Curated by Joseph R. Lallo
Sci-fi stories from every facet of the genre.
I'm proud to say my history with StoryBundle goes back to the very beginning. My stories, Bypass Gemini and Unstable Prototypes, were each part of the Big Bang Bundle, the very first to be released. Obviously I had a good experience, because while it was my first bundle it was hardly my last. Since then I've been lucky enough to have books of several other genres featured, from fantasy to satire, but when I was asked to curate a bundle I knew it could only be sci-fi.
Why did I decide to take second bite of the sci-fi apple? Because few genres have the same range as good old science fiction. When I dove into the books submitted to StoryBundle over the years, I found stories that invoked the old west and dystopian futures. I read light-hearted romps and tales of grim resolve. There were cold, emotionless figures and stories that became downright steamy. Yet despite appealing to young adventure seekers in some cases and seasoned veterans in others, each tale had the undeniable flavor that made it firmly sci-fi. Science fiction isn't a single shade, it is a whole spectrum. This bundle is a sampling of just a few choice fruits from the same bountiful tree.
For this bundle, I tried to select a mix of familiar faces and newcomers to the StoryBundle family. Many came from the growing collection of wonderfully written tales submitted by hopeful authors. Others were from authors I personally recruited because I knew their novels would be perfect round out the assortment. Each of these stories will make a fine addition to your library, and if like me you're a StoryBundler dating all the way back to the Big Bang, you'll find the third installment of my own series that started here way back then. If you didn't know about the bundles back then, we've got you covered too.
I hope you will enjoy this fine collection of the many faces of sci-fi. Just name your price and dive into some of the finest worlds I've had the good fortune of discovering. – Joseph R. Lallo
The initial titles in the Sci-Fi Spectrum Bundle (minimum $3 to purchase) are:
If you pay more than the bonus price of just $12, you get all five of the regular titles, plus these outstanding books:
In my quest to find examples of the many different flavors of sci-fi, I was instantly entranced by the world presented in The Serpent's Head. Not unlike Firefly, which exercises the frontier angle of early planetary colonization, The Serpent's Head has a very western vibe. It presents modern takes on the classic gunslinger character, and wraps it in a combination of old west archetypes and realistic takes on terraforming.
Operation: Montauk by Bryan YoungHaving already selected The Serpent's Head for the bundle, I put out a call for any authors who might be interested in contributing a second work. Operation Montauk was the first suggestion offered, and I instantly fell in love. Seriously, time travel, a mission to kill Hitler, and an involuntary jaunt into prehistory? What's not to love!
Terminal Mind by David WaltonEven before I read the first words of this trippy take on future society I knew it would be a great story, because Terminal Mind is a recipient of the Philip K. Dick Award. It is easily one of the most creative takes on the future that I've ever read. Body modification is treated as an easy way for rich people to impress their vapid, hedonistic friends. All aspects of technology have advanced in recognizable but unexpected directions, but people? They never change. Politics, manipulation, and greed are still the most powerful forces known to man.
The Lead Cloak by Erik HanbergLike so many of my selections, what drew me to The Lead Cloak was its exploration of the different blessings and curses technology can bring. In this case, we see the final step in the journey that began with social networks. Privacy literally no longer exists, with the contents of all minds past and present available for public viewing. I think that's coming in the next Facebook update. At any rate, the action in the story is fast paced and engaging, and the questions it forces one to ask are compelling.
Artificial Evolution by Joseph R. LalloArtificial Evolution is the third book in my own Big Sigma series. While most people who read these stories latch onto Karter and Ma, a mad scientist and his AI, I knew I couldn't let them hog the glory book after book. When the previous story introduced Silo and Garotte, I felt it might be worth a try to see how they could handle a bit more of the spotlight. I'm also told by numerous fans that the villain, or perhaps more accurately the threat of this story, is one of the more terrifying things I've concocted.
The Ruins of Karzelek by Ruby LionsdrakeI've worked with this author a number of times in a number of different places. When I began to curate this bundle, I immediately reached out to her to see if she had anything she felt would fit the bill. Her stories typically trend in the "sci-fi romance" direction—yes, it exists—but she suggested this as her least "bed bouncing" adventure. So if you like this story, be sure to check out the others for even more steam.
The Genehunter by Simon KewinI'm a pushover for any story that depicts a future with bizarre but plausible societal obsessions facilitated by technology. In this case, collecting the genetic code of celebrities has become a pastime for the wealthy, and we're treated to a film noir story of one so-called genehunter who gets in too deep. Totally classic and yet totally novel.
The Debt Collector Season One by Susan Kaye QuinnDebt Collector snared me almost immediately with the actual mechanism of the debt collection. Life itself is a form of currency, and an addictive one at that. I was fascinated by the realistic portrayal of the distrust and fear that one who could literally siphon away your life force would garner. Also intriguing was the fact that this is a collected serial, one of several I read in preparing this bundle.
The Debt Collector Season Two by Susan Kaye QuinnAs soon as I decided to add Season One of the Debt Collector Serial, I wanted to make sure I could get my hands on the next installment. If you are anything like me, the first thing you'll want to do when you complete the first season is find out what comes next, so I wanted it to be at your fingertips.
The bundle is available for a very limited time only, 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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