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The 1000 Revolution #0.5 - Falling
The Galaxy Chronicles
Space. Some call it the ultimate frontier. Humans are the verge of breaking its bonds with Earth and reaching other planets, other worlds, other galaxies. And when we do, will we go forth in peace? Or take with us our conflicts, our battles, our wars? In this latest title in the acclaimed 'Future Chronicles' series of speculative fiction anthologies, twelve authors take us on that incredible journey with adventurers, colonists, and space marines as they push the boundaries against the unknown, against alien empires, and themselves. "The Galaxy Chronicles" features stories by USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors Nick Webb (Constitution), Raymond L. Weil (The Lost Fleet), Jasper T. Scott (Dark Space), plus nine more of today's top authors in speculative and science fiction.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2015
63 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Seymour
8 books23 followersJeff Seymour writes hopeful, heartfelt fantasy that blends modern characters with timeless plots and offers something new and fantastic on every page. His debut middle-grade novel, Nadya Skylung and the Cloudship Rescue, was a finalist for the 2019 Colorado Book Award in Juvenile Literature, and his epic fantasy Soulwoven got over a million reads while being featured on Wattpad. Over eight years as an editor, Jeff has worked on over 100 novels, including books for New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In his free time, he plays more video games than he should, pretends he knows anything about raising children, and gathers ideas for stories everywhere he goes.
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November 29, 2015Words cannot describe how awesome this is going to be.
Adventure, betrayal, triumph! Space battles, military badasses, spaceships and aliens, and so much more — all from some of todays most daring and adventurous science fiction authors.
Grab your lightsabers, shields to maximum, buckle up, and enjoy the ride!
Adventure, betrayal, triumph! Space battles, military badasses, spaceships and aliens, and so much more — all from some of todays most daring and adventurous science fiction authors.
Grab your lightsabers, shields to maximum, buckle up, and enjoy the ride!
December 7, 2015
I was given a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My favorite – and probably the most obvious – thing about anthologies like this is that they allow you to sample a variety of authors (usually with very distinct writing/storytelling styles) in a fairly short amount of time. If you know me, you know how much I like to use analogies, and I think an anthology like this can be compared to a buffet. You have the opportunity to try a variety of new foods. You’re probably not going to like every single dish; you might not even finish a couple of them. Then there are the ones you liked – you’re glad you tried them, and you’re content with that for now. But then there are your favorites. Whether you’ve had them before or are trying them for the first time, they’re the ones you really loved. What do you do when you love a particular food? You go back for seconds.
The Galaxy Chronicles includes a great variety of authors, some of which I’ve read, some of which I’d heard of but hadn’t read, and some of which I’d never heard of. Each of those authors has a unique style and has created a unique world, whether it be totally fictional or a little bit speculative. Like a buffet, there were certain stories I enjoyed more than others, some of which have prompted me to go check out other works by their respective authors. I had the pleasure of beta reading Apogee by GS Jennsen earlier in the summer, and it remained one of my favorite entries. Other favorites included Falling by Pippa DaCosta, Symbiont Seeking Symbiont by Jen Foehner Wells, and The Immortals: Kronis Valley by David Adams.
I’m glad I had the opportunity to check this collection out, and I’m a firm believer that these Future Chronicles installments are a great way for readers to get their sci fi fix and simultaneously discover their new favorite authors.
My favorite – and probably the most obvious – thing about anthologies like this is that they allow you to sample a variety of authors (usually with very distinct writing/storytelling styles) in a fairly short amount of time. If you know me, you know how much I like to use analogies, and I think an anthology like this can be compared to a buffet. You have the opportunity to try a variety of new foods. You’re probably not going to like every single dish; you might not even finish a couple of them. Then there are the ones you liked – you’re glad you tried them, and you’re content with that for now. But then there are your favorites. Whether you’ve had them before or are trying them for the first time, they’re the ones you really loved. What do you do when you love a particular food? You go back for seconds.
The Galaxy Chronicles includes a great variety of authors, some of which I’ve read, some of which I’d heard of but hadn’t read, and some of which I’d never heard of. Each of those authors has a unique style and has created a unique world, whether it be totally fictional or a little bit speculative. Like a buffet, there were certain stories I enjoyed more than others, some of which have prompted me to go check out other works by their respective authors. I had the pleasure of beta reading Apogee by GS Jennsen earlier in the summer, and it remained one of my favorite entries. Other favorites included Falling by Pippa DaCosta, Symbiont Seeking Symbiont by Jen Foehner Wells, and The Immortals: Kronis Valley by David Adams.
I’m glad I had the opportunity to check this collection out, and I’m a firm believer that these Future Chronicles installments are a great way for readers to get their sci fi fix and simultaneously discover their new favorite authors.
December 4, 2015
★★★★★ Bon Appétit ★★★★★
While I have found I am thoroughly enjoying Sci-fi novels and short stories I have not, as a general rule, purposefully delved "Into Space" in my choices. In my youth I was of the belief that ALL Sci-fi novels were to do with Space and until I was a teen I had left those books to my brother - who was a great fan of them. After seeing Star Wars at the theater I would watch such 'far-out-things' at the movies or on TV, but did not pick up the books until recently.
The Galaxy Chronicles has succeeded in opening my taste buds and mind to new experiences. I found myself feeling at times as if I were in third grade because I don't know ANYTHING about Space Sci-fi terminology - but I soon discovered that I didn't need to to be able to enjoy each of the stories within this great collection. Each story had me wishing for more hours in the day or to be cloned, several times, so one of the 'me' could read while the others did my work. In the future I will now have to look for SPACE books to read and this book has many authors whose art I wish to taste again and again; when ships would accelerate in the stories I felt as I did during my first air-plane ride... I wanted MORE!
That's 'the thing' for me when reading an anthology that is so exciting... I am able to taste pieces of many author's minds and see the world from an eclectic view. While all the stories within this collection have a common theme each one was quite different; each author having his or her own style and all the stories were "Different". There wasn't a bad story among them.
I am now a fan of Space stories.
I was offered an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. I was honored, I would have bought it anyway. I've read almost all the Chronicles that Samuel Peralta has listed on his author's page. I'm very pleased to have discovered his ability to see great authors and put their short stories into one book (Several Books, actually) as well as to get a taste of his writing too. I am also eagerly looking forward to the next one that I pre-ordered, The Cyborg Chronicles (The Future Chronicles) - and I suggest others do likewise.
While I have found I am thoroughly enjoying Sci-fi novels and short stories I have not, as a general rule, purposefully delved "Into Space" in my choices. In my youth I was of the belief that ALL Sci-fi novels were to do with Space and until I was a teen I had left those books to my brother - who was a great fan of them. After seeing Star Wars at the theater I would watch such 'far-out-things' at the movies or on TV, but did not pick up the books until recently.
The Galaxy Chronicles has succeeded in opening my taste buds and mind to new experiences. I found myself feeling at times as if I were in third grade because I don't know ANYTHING about Space Sci-fi terminology - but I soon discovered that I didn't need to to be able to enjoy each of the stories within this great collection. Each story had me wishing for more hours in the day or to be cloned, several times, so one of the 'me' could read while the others did my work. In the future I will now have to look for SPACE books to read and this book has many authors whose art I wish to taste again and again; when ships would accelerate in the stories I felt as I did during my first air-plane ride... I wanted MORE!
That's 'the thing' for me when reading an anthology that is so exciting... I am able to taste pieces of many author's minds and see the world from an eclectic view. While all the stories within this collection have a common theme each one was quite different; each author having his or her own style and all the stories were "Different". There wasn't a bad story among them.
I am now a fan of Space stories.
I was offered an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. I was honored, I would have bought it anyway. I've read almost all the Chronicles that Samuel Peralta has listed on his author's page. I'm very pleased to have discovered his ability to see great authors and put their short stories into one book (Several Books, actually) as well as to get a taste of his writing too. I am also eagerly looking forward to the next one that I pre-ordered, The Cyborg Chronicles (The Future Chronicles) - and I suggest others do likewise.
February 6, 2017
I have just about all of The Future Chronicles and have very much enjoyed them. This installment is no exception. I've three favorites from this one and by favorites, I mean, I want to read longer works from these authors, hopefully within the worlds presented here. Excelsior by Jasper Scott pulled me in and I'm still wondering what's going on on both sides of that wormhole. Apogee by G.S. Jennsen was another compelling read. And Keep Off the Grass has me wondering what's next for Giraffe, a guy who goes seeking water on a comet, runs into some Heaven's Gate type cult & winds up with a solution to his water problem and a new job he hasn't asked for by a mysterious ship's captain. As always, these collections are great for introduction to authors that aren't new, just new to me. I've still one or two books more waiting on my Kindle & I'm still all in on this series. Definitely recommended for fans of science fiction & open to finding new worlds in small bites.
February 27, 2016
This is an incredible collection of stories. It actually took me nearly 5 months to read the entire book. Why? Not because I'm slow, or because of the young children that I elude to in some of my reviews, or any reason relating to the stories as such. It's because after reading several of these stories, I found myself going online, looking up the Authors, and indulging myself in their other works. Needless to say, I have a LOT to read in the coming year! Thankfully due to the generosity of most of the Indie Authors, their price points are a lot better than main stream Authors, so now I have a great collection of material to read, and I'm not entirely broke…
For anyone who loves Sci-Fi, this is an awesome way to get an introduction to some brilliant and amazing Indie Authors that are out there, and who just shouldn’t be missed. I have done some individual reviews of these exceptional books for those that are interested:
A Mercenary in Escrow – Erik Wecks – 4/5 – This book starts as a cross between Sci-Fi and an environmental lesson, but all the while, it had some really funny moments in it. A Merc crew is meant to do a job, but stops as the task will endanger sentient life. The Merc Capt ends up in deep trouble as a result for breaking their contract. And this is where the fun begins.
The Capt is trapped with no hope of escape, but his crew, instead of coming to get him, want something a bit different. No Spoilers…
This story is really funny, it has great characters, and a great universe. This is a true ‘Scoundrel’ story, one that Solo or Calrissian would be proud of. This was an awesome way to start off Galaxy Chronicles and sets a high standard for the rest – a funny, clever and engaging story with excellent characters. Definitely worth the read, especially if you are having a bad day…
Excelsior – Jasper T. Scott – 5/5 – Jasper T. Scott has developed the most amazing universe for his story, with an incredible background story, one that had me really hooked from the start. This was a fascinating story and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The world has two distinct cultures, the Geners, those that are basically immortal through modifications and now breeding, and the natural-born, or de-gener-ates, those who die of natural causes, still have imperfect genes etc. But there is a war on, and the Geners don’t want to be ‘killed’ or die in the war, so although they happy to lead, they use the degenerates to fight for them. If you join up for a 5yr stint, (and survive) they will even pay for you to become a Gener, a costly procedure to transform you into one of the perfect Geners who live forever. If you do a double stint, you can pay for someone else. And thus we have our hero, trying to save himself and his beloved. Of course things are going to go wrong, and he is to be sent off to investigate an anomaly and possibly not return. But other things happen as well – no spoilers you have to read it – it’s well worth the read, Scott’s universe is beautiful, his characters are wonderfully written, with very believable dialogue. His universe is so incredible it is just so much fun to read and get lost in. It is the lead to an upcoming book – so make sure you are ready for it and read this!!
Falling – Pippa DaCosta – 5/5 – This is a great story, and I think possibly my favourite of the collection. I finished this, and went and bought the other 3 she has, and pre-ordered the 4th. This is kind of an intro to Captain Caleb, a down on his luck ex-Military Captain, who seems to be able to find trouble where ever it is, and have it turn up on him happily. In this particular short story, that trouble is a female bounty called Francisca, and they are locked together in a silo, left to die. I finished this and had the 1st one ‘The Girl from Above’ part 1, downloaded and finished in a sleepless night as it is so much fun. This story is not for the faint hearted or the easily offended, there is drug use and language and adult content, but it’s all within the context of the story, and not stupidly gratuitous, making it acceptable for the story.
Pippa does a brilliant job of writing her characters, it's like she knows how they are feeling at the time, and just puts the words to the page. Add to that the outstanding descriptions of the stations and worlds that they are on, as well as ‘The Black’ of space, and you have a truly terrific story that you won’t want to put down. Make sure you read this one!
Apogee – G.S. Jennsen – 4/5 – The great thing about so many of the Sci-Fi stories we have is the ability to combine brilliant science fiction with a really engaging political thriller. And that’s what this story is all about. This is a prequel of sorts to the series Aurora Rising. However, in this short story, it is a clever tale of intrigue and manoeuvring between all the chess pieces on a board as a smaller power, the Senecan Federation try and secede from the Earth Alliance. It mainly focusses on a couple of key characters and their roles some key parts of how this will play out, but Jennsen also discusses some of the deeper Political background as well.
This an absorbing piece of work, with a lot of depth to it, allowing you to get really immersed into the universe they have created. The background work of the Earth Alliance and the Political situation is spectacular, not only very clever, but also interesting, so you don’t get bored or lost in the telling.
I have purchased the books for reading.
Keep Off the Grass – Felix R. Savage – 4.5/5 – This story starts off with an argument over mining rights of a comet (because that’s apparently normal in the future!) And that’s where this story gets really interesting.
This story delves into all sorts of different rabbit holes, with a mining ship built to look like the inside of an ancient Japanese warship, complete with timber finishing, pirates and religious sects fighting over the rights to mine a comet for its precious contents, and in the background, a dying group of people, desperate for salvation. This story has everything, including some outstanding Characters. This is another fantastic creative adventure in Galaxy Chronicles, and one that you will just keep reading wondering what is going to come next. Felix R. Savage is a very clever Author, and one that stopped me continuing with the next phase of the Chronicles for about a week as I delved into his other works…
Ser Pan Comido – Matthew Alan Thyer – 4.5/5 – This tale almost begins like something from Aladdin, with the street rats circling trying to get around in a city full of wonders. However, you quickly get a feel for this story, and understand not only the intricate city the Author has built, but the culture surrounding it. Then there is the wreck of this ship laying amongst it. The story follows 3 young teens that manage to gain access to the derelict, and in the process of doing so, get a little more than they bargained for.
I don’t want to say too much, as it will give away too much of the story and ruin it, needless to say, this is a fantastic adventure, brilliant in its story telling, with really clever, well written characters. There are some fascinating parts to this story, especially once they are inside the ship, that kept me enthralled, and in a single session (difficult with young kids!!) His characters are really well written and believable, making this even more enjoyable.
Again, I found myself finishing this tale, and seeking the authors other works as I really enjoyed this story.
The Kasant Objective – Chris Reher – 4.5/5 – This was a really great story, made all the better by an outstanding ending (that I won’t give away!) The story follows the crew of a ship, tasked with taking a member of another race to a planet for an experiment. Things get interesting from here and there are some really interesting twists.
The Author has created an impressive universe, with great depth, and engaging characters. There are numerous worlds a lot of back story to both the universe and the characters meaning great opportunity of expanding.
This is just really great Sci-fi – what it's all about, crew on a ship, in the dark of space, an Alien ambassador on board with a secret mission – this is the great fun of reading. This was another example of where I branched off into other books by the Author as well… But make sure to enjoy this one first!
Symbiont Seeking Symbiont – Jennifer Foehner Wells – 4/5 – This story was awesome. It is so creepy that after you finish it, you will want to go and have a shower, but I think that was the entire point, and shows just how clever and crafty the Author is!
It is about a crew, stuck on a planet, and a life form that is trying to get off the planet, by speaking to a crew member who went for a walk from the ship, but just a little too far. This is a fairly typical story of don’t stray from your ship on an Alien planet – bad things happen – I mean geez, don’t these people watch movies? But luckily for us – they don’t, because this story is just great, a lot of fun, with great dialogue, fantastic Characters, and an impressive, clever and inventive twist on a well-used theme.
The Immortals: Kronis Valley – David Adams – 5/5 – This was a full on story of War. It covered some of the Sci-Fi aspects, the light hearted banter, the usual action stages, but it also has some full on emotional death and destruction. The Author does an exceptional job of relaying all the emotions and concepts of this, making you feel a part of it, and understanding those that are left behind, having to deal with the pain of it, the survivors guilt, the rehabilitation, the pain of your own injuries, and the loss.
Having experienced similar things in my life, I found this story very profound, and also very well written.
The Authors characters are exceptional. His story line is, I must admit, not entirely original, however, his interpretation of it, is very well done, gripping at times in its execution.
This is a brilliant story, and although I would suggest it might not be for everyone, I would highly recommend it.
Earth Fall – Raymond L. Well – 4.5/5 – This is another example of ‘Found an Author!’ So I have been looking at his books for a while, but with so MUCH to read recently, just haven’t taken the plunge, but after reading this, I have leapt off the diving board. This was a great short, and intro to (HOPEFULLY!!) a really great series that Raymond suggests is coming in 2016.
It follows a group of Soldiers who somehow survive catastrophic events on the face of the Earth as it is being attacked by Aliens – the Trellixians – and what happens next.
This is one of those awesome Human vs Alien stories that people love, with an awesome Alien race, so great Human Characters, and utterly no hope – making you want to read on to find out what is going to happen? Surely the Aliens can’t win? Can they??
This is Sci-Fi at its best, and as I said, one of the reasons that it took me so long to get through this book, going off reading other books from the Authors!
The Stars That Bind – Nick Webb – 5/5 – Before I start I should probably confess to being a HUGE Nick Webb fan. Although I will always give a fair appraisal of each story. Again though, Nick has written a clever piece of Sci-Fi that I was totally engaged in and lost myself. I saved this particular story for when I had a couple of hours so I could read it all at once, and it was worth it. Nick always builds such incredible Universes, with such detail and scale, and describes them so beautifully you are sure that you are there.
His characters are always captivating, believable, and so easy to fall into.
This story tells the legacy of a family as they watch a Galactic Empire dying, falling to ruin, and how some are trying to save it.
The great thing I love about Nick Webb’s work is that he has actually studied the science, and uses his understanding of it in his writing, not to bore us with pages of unintelligible physics or maths, but to help us explore and understand the universe and give us an insight into possible futures.
This is another exceptional piece of work by Nick, and if you are a fan, or just want a good read, should not be missed.
Multiply – Nicolas Wilson – 3.5/5 – It took me a bit to get my head around this story, it was a little slow in parts, and in others, the dialog is (in my opinion please remember) difficult to follow. However, having said that, this is actually a fascinating story. It follows 2 AI’s through a period of time, on a voyage, and the events that happen to them. One of the AI’s is a ‘male’ and the other is a ‘female’ and the ‘female’ AI is obviously more evolved along the evolutionary trail, making it more intelligent (taking into consideration all of the various factors for AI related fields of study etc and how this relates to Humans in a very simplistic comparison of course! – Yes I do have my tongue in cheek) The banter between the two is ‘clever’ to a certain level, the Author has had some fun with it, but there are times when it also gets lost, or a little too deep, and the story gets a bit too bogged down.
Having said all of that, I did stick with it, and the overall story is actually really interesting, I loved the concept he has put together. It's definitely worth the read.
For anyone who loves Sci-Fi, this is an awesome way to get an introduction to some brilliant and amazing Indie Authors that are out there, and who just shouldn’t be missed. I have done some individual reviews of these exceptional books for those that are interested:
A Mercenary in Escrow – Erik Wecks – 4/5 – This book starts as a cross between Sci-Fi and an environmental lesson, but all the while, it had some really funny moments in it. A Merc crew is meant to do a job, but stops as the task will endanger sentient life. The Merc Capt ends up in deep trouble as a result for breaking their contract. And this is where the fun begins.
The Capt is trapped with no hope of escape, but his crew, instead of coming to get him, want something a bit different. No Spoilers…
This story is really funny, it has great characters, and a great universe. This is a true ‘Scoundrel’ story, one that Solo or Calrissian would be proud of. This was an awesome way to start off Galaxy Chronicles and sets a high standard for the rest – a funny, clever and engaging story with excellent characters. Definitely worth the read, especially if you are having a bad day…
Excelsior – Jasper T. Scott – 5/5 – Jasper T. Scott has developed the most amazing universe for his story, with an incredible background story, one that had me really hooked from the start. This was a fascinating story and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The world has two distinct cultures, the Geners, those that are basically immortal through modifications and now breeding, and the natural-born, or de-gener-ates, those who die of natural causes, still have imperfect genes etc. But there is a war on, and the Geners don’t want to be ‘killed’ or die in the war, so although they happy to lead, they use the degenerates to fight for them. If you join up for a 5yr stint, (and survive) they will even pay for you to become a Gener, a costly procedure to transform you into one of the perfect Geners who live forever. If you do a double stint, you can pay for someone else. And thus we have our hero, trying to save himself and his beloved. Of course things are going to go wrong, and he is to be sent off to investigate an anomaly and possibly not return. But other things happen as well – no spoilers you have to read it – it’s well worth the read, Scott’s universe is beautiful, his characters are wonderfully written, with very believable dialogue. His universe is so incredible it is just so much fun to read and get lost in. It is the lead to an upcoming book – so make sure you are ready for it and read this!!
Falling – Pippa DaCosta – 5/5 – This is a great story, and I think possibly my favourite of the collection. I finished this, and went and bought the other 3 she has, and pre-ordered the 4th. This is kind of an intro to Captain Caleb, a down on his luck ex-Military Captain, who seems to be able to find trouble where ever it is, and have it turn up on him happily. In this particular short story, that trouble is a female bounty called Francisca, and they are locked together in a silo, left to die. I finished this and had the 1st one ‘The Girl from Above’ part 1, downloaded and finished in a sleepless night as it is so much fun. This story is not for the faint hearted or the easily offended, there is drug use and language and adult content, but it’s all within the context of the story, and not stupidly gratuitous, making it acceptable for the story.
Pippa does a brilliant job of writing her characters, it's like she knows how they are feeling at the time, and just puts the words to the page. Add to that the outstanding descriptions of the stations and worlds that they are on, as well as ‘The Black’ of space, and you have a truly terrific story that you won’t want to put down. Make sure you read this one!
Apogee – G.S. Jennsen – 4/5 – The great thing about so many of the Sci-Fi stories we have is the ability to combine brilliant science fiction with a really engaging political thriller. And that’s what this story is all about. This is a prequel of sorts to the series Aurora Rising. However, in this short story, it is a clever tale of intrigue and manoeuvring between all the chess pieces on a board as a smaller power, the Senecan Federation try and secede from the Earth Alliance. It mainly focusses on a couple of key characters and their roles some key parts of how this will play out, but Jennsen also discusses some of the deeper Political background as well.
This an absorbing piece of work, with a lot of depth to it, allowing you to get really immersed into the universe they have created. The background work of the Earth Alliance and the Political situation is spectacular, not only very clever, but also interesting, so you don’t get bored or lost in the telling.
I have purchased the books for reading.
Keep Off the Grass – Felix R. Savage – 4.5/5 – This story starts off with an argument over mining rights of a comet (because that’s apparently normal in the future!) And that’s where this story gets really interesting.
This story delves into all sorts of different rabbit holes, with a mining ship built to look like the inside of an ancient Japanese warship, complete with timber finishing, pirates and religious sects fighting over the rights to mine a comet for its precious contents, and in the background, a dying group of people, desperate for salvation. This story has everything, including some outstanding Characters. This is another fantastic creative adventure in Galaxy Chronicles, and one that you will just keep reading wondering what is going to come next. Felix R. Savage is a very clever Author, and one that stopped me continuing with the next phase of the Chronicles for about a week as I delved into his other works…
Ser Pan Comido – Matthew Alan Thyer – 4.5/5 – This tale almost begins like something from Aladdin, with the street rats circling trying to get around in a city full of wonders. However, you quickly get a feel for this story, and understand not only the intricate city the Author has built, but the culture surrounding it. Then there is the wreck of this ship laying amongst it. The story follows 3 young teens that manage to gain access to the derelict, and in the process of doing so, get a little more than they bargained for.
I don’t want to say too much, as it will give away too much of the story and ruin it, needless to say, this is a fantastic adventure, brilliant in its story telling, with really clever, well written characters. There are some fascinating parts to this story, especially once they are inside the ship, that kept me enthralled, and in a single session (difficult with young kids!!) His characters are really well written and believable, making this even more enjoyable.
Again, I found myself finishing this tale, and seeking the authors other works as I really enjoyed this story.
The Kasant Objective – Chris Reher – 4.5/5 – This was a really great story, made all the better by an outstanding ending (that I won’t give away!) The story follows the crew of a ship, tasked with taking a member of another race to a planet for an experiment. Things get interesting from here and there are some really interesting twists.
The Author has created an impressive universe, with great depth, and engaging characters. There are numerous worlds a lot of back story to both the universe and the characters meaning great opportunity of expanding.
This is just really great Sci-fi – what it's all about, crew on a ship, in the dark of space, an Alien ambassador on board with a secret mission – this is the great fun of reading. This was another example of where I branched off into other books by the Author as well… But make sure to enjoy this one first!
Symbiont Seeking Symbiont – Jennifer Foehner Wells – 4/5 – This story was awesome. It is so creepy that after you finish it, you will want to go and have a shower, but I think that was the entire point, and shows just how clever and crafty the Author is!
It is about a crew, stuck on a planet, and a life form that is trying to get off the planet, by speaking to a crew member who went for a walk from the ship, but just a little too far. This is a fairly typical story of don’t stray from your ship on an Alien planet – bad things happen – I mean geez, don’t these people watch movies? But luckily for us – they don’t, because this story is just great, a lot of fun, with great dialogue, fantastic Characters, and an impressive, clever and inventive twist on a well-used theme.
The Immortals: Kronis Valley – David Adams – 5/5 – This was a full on story of War. It covered some of the Sci-Fi aspects, the light hearted banter, the usual action stages, but it also has some full on emotional death and destruction. The Author does an exceptional job of relaying all the emotions and concepts of this, making you feel a part of it, and understanding those that are left behind, having to deal with the pain of it, the survivors guilt, the rehabilitation, the pain of your own injuries, and the loss.
Having experienced similar things in my life, I found this story very profound, and also very well written.
The Authors characters are exceptional. His story line is, I must admit, not entirely original, however, his interpretation of it, is very well done, gripping at times in its execution.
This is a brilliant story, and although I would suggest it might not be for everyone, I would highly recommend it.
Earth Fall – Raymond L. Well – 4.5/5 – This is another example of ‘Found an Author!’ So I have been looking at his books for a while, but with so MUCH to read recently, just haven’t taken the plunge, but after reading this, I have leapt off the diving board. This was a great short, and intro to (HOPEFULLY!!) a really great series that Raymond suggests is coming in 2016.
It follows a group of Soldiers who somehow survive catastrophic events on the face of the Earth as it is being attacked by Aliens – the Trellixians – and what happens next.
This is one of those awesome Human vs Alien stories that people love, with an awesome Alien race, so great Human Characters, and utterly no hope – making you want to read on to find out what is going to happen? Surely the Aliens can’t win? Can they??
This is Sci-Fi at its best, and as I said, one of the reasons that it took me so long to get through this book, going off reading other books from the Authors!
The Stars That Bind – Nick Webb – 5/5 – Before I start I should probably confess to being a HUGE Nick Webb fan. Although I will always give a fair appraisal of each story. Again though, Nick has written a clever piece of Sci-Fi that I was totally engaged in and lost myself. I saved this particular story for when I had a couple of hours so I could read it all at once, and it was worth it. Nick always builds such incredible Universes, with such detail and scale, and describes them so beautifully you are sure that you are there.
His characters are always captivating, believable, and so easy to fall into.
This story tells the legacy of a family as they watch a Galactic Empire dying, falling to ruin, and how some are trying to save it.
The great thing I love about Nick Webb’s work is that he has actually studied the science, and uses his understanding of it in his writing, not to bore us with pages of unintelligible physics or maths, but to help us explore and understand the universe and give us an insight into possible futures.
This is another exceptional piece of work by Nick, and if you are a fan, or just want a good read, should not be missed.
Multiply – Nicolas Wilson – 3.5/5 – It took me a bit to get my head around this story, it was a little slow in parts, and in others, the dialog is (in my opinion please remember) difficult to follow. However, having said that, this is actually a fascinating story. It follows 2 AI’s through a period of time, on a voyage, and the events that happen to them. One of the AI’s is a ‘male’ and the other is a ‘female’ and the ‘female’ AI is obviously more evolved along the evolutionary trail, making it more intelligent (taking into consideration all of the various factors for AI related fields of study etc and how this relates to Humans in a very simplistic comparison of course! – Yes I do have my tongue in cheek) The banter between the two is ‘clever’ to a certain level, the Author has had some fun with it, but there are times when it also gets lost, or a little too deep, and the story gets a bit too bogged down.
Having said all of that, I did stick with it, and the overall story is actually really interesting, I loved the concept he has put together. It's definitely worth the read.
February 5, 2017
This is a rather patchy collection of space-set short science fiction. I'd say there are no great stories, although there are a few good or very good ones - 'Keep Off The Grass' by Felix R. Savage, 'Ser Pan Comida' by Matthew Alan Thyer, 'Symbiont Seeking Symbiont' by Jennifer Froehner Wells, 'The Immortals: Kronos Valley' by David Adams, 'The Stars That Bind' by Nick Webb and the final story 'Multiply by Nicholas Wilson, although that last took a while to settle in I ended up enjoying it.
So, really, that's the majority of the tales in the good or very good category. Part of the problem was that the collection started weakly with a ho-hum story followed by one of two truly execrable pieces of fiction ('Excelsior' by Jaspar T. Scott and, later, 'Earthfall' by Raymond L. Weil). So, not only too much padding but badly organised; as well as the poor start there didn't seem to be any flow to the way the stories were put together. I'd also like a little 'about the authors' section; while each story had a word from the author, these tended to be more about the tale itself, along with the usual self promotion.
I think the 'Future Chronicles' series are all independently published authors, so perhaps I should be less harsh - or perhaps not; the ease of entry into the marketplace is no excuse to publish substandard work.
So, really, that's the majority of the tales in the good or very good category. Part of the problem was that the collection started weakly with a ho-hum story followed by one of two truly execrable pieces of fiction ('Excelsior' by Jaspar T. Scott and, later, 'Earthfall' by Raymond L. Weil). So, not only too much padding but badly organised; as well as the poor start there didn't seem to be any flow to the way the stories were put together. I'd also like a little 'about the authors' section; while each story had a word from the author, these tended to be more about the tale itself, along with the usual self promotion.
I think the 'Future Chronicles' series are all independently published authors, so perhaps I should be less harsh - or perhaps not; the ease of entry into the marketplace is no excuse to publish substandard work.
December 2, 2015
"The inside is always bigger than the outside ...and not just in the planetarium "
Another collection of short stories in the excellent Future Chronicles anthology series, this time set (mostly) out of this world. Once again, Samuel Peralta has brought together a group of talented writers to give us twelve stand alone tales to delight, some action packed, some thought provoking, all well written, very different and very readable. Of course, some appeal more than others and my personal favourites were, curiously, the first and last stories in the book - A Mercinary in Escrow, by Erik Wecks, a quiry tale of trying to survive the breaking of a contract with an all-powerful and unpleasant corporation, and the funny, fast talking artificial intelligences sent on a mission by their mother ship in Multiply, by Nicholas Wilson. But these are beautiful bookends to the entire library of great stories.
It is always a delight to discover new-to-the-reader authors whose work bring pleasure.
Another collection of short stories in the excellent Future Chronicles anthology series, this time set (mostly) out of this world. Once again, Samuel Peralta has brought together a group of talented writers to give us twelve stand alone tales to delight, some action packed, some thought provoking, all well written, very different and very readable. Of course, some appeal more than others and my personal favourites were, curiously, the first and last stories in the book - A Mercinary in Escrow, by Erik Wecks, a quiry tale of trying to survive the breaking of a contract with an all-powerful and unpleasant corporation, and the funny, fast talking artificial intelligences sent on a mission by their mother ship in Multiply, by Nicholas Wilson. But these are beautiful bookends to the entire library of great stories.
It is always a delight to discover new-to-the-reader authors whose work bring pleasure.
December 25, 2015
Another Bullseye
I enjoyed every single one of the stories in this collection. I am amazed how well all the chronicles are assembled by the editor. They have introduced me to a long list of talented writers to explore further. I think these Chronicles provide readers proof that Science Fiction is a genre producing true literature. I am now a devoted fan anticipating the next release.
I enjoyed every single one of the stories in this collection. I am amazed how well all the chronicles are assembled by the editor. They have introduced me to a long list of talented writers to explore further. I think these Chronicles provide readers proof that Science Fiction is a genre producing true literature. I am now a devoted fan anticipating the next release.
May 8, 2017
A solid collection
The Future Chronicles series of short story collections is a truly great thing. Grouping those stories into subcollections works out really well. This book - The Galaxy Chronicles, had a bunch of good stories in it and one that left me rather cold and somewhat annoyed. But that doesn't mean it wasn't a good story - I just didn't like it. But I heartily recommend the whole collection based on the other stories in this book.
The Future Chronicles series of short story collections is a truly great thing. Grouping those stories into subcollections works out really well. This book - The Galaxy Chronicles, had a bunch of good stories in it and one that left me rather cold and somewhat annoyed. But that doesn't mean it wasn't a good story - I just didn't like it. But I heartily recommend the whole collection based on the other stories in this book.
December 30, 2020
Toss it in a singularity
Wow... just NO! I mainly like to read anthologies, so am quite used to the fact that someone likely won't like some stories in any given anthology. This collection though... I didn't finish ANY of the stories except the first one. Just not believable enough
Wow... just NO! I mainly like to read anthologies, so am quite used to the fact that someone likely won't like some stories in any given anthology. This collection though... I didn't finish ANY of the stories except the first one. Just not believable enough
July 2, 2017
Very nice collection
I found this to be a great little collection of new stories from lesser-known authors who are very creative and original in their thinking.
I found this to be a great little collection of new stories from lesser-known authors who are very creative and original in their thinking.
December 20, 2018
i enjoyed this!
September 4, 2019
Not so bad
Some interesting, some depressing, a few rather flat, and some...particularly the closing story, actually charming. Overall a rather uneven collection.
Some interesting, some depressing, a few rather flat, and some...particularly the closing story, actually charming. Overall a rather uneven collection.
December 2, 2022
Only a few good stories in here.
December 3, 2015
The purpose of the Peralta anthologies is to introduce writers to readers. And The Galaxy Chronicles does that very well. I encourage you to read this anthology if you are a fan of space opera. You will like what you encounter and will probably find more than one writer whose works you will want to add to your reading list. Each story is followed by an afterword that directs you to the authors' website and where you can find other works by the author.
Peralta's introduction is Star Trek heavy. The voyages of the Starship Enterprise may have been what drew him to Science Fiction, but you'll find no Treklike universe in these pages. If the future looks like any of these stories, well, I'm glad I won't have to live there. Almost all of these futures are bleak, with humanity nearing extinction or scrambling to eke out existence in a universe that is not very 99% friendly. I guess having existence on the line provides more drama in a short story than would be possible on worlds where everyone has an assured future free from hunger and strife.
So, no Trek universes here. But you will find a story that is very Battlestar Galactica (the Lorne Greene version,) a story that brings Harry Seldon to mind, an AI with a Groucho fetish and other recognizable SF motifs. I had a good time working through the similarities to see what concepts might have been thrown together to build the worlds.
While all of these stories stand alone perfectly well, a number of them were designed to draw the reader into the world that is already contained in other works already published by the author or soon to be published by the author. While in some cases it makes the character backgrounds a bit thin, you do have the comfort of knowing that you can fill in the missing pieces by pursuing other works that are already available. And that's a good thing if you liked what you read.
Peralta's introduction is Star Trek heavy. The voyages of the Starship Enterprise may have been what drew him to Science Fiction, but you'll find no Treklike universe in these pages. If the future looks like any of these stories, well, I'm glad I won't have to live there. Almost all of these futures are bleak, with humanity nearing extinction or scrambling to eke out existence in a universe that is not very 99% friendly. I guess having existence on the line provides more drama in a short story than would be possible on worlds where everyone has an assured future free from hunger and strife.
So, no Trek universes here. But you will find a story that is very Battlestar Galactica (the Lorne Greene version,) a story that brings Harry Seldon to mind, an AI with a Groucho fetish and other recognizable SF motifs. I had a good time working through the similarities to see what concepts might have been thrown together to build the worlds.
While all of these stories stand alone perfectly well, a number of them were designed to draw the reader into the world that is already contained in other works already published by the author or soon to be published by the author. While in some cases it makes the character backgrounds a bit thin, you do have the comfort of knowing that you can fill in the missing pieces by pursuing other works that are already available. And that's a good thing if you liked what you read.
April 28, 2017
Too many stories are 'pilot episodes' for larger works, and most aren't even good. A lot of the world-building is lazy. If your story is set centuries in the future, the challenge is to extrapolate how new technologies and social changes will effect humanity. Technology is going to make the future *weird.* It won't be like the past, except with space ships and lasers. To take that route shows a lack of imagination.
One of the stories, "Excelsior" is set in the 28th century . . . and has a capitalism vs. communism cold war. The technology is about what you'd expect a hundred years from now. "Earth Fall" is a thoroughly by-the-numbers 'desperate war against alien invaders' story which the author even admits is something he dusted off from twenty years ago. "The Immortals: Kronis Valley" is a 'war weary soldier can't adjust to civilian life; joins secret military program' tale. You've seen it before, and there's nothing unexpected: you know where these stories are going from the first page.
A few break the mold, however. "Keep Off the Grass" is my favorite--the near-ish future, hard-science setting is fascinating, and while it is a prequel to another work, it stands on its own. "The Kasant Objective" has a clever twist I didn't see coming, and "Symbiont Seeking Symbiont" and "Multiply" are both pretty funny.
All in all, though, this volume isn;t as strong a collection as The Time Travel, Future and Doomsday Chronicles.
I look forward to reading the others.
One of the stories, "Excelsior" is set in the 28th century . . . and has a capitalism vs. communism cold war. The technology is about what you'd expect a hundred years from now. "Earth Fall" is a thoroughly by-the-numbers 'desperate war against alien invaders' story which the author even admits is something he dusted off from twenty years ago. "The Immortals: Kronis Valley" is a 'war weary soldier can't adjust to civilian life; joins secret military program' tale. You've seen it before, and there's nothing unexpected: you know where these stories are going from the first page.
A few break the mold, however. "Keep Off the Grass" is my favorite--the near-ish future, hard-science setting is fascinating, and while it is a prequel to another work, it stands on its own. "The Kasant Objective" has a clever twist I didn't see coming, and "Symbiont Seeking Symbiont" and "Multiply" are both pretty funny.
All in all, though, this volume isn;t as strong a collection as The Time Travel, Future and Doomsday Chronicles.
I look forward to reading the others.
April 19, 2016
The Galaxy Chronicles is another entry in Samuel Peralta's collection of short story anthologies known as The Future Chronicles. Not to be confused with the anthology that started it all, The Future Chronicles.
Each anthology is centered around a theme, this one is themed around space opera. Giant starships, ragtag crews, and the vast emptiness between planets rule the day here. Or night. Or whatever. It's all relative in space anyway.
This anthology lives up to the usual standard that Samuel has, with the only duds in my opinion being the first and last stories. The first felt good but stilted and lacking in polish. While the last was the exact opposite. Had a lot of polish behind it, but displayed the usual childish writing that Nicolas Wilson seems to be prone to making.
The rest of the stories were fun and interesting tales placed amongst the stars. If you have any interest in short stories and are looking for a good example of what the Chronicles series can be, then this is certainly on the list. Even if you're just desperate for some good sci-fi space opera and don't know where to look, this collection will entertain. And introduce you to some authors you may not have heard of before as well.
Each anthology is centered around a theme, this one is themed around space opera. Giant starships, ragtag crews, and the vast emptiness between planets rule the day here. Or night. Or whatever. It's all relative in space anyway.
This anthology lives up to the usual standard that Samuel has, with the only duds in my opinion being the first and last stories. The first felt good but stilted and lacking in polish. While the last was the exact opposite. Had a lot of polish behind it, but displayed the usual childish writing that Nicolas Wilson seems to be prone to making.
The rest of the stories were fun and interesting tales placed amongst the stars. If you have any interest in short stories and are looking for a good example of what the Chronicles series can be, then this is certainly on the list. Even if you're just desperate for some good sci-fi space opera and don't know where to look, this collection will entertain. And introduce you to some authors you may not have heard of before as well.
December 27, 2015
Good collection of short sc fi stories. Got really to read Jasper T Scott short, which is an early look at his new series. This collection has something for everyone and is worth a look to introduce to different writers.
February 21, 2016
A really, really good collection of sci-fi short stories. Highly recommended! I hope there will be more "Chronicles" because the topics seem to be ideal for short stories. The range of view points is spectacular.
July 25, 2016
Good and Great Stories
I enjoyed most of the stories here. I've read other anthologies in the series and will definitely recommend all of them to friends; as well as continue to read other anthologies in the series.
I enjoyed most of the stories here. I've read other anthologies in the series and will definitely recommend all of them to friends; as well as continue to read other anthologies in the series.
July 27, 2016
Terrific
I've read other anthologies of Samuel Peralta and this one is equally entertaining and provocative. An excellent read written by many favorite authors. A must read for any sci-fi fan!
I've read other anthologies of Samuel Peralta and this one is equally entertaining and provocative. An excellent read written by many favorite authors. A must read for any sci-fi fan!
September 29, 2016
Great anthology. Highly recommended.
There was not a story here I would not give five stars to. Each tale took me to a place I could not have imagined; which is where like to be. Well done!!
There was not a story here I would not give five stars to. Each tale took me to a place I could not have imagined; which is where like to be. Well done!!
November 13, 2016
Fascinating stories
A great variety of stories in these Chronicles make this interesting for anyone who reads sci fi. Very different stories, you're sure to find a few new favorite authors among them.
A great variety of stories in these Chronicles make this interesting for anyone who reads sci fi. Very different stories, you're sure to find a few new favorite authors among them.
December 16, 2015
Thought provoking
What a wonderful collection of short stories! Entertaining and thought provoking. I give an enthusiastic 5 stars for the galactic fun!
What a wonderful collection of short stories! Entertaining and thought provoking. I give an enthusiastic 5 stars for the galactic fun!
January 20, 2016
An enjoyable read, I'll definitely be trying more of the Future Chronicles.
Read
October 1, 2016To be added
Read
January 1, 2016only Falling by Pippa Dacosta.
RTC
RTC
January 21, 2016
Fun!
Great anthology here. A bunch of really enjoyable stories and characters. If you enjoy sci fi then be sure to try it out.
Great anthology here. A bunch of really enjoyable stories and characters. If you enjoy sci fi then be sure to try it out.
March 1, 2016
Always nice to find new authors to read. very enjoyable.
June 12, 2016
Some really good sci fi shorts in this book. Notes by the author of each story
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