Short Story 10-Pack

A bundle of ten science fiction and fantasy short stories.

Lords of the Remnant - Aliens strike at the Centauri colony, overrunning it completely. Then, sooner than anyone imagined they could, they arrived at Earth to continue their conquest. An infantryman, certain resistance is futile, nevertheless deploys with his unit to fight against the first wave of invaders. As his comrades die around him and all hope seems lost, he finds the courage to fight on, but is confronted with a choice that will not only affect his own future, but that of all mankind as well.

How NOT To Rescue A Damsel In Distress - Bandits stabbed Larian's father and kidnapped his girl. Confident in his freshly-learned swordsmanship, Larian set out to track them down, avenge his father, and rescue his first damsel in distress. Things did not exactly go as planned.

The Blob On The Rock - A scientific expedition to deep space makes a discovery that will re-shape what we believe about life in the universe. As long as it doesn't kill them first.

Falling Softly - An assassin and his partner embark on the biggest job of their careers. The payment if they succeed is enough to set them up for life, potentially allowing the assassin to get out of the business and finally live a normal life. But even succeeding in a high profile job like this carries its own danger.

The Memory Of Justice - In the future, mankind outlawed capital punishment. Instead, the worst convicts had their memories erased and new personalities implanted. Then the authorities set them up in a far-away place and left them to live out their lives. This process worked well, to everyone's approval. Except for the families of the victims.

Measuring Up - Larian Elesir, a young recruit in the Citizens' Army, arrives at his first post. Eager to join the war effort, he is nonetheless nervous in his new environment and worried about setting a foot wrong. During his first day in camp, his new companions put him through his paces as they both learn who he is and teach him the basics he'll need to survive in his job in the army.

A Chat Before Dinner - A record of a Zombie's rant about the trials and tribulations of his life as a dis-respected member of the Undead. His rant centers around humans' inherent racism, and he attempts to cajole his human listener into understanding his point of view. Darkly humorous and snarky, this story paints a new picture of a Zombie's life.

First Blood - Intelligence told the High Command that the Mar Tabban, arch enemies of the Citizens' Army, had moved into the territory garrisoned by Larian's Regiment. In response, the Regimental Commander sent the B company scouts, Larian's unit, out to investigate. On his first operational assignment, Larian has to overcome inexperience and his own fear and uncertainty if he wants to survive and get the information his Regiment needs to emerge victorious.

Who Ate My Sock? - A single sock missing from the wash - the source of universal frustration a...