Infinite Stars

Is there a more grandiose term for a literary genre than “space opera”? Probably not. (Okay, maybe “Epic Fantasy.”) Space opera is all about enormous scales, huge stakes, and sweeping storylines that encompass entire star systems. These giant, sprawling stories often span multiple novels, running to a thousand pages or more.

So what’s the easiest way to sample space opera without dedicating hours and hours of reading to one narrative universe among many? Infinite Stars. A mix of space opera and military sci-fi, this collection offers glimpses of many major sci-fi series, including the universes of Ender’s Game, Dune, and more. These shorter, more personal tales allow marquee and minor characters alike to shine.

Each of those universes are well-represented, but honestly, it was the lesser-known stories that really wowed me. They managed to distill massively in-depth and complicated narratives, offering a window into these larger worlds while still telling engaging, cohesive stories in their own right. “The Ship Who Sang” is a genuine highlight, making you care about two characters and their strange, wonderful relationship. It was an unexpected treat.

Infinite Stars is great sci-fi done right, an appetizer whetting the appetite for much larger entrees to follow.