The Days Between

by Allen M. Steele

Communications officer Leslie Gillis is accidentally resuscitated from biostastis 230 years before his ship is scheduled to arrive at 47 Ursae Majoris. While the other 104 crewmembers remain safely stored in their bio cells, Gillis learns from the ship's AI system that his cell has been permanently deactivated, and his timeless ride through space is suddenly transformed into an endless journey of solitude and self-discovery.
Nebula Award Nominee, Hugo Award Nominee

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2002

About the author

Before becoming a science fiction writer, Allen Steele was a journalist for newspapers and magazines in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Missouri, and his home state of Tennessee. But science fiction was his first love, so he eventually ditched journalism and began producing that which had made him decide to become a writer in the first place.

Since then, Steele has published eighteen novels and nearly one hundred short stories. His work has received numerous accolades, including three Hugo Awards, and has been translated worldwide, mainly into languages he can’t read. He serves on the board of advisors for the Space Frontier Foundation and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He also belongs to Sigma, a group of science fiction writers who frequently serve as unpaid consultants on matters regarding technology and security.

Allen Steele is a lifelong space buff, and this interest has not only influenced his writing, it has taken him to some interesting places. He has witnessed numerous space shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center and has flown NASA’s shuttle cockpit simulator at the Johnson Space Center. In 2001, he testified before the US House of Representatives in hearings regarding the future of space exploration. He would like very much to go into orbit, and hopes that one day he’ll be able to afford to do so.

Steele lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Linda, and a continual procession of adopted dogs. He collects vintage science fiction books and magazines, spacecraft model kits, and dreams.

Reviews

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story from the Coyote Universe about how to live a life all alone. Leslie Gillis wakes up 3 months after leaving Earth on a spaceship, instead of 230 years. What does he do? This is just part of the Coyote books, which contains multiple references to it. The audible version contains strange 15 second blank spots which detracted from a fun, short read.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Fictionwise edition of this story, not the audio version.

Another of the Coyote side stories in a single short story. A simple story, but it is easy to imagine how if someone was put in that position they would hope to come out as well as the protagonist.

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story about how to live a life all alone: Leslie Gillis wakes up 3 months after leaving Earth on a spaceship, instead of 230 years. And he cannot get back into hibernation, and he cannot wake anyone up.

[Lynn]

Fictionwise multiformat ebook

[Lynn Calvin]

Fictionwise multiformat ebook