"Saving the world is thankless task. "

The six substantial short stories in this book each have interesting themes, written in the old style of S.F.where ideas take more precedence over characterisation. And unless those ideas are truly exceptional, this makes for a rather bland presentation. The titles, in order, are:
- The Stardust Alliance: a group which believes that a beam of light from above will take the person it strikes to the stars.
- Salon's Story: a family running from a mysterious unknown pandemic in South Africa
- A True Joule: a rather sad tale of the world freezing over
- If looks could kill: Charles had serious misgivings about the beautiful woman who had just joined his firm of solicitors.
- The Eyes of Cleopatra: ancient artefact said to be able to restore the Egyptian princess to life.
- A long way from Arach: when the food supply fails, it's time to go looking for a new one.

As previously noted, all six had imagination of subject matter but all lacked the writing g style to have the reader desperate to know more, in fact this reader found one story to be positively tedious despite the core idea being fascinating an almost topical. Narrated by Chase Johnson, who has a fine voice but only once the playback speed is increased to 1.2 and annoyingly there is no gap at all between the last sentence of one story chapter and the beginning of the next. Better editing, please.

Worth reading? Yes. .if I am a bit harsh this is because I feel the potential promises so much more.than it achieves. My thanks to the rights holders of the Stardust Alliance and More, who, at my request, freely gifted me a complimentary copy.

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