Far Orbit Apogee Read online

  Modern science fiction adventures crafted by a new generation of Grand Tradition writers.

  Looking for science fiction stories like they used to write? Far Orbit Apogee takes all of the fun-to-read adventure, ingenuity, and heroism of mid-century pulp fiction and reshapes it into modern space adventures crafted by a new generation of writers for today’s reader. Follow the adventures of heroic scientists, lunar detectives, space dragons, robots, interstellar pirates, gun slingers, and other memorable and diverse characters as they wrestle with adversity beyond the borders of our small blue marble.

  Featuring stories from Jennnifer Campbell-Hicks, Dave Creek, Eric Del Carlo, Dominic Dulley, Nestor Delfino, Milo James Fowler, Julie Frost, Sam S. Kepfield, Keven R. Pittsinger, Wendy Sparrow, Anna Salonen, James Van Pelt, and Jay Werkheiser.

  Praise for the FAR ORBIT anthology series

  “Daring adventure, protagonists who think on their feet, and out of this world excitement! Welcome to Far Orbit, a fine collection of stories in the best SF tradition. Strap in and enjoy!”

  — Julie E. Czerneda, author of Species Imperative

  “Successfully captures the kinds of stories that were the gateway drugs for many of us who have been reading science fiction for a long time. Well done!”

  — Tangent

  “Spectacular. This is one anthology no sci-fi library should be without!”

  — Night Owl Reviews (Five Stars)

  “Need a quick fix of good old-fashioned science fiction? Far Orbit is it!”

  — Sporadic Reviews

  “Put aside all of your preconceived notions of what ‘sci-fi’ is—whether you think you love it or hate, it doesn’t matter—pick up this book and get to reading!”

  — Good Choice Reading

  Far Orbit Apogee

  Far Orbit Volume Two

  Edited by Bascomb James

  World Weaver Press

  Copyright Notice

  No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of World Weaver Press.

  FAR ORBIT APOGEE

  Copyright © 2015 Bascomb James.

  Published by World Weaver Press, LLC

  Albuquerque, New Mexico

  www.WorldWeaverPress.com

  Cover layout and design by Eileen Wiedbrauk. Cover images used under license from Shutterstock.com.

  First edition: October 2015

  Also available in paperback - ISBN-13: 978-0692509760

  ASIN (mobi): B013TFTKK8

  B&N ISBN (ePub): 2940151071710

  Kobo eISBN (ePub): 1230000604451

  This is a work of fiction; characters and events are either fictitious or used fictitiously.

  Please respect the authors, their work and rights: Do not copy. Do not distribute. Do not share this book online. If you like this book and want to recommend it to a friend, please consider buying an additional copy.

  Contents

  Anthology Description

  Praise for the Far Orbit Anthology Series

  Introduction by Bascomb James

  To Defend and Keep from Harm by Anna Salonen

  This Story Will Win a Hugo by James Van Pelt

  Contamination by Jay Werkheiser

  A Most Exceptional Scholarship by Nestor Delfino

  Masks by Jennifer Campbell-Hicks

  Murder at Tranquility Base by Dave Creek

  The Affairs of Dragons by Julie Frost

  Culture Shock by Keven R. Pittsinger

  Lost in Transmutation by Wendy Sparrow

  N31ghb0rs by Eric Del Carlo

  Dainty Jane by Dominic Dulley

  Live by the Ten, Die by the Gun by Milo James Fowler

  By The Shores of a Martian Sea by Sam S. Kepfield

  Review this Book

  Want More Space Adventures?

  About the Anthologist

  More Science Fiction from World Weaver Press

  More Great Short Stories

  Copyright Extension

  FAR ORBIT APOGEE

  Introduction

  Welcome to the second Far Orbit anthology—an anthology series dedicated to Grand Tradition storytelling for a modern audience.

  In our first volume, Far Orbit: Speculative Space Adventures, we prefaced the book with Elizabeth Bear’s open letter to the genera, “Dear Speculative Fiction, I’m Glad We Had This Talk.” In it, Bear sits down science fiction for an intervention. “I’m as guilty as anyone of taking myself too seriously,” Bear writes. “But for you [speculative fiction], it’s become an addiction. You seem to think that nothing fun can have value; that only grimdark portentousness and dystopia mean anything. You wallow in human suffering and despair, and frankly—it makes me tired.” I felt tired, too, and so did the publisher at World Weaver Press. I even felt tired when reading anthologies published under the moniker of “hopeful science fiction.” Yes, those stories were less grim, but they lacked the gusto, cleverness, and fun that originally drew me to science fiction.

  In the same open letter, Elizabeth Bear asserts that “sometimes lately, spending time with you [speculative fiction] is like having my face pressed down into a trough of human misery until the bubbles stop.” We didn’t want the bubbles to stop. We wanted to publish adventure stories that were fun and life affirming. But just as importantly, we didn’t want to slavishly replicate Golden Era science fiction with its narrow range of who could be a hero, stiff and clunky characterizations, and prose styling fifty years out of fashion. We wanted to embrace the tradition of Grand Tradition storytelling. Our call to action was answered by a new generation of Grand Tradition storytellers who were crafting tales for contemporary readers.

  What, you might ask, is Grand Tradition storytelling? The formal answer is that Grand Tradition is a writing and storytelling style popular in mid-century SF publications—“pulp” science fiction composed of plot-driven, fun-to-read adventures with an upbeat message and a sense of wonder. Protagonists who could—through the power of science, engineering, and their own cunning—save the day. These stories inspired a generation of future scientists and engineers who sought to do in real life the things their heroes did on the page. Grand Tradition stories embraced the thrill of discovery and the satisfaction that comes from building new things.

  These stories occasionally engaged in social or political commentary, but such self-reflection was, and remains, secondary to the adventure. The “greater good” perpetuated by the tradition was inspiration, rather than appraisal and critique. Grand Tradition inspired not just the study of science but the invention of many of our current technologies, and it continues to help scientists and inventors understand how these technologies might interact with the real world.

  But these weren’t just stories about gismos and gadgets. The best Grand Tradition stories also had a strong human element that made them enjoyable, approachable, and caused them to stick like Velcro in our minds. Far Orbit Apogee’s approach to Grand Tradition storytelling builds upon the tradition by embracing characters that are more fully developed, diverse, and who have a richer set of motivations and emotions than stories written in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.

  Our modern approach to Grand Tradition storytelling seeks to embrace the varied nature of original Grand Tradition story archetypes and expand on it. We choose for Apogee a Juvie story (a genre far more popular after World War II than it is now; more akin to “middle grade” in today’s market than “young adult”) as well as a science fiction romance (not popular in mid-century Grand Tradition, but is now a booming sub-genera market). The antholo
gy contains social science fiction and hard science fiction, action heroines and tongue-in-cheek heroes, detectives, robots, and aliens. By presenting a variety of story types and tropes, we hope to honor Grand Tradition storytelling while extending its scope to allow every SF fan to find a favorite within these pages.

  So here it is—our latest creation. This anthology was created for you—the longtime SF fan, the new or occasional SF reader, the aspiring or established writer. Let me know what you think of the anthology and where we should go from here. I am “listening” at: [email protected] and @BascombJ.

  Enjoy.

  Bascomb James

  Anthologist, Far Orbit Apogee

  October 2015

  To Defend and Keep from Harm

  Anna Salonen

  While paladin and knight errant stories can be found in almost every literary genera, they have a special place in science fiction. These heroes may sometimes live on the wrong side of the law but they still retain their code of honor—a code that can be at odds with their employer’s directives. Grand Tradition science fiction is replete with paladins and knights errant, but in the gender-biased 1940s and 1950s, these characters were almost always male. The story that follows celebrates our modern approach to Grand Tradition storytelling, presenting a very human, female paladin who can still kick butt in spite of all life has thrown at her. In “To Defend and Keep from Harm,” author Anna Salonen introduces Kit Ward, a combat veteran who struggles with her health, her past, and her mission to rescue a child.

  Anna Salonen has been exploring imaginary worlds ever since she could pick up a book, and she loves speculative fiction in all its forms. Having studied medicine at the University of Turku, she currently works as a GP. When she’s not writing, she enjoys graphic novels, console games, and playing robot ninja pirates with her niece and nephew. She lives in Turku, Finland, with her husband. You can read more of her ramblings at strangeandcuriousthings.blogspot.fi. This is her first English-language science fiction sale.

  Kit Ward stared into her glass of cheap Aldebaran whiskey and twisted the drug capsule open, releasing a cloud of sparkling powder. Fairy-dust, she would have called it as a child. It dissolved in flame-colored wisps as she shoved the almost-empty med carton into her pocket. How could she be running out already? Grimacing, she downed the drink in one gulp. It burned going down, but at least the alcohol masked the sting of the medicine.

  The burning triggered a fit of coughing, and Kit reached for her inhaler. She had never been very good at getting the stuff into her lungs, and a bitterness spread in the back of her throat as some of the spray settled there. The coughing subsided, but an unpleasant taste lingered. She tapped the counter to get the bartender’s attention. Nothing. With that many eyes, you’d think it would be able to multitask. This wasn’t even her first night here, but her third. Hell, she was practically a regular.

  “Hey, I need a refill!”

  Two of the bartender’s eyestalks whipped around to regard her as it served the gaggle of sorority girls who were levitating jello shots, but it got distracted by two more customers vying for its attention. Kit sighed.

  A large man wearing a Coalition uniform leaned on the counter next to her, close enough that she could smell the sour scent of pickled mandra eels on his breath. Combined with the medication, it was enough to make her feel sick.

  “I’ll buy you one, gorgeous.” The man picked up her empty glass and sniffed it. “What are we drinking, whiskey? That’s a man’s drink, girl.”

  “We are not drinking anything,” Kit said, trying not to breathe in. “Leave me alone.”

  The man took her hand. “C’mon, what will it be? How about a nice sugarplum fizz? Suit you better than whiskey.”

  She extracted her hand. “No. Thank you.”

  “Oh, like that, is it? Just trying to be friendly. You’re so cold it’ll give a guy frostbite!” He tried a different tact. “I could show you a good time, snow princess. Once you go Coalition Corps, you’ll never go back.”

  Kit’s hands tightened into fists. This guy was really asking for it. Usually she would have given him a lesson in manners, but she wasn’t feeling up to it today. With a sharp yank, she pulled off one of her gloves to reveal the blue, furry mold growing on her skin and the green-tinged nails the fungus was eating up.

  “Still want a kiss? Huh?”

  The man backed away so fast it was almost comical. Kit pulled her glove back on and tried to ignore the stares of the other patrons. Suddenly there was an empty stool on either side of her. She smiled. At least this plague was good for something. The bartender placed a new glass of whiskey in front of her and she swished the alcohol around in her mouth until the smokiness of the whiskey washed away the aftertaste of the medicine.

  Kit was on her third drink, scrolling wanted ads on one of the bar’s free terminals, when a scream cut through the new-wave electro-punk anthem that was playing. She turned around to see the drunken marine launch himself into the middle of the flock of sorority girls, who scattered like startled sand-pigeons before him. Unfortunately, one girl hadn’t been quick enough; the marine had her by the hair and he wasn’t letting go. The girl’s long, cobalt-blue locks were styled in fashionable curls, giving the marine a good grip, and her cyber-lens covered eyes widened with fear as he reeled her in. The marine spun her around in a mockery of dance and started to twirl her toward the exit, humming. The girl’s friends screamed at him, but didn’t dare interfere. A few people glanced up briefly from their drinks and the bartender went on polishing glasses, pointedly looking away from the scene.

  Wasn’t anyone going to do anything? Kit’s mouth tightened. This is not your problem, Kit. Stay out of it. The man was almost at the exit. Damn it.

  “Call security!” she snapped at the bartender. Not waiting to see if he complied, she rushed forward and inserted herself in the marine’s path.

  “I don’t think she wants to go with you, Corporal. Let her go, and we can all go back to our nice night of drinking, like civilized people.”

  He looked her up and down, and squeezed the girl harder, causing her to whimper. “What’s it to you, blondie? Jealous?”

  Kit barked a laugh. “Seriously? I’d rather kiss a slimebadger in heat.”

  The marine roared, pushed the girl aside, and took a swing at Kit. She dodged it easily. He was so drunk that it was a wonder he could even stand. It wasn’t exactly a fair fight. She hesitated, but then she spotted the automatic holstered on his belt. He could remember the weapon at any moment; she needed to disarm him, and fast. He lunged at her again and she sidestepped, liberating the weapon from its holster, and gave the man a shove towards a cluster of fallen bar stools. He stumbled and crashed to the floor, swearing. Kit pointed the weapon at him and released the safety. The marine stayed down, chuckling.

  “Joke’s on you, bitch. That’s imprinted to me. You can’t fire.”

  Kit checked the automatic. The man had a point.

  “Doesn’t mean I can’t use it.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  The marine picked himself up and rushed at her again. Kit danced out of his way, flipped the weapon around, and brought the butt down on the back of his skull. The man crumpled to the floor, unconscious but still breathing. He’d have a sore head in the morning, but probably nothing worse than that. She walked over to the counter and dropped the weapon into the vat of pickled eels. The cobalt-haired girl and her friends had vanished and Kit decided to follow their example. She didn’t want to spend the night in the lock-up, answering some security officer’s probing questions.

  Kit was striding away from the bar and drawing long drafts from her inhaler when she heard footsteps behind her. They were strange, mismatched, making a thump-CLANG-thump-CLANG sound.

  “Ward? Kit Ward? Wait up!”

  She whirled around to see a man jogging up to her. He wore a black sweater and camo trousers with combat boots; his posture was reminiscent of the military as well. A scar ran across one eye
brow and slashed its way over the bridge of a broken nose that had been inexpertly set. The rest of his face was hidden by an untidy mass of rust-colored hair that was definitely not regulation. When he stepped into the light she recognized his crooked smile and twinkling green eyes.

  “Reese Channing? What the hell are you doing here?” He hadn’t changed too much from last time they had been on shore leave together, except for the hair and a few more crow’s feet around the eyes. It seemed like ages ago.

  “Looking for you, actually.”

  He drew her into a bear hug before she could stop him. Not that she wanted to; it was the first human contact she had had since she had left the service. She hugged him back and meant it.

  He let her go, still grinning. “That was some show you put on in there. Glad to see you haven’t lost your touch.”

  “You saw that?”

  “Came in when he rushed you.”

  “And you suddenly decided that bar fights are a spectator sport?”

  He held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “You seemed to be handling it just fine.” His grin faded a bit. “If you had been in real trouble, I’d have jumped in. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah.” They had been through enough that she did. “So, you were looking for me?”

  “Yes. I need to talk to you. My place isn’t far from here.”

  “Okay. Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Reese’s apartment was in one of the taller skypads with a view of the city. The rooms were sparsely furnished in the metal-and-crystal style that had been popular two years ago—all sharp angles, no softness anywhere. Even the cushions on the couch managed to look threatening. Kit didn’t like it, and it didn’t seem like Reese’s kind of thing, either. She walked to the hexagonal windows and watched the steady stream of shuttlecraft and cloud scooters that flowed over the skyways, their running lights flickering like fireflies in the moonless night. Elysium City was still wide awake and doing business.