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Our Darkest Reflections
Finitude and Beyond is a collection of nine science fiction short stories that explore the edges of human existence—where time, identity, love, and mortality converge in strange and often heart-wrenching ways. What was the inspiration for this collection of short stories?
Growing up, I was always drawn to humanity’s greatest achievements. Space exploration represented one of our highest aspirations—our desire to reach beyond ourselves and touch the untouchable. In those same dreams, I found our darkest reflections: isolation, fear, and the weight of choices made in desperate moments. This collection sort of grew from that dichotomy.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
We’re this remarkable species that can conceive of infinity, create art that moves us to tears, and love so fiercely we’d sacrifice everything for another person. Yet we’re also capable of breathtaking cruelty, willful ignorance, and destroying the very things we claim to cherish. What fascinates me is that these aren’t contradictions—they’re features of the same complex system. There is a line from this brilliant show Pantheon where this program sums it up best. “Humans are a low-entropy self-replicating phenomenon that generates a binding force called compassion.”
Do you have a favorite story in the collection, and if so, why does it hold special meaning for you?
That’s tough, I really enjoyed writing “The Captain and The Sower.” I was in such a good mental place when I was working on it but if I had to choose a favorite it would be “A Mere State.” It was the first story I started writing back in 2020. It’s different in two ways. It’s the only epistolary work I’ve ever written and the only sci-fi story set in the past.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My debut novel, Local Gods, is currently in its last few rounds of copy edits. The expected release date is sometime in the middle of October. Without going too deep, Local Gods is a science fiction drama that explores the sinister threads of capitalism, faith, and power, asking what price we’re willing to pay for comfort—and whether anyone can truly escape Earth’s oldest sins, even among the stars.
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Finitude and Beyond is a provocative collection of existential science fiction short stories that plunges into the depths of human nature, where isolation breeds paranoia, guilt becomes a prison, and the relentless march of technology reshapes what it means to survive.
In nine gripping tales, C.K. Adams crafts intimate, philosophical science fiction narratives reminiscent of Ted Chiang’s psychological depth and Ray Bradbury’s mortal insight. These are stories of raw, flawed individuals confronting transformation, loss, and the often-chilling consequences of progress in worlds both familiar and foreign.
Prepare to explore futures where:
A hardened Pathfinder escorts a family through a world fractured by interdimensional beings. This journey is different, as her cargo begins to alter her understanding of reality itself (Unbeing).
Aboard a generation ship hurtling through space, a young woman’s quest to find meaning in a life predetermined by others becomes a battle to preserve humanity’s collective memory (The Bridge).
A rescue team investigates a frontier colony’s mysterious communications blackout (Colony).
A talented linguist’s obsession leads her to the star system of an ancient alien civilization, her curiosity aids her in challenging the very nature of communication (The Otrimi Archive).
A grieving physicist’s obsessive quest to scientifically prove the soul’s existence blurs the line between breakthrough and unforgivable sin (A Mere State).
…and four more journeys that will linger long after the final page.
Perfect for readers who crave thought-provoking sci-fi that isn’t afraid to explore the darker corners of human nature and the ethical quandaries of future technology.
Finitude and Beyond
Finitude and Beyond is a collection of nine science fiction short stories that explore the edges of human existence—where time, identity, love, and mortality converge in strange and often heart-wrenching ways. The stories dive deep into themes of isolation, transformation, grief, and survival, blending speculative technology with painfully real emotional experiences. From the quiet awe of a child witnessing space travel to the unrelenting ache of a love that time itself cannot contain, Adams spins tales that are both cosmic in scale and intimate in feeling.
Adams doesn’t go for flashy sci-fi gadgets or action-packed battles. Instead, he writes stories that feel like they’ve been quietly fermenting for years, steeped in emotion and restrained power. “The Captain and the Sower” absolutely wrecked me. The way he built that decades-long relationship between Adlei and Captain Nkosi—a love story stretched across revolutions of time and biology—was heartbreakingly beautiful. I caught myself rereading paragraphs just to let the ache settle in deeper. It’s rare that a book makes me sit in silence after the last line, just thinking. But this one did.
The prose occasionally tipped toward melodrama, and some characters leaned into archetypes. But honestly, those flaws felt relatable. The book doesn’t try to be perfect—it tries to be true. And in that, it succeeds. Adams has a knack for rooting massive, mind-bending sci-fi concepts in very personal, very relatable pain. Whether it’s a grieving husband at the edge of the solar system or a synthetic scout grappling with her fading memories, each story carries a kind of quiet urgency that feels universal.
This isn’t a book for someone looking for fast-paced action or happy endings. But if you’re the type who wants to feel something, this book will hit you in the chest. I’d recommend Finitude and Beyond to anyone who loves character-driven science fiction, fans of Ken Liu or Ted Chiang, or just readers who aren’t afraid to stare down the existential questions we tend to shove aside.
Pages: 263 | ASIN : B0F9R473LB
LITERARY TITAN 