into a case from her past involving the murder of clones. An investigation that might cost Judita not only her career but the lives of her crew... moreA deadly conspiracy…The Anniversary Day bombings on the Moon sent shockwaves throughout the Earth Alliance. No one knows who created the clones responsible and turned them into ruthless killers. No one knows where or when they’ll strike next.The bombings compel Earth Alliance Frontier Marshall Judita Gomez to launch an unauthorized investigation into a case from her past involving the murder of clones. An investigation that might cost Judita not only her career but the lives of her crew.This third book of the Anniversary Day Saga sheds further light on the Anniversary Day events, and introduces several new key characters. less

We all look up at the moon and wonder. And maybe dream. For centuries, the moon filled our imaginations. Eleven professional writers took those dreams and set original stories on moons scattered all over the galaxy. Yet, as the dreams of centuries, every story holds a human touch... moreWe all look up at the moon and wonder. And maybe dream. For centuries, the moon filled our imaginations. Eleven professional writers took those dreams and set original stories on moons scattered all over the galaxy. Yet, as the dreams of centuries, every story holds a human touch. From a mythical man fulfilling a childhood wish to a fantastic addition to Kristine Kathryn Rusch's bestselling Retrieval Artist series, this volume of Fiction River allows you to travel to eleven different moons without leaving the comfort of home.Contents:Foreword: Moon Stories by Kristine Kathryn RuschIntroduction: A Moon: That’s It by Dean Wesley SmithHot Jupiters by Steven Mohan, Jr.The Old Guy by Annie ReedThe Toy That Ran Away by Scott William CarterThe Payment by Maggie JaimesonCaressing Charon by Ryan M. WilliamsMoon Shine by Matthew Lieber BuchmanDreams of a Moon by Dean Wesley SmithThe Moon Was Bitter and Hungry by JC AndrijeskiThe Verdant Gene by Marcelle DubéMoonfall by Lisa SilverthorneA Murder of Clones by Kristine Kathryn Rusch less

Book Four of the Anniversary Day SagaAmid the ruin, heroes emerge from the unlikeliest places...The Anniversary Day bombings devastated the Moon, killing thousands. While survivors search for missing loved ones and the rich and powerful set plans in motion to capitalize on the Moon’s misfortune, one ruthless man vows to uncover those responsible for the attacks on the Moon... moreBook Four of the Anniversary Day SagaAmid the ruin, heroes emerge from the unlikeliest places...The Anniversary Day bombings devastated the Moon, killing thousands. While survivors search for missing loved ones and the rich and powerful set plans in motion to capitalize on the Moon’s misfortune, one ruthless man vows to uncover those responsible for the attacks on the Moon.Luc Deshin, the most feared man in Armstrong, knows all too well the bombings could have killed the wife and son he loves more than life itself. To protect his family, Deshin immerses himself in a criminal network he fought long and hard to leave behind.Deshin doesn’t scare easily, but what he finds in the black market underbelly of the Moon will chill him to the bone. less

The Moon barely survived the devastation of Anniversary Day. The second round of attacks planned to kill millions more. With the life of every human and alien on the Moon hanging in the balance, the Moon's chief security officer, Noelle DeRicci, races to discover the identity of the masterminds behind the attacks before it's too late. Desperate to find answers, DeRicci turns to Retrieval Artist Miles Flint and Detective Bartholomew Nyquist for the kind of help only Flint and Nyquist can provide... moreThe Moon barely survived the devastation of Anniversary Day. The second round of attacks planned to kill millions more. With the life of every human and alien on the Moon hanging in the balance, the Moon's chief security officer, Noelle DeRicci, races to discover the identity of the masterminds behind the attacks before it's too late. Desperate to find answers, DeRicci turns to Retrieval Artist Miles Flint and Detective Bartholomew Nyquist for the kind of help only Flint and Nyquist can provide. The hero comes out of retirement to confront his worst nightmare. A gripping look at a society on edge. What will happen next, who are the bad guys, and what is it they are hoping to achieve? The Peyti Crisis is action-packed and continues where A Murder of Clones leaves off. less

A shocking act of violence... The looming threat of another attack spurs the Moon's chief security officer, Noelle DeRicci, to uncover the identity of the masterminds behind the Anniversary Day bombings before they strike again. Armed with information uncovered by Retrieval Artist Miles Flint and Detective Bartholomew Nyquist, DeRicci lets herself hope she can put an end to the violence against the Moon. But then a brutal murder changes everything... moreA shocking act of violence... The looming threat of another attack spurs the Moon's chief security officer, Noelle DeRicci, to uncover the identity of the masterminds behind the Anniversary Day bombings before they strike again. Armed with information uncovered by Retrieval Artist Miles Flint and Detective Bartholomew Nyquist, DeRicci lets herself hope she can put an end to the violence against the Moon. But then a brutal murder changes everything. DeRicci must risk everything to launch a secret investigation into the very heart of the Earth Alliance. Can the next attack be stopped? less

Can the fate of a forgotten starbase hold the key to the Moon’s survival? Long before the Anniversary Day bombings brought the Moon to its knees, a far-flung starbase became the testing ground for a diabolical plan: the annihilation of every human inhabitant by an army of clones. Every lead to the masterminds behind the bombings uncovered by criminal kingpin Luc Deshin dead ended in an Earth Alliance connection... moreCan the fate of a forgotten starbase hold the key to the Moon’s survival? Long before the Anniversary Day bombings brought the Moon to its knees, a far-flung starbase became the testing ground for a diabolical plan: the annihilation of every human inhabitant by an army of clones. Every lead to the masterminds behind the bombings uncovered by criminal kingpin Luc Deshin dead ended in an Earth Alliance connection. Undercover operative Iniko Zagrando refused to play patsy for the Earth Alliance Military Division Intelligence Service, and now he’s fleeing for his life from his old bosses. And Frontier Marshall Judita Gomez puts her own life and the lives of her team on the line when her search for the origins of the Anniversary Day assassins leads to an Earth Alliance cloning factory. From the quiet courage of a Disappeared who struggles to decide whether to come out of hiding to the potent fury of a master criminal who puts a plan in motion to strike back at an overwhelming enemy, Starbase Human brings readers one step closer to the exciting conclusion of the Anniversary Day saga. less

The fate of the Alliance hangs in the balance as the masterminds behind the Anniversary Day bombings trigger the final stages of a plan decades in the making. A plan that will bring about the total destruction of every dome on the Moon. As Moon Security Chief Noelle DeRicci struggles with the overwhelming scope of the investigation, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint races to save the life of a man from his daughter Talia’s past... moreThe fate of the Alliance hangs in the balance as the masterminds behind the Anniversary Day bombings trigger the final stages of a plan decades in the making. A plan that will bring about the total destruction of every dome on the Moon. As Moon Security Chief Noelle DeRicci struggles with the overwhelming scope of the investigation, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint races to save the life of a man from his daughter Talia’s past. A man with vital information regarding the identity of the masterminds who planned the Anniversary Day bombings. And deep beneath the surface of Armstrong, a dome engineer makes a chilling discovery that could crack the investigation wide open. If only he can get someone to believe him. The thrilling conclusion to the Anniversary Day Saga. less