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Galactic Stew
Food is an essential part of life—not just for energy and exotic flavors, but as a unifier during social events, a focal point for establishing culture, and shared experience to put people at ease. In GALACTIC STEW, readers will sit down at the communal table and sup upon stories centered on food. Whether it’s a tense treaty negotiation over a full course meal or a trap devised by the fae to chain you to their realm, these stories are certain to be delectable. Come and savor these delicacies…and hope the taste doesn’t mask a deadly poison!
Featuring stories by Paige L. Christie, Diana A. Hart, A.L. Tompkins, Esther Friesner, Derrick Boden, Andy Duncan, Chaz Brenchley, Howard Andrew Jones, Mike Jack Stoumbos, R.S. Belcher, Mia Moss, Gini Koch, D.B. Jackson, Jason Palmatier, and Gabriela Santiago!
Featuring stories by Paige L. Christie, Diana A. Hart, A.L. Tompkins, Esther Friesner, Derrick Boden, Andy Duncan, Chaz Brenchley, Howard Andrew Jones, Mike Jack Stoumbos, R.S. Belcher, Mia Moss, Gini Koch, D.B. Jackson, Jason Palmatier, and Gabriela Santiago!
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2020
14 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
David B. Coe
66 books260 followersDavid B. Coe is an author of fantasy novels and short stories. He lives with his wife, Nancy Berner, and their two daughters on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee.
He has begun writing a new historical fantasy series under the pen name D.B. Jackson. The first one is titled Thieftaker, published in 2012.
He has begun writing a new historical fantasy series under the pen name D.B. Jackson. The first one is titled Thieftaker, published in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 29, 2020
A SF and F short story collection with the theme of food and eating.
The collection has a surprising number of humorous and downright whimsical stories which was great. But it does have more serious stories, too, and one is borderline horror. Some mix fantasy and science fiction. All stories have food in them and some of them focus on a particular dish.
"Blue" by Paige L. Christie: Blue Eat is a diner but not just any diner. The people there want to help everyone who comes in. A man whose past weights very heavy on his conscious can't tell his story and May must work very hard to get it out of him.
"My Brother's Leaves" by Diana A. Hart: Mei's brother has spent so much money on wine and women that he's in a terrible debt. When he dies, he leaves Mei is a very difficult position. Mei has no choice but to go through her brother's memories in the hopes of glimpsing something that will help her. But it's very dangerous to consume too much of the tea that shows her his memories.
"Snow and Apples" by A.L. Tompkins: Ivan's beloved Marushka has died and the only thing he can do for her is to fetch some ghost apples. But they're well guarded. Fortunately, Ivan has friends who might be able to help him.
"Sense and Sensitivity" by Esther Friesner: This is a slapstick comedy in written form. Midge is an agent of Department of Extraterrestrial Respect and Protocol which was formed shortly after the Malkyoh came to Earth. The aliens are ravenous gluttons who demand constant feasts but unfortunately they're also allergic to various Earth foods. Midge is trying to both protect humans and be properly subservient to the aliens.
"The Silence that Consumes Us" by Derrick Boden: A military pilot crashes her space fighter with one of her enemies' fighters. They end up on a moon which has barely breathable air. But no food.
"The All Go Hungry Hash House" by Andy Duncan: Three musicians go to a famous Hash House... and things go downhill from there. Another comedy story.
"Pickled Roots and Peeled Shoots and a Bowl of Farflower Tea" by Chaz Brenchley: A woman has founded a monastery in a remote location. A group of soldiers comes to the monastery with a mission their leader is determined to see through, no matter what.
"Course of Blood" by Howard Andrew Jones: This fantasy story begins with a feast. Three soldiers are looking for an enemy general, Hanuvar, who is apparently hiding in the town. Hanuvar has such a fearsome reputation that the soldiers say that they're looking for someone who claims to be the general.
"A Real Llwelyn Scone" by Mike Jack Stoumbos: The small village of Llwelyn is famous for its scones and a couple of heroes a generation ago. Then a new lord comes to the village and demands to sample the famous scones. The trouble is that they require dragon's tears to make and nobody in the town now is a hero. So they draw lots to see who will face the dragon.
"Tender" by R.S. Belcher: Monster living among modern humanity need to eat, too. They can order their very specific meals through an app called Tender. The main character is the man who delivers the orders.
"That Final Touch of Salt" by Mia Moss: The narrator is the spirit of a child. A witch, Mirror, cursed the spirit and trapped her to a phial and now forces her to work for Mirror and her family. The poor little spirit tries to escape but in vain.
"Alien Capers" by Gini Koch: This story is set in Koch's humorous SF world. Unfortunately, it doesn't really introduce the characters. The main character is a journalist and for a short time he acts as a bodyguard to a 19-year old prince. They are on a planet where all the aliens look like apes but are intelligent. The narrator and the prince are caught holding the crown jewels of a lot of worlds. It all starts in a banquet.
"Magick on the Half Shell" by D.B. Jackson: A fantasy history story set in Boston in 1761. Ethan Kaille is a thieftaker. He can use magic so he often catches thieves who use magic themselves. Sephira Pryce is one of the leaders of Boston's underworld and a very dangerous women. When she has an offer for Ethan, he's suspicious.
"Apocalypse Chow" by Jason Palmatier: The apocalypse happened and most humans are dead. But two people are still left and they hate each other's guts. For now, they must stick together for shelter and food.
"Six Sandwiches to Place Inside a Pentagram to Summon Me to Your Presence" by Gabriela Santiago: This story is six letterd from Elle to her younger brother Kam. They instruct him on how to make various sandwiches and also reminisce on the past, her own and their shared past.
This was a fun collection which several funny stories mixed with more serious ones.
The collection has a surprising number of humorous and downright whimsical stories which was great. But it does have more serious stories, too, and one is borderline horror. Some mix fantasy and science fiction. All stories have food in them and some of them focus on a particular dish.
"Blue" by Paige L. Christie: Blue Eat is a diner but not just any diner. The people there want to help everyone who comes in. A man whose past weights very heavy on his conscious can't tell his story and May must work very hard to get it out of him.
"My Brother's Leaves" by Diana A. Hart: Mei's brother has spent so much money on wine and women that he's in a terrible debt. When he dies, he leaves Mei is a very difficult position. Mei has no choice but to go through her brother's memories in the hopes of glimpsing something that will help her. But it's very dangerous to consume too much of the tea that shows her his memories.
"Snow and Apples" by A.L. Tompkins: Ivan's beloved Marushka has died and the only thing he can do for her is to fetch some ghost apples. But they're well guarded. Fortunately, Ivan has friends who might be able to help him.
"Sense and Sensitivity" by Esther Friesner: This is a slapstick comedy in written form. Midge is an agent of Department of Extraterrestrial Respect and Protocol which was formed shortly after the Malkyoh came to Earth. The aliens are ravenous gluttons who demand constant feasts but unfortunately they're also allergic to various Earth foods. Midge is trying to both protect humans and be properly subservient to the aliens.
"The Silence that Consumes Us" by Derrick Boden: A military pilot crashes her space fighter with one of her enemies' fighters. They end up on a moon which has barely breathable air. But no food.
"The All Go Hungry Hash House" by Andy Duncan: Three musicians go to a famous Hash House... and things go downhill from there. Another comedy story.
"Pickled Roots and Peeled Shoots and a Bowl of Farflower Tea" by Chaz Brenchley: A woman has founded a monastery in a remote location. A group of soldiers comes to the monastery with a mission their leader is determined to see through, no matter what.
"Course of Blood" by Howard Andrew Jones: This fantasy story begins with a feast. Three soldiers are looking for an enemy general, Hanuvar, who is apparently hiding in the town. Hanuvar has such a fearsome reputation that the soldiers say that they're looking for someone who claims to be the general.
"A Real Llwelyn Scone" by Mike Jack Stoumbos: The small village of Llwelyn is famous for its scones and a couple of heroes a generation ago. Then a new lord comes to the village and demands to sample the famous scones. The trouble is that they require dragon's tears to make and nobody in the town now is a hero. So they draw lots to see who will face the dragon.
"Tender" by R.S. Belcher: Monster living among modern humanity need to eat, too. They can order their very specific meals through an app called Tender. The main character is the man who delivers the orders.
"That Final Touch of Salt" by Mia Moss: The narrator is the spirit of a child. A witch, Mirror, cursed the spirit and trapped her to a phial and now forces her to work for Mirror and her family. The poor little spirit tries to escape but in vain.
"Alien Capers" by Gini Koch: This story is set in Koch's humorous SF world. Unfortunately, it doesn't really introduce the characters. The main character is a journalist and for a short time he acts as a bodyguard to a 19-year old prince. They are on a planet where all the aliens look like apes but are intelligent. The narrator and the prince are caught holding the crown jewels of a lot of worlds. It all starts in a banquet.
"Magick on the Half Shell" by D.B. Jackson: A fantasy history story set in Boston in 1761. Ethan Kaille is a thieftaker. He can use magic so he often catches thieves who use magic themselves. Sephira Pryce is one of the leaders of Boston's underworld and a very dangerous women. When she has an offer for Ethan, he's suspicious.
"Apocalypse Chow" by Jason Palmatier: The apocalypse happened and most humans are dead. But two people are still left and they hate each other's guts. For now, they must stick together for shelter and food.
"Six Sandwiches to Place Inside a Pentagram to Summon Me to Your Presence" by Gabriela Santiago: This story is six letterd from Elle to her younger brother Kam. They instruct him on how to make various sandwiches and also reminisce on the past, her own and their shared past.
This was a fun collection which several funny stories mixed with more serious ones.
March 5, 2025
This anthology has one of the best themes I've seen in a while, comprising a mix of fantasy and science fiction stories that focus on food and cooking a bit more than we usually get. My favorite story was probably Andy Duncan's "The All Go Hungry Hash House," featuring a trio of musicians find themselves at the worst hash house ever, told in a distinctive and wonderful Appalachian storytelling style. Most of the rest of the stories are "good enough" for my tastes, but don't rise up beyond that level. There's a mix of silliness and seriousness in several of the stories that I appreciated.
June 26, 2020
Another success by Zombies Need Brains. If you like short stories you need to check them out for their many publications. This is well done and contains some interesting interpretations of living life around a meal.
December 27, 2020
I always enjoy the ZNB anthologies. This one is kind of like an Outer Limits series where ach story revolves in some way around food. I particularly liked "Blue", "Tender", and "That Final Touch of Salt".
July 21, 2020
Tremendously good fun with some fantastic stories. A must-read for anthology short story readers out there.
August 1, 2020
Whimsical and Engaging
Really nice collection of short stories, to dip into another world and escape. I’ll have to track down other writing of all these authors.
Really nice collection of short stories, to dip into another world and escape. I’ll have to track down other writing of all these authors.
March 31, 2021
4.5 ⭐️ A pleasant surprise!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews