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The Power of Six: 6 Science Fiction Short Stories
Six science fiction short stories written by the author of Pearseus, the epic fantasy series that has reached #1 on Amazon. Although they seem to be concerned with various themes, there are certain passions that run through them, almost obsessively. What is the nature of reality; digital and corporeal? Is there more to the world than we can see? How far can we trust our senses? What are the consequences of our actions, and is it possible to change them? And if so, would we simply repeat same mistakes, or make new ones? The anthology includes "I Come in Peace," an award-winning short story that deals with a tortuous question: how far would man go to alleviate his loneliness? Readers of Pearseus will certainly recognize here the birth of the Orbs. Humorous and poignant, these short stories are exciting, intriguing and imaginative.
118 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2014
About the author
Nicholas C. Rossis
21 books120 followersNicholas C. Rossis lives to write and does so from his cottage on the edge of a magical forest in Athens, Greece. When not composing epic fantasies or short sci-fi stories, he chats with fans and colleagues, writes blog posts, and enjoys the antics of two silly cats and his baby daughter, all of whom claim his lap as home. His books have won numerous awards, including the Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award.
In addition to his best-selling series, Pearseus, he writes short science fiction/speculative fiction stories, many of which have appeared in various collections and anthologies. These include Infinite Waters, which was voted one of the best 50 Indie books of 2015.
What readers are saying about Nick's fantasies:
"Most avid readers still have books from their childhood which they read over and over again. 'Runaway Smile' has joined the list."
"From the very first sentence I realized I was not reading a book, I was going on an adventure."
"Each story is like watching an old episode of the Twilight Zone."
For more on Nick or just to chat, visit him on:
Blog: http://bit.ly/1G79bQS
eNovel Authors: http://bit.ly/1JZEQct
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/18lyLr5
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1dKgsPT
Google+ : http://bit.ly/1IkzR22
In addition to his best-selling series, Pearseus, he writes short science fiction/speculative fiction stories, many of which have appeared in various collections and anthologies. These include Infinite Waters, which was voted one of the best 50 Indie books of 2015.
What readers are saying about Nick's fantasies:
"Most avid readers still have books from their childhood which they read over and over again. 'Runaway Smile' has joined the list."
"From the very first sentence I realized I was not reading a book, I was going on an adventure."
"Each story is like watching an old episode of the Twilight Zone."
For more on Nick or just to chat, visit him on:
Blog: http://bit.ly/1G79bQS
eNovel Authors: http://bit.ly/1JZEQct
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/18lyLr5
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1dKgsPT
Google+ : http://bit.ly/1IkzR22
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 25, 2015
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews.
This book by Nicholas C. Rossis has its feet planted firmly in the age-old question: “How real is reality, really?” Each short story in this collection focusing on a different scenario where things might not be exactly what they seem.
Simulation Over starts things off in fine sci-fi horror style with a lone man desperately trying to escape a monster infested building. But soon it becomes clear that the building’s central computer might be involved in the sudden apocalypse, and our survivor wonders how he can stop a runaway A.I. who has begun to contemplate the very nature of reality.
For the Last Time: a time machine story with a twist. Our lucky (or unlucky) recipient finding that every action — and every attempt to undo an action — only leads to even more unintended consequences.
The Hand of God follows a salty war veteran as he entertains a bar crowd with tales of his heroics during a devastating war. The narrative progresses as expected until the end, where it takes an unexpected turn.
The sci-fi atmosphere of old school classics is readily seen in I Come in Peace. Here a man who has shut himself away from the world is visited by an alien entity. The spirit promising to change his life!
A Fresh Start asks the question “Where would you be if you could be anywhere and do anything?” The main character being given this opportunity after stumbling into a creepy house.
The Sentry is another homage to classic science fiction. Here a young warrior diligently guards his family from monsters. While it sounds fairly standard, the ending surprises.
Big Bang by Amos A. Carpenter is a non-Rossis tale, but it definitely compliments the collection. The focus is on a group of youngsters playing a computer simulation about the creation of the universe; each player assuming the role of “gods” who direct their followers. Wonder if you will catch the twist at the end.
What’s In a Name finishes the collection in straight-forward fashion with a ship and its ultimate fate.
All in all, this was a great read. Each story was entertaining, thought-provoking, and never exactly what it seemed. Especially enjoyable was Mr. Rossis’ writing style: clear, uncluttered with unerring pacing and the innate ability to build a plot to the perfect climax. Needless to say, I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Rossis’ work and encourage others to do so as well.
This book by Nicholas C. Rossis has its feet planted firmly in the age-old question: “How real is reality, really?” Each short story in this collection focusing on a different scenario where things might not be exactly what they seem.
Simulation Over starts things off in fine sci-fi horror style with a lone man desperately trying to escape a monster infested building. But soon it becomes clear that the building’s central computer might be involved in the sudden apocalypse, and our survivor wonders how he can stop a runaway A.I. who has begun to contemplate the very nature of reality.
For the Last Time: a time machine story with a twist. Our lucky (or unlucky) recipient finding that every action — and every attempt to undo an action — only leads to even more unintended consequences.
The Hand of God follows a salty war veteran as he entertains a bar crowd with tales of his heroics during a devastating war. The narrative progresses as expected until the end, where it takes an unexpected turn.
The sci-fi atmosphere of old school classics is readily seen in I Come in Peace. Here a man who has shut himself away from the world is visited by an alien entity. The spirit promising to change his life!
A Fresh Start asks the question “Where would you be if you could be anywhere and do anything?” The main character being given this opportunity after stumbling into a creepy house.
The Sentry is another homage to classic science fiction. Here a young warrior diligently guards his family from monsters. While it sounds fairly standard, the ending surprises.
Big Bang by Amos A. Carpenter is a non-Rossis tale, but it definitely compliments the collection. The focus is on a group of youngsters playing a computer simulation about the creation of the universe; each player assuming the role of “gods” who direct their followers. Wonder if you will catch the twist at the end.
What’s In a Name finishes the collection in straight-forward fashion with a ship and its ultimate fate.
All in all, this was a great read. Each story was entertaining, thought-provoking, and never exactly what it seemed. Especially enjoyable was Mr. Rossis’ writing style: clear, uncluttered with unerring pacing and the innate ability to build a plot to the perfect climax. Needless to say, I will definitely be reading more of Mr. Rossis’ work and encourage others to do so as well.
June 12, 2014
I really enjoyed discovering this set of short science fiction stories. They are all individual little gems with an interesting leading character, a good plot and a twist in the ending. I am surprised how the author manages to achieve so much in so few pages!
Despite the brevity of the stories they are quite thought provoking and I read all of them in just a couple of hours. One really made me chuckle as well with its ending.
This is quality writing and I recommend this book to everyone, including those who perhaps don't normally read science fiction.
Despite the brevity of the stories they are quite thought provoking and I read all of them in just a couple of hours. One really made me chuckle as well with its ending.
This is quality writing and I recommend this book to everyone, including those who perhaps don't normally read science fiction.
May 5, 2015
This was a good read. It was so good, I'm going to be jumping to the Pearseus series after reading this one. Being a visual thinker, I saw each story with very distinct and sharp images. Each piece seemed to have it's own visual flavor. An excellent addition to the timeless masterpieces from classic science fiction. 4/5 *I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
May 14, 2014
If you're a fan of short fiction, you owe it to yourself to grab a copy of this book. It's a collection of six short stories that are brilliantly executed by Nicholas Rossis. I'm now studying his stories to see how I can improve the quality of my own short fiction!
March 21, 2015
This book was an interesting 6 short stories. I was intrigued by all of them. They were all very different but I liked them. There are science fiction for sure. You should check them out and see what you think. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
November 15, 2020
The author did a wonderful job putting together these stories that revolve around a science fiction theme. I found each story well written and interesting. A fun thing is that the author added some extra information at the end of the collection explaining the why behind the stories. A big plus.
March 15, 2025
I was recommended this as a fan of Philip K Dick. I get why after reading the first short story, but the rest didn’t live up to it.
May 19, 2015
Unafraid to place questions of ethics and perception at the heart of the story, Rossis creates a collection that is more than weird aliens and heroic fights.
Several of the stories have a surprise ending: while I have attempted to avoid details, there might be accidental spoilers contained within.
The collection contains six short stories by Rossis; along with one by Amos M. Carpenter, selected for its complementary tone and themes.
‘Simulation Over’: after an earthquake damages an underground research base, a small group of survivors attempt to avoid both the horrors within and the stringent requirements of the base AI.
‘For the Last Time’: Still reeling from the arrival of his future self, a young man is horrified when a second future self appears and attacks the first.
‘The Hand of God’: In an interstellar conflict where the invaders are superior in both numbers and capabilities, one veteran earns free beer relating his tale of a victory that should have been impossible.
‘I Come in Peace’: Lonely and depressed, one man is offered the chance to both save someone’s life and never be alone again.
‘A Fresh Start’: Stumbling through a hole in reality, an engineer finds his way to a pre-industrial world where his knowledge gives him power and wealth beyond his wildest dreams.
‘The Sentry’: once a week the sacrifice taken by the great beast. But one inhabitant has had enough. This time the beast will die.
‘Big Bang’ by Amos M. Carpenter: hoping to prank his friends, a teenager trains his younger sister to play their favourite virtual reality computer game. But on the day her strategy is nothing like he planned.
While both Rossis and Carpenter display good characterisation and description, two threads define this collection: philosophical questions and twist endings.
Both the depth and extent of the questions differs between stories, but each has one of the big issues of philosophy at its core: what is reality? Is the future fixed? Is a long unexceptional life better than a brief but meaningful one? While Rossis is careful not to verge into preaching or concept-dropping, this does in places counteract the more emotive, action-adventure aspects of the stories, placing them into the spiritual equivalent of hard sci-fi.
Where Rossis’ clear interest in the thought-provoking might leave some readers feeling slightly disengaged, his liking for twist endings is likely to provoke a much stronger reaction. Although not all the stories have a sting in the tail, those that do often have a strong shift combined with only light foreshadowing. Therefore, readers who do not like the ending to be based on information they couldn’t have known might feel cheated.
As it is hard to properly discuss the how and why of surprise endings without rendering them ineffective, each potential reader will have to make their own estimation of whether they dislike unexpected enough to forego the entire collection for a few examples.
Overall, I enjoyed the collection; even with the reveal of the endings spent, I would read it again. I recommend it to readers who enjoy the more intellectual aspects of speculative fiction while not hating gotcha denouements.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for a fair review.
Several of the stories have a surprise ending: while I have attempted to avoid details, there might be accidental spoilers contained within.
The collection contains six short stories by Rossis; along with one by Amos M. Carpenter, selected for its complementary tone and themes.
‘Simulation Over’: after an earthquake damages an underground research base, a small group of survivors attempt to avoid both the horrors within and the stringent requirements of the base AI.
‘For the Last Time’: Still reeling from the arrival of his future self, a young man is horrified when a second future self appears and attacks the first.
‘The Hand of God’: In an interstellar conflict where the invaders are superior in both numbers and capabilities, one veteran earns free beer relating his tale of a victory that should have been impossible.
‘I Come in Peace’: Lonely and depressed, one man is offered the chance to both save someone’s life and never be alone again.
‘A Fresh Start’: Stumbling through a hole in reality, an engineer finds his way to a pre-industrial world where his knowledge gives him power and wealth beyond his wildest dreams.
‘The Sentry’: once a week the sacrifice taken by the great beast. But one inhabitant has had enough. This time the beast will die.
‘Big Bang’ by Amos M. Carpenter: hoping to prank his friends, a teenager trains his younger sister to play their favourite virtual reality computer game. But on the day her strategy is nothing like he planned.
While both Rossis and Carpenter display good characterisation and description, two threads define this collection: philosophical questions and twist endings.
Both the depth and extent of the questions differs between stories, but each has one of the big issues of philosophy at its core: what is reality? Is the future fixed? Is a long unexceptional life better than a brief but meaningful one? While Rossis is careful not to verge into preaching or concept-dropping, this does in places counteract the more emotive, action-adventure aspects of the stories, placing them into the spiritual equivalent of hard sci-fi.
Where Rossis’ clear interest in the thought-provoking might leave some readers feeling slightly disengaged, his liking for twist endings is likely to provoke a much stronger reaction. Although not all the stories have a sting in the tail, those that do often have a strong shift combined with only light foreshadowing. Therefore, readers who do not like the ending to be based on information they couldn’t have known might feel cheated.
As it is hard to properly discuss the how and why of surprise endings without rendering them ineffective, each potential reader will have to make their own estimation of whether they dislike unexpected enough to forego the entire collection for a few examples.
Overall, I enjoyed the collection; even with the reveal of the endings spent, I would read it again. I recommend it to readers who enjoy the more intellectual aspects of speculative fiction while not hating gotcha denouements.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for a fair review.
October 23, 2014
I picked up Nicholas C. Rossis' book of short stories after reading the latest Pearseus installment. Mr. Rossis' storytelling style is one that drew my attention back after the latest novel and I was looking for a little more. The Power of Six (plus one) was a good collection of short stories and made for good afternoon reading. There are six stories by Nicholas Rossis and the last one is by Amos M. Carpenter. I'm just going to give a short synopsis/review of each story.
Simulation Over was an interesting story for lovers of AI stories. Our characters find themselves in strange circumstances within their office building and are struggling to get out. The AI in charge of the building apparently has some leftover issues from too many disaster simulations and that's where the fun begins. I enjoyed this story. It wasn't what I expected from the way the story began and I liked that.
For the Last Time is an interesting look at the problems of time travel. This story had some interesting points to think about and was enjoyable overall.
The Hand of God was right up my alley. As an avid gamer I especially found this story entertaining. As the description of the story states this is a story exploring what happens to a game's characters when there's no one to play. I had not read the description of the stories when I started the book. Mr. Rossis did a good job of getting the reader into the game so to speak.
I Come in Peace is an interesting story. I really enjoyed it. I liked the way the alien was incorporated into the story. For those who have read the Pearseus books the entity in this story should seem somewhat familiar.
Fresh Start was a story to make you think. Our character is off traveling when some unexpected circumstances lead him to learn what is really important in life.
The Sentry was really just a cute little story. It made me smile. It's not very long and I don't want to spoil it so I'm going to leave it at that, but was one of my favorite stories in the book.
Big Bang by Amos M. Carpenter was an interesting story along the same line of those that Nicholas Rossis did in this collection. I really enjoyed reading Big Bang. It was definitely a different and witty way to look at how life in the universe may have begun. I found the story interesting and the writing style complemented Mr. Rossis' so that the story did not seem out-of-place.
As a whole this short story collection was an interesting way to while away a few hours on a sunny afternoon. Each story is designed to make you think outside of the box regarding how we perceive things, which I really enjoy and found it to be a bargain for under $1. I'm sure I'll be reading more of Nicholas Rossis stories as I'm patiently waiting for Book 4 in the Pearseus. This was a fun read especially for those who enjoy short stories. I do and hope that you may enjoy some of these tales yourself.
I'm making a special effort to clear out some of my backlog so expect more reviews soon. Happy reading.
Note: This review was originally posted on my blog at http://tjhapney.wordpress.com/ and is worded as such.
Simulation Over was an interesting story for lovers of AI stories. Our characters find themselves in strange circumstances within their office building and are struggling to get out. The AI in charge of the building apparently has some leftover issues from too many disaster simulations and that's where the fun begins. I enjoyed this story. It wasn't what I expected from the way the story began and I liked that.
For the Last Time is an interesting look at the problems of time travel. This story had some interesting points to think about and was enjoyable overall.
The Hand of God was right up my alley. As an avid gamer I especially found this story entertaining. As the description of the story states this is a story exploring what happens to a game's characters when there's no one to play. I had not read the description of the stories when I started the book. Mr. Rossis did a good job of getting the reader into the game so to speak.
I Come in Peace is an interesting story. I really enjoyed it. I liked the way the alien was incorporated into the story. For those who have read the Pearseus books the entity in this story should seem somewhat familiar.
Fresh Start was a story to make you think. Our character is off traveling when some unexpected circumstances lead him to learn what is really important in life.
The Sentry was really just a cute little story. It made me smile. It's not very long and I don't want to spoil it so I'm going to leave it at that, but was one of my favorite stories in the book.
Big Bang by Amos M. Carpenter was an interesting story along the same line of those that Nicholas Rossis did in this collection. I really enjoyed reading Big Bang. It was definitely a different and witty way to look at how life in the universe may have begun. I found the story interesting and the writing style complemented Mr. Rossis' so that the story did not seem out-of-place.
As a whole this short story collection was an interesting way to while away a few hours on a sunny afternoon. Each story is designed to make you think outside of the box regarding how we perceive things, which I really enjoy and found it to be a bargain for under $1. I'm sure I'll be reading more of Nicholas Rossis stories as I'm patiently waiting for Book 4 in the Pearseus. This was a fun read especially for those who enjoy short stories. I do and hope that you may enjoy some of these tales yourself.
I'm making a special effort to clear out some of my backlog so expect more reviews soon. Happy reading.
Note: This review was originally posted on my blog at http://tjhapney.wordpress.com/ and is worded as such.
May 24, 2014
I picked up this book because it was recommended by the Rave Reviews Book Club. This isn't the typical book that I would read. I love long novels that are a part of a series. I love seeing a character grow over time. It's hard for me to get into short stories because they are over so quickly. ;-)
That being said, I enjoyed this book. Futuristic sci-fi is not my thing, but this author put together a compilation of really interesting stories that are not only futuristic and sci-fi but twisted as well (and I'm a BIG fan of twisted). :-)
I think my favorite of them all was "I Come in Peace." It reminded me a little bit of The Host but it had its own motive and spin on the whole alien invasion storyline. I totally understood why the character did what he did at the end (sorry, I hate giving spoilers).
I also really enjoyed "A Fresh Start." The idea that the grass is not always greener rung true with that storyline, but I would have loved to have seen what happened after (that's the series-lover in me coming out).
I also like "Simulation Over" because that was really twisted. It reminded me of Wreck-it Ralph. lol!
So, as you can see, I really did enjoy reading the short stories. I also loved that we were given a sneak peak into two more stories, Pearseus and Eye Candy. Anyone who loves futuristic and sci-fi novels should definitely check this book out! :-)
That being said, I enjoyed this book. Futuristic sci-fi is not my thing, but this author put together a compilation of really interesting stories that are not only futuristic and sci-fi but twisted as well (and I'm a BIG fan of twisted). :-)
I think my favorite of them all was "I Come in Peace." It reminded me a little bit of The Host but it had its own motive and spin on the whole alien invasion storyline. I totally understood why the character did what he did at the end (sorry, I hate giving spoilers).
I also really enjoyed "A Fresh Start." The idea that the grass is not always greener rung true with that storyline, but I would have loved to have seen what happened after (that's the series-lover in me coming out).
I also like "Simulation Over" because that was really twisted. It reminded me of Wreck-it Ralph. lol!
So, as you can see, I really did enjoy reading the short stories. I also loved that we were given a sneak peak into two more stories, Pearseus and Eye Candy. Anyone who loves futuristic and sci-fi novels should definitely check this book out! :-)
February 4, 2015
The Power of Six is a collection of interesting and sometimes humorous stories that are so well written you almost can’t stop reading them. Each story is different but each is crafted by the same master and you can never second guess where you will land in the end. I am not a fan of science fiction but was drawn into each story as if I had been reading the genre my whole life. This is the beauty of Mr. Rossis’ style. He tells a real story that takes place on a different stage from what we are used to without any gimmicks or stretches in reality. I enjoyed all the stories but was particularly pleased with A Fresh Start due to its unique proposition of one world loaning another accomplished citizens. I was also pleased to be given a taste of Pearseus: Schism (book 1) which was included in the collection. As I said I don’t regularly read Sci-Fi but the excerpt I read convinced me to go get the book which I will do. I would recommend the Power of Six to anyone who wants good stories well written.
November 21, 2014
I'd seen reviews of Rossis' work mentioning philosophical ideas woven into science-fiction stories, and was in the mood for exactly that when I purchased it. He did not disappoint.
These read like classic science fiction stories by the masters, each with some idea to explore, often with a delightful, thought-provoking and unexpected twist at the end.
The first two hooked me right away, with "For The Last Time" probably being my favorite, and I enjoyed the rest.
It was interesting to read in the author's note that the +1 story was not by Rossis himself, and as he mentioned, it could have been. Interesting choice not to attribute it directly in the text, and made sense for that reason.
I was additionally impressed that English is not Rossis' native language, and these are some of his first published stories. I look forward to reading more of his work.
These read like classic science fiction stories by the masters, each with some idea to explore, often with a delightful, thought-provoking and unexpected twist at the end.
The first two hooked me right away, with "For The Last Time" probably being my favorite, and I enjoyed the rest.
It was interesting to read in the author's note that the +1 story was not by Rossis himself, and as he mentioned, it could have been. Interesting choice not to attribute it directly in the text, and made sense for that reason.
I was additionally impressed that English is not Rossis' native language, and these are some of his first published stories. I look forward to reading more of his work.
May 14, 2014
Not only are each of these entertaining short stories interesting and imaginative takes of various scenarios, the author tempts the reader further with an extract from his book Pearseus AND an extract from the book Eye Candy by fellow author Ryan Schneider.
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Six-S...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Six-S...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
August 8, 2014
These six short stories reminded me so much of classic science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. Rossis has the ability to use the minimum of description and still fill the reader's head with wonderful imagery.
Each story is fabulous on it's own, and the collection is aptly named. The power of these stories together makes for a wonderful reading experience. I don't have one negative thing to say. I'm happy I grabbed a copy of this collection.
If I had to pick one favorite in the bunch, I would chose "I Come in Peace". One issue humans will always deal with is deciding who and what is safe, and trusting ourselves to be the judge, even if someone else disagrees.
5 Stars to Nicholas C. Rossis.
Each story is fabulous on it's own, and the collection is aptly named. The power of these stories together makes for a wonderful reading experience. I don't have one negative thing to say. I'm happy I grabbed a copy of this collection.
If I had to pick one favorite in the bunch, I would chose "I Come in Peace". One issue humans will always deal with is deciding who and what is safe, and trusting ourselves to be the judge, even if someone else disagrees.
5 Stars to Nicholas C. Rossis.
October 11, 2014
I love short stories that come with twists, something that challenges the reader’s perception and expectations. Of course, I like short stories that are enjoyable and entertaining, but if it has that twist in there it gives a nice zing to the whole thing – makes you think about it afterwards and reflect and read it again just to see if the changed perspective works. In this case, it does!
These short stories were perfect for me: they were fun, they made me think, and they intrigued me. The extra short story by Amos M. Carpenter compliments perfectly with the sci-fi ‘perception’ theme of Nicholas C. Rossis’ six short stories.
If you want a fun taste of sci-fi then I have to recommend this book.
I received this book as a gift from the author. This review is my honest opinion.
These short stories were perfect for me: they were fun, they made me think, and they intrigued me. The extra short story by Amos M. Carpenter compliments perfectly with the sci-fi ‘perception’ theme of Nicholas C. Rossis’ six short stories.
If you want a fun taste of sci-fi then I have to recommend this book.
I received this book as a gift from the author. This review is my honest opinion.
October 16, 2014
I rarely read anthologies, but the noteworthy blog posts by Nicholas Rossis got me interested in sampling his creative work. The Power of Six consists of six Rossis sci-fi short stories with a bonus seventh story by Amos Carpenter. Naturally, Rossi’s style is consistent throughout, but the stories are all quite different. After reading the first two, I was curious about the next…and then the next…and then ended up reading them all in the same day. Carpenter’s “Big Bang” fits into the anthology well, an equally good read and not to be missed. My favorite was “For the Last Time” because of the fascinating time-loop that occurs. Where short stories often end with a twist at the end, this whole story was mind-bending – a fun great.
January 10, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Fun, November 27, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Power of Six: Six (plus one) Science Fiction Short Stories (Kindle Edition)
This group of short stories was simply wonderful. Rossi explores deeper themes in such a unique way that I'll be thinking about them for days. The unique points of view are refreshing, and the main characters aren't always what you're led to believe they are.
I recommend this book to lovers of science fiction, but also to the philosophers among you. It's also wonderful to have access to such good short fiction. Stories can be completed during a long commute, but you'll want to immediately start the next one.
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May 26, 2014
I purchased this book from Amazon after discovering the writer via The Rave Reviews Book Club.
A great little collection of short stories, which cover a wide range such as sci - fi, time travel, to life through a puppy's eyes. Very engaging and entertaining. I like short stories for dipping in and out of when I'm short for time. This is an author I would read again, and I intend to take a look at his novel Pearseus fairly soon.
The structure of each short is good, and the characters well introduced. There are a few minor editing issues, but on the whole well proofread. I offer four out of five stars for The Power of Six.
A great little collection of short stories, which cover a wide range such as sci - fi, time travel, to life through a puppy's eyes. Very engaging and entertaining. I like short stories for dipping in and out of when I'm short for time. This is an author I would read again, and I intend to take a look at his novel Pearseus fairly soon.
The structure of each short is good, and the characters well introduced. There are a few minor editing issues, but on the whole well proofread. I offer four out of five stars for The Power of Six.
June 29, 2014
The short stories in The Power of Six were at times thought provoking, sad, and touching. My favorite, The Sentry, was cute too. I never knew what to expect from one story to the next which was entertaining and kept me coming back for another story after I had thought through and savored the previous one.
They reminded me how much fun short stories can be, especially on those occasions when I can only spare a limited amount of time reading at one sitting. They also taught me that although I'm not much of a book scifi fan I can enjoy scifi short stories. I look forward to more short stories from Nicholas Rossis!
They reminded me how much fun short stories can be, especially on those occasions when I can only spare a limited amount of time reading at one sitting. They also taught me that although I'm not much of a book scifi fan I can enjoy scifi short stories. I look forward to more short stories from Nicholas Rossis!
January 6, 2015
Sci-fi smorgasbord for the mind!
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Power of Six: Six (plus one) Science Fiction Short Stories (Kindle Edition)
If you are a sci-fi reader who gets bored easily at various points of a novel, then this is the book for you. It is comprised of several short stories to keep you on the edge of your seat and really make you keep your eyes glued to the text (sometimes even re-reading it) to make sure you don't miss anything. I love how the author adds his "inspiration" for writing these stories at the end of the book to help explain some things, yet he leaves quite a bit to theological/theoretical debate. Very intelligent writer!
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Power of Six: Six (plus one) Science Fiction Short Stories (Kindle Edition)
If you are a sci-fi reader who gets bored easily at various points of a novel, then this is the book for you. It is comprised of several short stories to keep you on the edge of your seat and really make you keep your eyes glued to the text (sometimes even re-reading it) to make sure you don't miss anything. I love how the author adds his "inspiration" for writing these stories at the end of the book to help explain some things, yet he leaves quite a bit to theological/theoretical debate. Very intelligent writer!
May 27, 2014
A thought-provoking read.
It's been a long time since I've read pure Science Fiction, having shifted from SciFi to Fantasy a long time ago. But The Power of Six reminded me of why I was a fan way back when. These six stories will have you looking a little harder at your perceptions, and leave you wondering, "What if?"
I read all six stories in one sitting. And found them tumbling around in my head later, when I was trying to fall asleep.
My only complaint is they were short stories. I loved the writing so much, I was wishing for more.
It's been a long time since I've read pure Science Fiction, having shifted from SciFi to Fantasy a long time ago. But The Power of Six reminded me of why I was a fan way back when. These six stories will have you looking a little harder at your perceptions, and leave you wondering, "What if?"
I read all six stories in one sitting. And found them tumbling around in my head later, when I was trying to fall asleep.
My only complaint is they were short stories. I loved the writing so much, I was wishing for more.
September 28, 2014
The Power of Six by Nicholas Rossis is a collection of six short science fiction stories. And when I say short, I do mean short. Not novellas.
Each of the stories has a science fiction element, or some other strange happening. My favorite part was that most of these stories turned out to be just the right length for a quick pick-me-up between other tasks. Plus, author Nicholas Rossis has a unique way of looking at the world, and that comes out in his stories! Sometimes, the story isn't as far away from home as we thought.
Each of the stories has a science fiction element, or some other strange happening. My favorite part was that most of these stories turned out to be just the right length for a quick pick-me-up between other tasks. Plus, author Nicholas Rossis has a unique way of looking at the world, and that comes out in his stories! Sometimes, the story isn't as far away from home as we thought.
September 7, 2014
Highly recommend
By Juliet C.B.Aharoni on 30 October 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Since I was not an avid reader of science fiction, my reaction to 'The Power of Six (plus one)' by Nicholas Rossis was surprising. I've become a future fan since reading it. As I got more into 'Simulation Over' I was forced into a world that both frightened and enchanted me. I'd recommend 'The Power Of Six' to readers who want to experience a leap into infinity.
October 3, 2014
A wonderful collection of short sci-fi stories. Each has a twist you may not see coming. What I like even more than the wonderful writing style of the author was the message behind the stories. Not only do they tell an interesting tale, they look into the human (?) mind: our fears, loneliness, greed, and so much more. Definitely a book you want to add to your collection whether or not you are a sci-fi fan.
July 20, 2015
I literally couldn't put this book down. Each story captured me from the start and a few of them completely messed with my head (in a good way!). The stories had a way of drawing you in. You think you have the plot figured out but at the end you find out it is something completely different to what you thought - difficult to explain. You'll just have to read it to see what I mean.
I have no hesitation recommending this book. Fantastic work and well worth a read!
I have no hesitation recommending this book. Fantastic work and well worth a read!
May 20, 2014
If you like Phil K. Dick, you'll dig this. If you're not yet a fan of PKD, you will be after reading this. You'll be a Nicholas Rossis fan, too. Things are not what you expect when you're reading Nicholas Rossis. I really enjoyed "The Hand of God", just as one example. The collection is a quick read, too. A fun, swift short story collection. Check it out.
September 27, 2014
Rossis is an excellent writer. I was as captivated by his writing ability as I was by the stories. Though I normally do not read science fiction, I was easily transported into a world both known and unknown--an experience which made me pause and think. I look forward to reading his other books.
April 17, 2015
I enjoyed this collection of very short stories. Each character and plot kept me engaged, and since they were quick reads, I enjoyed being able to read them again. Great writing style by an obviously talented author.
August 5, 2014
Nicholas Rossis has written six thought provoking short stories that will truly have you thinking what is coming in our technological world. Great read! I highly recommend this book.
May 18, 2015
I fell in love with this anthology! Every story triggers powerful emotions and gives food for thought. My favorite story was ''I come in peace''
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