Cover art for the Blue Planet Pres anthology “Far Futures 3”

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It’s here.

My science fiction short story “Confluence” is now available in the Blue Planet Press anthology Far Futures Book Three – Deep Space.

The Amazon blurb says:

In Far Futures Three, some of the talented and rising authors in science fiction from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, have offered their diverse visions of life in deep space. Stories of broken generations ships and malfunctioning holograms. AI enhanced humans fleeing the solar system. Alien abductees taken light-years away. A NASA spacecraft highjacked in a perilous first contact scenario. Pirates and scavengers and more.

Here’s a small sample:

“Confirming incoming bogies,” Jim said. “Eighty-six…ninety-eight…over a hundred. They keep coming.”

“What’s coming?”

“I don’t know, Mike,” he answered. “Each one is a meter in length. Could be using pressurized gas as a propellent. I’m not getting any active outputs from them.”

“Try hailing them.”

“Right.” Barrett adjusted his headset. “This is the NASA spacecraft Minos to the objects approaching us. Please identify yourselves and your intent, over.” He made some adjustments on the communications panel. “I’ve set the message to repeat on all channels. Do you really think they’ll answer?”

“In English? Who knows if they even use radio. It’s worth a try.” Then Diaz said, “Sofia, if they do respond, what do you think our chances are of understanding them?”

“I’m a linguist, not a fortune teller, Mike. I cannot render an estimate until they attempt to communicate.”

Diaz asked, “Zhang, what do you think? Could those things be alive?”

“Difficult to say, Commander. I’m not reading anything that could be considered life signs, but in an alien environment, there are no certainties.”

“Just stay sharp,” Mike said. “That goes for everyone.”

“Velocity fourteen meters per second,” said Jim. “Time to contact with the first wave is fifty-seven seconds. Wait. They’re decelerating.” Barrett’s fingers continued making control adjustments. “Eleven meters per second…eight meters…contact in forty-two seconds. Still no emissions except for propulsion. They’re using water vapor. That’s pretty old school. I guess the sensor array is working after all.” He pointedly looked back at Billie.

“Maybe not so old,” said Robinson. “I’ve worked on ELF projects, extreme lift fliers. They’re basically drones designed to be used in low atmosphere, low gravity environments as well as in a vacuum. They use various gases including compressed water vapor.”

“Which means they’re machines, not alive,” said Barrett.

“Perhaps, Li said. “There are also forms of life in our oceans that use fluids for propulsion.”

“You said they weren’t alive.”

“No Sofia, I said I could detect no life signs.”

“It’s academic now,” Barrett said. “Velocity down to one meter per second. Contact in five…four….”

I hope that’s enough to whet your appetite. If not, here’s a very short promotional video.

Far Futures Book Three – Deep Space is available now. Pick up a copy, give it a read, and please leave an honest review.

Thanks.