Synopsis: "Eleven of today's bestselling authors join forces to bring you these tales of action, adventure, and brilliant imagination. From humanity's first contact with alien life, to the challenges of space travel, to colonies established light years away from Earth, this anthology celebrates the wide sweep of space opera at its most sublime. There are worlds out there to explore, and millions of stories spinning across the galaxies. So sit back and be transported...to the dark beyond the stars." - back cover blurb