Five by Five

Five by Five #1

by Aaron Allston, Kevin J. Anderson, Loren L. Coleman

Five short novels by five masters of military science fiction.

It’s a war out there.

In these pulse-pounding tales, the best (or worst) soldiers in the galaxy are pitted against powerful aliens on distant battlefields. Never before published stories about monsters, deadly combat tech, treachery, and honor:

Big Plush by Aaron Allston—The Dollgangers, artificial people made in mankind's image, take up arms in a desperate bid to win their freedom.

Comrades in Arms by Kevin J. Anderson—A damaged cyborg soldier and an enemy alien fighter turn their backs on the war and try to escape. But the human and alien governments can't tolerate the two deserters working together, so they join forces to hunt them down.

Shores of the Infinite by Loren L. Coleman—Separated from command & control, Combat Assault Suit troopers force a beachhead to liberate a new planet from the cyborg threat.

The Black Ship by B.V. Larson—A human settlement on the deadliest planet ever colonized clings to life … but today new invaders are coming down from the stars.

Out There by Michael A. Stackpole—The Qian have discovered humanity and welcomed them into their star-spanning empire. The benefits they offer humanity are many, and they don't want much in return: just the best human pilots available to take apart a most diabolical enemy.

Genres: Science Fiction, Anthologies, Audiobook, Short Stories, Military Fiction

243 pages, ebook

First published October 11, 2012

About the author

Aaron Dale Allston was an American game designer and author of many science fiction books, notably Star Wars novels. His works as a game designer include game supplements for role-playing games, several of which served to establish the basis for products and subsequent development of TSR's Dungeons & Dragons game setting Mystara. His later works as a novelist include those of the X-Wing series: Wraith Squadron, Iron Fist, Solo Command, Starfighters of Adumar, and Mercy Kill. He wrote two entries in the New Jedi Order series: Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream and Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand. Allston wrote three of the nine Legacy of the Force novels: Betrayal, Exile, and Fury, and three of the nine Fate of the Jedi novels: Outcast, Backlash, and Conviction.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

These five novellas read like the "hook" for a book-length treatment.

Allston's "Big Plush" was a fun excursion into Barbie doll-sized robots as sentient creatures, even if they have to kill for it. Well developed.

Anderson's "Comrades in Arms" is a retread of Enemy Mine. Only okay.

Coleman's "Shores of the Infinite" was the hook phase of what might intriguing story.

Larson's "The Black Ship" shorted the military SF part of the equation in favor of first contact and world building. The most complete and satisfying story of the five.

Stackpole's "Out There" was the hook of a potentially fun space opera, but was marred by about one typo per page. Hard to read.

As advertising, I hope this approach works because I got enough of the stories to know which I might actually buy.

[Andrew Brooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

A maybe for those looking for books of the level of Saturday morning cartoons. Even the offerings of thebtwo pro authors of the five didn't draw to the finish.
DNF ALL FIVE

[Milan Pohl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hodně dobrá antologie military SF povídek od autorů současné americké SF. Vyloženě potěší promyšlená povídka o vzpouře "akčních figurek" od mého oblíbence Aarona Allstona, pod kůži se vryje také závěrečný příběh z prostředí stíhacích pilotů od Michaela A. Stackpola (nelze si nevšimnout podobností s jeho románovými X-wingy, včetně toho, že hlavní hrdina má volací znak Devět), který si vyloženě říká o pokračování, nejlépe v podobě celé románové série. Ostatní tři povídky se víceméně drží zažitých příběhových schématů, i ony jsou však díky zajímavému zpracování solidními zástupci svého žánru. Nelze než doporučit.

[Rachel Brune · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a long time away from the military sci-fi genre, I found this a welcoming return. The stories are a unique collection, and even the ones I wasn't sure about at first I found myself warming up to. I am looking forward to picking up the next volume.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, excellent stories. I'd have given the book 5 stars except one story bored me half to death, but the rest of the stories well deserve the highest rating. Excellent stuff, I definitely look forward to reading the second volume in this collection.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only problem with this is that I want more of all these stories. And I have new authors I never really considered to check out, which means more money. But it also means more awesome reads, so I'm not complaining too much.

[brian andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Stories by five writers.
Picked this up as I have other books by some of these authors, worthwhile read.
Excellent stories for 4 of these, remaining story I tried to read but eventually skipped on, didnt work for me.

[Gökçe · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 öyküden 3'ü iyi.

[John Hobkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. As usual with anthologies some stories are hits and some not. The first two I got very bored, but after that it picked up.