I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you’re looking to get into indie books but you keep landing on duds, don’t despair. Instead, grab a multi-author anthology. It’s the best way I’ve found to discover indie authors whose writing meets my quality standards and vibes with my style. And reading short stories in an anthology is so much more satisfying than scrolling through Amazon sample pages.
Even better, the ebook version of this sci-fi Christmas baking anthology is FREE!
Wait. Did you read that right? An anthology that combines Sci-fi and BAKING?
Yes. Yes you did.
Each of these ten science fiction short stories comes with a recipe that you can make at home. Below you’ll find a mini review of each story/recipe combo alongside a link to one of each author’s full-length novels.
Cookies for Misko by R.M. Olson
The Story: A wily captain and her crew stop planetside to purchase traditional holiday cookies for a crew member’s children. But when they’re noticed by local criminals with a grudge, they’ll have to fight for their holiday treats.
The author did a great job setting up stakes in this short story. I was 100% emotionally invested in the kids getting their cookies! I’d ride a full-length story with this crew for sure.
If you enjoy this one, try Zero Day Threat, a sci-fi heist that kicks off the author’s The Ungovernable series.
Gribochky Cookies These are a real (and ridiculously cute) Russian tradition–cookies that look like mushrooms! It was fun to imagine how present-day cultures might spread into space in the future, and which traditions would continue to be passed down.
Freezer Burn by K. Gorman
The Story FMC Soo-jin stops at a picturesque winter resort planet that’s being rented out by a royal family, and is inadvertently caught up in a kidnapping.
This story is a fun blend of cozy Christmas village vibes and sci-fi action. I could definitely see myself spending more time with the characters!
If you’re interested in spending more time with Soo-Jin & co, you can download this series prequel for free from the author’s website, and check out the rest of the series from there, too!
Fir Tip Ice Cream I’m hesitant to try making this recipe because of the risks involved with foraging ingredients. That being said, I loved how this recipe was integrated into the story as a local delicacy. And it does sound delicious, especially if eaten after a dip in a hot spring at an alpine resort!
Jingle Bell Dock by Peter J. Foote
The Story A couple and their AI drone evade raiders in order to save a friend’s orphaned granddaughter from a dismal space station orphanage in time for Christmas.
This was a cute story with a fun, dystopian space opera feel. I enjoyed the couple’s dynamic and their sensitivity to each others’ emotions and backstories.
If you want to spend more time with Liam and Rosario, they have a book coming out soon– add Encrypted Starpath, Book 1 of the Jupiter’s Eye series, to your TBR!
Martian Atole This one didn’t star as much in the story as some of the other recipes, but it sure sounds yummy!
Orlander’s Folly by Andrew Sweet
The Story The proprietor of a refugee camp tells the myth behind a Martian holiday. Then the spectre of the legendary god himself appears to give holiday inspiration.
This was a little on the unusual side, but I really loved the mythical quality of the story the main character told. The way the child outsmarted the god felt like something out of a real legend, which in turn made the worldbuilding of the larger setting outside the myth feel believable and immersive.
If you enjoyed this short story, check out Andrew Sweet’s series starter Evasion and Defiance.
Vinegar Cobbler I love that this recipe includes a “history” describing how the food became a popular dish for stranded Mars settlers. Besides the standard kitchen recipe, it also includes the codes you’ll need to recreate this dish in your food replicator hehe
On Icing by Heather Texle
Two detectives are on their way to an office holiday party when they spy a bearded bandit stealing from a toy store. But when they track the bandit down, they find that his plans for the toys are not what they expected.
I enjoyed the vibe of this one and the friendship between the two female detectives. It felt like it could be a Christmas episode of Brooklyn 99 starring Amy and Rosa, but set in the future. I’ll definitely check out this author’s full length books.
If you’re interested in spending more time with these characters, you can pick up the series prequel On Instinct for FREE on the author’s website.
Big Mama’s Sugar Cookies Pretty standard but you can’t go wrong with sugar cookies. The futuristic tech used in the baking scene was a fun touch.
All They See Are Stars by Jeanette Beddard
Pilot Darla and her robot copilot Tud must outsmart cultists to rescue their friend Chen, who was captured while smuggling illegal peppers for his noodle business.
I enjoyed the banter between Darla and Tud. They’d be a fun pair to follow on larger scale adventures.
If you enjoyed this pair, too, find out how they ended up together in The Lost Star Chart.
Chen’s Celebratory Noodles This recipe made me hungry! It’s one of the ones I’m most likely to try making at home.
Never Stop Rolling by A. Webster
Struggling cameraman Lamont takes a job that seems too good to be true, and ends up facing a difficult moral dilemma.
This was one of my absolute fave stories in the collection. I liked the slightly grittier vibe. The contrast of the girlfriend’s bubbly Christmas cheer and her morally grey attitude toward Lamont’s job made her an interesting secondary character, and Lamont’s moral dilemma was so compelling.
TW: Christmas crime scene
It’s too bad this seems to be the author’s only published story because I’d definitely check out more of her work!
Holiday Funfetti Dip I understand that a lot of people probably eat this without any problems, and this recipe totally makes sense for the characters, but as someone with extreme food safety paranoia, I have a problem with this one. Funfetti cake mix includes raw flour. DON’T EAT RAW FLOUR IT’S AN E.COLI RISK!
Jay and Char Maybe Save the Galaxy: The Latekes Episode by M.J. Bebart
Jay and his wife are stressing about hosting family for the holidays when they’re transported into a time warp, where a grown version of their niece appears from the future to tell them the fate of the universe rests on their latkes.
If you enjoy the quirky humour in the Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you’ll probably enjoy this author’s work, it really hits that vibe on the nose.
Check out Jay and Char’s full-length adventure here!
Jay’s Family’s Ancient Recipe for Potato Latkes Can someone please make these for me? They sound delicious! Also, it’s hilarious that potatoes are a rare delicacy in this take on our future!
Excelsior Christmas by Audrey Sharpe
An ensign and her friends on their first Fleet assignment make waves when they get a surprise Christmas visit from an alien ambassador, who also happens to be one of the group members’ parents.
This one is really well written and has a fabulous Star Trek-like vibe. If you’re looking for the trekkie feels, definitely check out this author’s full-length work.
There’s a huge array of books to enjoy with this author’s three series set in the same universe. I’m going to head straight for the romance series, but if you want tag along with Aurora again, check out the FREE prequel here!
Tenrebac Dellum This alien version of mulled wine includes a version of the recipe with traditional alien ingredients and another with substitutes you can find on Earth. Super cute!
The Egg Roll Festival by Tami Veldura
A spacefaring pet dragon misunderstands the meaning of an egg-roll festival, with adorably disastrous results.
This was one of my fave stories in the collection. I loved seeing the holiday festivities through the eyes of a mischievous little dragon. The descriptions of flavours and the dragon’s thought process were so well done! If you’re a lover of pets in space or stories with animal companions, this one is a must!
It looks like this author has published some M/M romance books, so if you’re one of my romance followers you might want to check those out. Or, you could start by grabbing this FREE short story with more of Maj and Oriana.
Napa Cabbage Shrimp Rolls I don’t eat shrimp and yet hearing about these flavours and textures from Lissie’s POV make me want to try a roll anyway!
Overall Thoughts
I enjoyed reading every one of these stories. I’ve definitely found some authors whose full-length works I want to explore!
I rec this book to anyone who wants to find new indie sci-fi authors to follow. I also think the paperback would make a great Christmas gift. If you’re looking for something thoughtful to give to a loved one who enjoys both sci-fi and baking, take note!
