Intergalactic civilization emerges from its war-torn ruins for the first time in generations to explore the galaxy, in this stunning new anthology from the bestselling world of Twilight Imperium

A terrible war destroyed a vast empire and left its survivors shattered and isolated. Millennia of history, technology, and the ever-expanding imperial grip were lost. From the secretive Naalu and the proud Hacan to the piratical Mentak Coalition, these factions and worlds are recovering and looking past their borders to the galaxy beyond again – but what awaits them in the vastness of space? New territory, allies, and opportunities abound, but the history that once bound them together now stands between them, and a galaxy-wide war is just one spark away from being rekindled…

A Ghost of a Chance, by M Darusha Wehm
The Fifth Stage, by Alex Acks
Shield of the Reef, by Robbie MacNiven
First Impressions, by Sarah Cawkwell
Contact, by Danie Ware
Defiler’s Reef, by Tim Pratt

CHARLOTTE LLEWELYN-WELLS is a bibliophile who took a wrong turn in the wardrobe and ended up as an editor – luckily it was the best choice she ever made. She’s a geek and fangirl with an addiction to unicorns, ice hockey and ice cream.

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ROBBIE MACNIVEN is a Highlands-native History graduate from the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of several novels and many short stories for the New York Times-bestselling Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar universe, and the narrative for HiRez Studio’s Smite Blitz RPG.

Robbie MacNiven's profile page

M. DARUSHA WEHM is the Nebula Award-nominated and Sir Julius Vogel Award-winning author of the interactive fiction game The Martian Job, as well as the science fiction novels Beautiful Red, Children of Arkadia, The Voyage of the White Cloud, and the Andersson Dexter cyberpunk detective series. Their mainstream books include the Devi Jones’ Locker YA series and the humorous coming-of-age novel The Home for Wayward Parrots. Darusha’s short fiction and poetry have appeared in many venues, including Terraform and Nature. Originally from Canada, Darusha lives in Wellington, New Zealand after spending several years sailing the Pacific.

M. Darusha Wehm's profile page

TIM PRATT is a Hugo Award-winning SF and fantasy author, and has also been a finalist for the World Fantasy, Sturgeon, Stoker, Mythopoeic, and Nebula Awards, among others. He is the author of over twenty novels, and scores of short stories. Since 2001 he has worked for Locus, the magazine of the science fiction and fantasy field, where he currently serves as senior editor. He lives in Berkeley, CA, with his wife and son.

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ALEX ACKS is an award-winning writer and sharp-dressed sir. Angry Robot Books published their novels Hunger Makes the Wolf (winner of the 2017 Kitschies Golden Tentacle award) and Blood Binds the Pack. Murder on the Titania and Other Steam-Powered Adventures was a 2019 finalist for the Colorado Book Award. They’ve written for Six to Start and Activision-Blizzard, and published over 30 short stories. Alex lives in Denver (where they bicycle and twirl their ever-so-dapper mustache) with their two furry little jerks.

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DANIE WARE is a single working Mum with long-held interests in writing, re-enactment, and rolling polyhedral dice. She went to an all-boys' public school, gained an English degree from UEA, and spent most of her twenties clobbering her friends with an assortment of steel cutlery. After seventeen years handling PR and event management for Forbidden Planet (London) Ltd, she now works for Waterstones Piccadilly.

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SARAH CAWKWELL is a sci-fi and fantasy writer based in the North East of England. Old enough to know better, she's still very much young enough not to care. She's been a writer for many years, and her published works include several novels and short stories within the Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 universes and an original alternate-history fantasy novel. When not slaving away over a hot keyboard, Sarah's hobbies include reading everything and anything she can get her hands on, gaming and other assorted geekery.

Sarah Cawkwell's profile page

"The stories all stand alone perfectly and capture the feel of the genre."

What You Tolkien About

"good solid space opera standalones"

Red Hat Cat Reviews

“The Fractured Void is the epitome of what a space opera should truly be – detailed, complex and full of rich and engaging characters, while simultaneously allied to a galaxy-spanning plot… and written with a genuine sense of tension and a healthy dose of wry humor.”

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer

"Anyone who likes discovering new worlds and new alien species will enjoy The Stars Beyond. If space and alien stories aren’t usually your thing there is still a good chance you will enjoy this book."

Cosmic Circus