After Amargosa is the fourth book of the Amargosa Trilogy (because Douglas Adams said trilogies could have four books. So there!), a post-Liberation collection of interconnected short stories set in the Compact Universe. It follows the aftermath of the Gelt Occupation of Amargosa and its effect on key characters—many of whom were teenagers during the invasion—as they begin to transition into adulthood and new roles. The collection bridges the gap between the original trilogy and the larger Suicide Arc. Themes of trauma, identity, rebuilding, and uneasy peace run through the stories, often interwoven with humor, romance, and violent confrontations with new threats.
Stories include:
“Half Shell”: Tishla negotiates a tense standoff with the newly arrived turtloid species, navigating first contact while managing the scars of Hanar’s recent past.
“Lizzy“: JT Austin has a lingering imprint of his late wife Lizzy which reawakens in his mind, forcing him to confront grief, memory, and the question of how much of her still lives within him.
“Lady Starship Trooper“: Davra Andraste endures a grueling flight to her training assignment aboard an obsolete military transport—surrounded by condescending elites who quickly learn she’s not to be underestimated.
“The Interlopers“: Eric Yuwono working Lizzy’s Farm alongside Gelt refugees, where simmering tensions and cultural clashes threaten to undo the fragile peace of post-Liberation Amargosa.
“The Spiders of Boston“: Connor Duffy infiltrates a secret lab beneath Boston to resolve a hostage crisis at Harvard, using hacked spider drones and some captured Gelt weapons.
“Wherever I May Roam“: Ellie Nardino as she grapples with choosing between life among the lycanths or returning to human society—ultimately finding clarity with an unexpected assist from JT Austin.
“The Cephelapods”: Mitsuko Yamato and Edward Windsor lead a mission to remove illegal settlers from Kaku V, only to face diplomatic chaos when the native aquatic species takes Windsor hostage and Mitsuko must choose between peace and loyalty.
Preceded by Storming Amargosa
The Amargosa Trilogy