A scientist tries to cure all disease, unwittingly bringing about the end of Humanity; Sentient computers take revenge upon an internet troll; A computer genius builds a machine which can see into the dreams of others, with dark consequences; A girl wakes up in a hospital bed after an accident, but the kindness and concern of her parents and her doctor hide a terrifying truth; An android learns what it is to be Human. These are just a few of the unsettling situations from the minds of these new authors in this collection of short science-fiction stories, a selection of terrible prophecies of technology run amok, of terrifying, unsettling futures, and oddly familiar worlds. Delve inside the minds of these new authors, immerse yourself in their imaginations and ask yourself the question: “What if?”
Authors
Eric Robert Nolan’s writing has appeared throughout over 50 publications in nine countries: the United States, Canada, Britain, Ireland, Germany, Romania, Turkey, India and Australia. These include Newsday (New York State’s third-largest newspaper and America’s 10th-largest), the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Virginia’s second-largest newspaper), The Roanoke Times (Virginia’s third-largest newspaper), The Free Lance-Star, The Daily Progress, The Galway Review, Every Day Fiction and Quail Bell Magazine. Eric’s writing and photography were also selected for 12 anthologies, two chapbooks and six mini-books, from publishers such as Peeking Cat Literary, Down in the Dirt, Newington Blue Press and Poems-for-All. His 2013 novel The Dogs Don’t Bark in Brooklyn Any More was published by Dagda Publishing in Britain. Eric’s work was nominated for the Sundress Best of the Net in 2018 and for Spillwords Press Awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Every Writer’s Resource named his poem “The Writer” as one of EWR’s Best of 2019. In 2021, his reflections on the 9/11 terror attacks were carried by Newsday and other major newspapers, reaching a combined readership of 706,000 people. His commentary in 2022 about anti-intellectualism reached an even greater newspaper readership of 733,000. One of Eric’s anti-Trump limericks was “liked” by more than 7,000 people in 2019 and was retweeted by George Conway of The Lincoln Project PAC. Also that year, Eric’s review of Dark Horse Comics’ Grendel series was quoted by the company to promote the celebrated title’s relaunch; his comments were then carried by tripwire magazine, Broken Frontier and Pastrami Nation. Eric is a past editor for the dystopian literature journal, The Bees Are Dead. He has been interviewed on Blog Talk Radio, by Peeking Cat Poetry Magazine, by Bunbury Magazine and by Spillwords Press, and his poetry was featured on the Dead Letter Radio podcast. His writing was noted in 2014 in the University of Mary Washington Magazine. He was entered in 2022 into the national Poets & Writers Directory.
Hi there! I write mysteries and adventure stories for young and young-at-heart adults, mostly set in my home county of Cornwall, UK. A graduate of the University of Bath, I formerly worked as a foreign languages teacher, magazine writer and translator. I also spent eleven years with educational charity The Eden Project, where I learned all kinds of wonderful things about plants and people. In 2013 I was over the moon when my debut mystery adventure The Time Crystals reached the final five Young Adult titles in Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award, going on to win international contest The Next Novelist. There are now two novels in The Time Crystals series - The Time Crystals and Flight of the Bluebird. I have also written two standalone novels (The Mystery of Acorn Academy and Tell and You Die) and Ten Twisty Tales, a collection of contemporary suspense stories. I have also had a variety of short stories published in anthologies. In recent years I've helped to build my own house in Cornwall, learning unaccustomed new skills such as slating roofs and fitting insulation! Find out more about me and my books at: https://www.teresabassett.co.uk and https://treeandleafblog.com/
Frank Westworth shares several characteristics with his literary anti-hero, JJ Stoner: they both play mean blues guitar and ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Unlike Stoner, Frank hasn't deliberately killed anyone. Instead, Frank edits a monthly classic motorcycle magazine (see RealClassic.co.uk) and has written extensively for the UK motoring press. Frank's ‘Killing Sisters’ series starts with 'A Last Act Of Charity', continues in 'The Corruption Of Chastity' and wraps up in 'The Redemption Of Charm'. However, you can start with any of the books in the series; they're written to be enjoyed if you come in halfway through. You can also meet key characters from the Killing Sisters series in the JJ Stoner short stories, which begin with First Contract. Please note; the Stoner stories and Killing Sisters series are intended for an adult audience. They're violent and explicit and contain the occasional intellectual challenge. If you'd like to know more - feel free to ask!
