The Goodreads Guide to Summer Reading
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$0.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Jason A. Kilgore
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

How Cold the Steel Hand Kindle Edition

by Jason Kilgore (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

Does technology make you feel more connected? Are you sure?

In the not-so-distant future of this short story, telepresence droids, or "teledroids," are used in homes to interact with others, in battle as surrogate soldiers, or to visit far away locales. Gary Feltman is a young surgical specialist working from his compudesk in Chicago, performing surgeries via teledroid on patients across the globe. His important work and medical studies require constant focus and pull his attention away from family. Yet while he is connecting to others and saving their lives, the very same technology is shunned by his beloved Uncle Wallis, who lies dying from a cancer that Gary could have cured with his techniques. What would drive his uncle to make such a choice?

And in a world where technology is supposed to bring us together, why can't Gary seem to connect?

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    17 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 1, 2019
  4. File size
    1.9 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wow! Just...wow! What an incredible heartwarming and heart-wrenching story that is set in the future, but the near future! A short, but amazing read!" - Lisa Hodorovych of Quoth the Writer Book Reviews & More

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08287B9HQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Strange Worlds of Jason Kilgore
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 1, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 17 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jason A. Kilgore

Jason A. Kilgore

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Web: jason-kilgore.com. Twitter: @WorldsKilgore. Jason is a multi-genre writer in speculative fiction, including horror, paranormal humor, fantasy, and science fiction. By day he is also a scientist with a global biotech company, specializing in microscopy and cell biology. He lives in Oregon and loves hiking and camping in the mountain wilderness areas and the Pacific coast. He has two teenage children, a bunch of cats, and an insatiable craving for chocolate.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
9 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a fantastic short story with a unique blend of emotion and highly relatable content. They appreciate the world-building and fantastic concepts, with one customer noting how it conveys a possible future. Customers describe the book as a scrumptious delight to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

4 customers mention "Emotion"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's emotional depth, with one noting its unique blend of feelings and another describing it as a heartwarming tale.

"This short story kept my attention. I loved the genuine feelings expressed within the relationships of the rich characters...." Read more

"Fantastic short story, Kilgore has an uncommon gift for mixing emotion,world-building and some fantastic concepts all together into a tightly bound..." Read more

"...MIRROR, TWILIGHT ZONE, BICENTENNIAL MAN, and Ray Bradbury in this passionate, emotional, and highly relatable tale." Read more

"...Clocking in just around 20 pages, this heartwarming tale demonstrates both the positive and negative aspects of in-person and virtual social..." Read more

4 customers mention "Impact"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's fantastic concepts and world-building, with one customer noting how it conveys a possible future.

"...The author clearly put in the time and effort to make his work impactful and a scrumptious delight to read. Well done." Read more

"...He took a great concept, crafted a character, and leaned into the implications of his thought experiment...." Read more

"...has an uncommon gift for mixing emotion,world-building and some fantastic concepts all together into a tightly bound bundle that leaves you want more..." Read more

"A great story that conveys a possible future or maybe the present..." Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality, describing it as a fantastic and highly relatable tale.

"This short story kept my attention. I loved the genuine feelings expressed within the relationships of the rich characters...." Read more

"Fantastic short story, Kilgore has an uncommon gift for mixing emotion,world-building and some fantastic concepts all together into a tightly bound..." Read more

"...MAN, and Ray Bradbury in this passionate, emotional, and highly relatable tale." Read more

"A great story that conveys a possible future or maybe the present..." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book scrumptious to read, with one customer noting it's a quick read by Jason Kilgore.

"...put in the time and effort to make his work impactful and a scrumptious delight to read. Well done." Read more

"This was a great read. I am a huge fan of realistic science-fiction and this is that...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this quick read by Jason Kilgore...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Justin Roy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Gritty
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This short story kept my attention. I loved the genuine feelings expressed within the relationships of the rich characters. My only negative is that I would like to see this story move and and develop. The author clearly put in the time and effort to make his work impactful and a scrumptious delight to read. Well done.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • The Two Doctors Review
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Slice-Of-Life SciFi
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    It's really hard to write good short stories.

    With How Cold the Steel Hand, Kilgore channels the fundamentals of short story writing in the science fiction genre. He took a great concept, crafted a character, and leaned into the implications of his thought experiment.

    If you're looking for a quick read that will make you think, the Two Doctors Review recommends "How Cold the Steel Hand." SciFi is at its best when it makes you contemplate the plausible, and Kilgore has done just that.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Enki
    5.0 out of 5 stars A unique blend of emotion and world-building
    Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic short story, Kilgore has an uncommon gift for mixing emotion,world-building and some fantastic concepts all together into a tightly bound bundle that leaves you want more, look forward to seeing more of his work.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jacob Fite
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great story that conveys a possible future or maybe the present
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was a great read. I am a huge fan of realistic science-fiction and this is that. It also amplifies today's growing disconnected social media world. We continue growing apart despite numerous technologies to keep up connected.

    A great read and I will look for more from Kilgore!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • HS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Polished to a sci-fi sheen!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    HOW COLD THE STEEL HAND by Jason Kilgore (@WorldsKilgore) is polished to a sci-fi sheen. It’s a tightly plotted and perfectly crafted short story. Kilgore summons threads of BLACK MIRROR, TWILIGHT ZONE, BICENTENNIAL MAN, and Ray Bradbury in this passionate, emotional, and highly relatable tale.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jay Sigler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quick and timely read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this quick read by Jason Kilgore. Clocking in just around 20 pages, this heartwarming tale demonstrates both the positive and negative aspects of in-person and virtual social interaction.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report