SPACE FORCE: BUILDING A LEGACY

Just over a year ago, President Donald J. Trump announced he wanted to create a sixth branch of the U. S. military, to stand beside the army, navy, USMC, Air Force, and Coast Guard as a co-equal branch of the military. He did not announce WHY we needed a Space Force, since theoretically the Air Force’s Space Command or NASA could handle any problems that might go to the attention of a Space Force. We are not dealing with any alien incursions, nor has space commerce progressed to the point to make fighting space pirates a necessity yet.

“One might have expected those of the geeky, nerdish persuasion to applaud any program that gets more people into space, but most voices either protested that this proposed Space Force was stepping on NASA’s toes, the Air Force’s toes (which already has a Space Command, founded 36 years ago) or feared that President Trump would be as successful with this venture as he had been with steaks, his airline, his university, his casinos, and his first two marriages. Both media and literary SF turned to the traditional weapon against the powerful: mockery.” Krypton Radio, January 30, 2019.

Two small presses announced science fiction anthologies based on the as-yet hypothetical Space Force. B Cubed Press (founded by author/editor Bob Brown for the express purpose of mocking DJT — the pen is mightier than the sword, and the plume can be used to tickle and mock the pompous) requested stories mocking DJT and his having called for a sixth branch of the military without clearly defining its purpose, especially given his history of business failures. Midland Scribes wanted a more serious volume (under the direction of editor Doug Irvins) stories that celebrated the first century of the USSF’s existence, showing the Space Force in a positive light.

Shameless plug here: I shall have stories in both these volumes. Tales from the Space Force will be released late this summer or possibly this fall. Space Force: Building the Legacy is available through Amazon and better bookstores. It currently has six reviews on Amazon, five of them complimentary, none of which specifically mention my story.

Space Force: Building the Legacy has eleven stories, some by award-winning authors, some by authors who want to win awards.

“Best and Brightest,” by P. A. Piatt — humorous military SF, PG-13 bordering on R

“Frickin’ Guard Guys!” by Chris diNote

“For the Duty” by Ray Daley

“Dick Dibble’s Birthday” by Susan Murrie Macdonald (based on a true story)

“The Decision” by Brena Bock

“CAG” by Richard Paolinelli

“Olivia and the Asteroid Pirates” by Jim Robb

“Slivers of Hope” by Rose Oliver

“One Time, One Night on Aldrin Station” by Brennan Hankins

“What We Learned from the Fire” by Ali Abbas

“Visitors” by Karl K. Gallagher