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Four Horsemen Tales #13
Negotiation: An Anthology of Hunter Tales from the Four Horsemen Universe
Thirteen incredible authors. Thirteen Stories about the Depik—what they were and where their society goes from here!
It’s the Twenty-Second Century. Humanity has taken its first steps into the galaxy, and we’ve found ourselves in a vast playground of alien races, environments, and cultures. As the newest players on the universal stage, though, our position is readily apparent—we’re at the bottom of the food chain. But we’ve found new allies.
The Depik are feared across the galaxy as the ultimate assassins, but when an attack on their home world devastates their society, the survivors are scattered across the galaxy. As humanity helps bring their civilization back together, though, how do the remaining Depik adults put their society back together and teach the young kits and kitas about what was lost?
Stories. Not only are stories told to educate, but also to help the young Depik make sense of their place in a galaxy that is so much bigger than they are. Enter now the world of the assassin, as these peerless killers decide how to make their way forward, and thirteen amazing authors imagine the paths these Hunters will take.
With stories by:
Jody Lynn Nye
Jonathan P. Brazee
D.J. Butler
Mark Wandrey
Terry Mixon
Kevin Ikenberry
Kevin Steverson
Jamie Ibson
Jon R. Osborne
Joseph Capdepon II
Casey Moores
Kacey Ezell
Marisa Wolf
It’s the Twenty-Second Century. Humanity has taken its first steps into the galaxy, and we’ve found ourselves in a vast playground of alien races, environments, and cultures. As the newest players on the universal stage, though, our position is readily apparent—we’re at the bottom of the food chain. But we’ve found new allies.
The Depik are feared across the galaxy as the ultimate assassins, but when an attack on their home world devastates their society, the survivors are scattered across the galaxy. As humanity helps bring their civilization back together, though, how do the remaining Depik adults put their society back together and teach the young kits and kitas about what was lost?
Stories. Not only are stories told to educate, but also to help the young Depik make sense of their place in a galaxy that is so much bigger than they are. Enter now the world of the assassin, as these peerless killers decide how to make their way forward, and thirteen amazing authors imagine the paths these Hunters will take.
With stories by:
Jody Lynn Nye
Jonathan P. Brazee
D.J. Butler
Mark Wandrey
Terry Mixon
Kevin Ikenberry
Kevin Steverson
Jamie Ibson
Jon R. Osborne
Joseph Capdepon II
Casey Moores
Kacey Ezell
Marisa Wolf
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2019
125 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Kacey Ezell
79 books106 followersKacey Ezell was born in South Dakota in 1977. Her parents joined the US Air Force in 1984, and she grew up around the world on various military bases. When she was seven, her mother gave her a copy of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragondrums, and shortly thereafter, Kacey decided that she wanted to be a dragonrider when she grew up. In 1999, she followed her parents into the “family business” and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy before going to pilot training. As dragons were in short supply at the time, she reasoned that flying aircraft was the next best thing. She earned her wings in 2001, and has over 2500 hours in the UH-1N and Mi-17 helicopters.
From the time she was a small child, Kacey made up stories to tell to her friends and family. In 2009, while deployed to Iraq, she wrote the military-themed supernatural story “Light”, which was accepted for publication in the Baen Books anthology Citizens. She was asked to consult on John Ringo’s 2015 novel Strands of Sorrow, and wrote the cover story for the Black Tide Rising anthology set in Ringo’s zombie apocalypse universe. That story, “Not in Vain” was selected for inclusion in the “Year’s Best Military SF and Adventure Fiction” anthology produced by Baen Books.
In addition, she’s written a story called “Gilded Cage” for the Four Horsemen Universe anthology A Fistful of Credits, and her story “Family Over Blood” will be included in the upcoming Forged In Blood anthology set in Michael Z. Williamson’s Freehold Universe.
She and Christopher L. Smith are currently collaborating with John Ringo on a new post-apocalyptic steampunk trilogy from Baen.
Kacey writes science fiction, fantasy, horror, noir, romance… etc. fiction. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two cats.
From the time she was a small child, Kacey made up stories to tell to her friends and family. In 2009, while deployed to Iraq, she wrote the military-themed supernatural story “Light”, which was accepted for publication in the Baen Books anthology Citizens. She was asked to consult on John Ringo’s 2015 novel Strands of Sorrow, and wrote the cover story for the Black Tide Rising anthology set in Ringo’s zombie apocalypse universe. That story, “Not in Vain” was selected for inclusion in the “Year’s Best Military SF and Adventure Fiction” anthology produced by Baen Books.
In addition, she’s written a story called “Gilded Cage” for the Four Horsemen Universe anthology A Fistful of Credits, and her story “Family Over Blood” will be included in the upcoming Forged In Blood anthology set in Michael Z. Williamson’s Freehold Universe.
She and Christopher L. Smith are currently collaborating with John Ringo on a new post-apocalyptic steampunk trilogy from Baen.
Kacey writes science fiction, fantasy, horror, noir, romance… etc. fiction. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 23, 2020
The Depik are almost completely destroyed so rebuilding must begin. Truths and legends must be preserved to continue the culture. Hence a great collection of 'my favorite alien in 4HU' stories.
October 11, 2019
In a hidden base a long way from anywhere the Depik work hard to save their species, most of which chose to die rather than be enslaved. But what good is saving the species if they forget what they ARE? So one mostly-grown kitten and the old retired human mercenary she has adopted are told to begin collecting tales from the surviving Depik, mostly those who were out in space or on other planets working on a contract. "Contract" in the most sinister sense, as the Depik are the top assassins in the galaxy.
Some of the tales are Depik legends or tales told to kittens (to humans a Depik looks much like an overgrown house cat with opposable thumbs) to convey basic lessons. More of them are stories of how individual Depik learned of the death of most of their species and how they survived, often in the company of humans, who are being hunted across the galaxy by the same forces that struck the Depik down.
The stories are linked by a meta-story, the interaction of the mostly-grown kitten and her human as they review the stories that have been collected thus far. This plot device helps the stories to flow but is a hazard if you think that you'll read just one more, because it draws you quickly and easily into the next, without the author bio to make a convenient stopping point. Because of this, I was up past my bedtime a couple of times. (The author bios are still there, conveniently collected in one place.)
I greatly enjoyed learning more about the Depik, and hope that the Hunter of Tales shows up with more of them in a future volume. And though this format wouldn't work for every species in the galaxy (because some would rather have us for lunch or are otherwise antisocial) I hope that at least some additional species get a chance to swap tales around a campfire.
Some of the tales are Depik legends or tales told to kittens (to humans a Depik looks much like an overgrown house cat with opposable thumbs) to convey basic lessons. More of them are stories of how individual Depik learned of the death of most of their species and how they survived, often in the company of humans, who are being hunted across the galaxy by the same forces that struck the Depik down.
The stories are linked by a meta-story, the interaction of the mostly-grown kitten and her human as they review the stories that have been collected thus far. This plot device helps the stories to flow but is a hazard if you think that you'll read just one more, because it draws you quickly and easily into the next, without the author bio to make a convenient stopping point. Because of this, I was up past my bedtime a couple of times. (The author bios are still there, conveniently collected in one place.)
I greatly enjoyed learning more about the Depik, and hope that the Hunter of Tales shows up with more of them in a future volume. And though this format wouldn't work for every species in the galaxy (because some would rather have us for lunch or are otherwise antisocial) I hope that at least some additional species get a chance to swap tales around a campfire.
October 22, 2019
Kitty bedtime stories for adults!
This is one of those books I knew I was going to like from the first. I am hooked on cats, Marisa, and Kacey. I almost feel like this book was written just for me. Every story I read, I thought " this is my favorite ", then the next, then the next, until I realized at the end, they are ALL my favorites! Lol Not a bad story in the book. Bless you all with all my heart and best wishes for an OUTSTANDING group of writers, editors, artist, et al.
This is one of those books I knew I was going to like from the first. I am hooked on cats, Marisa, and Kacey. I almost feel like this book was written just for me. Every story I read, I thought " this is my favorite ", then the next, then the next, until I realized at the end, they are ALL my favorites! Lol Not a bad story in the book. Bless you all with all my heart and best wishes for an OUTSTANDING group of writers, editors, artist, et al.
June 8, 2022
Good tales about the Hunters
The framing story takes place after the events in Assassin and Hunter, and many of the tales are concurrent with it, so you should read those first especially if you don't like spoilers. All the stories are good.
The framing story takes place after the events in Assassin and Hunter, and many of the tales are concurrent with it, so you should read those first especially if you don't like spoilers. All the stories are good.
October 14, 2019
Depik Lore
I’m a big fan of the 4 Horseman stories, and even more so of those involving Depik characters. A great set of short stories in this book, and I really enjoyed them all.
I’m a big fan of the 4 Horseman stories, and even more so of those involving Depik characters. A great set of short stories in this book, and I really enjoyed them all.
May 16, 2020
Excellent!
Great short stories. Tied together like masters and explains some things missed in main story line. A must read. Excellent authors.
Great short stories. Tied together like masters and explains some things missed in main story line. A must read. Excellent authors.
April 22, 2022
4.3
I certainly enjoyed revisiting the Hunter’s world, though not quite as much as I liked the books themselves. Two more words.
I certainly enjoyed revisiting the Hunter’s world, though not quite as much as I liked the books themselves. Two more words.
November 21, 2022
killer assasin ninja-like cats that can be invisible? what's not to like?!
October 13, 2019
Depik rule!
Another solid anthology in the 4 horsemen universe. Told in the style of a Depik storyteller recording the wisdom of her people, from stories of the present and stories of the distant past. An excellent read.
Another solid anthology in the 4 horsemen universe. Told in the style of a Depik storyteller recording the wisdom of her people, from stories of the present and stories of the distant past. An excellent read.
October 20, 2019
Depik are Cool!
Nice, fun read with a lot of unexpected hints for those that have read all the published books in this series. The short stories do an amazing job of fleshing out the Depik.
Nice, fun read with a lot of unexpected hints for those that have read all the published books in this series. The short stories do an amazing job of fleshing out the Depik.
October 20, 2019
Excellent Anthology
I enjoyed this Depik themed anthology, and would recommend it to any fan of the series. From the background lore, to the continuation of the current story arc, this book has something for everyone.
I enjoyed this Depik themed anthology, and would recommend it to any fan of the series. From the background lore, to the continuation of the current story arc, this book has something for everyone.
October 25, 2019
Outstanding
Great anthology that gives you more insight into the relationship between hunters and humans both before and after the Mercenary Guild's attempted purge of them both. You will enjoy the stories!
Great anthology that gives you more insight into the relationship between hunters and humans both before and after the Mercenary Guild's attempted purge of them both. You will enjoy the stories!
December 5, 2019
From Hunters to weak pets
Seriously one of the worst short books of this long series. The greatest assassins in the universe, the whole homeworld, commits made suicide. Lolololol weak AF!
Written by boring crazy cat ladies,
Seriously one of the worst short books of this long series. The greatest assassins in the universe, the whole homeworld, commits made suicide. Lolololol weak AF!
Written by boring crazy cat ladies,
October 17, 2019
Pawsome!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Hopefully we'll see more of Zia and Trask, Fip and Aryo. Also old Hunters rule!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Hopefully we'll see more of Zia and Trask, Fip and Aryo. Also old Hunters rule!
January 3, 2023
This is a series of short tales about the Depik.
Consummate hunters.
Entirely cats.
Consummate hunters.
Entirely cats.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews