Rejected Messages

These seven SF stories are taken from three forthcoming (ETA 2022) collections, and are intended as an enticing sampler to whet your appetite, and to introduce you to some of the characters you will meet along the way.
The connecting theme of these stories is, as the title suggests, messages from an extraterrestrial intelligence at your nearest neighbour system, Alpha Centauri. This ETI has been watching and analysing humanity since the ice age, and in more recent times, finds itself disturbed by what it sees.
Humanity may have rejected previous, subtle messages, like the Wow! signal, but sooner or later the time will come when rejection is no longer possible. Humanity will be forced to accept the knowledge that they are far from alone in this galactic sector, and will not be able to escape self-examination forever. The longer they leave it, the worse that impending catastrophe will be.
For at some point, some final ETI intervention may well be necessary.
This ETI hopes that these stories may go some way to making things easier for you, when the time comes. Unless these too, of course, are rejected…

The seven:
S/2020/1274 – Leaked UN Security Council document from their classified files.
QTS-19 – Eyani exo-psychologist Shari’ana is tasked with analysing a primitive space probe, and is increasingly concerned by what she finds. Her mate, Kashi, however, thinks it all just great fun. And to add to her woes, mating season is coming!
Return to Sender – A very direct response to President Carter’s Voyager letter.
Mirror Mirror – A worrisome new species has launched its first interstellar voyage; Shari’ana is dispatched to Alpha Centauri to oversee the diplomatic contact as they approach.
SS7: Aftermath – Archivist Kala Lei reflects on recent traumatic events on Space Station Six.
The End of Space Station Fifteen – Several generations later, Archivist Anja is about to discover a disturbing truth about a girl called Katrina, and the force behind humanity’s 175 years of torment.
An Accidental Discovery of Violets – At the close of the 22nd century, after the flood and the axis tilt, Katyusha reflects painfully on the past; Shari’ana knows how to make her feel better.
This collection also includes an extended intro and outro by the author, as well as a few closing essays, intended to add an extra dimension and depth to the stories themselves. Admittedly self-indulgent, but unapologetically so, and never dull, it may even provoke you into wanting to revisit the stories and read them again. Feel free to skip the intro and go straight to the stories if you wish, then read it afterwards.
Likewise this selection features shorter versions of the stories ‘QTS-19’ and also of ‘Mirror Mirror’ which has an alternate ending to the one forthcoming.
So ultimately, then, think of this, perhaps, as a kind of collector’s edition.
Oh, and by the end of this book, you will no longer doubt the ETI authenticity of the Wow! signal. You have been warned!