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COSMIC SCULPTURE
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EPPIE Best Anthology Trophy Winner
Winner of the EPPIE 2004 Best Anthology trophy award, COSMIC SCULPTURE includes fourteen science fiction and fantasy stories plus the science fiction novel, DRAGON'S DEN. Read tales of Atlantis, dragons, faeries, Mars, reincarnation, vampires, and more. Then inside the Dragon's Den on the isolated and icy world of T'Panabar, martial arts master Raza learns he is the key to exposing an illegal mining operation. To survive an attack on the facility, Raza must embrace what he is: a dragon incarnate.
COSMIC SCULPTURE [©2003-2021] by Terri Branson | Science Fiction & Fantasy Anthology (158 pages) 56,000 words | Available in ebook, hardback, and paperback from the DFP Books label of Dragonfly Publishing
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Paperback at Amazon • Trade Paperback at Amazon • Paperback at Barnes & Noble • Hardback at Amazon • Hardback at Barnes & Noble • eBook at Amazon Kindle • eBook at Apple Books • eBook at Barnes & Noble • eBook at Kobo • eBook at Smashwords
PAPERBACK (Amazon) [EAN 978-1-949187-00-7 | ISBN 1-949187-00-4] 6x9 Library (158 pages) | Price at Amazon: $9.99
PAPERBACK (Barnes & Noble) [EAN 978-1-941278-73-4 | ISBN 1-941278-73-6] 6x9 Library (158 pages) | Price at Barnes & Noble: $9.99
PAPERBACK (Createspace) [EAN 978-0-9819080-0-7 | ISBN 0-9819080-0-4] 5.5x8.5 Trade (182 pages) | Price at Amazon: $10.99
PAPERBACK (Lulu) [EAN 978-0-9710473-8-9 | ISBN 0-9710473-8-3] 6x9 Library (158 pages) | Average Price: $8.99
HARDBACK (Amazon) [EAN 978-1-949187-01-4 | ISBN 1-949187-01-2] 6x9 Library (158 pages) | Price at Amazon: $21.99
HARDBACK (Barnes & Noble) [EAN 978-1-941278-55-0 | ISBN 1-941278-55-8] 6x9 Library (158 pages) | Average Price: $16.99
HARDBACK (Lulu) [EAN 978-0-9765786-3-5 | ISBN 0-9765786-3-8] 6x9 Library (158 pages) | Price at Lulu: $16.99
EBOOK [EAN 978-0-9819080-9-0 | ISBN 0-9819080-9-8] Available in EPUB and Kindle (56,000 words) | Retail Price: $3.99
Print editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. Find ebooks at retailers, lending libraries, and subscription services, including: Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Blio, Everand, Kobo Books, Open Library, Overdrive, Smashwords, and more.
READ AN EXCERPT
Excerpt from the science fiction short story, COSMIC SCULPTURE, by Terri Branson:
"SIR, have you counted the planets this morning?"
The commander of the moon base looked up from his cluttered desk and focused hard on the junior officer standing at rigid attention before him. "Have I what?"
"Sir, the fifth planet is missing — sort of." The junior officer winced but did not retreat.
Commander Traya considered the officer's youthful leonine features and almond-shaped amber eyes. Twenty years ago that face could have been his, as well as the obvious fear of a superior officer. "Get to the point," Traya said in a calm but authoritative tone.
"Sir, the fifth planet is now an asteroid field. Here's the latest recon." The junior officer handed over a flat, palm-sized computer.
Traya sensed hesitation. "And?"
"Sir, we checked the logs on Shelay's private cruiser. It seems she has taken several unauthorized flights recently."
Activating the tiny computer, Traya perused the report. The more he saw, the angrier he became. Tapered claws drummed out rhythmic impatience on the smooth desktop. His feral fangs tingled, as a low-pitched growl rumbled up from his throat. Chewing on a colorful expletive, Traya bolted from his chair and gave a sharp wave of dismissal. "I'll take care of this myself."
"Yes, sir." The junior officer returned a crisp salute and exited the room.
With the small computer clutched in his huge hand, Traya walked across the octagonal chamber and gazed through a thick window. A blue cloud-covered planet revolved just off the shoulder of the ashen horizon and dragged its solitary moon along in a gentle dance.
When Traya had first accepted this outpost, he had borrowed a word from one of that blue planet's primitive tribes and called this assignment Project Terra. The last few months he and his officers had kept busy setting up research stations and gathering essential data. Only yesterday Traya had hoped for a little excitement within this primitive solar system. However, what he saw on that computer report flew light-years beyond excitement...
[Copyright ©2024 Terri Branson | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]
READ REVIEWS
"In COSMIC SCULPTURE, dip into the life of a lonely vampire, crawl through a crystalline mine, or mull over our sun's 'missing planet', all leavened with humor and the whisper of dragons' wings." ~ reviewed by Jeanette Cottrell for eBook Reviews Weekly [FIVE STARS]
"COSMIC SCULPTURE is a refreshingly original collection of short stories. Ms. Branson keeps you on your toes with her variety of subjects, and you just never can guess what her next tale will tell. I thoroughly enjoyed every unique one. They were very fast reads. You can keep this book in your purse or briefcase and enjoy a story while you wait. I'm sure there is a waiting line somewhere in your day. The story of her dragon, on the other hand, lets you get your teeth into the book. I know you will enjoy them all. My suggestion is that everyone put Ms. Branson's books on their bookshelves or include them on their current order-waiting list. You will not be sorry." ~ reviewed by Brenda McCoy for CoffeeTime Romance [FIVE STARS]
"I so enjoyed this collection of very short, very entertaining stories. I loved the mixture of paranormal and sci-fi. Some of the endings had me gasping out loud and some had me chuckling. I’d already read DRAGON'S DEN, which is a fabulously compelling novel. The COSMIC SCULPTURE collection is a huge bargain and will keep you entertained for hours in small bites, which is sometimes all I have time for." ~ reviewed by T. P. Warren at Goodreads [FIVE STARS]
"The first sentence of the first story in the COSMIC SCULPTURE anthology begins with: 'Sir, have you counted the planets this morning?' Say what? This collection of fourteen short stories of various lengths plus the DRAGON'S DEN novella showcases the author's command of style, technique, and storytelling. There is a little bit of everything in this collection from faeries to space misadventures to vampires and dragons who walk as men. Readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster. Some stories are downright funny. Others are thought-provoking. A couple of them might have you looking under the bed before you turn off the light. COSMIC SCULPTURE gives sci-fi/fantasy and paranormal readers a little bit of everything doled out in stories of various lengths and is easily a 5-star read." ~ reviewed by Ryan Gaines [FIVE STARS]
"COSMIC SCULPTURE is a superb selection of short stories that employs humor and wit and bite across a variety of science fiction and fantasy themes. It also includes the short novel DRAGON'S DEN, that is science fiction at its best. The first line of the first story in the anthology is: 'Sir, have you counted the planets this morning?' From there forward it's one unexpected twist and surprise after another. This is a great selection of stories worthy of a full five stars!" ~ reviewed by Allen Dale [FIVE STARS]
"COSMIC SCULPTURE has some of the best short stories that I have read. They are a clever and unusual assortment of science fiction and fantasy. The second half of the book introduces a dragon world series in DRAGON'S DEN with more to come. I highly recommend this anthology." ~ reviewed by Grandma's Reading Corner [FIVE STARS]
"COSMIC SCULPTURE is a clever and oftimes humorous blend of science fiction and fantasy." ~ reviewed by Chaos Arts Reviews [FIVE STARS]
"COSMIC SCULPTURE is a fascinating blend of dragons and aliens, science fiction and Native American wisdom. Although each story stands on its own, Ms. Branson's caustic sense of humor binds the collection into a cohesive whole. An unforgettable reading experience." ~ reviewed by Roserock Reviews [FIVE STARS]
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