I would like to thank Newcon Press for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Newcon Press

Published – Out Now

Price – £13.99 paperback £4.99 kindle ebook

Eric Brown was one of the UK's finest SF authors. His work won him awards, his storytelling won him readers; more than that, though, he was a special person, and that won him many friends.

Containing all new stories from some of the UK's finest genre writers, this volume, released to mark what would have been Eric's 64th birthday, is dedicated to Eric and his family. It is our way of celebrating someone whose work inspired us and whose friendship made a difference.

Eric Brown: (24 May 1960 - 21 March 2023)

Terry Pratchett once wrote that no one truly does while they live on in the minds of others. Its one of the less fun things growing up as people we know, love and respect pass away. Their influence will remain, and I occasionally look at my shelves and consider the authors who no longer have new stories to tell me. The Science Fiction author Eric Brown was a much-respected figure of UK SF and in the excellent anthology that Ian Whates has edited To The Stars and Back – Stories In Honour of Eric Brown a vast degree of talented authors who have brought stories in many different ways honouring their colleague and friend. It’s a glorious read and I think a fitting tribute.

Rodeo Day by Philip Farmer – We get a stunning opening tale with a story of giant mecha drivers having a rodeo on a bizarre, dangerous alien planet but so much more. Its dazzlingly inventive as we witness truly alien life do things only SF can deliver. There is a lovely suite of mecha battles and stunts that giant robots bring their unique skills to entertain,  but the key is the focus on a grizzled old veteran named Gus who harbours secrets. This story is the start of a legend (although we don’t know it to the end) and what feels a simple gritty action tale becomes something huge, epic, and yet bittersweet on themes of loss.

Last Orders by Una McCormack – an elegant elegy to the passage of time in this tale of a woman slowly watching the earth empty as a series of alien gates have appeared compelling people to leave and move to something…unknown. Our narrator tells us of her life as a friend of writers, how her group is getting smaller, and we watch her wander through a land that just feels different. A story that beautifully captures the loss of friends through death or pandemics and that you take joy in the little things as the days pass. A beautiful tale

The Scurlock Compendium by Alastair Reynolds – a 60s set period SF mystery. Our narrator tells his date of an unusual acquaintance who persuaded him to take part in cutting edge experiments. We know things will end messily but this finely constructed tale throws clues and yet in some ways becomes a haunting tale too. Hugely enjoyable.

President Max by Josh lacey – I really liked this cynical but intelligent tale of how in a boring election campaign people found the idea of nominating an unpleasant young child instead as their leader. Its funny and yet says something about our desire for something outrageous and ‘funny’ that can have nastier consequences. Voter beware indeed!

Untold by Keith Brooke – another beautifully told story of a retired investigator going the pub and meeting a man from outer space. More and more stranger characters appear and this story wonders what happens next to those from book after their adventures stop. Very fitting for this anthology and magically told.

The Peaceable Kingdom – a classic SF tale with a neat provocative question. Our kind space traveller needs to make an emergency stop and finds a mining town filled only with robots and one mysterious recluse. Our hero tries to set things right…and the story makes you consider what the correct solution should be. One to give us pause for thought.

The Guardian by Kim Lakin – an engrossing tale that mixes ambitious tech bros taking the habitats of native populations for products, ambivalent scientists studying and an elderly guide who sees the bigger picture. This story is both SF, action and horror as things go wrong but its also asks can anything ever get better. Keeps us guessing the outcome for the unlucky characters all the way through.

A Sea Change by Donna Scott - I loved this story for mixing a mysterious possibly alien encounter with a woman on the run from a possessive husband. The character work is beautiful and the strangeness of the encounters neatly come together in a fascinating and hopeful conclusion.

May You Rise by James Lovegrove – Humanity is getting improved by strange alien machines. They make us less aggressive and keener to improve our world. Our curmudgeon of a main character looks at these people and ponders if he is doing the wrong thing in resisting change.  A storry taking some joy of mild rebellions and tiny sins. A really nicely told and persuasive tale.

The Neglected Bookshop by Phillip Vine – This tale has a hugely impressive unlikeable and snobbish lead character telling us his story and yet you sort of want him to not get into the trap you see coming. His obsession for books versus his neglect and clear disdain for his family – who themselves aren’t that kind. The actual situation they fall in is quite cunning and neatly fits the wider anthology’s theme too in an unexpected way.

Masterchef on Mars: A Murder Mystery by Ian Watson – a fun diverting tale of a retired man on Mars. Zany and amusing! The main character voice makes it work and create this alternate world for us to explore.

Peppercorns by Rebecca Rajendra – this takes an item of Brown’s house and turns into an SF comedy script that may ring bells with UK sitcom viers and then the story takes a left turn into philosophy that really chime and brings humanity to the tale.

Bartering With Ghosts by Ian Whates – a short tale of thieves, police, and mysterious aliens. A fascinating alien world and alien presence but who gets the upper hand. An elegant SF mystery as to how do you get out of the situation the characters are in.

The Place of the Mice by Justina Robson is a fascinating tale of biker gangs, mysterious deaths and FBI agents and yet also weaves in elements of SF and horror to create a deeper mystery to unravel. Is fate fixed. Can you ignore people telling you what to do. Very well told and pleasantly open ended as to what can happen next.

Eric, and The Kathani by Tony Ballantyne – another fitting tale and this neatly ends the collection with a tale of a writer and his friend named Eric. We get amazing characters from stories offering dazzling adventures but sometimes that is not what you want in life. The final page is extremely poignant and heartfelt.

I am not as au fair as to the works of Eric Brown, but the collection is filled with respect and kindness even in tales that do not directly address or mention Brown. This is an extremely entertaining anthology and makes you consider mortality; the wonders SF can create and the power of a community to come together. Strongly recommended!