Dystopian Short

Into the darkness within; or else the light.... When Margaret Atwood wrote these words, she left open the possibility that even our darkest tales may harbor a glimmer of hope. In Or Else the Light, the third and final entry in the Dystopia Triptych, more than a dozen of the best minds in science fiction conclude their stories with a descent into darkness, or perhaps a ray of light.

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?

Before you start. I wrote this science fiction adventure in the hopes of leading young people into the joys of sci-fi possibilities and fun. But it's not limited to youth. I've encountered many older readers that felt the memories of their younger years. So, don't exclude yourself because it's about a genetically altered youth and his struggles in a world that's unique, yet troubled just as is our own. In a mutant sci-fi world, the rebellious son of surface trader Captain Radoon Gydlin, endures dreams of places he hasn’t seen and disasters that haven’t happened. When he visits Below, a ...

“Smart, original, and brilliantly creepy.” ~Bestselling author Kristen Mae IN MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH, THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES. Along the fault, a spa day becomes a claustrophobic nightmare for five sisters. The perfect afternoon turns bloody for one suburban neighborhood. A husband’s journey through a frozen hellscape tests every inch of his resolve. One man’s life changes course after discovering an animal in the swamp—one different from all others. And each diabolical tale is as twisted and hypnotic as you’ve come to expect from Meghan O’Flynn. This “gripping and ...

She’s going to make one last-ditch effort to get pregnant, and this time it’s going to take a train to help her along… With all the cheating I’ve been doing, I’ve gotten used to running around behind my husband’s back. What started as a way to get me knocked up has changed into a fun little side hobby that I really enjoy. But it also makes me feel guilty, and I need to get my cheating under control before I hurt my husband and lose him forever. A night of watching dirty movies gives me an idea. I’ll head out to the hotel on the outskirts of town and open myself up for any man ...

She signed away her body to survive. He plans to claim her soul. Harper didn’t come to the Syndicate’s breeding program for love. She came for a fertility cure, for freedom, and for a second chance at life. What she didn’t expect was to be matched with a towering warlord whose touch ignites every part of her soul—and awakens cravings she thought were long dead. Commander Thorne isn’t here to play nice. He's been promised a mate, an heir, and obedience. But Harper is defiant, soft where he’s sharp, and completely unprepared for the firestorm they create together. He was born for ...

The end of civilization as we know it.

Need to Feed Another year. Another massacre looming. When the sun rises on the Old West town of Saltwater Junction, its residents will come face to face with two fierce predators. Vampires who stalk you in the sunlight and werewolves that transform with the sunrise. This story rewrites the legends and all you've ever known about these creatures of the night. A Vampire at Christmas A Vampire uses his riches and immortal skills to bring joy to those in need during the Christmas Season. It Sleeps at Dawn A Vampire stalks the Appalachian Mountains. A traditional Vampire who uses fangs instead ...

They say a man without options can be dangerous. In the far flung future of Bangkok, a young man’s every move is dictated by his boss, the evil Minister of Defense. When a terrifying secret is revealed beneath the capital city millions of lives hang in the balance. He must choose between his loyalty to his country and his ideals, with either choice having drastic consequences for those he loves. Don’t miss Rising, by A. L. Lorentz, for the best of science fiction world building in exotic locales right here on Earth. If you enjoy Rising’s ancillary tale be sure to read what happens to ...

What if the price of love was forgetting it ever existed? In a future where relationships are government-regulated and romantic memories are erased after five years, Mira and Jace have only hours left before they lose everything they've built together. But Mira isn’t ready to let go, and she’s willing to risk everything to remember their love. With the help of a rogue memory hacker, Mira devises a way to preserve their love illegally. But when the system catches up with her, she’s forced into an impossible choice: let Jace forget her forever, or sacrifice herself to carry their love ...

Rise of the Gender Clones in a World With Only Men Jon Berringer is your typical male in the year 2240 – smart, comfortable, and very confused by the sudden announcement that females will be returning. After females stopped being born in 2042, the world quickly became dominated by the male population. At some point, someone realized no new women were being born, and that's when the New World Order Initiative began. After the last female on the planet died in 2173 at the age of 131, the program to fix the problem took off in earnest as it was realized that with no women on the planet, the ...

Eight short stories that span many times and places and do not fit neatly into any genre pigeonholes. Titles include "Reflections in a Plate Glass Window," "Skeet's Revenge," "Raging Against the Machine," "The Snow in Cheyenne," "Seeds of Insurrection," "A Change of Season," "Mutant Trappers," and "After the Flood."

Do you like addictively creepy thrillers that will keep you biting your nails until you've finished the final page? The Listeners short story collection is for you! “Gripping, thought-provoking, and unbearably tense.” ~Bestselling Author Wendy Heard HOME IS NO LONGER SAFE. From the bestselling author of The Jilted comes a twisted and terrifically macabre collection of short stories guaranteed to make you cringe, laugh, cry…and start sleeping with the lights on. From an eerie voyeur, to an appliance that doesn’t behave the way it should, to a poignant and twisted expression of ...

"How do you form a more perfect union?" Unlock the continuing mind-bending possibilities of ethical and moral dilemmas with "After Dinner Conversation - Season Six," the next (and final) installment (look for the After Dinner Conversation - Best of" series) of the must-read collection of the best short stories from the critically acclaimed After Dinner Conversation magazine series. Spanning all genres, from science-fiction to historical fiction and everything in between, each story is guaranteed to captivate you and leave you questioning your own beliefs. Perfect for philosophy students and...

The first collection by writer Matthew Hughes, and the perfect companion to his acclaimed novel Black Brillion, The Gist Hunter and Other Stories features nine stories taking place in the universe of The Archonate, as well as four non-series stories. The stories of Henghis Hapthorn, Old Earth's "foremost freelance discriminator", combine mystery and science fantasy while simultaneously recalling the arch irony of Gene Wolfe and the sly fancies of Jack Vance.

Dances With Drumsticks is a darkly imaginative collection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories by David Lee Stone. Each tale pulls you into a world where the bizarre and the eerie collide. A tormented child with a sinister imaginary friend. A dystopian future where society is gripped by a deadly disease A long-abandoned spaceship with a very odd crew and morePrepare for a journey through twisted realities, where the line between the mundane and the macabre is constantly blurred.

A leaderless, exhausted federal government is pulling out of Texas, leaving nine million survivors of the apocalypse to fend for themselves. In an attempt to fill the void, the Alliance of West Texas prepares to step in. The ruling council establishes five directives; Energy, Agriculture, Transportation, Communications and Security.

"Would you remove your soul, to save your life?" Unlock the continuing mind-bending possibilities of ethical and moral dilemmas with "After Dinner Conversation - Season Two," the next installment of the must-read collection of the best short stories from the critically acclaimed After Dinner Conversation magazine series. Spanning all genres, from science-fiction to historical fiction and everything in between, each story is guaranteed to captivate you and leave you questioning your own beliefs. Perfect for philosophy students and fiction lovers alike, each story comes with five suggested ...

There are no zombies here! But lurking within the pages of this creepy anthology is every other type of ghoulish creature a horror enthusiast could want. Do you love monsters? We have plenty. Are demons your thing? You have your choice of the amusing type or the kind that will make you go insane. Men in Black? Check. Cannibals? Yep. Serial killers? We got ‘em. There’s even a witch thrown in for good measure. The settings in this collection range from a decaying urban city to a sinister lighthouse island...from an isolated forest to a decrepit gas station in the Arizona desert…from a ...

Are you ready to embark on a journey through the vast expanse of the universe? Look no further than Science Fiction Short Stories Vol. 11 by The Shadowplay Collective. This collection of short stories will transport you to distant worlds and introduce you to characters that will leave a lasting impression on your mind. In this volume, The Shadowplay Collective takes readers on a thrilling ride through the depths of space and time. From the far reaches of the galaxy to the depths of the human psyche, these stories will keep you on the edge of your seat. The settings are vividly described, ...