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Christopher Columbus, Wildcatter: A Short Story
Life as an asteroid wildcatter ain't easy!
Hello, friends. The name's Christopher Columbus Jackson. When I set out to make my fortune as an asteroid wildcatter, I had no idea that I'd soon cross paths with a down-and-out warrior priestess of the Church of Jesus Christ of Post-Millennial Saints, Orthodox. If I'd known better, I'd have steered clear of her distress beacon altogether.
But there are two kinds of people in this those who believe in something bigger than themselves, and those who don't believe in anything else. I would soon find out what kind of a man I was.
Hello, friends. The name's Christopher Columbus Jackson. When I set out to make my fortune as an asteroid wildcatter, I had no idea that I'd soon cross paths with a down-and-out warrior priestess of the Church of Jesus Christ of Post-Millennial Saints, Orthodox. If I'd known better, I'd have steered clear of her distress beacon altogether.
But there are two kinds of people in this those who believe in something bigger than themselves, and those who don't believe in anything else. I would soon find out what kind of a man I was.
- GenresScience Fiction
25 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2022
7 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 26, 2022
Review of eBook
Christopher Columbus Jackson gave a great deal for his chosen profession, that of an asteroid wildcatter. But today, as he heads toward an asteroid claim in the Vulcan system when another wildcatter tried to beat him there.
But luck was on his side; he’d beat the other ship about ten hours.
And then there was a distress signal from an escape pod.
What choice will Christopher make? Continue on to stake his claim or give it up to rescue the escape pod?
=========
Part of the author’s Short Story Singles series, this science fiction story introduces readers to a futuristic explorer. With a strong sense of place, a sweet kitten, and an intriguing central character [a cybernetically augmented mine worker] the story keeps the reader involved in the telling of the tale.
Readers will find the dilemma facing Christopher both compelling and significant and it ultimately reveals the wildcatter’s true character.
Highly recommended.
Christopher Columbus Jackson gave a great deal for his chosen profession, that of an asteroid wildcatter. But today, as he heads toward an asteroid claim in the Vulcan system when another wildcatter tried to beat him there.
But luck was on his side; he’d beat the other ship about ten hours.
And then there was a distress signal from an escape pod.
What choice will Christopher make? Continue on to stake his claim or give it up to rescue the escape pod?
=========
Part of the author’s Short Story Singles series, this science fiction story introduces readers to a futuristic explorer. With a strong sense of place, a sweet kitten, and an intriguing central character [a cybernetically augmented mine worker] the story keeps the reader involved in the telling of the tale.
Readers will find the dilemma facing Christopher both compelling and significant and it ultimately reveals the wildcatter’s true character.
Highly recommended.
February 12, 2024
Set in space in the 26th century.
Christopher Columbus Jackson: instead of crossing seas of water, he crosses oceans of stars.
It’s hard to make it big these days, so Chris turns to “wildcatting.” He’s a cybernetic asteroid miner, planting flags to claim territory for corporations.
Chris undergoes some radical…alterations. Due to his new and enhanced appendages, Chris is very strong.
Harvesting metals, ore, water ice; electrolysis can provide energy—a wild vision of the future.
Phantom vibrations? Solved by the new kitten, Isabella. The leech, the gold; Ruth and the rescue.
Hard to follow, at times, for a non-sci-fi reader, but a witty story with a very cool ending.
Joe has some of the best Author’s Notes in the damn business. I absolutely love the insights he shares, giving us glimpses into his writing process.
Christopher Columbus Jackson: instead of crossing seas of water, he crosses oceans of stars.
It’s hard to make it big these days, so Chris turns to “wildcatting.” He’s a cybernetic asteroid miner, planting flags to claim territory for corporations.
Chris undergoes some radical…alterations. Due to his new and enhanced appendages, Chris is very strong.
Harvesting metals, ore, water ice; electrolysis can provide energy—a wild vision of the future.
Phantom vibrations? Solved by the new kitten, Isabella. The leech, the gold; Ruth and the rescue.
Hard to follow, at times, for a non-sci-fi reader, but a witty story with a very cool ending.
Joe has some of the best Author’s Notes in the damn business. I absolutely love the insights he shares, giving us glimpses into his writing process.
November 27, 2022
Good. A lot of humor in this - the narrator is named Christopher Columbus Jackson, but his understanding of the past, including his namesake, is quite confused. (He refers to Darth Vader as an ancient pagan god). He has all his limbs removed to work as a miner, and after that goes to work as an asteroid wildcatter. On one such trip, he rescues a mysterious deaconess of the neo-Mormon Church, whose spacecraft appears through a rift and is destroyed by another ship. The first in an intended series.
November 24, 2022
I find this quite enjoyable.
Still, I would love to see an entire novel developed about Christopher's exploration for other planets and such, I see it can become something big with more sophisticated plot that hopefully led lead us to think about the future not just from the perspective of the story but for the current reality as we know it.
Still, I would love to see an entire novel developed about Christopher's exploration for other planets and such, I see it can become something big with more sophisticated plot that hopefully led lead us to think about the future not just from the perspective of the story but for the current reality as we know it.
February 15, 2023
The story of a cybernetically enhanced asteroid miner torn between the payday of his life and the rescue of stranded person ejected from their destroyed ship. What he decides will set the direction on the rest of his life.
A nicely written tale of a man in two minds. Set so far into the future that 20th century history is now a mixture of myth and muddled up fact.
I found this to be both interesting and funny in parts as our main character struggles to decide his own fate
A nicely written tale of a man in two minds. Set so far into the future that 20th century history is now a mixture of myth and muddled up fact.
I found this to be both interesting and funny in parts as our main character struggles to decide his own fate
August 22, 2023
A man named Christopher Columbus got outfitted with cybernetic arms and legs and became an asteroid miner. He gives up the chance to hit it big and chooses to save the life of a spaceship wreck. He is rewarded with gold
July 3, 2024
🪐🚀Entertaining
Christopher Columbus Jackson loved adventure.
To earn a living, he had to make radical choices that changed him forever...
**********
Read first this novelette to better understand how it all started.
Very good entertaining story.
Christopher Columbus Jackson loved adventure.
To earn a living, he had to make radical choices that changed him forever...
**********
Read first this novelette to better understand how it all started.
Very good entertaining story.
December 3, 2022
Short.
A short entry in a short series. Some names linger on. How many women in Australia were named Sheila? Action based fable.
A short entry in a short series. Some names linger on. How many women in Australia were named Sheila? Action based fable.
July 10, 2025
wildcatter
This story has some really fun additions. It is a bit more sci fi than I typically read so some of the jargon was difficult to get through. Well worth it though.
This story has some really fun additions. It is a bit more sci fi than I typically read so some of the jargon was difficult to get through. Well worth it though.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews