The Light Between Stars

Cover art for The Light Between Stars edited by Catherine Fitzsimmons, a greyscale photo of a woman in profile overlaid by an elaborate copper-coloured pattern; tagline: Stories of wonder and courage from the farthest stars to the ground beneath our feet

edited by Catherine Fitzsimmons

Stories of wonder and courage from the farthest stars to the ground beneath our feet

Charging selflessly into danger, facing the mortality of an artificially extended life, plumbing the deepest depths of space, fighting to expose truths others want to keep hidden… This collection of all-new stories from Brain Lag authors features never-before-seen glimpses into favourite worlds as well as new characters and places to love. From starkly beautiful to brashly funny and everything in between, these stories showcase the range of voices Brain Lag has been proud to publish over the years.

Why do we tell such tales of hardship and bravery, honesty and reflection?

Because in the darkness between the stars, there are no heroes. There are only regular people who step up.

Featuring all-new stories by:

JD DeLuzio
J. R. Dwornik
Catherine Fitzsimmons
Gary Girod
Dale E. McClenning
Stephen B. Pearl
Lumen Quill
David Rae
Hugh A. D. Spencer
Simon A. G. Spencer

ISBN: 978-1-928011-35-4
Genre: Short stories/Science fiction/Fantasy
Age: 14+
Pages: 206
Formats: Paperback, ebook
Released: July 2020

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The tales vary widely in tone and theme, but all are well-crafted and attention-grabbing. Anyone with an interest in independent speculative fiction will find this anthology an excellent place to start.

Publishers Weekly


Highly original takes on what at first sight appear standard themes that turn out to be wrenched in unexpected directions by the originality and creativity of the authors. Exactly the kind of stories I like to read. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

Amazing Stories


A diverse collection of well-written stories that will challenge readers and make their imaginations soar. Every story is unique, and the contributing authors open doors perhaps best left closed. Once a reader walks through, though, there will not be any peace until the story ends.

Readers’ Favorite



Catherine Fitzsimmons has gathered together an eclectic and diverse science fiction and fantasy anthology, representing the vision and style of the many authors she’s published over the years. [Q]uite a good number of strong stories in this anthology.

Kit Daven, author of A Xiinisi Trilogy



I really liked the message in the Introduction about how these stories are about ordinary ‘heroes’. And it’s true – these short stories aren’t focused on Chosen Ones or superpowered beings. We follow regular folk as they confront and adapt to irregular situations, and here they truly run the gamut. No two stories were the same! This was a diverting collection of imaginative stories across a range of genres.

Notes From A Paper Plane Nomad