Storming Area 51 35 New Stories
Bayonet Books Anthology Book 2
Bayonet Books
ISBN 9781734025729
ASIN B07XFV7P9T
Wow this is a beast of a book. At a whopping 800 pages. I did not know anything about this anthology when I picked it up, other than that Declan Finn had contributed a story. I had read all of his novels over the last year and am now working through all the anthologies he contributed to. This is the second such anthology. I have also picked up 2 of the more recent Bayonet Books Anthologies #7 Fire for Effect and #8 The Monster Within because Finn had contributed, but I will likely pick up all in this series and give them a read.
According to the description of this volume, below, this is 35 stories created from a meme. It took me 10 days to work through this volume, and even they I read a couple of other works in parallel. By about the 15th story I needed a break from the collection. Not because it is bad but the number of stories about Karen’s, Kyle’s, greys, greens, lizard people got to be a bit much. I am pretty eclectic in my reading and the similarities was a little overwhelming, and I may or may not have dreamed about the great rush of area 51 to find out the truth and free aliens once or twice. But I can neither confirm nor deny that. The description of the volume is:
“Thirty-five awesome stories - one kick ass meme that started it all.
It started as a joke. Storm Area 51 they said. They can't stop all of us they said. But all laughter stopped when the U.S. Air Force mobilized the reserves and pulled out the big guns.
However, relentless mockery and derision by the media and the powers that be pushed the weebs and alien enthusiasts too far. What else were they supposed to do? They put on their big girl panties and showed up, determined to find out exactly what secrets were hidden behind the walls of the clandestine government facility.
Are you brave enough to buy this anthology today? If you are find out what the government wants to keep hidden.”
The contributors in the collection are:
Alice Peng
Chris Winder
J. R. Handley & Cisca Small
J. William Adler
Michael J. Allen
Sophie J. Shepherd
Walt Robillard
And the stories are:
Naruto Charge - C.J. Carella
Dark Mater - J W Kiefer
More to Carry - Walt Robillard
Eminent Domain - Michael Gants
Sunny Side Up - Sarah A. Hoyt
Embasy City Delivery - Alice Peng
The Sage V'Sal - Jamie Ibson
Destinys End - Tim Niederriter
Waterbenders in the Desert - Philip Ginn
The Cricket - Chris Winder
Stalking Death - E. A. Shanniak
Home - Marisa Wolf
#Vaporize - Aaron Seaman
Shift Work - Doug Burbey
The Rise of the Ghids - Nathan Pedde
Angel - 51: Princess of Earth - Tim C. Taylor
Sanity Check - Casey Moores
Love Finds Away - J. R. Handley & Cisca Small
Fallout - A Vapid Vixens Short - I. Ronik
Crashing the Party - A Scion Story - Michael J. Allen
Controlled Chaos - Alex C. Gates
Area 51 is Not Enough - Declan Finn
Kyle: Respawned - IQ Malcolm
Paradise Ranch - Milissa L. Story
Viva la Revolución - J. William Adler
Evan and Kyle Meet the Survey Cube - Joshua M. Young
Nothing's Gonna Happen - Sophie J. Shepherd
Hangar Nine - Lawrence N. Oliver
Routine Duty - Mel Todd
Storm the Gates - Drew Avera
Balancing the Scales - Philip K. Booker
The Trip Home - Tamsin L. Silver
Isabella's Campaign - Robert W. Ross
Hey Sweetie - Daniel Medrano
Crickey! - R. Max Tillsley
There are several excellent offerings in the volume. And there is not a dud in the collection. Which with 35 stories is impressive. As usually there is one or 2 that just do not connect or fire for the reader. However that was not the case this time. I do not believe I have read stories by any of contributors other than Finn previously. But A few books have been added to my wish list after reading this. And that is part of what I love about anthologies being exposed to new authors and new series. A few of the pieces in this work link to other series, some called out in the title some in the introduction to the story or the authors bio after the story. There is no Editor listed in this volume, at least not the eBook edition. The cover lists it as the “Florida Man Special Edition” but there is no information on that. I could not even find a website for Bayonet books to link to in the review. Some standout stories were Dark Matter by JW Kiefer, Embassy City Delivery by Alice Peng, The Sage V’Sal by Jamie Ibson, Home by Marisa Wolf, Kyle: Respawned by IQ Malcolm, Paradise Ranch by Milissa L. Story, Routine Duty by Mel Todd, The Trip Home by Tamsin L. Silver, Isabella’s Campaign by Robert W. Ross, and Declan Finn’s Area 51 Is Not Enough. Finn’s story is set well in the future of his Live at First Bite Series that I had just finished. It was great to connect with the characters again. And Kyle: Respawned is like a scifi Groundhogs day. But ever with the stories that I really like, I still cannot think of one that I would say nah ‘don’t give it a read’.
This is an excellent anthology, 35 great stories. And if the other anthologies from Bayonet Books are as good I am in for hours of excellent reading ahead. I can easily recommend this anthology filled with stories of Kyles, Karens, greenies, greys and all sorts of stories in between.
For all reviews of anthologies click here.
Bayonet Books Anthologies:
Contact This! A First Contact Anthology
From the Ashes
On Deadly Ground – A Heroic Last Stand
Deadly Enhancements
Slay Bells Ring – Operation Klaus
Zombies! Planet Zero
…
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