Whakataukī Among the Stars: Volume IV

There’s something I keep coming back to when I write: no matter how far into the future we imagine ourselves, we still carry the old wisdom with us.

That’s the heart of Whakataukī Among the Stars: Volume IV.

This collection brings together science fiction stories inspired by whakataukī — proverbs that hold history, warning, humour, patience, and truth. I wanted to write stories that reached into the future without losing touch with the things that matter most now: kindness, accountability, community, memory, and the choices we make when life gets difficult.

These stories wander through strange worlds, failing systems, quiet acts of courage, and moments of unexpected connection. Some are tender. Some are sharp around the edges. Some have a bit of mischief in them, because honestly, even in the middle of danger or grief, people still find ways to be gloriously human.

 

What I love most about this collection is the way the whakataukī sit beneath the stories like roots under soil. They aren’t there just to decorate the page. They ask something of the characters — and, I hope, of the reader too.

I’ve always believed that science fiction is at its best when it isn’t only about machines, planets, or clever inventions, but about people. About what we remember. What we owe each other. What we break. What we mend. And what wisdom might still guide us, even under unfamiliar stars.

If you enjoy thoughtful science fiction with heart — stories that are reflective, hopeful, a little funny, and deeply human — I hope you’ll find something here to carry with you.

Thank you for reading, and for supporting my work. It means more than I can say.

 Whakataukī Among the Stars: Volume IV is available now.

If you do read it, I’d be so grateful if you left a review. Word of mouth is a powerful thing, and for indie authors, it truly makes a difference.

— Rebecca