In celebration of the release of THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, we are sharing story excerpts from the collection.

Today’s preview comes from “The Memory of Peace.”

Springcame, and with it, clear skies, clear days, and a clear view of theruins of Trient falling and rising along the hills in a stark curve.Smoke rose near the central market square from a fresh fire sown bythe guns of the Marrazzano mercenaries. Jontano crouched next to the
sheltering bulk of a fallen column and watched the smoke drift lazily
up and up past the wall of greening forest that ringed the city and
farther up still into the endless blue of the heavens.

When
it was quiet, as it was now, he could almost imagine himself as that
smoke, dissipating, dissolving into the air.

“Hsst,
Jono, look what I found!”

He
jumped, caught himself, and managed to look unsurprised when Stepha
ran, hunched over, through the maze of the fallen temple and flung
herself down next to him. She undid the strings of her pack.

“You’ve
never seen things like this!”

For more on THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Julie Dillon.

Design by Elizabeth Story.