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Four Horsemen Tales #8
Hope is Not a Strategy
Fifteen of the best Indie authors. Fifteen extraordinary stories. One bestselling universe. It’s the Twenty-Second Century. The galaxy has opened up to humanity as a hyperactive beehive of stargates and new technologies, and we suddenly find ourselves in a vast playground of different races, environments, and cultures. There’s just one we are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain, and there’s only one way for humanity to move up—by becoming mercenaries. In every mercenary’s life, though, there comes a time when things go wrong and even the best laid plans go awry. When they do, though, the best mercs fall back and work out new plans, and you can bet on one thing—hope is not their strategy. Whether you’re a kid looking to get off your planet, or an unarmed merc facing an overwhelming force, or even the sole survivor of a pirate attack, there’s always an edge—and it’s up to the merc to find and exploit it! Edited by bestselling authors and universe creators Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey, “Hope is Not a Strategy” includes all-new stories in the Four Horsemen universe by some of the bestselling Indie authors currently in the business. These authors take on various aspects of the universe, giving you additional insight into a galaxy that isn’t at war…but definitely isn’t at peace. There’s only one thing for sure in the 4HU—anything’s possible…for a fistful of credits! Inside, you’ll Preface by Chris Kennedy Golden Ticket by Jonathan P. Brazee The Tide Changes by Craig Martelle Something You Are Not by Kevin Steverson Hijacked! by Terry Mixon The Wagner Method by Josh Hayes Paying the Price by Scott Moon Without a Shot by Chris Fox Raid by Mark Wandrey Second Chances by Kevin McLaughlin The Problem of the Qualis by Brian Niemeier Eye on the Prize by Nathan Hystad Earworm by Robert E. Hampson A Guilded Affair by Chris Kennedy Sunset by A.K. DuBoff Survivor by Kacey Ezell
479 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2019
About the author
Chris Kennedy
137 books164 followersA Webster Award winner and three-time Dragon Award finalist, Chris Kennedy is a Science Fiction/Fantasy author, speaker, and small-press publisher who has written over 50 books and published more than 400 others. Get his free book, “Shattered Crucible,” at his website, https://chriskennedypublishing.com.
Called “fantastic” and “a great speaker,” he has coached hundreds of beginning authors and budding novelists on how to self-publish their stories at a variety of conferences, conventions, and writing guild presentations. He is the author of the award-winning #1 bestseller, “Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores.”
Chris lives in Coinjock, North Carolina, with his wife. Follow Chris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ckpublishing/.
Called “fantastic” and “a great speaker,” he has coached hundreds of beginning authors and budding novelists on how to self-publish their stories at a variety of conferences, conventions, and writing guild presentations. He is the author of the award-winning #1 bestseller, “Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores.”
Chris lives in Coinjock, North Carolina, with his wife. Follow Chris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ckpublishing/.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 10, 2019
Anthologies tend to be problematic. Typically there are a few outstanding stories, some very good ones, and then some average to not-so-good ones that got included because the editor needed more stories to fill out the anthology, and they were the best of the rest.
That is not the case here. Not even close.
"Hope is Not a Strategy" is the exception to the above-stated rule. There's not a bad story in it, or even an average one. The 'worst' would be rated as 'excellent', and the best as a story like those written by the great Heinlein, something you can read and re-read and never fail to enjoy all over again.
I'm not going to go through each one because that's pointless. There's nothing here to skip or even read fast. There's only great story-telling that you'll want to savor.
That is not the case here. Not even close.
"Hope is Not a Strategy" is the exception to the above-stated rule. There's not a bad story in it, or even an average one. The 'worst' would be rated as 'excellent', and the best as a story like those written by the great Heinlein, something you can read and re-read and never fail to enjoy all over again.
I'm not going to go through each one because that's pointless. There's nothing here to skip or even read fast. There's only great story-telling that you'll want to savor.
June 9, 2020
Another excellent Anthology
One of the things I love the most about the 4 Horsemen Universe, and the writers who participate is the way they manage to spin this giant narrative together. Even though you can hear their individual voices, they blend perfectly in a way that keeps the universe vibrant, different, yet comfortably familiar.
With good editing, superb world building, and excellent attention to detail these authors have banded together to create something that has become a fixture in my household.
One of the things I love the most about the 4 Horsemen Universe, and the writers who participate is the way they manage to spin this giant narrative together. Even though you can hear their individual voices, they blend perfectly in a way that keeps the universe vibrant, different, yet comfortably familiar.
With good editing, superb world building, and excellent attention to detail these authors have banded together to create something that has become a fixture in my household.
April 29, 2019
Little snacks!
More red diamonds from the Four Horsemen universe! Each is a well crafted tale from established authors.
My favourite are Earworm which means the Riedel name is known through the galaxy and Survivor by Kacey Eziel that shows us that the Besquith arent just the blood thirsty psychopaths we think they are!
More red diamonds from the Four Horsemen universe! Each is a well crafted tale from established authors.
My favourite are Earworm which means the Riedel name is known through the galaxy and Survivor by Kacey Eziel that shows us that the Besquith arent just the blood thirsty psychopaths we think they are!
January 11, 2020
Great Selection of Stories
Excellent collection of short stories, some that touch the mind, some the heart. The stories from the aliens perspective, struggling to understand humans and vice versa. For an old warrior the story of striving to complete the mission really hit home.
Excellent collection of short stories, some that touch the mind, some the heart. The stories from the aliens perspective, struggling to understand humans and vice versa. For an old warrior the story of striving to complete the mission really hit home.
March 4, 2019
Tragic, Heroic, and Action!
Amazing selection of stories in the four horseman universe. One of the best anthologies yet. Most of the stories are by vets, and it’s reflected in the tragic hero in many of the stories. War is often full of tragedies.
Amazing selection of stories in the four horseman universe. One of the best anthologies yet. Most of the stories are by vets, and it’s reflected in the tragic hero in many of the stories. War is often full of tragedies.
March 27, 2019
Great installments in the Four Horsemen universe
My regret about this group of short stories is that each wasn't novel length. Great setups expanding the depth and details of the Four Horsemen saga.
My regret about this group of short stories is that each wasn't novel length. Great setups expanding the depth and details of the Four Horsemen saga.
April 22, 2019
Awesome Anthology!
This volume of tales is just like the rest, pure magnificence! I couldn't stop reading, (I lost a lot of sleep, but it was worth every second), the constant entertainment from cover to cover.
This volume of tales is just like the rest, pure magnificence! I couldn't stop reading, (I lost a lot of sleep, but it was worth every second), the constant entertainment from cover to cover.
May 1, 2021
Wow, so many good stories!
Every story here was at least good, and a lot of them were great! I'd love to see full novels based on a number of the stories here, especially the Besquith ones. I don't always like short stories, but I definitely liked these
Every story here was at least good, and a lot of them were great! I'd love to see full novels based on a number of the stories here, especially the Besquith ones. I don't always like short stories, but I definitely liked these
April 12, 2022
Another great anthology for the 4HU universe. Mostly side-stories, which don't add much to the main story line, but some excellent storytelling all the same. There are some stories here that I really hope get followed up on.
February 25, 2024
Almost all the stories were 5 star worthy, but I had to downgrade the volume for the rest. Still, it was an excellent read. In particular, once again Kacey Ezell did a wonderful job of making aliens more than blood-thirsty villains - somehow, now, I can't think of Besquith without smiling! :-)
March 6, 2019
Very good collection of short stories. Picked up a few new authors to check out.
June 30, 2019
As usual, lots of good stuff. My favorites were Sunset (DuBoff) and Survivor (Ezell).
January 30, 2020
Some very good stories in this collection.
February 25, 2020
Another great anthology in the series.
Generally not a fan of short fiction, however; these were some really nice vignettes. Hours well spent reading them. Thanks again, folks for letting me visit 4HU.
Generally not a fan of short fiction, however; these were some really nice vignettes. Hours well spent reading them. Thanks again, folks for letting me visit 4HU.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews