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Elite: Dangerous #7
Elite Dangerous: Tales from the Frontier
Written by Chris Booker, Darren Grey, Tim Gayda, Allen Farr, Lisa Wolf, Ulla Susimetsä, Marko Susimetsä, Rose Thurlbeck, Alexander Saunders, Gareth Bailey, Nicholas Hansen, Ramon Marett, Frederick Burbidge, Matthew Benson and Christopher Jarvis under official license from the creators of, and based in the vast universe of, the seminal space trading computer game Elite: Dangerous.
Orbital scrap yard worker Oliver dreams of exploring the galaxy,
but when the return of a long lost friend sparks a terrible disaster, can Oliver deal with some uncomfortable truths about his own life? – A Game of Death
Chenoa O’Laundy is on a mission to find her missing father and bring him home safely, but can either of them escape the Calite Corporation, determined to reclaim their property at any cost? – A Question of Intelligence
Myles Jarek is a company man on a far flung exploratory mission with a hired crew. Will he be able to return to his previous life or will the Children of Zeus stay with him forever? – Children of Zeus
These are three of 15 scintillating tales in this eclectic collection where characters from the Elite universe seek honour, truth, retribution and in one case a place to sell 300 year old Lavian brandy.
Orbital scrap yard worker Oliver dreams of exploring the galaxy,
but when the return of a long lost friend sparks a terrible disaster, can Oliver deal with some uncomfortable truths about his own life? – A Game of Death
Chenoa O’Laundy is on a mission to find her missing father and bring him home safely, but can either of them escape the Calite Corporation, determined to reclaim their property at any cost? – A Question of Intelligence
Myles Jarek is a company man on a far flung exploratory mission with a hired crew. Will he be able to return to his previous life or will the Children of Zeus stay with him forever? – Children of Zeus
These are three of 15 scintillating tales in this eclectic collection where characters from the Elite universe seek honour, truth, retribution and in one case a place to sell 300 year old Lavian brandy.
- GenresScience Fiction
Paperback
First published June 12, 2014
21 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 9, 2014
This is a fantastic collection of stories. As with any anthology, some stories appear better than others but none of the stories ought not be there.
They all give their own perspective to the Elite universe and since it is based on the game Elite Dangerous, if you are playing the game and you are only wanting to buy one book, this is the book to get as it has lots of snippets of information that is invaluable. Some show the loneliness of space travel while others show its busy spaceports but they all show an aspect of the human condition from a pirate wanting to steal to a trader trying to make ends meet to miners etc
If you don't play elite but are a sci-fi fan, it is still a good and interesting read.
They all give their own perspective to the Elite universe and since it is based on the game Elite Dangerous, if you are playing the game and you are only wanting to buy one book, this is the book to get as it has lots of snippets of information that is invaluable. Some show the loneliness of space travel while others show its busy spaceports but they all show an aspect of the human condition from a pirate wanting to steal to a trader trying to make ends meet to miners etc
If you don't play elite but are a sci-fi fan, it is still a good and interesting read.
August 1, 2014
This is a collection as wide and varied as the elite universe.
It took me ages to get through all of the stories, mainly because they cry out to be novels in their own right.
Why is it that the fiction that has been written by long term fans has surpassed my expectations of what is possible, Even with 15 different authors all of the stories in the anthology were great.
Look forward to seeing more from all of the authors in the future.
It took me ages to get through all of the stories, mainly because they cry out to be novels in their own right.
Why is it that the fiction that has been written by long term fans has surpassed my expectations of what is possible, Even with 15 different authors all of the stories in the anthology were great.
Look forward to seeing more from all of the authors in the future.
April 29, 2018
Whenever I begin a journey into an unfamiliar game universe, the first thing I like to do is see if there are any good novels out there to help explain the game's setting and lore. When Frontier's (now excellent!) Elite: Dangerous was released back in late 2014, I set about trying to find a book for just that purpose. I was especially happy when I discovered this anthology as I have found short story collections usually cover a lot more ground than a traditional novel that is limited to a single cast of characters.
First, let me offer a big pat on the back to all the authors who contributed their short stories to this anthology. As editor Chris Booker makes clear in the preface, this was very much a fan effort to celebrate the return of a beloved gaming franchise from the 1980s. Good job, fellas!
Having said that, I have to review this anthology not on intent but on what was actually delivered. Sadly, I found this collection of short stories to be no better than the standard fan fiction you can find on Frontier's official ED forums, but those are free. At best, the stories contained within are mediocre; at worse, they are almost painfully bad. On more than one occasion, I had every intention of removing the anthology from my tablet and never looking at it again. The only reason I persisted is because I hate to leave a book unfinished, no matter how disappointing it is. So, I persisted, but it was a grinding effort the entire way. The only story that I found worthwhile was Ramon Marett's "The Easy Way Out," a story that had a clever "Twilight Zone" type of ironic twist at the end. The others are entirely forgettable even if some had worthwhile elements (e.g., "A Question of Intelligence" by Lisa Wolf had some great imagery of what it would be like to live on an abandoned space station but, sadly, the end of this story left a lot to be desired).
I think my biggest complaint with the stories is that with the exception of the occasional reference to a particular class of spacecraft unique to the galaxy of Elite: Dangerous, most of the stories in this anthology were blandly generic and could have been set in any sci-fi universe. That was what added insult to injury. I could have suffered through some mediocre stories if they were bringing the game's setting to life, but they largely didn't. That made the anthology all the more uninteresting.
For these reasons I cannot recommend this anthology. Again, I admire the enthusiasm behind the effort, but enthusiasm does not make up for a lack of quality writing.
First, let me offer a big pat on the back to all the authors who contributed their short stories to this anthology. As editor Chris Booker makes clear in the preface, this was very much a fan effort to celebrate the return of a beloved gaming franchise from the 1980s. Good job, fellas!
Having said that, I have to review this anthology not on intent but on what was actually delivered. Sadly, I found this collection of short stories to be no better than the standard fan fiction you can find on Frontier's official ED forums, but those are free. At best, the stories contained within are mediocre; at worse, they are almost painfully bad. On more than one occasion, I had every intention of removing the anthology from my tablet and never looking at it again. The only reason I persisted is because I hate to leave a book unfinished, no matter how disappointing it is. So, I persisted, but it was a grinding effort the entire way. The only story that I found worthwhile was Ramon Marett's "The Easy Way Out," a story that had a clever "Twilight Zone" type of ironic twist at the end. The others are entirely forgettable even if some had worthwhile elements (e.g., "A Question of Intelligence" by Lisa Wolf had some great imagery of what it would be like to live on an abandoned space station but, sadly, the end of this story left a lot to be desired).
I think my biggest complaint with the stories is that with the exception of the occasional reference to a particular class of spacecraft unique to the galaxy of Elite: Dangerous, most of the stories in this anthology were blandly generic and could have been set in any sci-fi universe. That was what added insult to injury. I could have suffered through some mediocre stories if they were bringing the game's setting to life, but they largely didn't. That made the anthology all the more uninteresting.
For these reasons I cannot recommend this anthology. Again, I admire the enthusiasm behind the effort, but enthusiasm does not make up for a lack of quality writing.
April 8, 2018
Enjoyable little read for fans of the game.
May 3, 2022
I will say that I'd put this at probably 4.5 stars, with an extra star because I am a fan of the game and the universe. Someone who didn't play the game (any version going back to 1984) might rate it at 3-4 stars. Prior to reading The Expanse books, this definitely scratched that itch for space life.
I believe the strength of this book, and by inverse the weaknesses of other books in the Elite universe, is the setup as short stories, which the Elite universe is far more appropriate for. The other two books I've read from this universe, Drew Wagar's Reclamation and John Harper's And Here The Wheel, really faltered by focusing so much on grand-scale, universe ending conspiracies. The stories in this collection focused on little wins and losses, the lives of "ordinary" commanders making their way in the universe.
And that's why a lot of people (myself included) play the Elite games, because there is a sense of making your own story. No grand conspiracies or enormous wars - just little wins and losses on the edge of space. I think this book definitely will appeal to that kind of player, but if you don't play the games, I think these are moderately good sci-fi stories - not the best, but definitely enjoyable.
I believe the strength of this book, and by inverse the weaknesses of other books in the Elite universe, is the setup as short stories, which the Elite universe is far more appropriate for. The other two books I've read from this universe, Drew Wagar's Reclamation and John Harper's And Here The Wheel, really faltered by focusing so much on grand-scale, universe ending conspiracies. The stories in this collection focused on little wins and losses, the lives of "ordinary" commanders making their way in the universe.
And that's why a lot of people (myself included) play the Elite games, because there is a sense of making your own story. No grand conspiracies or enormous wars - just little wins and losses on the edge of space. I think this book definitely will appeal to that kind of player, but if you don't play the games, I think these are moderately good sci-fi stories - not the best, but definitely enjoyable.
October 25, 2019
Excellent collection of short stories from the elite dangerous universe. Recommended read
August 28, 2014
This is the best of the best – from serious nail-biting drama to laugh-out-loud funny
Where to start reviewing this one? At the beginning I guess. The book opens with Crossing the Line by Chris Booker, a very human story of small time traders wanting to break into the big time. A real page turner to draw you into the anthology.
Next in line comes The Comet’s Trail by Darren Grey, an equally good read about a space pilot bounty hunter with cerebral palsy, a rare condition in this future world. Seeing how a lifetime of having to fight for respect pushes her to seek the ultimate prize without hesitation really racks up the tension.
This is followed by A Question of Intelligence by Lisa Wolf. This is a very human story set in an extraordinary world where a daughter’s search for her father becomes a clash of cultures with political wrangling in danger of obscuring the real challenges: ones that mirror things we face right now in the real world.
We bounce out of this story with its cast of thousands, into The Easy Way Out by Ramon Marett, where we travel with a lone pilot. Ship critically damaged and failing as time passes. He needs a miracle. A real roller-coaster of a story.
Then on to The Maledict by Tim Gayda, an imaginative tale of panic around a fast-spreading plague, the rise of a sinister cult and one man’s single-minded determination to get to the truth, except that when he finds it, it doesn’t provide the simple solution he’d assumed.
This is followed by The Children of Zeus by Christopher Jarvis, an enthralling tale of two very different protagonists whose opposing philosophies are set to clash when they’re out at the edges of known space. Tension builds as it becomes clear what’s at stake.
Then a complete change in tempo and setting to Pinacotheca by Alexander G Saunders where a vast gallery of the universe’s most treasured art mysteriously vanishes. The story weaves beautifully evocative descriptions of this vast ship floating lost in space with a nail-biting narrative of the two traders who stumble upon it years later and unravel an incredible story.
Next we’re plunged back into the maelstrom of human emotion in Blood is Thicker by Ulla Susimetsä where one woman’s thirst for vengeance blinds her to the impossibility of achieving her goal and the reader can only turn the pages with an ever-increasing sense of impending disaster.
This is beautifully mirrored by the next story, Beyond Civilisation by Marko Susimetsä which gives us another evocation of human emotion in a tale of power, disillusion, idealism and heroism around a half-forgotten settlement on the frontiers of known space.
After the roller-coaster of the previous duo, Cat’s Cradle by Rose Thurlbeck, is a perfect change of tempo; a gem of a story about a woman and her cat. But this is no ordinary woman. She pilots a starship and the cat goes with her.
The animal theme runs on into Nature’s Way by Gaz Bailey where we learn with resignation but without surprise that the trade in smuggled exotic wildlife still flourishes in the year 3300. The risks, however, have changed beyond recognition.
By this stage you will have forgotten that this whole anthology is in some senses a ‘book of the game’, because the prose will simply draw you into the vastness of the Elite universe, and captivate you with the stories of the people who live in it. But the next story swings close to that overall rationale. A Game of Death, by Allen L Farr, very cleverly interweaves the whole idea of computer gaming with life aboard an orbital scrap yard where family secrets are unexpectedly laid bare in a satisfyingly rounded tale.
Now we skip again from large cast to solo protagonist in Mission (almost) Completed by Matthew D Benson. A commander returns from a successful mission but his life support systems are failing. As things become critical his hallucinations and flashbacks weave the story to its conclusion.
Then back at the edges of the known universe in Research Purposes by Fred Burbidge, salvage hunters discover a lost research facility, but they’re not the only ones with an eye on the hidden prize, which leads to an edge-of-seat adventure where death stalks them down the deserted corridors of the abandoned base.
The anthology ends (alas, alas, but it has to end) with the perfect story to round off such a choice collection. An Ode to Betty Cole by Nicholas Hansen is a wonderfully quirky and evocative mystery. Your senses will tingle with the crew of the ship as they receive a video transmission from the past.
The stories in this collection cover the gamut of human emotion; they range from serious nail-biting drama to laugh-out-loud funny. And as though to show this off as the best of the very best, every story is superbly illustrated by Arto Heikkinen.
Where to start reviewing this one? At the beginning I guess. The book opens with Crossing the Line by Chris Booker, a very human story of small time traders wanting to break into the big time. A real page turner to draw you into the anthology.
Next in line comes The Comet’s Trail by Darren Grey, an equally good read about a space pilot bounty hunter with cerebral palsy, a rare condition in this future world. Seeing how a lifetime of having to fight for respect pushes her to seek the ultimate prize without hesitation really racks up the tension.
This is followed by A Question of Intelligence by Lisa Wolf. This is a very human story set in an extraordinary world where a daughter’s search for her father becomes a clash of cultures with political wrangling in danger of obscuring the real challenges: ones that mirror things we face right now in the real world.
We bounce out of this story with its cast of thousands, into The Easy Way Out by Ramon Marett, where we travel with a lone pilot. Ship critically damaged and failing as time passes. He needs a miracle. A real roller-coaster of a story.
Then on to The Maledict by Tim Gayda, an imaginative tale of panic around a fast-spreading plague, the rise of a sinister cult and one man’s single-minded determination to get to the truth, except that when he finds it, it doesn’t provide the simple solution he’d assumed.
This is followed by The Children of Zeus by Christopher Jarvis, an enthralling tale of two very different protagonists whose opposing philosophies are set to clash when they’re out at the edges of known space. Tension builds as it becomes clear what’s at stake.
Then a complete change in tempo and setting to Pinacotheca by Alexander G Saunders where a vast gallery of the universe’s most treasured art mysteriously vanishes. The story weaves beautifully evocative descriptions of this vast ship floating lost in space with a nail-biting narrative of the two traders who stumble upon it years later and unravel an incredible story.
Next we’re plunged back into the maelstrom of human emotion in Blood is Thicker by Ulla Susimetsä where one woman’s thirst for vengeance blinds her to the impossibility of achieving her goal and the reader can only turn the pages with an ever-increasing sense of impending disaster.
This is beautifully mirrored by the next story, Beyond Civilisation by Marko Susimetsä which gives us another evocation of human emotion in a tale of power, disillusion, idealism and heroism around a half-forgotten settlement on the frontiers of known space.
After the roller-coaster of the previous duo, Cat’s Cradle by Rose Thurlbeck, is a perfect change of tempo; a gem of a story about a woman and her cat. But this is no ordinary woman. She pilots a starship and the cat goes with her.
The animal theme runs on into Nature’s Way by Gaz Bailey where we learn with resignation but without surprise that the trade in smuggled exotic wildlife still flourishes in the year 3300. The risks, however, have changed beyond recognition.
By this stage you will have forgotten that this whole anthology is in some senses a ‘book of the game’, because the prose will simply draw you into the vastness of the Elite universe, and captivate you with the stories of the people who live in it. But the next story swings close to that overall rationale. A Game of Death, by Allen L Farr, very cleverly interweaves the whole idea of computer gaming with life aboard an orbital scrap yard where family secrets are unexpectedly laid bare in a satisfyingly rounded tale.
Now we skip again from large cast to solo protagonist in Mission (almost) Completed by Matthew D Benson. A commander returns from a successful mission but his life support systems are failing. As things become critical his hallucinations and flashbacks weave the story to its conclusion.
Then back at the edges of the known universe in Research Purposes by Fred Burbidge, salvage hunters discover a lost research facility, but they’re not the only ones with an eye on the hidden prize, which leads to an edge-of-seat adventure where death stalks them down the deserted corridors of the abandoned base.
The anthology ends (alas, alas, but it has to end) with the perfect story to round off such a choice collection. An Ode to Betty Cole by Nicholas Hansen is a wonderfully quirky and evocative mystery. Your senses will tingle with the crew of the ship as they receive a video transmission from the past.
The stories in this collection cover the gamut of human emotion; they range from serious nail-biting drama to laugh-out-loud funny. And as though to show this off as the best of the very best, every story is superbly illustrated by Arto Heikkinen.
February 27, 2017
fantastic book! it really brought the elite dangerous universe to life for me when i first started playing the game before the horizons update.
March 15, 2015
A very good set of stories from within the Elite Dangerous universe. Quality of individual stories varies from good to excellent. The audio book version is a superb enhancement with great voice
talent and solid production enhancements of sound effects and music.
talent and solid production enhancements of sound effects and music.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews