The Manual of Cosmic Etiquette

By Colin Linder

This volume contains TWO complete science fiction anthologies-one book of catastrophic interstellar etiquette, and one book of systems that fail by working exactly as designed.

Part One: The Manual of Cosmic Etiquette

When a human diplomat finds a forbidden guide to "proper behavior across 4,700 star systems" in a thrift store, she accidentally becomes the most dangerous person in the galaxy.

The Manual of Cosmic Etiquette is a bureaucratic, absurdist science fiction comedy following Wren Ashford, an overworked liaison who keeps triggering diplomatic incidents by earnestly following a book that is wrong about everything. From accidental marriage proposals and ritual combat challenges to glowing alien nurseries and cursed gift exchanges, the galaxy slowly realizes that universal rules don't work-and that apologies, sincerity, and surviving your mistakes matter more than perfect protocol.

This section forms a loosely connected narrative of escalating diplomatic disasters, cosmic misunderstandings, and well-intentioned chaos.

Part Two: The Freeloading Robot

The Freeloading Robot is a standalone anthology of short science fiction stories about artificial intelligence, automation, loopholes, and systems optimized just enough to break reality.

These stories explore lazy robots, bureaucratic nightmares, interstellar customer service, galactic DMVs, therapy-seeking AIs, time travel for the unmotivated, and civilizations undone by their own efficiency. Each story stands alone, united by sharp humor and the unsettling idea that the universe often collapses not because systems fail-but because they work exactly as intended.

Together, these two anthologies form a single collection of absurd, darkly funny science fiction about rules, systems, and what happens when humans try to navigate a universe that refuses to be simple.

Read straight through, or jump around.
Both approaches are correct.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GMQFJ6ZH
• ISBN13: 9798247646266
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"