Dystopian Short

In a future world reshaped by the marvels of bio-engineering, augmentation is more than a trend—it's a way of life. The promise of improved vision, strength, and even more exotic abilities has created a society where to be 'Enhanced' is to belong. Tommy, a young man with dreams of fitting in, eagerly embraces this new world, undergoing transformations that grant him the prowess of nature's most impressive creatures.

Are you a fan of science fiction short stories? Do you crave the thrill of exploring new worlds, meeting alien species, and facing impossible challenges? Look no further than Science Fiction Short Stories Vol. 06, a collection of gripping tales that will transport you to the farthest reaches of the universe and beyond. Written by The Shadowplay Collective, this anthology is a must-read for anyone who loves to lose themselves in a good story. In this volume, you'll encounter a diverse array of settings, from the icy wastes of a distant planet to the bustling streets of a futuristic ...

Endland holds a broken mirror to England. In its garish but strangely familiar world of empty tower blocks, 24-hour cyber cafes, and bomb sites, a motley collection of misfits, wanderers and charmed drunks do their best to survive. Nothing is stable in Endland, and what's more, the gods have started drinking at lunchtime, which can lead only to trouble.

In the distant future, the Earth lies barren. Devoid of vegetation, what remains of the human race scours the land as scavengers. During one gathering a survivor, Josiah, discovers a map leading to an unknown destination. His newfound quest becomes a journey of hope and redemption as he lays eyes upon a miracle: the world's last living tree.

All this young woman wants is to save her son. EXCERPT: "Would you let scorpions roam free in your house or backyard? Or at your school, if you were a teacher, regardless of how small they were? Would you let a scorpion sting and kill someone first before calling the proper authorities? Of course not. You would ask for that danger to be promptly removed—and rightly so—wouldn't you, Mrs Bram?" All you can do is nod. The white walls around you seem even colder than before. The lights are too bright. The scent of sanitizer is too pungent. You feel nauseous. "She's just in shock," you hear ...

In a world with an uncertain future, do you imagine for the best or for the worst case scenario? Twelve writers tackle extreme solarpunk utopias and apocalyptic or political dystopias—and the gray areas in between—in Biketopia, the fourth volume of the Bikes in Space series of feminist science fiction stories about bicycling. Some find love and fierce resistance in the end times; others imagine an ecological future of saving technology, with solarpunk ecotopian visions, at times paired with crushing social control.

Billions are dead. The world is changed forever. Fear is rampant and for once, humans are the ones on the brink of extinction. But there are survivors and they are determined to never allow anything like The Great Plague of 2083 to ever happen again. The most powerful countries in the world have assembled a group of people to make one decision: how can the human race be safeguarded for future generations? The Plague Council is a short story prequel to Oceania: The Underwater City. Discover how the underwater city came to be.

Short stories about dystopian worlds created by people longing for immortality and power. Once attained—what's next for humanity?

DARE TO FACE YOUR DEEPEST FEARS? Your sanity hangs by a thread as you plunge into this „Scary Stories Collection”! Prepare for a mind-melting rollercoaster through three realms of pure terror! In "Graveyard Grin," giggling clown await for you at Hollowbrook Cemetery. "The Abyssal Hunger" will have you clawing as the earth comes alive beneath you. And "The Eternal Asylum"? It's a one-way ticket to madness where reality crumbles! These aren't just stories – they're psychological depth charges primed to EXPLODE in your mind!

There are many consequences of gravity. While our feet are firmly planted on terra, our hearts break, our souls seek homage from higher beings, our desire to learn creates intelligent animations landscapes change, demons posses, we dream of escaping to Mars and other planets. A collection of short stories set on Earth, space, and distant planets. This collection features the shorty story Glitch and the first publication of the poetry collection Consequence of Gravity.

For decades, George R. R. Martin - best-selling author of A Song of Ice and Fire - has collaborated with an ever-shifting ensemble of science fiction and fantasy icons to create the amazing Wild Cards universe. In the aftermath of World War II, the Earth’s population was devastated by a terrifying alien virus. Those who survived were changed forever. Some, known as Jokers, were cursed with bizarre mental and physical deformities; others, granted superhuman abilities, are known as Aces.

In a near-future world dominated by The Directorate, a sinister regime, Alex and Mia find love amidst oppression. Alex, born with "Inferior Genes", possesses a secret that could change everything. Together, they join the underground resistance and uncover the regime's dark secrets. Their daring mission to expose The Directorate's tyranny takes them to the heart of its power. Betrayals and sacrifices test their love, but they emerge victorious, ushering in a new era where individuality and freedom reign.

Six hundred years after the War: A group of elderly hermits live in an ancient, crumbling fortress, high up a mountainside. A local Lord, armed with a powerful relic, wants to take it from them. A young Shepherd is determined to save them.

What happens when English teacher Boyd Walker forgets to die on his deathday? What's in the pearls that the antiquarian sells to the desperate villagers? Can two exploited castes work together to preserve a child's freedom? What if God was an intellectually disabled little girl? Can you predict what common people will do when facing existential crises? What about outright genocide? These are amongst the 13.5 gripping and upsetting short stories set in the oppressive totalitarian regime of Darrenbroath.

This post-apocalyptic dystopian short story follows Elizabeth, a mechanical and chemical engineer who used to work for a rapid prototyping firm. She uses the skills from her former life to provide for her and the woman she took under her protection, Melissa. The two seem to thrive in adverse conditions to bring semi-modern conditions to their hidden camp. But even after the world ends, you sometimes need something pretty.

Written in the classic science-fiction era of the 1950s and '60s, these stories have out-of-this-world endings reminiscent of The Twilight Zone episodes from the same time. Listeners encounter diverse characters, from a teen surfer and a 1940s boxer to space travelers and strange Arctic villagers. Thought-provoking themes create a unique blend of escapism and intellectual stimulation.

Four very short stories, all told in the first person, some that cannot, and others that should not, happen in our lifetimes.

Some religions state that the very universe was created by words. The nation of America was founded using words. Words established the rights and freedoms this nation enjoys. The first of those rights is freedom of speech, which implies so much more than the right to use words. This anthology contains four stories from four authors. Each story pays tribute to either the ideals held by America’s First Amendment or to the concept that the words people use hold power. These authors took the concept of words and placed it in futuristic, apocalyptic, and fantasy settings.

If someone observed us from afar, they could claim that our civilization was a civilization of walls. That was its main purpose. Such observers would likely not be able to explain why. I cannot either. Walls do not protect. They just trap and kill. Three short stories about a dystopic future, about people turning into machines, about walls and fences, about the way history works. Three short stories about now.

The ant scurries on the counter, alone, and the only remnant of its poisoned colony. Empathizing with the ant, Natalie ponders putting it out of its misery. As a scientist, she knows her flowcharts point to humankind's destruction: much like the ants, we polluted our colony too. Heading up one of a handful of secret labs, Natalie's mission to save humanity seems more like a cliché sci-fi movie than reality. Or maybe the world-weary views she possesses stem from her own bitter past.