What Light in Darkness lies? The phrase encompasses the basic tenet of all fiction: the struggle between light and darkness, good and evil. This fight, be it internal or external, has been the core of all storytelling since the craft began, but arguably nowhere more so than in popular-genre fiction.

This anthology takes thirteen different approaches to this timeless battle. Each author comes to this collection with a different background and a bold, individual writing style. The authors represent a wide variety of genres within popular fiction, and each takes a fresh look at the age-old battle between darkness and light. The story can be told in so many ways, with an endless variation of characters and themes, and in this book our authors illustrate that. Inside you’ll find scenes set in post-war Japan, little girls who speak to the dead, plots to commit fowl murder, enemies locked in an endless space battle, disenchanted priests, dimwitted criminals in over their heads, and more. Take a look inside, and see how the 2016 Popular Fiction Program answers this age-old question.