A Planet Too Far: Beyond the Stars, #1

by Nick Webb

  Thanks for reading Beyond the Stars: A Planet Too Far. Please take the time to leave a review. Many sentences are not necessary‌. Many stars are always welcome!

  Look for the other space opera anthologies in the Beyond the Stars series: At Galaxy's Edge; New Worlds, New Suns; and Best of Beyond the Stars. Sign up here to find out first about new books.

  Acknowledgments

  I’m so proud of the stories in this collection. As each new story reached my inbox, I read it with amazement and delight. The worlds depicted are as many and varied as the tales told… each unique and thrilling. So first, I want to thank the authors who contributed to this anthology.

  In addition, thanks are due to the many people who collaborated in putting this volume together…

  Julie Dillon, two-time Hugo Award-winning artist, who made the glorious art for our cover, front and back.

  Kendall Roderick, who designed the cover, and who was both creative and patient.

  Therin Knite, who formatted the digital and print editions of this collection with great dedication.

  David Gatewood, who edited our first space opera anthology, Dark Beyond the Stars, which stands as a powerful foundation for this series.

  Ellen Campbell, our editor, who was a wonderful resource and all-around asset.

  Samuel Peralta, whose Future Chronicles anthologies inspired the Beyond the Stars series and whose enthusiasm and generous support for authors has created new possibilities for indie writers, especially in the field of science fiction.

  I also want to thank the larger indie author community, which remains an incredible resource for writers of any level of experience. There are a lot of authors in particular who meet in private corners of the internet and give generously of their time and expertise, just because. You know who you are.

  And of course, as always, I thank my alpha beta, Richard.

  Patrice Fitzgerald

  Series Editor, Beyond the Stars

  Ellen Camplbell

  Ellen Campbell is an editor and voracious reader. Campbell’s talent spans multiple genres and her credits include more than a hundred titles, including bestselling authors Peter Cawdron, Nick Cole, and Will Swardstrom. She edited three issues of the international best selling anthology The Future Chronicles, and was Editor-in-Charge of the Apocalypse Weird Metaverse.

  She currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband and two canine Egyptian gods (a.k.a. Basenjis).

  Ellen can be contacted in connection with editing services at http://ellencampbell.thirdscribe.com

  Copyright

  No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without the proper written permission of the appropriate copyright owner listed below, unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal and international copyright law. Permission must be obtained from the individual copyright owners as identified herein.

  The contents of this book are fiction. Any resemblance to any actual person, place, or event is purely coincidental. Any opinions expressed by the authors are their own and do not reflect those of the editor or publisher.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Series name Beyond the Stars, copyright © 2015 Patrice Fitzgerald.

  Foreword, copyright © 2016 Patrice Fitzgerald. Used by permission of the author.

  “Venatoris” by G. S. Jennsen, copyright © 2016 G. S. Jennsen. Used by permission of the author.

  “Hope 91” by Nick Webb, copyright © 2016 Nick Webb. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Symbiosis” by Rory Hume, copyright © 2016 Rory Hume. Used by permission of the author.

  “War Stories” by Samuel Peralta, copyright © 2016 Samuel Peralta. Used by permission of the author.

  “The Mergans” by Ann Christy, copyright © 2016 Ann Christy. Used by permission of the author.

  “The Immortals: Anchorage” by David Adams, copyright © 2016 David Adams. Used by permission of the author.

  “Pele’s Bee-keeper” by Annie Bellet, copyright © 2011 Annie Bellet. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Services Rendered” by Theresa Kay, copyright © 2016 Theresa Kay. Used by permission of the author.

  “Spike in a Rail” by Logan Thomas Snyder, copyright © 2016 Logan Thomas Snyder. Used by permission of the author.

  “The First to Fall” by Sabrina Locke, copyright © 2016 Sabrina Locke. Used by permission of the author.

  “The Ivory Tower” by Elle Casey, copyright © 2016 Elle Casey. Used by permission of the author.

  Acknowledgments and all other text, copyright © 2016 Patrice Fitzgerald.

  Edited by Ellen Campbell (http://ellencampbell.thirdscribe.com)

  Cover art by Julie Dillon (http://www.juliedillonart.com)

  Cover designed by Kendall Roderick (www.RMind-Design.com)

  Formatted by Therin Knite (http://www.knitedaydesign.com)