Beyond the Cradle of mankind, the universe is vast, unknown, dangerous to the unwary…or those caught in the path of intrepid explorers proceeding without forethought.
Thirteen authors explore what it is to pioneer the future in tales fraught with danger and remorse, tempered with hope, luck, and serendipity. We face the monsters. We face the truth. We face ourselves.
Whether the frontier is that of science or space, there is no doubt that at some point one must ask …If we had known, would we have followed this course?
Edited by Mike Mc Phail, with stories by Ian Randal Strock, Danielle Ackley-Mc Phail, Jody Lynn Nye, Peter Prellwitz, Jeff Young, Patrick Thomas, James Chambers, Robert E. Waters, John L. French, Christopher M. Hiles, Judi Fleming, Nancy Jane Moore, and Robert Greenberger.
Spis treści
The Necessary Enemy by Ian Randal Strock
The Steady Drone of Silence by Danielle Ackley-Mc Phail
The Last Man on Earth by Jody Lynn Nye
Chasing the Ball by Peter Prellwitz
The Janus Choice by Jeff Young
Between Scylla and Charybdis by Patrick Thomas
The Star Gazers by James Chambers
Giraffe Children by Robert E. Waters
Good Advice by John L. French
Lucky Strike by Christopher M. Hiles
Youth by Judi Fleming
Meeting the Other by Nancy Jane Moore
The Third Heaven by Robert Greenberger
O autorze
Author and graphic artist Mike Mc Phail is member of the Military Writers Society of America; he is dedicated to helping his fellow service members (and those deserving civilians) in their efforts to become authors/editors/artist, as well as supporting related organization in their efforts to help those 'who have given their all for us.’ www.milscifi.com
His love of science, technology, and developing an understanding of the human condition play an important role in his writing, art, and game design, all of which are built upon his training as an aeronautical engineer and dreams of becoming a NASA mission specialist, balanced by his enlistment in the service. www.mikemcphail.com
In the late 80s he was involved in game design, namely the Martial Role-Playing Game (All’Arc MRPG), a manual-based, hardcore military science fiction adventure, set in his Alliance Archives universe; sections of which are being reissued under the title of From The Archives (FT’Arc) by AGM Publications, a division of e Spec Books, LLC.
He is best known as the editor and illustrator of the award-winning Defending The Future series of military science fiction anthologies, which just celebrated its tenth anniversary with its Best Of… collection, and the continuation of the series. www.defendingthefuture.com
In 2014 he added the title of publisher, as the co-founder of e Spec Books LLC, Electronic Speculative Fiction Publishing. www.especbooks.com