The Underdogs Rise: Volume 2

by J.R. Martin, Robert Guffey, Julia LaFond

In a world where heroes soar and villains lurk, these are the stories of those who defy expectations, who rise from the ashes of adversity and carve their own paths in a world that tries to hold them back.

Follow a wingless boy who dares to challenge the sky, building a rocket from scraps, snatching his dreams from the mouth of despair.

Hard lessons are learned when a convenience store clerk learns that there are shades of gray when debating what makes a villain and how heroes are born.

A young woman seeks vengeance in a world of magic and betrayal, only to discover the true meaning of sacrifice.

This father's love transcends death, leaving a legacy of hope and healing in a world consumed by darkness.

Even the smallest among us can make a difference when a goblin jester embarks on a perilous quest to save his people, proving that heart, determination, and a little cunning can overcome any obstacles.

When a mother's desperation leads her to a dark bargain, her love for her daughter remains unwavering. Will this be enough to save them from the danger lurking in her dreams?

What harm is there in taking a last-minute job to smuggle some goods aboard an unexpected ship? When a galactic smuggler risks everything for a chance at redemption, she proves that even in the darkest corners of the universe, hope can still ignite.These are the underdogs. And their stories will ignite your imagination.

Underdog Press presents extraordinary tales where heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Meet the dream weavers, the flawed champions, and the giant slayers who defy expectations. When the odds are stacked against them, these underdogs will rise, proving that every person has their moment to shine.

Forget cookie-cutter stories. Underdog Press delivers unique voices and unforgettable characters in tales you won't find anywhere else.

Thank you for being a reader who celebrates the power of the underdog!

This is their day. This is their fight.

Pre-order your copy now!

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

J. R. Martin was born in Texas to military parents. Due to constant travel, they ensured he had plenty of books to read. Soon reading wasn't enough, and he began writing stories of his own. Now you can find him in such collections as Gunfight on Europa Station, released by Baen, and From Planet Texas, With Love and Aliens. He also received an honorable mention in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest.

His first novel will release in 2023.

Reviews

[Luke Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Underdogs Rise: Volume 2 is a speculative fiction anthology edited by J.R. Martin and featuring fourteen stories that explore the concept of the underdog.

I love the idea of independent anthologies. The short form is something that is close to my heart and when a short story is done well, it can have just as much of an impact as a novel. There are a few gems within this anthology, with When Blood Decides All by Spencer Sekulin and Rosie’s Galactic Gamble by Angeligue Fawns being particular standouts, but they can only carry the book so far.

Most of the other stories didn’t quite stand up. They weren’t particularly bad, but there was also nothing that stood out either. Short stories can be brutal, because flaws in the prose can’t be hidden behind the characters and the plot and the quality of the prose affects everything else. It seems that the stories in The Underdogs Rise: Volume 2 were chosen for the ideas that they presented rather than the prose itself.

In this I can see where the love is. The ideas present in the anthology speak to the central theme of the little guy against the odds, often in harsh and unforgiving worlds. It’s just that writing is more than just ideas.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a large fan of fantasy and sci-fi I went into this anthology with an open mind and the hope of discovering potential new authors to read. As I started to read the stories in this anthology my excited started to turn into boredom. None of the stories captivated me nor drew me in fully. Reading through the stories, I would also add that the editing team might want to revisit. I was often distracted by grammatical errors and even words that were missing within some sentences. I give this book four stars because I do understand that my version of fantasy/sci-fi might not be everyone else's version. I usually finish a book within a matter of hours. This book took me WEEKS to finish. I do feel that with better editing this book would be able to get the full five stars from me.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology had a good mix of stories. I thought they were well written, although I didn't like all of them equally. My favorites were 'On Burning Wings of Hydrogen', 'Just Another Friday Night', and 'Stand at Wolf Creek'. A couple stories were a bit confusing, as if they were taken out of a larger piece of writing. 'Queen of Hearts' was definitely crying out for a larger story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kerrie Kellner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories, like most anthologies some are better than others. I did find them all to be pleasant to read and enjoyed the different takes on the underdogs rising theme.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.