''Heroes in Hell'' is a series of

shared world A shared universe or shared world is a fictional universe from a set of creative works where more than one writer (or other artist) independently contributes a work that can stand alone but fits into the joint development of the storyline, chara ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

books, within the genre

Bangsian fantasy Bangsian fantasy is a fantasy genre which concerns the use of the afterlife as the main setting within which its characters, who may be famous preexisting historical or fictional figures, act and interact. It is named for John Kendrick Bangs (1 ...

, created and edited by

Janet Morris Janet Ellen Morris (born May 25, 1946) is an American author of fiction and nonfiction, best known for her fantasy and science fiction and her authorship of a non-lethal weapons concept for the U.S. military. Background Writing Janet Morris b ...

and written by her, Chris Morris,

C. J. Cherryh Carolyn Janice Cherry (born September 1, 1942), better known by the pen name C. J. Cherryh, is an American writer of speculative fiction. She has written more than 80 books since the mid-1970s, including the Hugo Award-winning novels '' Downbelo ...

and others. The first 12 books in the series were published by

Baen Books Baen Books () is an American publishing house for science fiction and fantasy. In science fiction, it emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, and military science fiction. The company was established in 1983 by science fiction publisher an ...

between 1986 and 1989, and stories from the series include one Hugo Award winner and Nebula nominee ("

Gilgamesh in the Outback ''Gilgamesh in the Outback'' is a science fiction novella by American writer Robert Silverberg, a sequel to his historical novel '' Gilgamesh the King'' as well as a story in the shared universe series ''Heroes in Hell''. It won the Hugo Award fo ...

" by

Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg (born January 15, 1935) is an American author and editor, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple winner of both Hugo and Nebula Awards, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and a Gr ...

from ''Rebels in Hell''), as well as one other Nebula Award nominee. The series was resurrected in 2011 by Janet Morris with the thirteenth book and eighth anthology in the series, ''Lawyers in Hell'', followed by eight more anthologies and four novels between 2012 and 2022.

Background

The shared world premise of ''Heroes in Hell'' (also called ''The Damned Saga'') is that all the dead wind up together in Hell, where they pick up where they left off when still alive. Robert W. Cape Jr., in ''Classical Traditions in Science Fiction'' (Oxford University Press), wrote "...in the popular ''Heroes in Hell'' series, Julius Caesar intrigues in the underworld with Alexander the Great, Machiavelli, and other historical rulers. Death has not changed their natures, and their political and military machinations seem similar to those of rulers at the end of the Cold War." ''

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy ''The Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' is a 1997 reference work concerning fantasy fiction, edited by John Clute and John Grant. Other contributors include Mike Ashley, Neil Gaiman, Diana Wynne Jones, David Langford, Sam J. Lundwall, Michael S ...

'' states "In the long series of shared world adventures begun with ''Heroes in Hell'', Hell becomes an arena in which all the interesting people in history can come together to continue the relentless pursuit of their various ends."

Brian Stableford Brian Michael Stableford (born 25 July 1948) is a British academic, critic and science fiction writer who has published more than 70 novels. His earlier books were published under the name Brian M. Stableford, but more recent ones have dropped ...

commented that the series "adapted the backcloth of Dantean fantasy as a stage for violent adventures with ironic echoes of infernal comedy".

Reception

Science fiction and fantasy author

Orson Scott Card Orson Scott Card (born August 24, 1951) is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is the first and (as of 2022) only person to win both a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for both ...

compared the success of ''Heroes in Hell'' with other shared worlds like ''

Thieves' World Thieves' World is a shared world fantasy series created by Robert Lynn Asprin in 1978. The original series comprised twelve anthologies, including stories by science fiction authors Poul Anderson, John Brunner, Andrew J. Offutt, C. J. Cherr ...

'', ''

Wild Cards ''Wild Cards'' is a series of science fiction superhero shared universe anthologies, mosaic novels, and solo novels. They are written by a collection of more than forty authors (referred to as the "Wild Cards Trust") and are edited by George ...

'' and ''

Liavek Liavek is a series of five fantasy anthologies edited by Emma Bull and Will Shetterly set in a shared world. Orson Scott Card found the initial volume to be "an example of what can be accomplished n a shared-world projectwhen almost everything g ...

'', and said that this "almost guarantees that shared worlds will be around for many years to come". The webzine ''

SF Site SF may refer to: Locations * San Francisco, California, United States * Sidi Fredj, Algeria * South Florida, an urban region in the United States * Suomi Finland, former vehicular country code for Finland In arts and entertainment Genre ...

'' discussed the popularity of shared worlds in the 1980s and listed ''Heroes in Hell'' as a "significant example" of one of them. ''Library Journal'' called ''Heroes in Hell'' "a garden of infernal delights."

Miriam Van Scott Miriam ( he, מִרְיָם ''Mīryām'', lit. 'Rebellion') is described in the Hebrew Bible as the daughter of Amram and Jochebed, and the older sister of Moses and Aaron. She was a prophetess and first appears in the Book of Exodus. The ...

reviews the first novel in the series within her book ''

Encyclopedia of Hell An encyclopedia (American English) or encyclopædia (British English) is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge either general or special to a particular field or discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into articles ...

''. She later describes the entire series within the same book.

Books in the series

There are nine novels in the series and sixteen anthologies of short fiction. Janet Morris edited all sixteen anthologies. Portions of ''Legions of Hell'' first appeared in stories published in ''Heroes in Hell'', ''The Gates of Hell'', ''Rebels in Hell'', ''Kings in Hell'' and ''Crusaders in Hell''. * '' Heroes in Hell'' (1986), anthology (published by

, ) (1987 ''Locus'' Poll Best Anthology (8th Place)) ** "Son of the Morning", Chris Morris ** "Newton Sleep",

Gregory Benford Gregory Benford (born January 30, 1941) is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is professor emeritus at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. He is a contributing editor of ''Reas ...

– originally published in ''

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher ...

'' in 1985; nominated Nebula Award Best Novella 1986. The main character Gregory Markham first appeared in the novel ''

Timescape ''Timescape'' is a 1980 science fiction novel by American writer Gregory Benford (with unbilled co-author Hilary Foister, Benford's sister-in-law, who is credited as having "contributed significantly to the manuscript"). It won the 1981 Nebula an ...

''. ** "The Prince",

** "A Walk in the Park",

Nancy Asire Nancy Asire (born 1945) was an American fantasy and science fiction author, best known for her ''Twilight's Kingdoms'' fantasy trilogy and her contributions to the shared universe series '' Heroes in Hell'', '' Sword of Knowledge'' and '' Merovi ...

** "The Hand of Providence", David Drake ** "Basileus",

** "To Reign in Hell",

* ''The Gates of Hell'' (1986), novel by

and

(published by

, ) * ''Rebels in Hell'' (1986), anthology (published by

, ) ** "Undercover Angel", Chris Morris ** "Hell's Gate", Bill Kerby ** "

(originally published in ''

Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine ''Asimov's Science Fiction'' is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy named after science fiction author Isaac Asimov. It is currently published by Penny Publications. From January 2017, the publicatio ...

'',Brian Thomsen (ed.), ''Novel Ideas – Fantasy'', DAW Books, 2006
copyrights acknowledgments page
/ref> won the

Hugo Award for Best Novella The Hugo Award for Best Novella is one of the Hugo Awards given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories published or translated into English during the previous calendar year. The novella award is available for works of fiction of between ...

in 1987, was nominated 1986

Nebula Award for Best Novella The Nebula Award for Best Novella is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for science fiction or fantasy novellas. A work of fiction is defined by the organization as a novella if it is between 17,500 and 4 ...

.) ** "Marking Time",

** "Table with a View",

** "There Are No Fighter Pilots Down In Hell",

Martin Caidin Martin Caidin (September 14, 1927 – March 24, 1997) was an American author, screenwriter, and an authority on aeronautics and aviation. Caidin began writing fiction in 1957. In his career he authored more than 50 fiction and nonfiction books ...

** "'Cause I Served My Time In Hell", David Drake ** "Monday Morning",

** "Graveyard Shift",

* ''Kings in Hell'' (1987), novel by

and

, (published by

, ) * ''Crusaders in Hell'' (1987), anthology (published by

, ) ** "The Nature of Hell",

and Chris Morris ** "Gilgamesh Redux",

** "Crusaders in Love", Bill Kerby ** "Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea", Michael Armstrong ** "Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth",

** "By Invitation Only",

** "The Gods of the Gaps",

** "Springs Eternal", David Drake ** "Snowballs in Hell", Chris Morris * ''Legions of Hell'' (1987), novel by

(published by

, ) * ''Angels in Hell'' (1987), anthology edited by

(published by

, ) ** "Handmaids in Hell" by Chris Morris ** "The Fascination of the Abomination" by

** "The Price of an Egg" by Alexandra Sokolov ** "Reaching for Paradise" by Brad Miner ** "The Ex-Khan" by Robert L. Asprin ** "The Conscience of the King" by

and

** "Learning Curve" by David Drake ** "Sea of Stiffs" by

* ''Masters in Hell'' (1987), anthology (published by

, ) ** "The Ransom of Hellcat" by Chris Morris ** "Take Two" by Bill Kerby ** "Hellbike" by George Foy ** "Houseguests" by

** "Spitting in the Wind" by

Lynn Abbey Marilyn Lorraine "Lynn" Abbey (born September 18, 1948) is an American fantasy author. Background Born in Peekskill, New York, Abbey was daughter of Ronald Lionel (an insurance manager) and Doris Lorraine (a homemaker; maiden name, De Wees). She ...

** "God's Eyes" by Michael Armstrong ** "Bargain" by David Drake ** "Pawn in Play" by

** "Sea Change" by

* ''The Little Helliad'' (1988), novel by

and Chris Morris (published by

, ) * ''War in Hell'' (1988), anthology (published by

, ) ** " ..Is Hell" by

** "Wisdom" by David Drake ** "Fallout" by

** "Gilgamesh in Uruk" by

** "An Appropriate Hell" by

Diana L. Paxson Diana Lucile Paxson (born February 20, 1943) is an American author, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has ...

** "The Man in the Black Cape Turn" by Michael Armstrong ** "Giving Hell a Shot" by Bill Kerby ** "Rook's Move" by

** "Sign On" by Chris Morris * ''Prophets in Hell'' (1989), anthology (published by

, ) ** "Eye of a Needle" by Chris Morris ** "Exile" by David Drake ** "The Garden of Blood Narcissus" by Brad Miner ** "Death Freaks" by

Robert Sheckley Robert Sheckley (July 16, 1928 – December 9, 2005) was an American writer. First published in the science-fiction magazines of the 1950s, his many quick-witted stories and novels were famously unpredictable, absurdist, and broadly comical. ...

** "Profits in Hell" by Bill Kerby ** "Terminal" by

George Alec Effinger George Alec Effinger (January 10, 1947 – April 27, 2002) was an American science fiction author, born in Cleveland, Ohio. Writing career Effinger was a part of the Clarion class of 1970 and had three stories in the first Clarion anthology ...

** "I, Hermes Trismegistus" by Richard Groller ** "Fast Food" by

** "The Sibylline Affair" by

** "Moving Day" by

* ''Explorers in Hell'' (1989), novel by David Drake and

(published by

, ) * ''Lawyers in Hell'' (2011), anthology (published by Perseid Publishing/Kerlak Enterprises, Inc., , , & ) ** "Interview with ''the'' Devil" by

and Chris Morris ** "Tribe of Hell" by

** "The Rapture Elevator" by Michael Armstrong ** "Out of Court Settlement" by

** "Revolutionary Justice" by Leo Champion ** "Tale of a Tail" by

** "And Injustice For All" by Jason Cordova ** "Measure of a Man" by Deborah Koren ** "The Adjudication of Hetty Green" by Allan Gilbreath – First Runner Up Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Short Story 2012 ** "Plains of Hell" by Bruce Durham ** "The Register" by Michael H. Hanson ** "Island Out of Time" by Richard Groller ** "Appellate Angel" by Edward McKeown ** "With Enemies Like These" by David L. Burkhead ** "The Dark Arts" by Kimberly Richardson ** "Heads You Lose" by

Michael Z. Williamson Michael Z. Williamson (born 1967) is an American military science fiction and War novel, military fiction author best known for his Libertarian science fiction, libertarian-themed ''Freehold'' series published by Baen Books. Between 2004 and 2016 ...

** "Check and Mate" by Bradley H. Sinor ** "Disclaimer" by John Manning ** "Orientation Day" by Sarah Hulcy ** "Remember, Remember, Hell in November" by Larry Atchley, Jr. ** "Theos Khthonios" by Scott Oden ** "Erra and the Seven" by Chris Morris * ''Rogues in Hell'' (2012), anthology (published by Perseid Publishing, ) ** "Babe in Hell" by

and Chris Morris ** "Which Way I Fly is Hell" by

** "Downtown Run" by

** "Madly Meeting Logically" by Michael Armstrong ** "Library Redux" by Sarah Hulcy ** "A Hatful of Dynamite" by Deborah Koren ** "Colony" by Bruce Durham ** "Searcher" by Edward McKeown ** "The Miraculous Roadside Attraction" by Jack William Finley ** "BDA" by Richard Groller ** "Hell Road Truckers" by Michael H. Hanson ** "If Necessary" by Bradley H. Sinor ** "Pursued by the Tauwu" by Shirley Meier ** "Ragnarok & Roll" by Larry Atchley, Jr. ** "Scent of a Weapon" by Bill Snider ** "Showdown at Brimstone Arsenal" by John Manning ** "The Place of Fear" by David L. Burkhead ** "Chasing the Key" by H. David Blalock ** "A Hard Day at the Office" by

** "An Unholy Grail" by Julie Cochrane ** "Battle of Tartaros" by Chris Morris * ''Bridge Over Hell'' (2012), novel by Michael A. Armstrong (published by Perseid Publishing, , ) * ''Dreamers in Hell'' (2013), anthology (published by Perseid Press, ) ** "Barefoot, on Brimstone" by Sara M. Harvey ** "In the Shadow of Paradise" by Jason Cordova ** "Siegfreid's Blade" by Petra Jorns ** "More Light! Goeth" by Bettina Meister ** "Alms for Oblivion" by

** "Fools in Hell" by

and Chris Morris ** "Hell Bent" by

** "The Unholy Hole" by

** "Ophie and the Undertaker" by Shebat Legion ** "Hell I Must Be Going" by Michael A. Ventrella ** "Blood and Ash" by Tom Barczak ** "Just Dessert" by John Manning ** "The Wager" by Deborah Koren ** "The ITTT" by Michael H. Hanson ** "Zero Sum Game" by Richard Groller ** "Essence Helliance" by Yelle Hughes ** "And the Truth Will Set You Free" by Jack William Finley ** "Stairway to Heaven" by Ed McKeown ** "Head Games" by Bill Snider ** "Knocking on Heaven's Gates" by Larry Atchley, Jr. ** "The Knife Edge Bridge" by David L. Burkhead ** "Hellexandria the Great" by Sarah Snyder Gray Hulcy * ''Poets in Hell'' (2014), anthology (published by Perseid Press, ) ** "Words" by Chris Morris ** "Seven Against Hell" by

and Chris Morris ** "Reunion" by

** "Hell-hounds" by Bruce Durham ** "The Kid with No Name" by Jack William Finley ** "All Hell to Pay" by Deborah Koren ** "Poetic Injustice" by Larry Atchley, Jr. ** "When You Gaze Into an Abyss" by Matthew Kirshenblatt ** "Pride and Penance" by Tom Barczak ** "Grand Slam" by pdmac ** "Undertaker's Holiday" by Joe Bonadonna and Shebat Legion ** "Red Tail's Corner" by Yelle Hughes ** "Faust III" by Richard Groller ** "Tapestry of Sorrows and Sighs" by Bill Snider ** "Haiku d'Etat" by Beth W. Patterson ** "A Mother's Heart" by Bill Barnhill ** "We the Furious" by Joe Bonadonna ** "Damned Poets Society" by Michael H. Hanson ** "All We Need of Hell" by Michael A. Armstrong ** "Dress Rehearsal" by

* ''Doctors in Hell'' (2015), anthology (published by Perseid Press, ASIN B00Z753EX8) ** "The Wager" by

and Chris Morris ** "The Cure" by Chris Morris ** "Grim" by Andrew P. Weston ** "The Right Man for the Job" by Deborah Koren ** "Memory" by

** "What Price Oblivion" by R. E. Hinkle ** "In the Shadowlands" by Richard Groller ** "Let Us Kill the Spirit of Gravity" by Matthew Kirshenblatt ** "Pavlovian Slip" by Bill Snider ** "Hell on a Technicality" by Joe Bonadonna ** "Convalescence" by Michael H. Hanson ** "Hell Noon" by Paul Freeman ** "The Judas Book" by Jack William Finley ** "Writer's Block" by

and Chris Morris * ''Hell Bound'' (2015), novel by Andrew P. Weston (published by Perseid Press, , ) * ''Pirates in Hell'' (2017), anthology (published by Perseid Press, ) ** "Bitter Business" by

and Chris Morris ** "Pieces of Hate" by Andrew P. Weston ** "Evil Angel" by

and Chris Morris ** "Who's A Pirate Now?" by

** "Curse of the Pharaohs" by S.E. Lindberg ** "Lir's Children" by Paul Freeman ** "Unholiest Grail" by Larry Atchley, Jr. ** "The Bitter Taste of Hell's Injustice" by Jack William Finley ** "Serial Recall and Beautiful Tortures" by Michael H. Hanson ** "Drink and the Devil" by Rob Hinkle ** "The Pirates of Penance" by Joe Bonadonna ** "Muse of Fire" by

and Chris Morris ** "Hell Hounds (excerpt)" by Andrew P. Weston * ''Hell Hounds'' (2017), novel by Andrew P. Weston (published by Perseid Press, , ) * ''Lovers in Hell'' (2018), anthology (published by Perseid Press, ) ** "Love in the Afterlife, Parts 1, 2, and 3 (Never Doubt I Love; Fume of Sighs; Wrath of Love)" by

and Chris Morris ** "Love Interrupted" by

** "Lovers Sans Phalli" by S.E. Lindberg ** "Calamity" by Michael E. Dellert ** "Love Triangle" by Michael H. Hanson ** "A Hand of Four Queens" by A. L. Butcher ** "Devil's Trull" by Andrew P. Weston ** "Withering Blights" by Joe Bonadonna ** "Hell Gate (excerpt)" by Andrew P. Weston * ''Hell Gate'' (2019), novel by Andrew P. Weston (published by Perseid Press, , ) * ''Mystics in Hell'' (2021), anthology (published by Perseid Press, , ) ** "A Frame of Mind" by

and Chris Morris ** "The Come Right Inn" by Andrew P. Weston ** "Abode of Woe" by A. L. Butcher ** "Fool's Gold" by S.E. Lindberg ** "The True Believer" by Lou Antonelli ** "By Any Means Necessary" by Gustavo Bondoni ** "Excalibur" by Tom Barczak ** "On the Run" by Michael H. Hanson ** "The Sorcerous Apprentice" by Andrew P. Weston ** "Colossus of Hell" by Joe Bonadonna ** "Strange Arts" by

and Chris Morris * ''Liars in Hell'' (2022), anthology (published by Perseid Press, , , ) ** "The Seven Degrees of Lying" by

and Chris Morris ** "The Liar, the Witch and the Ward Robes" by Andrew P. Weston ** "Bait and Switch" by S.E. Lindberg ** "Fibbers in Hell" by Michael H. Hanson ** "The Münchhausen Trilemma" by Richard Groller ** "Hell's Bells" by Joe Bonadonna ** "School of Night" by

and Chris Morris

Sources

* * * *

External links

* .
''Heroes in Hell''
at ''Fantastic Fiction''.
''Heroes in Hell''
at ''SciFan''. {{C. J. Cherryh 1980s speculative fiction novels 2010s speculative fiction novels Baen Books books Bangsian fantasy C. J. Cherryh Collaborative book series Fantasy anthologies Fantasy anthology series Fantasy books by series Janet Morris Series of fantasy books by C. J. Cherryh

Background

Reception

Books in the series

See also

Sources

External links