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Beyond the Stars: Space Opera Anthologies #7
Beyond the Stars: Infinite Expanse
“Hooked from the very first story! Loving it.” “A rip snort’n good read.” “I absolutely loved this collection of stories. Visionary, exciting, and full of adventure. I highly recommend it!” “Creative, compelling and satisfying. Hard to put down, so I stayed up late and kept reading.” “A blisteringly good collection.” “Will read everything in this series I can get my hands on.” “These stories are full of great, complex characters (not all of them human), twists and turns, and fantastic world-building.” BEYOND THE Infinite Expanse includes these short * Precious Cargo (C.H. Hung) * Antecedent (R. A. Steffan) * Chrysalis (G. S. Jennsen) * Imperatrix, Redux (Nemma Wollenfang) * Mirage and Shadow (R.K. Thorne) * Coffin Rider (James Rossiter) * Oresa (R.J. Howell) * Malfunction (Jack Lyster) * Enemy Within (J.M. Thomas) * For Your Eyes Only (Ethan Freckleton) * Terminal Candidate (David Bruns) Eleven stunning new tales from well-known authors and fresh voices. This is the seventh in the prestigious BEYOND THE STARS space opera anthology series, and inside are intrigue and passion, aliens, battles, and a bit of intergalactic romance. Join these authors who are exploring the... Infinite Expanse! Don't miss the earlier DARK BEYOND THE STARS BEYOND THE A Planet Too Far BEYOND THE At Galaxy's Edge BEYOND THE New Worlds, New Suns Best of BEYOND THE STARS BEYOND THE Unimagined Realms BEYOND THE Rocking Space And now... BEYOND THE Infinite Expanse
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2020
33 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 29, 2020
I am a huge fan of Ethan Freckleton’s irreverent Starship Ass series so I was super excited to learn he has a story in this edition of Beyond the Stars! I decided to read these short stories in the front to back order instead of jumping directly to his contribution. As it turned out, I enjoyed the anticipation of waiting and the well-written stories that, even though not Ethan’s, we’re pretty darned entertaining! Then I discovered that Mr. Freckleton can also write serious, bring a tear to my eye, sci-fi exceptionally well! I throughly enjoyed all of the stories and highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook as a gift and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook as a gift and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
December 17, 2022
Beyond the Stars: Infinite Expanse
RATED 82% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE 3.73 OF 5
11 STORIES : 1 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
An old man tells a colorful and harrow tale of planetary invasion. Space Truckers fight terrorists. Literally star-crossed lovers. A thief is betrayed and must work quickly to discover why. These is some of the fun space opera adventures in Beyond the Stars: Infinite Expanse
See 70+ Reviews of Science Fiction Anthologies at https://www.shortsf.com
Never heard of this series? Don’t worry. Neither had I until striking up a conversation with writer R.J. Howell in the dealers’ room of ChiCon8. Taking chances on new books is a classic part of the World Con Experience. And I’m very glad that I did. This is quite the fun original anthology and contained one very great story.
I read and review a lot of Best of the Year anthologies. There are so many decades of great Science Fiction available and it helps to have the iconic editors of the genre as my guide through it all. The quality of each volume will (or at least should) be of much higher quality than any original anthology or issue of a magazine.
The problem with stories in Best of the Year anthologies is that they are often very ambitious. Cutting edge in their speculation, world-building, prose style, or social commentary. They are serious works! As well they should be. But that isn’t all that Science Fiction offers us.
The stories in Infinite Expanse aren’t trying to transform the SciFi genre. They are telling fun and interesting stories for the readers’ enjoyment. If they have a bit more stock characters, situations, and scenes, so what? These are fast pleasant romps in easily accessible Science Fiction universes.
Except for one story that rises above the rest and joins the All-Time Great List: https://www.shortsf.com/beststories
* Coffin Rider • (2020) • short story by James Rossiter
An old soldier tells us his memories of a significant battle against ‘the bugs.’ What a wide-screen cinematic Space Opera this is! Helpless soldiers in clear ‘coffins’ are ejected as an invasion force, knowing that most will die, but some with survive by the grace of sheer numbers. Infantry combat on a lush colorful planet that keeps getting disrupted by rampaging space-rhinos and space-storks. This is great stuff, but what makes it exceptional are the brief digressions of the price, nature, and random aspects of war. With a surprisingly poignant final line.
***
BEYOND THE STARS: INFINITE EXPANSE
11 STORIES : 1 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
1. Precious Cargo • (2020) • short story by C. H. Hung
Average. A doctor (named suspiciously close to a recurring Star Trek character) has to make a very hard choice when the ship is dying due to lack of oxygen and water.
2. Antecedent • (2020) • short story by R. A. Steffan
Average. A rather dry story of vigilantes trying to rescue their fallen leader.
3. Chrysalis • [Asterion Noir] • (2020) • novelette by G. S. Jennsen
Good. Siblings get involved in resisting the government’s desire to regulate and then exterminate artificial intelligences that are taking on human bodies.
4. Imperatrix, Redux • (2020) • novelette by Nemma Wollenfang
Average. When the sovereign is betrayed and captured, a devoted servant (not-so-secretly in love) commands a small crew to rescue her from the evil bad guy that wants to marry her.
5. Mirage and Shadow • (2020) • novelette by R. K. Thorne
Good. A thief on a space station is betrayed and must determine why in order to survive. A cliche, but clearly and propulsively written. A page-turner.
6. Coffin Rider • (2020) • short story by James Rossiter
Great. An old soldier tells us his memories of a significant battle against ‘the bugs.’ What a wide-screen cinematic Space Opera this is! Helpless soldiers in clear ‘coffins’ are ejected as an invasion force, knowing that most will die, but some with survive by the grace of sheer numbers. Infantry combat on a lush colorful planet that keeps getting disrupted by rampaging space-rhinos and space-storks. This is great stuff, but what makes it exceptional are the brief digressions of the price, nature, and random aspects of war. And a surprisingly poignant final line.
7. Oresa • (2020) • novelette by R. J. Howell
Good. A smuggler takes an out-of-character civilian job to deliver an mystery package to a planet she regrets helping destroy.
8. Malfunction • (2020) • novelette by Jack Lyster
Good. Fun story of a Space Trucker whose malfunctioning radio accidentally reveals an imminent terrorist attack on an interstellar gateway.
9. Enemy Within • (2020) • short story by J. M. Thomas
Good. Parasitic aliens resurrect dead human crew members to assimilate and control. You awake and the process is only partial completed and you try to understand what is happening and fight back anyway you can.
10. For Your Eyes Only • (2020) • short story by Ethan Freckleton
Good. A young woman scavenges for value amongst the trash of a failed terraforming world. She discovers a teddy bear that hold within its furry frame a chip we hundreds of messages from the previous owner. A previous owner who looks a lot like her.
11. Terminal Candidate • (2020) • short story by David Bruns
Average. The Surveyor gives presentations to three corrupt alien Councilors or whether to welcome a planet into the Coalition or to be broken up and sold for scrap. But this time the planet is Earth.
RATED 82% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE 3.73 OF 5
11 STORIES : 1 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
An old man tells a colorful and harrow tale of planetary invasion. Space Truckers fight terrorists. Literally star-crossed lovers. A thief is betrayed and must work quickly to discover why. These is some of the fun space opera adventures in Beyond the Stars: Infinite Expanse
See 70+ Reviews of Science Fiction Anthologies at https://www.shortsf.com
Never heard of this series? Don’t worry. Neither had I until striking up a conversation with writer R.J. Howell in the dealers’ room of ChiCon8. Taking chances on new books is a classic part of the World Con Experience. And I’m very glad that I did. This is quite the fun original anthology and contained one very great story.
I read and review a lot of Best of the Year anthologies. There are so many decades of great Science Fiction available and it helps to have the iconic editors of the genre as my guide through it all. The quality of each volume will (or at least should) be of much higher quality than any original anthology or issue of a magazine.
The problem with stories in Best of the Year anthologies is that they are often very ambitious. Cutting edge in their speculation, world-building, prose style, or social commentary. They are serious works! As well they should be. But that isn’t all that Science Fiction offers us.
The stories in Infinite Expanse aren’t trying to transform the SciFi genre. They are telling fun and interesting stories for the readers’ enjoyment. If they have a bit more stock characters, situations, and scenes, so what? These are fast pleasant romps in easily accessible Science Fiction universes.
Except for one story that rises above the rest and joins the All-Time Great List: https://www.shortsf.com/beststories
* Coffin Rider • (2020) • short story by James Rossiter
An old soldier tells us his memories of a significant battle against ‘the bugs.’ What a wide-screen cinematic Space Opera this is! Helpless soldiers in clear ‘coffins’ are ejected as an invasion force, knowing that most will die, but some with survive by the grace of sheer numbers. Infantry combat on a lush colorful planet that keeps getting disrupted by rampaging space-rhinos and space-storks. This is great stuff, but what makes it exceptional are the brief digressions of the price, nature, and random aspects of war. With a surprisingly poignant final line.
***
BEYOND THE STARS: INFINITE EXPANSE
11 STORIES : 1 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 4 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
1. Precious Cargo • (2020) • short story by C. H. Hung
Average. A doctor (named suspiciously close to a recurring Star Trek character) has to make a very hard choice when the ship is dying due to lack of oxygen and water.
2. Antecedent • (2020) • short story by R. A. Steffan
Average. A rather dry story of vigilantes trying to rescue their fallen leader.
3. Chrysalis • [Asterion Noir] • (2020) • novelette by G. S. Jennsen
Good. Siblings get involved in resisting the government’s desire to regulate and then exterminate artificial intelligences that are taking on human bodies.
4. Imperatrix, Redux • (2020) • novelette by Nemma Wollenfang
Average. When the sovereign is betrayed and captured, a devoted servant (not-so-secretly in love) commands a small crew to rescue her from the evil bad guy that wants to marry her.
5. Mirage and Shadow • (2020) • novelette by R. K. Thorne
Good. A thief on a space station is betrayed and must determine why in order to survive. A cliche, but clearly and propulsively written. A page-turner.
6. Coffin Rider • (2020) • short story by James Rossiter
Great. An old soldier tells us his memories of a significant battle against ‘the bugs.’ What a wide-screen cinematic Space Opera this is! Helpless soldiers in clear ‘coffins’ are ejected as an invasion force, knowing that most will die, but some with survive by the grace of sheer numbers. Infantry combat on a lush colorful planet that keeps getting disrupted by rampaging space-rhinos and space-storks. This is great stuff, but what makes it exceptional are the brief digressions of the price, nature, and random aspects of war. And a surprisingly poignant final line.
7. Oresa • (2020) • novelette by R. J. Howell
Good. A smuggler takes an out-of-character civilian job to deliver an mystery package to a planet she regrets helping destroy.
8. Malfunction • (2020) • novelette by Jack Lyster
Good. Fun story of a Space Trucker whose malfunctioning radio accidentally reveals an imminent terrorist attack on an interstellar gateway.
9. Enemy Within • (2020) • short story by J. M. Thomas
Good. Parasitic aliens resurrect dead human crew members to assimilate and control. You awake and the process is only partial completed and you try to understand what is happening and fight back anyway you can.
10. For Your Eyes Only • (2020) • short story by Ethan Freckleton
Good. A young woman scavenges for value amongst the trash of a failed terraforming world. She discovers a teddy bear that hold within its furry frame a chip we hundreds of messages from the previous owner. A previous owner who looks a lot like her.
11. Terminal Candidate • (2020) • short story by David Bruns
Average. The Surveyor gives presentations to three corrupt alien Councilors or whether to welcome a planet into the Coalition or to be broken up and sold for scrap. But this time the planet is Earth.
June 18, 2022
More novelette background for the Audacity series.
September 11, 2020
Just buy it!
I read an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this well-curated anthology. I enjoyed every story, each with its own unique takes on old and novel tales from the stars and each leaving me longing for more. This is a collection of well written, captivating stories quick to immerse you in each of their own, unique universes. There is much to love here and they will each leave you wanting for more. Without spoilers, let me tell you about my favorites, in order of appearance.
I was blown away by the opening story, Precious Cargo, by C. H. Hung. Reminiscent of Farscape & Lex — not a bad thing in my mind — with Hung taking the interesting perspective of the medical professional (xenobiologist) charged with caring for a biological ship’s health, with shockingly great twist ending. In Antecedent, R. A. Steffan quickly and effectively drops you into a complex universe and a small band of unlikely rebel partners. Chrysalis by G. S. Jennsen is a gloriously deep, touching and personal story of a ruling bureaucracy, its fear of sentient AIs and a few progressive individuals seeking to protect a new “humanity.” Imperatrix, Redux by Nemma Wollenfang is an intrigue-filled, medieval love story & a clash of kingdoms set in space. Mirage and Shadow by R.K. Thorne is rich with descriptive writing, an intriguing space murder mystery of sorts that dives much deeper than that. In Coffin Rider, James Rossiter captures the aged tone a veteran of war recalling his battle days. Malfunction by Jack Lyster - truckers in space, terrorists resistance fighters and a great escape. Expect great things from this new author.
Ethan Freckleton, one of my favorite authors and he of the wonderfully amusing Starship Ass series, shares For Your Eyes Only, an endearing tale of survival of a young girl and her older mentor among the scavenger class of misfits, abandoned on a trashed planet.
Terminal Candidate by David Bruns I cant say much without giving too much away suffice to say I liked it.
I read an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this well-curated anthology. I enjoyed every story, each with its own unique takes on old and novel tales from the stars and each leaving me longing for more. This is a collection of well written, captivating stories quick to immerse you in each of their own, unique universes. There is much to love here and they will each leave you wanting for more. Without spoilers, let me tell you about my favorites, in order of appearance.
I was blown away by the opening story, Precious Cargo, by C. H. Hung. Reminiscent of Farscape & Lex — not a bad thing in my mind — with Hung taking the interesting perspective of the medical professional (xenobiologist) charged with caring for a biological ship’s health, with shockingly great twist ending. In Antecedent, R. A. Steffan quickly and effectively drops you into a complex universe and a small band of unlikely rebel partners. Chrysalis by G. S. Jennsen is a gloriously deep, touching and personal story of a ruling bureaucracy, its fear of sentient AIs and a few progressive individuals seeking to protect a new “humanity.” Imperatrix, Redux by Nemma Wollenfang is an intrigue-filled, medieval love story & a clash of kingdoms set in space. Mirage and Shadow by R.K. Thorne is rich with descriptive writing, an intriguing space murder mystery of sorts that dives much deeper than that. In Coffin Rider, James Rossiter captures the aged tone a veteran of war recalling his battle days. Malfunction by Jack Lyster - truckers in space, terrorists resistance fighters and a great escape. Expect great things from this new author.
Ethan Freckleton, one of my favorite authors and he of the wonderfully amusing Starship Ass series, shares For Your Eyes Only, an endearing tale of survival of a young girl and her older mentor among the scavenger class of misfits, abandoned on a trashed planet.
Terminal Candidate by David Bruns I cant say much without giving too much away suffice to say I liked it.
August 28, 2020
I came for the R. A. Steffan 'Love and War' prequel, I stayed for all the rest
Really loved this sci-fi anthology! I'm a big R. A. Steffan fan, so it was the perfect chance for me to dig into "Antedecent", a witty, endearing and exciting story about the lovable crew of misfits that go on to have adventures and save their corner of the universe in Steffan's Love and War series (honestly, if you haven't read this fantastic sci-fi romance series yet, run, don't walk). But I also enjoyed G. S. Jennsen's Chrysalis and R. K Thorne's Mirage and Shadow that I've read so far and will be coming back to read the rest of the stories. Overall, it seems like a great collection!
Really loved this sci-fi anthology! I'm a big R. A. Steffan fan, so it was the perfect chance for me to dig into "Antedecent", a witty, endearing and exciting story about the lovable crew of misfits that go on to have adventures and save their corner of the universe in Steffan's Love and War series (honestly, if you haven't read this fantastic sci-fi romance series yet, run, don't walk). But I also enjoyed G. S. Jennsen's Chrysalis and R. K Thorne's Mirage and Shadow that I've read so far and will be coming back to read the rest of the stories. Overall, it seems like a great collection!
September 13, 2020
What a great selection of short pieces by both novice and experienced authors. I didn't expect to be so enchanted with each story, yet found myself wishing each one could be book-length!
I also enjoyed the author's comments after their narrative, giving us a glimpse of the person as well as notes about how to find more of their work.
I also enjoyed the author's comments after their narrative, giving us a glimpse of the person as well as notes about how to find more of their work.
October 31, 2020
A good collection.
November 28, 2020
Another great edition to the series. Such unique stories. This particular set was very good compared to the other Beyond the Stars entries. Not a dull one in this bunch!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews