Fractured Stars Series by Lindsay Buroker, Kevin J. Anderson, Chris Pourteau, Rhett C. Bruno

McCall Richter works as a skip tracer, tracking down criminals, con men, and people who stop making payments on their fancy new spaceships. Her job description says nothing about locating vast quantities of stolen maple syrup, but thanks to her helpful new android employee, she finds herself tramping through a “sugar house” on a frosty moon full of suspicious characters. The only witness to the crime? The junkyard dog next door... moreMcCall Richter works as a skip tracer, tracking down criminals, con men, and people who stop making payments on their fancy new spaceships. Her job description says nothing about locating vast quantities of stolen maple syrup, but thanks to her helpful new android employee, she finds herself tramping through a “sugar house” on a frosty moon full of suspicious characters. The only witness to the crime? The junkyard dog next door. Junkyard is a stand-alone novella set two years before Fractured Stars. less

The wonder of encountering new life. The thrill of space combat. Bridge Across the Stars presents seventeen tales of conflict and heroism, exploration and discovery, endurance and triumph. Flee the apocalypse of modern-day Earth, fly a fighter in the cold emptiness of deep space, and find new life on the distant shores of an alien world. You might even discover something about yourself as each author opens a window on the soul of mankind... moreThe wonder of encountering new life. The thrill of space combat. Bridge Across the Stars presents seventeen tales of conflict and heroism, exploration and discovery, endurance and triumph. Flee the apocalypse of modern-day Earth, fly a fighter in the cold emptiness of deep space, and find new life on the distant shores of an alien world. You might even discover something about yourself as each author opens a window on the soul of mankind. Who are we, really? Should we survive? How do we become something greater without losing what makes us human? Take your first steps into tomorrow. Travel the cosmos to find amazing adventure. Walk beside unforgettable characters on the bridge across the stars... Featuring a Foreword by Kevin J. Anderson- David VanDyke - "As the Sparks Fly Upward"- Ann Christy - "Peace Force"- Felix R. Savage - "Guardians of Earth"- Lindsay Buroker - "Here Be Dragons"- Chris Dietzel - "The Gordian Asteroid"- Craig Martelle - "The Trenches of Centauri Prime"- Josi Russell - "Broken One"- Chris Pourteau - "The Erkennen Job"- Daniel Arenson - "The Firebug and the Pharaoh"- Rhett C. Bruno - "Interview for the End of the World"- Steve Beaulieu - "Night Shift"- Lucas Bale - "A Friend to Man"- Jason Anspach - "...Space Pirates"- Will McIntosh - "Drive"- Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff - "Water Babies"- David Bruns - "Take Only Memories"- Patty Jansen - "This Deceitful State of Truth" less

A newsletter extra prequel to Fractured Stars.

McCall Richter finds criminals, con men, and deadbeats better than anyone else in the empire. She’s proud of her success and that she owns her own spaceship, especially since she struggles to understand human motivations, can’t tell when people are lying to her, and is horrible at recognizing faces. Being autistic in the empire is frowned upon—and there’s a handy normalization surgery to correct it—but she’s managed to prove her worth and avoid irking the tyrannical regime... moreMcCall Richter finds criminals, con men, and deadbeats better than anyone else in the empire. She’s proud of her success and that she owns her own spaceship, especially since she struggles to understand human motivations, can’t tell when people are lying to her, and is horrible at recognizing faces. Being autistic in the empire is frowned upon—and there’s a handy normalization surgery to correct it—but she’s managed to prove her worth and avoid irking the tyrannical regime. Except for one thing. Two years ago, she liberated the android, Scipio, from an imperial research facility where he was treated worse than a slave. He’s become her business partner and best friend, but if the empire finds out she has him, a “normalization” surgery will be the least of her worries. When her ship is confiscated by a cyborg law enforcer needing to transport prisoners, McCall knows she and Scipio are in trouble. Worse, the enforcer’s pilot is a former bounty hunter and business competitor she beat to the prize many times in the past. Soon, he’s snooping all over her ship and questioning her about her past. And there's something strange about him. He knows far more about what she’s thinking than any human should. It’ll only be a matter of time before he discovers her secret. And then what? less