Reviewed by Author Anna del C. Dye for Readers' Favorite

This is an entertaining anthology composed of five very futuristic stories, all from different authors.

Heaven’s Door by Michele Dutcher

The first story is well done. The premise is that magic powers are given to an assassin who is called William, but is known as Messiah. He uses verses from the Bible for many of his actions. He is the head of an assassin’s group, the best in the galaxy. When his lover is killed, he starts to communicate with a woman who goes through a freeze and thaw cycle repeatedly, although she is alive. She wants the Messiah to kill her and end her existence. While trying to avenge his lover, the assassin falls to her charms.

Diversion Tactics by Steve Bowers

This story starts with a witless woman who doesn’t know how to read the different signs around her space ship. As a result, she opens a hole in the wall, through which she is sucked into space and dies. Her only companion doesn’t know what happened until it is too late to save her. This accident causes him to go out of his mind, until someone gives him a reason to live again.

This story also portrays the political agendas of the diverse planets. Its main message is... no matter how we live or in what universe we are in, there is always some sort of enemy, who thinks they could do better than those in power.

The characters in this story are dogs with a pinch of human genes and humans with a pinch of dog genes. It is a very interesting and a new approach to fantasy.

Parameter Space by Graham Hopgood

The story was a bit confusing, in the sense that the author changes his point of view too many times between the characters. The names the author uses are so different that it is hard to keep them straight, or even to know what they are. The characters need more depth to them to avoid confusion.

There is a consciousness, like a God who creates and feels everything in the universe. He tries to help a world that is being attacked by creatures he didn’t create. All he could do was to save the DNA of a boy from that planet.

The transitions are very abrupt, which adds to the confusion. Otherwise, it has a great theme. It needs more dialogue to keep it from divulging too much information at once. Conversations would be an excellent way to show depth and personality within characters. This story was very funny at times.

The Devoted Follower by Darren Ryding

In this tale, the Great Leader is dead. Millions of people celebrate the life of the now dead Great leader. This man Yakani is in a place where his only contact is a holographic woman who interrogates him every night. He is dead set on chastising this sinner woman because she doesn’t approve of the Great Leader.
After a long time, he finally realizes how much he hates the Leader. That is when he becomes lost like a child. It was a good, different story, although I find it hard to believe that a hologram will react and use swear words to express frustration. This reaction is too human for just a movie projection.

Apotheosis by Kevin Schillo

This was a futuristic tale of life in a space ship. The story... Dominic talking with his flying machine. One day their God has a tantrum and sends a shadow to destroy a world close by. He and his ship are stranded when the mother ship is also destroyed.
It repeated “Oh No!” too many times for my taste, but it could become a good story

I recommend it to all who like space travel and futuristic tales. Late teens and adults only. A bit graphic with profanity at times.