George R.R. Martin 
Wild Cards 18-20: The American Heroes Triad : Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Suicide Kings 
Inside Straight, Busted Flush, Suicide Kings

There is a secret history of the world – a history in which an alien virus struck the Earth in the aftermath of World War II, endowing a handful of survivors with extraordinary powers. Some were called Aces – those with superhuman mental and physical abilities. Others became Jokers – cursed with bizarre mental or physical disabilities. Some turned their talents to the service of humanity. Others used their powers for evil. Wild Cards is their story. The Wild Cards series returned in 2008 with a brand new trilogy, featuring new heroes and villains and designed to act as an introduction to the world for new readers. The three books collected here tell the stories of a group of Aces chosen to compete on a reality show. But as they find their lives broadcast to the world, some will decide that they can do more with their powers then simply show off on television. Whether they will use those powers for good or ill, though, is another question. This trilogy contains stories by Carrie Vaughn, Walter Jon Williams, Ian Tregillis, Victor Milan, Daniel Abraham, John J. Miller, Melinda Snodgrass and George R. R. Martin himself. Contains WILD CARDS: INSIDE STRAIGHT, WILD CARDS: BUSTED FLUSH, and WILD CARDS: SUICIDE KINGS