Authors: David Sherman, Charles E. Gannon, John C. Wright, James Daniel Ross, Jonathasn Maberry, James Chambers, Patrick Thomas, Andy Remic, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jeffrey Lyman, Jack Campbell, Mike McPhail, Bud Sparhawk, Tony Ruggiero, and C.J. Henderson. 
Editor: Mike McPhail
Illustrated by: Mike McPhail
ISBN-10: 0979690153 
ISBN-13: 978-0979690150
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
Trade Paperback: 226 pages

Experience the Human Cost of War!

The battle rages on in book two of the award-winning Defending the Future series. Witness sixteen accounts of hardcore military science fiction, from planetside combat to fleet actions up among the stars.

DAVID SHERMAN  "Surrender or Die"  (DemonTech)
CHARLES E. GANNON  "Recidivism"
JOHN C. WRIGHT  "The Last Report On Unit Twenty-Two"
JAMES DANIEL ROSS "The Mercy Rebellion" (Radiation Angles)
JONATHAN MABERRY "Clean Sweep"
JAMES CHAMBERS "War Movie"
PATRICK THOMAS "The Battle for Knob Link" (142nd Starborne)
ANDY REMIC "Junked" (Combat K)
DANIELLE ACKLEY-McPHAIL "First Line" (Alliance Archives)
CHARLES E. GANNON "To Spec"
JEFFREY LYMAN "Gun Sergeant" (Compartment Alpha)
JACK CAMPBELL (a.k.a. JOHN G. HEMRY) "Grendel" (Lost Fleet)
MIKE McPHAIL "Cling Peaches" (Alliance Archives)
BUD SPARHAWK "The Glass Box"
TONY RUGGIERO "Looking for a Good Time" (Death Dealers)
C.J. HENDERSON "Everything is Better with Monkeys" (The Roosevelt)

Praise for So It Begins, Book Two in the Defending the Future series Two-Time Finalist for the 2009 Indie Book Award for Best Anthology and Best Short Story.

So It Begins] features contributions from some of the best writers of military science fiction at the top of their form.
—Sam Tomaino, Space and Time Magazine

[So It Begins] will expose you to several talented authors who will draw you into unique worlds and often leave you wishing for more...a welcome distraction to the real world.
—Gregory Potts, reader

"An interesting collection of interconnected stories by a variety of writers. The action is in your face and the military aspects seem to be spot on...a fast read due to the nearly non-stop action."
— 4 Star Review, Kat Thompson, reviewer

"This volume contains sixteen quick-read short stories—the majority of which pack surprising masses of literary firepower. You’ll snicker, you’ll cringe, you’ll dodge shrapnel—you will even hum the closing theme song!"
— Stephen Bierce, reviewer

Praise for Breach The Hull, Book One in the Defending the Future series Winner of the 2007 Dream Realm Award.

"There is more than enough great SF in Breach the Hull for any true fan of the genre, military or not."—Will McDermott, author of Lasgun Wedding

"I enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it."—Sam Tomaino, Space and Time Magazine

"Pick up Breach the Hull. You're sure to find stories that you like."—David Sherman, author of the DemonTech series and co-author of the Starfist series

"[Breach the Hull] kicks down the doors in a way that allows anyone access to the genre[ . . . ]it read like a bunch of soldiers sitting around swapping stories of the wars. Fun, fast-paced, and packed with action. I give it a thumbs up."—Jonathan Maberry, Bram Stoker Award-winning author

"[Breach the Hull] is worth the purchase. I normally don't partake of anthologies as a general rule . . . but Mike McPhail has done a great job in making me rethink this position."—Peter Hodges, Reviewer

"Breach the Hull is full of excellent stories, no two of which are the same. While similar themes crop up throughout, each writer has managed to take the subgenre and make it his own."—John Ottinger III, Grasping for the Wind Reviews

"A collection of military science fiction from a well mixed group of authors, both new and established. Found it a good source for some new authors to investigate." —Tony Finan, Philly Geeks