Barbara Hambly

Biography

Since her first published fantasy in 1982 - The Time of the Dark - Barbara Hambly has touched most of the bases in genre fiction. She has written mysteries, horror, mainstream historicals, graphic novels, sword-and-sorcery fantasy, romances, and Saturday Morning Cartoons. Born and raised in Southern California, she attended the University of California, Riverside, and spent one year at the University of Bordeaux, France. She married science fiction author George Alec Effinger, and lived part-time in New Orleans for a number of years. In her work as a novelist, she currently concentrates on horror (the Don Simon Ysidro vampire series) and historical whodunnits, the well-reviewed Benjamin January novels, though she has also written another historical whodunnit series under the name of Barbara Hamilton.
Professor Hambly also teaches History part-time, paints, dances, and trains in martial arts. Follow her on Facebook, and on her blog at livejournal.com.
Now a widow, she shares a house in Los Angeles with several small carnivores.

Where to find Barbara Hambly online

Books

Just Like Real People
Price: $5.00 USD. Words: 14,120. Language: English. Published: October 24, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary
A novelette of 14,000 words, in the Windrose Chronicles series. Antryg Windrose and his computer programmer companion Joanna set forth to help a man whose girlfriend has been abducted by intruders from across the Void, and uncover a terrible secret, and a greater evil in another universe.
Gravemould and Ectoplasm
Price: $5.00 USD. Words: 16,980. Language: English. Published: October 24, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal
(3.50 from 2 reviews)
A novelette of 16,000 words, the follow-on to the Asher and Ysidro vampire series. Recently arrived in New York in the closing years of World War One, Lydia Asher and her friend, the "recovering" vampire Don Simon Ysidro, attempt to solve a puzzle that begins with a fraudulent seance, and rapidly veers into revolution and murder.
Gwenael
Price: $5.00 USD. Words: 15,270. Language: English. Published: December 6, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic
Untaught barbarian wizard Sun Wolf seeks out the ruined fortress of the Wizard-King, in quest of whatever books may have survived there – and finds that books aren’t the only things that survived.
Dreamers of Black Rock
Price: $5.00 USD. Words: 16,370. Language: English. Published: December 6, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic
A novelette of 16,000 words, sequel to Hambly’s Darwath series. The wizards at the Keep of Black Rock have disappeared. Warrior woman Gil Patterson, the wizard Ingold Inglorion, and Ingold’s pupil Rudy Solis set out to learn what happened to them – but only Gil manages to arrive at Black Rock Keep.
Hag in the Water
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 15,030. Language: English. Published: December 14, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic
A novelette of 15,000 words, sequel to Hambly's Dragonsbane (Winterlands) series. A murder among the gnomes leads the gnome mages to call on human witch Jenny Waynest for help, but unfortunately, she's away. Her non-wizard partner, Dragonsbane John Aversin, steps in to help solve the crime.
Karate Masters vs the Invaders From Outer Space
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 13,900. Language: English. Published: December 14, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Urban
A novelette of 13,000 words in the Antryg Windrose series. Exiled wizard Antryg Windrose and his computer tech partner Joanna lend a hand making a low-budget martial-arts movie - with unexpected results.
Elsewhere
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 15,890. Language: English. Published: April 24, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(5.00 from 1 review)
A novelette of 15,000 words, sequel to Hambly’s Darwath series. An accidentally-activated transporter strands the wizard Ingold and his warrior-woman partner Gil Patterson in an unknown world, and at the same time that an army of ghosts appears within the now-wizardless Keep.
Hazard
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 11,380. Language: English. Published: April 24, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
A novelette of 10,000 words. Untaught barbarian wizard Sun Wolf is asked to help a village maiden rescue her sweetheart’s soul – but Sun Wolf suspects this may be a trap set for him.
Bliss-Bestowing Hands - 50 Haiku by George Alec Effinger
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 1,560. Language: English. Published: April 19, 2016 . Categories: Poetry » Contemporary Poetry
George Alec Effinger (1947-2002) is best known for writing cyberpunk novels and funny, heart-wrenching short stories, but he was also a poet. These are 50 haiku that he wrote early in his career, never before published. Some are funny, some sad; snapshots of times and places and feelings.
Castle of Horror
Price: $5.00 USD. Words: 15,310. Language: English. Published: April 19, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
A novelette - 15000 words. Colossus Films (of the novel Bride of the Rat-God) is shooting in Reno so Chrysanda Flamande's latest boyfriend can get a divorce. They share the sets - a supposedly haunted castle - with a black film company from Chicago, but Norah Blackstone is uneasy. Chrysanda's dogs can scent the supernatural, and Norah knows that something about the castle is very wrong.
Death on the Moon
Price: $5.00 USD. Words: 12,740. Language: English. Published: April 19, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
A novelette of 12,000 words in the Benjamin January Free Man of Color historical mystery series. Rose Janvier is convinced that Professor Tixall's amazing telescope is a hoax, but when one of her servants sees one of the "Moon people" murder another, Rose knows a real murder has been done. But how does she bring justice for a crime done on another planet?
Damselblossom
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 12,600. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic
A novelette of 12,000 words, sequel to Hambly's Dragonsbane (Winterlands) series. When a visiting wizard calls at Alyn Hold with the news that the region is about to be attacked by a horrible monster, John Aversin, Dragonsbane and Thane of the Winterlands, and his wizardly partner Jenny Waynest, are much less upset than the Silver Mage thinks they should be.
And Pretty Maids All In A Row
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 15,210. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary
A novelette of 15,000 words, sequel to the Windrose Chronicles series by Barbara Hambly. The head of a Los Angeles criminal gang seeks out exiled wizard Antryg Windrose looking for wizardly advice on his love life - and Antryg suspects there's more to the situation than meets the eye.
Quest For Glory
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 2,140. Language: English. Published: July 17, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
A short-short story of 1800 words. What goes on in the Character's Locker Room before the story starts? How DO characters audition for Hero of the Book?
Sherlock Holmes - The Adventure of the Sinister Chinaman
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 7,780. Language: English. Published: July 17, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
A Sherlock Holmes short story of 7.300 words, narrated by Dr. Watson. Holmes and Watson are in San Francisco, defending a Chinese magician accused of kidnapping a child. They are aided by that renowned prestidigitator and aeronaut Oscar Zoroaster Diggs - otherwise known as the Great and Powerful Oz.
There Shall Your Heart Be Also
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 6,440. Language: English. Published: July 17, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
Short story of 5,000 words, sequel to Hambly's Benjamin January murder mystery series. It's astonishing enough to everyone who knows New Orleans saloon-keeper Kentucky Williams that she owns a Bible... but someone is willing to do murder to steal it. Benjamin January and his worthless white sidekick Hannibal Sefton attempt to figure out who - and why.
Whisper
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 15,240. Language: English. Published: July 17, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
A novelette of 14,000 words, sequel to Hambly's Darwath series. The teleporter is due to open, linking the Keep of Dare with an unknown Keep, lost for three thousand years, and it is up to California warrior-woman Gil Patterson, and mage-in-training Rudy Solis, to explore its dark secrets, and to cope with the thing that follows them back to humankind's refuge.
Princess
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 13,800. Language: English. Published: July 15, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
A novelette of 12,000 words, sequel to Hambly's Dragonsbane series. John Aversin, Dragonsbane, and his partner the witch Jenny Waynest, are hired by a dragon to rescue a princess... who had previously made a deal with the dragon.
Shadowbaby
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 16,590. Language: English. Published: July 15, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
A novelette of 15,000 words, sequel to Hambly's Dragonsbane series. John Aversin, Dragonsbane and Thane of the Winterlands, tries to clear a changeling child of the charge of murdering its foster-parent, before the shadowy hordes of the faeries take revenge on the local villagers.
Pretty Polly
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 12,050. Language: English. Published: July 14, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
A novelette of 10,000 words, sequel to Hambly's Darwath series. Archmage Ingold Inglorion and his two Californian companions - warrior Gil Patterson and novice mage Rudy Solis - are faced with the possibility that some deadly entity is hiding in the darkness of the Keep of Dare.
Sherlock Holmes - The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 11,140. Language: English. Published: July 14, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Dark
A Sherlock Holmes novelette of 10,000 words, narrated by Dr. Watson. In an adventure set in the universe of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, Holmes and Watson investigate a mysterious old priory and find themselves up against forces more monstrous than they'd bargained for.
Sherlock Holmes - The Adventure of the Lost Boy
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 9,400. Language: English. Published: July 14, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
A fantasy Sherlock Holmes novelette of 9,000 words; narrated by Mrs. Watson. Sherlock Holmes agrees to help Peter Pan locate a missing child in the Neverlands.
Hagar
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 14,730. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
A novelette of 13,000 words in the Benjamin January historical mystery series. When the mistress of a plantation is murdered, Benjamin's wife Rose is convinced that contrary to the evidence, the crime was not committed by one of the household slaves. But proving it will be another matter.
A Time For Every Purpose Under Heaven
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 9,820. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
A short story in the Benjamin January Free Man of Color series. Rose Janvier, Benjamin's wife, left at home in pre-Civil-War New Orleans, uses her own detective skills to track down a killer.
Libre
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 8,840. Language: English. Published: July 13, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
A short story the Benjamin January Free Man of Color series. In pre-Civil-War New Orleans, musician Benjamin January seeks the missing daughter of one of the free colored demi-monde.
Sherlock Holmes - The Dollmaker of Marigold Walk
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 9,580. Language: English. Published: July 10, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Traditional British
A Sherlock Holmes tale narrated by Mrs. Watson. Holmes hunts for a man's missing wife while Mrs. Watson puzzles over strange non-crimes on the East End that could mean nothing - or could herald the return of Jack the Ripper.
Sunrise on Running Water
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 9,410. Language: English. Published: July 10, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal
(5.00 from 1 review)
The evil vampire Lord Napier Sandridge flees the vengeful sister of his most recent victim by taking passage on the Titanic. What could possibly go wrong?
Fairest in the Land
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 12,730. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
Sequel to the Sun Wolf and Starhawk series. Untaught barbarian wizard Sun Wolf and his warrior partner Starhawk are hired to find the evil fairies who put a curse on a sleepy princess before she falls asleep forever.
Nanya of the Butterflies
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 15,720. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
Sequel to the Sun Wolf and Starhawk series. In his quest for a wizard to teach him to use his powers, ex-mercenary Sun Wolf thinks he may have found one. Unfortunately, it looks like that wizard, whoever it is, has summoned a dragon to destroy an innocent town.
A Night With the Girls
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 8,900. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
Sequel to the Sun Wolf and Starhawk series. While her wizard partner Sun Wolf is away, warrior woman Starhawk is called in to help a mercenary band deal with a magical threat during the seige of a city.
Zenobie
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 17,400. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
Sequel to the Windrose series. Exiled wizard Antryg Windrose and his partner Joanna solve a sinister mystery in a haunted southern mansion.
Personal Paradise
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 16,900. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
Sequel to the Windrose series. Computer programmer Joanna Sheraton and exiled wizard Antryg Windrose are hired by a trans-dimensional condominium corporation to find out why all of their high-end, expensive enclave universes have vanished, and how to get them back.
Plus-One
Price: $4.99 USD. Words: 15,840. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
Sequel to the Windrose series. A Las Vegas hotel is haunted by a trans-dimensional being which has become a killer. Exiled wizard Antryg Windrose and his partner, computer programmer Joanna Sheraton must figure out what it is, and how to get rid of it, without being killed themselves.
Corridor
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 15,530. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General
Sequel to Hambly's Windrose series. A trans-dimensional transport corridor is draining the psychic energy of the population of Los Angles. Exiled wizard Antryg Windrose and his partner, computer programmer Joanna Sheraton, assisted by a renegade mage from Antryg's own world, attempt to deal with the problem.
Firemaggot
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 16,150. Language: English. Published: June 28, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
Sequel to Hambly’s Windrose series. Exiled wizard Antryg Windrose and his partner, computer programmer Joanna Sheraton, discover that a trans-dimensional monster is hiding somewhere in the vicinity of Los Angeles – and that it is about to spawn.