It's been a while since I visited Danny's world and it was nice getting back to it. I'm always amazed at how much an author can say in a short story. In these few pages, we've run into prejudice, the possible return of an old fear, love of family, and maybe a growing acceptance of a new branch of humanity that started as technology. After you read this be sure to start both The Imperial Hammer and The Iron Hammer Series and discover the exciting sci-fi world of Danny Andela. Now which great story should I read next?

I haven´t read SF for a long time, so this anthology came at the right moment to start this genre again. What a great diversity! Some stories are suspenseful, some with humor, even some with love. I enjoyed all of them very much and will look for other stories of a few of these authors. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

I really liked this collection of stories based on a ship theme. They were all short stories but all were different yet entertaining to read. Some made me laugh and some roll my eyes but I had to keep reading to see what the next story was. Danger, action, and silliness occurred often. Some stories had one character while others had crews. I found many of the AI to be hilarious and all a bit different. Enjoyed the anthology. Worth reading if you like a good space story.

I don’t care much for anthologies BUT I love Cameron Cooper’s writing & have great respect for Stories Rule Press, so I gave this Digest a whirl. It is one of the BEST COMPILATIONS of short stories I’ve ever read. Don’t miss it!
I reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

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Sole Survivor — Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Takara Hamasaki is hiding after a starbase explosion. Multiple series of identical men enter; designer criminal clones. Tense!
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Captain —- Stephen Sottong
“How’d the trading go, Captain?” Emma’s voice always had a sultry purr which could almost turn me on. I extracted a small box from my inner jacket pocket and placed it on the counter. “Great. I traded the hybrid 437 corn for Silk Fruit seeds.”

“Captain,” of course, was an honorific. Emma, the ship’s AI, handled everything. Space Patrol demanded having a human on board for rare, unexpected contingencies.

Then a hull breach - with an interesting result.
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Big Top —- Sonia Orin Lyris
Ariana Marlan Rumala inherited her father’s ship Big Top from her father. With an unusual mix of crew, and without two pennies to rub together. A Flux ship, which required special handling.

An on-time bonus is the only reason she hopes she can keep things together and afford to keep the ship. Interference creates a mysterious delay.
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Cycle Three — Stephanie Mylchreest
Natalie is desperate to leave her ship. An opportunity to “win/earn” a few years on Earth is all she has worked for. Her Captain Eric prevents this.

An unexpected ally gives her the courage to try again. Fascinating story.
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Star Cruise — Ron Collins
A father/son bonding opportunity turns out to be much much more.

A special request from the captain: “I’ve received a report that Universe Three has slipped an agent on board. I’d like you to determine who it is.” “Interesting.” Father furrowed his well-trimmed brow. “A U3 mole.”

Quite the intrigue.
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Watch of the Starsleepers — Christopher D. Schmitz
What does it mean to be human? From the viewpoint of clones who are identified in series. Provocative and interesting.
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Tome Raiders. — Eric Del Carlo
Matchstick and Hitchcock are coming into their own. An interesting bet puts them to the test.
Some pun-worthy space items, and a good mystery.
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The Passenger —. Eve Morton
An interesting stowaway might eat Paulo’s cargo. The solution to paper bugs is leather rats, and then a kitten to later handle them. Irony at its best.
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An Ordinary World —. J. L. Royce
A female captain, and a male AI - who provides many functions on the ship. An update with unintended results, and discovery of a new world.
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Insanity is Infectious —. Cameron Cooper
Very clever addition to Cameron’s Imperial Hammer series.
The nanobots are creating the form of a dangerous ruler from their recent war; except he has been dead for many years now. Sighting by one crew member may be a mistake, but when others also experience this - the mystery deepens.
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Achernar — Jasmine Luck
A Captain pilots a ship with a failing engine. A mechanic who needs to send funds to her ahma. Neither trust easily; can they become a team?
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Moby Dick’s Doors — Michèle Laframboise
Pilot Rusty, navigator Jamine and the captain run upon emergency hatch Door S-76 shutting them off from the rest of the ship. Doors have intelligence and can speak a response. A puzzle keeping their AI in a loop, and a possible emergency. Not to mention a fair number of Moby Dick puns. Delightful.
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Learning Curve – Neil Williams
Our main character awakens in a cell chained to a bed. The importance of knowing each planet's laws and regulations. Will her partner be able to find and resume her?
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Exotic Matters – Phil Giunta
Much is packed into this short story. A seemingly abandoned freighter, with valuable Star Falls on it. They are not the only ones after the cargo. Very well done.
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An iCub on Mars – Barbara G. Tarn
Selected people sent to colonize Mars. Told from the point of view of their icub. A new start is not what it seems if you take your prejudices with you.
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Of Hedgehogs and Humans – Rob Nisbet
After a series of extinction events, a ship and crew work on a fresh start.
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Smugglers Blues – Blaze Ward
Loved this surprising gem. Reminds me of the tale of a wheelbarrow full of sand taken out of an area - and the search through the sand for hidden objects…. They were stealing wheelbarrows.
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Altered Skin – Sara C. Walker
A ship found adrift. Full fuel, intact, good air, and meals left half-eaten. The answer leaves one person with a tough side-effect. Very inventive.
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An Unexpected Taste of Home – Terry Mixon
A ship’s crew of an experienced Borelian Zag and newbie human Zig must solve a puzzle before they can get their ship reconfigured on this water planet. Ironically the puzzle relies on a female Borelian. It’s a great story.
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Symphony – Douglas Smith
A new planet Aurora. Gar, a communications officer, his wife Clara and young autistic son Anton travel on The Last Chance in the hunt for a habitable planet leaving a poisoned Earth behind. A series of events are not accidents, there is a sentience involved. Music is intertwined into the solution. Loved the tie in.
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