Wild Cards is a science fiction anthology series set in a shared universe. The series was created, and mostly edited by, George R.R. Martin. There were 12 volumes published between 1987 and 1993 before it switched publishers, beginning a 'new cycle', with (initially) different numbering. This published three new volumes between 1993 and 1995; a fourth appeared belatedly in 2002.

The series relates an alternate history of the earth after World War II. In 1946 an alien virus that rewrites human DNA is accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It kills 90 per cent of those who come into contact with it. However, 9 per cent mutate into deformed creatures (known as 'Jokers') and 1 per cent gain superpowers (known as 'Aces' - there is also a class known as 'deuces'; Aces who have acquired useless or ridiculous powers, such as the ability to levitate up to two feet, or to grow bodily hair at will.)

Examples of these abilities or curses include The Turtle, who can lift massive objects telekinetically , The Lizard King, who can hypnotize and disorient people, Croyd Crenson, whose abilities alter with every sleep cycle - he alternates randomly every month between ace and joker, and Jube, a man whose appearance resembles a giant walrus.

Wild Cards was inspired by superhero comics, and many of the authors play with the conventions of the medium, while some characters are based on existing heroes (eg, Jetboy was modelled on pulp adventure heroes of the 1930s such as Airboy). However, the Wild Cards universe is more morally ambiguous than that of, say, DC or Marvel. Jokers, whether powered or not, are often outcasts because of their frequently repulsive forms. Aces are referred to as such because they have gained various superpowers, regardless of what they use them for - characters who appear in one volume as a villain may appear in another as a hero, or vice versa.

Many of the books in the series have an overall plotline - how the Wild Cards deal with McCarthyism, or certain groups of aces fighting each other, or jokers striving for equal rights. Many of these plots have analogies in the real world, while others are purely science fiction (dealing with an alien spacecraft, for instance).

Another aspect of the series is its use of real people, such as Buddy Holly, Grace Kelly and Richard Nixon. Unlike most superhero universes, the events of WildCards alter history in many ways - a notable example being Fidel Castro remaining in New York to play baseball, and the lack of a Communist takeover in Cuba thereafter.

Initially the third volume in the original series was a 'mosaic novel', with authors alternating chapters, rather than a simple collection of short stories.

Major contributors to the series included Roger Zelazny, Lewis Shiner , Melinda N. Snodgrass , Walter Jon Williams, Leanne Harper , Chris Claremont and Martin himself.

The series:

• Wild Cards (1987)
• Aces High (1987)
• Jokers Wild (1987)
• Aces Abroad (1988)
• Down And Dirty (1988)
• Ace In The Hole (1990)
• Dead Man's Hand (1990)
• One-Eyed Jacks (1991)
• Jokertown Shuffle (1991)
• Double Solitaire (1992)
• Dealer's Choice (1992)
• Turn Of The Cards (1993)

Double Solitaire and Turn Of The Cards were actually full-length novels rather than anthologies, written by Snodgrass and Williams, respectively.

New cycle:

• Card Sharks (1993)
• Marked Cards (1994)
• Black Trump (1995)
• Deuces Down (2002)

The series was also adapted for role playing, and two GURPS sourcebooks for it were produced.