NEW: all reward tiers will now receive a DRM-free special companion issue of Compelling Science Fiction as soon as the Kickstarter is funded! The issue will contain brand new never-before-published stories by some of the authors in the collection! Please read the "updates" section for detailed information about the four special issue stories.
Stretch goal: If we reach $12,000 before the campaign ends, we'll be adding a fifth story to the special companion issue, "The Alien in Redwood Creek" by Steve Wire. Please see the sixth update for more information.
For over two years Compelling Science Fiction has been publishing entertaining, thought-provoking stories. Now, with your help, we'd like to print the best of those stories in beautiful hardcover form.
We believe that science fiction is important—it expands the mind and drives progress through inspiration. Our goal has always been to find and deliver great science fiction stories that are entertaining, inspiring, and extremely well thought out. We prefer stories that are self-consistent, scientifically plausible, and technically detailed when necessary. If our goals resonate with you, please support our work by backing this project!
The collection contains 27 fantastic short stories by 24 talented authors. Some themes you'll find in the book:
- Lots of AI
- A Dyson swarm that can capture the energy output of an entire star
- A sentient hospital
- Startup stories
- Generation ships
- Extraterrestrial colonies
- Intelligently written time travel
- Head transplantation
- Toxic mold that has religious significance
- AI re-writing the constitution
- A possible explanation for the Fermi paradox
- and at least one alien mating ritual
In addition to receiving such a superb publication, you'll also be helping to bring more great science fiction into the world. The proceeds from this Kickstarter will help support the next year of Compelling Science Fiction and the 24 authors who composed the stories.
Stories contained in the book (ordered by most recently published):
Top of Show by James Rowland
Targeted Behavior by J.D. Moyer
Inside-of-Body Experience by Pip Coen
The Virgin of Santos de la Tierra by E E King
Hostile Intent by Mike Adamson
Museum Piece by J. D. Popham
Redo by Larry Hodges
Fermi's Last Survivor by John Taloni
Catallactics on an Asteroid by Steve Wire
Emerging from the Shadows by Clinton Lawrence
National Mission System by Matt Fuchs
The Setting of the Sun by Benjamin C. Kinney
Paint by Numbers by Pip Coen
What's a Few Years When You Get Money and Friends in High Places? by R R Angell
Cogito Ergo Sum by Mike Adamson
Floaters Can't Float by Pip Coen
Demeter's Regard by Deborah L. Davitt
Quantum Coursework by Marcus Holm
Tav by Dustin Kennedy
Skychildren by C.L. Kagmi
They Breed Like Flies by Jeff Walden
The Law of Diminishing Returns by Dominic Teague
Personal Trainer by Meg Elison
Gaia's Children by Lawrence Buentello
Reflection by Aaron Wright
Opportunities for Lost Children by James Beamon
The Art of Failure by Robert Dawson
If you enjoy entertaining, plausible science fiction, please help bring this collection into print! Get a copy for yourself and copies for all your family and friends! Thank you so much for your support.
Risks and challenges
Everything is being done in-house except for the printing itself. Cover art and stories have been selected, and typesetting is underway. We are in contact with and have received quotes and print dates from several printers, so we believe that printing delays will be very unlikely. Shipping is another source of risk, but we've budgeted time and money for shipping and handling costs. T-shirts shouldn't be a problem, as I've already ordered and received several batches.
We have been publishing issues on-time for over two years, and I have great confidence that we'll continue that streak. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
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Funding period
- (30 days)