Rescue Stories (A science fiction novelette)

“It’s very straightforward,” stated the culture-officer, with an edge of self-satisfaction. “If we can’t survive long enough for the natives to reach the required level of civilisation naturally, why then we’ll simply accelerate their development so they get there much sooner, when we are still alive and wholly capable!”

When their ship crashes, the post-human crew of the Hermes launch a desperate bid to accelerate the technological development of the primitive natives, so that when the crew awake from hibernation they might find a civilisation eager and able to repair the ship. Memetically primed to search out an assist God's Hidden Angels, how will the natives react when they finally encounter the post-human crew?

Rescue Stories was a runner-up in the BSFA 50th Anniversary Short Story Competition.

Andy West is a rising star of the SF world and this is first title for Greyhart Press. His short fiction has recently appeared in anthologies alongside such authors as Neil Gaiman, Stephen Baxter, Charles Stross, and Sarah Pinborough. He has co-written a novel with Ian Watson.

This Greyhart Press e-book is a novelette, a perfect length to enjoy in one sitting over a lazy lunchtime.