Year 50: Trial of the Summer is a follow-up to Year 50. It is a stand-alone short story which revisits prominent characters from the previous novel, introduces new ones, and sets-up the next novel in the series, Year 51. A young boy from The Slums is attacked and killed by Puppets along Brighton’s western wall. Circumstances show that many Brighton residents potentially contributed to this death. The seven Founders, operating as ruling council for the colony, conduct a hearing to determine if anyone is culpable in the death, or if it was solely the result of an alien attack. Testimonies from various residents paint the picture of the fateful day. The Founders listen to the stories of people involved, knowing there is much at stake. Tensions have been growing within the colony over the last year, with civil war potentially on the verge. Should someone be deemed responsible for the boy’s death, it could be the catalyst Brighton has been staving off. [Note from the author]: Year 50: Trial of the Summer is meant to bridge the gap between Year 50 and Year 51. But this short story also allows me to write chapters in the 1st and 2nd person point of view, something I thought about doing for the preceding novel, but ultimately decided against. Additionally, this story expands upon Brighton itself, showing more of the colony’s social structure.