{"id":7861,"date":"2024-06-29T00:01:22","date_gmt":"2024-06-29T05:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/?p=7861"},"modified":"2024-06-20T16:26:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T21:26:46","slug":"unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Unmitigated Acts: Gallagher publishes second story collection (including a novelette from his Prometheus-finalist Fall of the Censor series)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By Michael Grossberg<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7863\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series\/gallagher-unmitigated-acts\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?fit=700%2C1055&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,1055\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Gallagher Unmitigated Acts\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Karl K. Gallagher, Unmitigated Acts&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?fit=199%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?fit=660%2C995&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7863 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?resize=199%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?resize=199%2C300&amp;ssl=1 199w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?resize=679%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 679w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Gallagher-Unmitigated-Acts.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a>Karl K. Gallagher, a frequent Prometheus Best Novel finalist, has published his second story collection.<\/p>\n<p><em>Unmitigated Acts,\u00a0<\/em>published June 17 by Kelt Haven Press, follows the publication of <em>Ultimate Conclusions<\/em>, his first story collection (announced in April in an Author\u2019s Update on the Prometheus blog.)<\/p>\n<p>In its 235 pages, <em>Unmitigated Acts\u00a0<\/em>collects 17 stories from Gallagher\u2019s Substack blog. Perhaps most notably, Gallagher\u2019s latest anthology includes a novelette in his multiple-Prometheus-finalist Fall of the Censor series.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><br \/>\n<strong>A FALL OF THE CENSOR STORY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The novelette, titled \u201cRebellion on Kiwara,\u201d focuses on the rebellion on Kiwara by the &#8220;zebra&#8221; people against the Censorate occupation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Swim-Among-the-People.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"6971\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/17-varied-works-of-science-fiction-fantasy-and-dystopian-literature-have-been-nominated-for-the-next-prometheus-award-for-best-novel\/swim-among-the-people\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Swim-Among-the-People.jpg?fit=142%2C218&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"142,218\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Swim Among the People\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Swim Among the People  Karl K. Gallagher&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Swim-Among-the-People.jpg?fit=142%2C218&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Swim-Among-the-People.jpg?fit=142%2C218&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6971 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Swim-Among-the-People.jpg?resize=142%2C218&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"142\" height=\"218\" \/><\/a>The novelette takes place between Book 5 in the series (<em>Swim Among the People,\u00a0<\/em>a 2024 Prometheus Best Novel finalist that was recently reviewed here on the blog, and Book 6,\u00a0<em>Trouble in My Day, <\/em>published in November 2023 and the most recent novel in the projected nine-volume series.<\/p>\n<p>By the way, next up in the series is Book 7: <em>War by Other Means. <\/em>Although Gallagher recently told the Prometheus blog that his writing efforts were delayed somewhat by his recent efforts to publish his two anthologies, he still expects to finish Book 7 and publish it by this fall.<br \/>\n<em><br \/>\n<\/em><strong>OTHER STORIES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gallagher\u2019s second collection of short stories explores ideas related to new technology, and how it can help or hurt people with their daily problems and sometimes change the fates of nations and worlds.<\/p>\n<p>Among the questions Gallagher asks in his stories:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat would a dating app that\u2019s actually good for pairing up people do? How do you disarm the safeties of an orbiting laser? Could a love potion be used well? And what\u2019s the limit to packing the Supreme Court?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7868\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series\/fives-full-in-flight-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?fit=1199%2C675&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1199,675\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Fives Full in flight-1\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Karl K. Gallagher &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?fit=660%2C371&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7868 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?resize=300%2C169&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-in-flight-1.png?w=1199&amp;ssl=1 1199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Among the evocative story titles in the collection: \u201cThe Man Who Squandered the Moon,\u201d \u201cOperation Alice\u2019s Restaurant,\u201d \u201cBurning the Bubble,\u201d \u201cContact Tracing,\u201d \u201cJoy Ride,\u201d \u201cTest Subject,\u201d \u201cJustice,\u201d \u201cElixir,\u201d \u201cMarque,\u201d \u201cKill Switch,\u201d \u201cInspector,\u201d \u201cMatchmaker,\u201d \u201cCricket\u201d and \u201cBliss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7869\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series\/fives-full-exterior-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?fit=882%2C654&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"882,654\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Fives Full exterior-1\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Karl K. Gallagher space technology&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?fit=300%2C222&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?fit=660%2C489&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7869 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?resize=300%2C222&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?resize=300%2C222&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?resize=768%2C569&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-exterior-1.png?w=882&amp;ssl=1 882w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Such a focus on technology makes sense for Gallagher, a systems engineer currently performing data analysis for a major aerospace company.<\/p>\n<p>His strong background in technology was bolstered by his career calculating trajectories for a commercial launch rocket start-up, operating satellites as a US Air Force officer, and selecting orbits for government and commercial satellites.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE STORIES IN ULTIMATE CONCLUSIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7866\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series\/ultimate-conclusions_painting_02-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?fit=1800%2C1200&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1800,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Karl K. Gallagher Ultimate Conclusions&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?fit=660%2C440&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7866 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?w=1800&amp;ssl=1 1800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Ultimate-Conclusions_painting_02.jpg?w=1320&amp;ssl=1 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Gallagher shared descriptions of the previously published stories in <em>Ultimate Conclusions,\u00a0<\/em>his first 334-page anthology (also published in June and available as an ebook on Amazon).<\/p>\n<p>Here are descriptions of a sample of his stories from that anthology?<\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;Samaritan,&#8221; a hard SF story of an Amish boy on the Moon risking exile<br \/>\nto save the life of a &#8220;Modern&#8221;. (published in <em>Compelling SF)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;Squire Errant,&#8221; a squire tries to defeat the monster which killed his<br \/>\nknight. First published in <em>Cirsova Magazine<\/em>, a new periodical leading a revival of pulp-style fiction.<\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;Basilisk,&#8221; offers a brute-force solution to the problem of people<br \/>\ncreating a malevolent AI. (published in <em>Again, Hazardous Imaginings,<\/em>a collection of non-PC taboo-pushing stories.<\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;Bargain,&#8221; a &#8216;flash&#8217; (very short) story with a visit from a deity. (from Daily SF).<\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;You Will Be Uploaded,&#8221; the potential fate of you, the reader.<br \/>\n(Published in the Saturn volume of the <em>Planetary Anthology<\/em>series.)<\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;Long Freeze,&#8221; a cryo-frozen hero awakens into a pulp adventure future. (From <em>Astounding Frontiers.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7870\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series\/fives-full-blueprints-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?fit=1100%2C706&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1100,706\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Fives Full blueprints-1\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;space technology Karl K. Gallagher&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?fit=300%2C193&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?fit=660%2C423&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7870 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?resize=300%2C193&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?resize=300%2C193&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?resize=1024%2C657&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?resize=768%2C493&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Fives-Full-blueprints-1.png?w=1100&amp;ssl=1 1100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/em>* \u201cVisitors,&#8221; a Space Force officer is forced to be a diplomat when the aliens are too horrible for others to stand the sight of. (Published in <em>Space Force: Building the Legacy.)<br \/>\n<\/em><br \/>\n* \u201cDuty,\u201d an Army general struggles to take care of his troops during an economic collapse. (This was part of the companion anthology to Rob<br \/>\nKroese&#8217;s Prometheus-nominated <em>Mammon\u00a0<\/em>novel.)<\/p>\n<p>Plus, <em>Ultimate Conclusions\u00a0<\/em>offers three new stories set after the end of Gallagher\u2019s Torchship Trilogy, for which he may be best known.<\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;Recontact,&#8221; in the midst of a war with AIs, two human groups try to establish trust.<\/p>\n<p>* \u201cHaunted,&#8221; rebuilding a devastated world depends on the property rights of the forcibly uploaded.<\/p>\n<p>* &#8220;Farmhands,&#8221; forcibly uploaded people try to become members of an untrusting society.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Torchship-Trilogy-book-covers-al.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7220\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/ultimate-conclusions-karl-k-gallaghers-first-short-story-collection-on-verge-of-publication\/torchship-trilogy-book-covers-al\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Torchship-Trilogy-book-covers-al.png?fit=680%2C337&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"680,337\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Torchship Trilogy book covers al\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Torch ship Trilogy Karl K. Gallagher&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Torchship-Trilogy-book-covers-al.png?fit=300%2C149&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Torchship-Trilogy-book-covers-al.png?fit=660%2C327&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7220 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Torchship-Trilogy-book-covers-al.png?resize=300%2C149&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Torchship-Trilogy-book-covers-al.png?resize=300%2C149&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Torchship-Trilogy-book-covers-al.png?w=680&amp;ssl=1 680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Gallagher describes his Torchship Trilogy\u00a0<em>(Torchship, Torchship Pilot\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Torchship Captain), <\/em>as a hard SF adventure story about an undercover spy fighting a government which suppresses uncontrolled computers.<\/p>\n<p>Combined into one Prometheus nomination (Gallagher\u2019s first), the Torchship Trilogy was selected as a 2018 Prometheus Best Novel finalist.<\/p>\n<p>Both anthologies were published by Gallagher\u2019s Kelt Haven Press with the help of successful Kickstarter campaigns.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"6948\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/libertarian-futurist-society-unveils-new-logo\/lfs-icon-domain\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?fit=750%2C751&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"750,751\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"LFS-icon-domain\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;logo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?fit=660%2C661&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6948 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/LFS-icon-domain.jpg?w=750&amp;ssl=1 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROMETHEUS AWARDS:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>* Prometheus winners:\u00a0<\/strong>For the full list of Prometheus winners, finalists and nominees \u2013 including the annual Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) categories and occasional Special Awards \u2013 visit the enhanced\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/awards.shtml\">Prometheus Awards page<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on the LFS website, which now includes convenient links to all published essay-reviews in our Appreciation series explaining why each of more than 100 past winners since 1979 fits the awards\u2019 distinctive dual focus on both quality and liberty.<\/p>\n<p>* Read <a href=\"https:\/\/quillette.com\/2020\/06\/12\/the-libertarian-history-of-science-fiction\/\"><strong>\u201cThe Libertarian History of Science Fiction,\u201d<\/strong><\/a>an essay in the international magazine\u00a0<em>Quillette<\/em>\u00a0that favorably highlights the Prometheus Awards, the Libertarian Futurist Society and the significant element of libertarian sf\/fantasy in the evolution of the modern genre.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0<strong>Watch <\/strong>videos of past Prometheus Awards ceremonies (including the recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/aiovg_videos\/2023-prometheus-ceremony-with-best-novel-presenter-sarah-hoyt-australian-dave-freer-accepting-best-novel-for-cloud-castles-heinlein-trust-society-reps-accepting-best-classic-fiction-for-heinlein-sto\/\">2023 ceremony<\/a>with inspiring and amusing speeches by Prometheus-winning authors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/comedy-coming-of-age-and-forging-freedom-high-above-a-gas-giant-an-appreciation-of-dave-freers-cloud-castles-the-2023-prometheus-best-novel-winner\/\">Dave Freer<\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/the-corruption-of-absolute-power-vs-the-largely-stateless-shire-j-r-r-tolkiens-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-2009-prometheus-hall-of-fame-winner\/\">Sarah Hoyt)<\/a>, Libertarian Futurist Society panel discussions with noted sf authors and leading libertarian writers, and other LFS programs on the Prometheus Blog\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/lfs.org\/blog\/videos\/\"><strong>Video page.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>* Check out the Libertarian Futurist Society\u2019s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/170484086945\">Facebook page<\/a><\/strong>for comments, updates and links to Prometheus Blog posts.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Image-7.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"4401\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/author-update-karl-k-gallagher-continues-writing-his-fall-of-the-censor-series\/image-7\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Image-7.png?fit=683%2C703&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"683,703\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Image-7\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;LFS logo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Image-7.png?fit=291%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Image-7.png?fit=660%2C679&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4401 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Image-7.png?resize=291%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"291\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Image-7.png?resize=291%2C300&amp;ssl=1 291w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Image-7.png?w=683&amp;ssl=1 683w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px\" \/><\/a>*\u00a0<strong><em>Join us! <\/em><\/strong>To help sustain the Prometheus Awards and support a cultural and literary strategy to appreciate and honor freedom-loving fiction, \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/join.shtml\">join<\/a>the Libertarian Futurist Society, a non-profit all-volunteer association of freedom-loving sf\/fantasy fans.<\/p>\n<p>Libertarian futurists believe that culture matters! We understand that the arts and literature can be vital in envisioning a freer and better future &#8211; and in some ways can be even more powerful than politics in the long run, by imagining better visions of the future incorporating peace, prosperity, progress, tolerance, justice, positive social change, and mutual respect for each other\u2019s rights, individuality and human dignity.<\/p>\n<p>Through recognizing the literature of liberty and the many different but complementary visions of a free future via the Prometheus Awards, the LFS hopes to help spread ideas and ethical principles that help humanity overcome tyranny, end slavery, reduce the threat of war, repeal or constrain other abuses of coercive power and achieve universal liberty, respect for human rights and a better world (perhaps ultimately, worlds) for all.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Michael Grossberg Karl K. Gallagher, a frequent Prometheus Best Novel finalist, has published his second story collection. Unmitigated Acts,\u00a0published June 17 by Kelt Haven Press, follows the publication of Ultimate Conclusions, his first story collection (announced in April in an Author\u2019s Update on the Prometheus blog.) In its 235 pages, Unmitigated Acts\u00a0collects 17 stories &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/unmitigated-acts-gallagher-publishes-second-story-collection-including-a-novelette-from-his-prometheus-finalist-fall-of-the-censor-series\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Unmitigated Acts: Gallagher publishes second story collection (including a novelette from his Prometheus-finalist Fall of the Censor series)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[32],"tags":[1402,1521,1006,1538,2446],"class_list":["post-7861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-author-updates","tag-anthology","tag-fall-of-the-censor-series","tag-karl-k-gallagher","tag-kelt-haven-press","tag-unmitigated-acts"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pe8nGl-22N","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7861"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7864,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7861\/revisions\/7864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lfs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}