From Seedy Bars to Dying Stars

From Seedy Bars to Dying Stars is a collection of short stories that range from the early days of American history to the far future where we explore the stars, with a hint of the supernatural and a healthy dose of the complexities of humanity. While there are no less than two seedy bars in the collection, of the titular dying stars there, sadly, is only one. At least in the current version. "The Best Intentions" is about a young rich woman named Donna trying to make her way in the galaxy as a bounty hunter on her own. Mostly. She is accompanied by a robotic former servant called Spessertine who refuses to leave her alone and whose overprotective nature sometimes causes more problems than it solves. On the far end of the time line and in a much darker place, literally, "A Deal in the Dark" takes place in 1930's America during the western rail road expansion. It involves a heinous crime, a man named Flannigan on the run, a chance meeting under stars, and a last resort in the dark forests of Old Appalachia. Full steam ahead into the 90's "A Drawing and a Gun" explores the relationship between Marie a powerful mob boss's personal assistant and his main doorman Frederick. Set in a charmingly dingy meat packaging plant with the backdrop of federally assisted espionage it is not a tale of peace and love. But "Icy Reception" is a tale of love. Young love, at least, as Marcus faces a hard a choice between reuniting with his estranged father or the chance he has been waiting for all year to take his crush Cassandra out on a date. Knowing that missing either chance could have long reaching consequences in his social life, Marcus can't afford to miss either, but only has enough time for one. After a quick jaunt in the American past, "Ragnarok" goes back to the future in a trial of survival against one of man's deadliest foes: nature. International transporter Vaughn faces off against the dying star Ragnarok as he tries to repair his nearly destroyed ship in time to escape the constant solar flares of the red dwarf and deliver a shipment of much needed medical supplies to a near by colony.