The Aliens Among Us Bundle - Curated by Dean Wesley Smith and Allyson Longueira
Science fiction readers all know that the main theme of all science fiction is the alien among us. Early on, when science fiction was a genre only read by science geeks and kids who built their own telescopes, readers felt that they were the aliens in the larger real world.
School was an alien place, other humans felt alien. Science fiction felt safe.
And science fiction stories and novels helped explain so much of what they were feeling.
I was no exception. I always felt different, a little odd, never really fitting in. In other words: alien.
And I loved science fiction and grew up reading it and then eventually writing it.
Now, science fiction has grown into this wonderful place of sharing ideas and stories worldwide, no longer just reserved for the science geek. But aliens and being alien is still the major theme of most of the books and stories.
So, when I got the chance to help curate this wonderful bundle with Allyson Longueira, I jumped at the chance because Aliens Among Us described so many great books from my past and many, many great stories and novels being publishing today.
For the bundle, Allyson rounded up some of the top science fiction writers working in modern fiction, starting with Mike Moscoe, who also writes fantastic science fiction under the name Mike Shephard.
Mike included in the bundle the gripping Rita Longknife–Enemy Unknown, an alien contact story where the contact goes horribly wrong. A real page-turner of a novel I can promise you.
Next up in this incredible bundle are New York Times bestselling authors Kevin J. Anderson & Doug Beason with their techno-thrilling science fiction novel Assemblers of Infinity.
The novel was shortlisted for the Nebula Science Fiction Award and features a massive alien structure erecting itself and consuming everything it touches. Again, one of the more gripping science fiction reads you will come upon. Impossible to put down.
Robert Jeschonek, one of the most innovative voices working in modern science fiction and fantasy, adds in a three-volume collection of eighteen short stories that you will not soon forget. The collection is called SciFi Motherload and the title describes it very well. Robert Jeschonek is an award-winning writer of Star Trek and Doctor Who. Trust me, his stories will leave you breathless. This three-volume collection is worth the price of the entire bundle just to discover Robert's work.
Eric Kent Edstrom changes up the pace some with Undermountain, a YA adventure about aliens roaming right here on this planet and how an entire world must come of age. An enthralling and thought-provoking read that will make you want to get more of his books.
Blaze Ward, one of the top up-and-coming science fiction writers in the field, chips in with Imposters, a griping and fun ride through the fascinating universe of the Collective. Near-future science fiction done as it should be done. This book will give you a great introduction to Blaze's wonderful science fiction novels.
In Stefon Mears' Fade to Gold, the aliens have landed in midtown Manhattan. Maybe one of the best alien contact stories I have read in a long time, this ranks right up there with the classics like Childhood's End by Clarke. The future of the human race relies not only on our science, but on our humanity. And after all, isn't that what great alien stories are all about? Humanity.
Marcelle Dube's Backli's Ford brings mystery into science fiction in a perfect blend. An alien ship crashes in Canada in the early 1700s and the alien survivors must find a balance between their culture and the humans they are forced to live among.
Marcelle's novel might be the purest of all the novels talking about the aliens among us core of science fiction. Historical science fiction with some stunning writing, this book will grip you from the start, and when you are finished you will search for more A'lle Chronicles, I promise you.
Now in one of the real treats of the bundle, eighteen writers in Fiction River: No Humans Allowed have written science fiction short stories that will keep you reading. The book offers what seems like an entire universe of nonhuman protagonists and top writing and storytelling.
Next up in this power-list of new and top science fiction writers is New York Times bestselling writer and Hugo Award-winning writer Kristine Kathryn Rusch with her story The End of the World.
The End of the World won the UPC Special Science Fiction Award, Europe's top science fiction award. The story explores the complexities and range of human conditions when faced with real aliens as only Kristine Kathryn Rusch can do.
And Allyson Longueira, my co-curator for this bundle also picked one of my novels, Starburst: A Seeders Universe Novel. As I said earlier, I have been writing science fiction for over four decades. I wrote thirty-five Star Trek novels, the only two original Men in Black novels, and a ton of other science fiction. I have over twenty-three million copies of my books in print and most of them are science fiction books. Starburst asks the old science fiction question: "What, really, is alien?" And then answers it in a very unexpected way.
In fact, all of the books and stories in this fantastic volume ask that age-old science fiction question in one way or another.
What would really happen if there were aliens among us? Grab this fantastic bundle and get a few answers from some of the top working science fiction writers.
And enjoy the great reads. I sure did.
– Dean Wesley Smith
Co-curator with Allyson Longueira
The initial titles in the The Aliens Among Us (minimum $5 to purchase) are:
If you pay more than the bonus price of just $15, you get all four of the regular titles, plus six more!
This bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get multiple DRM-free formats (.epub and .mobi) for all books!
It's also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.
Why StoryBundle? Here are just a few benefits StoryBundle provides.
StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com.
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