Send to KindleGalactic Creatures
Authors: C.J. Henderson, John L. French, Alex Shvartsman, Scott W. Baker, Don Sakers, James Daniel Ross, and Bernie Mojzes
Publisher: Dark Quest, LLC
Editor: Elektra Hammond
Released: July 27, 2012
ISBN: 978-1937051426
Lo, there be Dragons! Ever since people began using tools they looked around at plants and animals and began to use them as inspiration. Galactic Creatures explores the influence and impact made on societies and individuals by creatures which are or were part of the universe in which they live. Each story is unique in the way these influences show themselves. Sometimes pressures are brought to bear by the creatures themselves, sometimes it is of societies’ own fashioning, other times totally alien forces are brought to bear.
I like my fantastic fiction to have a bit of humor. It can be broad or subtle, sarcastic or simple. Life and fiction are often made more appetizing by the right dose of the funny side of things. Lawn Care by C.J. Henderson, Slow and Steady by John L. French, The Dragon Ships of Tycho by Alex Shvartzman and Kudzu: A Prologue by Bernie Mojes, while wildly different from each other, still managed to leave me with a smile after the adventure.
C.J. Henderson’s elegant solution to a seemingly impossible situation was wonderfully sentimental and a tribute to the spirit of my favorite ship’s engineer of all time, James Montgomery Scott. The old aphorism of he who laughs last laughs best absolutely applies to Lawn Care.
Dr. Jenkins in The Dragon Ships of Tycho not only has insight into alien psychology and xenoarcheology, he also was able to surprise and delight me as well. While the good doctor racked his brains for insight into the minds and nature of the local native space faring civilization, I rejoiced in his intuitive and insightful leap that held the key to those Dragon Ships.
I would love to meet with Captain Wilder from Slow and Steady. She has qualities in a leader that I admire and would be keen on seeing her in action once more. Even though I could see the end from many parsecs away, it still made me laugh out loud. Now how cool is that?
Kudzu: A Prologue jumped out at me as I reside in the southeastern United States, a region that has been fighting back Kudzu from almost the time it was imported from Japan. Kudzu is a ground cover that was supposed to be used as a form of erosion control and became a green nightmare. I wondered how we and it would fare in a sci-fi setting. It doesn’t disappoint and should be good for a few uncomfortable laughs.
There are seven more stories to this anthology that bring to mind the Vulcan philosophy of Kol-Ut-Shan or IDIC. “The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity.” “And the ways our differences combine to create beauty and meaning.” When brought together the sum can become greater than its separate parts and this anthology does its best to create beauty and meaning. Enjoy the journey.
©by June K. Williams
V.P. Buzzy Multimedia
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Always a Science Fiction fan and dabbler in writing she had thought herself too practical to pursue a career in the field. Before coming to Buzzy she spent over 30 years in the travel industry, then one day decided it was time to spread her wings and plunge into publishing. Everyone she knew thought she had gone slightly daft but as this was not the first time they had expressed that opinion she took the red pill anyway and now spends all of her time putting together projects that make each day a pleasure.
