Hard-sf Stories

When astrophysicist Elizabeth Ross discovers HBK-1- a vast region at the edge of the universe where cosmic expansion is mysteriously slowing- the data makes no sense. Something out there is taming entropy, holding shut invisible holes chewed in reality itself. As humanity builds a "Jacob's Ladder" to probe the anomaly, their first contact nearly tears the cosmic dam apart... until HBK-1 reacts to save them. Now the world must decide: exploit the greatest power source in history, or stand beside an unseen cosmic guardian and help hold back the end of everything. Elizabeth finds herself at the centre of a fight not for territory, but for restraint, responsibility, and what it really means to be worthy of survival.

The newest and hippest way to finish your life is with a Spacedive. Spacedivers jump from a spacecraft and dive back to Earth, becoming a meteor as they blast through the sky. Disturbingly, the Spacedives are causing changes to the weather, and even giving visions. It seems that Spacediving has not ended these peoples’ lives, but changed them into Gods, and Gods with ambition. A civil servant, a scientist and a clergyman combine to tackle this threat, and find they are battling their own different views of the Universe; where is reality, in mankind’s mind or in the laboratory? Finally, the world’s deliverance depends on the strength of a nun and her ability to deliver people’s prayers.