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:Wild Cards

{{Short description|Science fiction and superhero anthology series}}

{{About|the series of books|other uses|Wild card (disambiguation){{!}}Wild card}}

{{Infobox book series

| name = Wild Cards

| image =

| image_caption =

| books = {{Plain list|

  • Wild Cards (1987) (first)
  • House Rules (2025) (most recent)}}

| editors = {{Plain list|

| country = United States

| language = English

|genre = Superhero, Science fiction

| publisher = {{Plain list|

| pub_date = January 1987 – present

| media_type = {{Plain list|

| number_of_books = 33 (as of 2025)

| website =

}}

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 R. R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass. Set largely during an alternate history of post-World War II United States, the series follows humans who contracted the Wild Card virus, an alien virus that rewrites DNA and mutates survivors. Those who acquire crippling and/or repulsive physical conditions are known as Jokers, while those who acquire superhuman abilities are known as Aces, and those few who acquire minor, insignificant powers not worthy of being called aces are known as Deuces.

The series originated from a long-running campaign of the Superworld role-playing game, gamemastered by Martin and involving many of the original authors. The framework of the series was developed by Martin and Snodgrass, including the origin of the characters' superhuman abilities and the card-based terminology.

The first installment, Wild Cards, was released in January 1987 by Bantam Books and, as of February 2025, thirty-three books have been released through four publishers. The series has been adapted to comic books, graphic novels, and role-playing games.

Premise

{{See also|List of Wild Cards characters}}

Set during an alternate history of post–World War II United States, the series follows events after an airborne alien virus is released over New York City in 1946 and eventually infects tens of thousands globally. The virus, designed to rewrite DNA, was developed as a bioweapon by a noble family on the planet Takis, and it is taken to Earth to test on humans, who are genetically identical to the people of Takis. Dr. Tachyon, a member of this family, objects and attempts to stop them. However, his attempt crashes their ship, releasing the virus.

The virus affects each individual differently, and it becomes known as the Wild Card virus because of these "random and unpredictable" symptoms. It kills 90% of those who contract it and mutates the remaining percentage. 9% survive but become Jokers, who develop minor or crippling physical conditions. The remaining 1% become Aces, who remain human or mostly human in appearance but develop superhuman abilities; Aces whose abilities are too trivial or specific to be generally valuable are called Deuces.

Origin

Wild Cards began as a two-year-long{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2011/06/06/2-from-game-to-book-or-the-birth-of-a-shared-world/|title=From Game to Book or, the Birth of a Shared World|last=Martin|first=George R. R.|date=June 6, 2011|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=August 11, 2016}} campaign of the Superworld role-playing game, gifted to George R. R. Martin by Victor Milán, in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the players were science fiction writers, including Gail Gerstner-Miller, Milán, John J. Miller, Melinda M. Snodgrass, and Walter Jon Williams, and Martin served as gamemaster. Because of the amount of time and creative energy put into the campaign, Martin initially thought to write a novel on his character, Turtle. However, he realized this would have "rescued one character from [the] SuperWorld campaign, but would have meant discarding all the rest". Since the game had been built by a group, he felt it should be a shared universe anthology, which were popular at the time. Martin invited other writers he believed would be interested in the universe, including Roger Zelazny, Lewis Shiner, Pat Cadigan, Howard Waldrop, Edward Bryant, and Stephen Leigh.{{cite magazine |last= Miller|first= John J.|date= October 1989|title= Playing With a Full Deck|url= http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/Roleplayer/Roleplayer16/WildCards.html|magazine= Roleplayer|publisher= Steve Jackson Games|access-date= July 11, 2016}}

Martin said that the group loved comic books and superheroes but wanted to approach the material in a "grittier, more adult manner than what we were seeing in the '80s". He cited the series' "sense of history" as a strength and expressed frustration with the retroactive continuity of mainstream comics.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/game-of-thrones-george-rr-martin-wild-cards-254382|title='Game of Thrones' Author's Superhero Anthology 'Wild Cards' Headed to Big Screen (Exclusive)|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=October 28, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=July 9, 2016}} Martin also felt that the multitude of sources for superpowers in comics strained suspension of disbelief when taken together, and he believed a single plausible source was needed. Snodgrass suggested a virus, which allowed for the superpowered Aces, the "monsters and freaks" Jokers, and a high death toll. Snodgrass and Martin also developed the card based terminology, and Milán developed the pseudoscience of the series.

The series was originally meant to be set in a then contemporary 1985, but Waldrop, who was to write the first story, insisted that his story take place right after World War II. This created a forty-year gap between the first chapter and the remaining stories, pushing later contributions to fill in the intervening decades. Martin noted that this forced the authors to write about events they would have otherwise ignored, particularly the House Un-American Activities Committee and the McCarthy hearings, which gave rise to characters and plot points that "added immeasurable richness to our world and depth of our characters". Waldrop's story also forced Williams to rewrite a new story, "Witness", which became the only shared world story to appear on the final ballot for a Nebula Award.

British writer Neil Gaiman met with Martin in 1987 and pitched a Wild Cards story about a character who lives in a world of dreams. Martin declined due to Gaiman's lack of prior credits at the time. Gaiman went on to publish his story as The Sandman.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2626698/george-rr-martin-wildcards-neil-gaiman/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307041239/http://www.mtv.com/news/2626698/george-rr-martin-wildcards-neil-gaiman/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 7, 2016|title=Which Iconic DC Character Was Almost A Part Of George R.R. Martin's 'Wildcards'?|date=October 3, 2012|publisher=MTV|access-date=July 11, 2016}}

Publishing history

{{Main|List of Wild Cards books and short stories}}

=<span id="bantam"></span>Bantam Books (1987–1993)=

Bantam Books, under its Spectra imprint, published twelve books between 1987 and 1993, including two solo novels written by Melinda M. Snodgrass and Victor Milán.

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

  • 1987 Wild Cards{{cite book|title=Wild Cards (Wild Cards, Book 1)|isbn=0553261908|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1987}}
  • 1987 Aces High{{cite book|title=Aces High (Wild Cards, Book 2)|isbn=0765326167|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1987}}
  • 1987 Jokers Wild{{cite book|title=Jokers Wild (Wild Cards, Book 3)|isbn=0553266993|last1=Snodgrass|first1=Melinda M.|year=1987}}
  • 1988 Aces Abroad{{cite book|title=Aces Abroad (Wild Cards, Book 4)|isbn=055327628X|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1988}}
  • 1988 Down and Dirty{{cite book|title=Down and Dirty (Wild Cards, Book 5)|isbn=0553274635|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1988}}
  • 1990 Ace in the Hole{{cite book|title=Ace in the Hole (Wild Cards)|isbn=0553282530|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1990}}
  • 1990 Dead Man's Hand{{cite book|title=Dead Man's Hand (Wild Cards, Book 7)|isbn=0553285696|last1=Miller|first1=John J.|year=1990}}
  • 1991 One-Eyed Jacks{{cite book|title=One-Eyed Jacks (Wild Cards, Book 8)|isbn=0553288520|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1991}}
  • 1991 Jokertown Shuffle{{cite book|title=Jokertown Shuffle (Wild Cards)|isbn=0553291742|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1991}}
  • 1992 Double Solitaire (novel by Snodgrass){{cite book|title=Double Solitaire (Wild Cards, No. 10)|isbn=0553294938|last1=Snodgrass|first1=Melinda M.|year=1992}}
  • 1992 Dealer's Choice{{cite book|title=Dealer's Choice (Wild Cards XI)|isbn=0553291610|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|year=1992}}
  • 1993 Turn of the Cards (novel by Milán){{cite book|title=Turn of the Cards (Wild Cards, Book 12)|isbn=0553561529|last1=Milán|first1=Victor|year=1993}}

{{Div col end}}

= Baen Books (1993–1995) =

Baen Books published a new triad between 1993 and 1995 subtitled of a New Cycle. In 2002, Martin commented that he felt the triad was creatively "three of the strongest volumes Wild Cards ever had" and that the series "came back strong" after stumbling with a previous storyline; he conceded, however, that the triad was "very dark", acknowledging it was a commonly-voiced complaint, and that he felt switching publishers was a mistake.{{Cite web|url=http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1228|title=About Wild Cards|date=December 15, 2002|website=So Spake Martin|publisher=Westeros.org|access-date=July 10, 2016}}

  • 1993 Card Sharks{{cite book|title=Card Sharks (Wild Cards: New Cycle, Book 1)|isbn=0671721593|last1=Zelazny|first1=Roger|year=1993}}
  • 1994 Marked Cards{{cite book|title=Marked Cards (Wild Cards: A New Cycle, Book 2)|isbn=0671722123|last1=Leigh|first1=Stephen|year=1994}}
  • 1995 Black Trump{{cite book|title=Black Trump (Wild Cards: A New Cycle, Book 3) (Wild Cards: New Cycle)|isbn=0671876791|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|last2=Leigh|first2=Stephen|year=1995}}

= ibooks Inc. (2002–2006) =

In 2000, ibooks Inc. purchased two new installments and the rights to reprint the first eight books of the series; the two new books were published between 2002 and 2006, including a solo novel by John J. Miller, and reprints for six of the first eight books were issued. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2005, shortly after the death of founder Byron Preiss.{{Cite web|url=http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/8272/ibooks-byron-preiss-visual-publications-file-chapter-7|title=ibooks & Byron Preiss Visual Publications File Chapter 7|date=February 23, 2006|publisher=ICv2|access-date=July 10, 2016}} In December 2006, J. Bolyston & Co. Publishers, parent company of the Brick Tower Press imprint, acquired all of Preiss' assets, including those of ibooks, for $125,000.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sffworld.com/2007/11/interview-george-r-r-martin-2/|title=Interview with George R.R. Martin|last=Rambraut|first=Dag|date=November 18, 2007|publisher=SFFWorld.com|access-date=July 10, 2016}}{{cite magazine|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/23507706/news-briefs|title=News Briefs|date=December 18, 2006|magazine=Publishers Weekly|access-date=July 10, 2016|via=EBSCO Information Services}}{{dead link|date=November 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} {{subscription required}} Brick Tower Press offered e-book versions of its titles, including Deuces Down and Death Draws Five via Humble Bundle in February 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.humblebundle.com/books/scificlassics_bookbundle|title=Humble Bundle: Sci-fi Classics|publisher=Humble Bundle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218103107/https://www.humblebundle.com/books/scificlassics_bookbundle|archive-date=February 18, 2016|access-date=July 10, 2016}}

  • 2002 Deuces Down{{cite book|title=Wild Cards XVI – Deuces Down (Vol 5)|isbn=0743445058|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|last2=Snodgrass|first2=Melinda M.|year=2002}}
  • 2006 Death Draws Five (novel by Miller){{cite book|title=George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards XVII: Death Draws Five|isbn=1596872977|last1=Miller|first1=John J.|last2=Martin|first2=George R. R.|year=2006}}

= Tor Books (2008–2022) =

Tor Books, an imprint under Macmillan Publishers, published the series in both print and e-book format. It released thirteen new installments from November 2008 to August 2022. Tor Books also reprinted the first twelve, sixteenth & seventeenth novels as of November 2021.{{cite web|title=Wild Cards VII: Dead Man's Hand|url=http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765335616|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Wild Cards VIII: One-Eyed Jacks|url=http://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250168092|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

  • 2008 Inside Straight{{cite book|title=Inside Straight|url=https://archive.org/details/insidestraight00mart|url-access=registration|isbn=978-0765317810|last1=Martin|first1=George R. R.|last2=Snodgrass|first2=Melinda M.|date=2008-01-22}}
  • 2008 Busted Flush{{cite book|title=Busted Flush (Wild Cards)

|isbn=978-0765317827

|last1=Farrell

|first1=S. L.

|last2=Leigh

|first2=Stephen

|last3=Milán

|first3=Victor

|last4=Miller

|first4=John Jos

|date=2008-12-09

}}

  • 2009 Suicide Kings{{cite book|title=Suicide Kings (Wild Cards)

|isbn=978-0765317834

|last1=Trust

|first1=Wild Cards

|date=2009-12-22

}}

  • 2011 Fort Freak{{cite web|title=Suicide Kings|url=http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765364685|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2014 Lowball{{cite web|title=Suicide Kings|url=http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765368621|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2016 High Stakes{{cite web|title=High Stakes|url=http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765335623|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2017 Mississippi Roll{{cite web|title=Mississippi Roll|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765390523|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
  • 2018 Low Chicago{{cite web|title=Low Chicago|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765390561|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
  • 2018 Texas Hold 'Em{{cite web|title=Texas Hold 'Em|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765390592|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
  • 2019 Knaves Over Queens{{cite web|title=Knaves Over Queens|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250168061|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=November 24, 2018}}
  • 2021 Joker Moon{{cite web|title=Joker Moon|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250168016|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=August 26, 2020}}
  • 2022 Three Kings{{cite web|title=Three Kings|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250167934|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=May 10, 2021}}
  • 2022 Full House{{cite web|title=Full House|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250167958/fullhouse|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=May 20, 2022}}

{{Div col end}}

Tor Books also published online supplementary material. A multi-author blog supporting Inside Straight opened in February 2008. The blog followed American Hero, the fictional reality television show in the book, and posted in-character "confessionals" from the twenty-eight characters competing on the show.{{Cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/3782678|title="Wild Cards" gets spinoff site – "American Hero"|last=Price|first=Matthew|date=February 4, 2008|website=Nerdage|publisher=The Oklahoman|access-date=July 10, 2016}} That supplemental material was republished by Tor as an e-book titled American Hero: A Wild Cards Novel on March 3, 2020.{{cite web|title=Rosa Loteria & her loteria cards revealed thus far|url=http://www.wildcardsworld.com/rosa-loteria-her-loteria-cards-revealed-thus-far/|access-date=June 14, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765396402|title=American Hero|access-date=March 27, 2020|publisher=Tor Books}}

Twenty-three short stories were published through the Tor Books website from January 2013 through July 2022:

{{Div col|colwidth=35em}}

  • 2013 "When We Were Heroes" by Daniel Abraham{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2013/01/16/when-we-were-heroes/|title=When We Were Heroes|last=Abraham|first=Daniel|date=January 16, 2013|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2013 "The Button Man and the Murder Tree" by Cherie Priest{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2013/05/15/the-button-man-and-the-murder-tree/|title=The Button Man and the Murder Tree|last=Priest|first=Cherie|date=May 15, 2013|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2013 "The Elephant in the Room" by Paul Cornell{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2013/05/29/the-elephant-in-the-room/|title=The Elephant in the Room|last=Cornell|first=Paul|date=May 29, 2013|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2014 "Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza" by Carrie Vaughn{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2014/10/15/nuestra-senora-de-la-esperanza-carrie-vaughn/|title=Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza|last=Vaughn|first=Carrie|date=October 15, 2014|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2014 "Prompt. Professional. Pop!" by Walter Jon Williams{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2014/11/21/prompt-professional-pop/|title=Prompt. Professional. Pop!|last=Williams|first=Walter Jon|date=November 21, 2014|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2016 "Discards" by David D. Levine{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2016/03/30/discards/|title=Discards|last=Levine|first=David D.|date=March 30, 2016|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=July 10, 2016}}
  • 2016 "The Thing About Growing Up in Jokertown" by Carrie Vaughn{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2016/12/21/the-thing-about-growing-up-in-jokertown/|title=The Thing About Growing Up in Jokertown|last=Vaughn|first=Carrie|date=December 21, 2016|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=January 31, 2017}}
  • 2017 "The Atonement Tango" by Stephen Leigh{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2017/01/18/the-atonement-tango/|title=The Atonement Tango|last=Leigh|first=Stephen|date=January 18, 2017|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=January 31, 2017}}
  • 2017 "When the Devil Drives" by Melissa Snodgrass{{Cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/2017/07/05/when-the-devil-drives/|title=When the Devil Drives|date=July 5, 2017|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=May 10, 2018}}
  • 2018 "EverNight" by Victor Milán{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2018/02/14/wild-cards-evernight-victor-milan/|title=EverNight|date=February 14, 2018|access-date=May 18, 2018|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2018 "The Flight of Morpho Girl" by Caroline Spector and Bradley Denton{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2018/05/02/flight-of-morpho-girl-caroline-spector-bradley-denton/|title=The Flight of Morpho Girl|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=May 10, 2018|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2018 "Fitting In" by Max Gladstone{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2018/10/24/fitting-in-max-gladstone/|title=Fitting In|date=October 24, 2018|access-date=November 24, 2018|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2019 "How to Move Spheres and Influence People" by Marko Kloos{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2019/03/27/how-to-move-spheres-and-influence-people-marko-kloos/|title=How to Move Spheres and Influence People|date=March 27, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2019 "Long Is The Way" by Carrie Vaughn and Sage Walker{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2019/05/15/long-is-the-way-carrie-vaughn-sage-walker/|title=Long Is The Way|date=May 15, 2019|access-date=May 15, 2019|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2019 "The City That Never Sleeps" by Walton Simons{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2019/08/28/wild-cards-the-city-that-never-sleeps-walton-simons/|title=The City That Never Sleeps|date=Aug 28, 2019|access-date=Aug 28, 2019|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2019 "Naked, Stoned, and Stabbed" by Bradley Denton{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2019/10/16/naked-stoned-and-stabbed-bradley-denton/|title=Naked, Stoned, and Stabbed|date=Oct 16, 2019|access-date=Oct 16, 2019|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2020 "The Visitor: Kill or Cure" by Mark Lawrence{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2020/03/18/the-visitor-kill-or-cure-mark-lawrence/|title=The Visitor: Kill or Cure|date=March 18, 2020|access-date=March 18, 2020|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2020 "Berlin is Never Berlin" by Marko Kloos{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2020/05/06/berlin-is-never-berlin-marko-kloos/|title=Berlin Is Never Berlin|access-date=March 27, 2020|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2020 "Hammer and Tongs and a Rusty Nail" by Ian Tregillis{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2020/12/02/hammer-and-tongs-and-a-rusty-nail-ian-tregillis/|title=Hammer and Tongs and a Rusty Nail|date=December 2, 2020|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2021 "Ripple Effects" by Laura J. Mixon{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2021/05/19/ripple-effects-laura-j-mixon/|title=Ripple Effects|date= May 19, 2021|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2021 "Skin Deep" by Alan Brennert{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2021/07/21/skin-deep-alan-brennert/|title=Skin Deep|date=July 21, 2021|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2022 "Hearts of Stone" by Emma Newman{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2022/05/18/hearts-of-stone-emma-newman/|title=Hearts of Stone|date=May 18, 2022|publisher=Tor Books}}
  • 2022 "Grow" by Carrie Vaughn{{Cite news|url=https://www.tor.com/2022/07/20/grow-carrie-vaughn/|title=Grow|date=July 20, 2022|publisher=Tor Books}}

{{Div col end}}

A short story, titled "Lies My Mother Told Me" by Caroline Spector, was published in the Dangerous Women anthology, also edited by Martin. The anthology was released in December 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tor.com/2013/07/24/dangerous-women-tor-excerpts/|title=Dangerous Women Arrives on Tor.com: Featuring a New Song of Ice and Fire Story|date=July 24, 2013|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=July 11, 2016}}

An additional short story, titled "I Have No Voice and I Must Zoom Meeting" by Paul Cornell, was published on the official Wild Cards website in July 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.wildcardsworld.com/i-have-no-voice-and-i-must-zoom-meeting/|title=I Have No Voice and I Must Zoom Meeting|access-date=July 8, 2020}}

= Bantam Books (2023–present) =

The series returned to Bantam Books in July 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2023/07/10/love-lust-and-aces/|title=Love, Lust, and Aces|date=July 10, 2023|publisher=georgerrmartin.com|access-date=July 10, 2023}} Upcoming books include House Rules.{{cite news|url=https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2020/07/19/writing-2/|title=Writing...|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

  • 2023 Pairing Up
  • 2024 Sleeper Straddle
  • 2025 House Rules

{{Div col end}}

Bantam also began publishing original graphic novels featuring stories set within the Wild Cards universe.

  • 2023 George R. R. Martin Presents Wild Cards: Now and Then: A Graphic Novel (Written by Carrie Vaughn with art by Renae De Liz)
  • 2023 George R. R. Martin Presents Wild Cards: Sins of the Father: A Graphic Novel (Written by Melinda M. Snodgrass with art by Michael Komarck and Elizabeth Leggett)

Contributors

The collection of authors who have contributed to the Wild Card series is known as the Wild Cards Trust{{Cite web|url=http://us.macmillan.com/author/wildcardstrust|title=Wild Cards Trust|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}} or the Wild Card consortium.{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Jason |title=Catching Up With George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards |url=https://www.tor.com/2021/01/14/catching-up-with-george-r-r-martins-wild-cards/ |website=tor.com |access-date=22 January 2021 |date=January 14, 2021}} As of Joker Moon, published in July 2021, forty-four authors have written for the series. Five authors have written for at least one novel released by each publisher of the series: Michael Cassutt, Stephen Leigh (often writing as S. L. Farrell), John J. Miller, Walton Simons, and Snodgrass. Every installment was edited by Martin, who has also contributed as an author to ten books; later installments were co-edited by Snodgrass.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"

|+ Authors by publishing era

width="20%;" | Author

! width="20%;" | Bantam Books (1987–1993)

! width="20%;" | Baen Books (1993–1995)

! width="20%;" | ibooks Inc. (2002–2006)

! width="20%;" | Tor Books (2008 – 2022)

Daniel Abraham

| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Deuces Down

| Inside Straight, Suicide Kings, American Hero, Full House

Saladin Ahmed

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Low Chicago

Edward Bryant

| Wild Cards, Jokers Wild, Aces Abroad, Down and Dirty, Dealer's Choice

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

Pat Cadigan

| Aces High, Down and Dirty

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

Michael Cassutt{{efn|name=Wild Cards Reprint|The 2010 Tor Books reprint of Wild Cards, originally published in 1987 by Bantam Books, added stories by Michael Cassut, David D. Levine, and Carrie Vaughn.{{cite web|title=Wild Cards I|url=http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765365071|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}}}}

| Aces Abroad

| Card Sharks

| Deuces Down

| Inside Straight, Lowball, American Hero, Joker Moon

Chris Claremont

| One-Eyed Jacks

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

Paul Cornell

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Fort Freak, Low Chicago, Knaves Over Queens, Full House

Arthur Byron Cover

| Down and Dirty

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

David Anthony Durham

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Fort Freak, Lowball, High Stakes, Texas Hold 'Em

Ty Franck

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Fort Freak

Gail Gerstner-Miller

| Aces Abroad

| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

|American Hero

Max Gladstone

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Texas Hold 'Em

Leanne C. Harper

| Wild Cards, Jokers Wild, Aces Abroad, Down and Dirty

| Marked Cards

| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

Leo Kenden

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Joker Moon

Marko Kloos

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Low Chicago, Knaves Over Queens, Full House

Mark Lawrence

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Knaves Over Queens

Stephen Leigh

(often as S. L. Farrell)

| Wild Cards, Aces Abroad, Down and Dirty, Ace in the Hole, One-Eyed Jacks, Jokertown Shuffle, Dealer's Choice

| Card Sharks, Marked Cards, Black Trump

| Deuces Down

| Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Suicide Kings, Fort Freak, High Stakes, Mississippi Roll, American Hero, Full House

David D. Levine{{efn|name=Wild Cards Reprint}}

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Lowball, Mississippi Roll, Joker Moon, Full House

George R. R. Martin (editor)

| Wild Cards, Aces High, Jokers Wild, Aces Abroad, Down and Dirty, Dead Man's Hand, Dealer's Choice

| Black Trump

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Inside Straight, American Hero

Victor Milán

| Wild Cards, Aces High, Aces Abroad, Ace in the Hole, One-Eyed Jacks, Jokertown Shuffle, Turn of the Cards

| Card Sharks, Marked Cards, Black Trump

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Busted Flush, Suicide Kings, Fort Freak, Texas Hold 'Em, American Hero, Joker Moon, Full House

John J. Miller

| Wild Cards, Aces High, Jokers Wild, Aces Abroad, Down and Dirty, Dead Man's Hand, One-Eyed Jacks, Jokertown Shuffle, Dealer's Choice

| Black Trump

| Deuces Down, Death Draws Five

| Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Fort Freak, High Stakes, Mississippi Roll, Low Chicago, American Hero, Joker Moon

Laura J. Mixon

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Card Sharks, Marked Cards

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

|American Hero

Mary Anne Mohanraj

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Fort Freak, Lowball, Low Chicago, Joker Moon, Three Kings

Kevin Andrew Murphy{{efn|name=Aces Abroad Reprint|The 2015 Tor Books reprint of Aces Abroad, originally published in 1988 by Bantam Books, added stories by Kevin Andrew Murphy and Carrie Vaughn.{{cite web|title=Wild Cards IV: Aces Abroad

|url=http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765335586|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=July 10, 2016}}}}{{efn|name=One-Eyed Jacks Reprint|The 2018 Tor Books reprint of One-Eyed Jacks, originally published in 1991 by Bantam Books, added stories by Kevin Andrew Murphy and Carrie Vaughn.{{cite web|title=Wild Cards VIII: One-Eyed Jacks

|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250168092|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|access-date=August 10, 2018}}}}

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Card Sharks

| Deuces Down

| Busted Flush, Fort Freak, Mississippi Roll, Low Chicago, Knaves Over Queens, American Hero

Emma Newman

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Knaves Over Queens

Peter Newman

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Knaves Over Queens, Three Kings

Peadar Ó Guilín

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Knaves Over Queens, Three Kings

Steve Perrin

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| American Hero, Joker Moon

Cherie Priest

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Fort Freak, Mississippi Roll

Christopher Rowe

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Low Chicago, American Hero, Joker Moon

Diana Rowland

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Texas Hold 'Em

Lewis Shiner

| Wild Cards, Aces High, Jokers Wild, Aces Abroad, One-Eyed Jacks, Jokertown Shuffle

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

Walton Simons

| Aces High, Jokers Wild, Aces Abroad, Ace in the Hole, One-Eyed Jacks, Jokertown Shuffle

| Marked Cards

| Deuces Down

| Busted Flush, Texas Hold 'Em, American Hero, Joker Moon

Melinda M. Snodgrass (editor)

| Wild Cards, Aces High, Jokers Wild, Aces Abroad, Down and Dirty, Ace in the Hole, One-Eyed Jacks, Jokertown Shuffle, Double Solitaire

| Card Sharks, Marked Cards

| Deuces Down

| Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Suicide Kings, Fort Freak, Lowball, High Stakes, Low Chicago, Knaves Over Queens, American Hero, Joker Moon, Three Kings, Full House

Caroline Spector

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Suicide Kings, High Stakes, Knaves Over Queens, Texas Hold 'Em, American Hero, Joker Moon, Three Kings, Full House

Charles Stross

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Knaves Over Queens

Ian Tregillis

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Suicide Kings, Lowball, High Stakes, American Hero

Carrie Vaughn{{efn|name=Wild Cards Reprint}}{{efn|name=Aces Abroad Reprint}}{{efn|name=One-Eyed Jacks Reprint}}

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Lowball, Mississippi Roll, American Hero, Full House

Howard Waldrop

| Wild Cards

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

Sage Walker

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Marked Cards, Black Trump

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| American Hero

Royce Wideman

| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| American Hero

Walter Jon Williams

| Wild Cards, Aces High, Down and Dirty, Ace in the Hole, Jokertown Shuffle, Dealer's Choice

| Marked Cards

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Lowball, American Hero, Full House

William F. Wu

| One-Eyed Jacks

| Card Sharks

| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

| Texas Hold 'Em, American Hero

Roger Zelazny

| Wild Cards, Aces High, Down and Dirty

| Card Sharks

| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |

In other media

= Role-playing games =

{{Main|GURPS Wild Cards}}

Wild Cards was adapted into a role-playing game format by Steve Jackson Games. Written by John J. Miller and published in June 1989, the sourcebook used GURPS Supers rules and contained descriptions of sixty of the characters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/wildcards/|title=Wild Cards|publisher=Steve Jackson Games|access-date=July 11, 2016}}{{Cite book|title=Grups Supers Wild Cards|isbn = 1556341512|last1 = Miller|first1 = John J.|last2 = Jackson|first2 = Steve|last3 = Martin|first3 = George R. R.|date = June 1989}} A supplement titled Aces Abroad, written by Kevin Andrew Murphy, was released in 1991.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/AcesAbroad/|title=Aces Abroad|publisher=Steve Jackson Games|access-date=July 11, 2016}}{{Cite book|title=Aces Abroad (GURPS Wild Cards RPG)|isbn = 155634211X|last1 = Murphy|first1 = Kevin Andrew|year = 1991}} Green Ronin Publishing published Wild Cards Campaign Setting, written by Miller, for its Mutants & Masterminds RPG in August 2008; the game debuted at Gen Con that year. Two supplements were released: an adventure anthology titled All-in and a character book titled Aces & Jokers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mutantsandmasterminds.com/mutants_masterminds_news_archives/2008_08.php|title=Wild Cards Returns to Roleplaying|date=August 29, 2008|publisher=Green Ronin Publishing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120021116/http://www.mutantsandmasterminds.com/mutants_masterminds_news_archives/2008_08.php|archive-date=November 20, 2008|access-date=July 11, 2016}}

= Comics =

A four-issue Wild Cards limited series was released in 1990 by Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics.{{Cite book|title=Wildcards – Heart Of The Matter|isbn = 0871356961|last1 = Martin|first1 = George R. R.|date = July 1990}}{{Cite book|title=Wild Cards IV|isbn = 0871357186|last1 = Lebert|first1 = Margo A.|date = July 1990}} The issues were then collected and published as a trade paperback in October 1991.{{Cite book|title=Wild Cards (Graphic Novel)|isbn = 0871357887|last1 = Shiner|first1 = Lewis|year = 1991}} They were also included in Epic: An Anthology, released in 1992.{{Cite book|title=Epic: An Anthology [Book 1]|year = 1992|isbn = 087135845X}} A second limited series titled Wild Cards: The Hard Call, written by Daniel Abraham and illustrated by Eric Battle, was published over six issues from April to September 2008 by Dabel Brothers Productions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dabelbrothers.com/index.php?categoryid=1&p2_articleid=143&s=cc6656e54931652ea7bbda5b5f559751|title=The world of Wild Cards returns to comics with a brand new adventure... and appearances from some old favorite characters.|date=January 17, 2008|publisher=Dabel Brothers Productions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122014155/http://www.dabelbrothers.com/index.php?categoryid=1&p2_articleid=143&s=cc6656e54931652ea7bbda5b5f559751|archive-date=January 22, 2008|access-date=July 10, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://pulllist.comixology.com/sku/FEB083655/George-R-R-Martins-Wild-Cards-The-Hard-Call-1-of-6-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816181013/https://pulllist.comixology.com/sku/FEB083655/George-R-R-Martins-Wild-Cards-The-Hard-Call-1-of-6-|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2016|title=George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards: The Hard Call #1 (of 6)|publisher=ComiXology|access-date=July 10, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://pulllist.comixology.com/sku/JUL083837/George-R-R-Martins-Wild-Cards-The-Hard-Call-6-of-6-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816161654/https://pulllist.comixology.com/sku/JUL083837/George-R-R-Martins-Wild-Cards-The-Hard-Call-6-of-6-|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2016|title=George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards: The Hard Call #6 (of 6)|publisher=ComiXology|access-date=July 10, 2016}} Dabel Brothers partnered with Del Rey to collect the titles in July 2008, including Wild Cards: The Hard Call, as graphic novels beginning in fall 2008.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/3010-dabel-bros-del-rey-turn-wheel-of-time-into-comics.html|title=Dabel Bros, Del Rey Turn 'Wheel of Time' into Comics|last=Reid|first=Calvin|date=July 2, 2008|magazine=Publishers Weekly|access-date=July 10, 2016}} The issues were collected in a hardcover edition published by Dynamite Entertainment in February 2011.{{Cite book|title=George RR Martin's Wild Cards: The Hard Call|isbn = 978-1606901588|last1 = Abraham|first1 = Daniel|last2 = Martin|first2 = George R. R.|year = 2011}}

Marvel Entertainment began publishing a 4-issue comic book limited series Wild Cards: The Drawing of Cards scripted by Paul Cornell in July 2022. The series adapted material from the first Wild Cards novel.{{Cite web|title=Marvel teams up with Game of Thrones writer George RR Martin for comic book series|url=https://news.sky.com/story/marvel-teams-up-with-game-of-thrones-writer-george-rr-martin-for-comic-book-series-12545735|access-date=2022-02-19|website=Sky News|language=en}}

Bantam Books published two original Wild Cards graphic novels in 2023: George R. R. Martin Presents Wild Cards: Now & Then by writer Carrie Vaughn and artist Renae De Liz, and George R. R. Martin Presents Wild Cards: Sins of the Father by writer Melinda Snodgrass and artists Michael Komarck and Elizabeth Leggett.{{Cite web|title=New Original Graphic Novels Set in the World of George R.R. Martin's 'Wild Cards'|url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/53803/new-original-graphic-novels-set-world-george-r-r-martins-wild-cards|access-date=2023-04-08|website=ICv2|language=en}}

= Audiobooks =

Unabridged audiobook versions of the first five books have been released. Audiobooks of the first two installments were released by Brilliance Audio in November and December 2011.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064I1AAQ|title=Wild Cards I|website=Amazon|access-date=July 10, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006O51XC4/|title=Wild Cards II: Aces High|website=Amazon|access-date=July 10, 2016}} Versions of the third, fourth, and fifth novels were released by Penguin Random House from February to March 2016, featuring voice talents for each character.{{Cite web|url=http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/537461/wild-cards-iii-jokers-wild-by-george-r-r-martin/|title=Wild Cards III: Jokers Wild|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=July 10, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/537462/wild-cards-iv-aces-abroad-by-george-r-r-martin/|title=Wild Cards IV: Aces Abroad|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=July 10, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/537523/wild-cards-v-down-and-dirty-by-george-r-r-martin/|title=Wild Cards V: Down and Dirty|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=July 10, 2016}} The sixth and seventh installments were released in February and June 2017. Commencing in August 2018, HarperAudio (UK) began releasing a new set of audiobooks in the series. The first three (Mississippi Roll, Low Chicago and Texas Hold'em) were narrated by William Hope. Next, Peter Noble narrated the two UK Wild Cards works (Knaves Over Queens and Three Kings). The sixth audiobook from HarperAudio (UK) (which was released in August 2021), Joker Moon, was performed by Maya Saroya. On a side note, in the UK, Three Kings has been released before Joker Moon, while the opposite is set to happen in the US.{{Cite web|url=http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/548737/wild-cards-vi-ace-in-the-hole-by-george-r-r-martin/|title=Wild Cards VI: Ace in the Hole|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=July 11, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/548738/wild-cards-vii-dead-mans-hand-by-george-r-r-martin/|title=Wild Cards VII: Dead Man's Hand|publisher=Penguin Random House|access-date=July 11, 2016}}

= Film =

In October 2011, Syfy Films, a joint venture between Syfy Channel and Universal Pictures, acquired screen rights to Wild Cards under the direction of Gregory Noveck, senior vice president of production. Snodgrass was asked to write the screenplay, and she and Martin were to serve as executive producers. At the time of announcement, the film was intended to have a contemporary setting and the Sleeper among its characters. This was the second time the series was optioned.

= Television =

In August 2016, Universal Cable Productions acquired the rights to create a television series. Martin stated that the development was in early stages and that the production was working on choosing characters and stories to adapt. Because of his exclusivity contract with HBO, which aired Game of Thrones based on Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin said he will not be involved in the adaptation. Snodgrass is to serve as an executive producer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/6/12394024/george-rr-martin-television-wild-cards-superheroes|title=Another world from George R.R. Martin might be coming to television|last=Liptak|first=Andrew|date=August 6, 2016|publisher=The Verge|access-date=August 6, 2016}} In a blog post, Martin said that Noveck is also to serve as an executive producer.{{Cite web|url=http://grrm.livejournal.com/496792.html|title=The Wild Cards Are Coming... to Television|last=Martin|first=George R. R.|author-link=George R. R. Martin|date=August 6, 2016|website=Not a Blog|publisher=Livejournal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818020405/http://grrm.livejournal.com/496792.html|archive-date=August 18, 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=August 6, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/08/09/george-rr-martins-wild-cards-what-is-it-when-will-we-see-it-on-t/|title=George RR Martin's Wild Cards: what is it, when will we see it on TV and will it be like Game of Thrones?|date=August 9, 2016|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=August 9, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/08/wild-cards-george-rr-martin-tv-adaptation|title=George RR Martin's Wild Cards TV show is a safe bet for success|last=Barnett|first=David|date=August 8, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=August 9, 2016}}

Universal Cable Productions was teaming up with Hulu in November 2018 to develop two series based on the novels to establish a potential connected Wild Cards universe for the streaming service,{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/wild-cards-2-tv-series-george-r-r-martin-books-hulu-andrew-martin-1202501424/|title='Wild Cards': 2 TV Series Based on George R.R. Martin's Books in Works at Hulu|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|magazine=Deadline|date=November 13, 2018|access-date=November 14, 2018}} but as of 2021, the upcoming series was moved from Hulu to Peacock.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/george-r-r-martins-wild-cards-moves-from-hulu-to-peacock-1234711342/|title=George R.R. Martin's 'Wild Cards' Moves From Hulu To Peacock|last=Petski|first=Denise|publisher=Deadline|date=March 10, 2021|accessdate=March 11, 2021}}

Explanatory notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{Official website|https://www.wildcardsworld.com/}}
  • [http://us.macmillan.com/series/wildcards Wild Cards series] at Macmillan Publishers, parent company of Tor Books
  • [https://www.wildcardsworld.com/cover-gallery/ Wild Cards cover art gallery] at [https://www.wildcardsworld.com Wild Cards] official website
  • [http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/wild_cards Wild Cards] at The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
  • [http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pe.cgi?8534 Wild Cards Universe] at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

Category:Book series introduced in 1987

Category:Books by Chris Claremont

Category:Novels by Roger Zelazny

Category:Works by George R. R. Martin