Tales from the Starship Atlantis: A Collection of Science Fiction Stories: Tales from the Starship, Book 2

by Chloe Cotter (Editor), Bobby Adair, Joe Hempel (narrator)

The Starship Atlantis takes you on an unforgettable journey through the extraordinary. From alien civilizations and rogue AI to desperate missions on the brink of collapse, these stories will transport you across the stars into the heart of the unknown.

This anthology features six never-before-published novellas and short stories, plus two exclusive bonus tales.

Explore epic adventures crafted by eight USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling authors, whose works have captivated listeners and sold over ten million copies worldwide.

Stories

“The Return” by Joshua Dalzelle
“Locust Twilight” by Steven Konkoly
“Hope Springs” by Lindsay Buroker
“Glass Lanterns” by Anthony J. Melchiorri
“Redwoods” by Nathan Hystad
“Starborn” by Jasper T. Scott
“Helpful Machines” by Bobby Adair
“Knight’s Gambit” by Samuel Peralta

Genres: Science Fiction

Audible Audio

First published February 10, 2025

Reviews

[Adam Bloch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strong batch of short stories. Some were great but I didn’t really care for a couple of them. Some weren’t very science fiction at all. A handful made me look up the authors to see what else they’ve written and try to find some of their work to read.

[The Void Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales from the Starship Atlantis: A Collection of Science Fiction Stories

Book 2 of the Tales from the Starship series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Amazing stories that I will remember for years to come.”

Overview

Eight master storytellers. Eight journeys into the unknown. Tales from the Starship Atlantis isn’t just an anthology—it’s a launchpad into the extraordinary. Whether it’s rogue AI, alien civilizations, or desperate missions teetering on the edge of disaster, this collection delivers high-stakes sci-fi with emotional resonance and cinematic scope.

Each story stands alone, yet they’re united by a shared sense of wonder and urgency. These aren’t just tales of space—they’re tales of survival, sacrifice, and the fragile threads that bind us to hope.

Highlights & Standouts

• “The Return” by Joshua Dalzelle
A gripping opener that blends military sci-fi with emotional depth. Dalzelle’s pacing is relentless, and the payoff is worth every pulse-pounding moment.
• “Locust Twilight” by Steven Konkoly
A haunting tale of collapse and resilience. Konkoly’s world feels eerily plausible, and his characters are etched with grit and vulnerability.
• “Hope Springs” by Lindsay Buroker
Buroker injects charm and heart into a desperate mission. Her knack for character chemistry shines, making this one of the more emotionally satisfying entries.
• “Glass Lanterns” by Anthony J. Melchiorri
Atmospheric and cerebral, this story explores the fragility of memory and identity in a future shaped by biotech. Quietly devastating.
• “Redwoods” by Nathan Hystad
A beautiful collision of nature and technology. Hystad’s prose evokes awe, and the story lingers like the scent of pine in deep space.
• “Starborn” by Jasper T. Scott
Classic space opera with a twist. Scott’s worldbuilding is top-tier, and the stakes escalate with elegant precision.
• “Helpful Machines” by Bobby Adair
Equal parts chilling and clever. Adair’s take on AI is unsettling in the best way, with a darkly humorous edge.
• “Knight’s Gambit” by Samuel Peralta
A cerebral closer that plays with time, strategy, and fate. Peralta’s writing is poetic and layered, leaving you pondering long after the final page.


Final Thoughts

This second volume in the Tales from the Starship series is a triumph of speculative storytelling. Each author brings their A-game, crafting tales that are as emotionally resonant as they are thrilling. Whether you’re a longtime sci-fi fan or just dipping your toes into the genre, this collection offers something unforgettable.

It’s not just a book—it’s a constellation of stories that will orbit your imagination for years to come.

Happy reading 🚀🪐🤖🛸📚

[Will Swardstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writer’s Note: Samuel Peralta, who wrote the forward and the concluding story for this short story collection, previously curated a number of sci-fi/fantasy anthologies, of which I have appeared in five of them with short stories of my own.

Short story anthologies and collections are fantastic books for those unsure of what exactly they are looking for or wanting to read. By reading a shorter length work, you can find new authors that you vibe with and may even discover something you’d never find otherwise.

Tales from the Starship Atlantis is a new collection from a collective of sci-fi and fantasy authors who call themselves Discover Sci-Fi. They had a previous collection of stories assembled in 2019 entitled Tales from the Starship DIscovery and plan to release another volume this fall, Tales from the Starship Endeavor.

With all these starships, all the stories are space-based sci-fi fare, right? You’d be wrong there. It definitely starts that way with The Return by Joshua Dalzelle, but there are a blend of Earth-based sci-fi stories as well from about half of the authors.

My favorite of the bunch was Starborn by Jasper T. Scott. While the story has a definite space-based tone to it, most of it takes place on a planet with mysterious origins. Before long, the reader is clued in to the fact that the story is flipped from how it’s normally presented in books and stories, and the planet isn’t all it’s first presented as. And then, for fun, there are some subtle (and not so subtle) allusions to some current geo-political situations and figures that add a slightly humorous (and maybe troubling) twist to everything.

And I know I’m biased, but I have always loved the stories that Samuel Peralta has put out. His output over the years hasn’t been huge like other authors (Peralta devotes more time to other pursuits like curating works and putting books and works of art in space - see https://www.lunarcodex.com/ for more info), but what he does write is always fascinating and thought-provoking. He has a point of view on his short stories that isn’t something you see from most authors.

If there is a downside to the collection, a few of the stories feel incomplete. Like they are just a sample of much larger works. Which, given the nature of the Discovery Sci-Fi group, is definitely a good chance with some of the authors and their other works they want readers to find and read.

I’d recommend checking out Tales from the Starship Atlantis. Eight fun sci-fi stories and each one has its own flavor and personality.

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Anthology for Our Times

I haven't read a better anthology of Science Fiction stories since the days of Asimov's magazine curated by Gardner Dozois. Each story was a world unto itself, challenging the reader to think differently about a situation.

I fell in love with the genre of Sci-fi when I was around 11 years old and have never changed my mind. Sci-fi was where there were no limitations, especially for a geeky, smart girl who was growing up in the 60s and 70s.

Today, our children are faced with a world of Climate Change and species extinction. Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic literature sells like candy. For it is still in the world of Science Fiction that young and old minds can think without limitations, or at least how to creatively deal with perceived limitations.

Each of the stories in Tales from the Starship Atlantis touches on such situations. I was pushed to think, made to laugh, horrified, struck with wonder, and made to remember the reason why I fell in love all of those years ago.

Thank you to all of the writers for contributing your best, and thank you to Samuel Peralta and the folks behind Discover Sci-fi for putting together such an outstanding anthology of Science Fiction writers. Maybe you'll consider doing this on a monthly basis instead of yearly?

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌏🛸😲To discover!

My favorite story:
HELPFUL MACHINES, Bobby Adair

5) Excellent!
Cash parked his car in the parking lot of his friend Otis's new restaurant.
He and Sierra were guests that evening...
------
I loved this incredible science fiction story in which the townspeople have problems with malfunctioning robots.
A must-read!

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Here is a collection of 8 very different science fiction stories written by 8 different authors.
It's a great way to discover new authors.

Rated 5/5:
- Helpful Machines, Bobby Adair
- Starborn, Jasper T. Scott

Rated 4/5:
- Hope Springs, Lindsay Buroker
- Redwoods, Nathan Hystad.

Rating: 3/5:
- The Return, Joshua Dazelle
- Glass Interns, Anthony J. Melchiorri
- Locus Twilight, Steven Konkoly
- Knight's Gambit, Samuel Peralta

A collection worth discovering!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

15. It’s not often that an anthology hasn’t had at least one or two less enjoyable stories in the collection. But these were so so good. It’s hard to pick a favourite but I settled on Ms Buroker’s entry. It did contain a massive spoiler for me but as I could already tell the direction that the series was heading I can still enjoy finding out how it all happens. Not one duffer in this anthology. Well done indeed.


The Return by Joshua Dalzelle
Locust Twilight by Steven Konkoly
Hope Springs by Lindsay Buroker
Glass Lanterns by Anthony J. Melchiorri
Redwoods by Nathan Hystad
Starborn by Jasper T. Scott
Helpful Machines by Bobby Adair
Knight's Gambit by Samuel Peralta

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how the book opened with a vivid description of the experience of seeing the Atlantis spaceship at the Kennedy Space Center. It brought back great memories of my own visit to the space center and how inspiring it was. This book is a collection of short stories by various talented science fiction writers. My personal favorites were The Return by Joshua Dalzelle and Glass Lanterns by Anthony J. Melchiorri. Both stories stood out for their compelling characters and kept me fully engaged from start to finish. I would recommend this book to any science fiction fan!

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compilation of short stories by well known authors known for their novels and series is highly entertaining and well put together. Ranging from pure sci fi to near term realistic futures. Writing short stories is very challenging. To write a well written story arc with defined characters, present a challenge and conclude it effectively is hard. These authors prove their writing mettle and excellence in being able to effectively write in this format.


Highly recommended. 

[KHB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a great collection of sci-fi short stories. I really enjoyed it.

It was a good opportunity for me to be exposed to a few new authors I might not be familiar with.

This is an excellent assembly of stories that hits it out of the park.

A must-have for sure.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of short stories that was awesome to read. Each one is a different story and situation from some great authors. Great to read during lunch and make me think at times. But enjoyed them all. Good stories and good characters with interesting setting and situations.