To The Stars - And Beyond: The Second Borgo Press Book Of Science Fiction Stories

Borgo Press Book of Science Fiction #2

by Robert Reginald (Author/Editor), Damien Broderick, Gary Lovisi

n Damien Broderick’s haunting tale, “The Meek,” the survivors of humanity’s drive toward racial suicide must pay an awful price for their continued survival. John Glasby’s “Innsmouth Bane” tells how the alien entity Dagon first came to nineteenth-century America. In “Helen’s Last Will,” James C. Glass shows us that death may not always be “the end.” Charles Allen Gramlich’s “I Can Spend You” is a futuristic western which puts prospecting in a whole new light! “The Voice of the Dolphin in Air,” by Howard V. Hendrix, is a poignant tale of life and death on Mars and the LaGrange space stations. In Philip E. High’s “This World Is Ours,” David Hacket is given the task of revitalizing a declining city (and world), and finds himself facing an alien invasion. James B. Johnson’s “The Last American” is fighting to preserve the memory of the old U.S. of A.—in a last stand at the Alamo! In “Small A Small Story,” by Michael Kurland, Vanspeepe invents a new transportation device, hoping to change the world—and he does! “The Channel A Sime~Gen Story,” by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, focuses on the tensions between Sime and Gen when a mixed party of humans is stranded on an alien planet. Gary Lovisi’s tale, “My Guardian,” tells how mankind is finally able to put an end to wars and mass killings. “Black Mist,” by Richard A. Lupoff, is a stunning mystery set at a Japanese research station on the Martian moon, Phobos. Don Webb, in his fascinating tale, “The Five Biographies of General Gerrhan,” demonstrates how easy it is for the professional writer to (mis)interpret, deliberately or otherwise, the story of a space hero. Twelve great reads by a dozen great writers!

Genres: Science Fiction

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2011

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like any collection of short stories, some catch our attention, while others are left behind. To the Stars - And Beyond edited by Robert Reginald is no exception. However, this was one of the better collections I’ve read.

The story that really caught my attention was Helen’s Last Will by James C. Glass. This is the best short story I’ve come across in long time. It captured my imagination. Full disclosure, I love the idea of technological reincarnation or preservation, particularly when it reaches back into the normal world.

Other stories I also enjoyed were Small World: A Small Story by Michael Kurland, a story about the unintended consequences of technology. My Guardian by Gary Lovisi was also an interesting story about earth versus off-world policies and politics. Finally, I very much enjoyed Black Mist by Richard A. Lupoff. I appealed to the anthropological side of me, with interesting Japanese cultural references and a mystery on one of the moons of Mars.

Short story collections are always a mixed bag, but I found a lot to like in this one. Four of five stars on Goodreads.

[James Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd, but interesting collection of short stories which I enjoyed reading and whetted my appetite for more from a couple of the authors.