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Or All Will Burn
There's a question every parent faces and dreads; what would they do to protect their children? What lengths would they go to in order to make sure their children survive? And how would they avenge them if they couldn't?
Or All Will Burn contains stories that explore these questions through space, time, and species. Join these 11 authors as they dive into the depths a parent will go to for their children.
Or All Will Burn contains stories that explore these questions through space, time, and species. Join these 11 authors as they dive into the depths a parent will go to for their children.
- GenresAnthologies
236 pages, Paperback
Published October 12, 2023
16 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Kacey Ezell
80 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 23, 2025
Ended up not being much of what I thought I was buying. Wasn't really bait and switch, just that I thought it was something it turned out not to be. Learned my lesson though.
Story number 1, Pierce's "A Mother's Pyre," was an unexpected treat. Sentient spaceship. Great start.
False promise.
Outside of that story, the only other great story was Grayson's "A Father's Promise," A very good vengeance filled scavenger hunt. Well written.
The anthology also holds 2 tolerable tales. Even with them, that's a 40%...way, way below desired outcomes. This one goes bye-bye.
Story number 1, Pierce's "A Mother's Pyre," was an unexpected treat. Sentient spaceship. Great start.
False promise.
Outside of that story, the only other great story was Grayson's "A Father's Promise," A very good vengeance filled scavenger hunt. Well written.
The anthology also holds 2 tolerable tales. Even with them, that's a 40%...way, way below desired outcomes. This one goes bye-bye.
March 7, 2024
Or All Will Burn (Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 13). Raconteur Press. Kindle Edition.
A small word about Kacey Ezell, prompted by her writing of the Introduction to this collection. If you meet her, do not be deceived by her charm, grace, and wit; this woman does not NEED a helicopter to put you under the ground (although if she DID need one, it would no doubt appear). In her own words:
“Every life matters. But as a parent, in my mind, my daughters' lives matter more than anyone or anything.”
Yes. The female of the species IS more deadly than the male. Please, for your own sake, keep that in mind! And, should you ever encounter Kacey in person, remember to be polite; that way you will never have the (brief) experience of 'the she-bear thus accosted.'
Authors in this volume have provided stories allowing you to vicariously have the experience of bothering the she-bear from a great distance, which is the only way in which it may be survived without tissue damage. Enjoy!
A Mother's Pyre, by J. Kenton Pierce. A mother's responsibility to her children does NOT seem to be limited by her abilities; the 'Protection' switch seems to have two settings: Active and Standby. In this story, the mother is more than symbolic, but other than biological. I did NOT say 'less than biological.' The ship HMS Ascension of Man feels the motherhood drive very strongly, and patiently sets about doing her job, as well as possible.
Peer Review Parenting, by A. Kristina Casasent. The relationship between pets and owners is not QUITE the same as that between parents and children, but surely this is a matter of bandwidth more than devotion. Uplifted dogs and cats address that limitation, so that partnership is a better description of the relationship they have with their human counterparts. When a close-minded criminal is placed in charge of the lab, her agenda includes murdering the new sapients. This is NOT an approved approach.
Fur, Fangs, Family, by Wally Waltner. The saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' is illustrated across species lines in this story. People have a place, too, and their loyalty is not questioned.
A Father’s Promise, by Kelly Grayson. We have already discussed the lethal force a mother can exert when her children are threatened; this story looks at the mayhem an organized, systematic father can bring.
Beneath Red Sky, by Moze Howard. In the days after TEOTWAWKI, small communities spring up. The will provide a way to reclaim much of a technological society, IF the bandits will leave them alone. When one community is raided, a father places an obligation on his wife with his dying words. She must rescue their children, or die trying.
Pia, by Andrew Milbourne. Nobody likes a child-slaver. Pia REALLY doesn't like them, and her intention is to end them, each one.
The Country Road, by Daniel G. Zeidler. Andvari Ironfist is on his way home. Nothing will deter him from reaching his destination. Nothing, other than rescuing innocent children in need, that is.
Werewolf Nation, by TC Ross. Werewolves prowl the land in this story of TEOTWAWKI, but there is something strange about their behavior. Investigate? Or kill them all?
And The Void Stared Back, by Kacey Ezell and Marisa Wolf. Ouch.
Ouch, because these are two of my favorite authors, and I didn't understand one bit of this story. If you can find meaning, or even coherence or continuity in these words, you have access to a knowledge base with which I am quite ignorant of.
Sorry.
What Was Once Wild, by Sarah Arnette. Parents can be other-than-human. In this case, the parents are cats; uplifted, to be sure, but cats nonetheless. Shy, the star of our story, prefers a life in the wild, because she doesn't want anyone else to be in control of her life, and particularly not in control of her food supply. However, as so many parents have discovered before her, everything changes when you have kids. Figuratively, Shy sells the sports car and buys a mini-van. Even so, it's not a bad life.
A small word about Kacey Ezell, prompted by her writing of the Introduction to this collection. If you meet her, do not be deceived by her charm, grace, and wit; this woman does not NEED a helicopter to put you under the ground (although if she DID need one, it would no doubt appear). In her own words:
“Every life matters. But as a parent, in my mind, my daughters' lives matter more than anyone or anything.”
Yes. The female of the species IS more deadly than the male. Please, for your own sake, keep that in mind! And, should you ever encounter Kacey in person, remember to be polite; that way you will never have the (brief) experience of 'the she-bear thus accosted.'
Authors in this volume have provided stories allowing you to vicariously have the experience of bothering the she-bear from a great distance, which is the only way in which it may be survived without tissue damage. Enjoy!
A Mother's Pyre, by J. Kenton Pierce. A mother's responsibility to her children does NOT seem to be limited by her abilities; the 'Protection' switch seems to have two settings: Active and Standby. In this story, the mother is more than symbolic, but other than biological. I did NOT say 'less than biological.' The ship HMS Ascension of Man feels the motherhood drive very strongly, and patiently sets about doing her job, as well as possible.
Peer Review Parenting, by A. Kristina Casasent. The relationship between pets and owners is not QUITE the same as that between parents and children, but surely this is a matter of bandwidth more than devotion. Uplifted dogs and cats address that limitation, so that partnership is a better description of the relationship they have with their human counterparts. When a close-minded criminal is placed in charge of the lab, her agenda includes murdering the new sapients. This is NOT an approved approach.
Fur, Fangs, Family, by Wally Waltner. The saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' is illustrated across species lines in this story. People have a place, too, and their loyalty is not questioned.
A Father’s Promise, by Kelly Grayson. We have already discussed the lethal force a mother can exert when her children are threatened; this story looks at the mayhem an organized, systematic father can bring.
Beneath Red Sky, by Moze Howard. In the days after TEOTWAWKI, small communities spring up. The will provide a way to reclaim much of a technological society, IF the bandits will leave them alone. When one community is raided, a father places an obligation on his wife with his dying words. She must rescue their children, or die trying.
Pia, by Andrew Milbourne. Nobody likes a child-slaver. Pia REALLY doesn't like them, and her intention is to end them, each one.
The Country Road, by Daniel G. Zeidler. Andvari Ironfist is on his way home. Nothing will deter him from reaching his destination. Nothing, other than rescuing innocent children in need, that is.
Werewolf Nation, by TC Ross. Werewolves prowl the land in this story of TEOTWAWKI, but there is something strange about their behavior. Investigate? Or kill them all?
And The Void Stared Back, by Kacey Ezell and Marisa Wolf. Ouch.
Ouch, because these are two of my favorite authors, and I didn't understand one bit of this story. If you can find meaning, or even coherence or continuity in these words, you have access to a knowledge base with which I am quite ignorant of.
Sorry.
What Was Once Wild, by Sarah Arnette. Parents can be other-than-human. In this case, the parents are cats; uplifted, to be sure, but cats nonetheless. Shy, the star of our story, prefers a life in the wild, because she doesn't want anyone else to be in control of her life, and particularly not in control of her food supply. However, as so many parents have discovered before her, everything changes when you have kids. Figuratively, Shy sells the sports car and buys a mini-van. Even so, it's not a bad life.
December 20, 2023
Great anthology!
Or All Will Burn is a great collection of stories detailing Mother’s love in a wide variety of Moms. Most of the stories grabbed my attention from the beginning, which is the key to short stories, for me. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Or All Will Burn is a great collection of stories detailing Mother’s love in a wide variety of Moms. Most of the stories grabbed my attention from the beginning, which is the key to short stories, for me. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
January 4, 2024
A parent's love, from tough to deadly, is put to the test. Almost all 4's and 5's.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews