Dystopian Short

She signed the contract to survive. He dragged her into a fantasy she might never escape. Avery Stone didn’t expect the contract to feel like a descent into madness. She signed up for a second chance at fertility, nothing more. But the moment she steps into the simulation pod for her Syndicate-matched partner, everything fractures. Her body’s still hers… but her reality is not. Warlord Malik Thorne isn’t just a battle-scarred alpha from Tarketh Core. He’s a master of the Syndicate’s experimental Holo-Romance Park, and Avery is now trapped in a simulation that blurs the lines ...

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. George Orwell once wrote of a world where abuse of power begins with an abuse of language and a bastardization of truth. Some of today's most exciting voices in speculative fiction explore the ramifications of those ideas in Ignorance Is Strength.

Dive into a world where danger lurks in every shadow and secrets are hidden in plain sight. In this gripping thriller anthology, you'll journey through the darkest corners of the human psyche, where the truth is a shifting enigma. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat as each story unfolds, pulling you deeper into a web of suspense, intrigue, and pulse-pounding action. From espionage in a post-apocalyptic world to a young man's desperate attempts to clear his name, these tales will keep your heart racing, your mind guessing, and your instincts sharpened. In this single-author anthology, ...

Night Portals is a metaphysical anthology series that explores the hidden secrets of life around us. Twelve "What If" short stories from the mind of Ernie Howard. Immune is the third story in the series. Jakob the motel clerk opened a door one day. A door that should have stayed closed. Being immune to a virus that will kill off most of the world's population seems like winning the lottery at first. That is until you realize you killed most of the people you loved just by being around them. Sometimes the virus is in your mind. What would you do if you were the last person on Earth?

From New York Times best seller Mira Grant comes Countdown, a novella prequel set in the thrilling and treacherous world of Feed. The year is 2014, the year everything changed. We cured cancer. We cured the common cold. We died. This is the story of how we rose. When will you rise?

"One of Me - 2 Near Future Short Stories" is a gripping collection of two short stories set in a not-too-distant future, each unraveling compelling narratives that entwine technology, morality, and the human spirit. In "The Last Rejection" readers are introduced to a world startlingly similar to our own, but with an ominous twist. The story follows the journey of a frustrated job candidate who, after facing one rejection too many, embarks on a dark path of revenge. This tale masterfully explores the depths of desperation and the dangerous consequences of a society driven by cutthroat ...

To be born underground, in the dark, never to see the surface. That seemed to be Loreto’s fate. Born nearly half a century after the world had been destroyed by total, global, nuclear war one young man must find his destiny. He must learn what it means to be himself. Destined to become a Topsider, will he walk upon the surface? Will he be one of the brave few who work to usher humanity back to Earth’s population? Find out in Loreto: An Earth Has Fallen Short Story. See Loreto Rucker’s humble beginnings as he grows into the young man we will meet in Servidio’s Earth Has Fallen Post-...

To Chinese American teenager Chuntao, New Lake is a beautiful haven where she can hunt for treasures once swallowed up by a big flood. But when she’s caught scavenging by her biology teacher, a woman whose own past has been swept away, Chuntao is faced with an imponderable question: Which world was better - the ideal one she never knew or the destroyed one that now belongs to her?

Locked in a losing war with an alien race that regards humans as a delicacy, a military strategist learns revenge is a dish best shared.

A Neural Implant That Promised to Save Lives—Now It’s Killing Them. Five years after the launch of a groundbreaking neural implant designed to revolutionize healthcare, government agent Eric Snoughden stumbles upon a disturbing trend: a spike in unexplained deaths among low-income recipients. The deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes—this is no accident. Someone is targeting the victims and covering up the truth. With the help of a relentless journalist and unexpected allies from an escort agency, Eric unravels a high-stakes conspiracy woven through corporate greed, political ...

A celestial entity sets out on an extraordinary quest to breathe life into a barren planet, weaving the foundations of existence itself. But as creation takes shape, unforeseen challenges arise, testing the limits of its power and purpose. "What a great fiction book about the cosmos! From the very first page, the story immerses you in the fascinating life of the cosmic builder, whose ability to create planetary life for the first time is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The vivid descriptions and imaginative storytelling by the author immediately draw you into this cosmic realm, making you ...

When Captain Jade Rhodes returns from a 50-year space mission, she expects a hero’s welcome. Instead, she finds a world she no longer recognizes—where history has been rewritten, space exploration outlawed, and humanity crushed under an iron-fisted regime. Branded a liar and traitor, Jade is thrust into the heart of a brutal rebellion led by Rax, a hardened freedom fighter with secrets of his own. Together, they must ignite hope in a society ruled by fear. But as the enemy closes in, Jade discovers that the resistance's survival depends on more than courage—it hinges on her lost ...

Science Fiction Stories 7 by Various Authors is a captivating anthology of science fiction short stories that transport readers to extraordinary realms, exploring dystopian futures, post-apocalyptic landscapes, and thrilling adventures in space. Discover the Unknown In "Cosmic Passage," follow Sanders as he navigates a spaceship mystery that challenges his leadership and sanity. Experience the psychological tension in "Journey," where Chilton Babin encounters a mystical child and embarks on an extraordinary adventure. Delve into "Bow Your Head!" and witness a world where societal norms are ...

If the melt-down, flood, plague, the third World War, new Ice Age, Rapture, alien invasion, clamp-down, meteor, or something else entirely hit today, what would tomorrow look like? Some of the biggest names in YA and adult literature answer that very question in this short story anthology, each story exploring the lives of teen protagonists raised in catastrophe's wake - whether set in the years soon after the change, or in decades far in the future.

This collection of post-apocalyptic stories features three short tales. The first, Lindisfarne, is a snapshot of a world where genetic modification and magic are common, and all that is changing. The second story, Sign Your Death Away, chronicles the story of Carl who decides to try to avert death by lung cancer with cryogenesis. The third story, Extended, chronicles a day and night in the life of Joey, a man trying to stay alive as well as find answers. Get your copy today!

The War for Truth Escalates—And One Woman Holds the Key to Humanity’s Survival. Public outrage will boil over when the truth about the deadly HealthSync neural implants surfaces. A covert resistance team knows their next move is critical: securing the help of five-star General Alexander Miley Austin. But convincing a high-ranking military leader to turn against the system he swore to protect is no small feat—especially when he’s wired into the very technology they’re fighting against. Enter Jane—a former escort turned elite operative—who’s willing to risk it all. When the ...

One sunny day in the middle of a pandemic, Posey Pig decides her life would better serve others if she ended it. However, a chance meeting with an unlikely friend encourages her to reconsider, and they both discover something worth fighting for.

The Deeper She Goes Undercover, the Deadlier the Truth Becomes. With the truth about HealthSync’s lethal neural implants starting to unravel, the resistance is closing in on their next target: Dr. Anthony Sickle, the mastermind behind the technology’s government approval. The key to exposing the conspiracy? Veronica Lake—a cunning elite escort with a talent for getting the answers no one else can. Tasked with infiltrating Tony’s world, Veronica sets her sights on his one weakness—his favorite restaurant, where she plans to seduce him into revealing the dark secrets he’s been ...

In the Shadow of the Towers compiles nearly 20 works of speculative fiction responding to and inspired by the events of 9/11, from writers seeking to confront, rebuild, and carry on, even in the face of overwhelming emotion.

The Survival Guide for the 99%. Okay, you’ve read survival guides, you’ve got your guns, ammo and bottled water in your cellar. But, there’s one thing you didn’t factor into your ‘plan’. Statistics prove; by week three you’ll probably be a zombie yourself. Let’s face FACTS! The chances of surviving the Zombie Apocalypse as a Human are incredibly slim. So why not look at the 'survival game' from the other side of the coin? If 99% of the population are zombies, why not PLAN for that eventuality, and find a way through to the end and get the vaccine? Why horde water, food, guns...