Defending the Future

Animals have fought for us for centuries, not because of the ideals of service to King and Country, but out of unwavering loyalty and devotion to their human Masters. The future, it would seem, is no better than the past, as some animals become expendable weapons or augmented semi-machines, while others receive the honor and dignity of being treated as fellow soldiers. In tribute, we bring you seventeen stories of our animal comrades-in-arms.

The plan had been to un-man the battlespace, replacing flesh and blood with steel and carbon fiber. Machines, both remote-controlled and autonomous A.I.s, would fight and be destroyed in the name of freedom; sparing the troops at the cost of the nation's treasure. However, as with any arms race, the opposing side's technology eventually catches ups to yours, resulting in the need to put lives back in harm's way on the frontline; to deal with, and adapt to the unknown, as only humans can. With stories by Brenda Cooper, Bud Sparhawk, Jennifer Brozek, Ronald T. Garner, Aaron Rosenberg, James Chambers, Nancy Jane Moore, Patrick Thomas, Jeff Young, Eric V. Hardenbrook, Robert E. Waters, Anton Kukal, and Danielle Ackley-McPhail, and an afterword by the late CJ Henderson.

When fire and steel meet flesh and bone, a soldier learns a hard truth: you're not fighting for Glory and Honor, but for survival, for you and your comrades, and you will be damned if you're going to leave any of them behind. Join us for twelve tales of military heroism and courage in the face of a hostile enemy. With stories by Brenda Cooper, Bud Sparhawk, David Sherman, Robert E. Waters, Jeff Young, James Chambers, Lisanne Norman, Robert Greenberger, Aaron Rosenberg, Christopher M. Hiles, Eric V. Hardenbrook, and Danielle Ackley-McPhail

Experience the Human Cost of War! It has been said that "Generals always prepare to fight the last war," this whilst others learn from history, innovate, and adapt, giving them-for a time-the upper hand. But is that enough to win the war?

This Is No Longer a Standup Fight! Suit Up! Diplomacy has failed, and the war is far from over; we need to find a less costly avenue to victory, or at least an acceptable path to our survival. With Stories By: James Chambers, Bud Sparhawk, Jeff Young, Mike McPhail, Andy Remic, Charles E. Gannon, Peter Prellwitz, Jeffrey Lyman, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Robert E. Waters, James Daniel Ross, Patrick Thomas, C.J. Henderson, John G. Hemry, and David Sherman

The embers of War still glow as memories of strange skies over an alien landscape, light-years from home, bring back the sensations of battle; a time when personal sacrifice meant the difference between salvation for all, or total destruction. Gathered here is a cross-section of stories from the first decade of the award-winning Defending The Future series. Written by the known and up-and-coming in the military science fiction genre, these stories represent the fan-requested highlights from the series.

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Hardcore Negotiations Have Begun! Now awakened from its decade-long sleep-refurbished and reassigned-Breach the Hull rejoins the fight. The founding book in the Defending the Future series once again lets loose the dogs-of-war on an unsuspecting universe...