Animals have fought for us for centuries, not because of the ideals of service to King and Country, but out of unwavering loyalty and devotion to their human Masters.
The future, it would seem, is no better than the past, as some animals become expendable weapons or augmented semi-machines, while others receive the honor and dignity of being treated as fellow soldiers.
In tribute, we bring you seventeen stories of our animal comrades-in-arms.
Brenda Cooper is the author of the Silver Ship series: The Silver Ship and the Sea, Reading the Wind, and Wings of Creation. She has also published many short stories, including a collaboration with Larry Niven, "Ice and Mirrors," in Scatterbrain. She lives in Kirkland, Washington.
David Sherman was born and raised in Philadelphia. Because of his exceptional talent for memorizing Flyers scores, he has been featured on several television and radio programs. One broadcast referred to his as "Scoreman," and the name stuck. Sherman lives in Philadelphia.