A low-key science fiction and future history series, created by AndyC. Ongoing since late May 2015, you can find it here.

The story takes place within the context of a relatively near-future history, though one without a specified date, and follows around several plotlines concerning various groups of characters worldwide. The primary backdrop of the storyline is the return of the first unmanned interstellar mission back to Earth, and the planning and construction of the first interstellar manned exploration vessel. As is typical of Earth history, these efforts get tangled into various twists and turns of a political and personal nature. Unfortunately, however, a good chunk of the planet is devastated when the unmanned probe, named “Star Pioneer”, crashes just off the coast of Madagascar; thus forcing the evacuation of as many survivors off the planet as possible.

(Warning, small spoilers here.)

The story has, so far, received generally positive reviews over the past few months. However, though, there has been occasional criticism; one reader did notice some significant plausibility issues when it came to the “Star Pioneer” disaster itself-as originally written, the heat pulse was apparently non-isotropic in nature, allowing Nigeria to survive relatively intact while scorching central Australia-he pointed out that this was rather implausible because this is generally not how explosions(such as that of atomic bombs, for example) of any kind, work, but rather, the initial effects radiate out in an exact, or virtually exact, circle from the point of initiation(so, therefore, either both areas had to be destroyed, or both areas would survive). Most other readers who commented on this particular thing, however, were and have been generally willing to let that little bit slide.

The date when the chapter was first posted is included in the brackets.

I. (22 May 2015)

II. (23 may 2015)

III. (25 May 2015)

IV. (28 May 2015)

V. (28 May 2015)

VI. (1 June 2015)

VII. (4 June 2015)

VIII. (7 June 2015)

IX. (10 June 2015)

X. (15 June 2015)

XI. (22 June 2015)

XII. (6 July 2015)

XIII. (13 July 2015)

XIV. (20 July 2015)

XV. (27 July 2015)

XVI. (3 August 2015)

XVII. (10 August 2015)

XVIII. (17 August 2015)

XIX. (24 August 2015)

XX. (31 August 2015)

XXI. (7 September 2015)

XXII. (14 September 2015)

XXIII. (21 September 2015)

AndyC's description of The Endeavour

Science Fiction Stories Main Directory