Star Stuff: Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories

by Daniel Arenson

Science fiction and fantasy stories from a USA Today bestselling author. Carl Sagan famously said that we are made of star stuff. The atoms in our bodies were forged in the hearts of stars. We are a way for the universe to know itself. Science fiction is the literature of ideas. Of exploration. Of imagination. Through science fiction, we get a little closer to knowing the universe. This anthology contains tales of imagination. One novella. Five science fiction stories. One fantasy story. All seven tales ask a question. What if . . . We are made of star stuff. Let's gaze at where we came from . . . and imagine.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2020

About the author

Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. The Huffington Post has called his writing "full of soul." He's written over forty novels, most of them in five series:

EARTHRISE — They came from deep space. They came to destroy us. Against the alien onslaught, Earth stands alone. But we will fight. We will rise. We will win. Start reading with Earth Alone, the first novel in this military science fiction series.

REQUIEM — Welcome to Requiem, an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem is explored in six trilogies, which can be read in any order. If you're new to Requiem, you can start reading with Requiem's Song (you can download it for free). For fans of dark, gritty fantasy like A Game of Thrones.

MOTH — Discover Moth, a world torn between day and night—its one half drenched in eternal daylight, the other cloaked in endless darkness. For fans of classic fantasy worlds such as Middle Earth and Narnia. Start reading with Moth, the first novel in this epic fantasy saga.

ALIEN HUNTERS — Got trouble with aliens? Call the Alien Hunters. A group of scruffy mercenaries, they'll remove the pest for you. Low rates. No questions asked. Start reading with Alien Hunters, the first book in this space opera series. For fans of Star Wars, Firefly, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

KINGDOMS OF SAND — Enter a world of sand and splendor, a world where gladiators battle in the arena, where legionaries and barbarians fight for glory, and where empires rise and fall.

Reviews

[M. Garnet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few stories in this collection almost let me want to close it out and not finish. They seemed to be written by a younger person who did not have the experience of an author who has studied their craft and was a little childish, then the next story was about a child - a small girl in danger and Mr. Arenson handled it so well he won me over. He also has another short story again about a young girl that is a winner. It seems he does very well with the young ladies in danger and being winners. Okay, he won't be my favorite author but I will look up a couple of his books to read in the future and I recommend this collection for others to understand a glimpse of what he has to say in his works.

[Joe Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining collection of stories. Some are, as the author mentions in one of his brief notes, cerebral, and others are more of the action oriented. Daniel Arenson does a good job with his characters, especially females as in "The Girl on Fire" and "The Firebug and the Pharaoh" where woman Top Gun meets alien reptiles.

The more "cerebral" stories as intriguing takes on our world of technology and social media. "Mr. Smiley," the last story in the collection, is a particularly devastating view.

[Marije · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I’m normally not a short story kind of person, I really, really enjoyed this book!
The book contains a variety of stories, some with links to other books Daniel wrote.
All stories are written in a way that you are not just reading the story, you are in it.
It is a great book, easy to read because of the size of the stories. Perfect for a holiday or in between lengthier books.
Would definitely recommend!

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of stories

The stories in this collection were quietly interesting. In many cases they make you think about the world around you in a deeper context. Especially Mister Smiley. In the always connected world we are in today what are we being driven towards by what we are constantly exposed to online in our weakest moments?

[Michael Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven amazing tales of loss and gain, of fantasy and fiction, of familiar worlds with new characters. Characters! Full Technicolor characters with lives and souls, people you know and remember, love or hate, horror only possible from the twisted mind of a master storyteller. Each unique tale stirs your mind and leaves you wanting more. Great reads!

[Manie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Star Stuff is rather a disturbing collection containing a novella and some short stories that deal with the kind of things that might have haunted your nightmares as a young child. They are the kind of things that might go thump in the night and have you keep your night light on.
They are well written nevertheless though disturbing...if you like being a scaredy cat.
Enjoy.

[Joan Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tells a great story which isn't as common as you might think these days. He begins at the beginning, continues until the end, then stops. Fabulous.

[John B. Schoenhoff]

Good stories a fun read.

A collection of excellent short stories. One was finished and kept me wanting to go on to the next one.