Showing results for "System" in Anthologies & Short Stories

The world ends in a slew of blue notification boxes, bringing with it a game-like existence including monsters and Classes. Now, John has to make his way from Kluane National Park in the Yukon to Whitehorse through monster infested forests. But, that's not enough; because he'll need to help rebuild civilization itself around the System, aliens and monsters. And, as always, humanity will be its own greatest enemy.

Ten years ago, deep within a rift, a choice was granted. Defeat the Demon King and end the apocalypse. Or take his power for themselves and keep the rifts open. Sloan chose an ending. His party turned against him. They killed him. They split his legacy and belongings amongst themselves. They hid the truth. They profited. Those heroes who betrayed the world. Now he’s back. Reborn. Reincarnated in a world where the system is life.

My life took a turn I never expected on the day the world ended. Suddenly forced to fight in a bloody arena by a faceless System, I find the only way to survive is to win. I’m told that ten victories in the arena will give me my freedom, but if I’m going to get there, I’ll need a crack team of hardened allies to fight with me. What I got instead was a bratty college girl with a jealousy streak, a momma’s boy roommate who now inhabits the body of a piglet, and a devastatingly gorgeous teacher whose sword is as sharp as her tongue.

The Philip K. Dick Short Story Collection gathers some of the author’s most unsettling and visionary works—stories that helped define modern science fiction and inspired generations of writers, filmmakers, and thinkers. In this gripping volume, Philip K. Dick explores paranoia, identity, war, and perception through razor-sharp ideas and unforgettable twists.

Diagnosed as severely autistic at the age of three, Tito, nearly nonverbal, was brought up by his loving mother Soma, who taught him to read English and challenged him to write his own stories. The initial result was The Mind Tree, published in 2003, which Tito wrote between the ages of eight and 11. The Gold of the Sunbeams is an equally impressive, beautiful collection of stories, each prefaced by a charming note from Tito explaining how the story came into being.

In a Post-Apocalyptic world of Magic and Machinery, Jack Knight is an orphan who finds himself caught between a life-altering decision. Join the military and fight the demon hordes or sell his soul to the Corpos. Both options having minimal appeal to a shut-in like Jack. Thanks to the high cost of living, and his sister’s medical expenses, Jack has never given much thought to what he’d want to do with life, always living paycheck to paycheck, scrounging just enough to keep the lights on and his sister safe. However, an Angel presents him with a third option.

When aging artist David Bittacy develops an increasingly intimate bond with the forest surrounding his home, his devotion to the trees becomes something deeper—mystical, unsettling, and profoundly transformative. His wife Sophia, rooted in conventional faith and fearful of the wild unknown, watches with growing dread as the woods seem to claim her husband in ways she cannot understand.

The Glamour of the Snow is one of Algernon Blackwood’s most haunting supernatural tales—a hypnotic blend of winter wilderness, psychological tension, and eerie elemental forces. When an English traveler becomes captivated by a mysterious woman who appears only in the snow-covered Swiss Alps, he is drawn into a chilling dance between beauty and danger. As fascination deepens into obsession, the seductive pull of the mountains reveals its true, otherworldly power.

The Insanity of Jones is one of Algernon Blackwood’s most haunting psychological tales—a gripping fusion of supernatural mystery, reincarnation, and unresolved vengeance that blurs the line between madness and metaphysical truth.

After saving the world and defeating his enemies, Sloan has gained an incredible title and unmatched power in the system. Enjoying a decade of peace, his calm life is suddenly disrupted, pushing him towards a new journey and a new mission. A new enemy, known only as the Architect has emerged, causing chaos and breaking the balance. As new rifts appear, Sloan must explore unknown realms, find strong allies, and learn ancient secrets to stop the Architect's plans.

Humanity has colonized over 500 planets under the not-always-benevolent administration of the Federation of Planetary States via the FED Army and Navy. Longstanding grievances over economic exploitation by Earth-based companies have grown into a full-scale rebellion, and attempted secession has been tried by many of the more successful colonies. The Rebels believe a peaceful separation is possible. The FEDs believe an easy and swift military resolution is available.

A bounty hunting survivor. A Galactic dark elf. A woman who has given up her humanity to become something more. These stories and more are available in the first short story anthology for the System Apocalypse, covering year one on Earth. When the world ends, humanity steps up, finding new ways to survive in a world with Classes, magic and monsters. The anthology features exciting, new stories by five new writers and a new, never publicly released short story by Tao Wong.

Der legendäre US-amerikanische Schriftsteller Edgar Allan Poe gilt als Architekt der modernen Kurzgeschichte. Zugleich ist er einer der Begründer der heutigen Kriminal- und Horror-Literatur. In dieser neuen Hörbuchreihe liest Arndt Schmöle mit seiner unverkennbaren Stimme einige der bekanntesten und speziell ausgewählte Original-Texte von Poe in ungekürzter Form. Arndt Schmöle ist Sprecher für zahlreiche Hörbücher, Hörspiele und ist als Synchron- und Off-Stimme in Computer-Spielen. Dokumentar-Filmen und Werbespots zu hören.

Le narrateur visite un établissement psychiatrique dans le sud de la France, réputé pour son traitement révolutionnaire des maladies mentales, le système de la douceur.

One Voice Recordings presents amazingly versatile voice actor David Ian Davies performing 10 of Edgar Allan Poe's most famous short stories: "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Sphinx", "The Descent into the Maelstrom", "Hop-Frog", "The Man of the Crowd", "Some Words With a Mummy", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether", "Shadow: A Parable", and "Silence: A Fable".

Dive into the haunting depths of H. P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow over Innsmouth, a chilling masterpiece of cosmic horror and psychological dread. When a curious traveler arrives in the decaying seaport of Innsmouth, he uncovers a terrifying secret lurking beneath the surface—an ancient cult, monstrous sea-spawn, and the horrifying truth about his own bloodline. With its eerie atmosphere, nightmarish revelations, and ties to the legendary Cthulhu Mythos, this tale stands as one of Lovecraft’s most unforgettable works.

Step into the twisted geometry of nightmare in H. P. Lovecraft’s The Dreams in the Witch House. When Walter Gilman, a student at Miskatonic University, rents a room in Arkham’s infamous Witch House, he believes its strange angles hide cosmic secrets. Gilman is drawn into a nightmare of black magic, forbidden mathematics, and sacrificial horror.

In The Marching Morons, C. M. Kornbluth delivers a biting science fiction satire set in a future where intelligence has all but vanished. With society ruled by mediocrity and the average IQ plummeting, one cunning man from the past awakens to seize control. A darkly humorous, prophetic tale about ignorance, manipulation, and the cost of cultural decay.

The Birth-Mark by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a hauntingly thought-provoking short story that explores the dark side of perfectionism, science, and obsession. With rich symbolism and moral complexity, Hawthorne crafts a powerful narrative that continues to resonate with listeners today. Ideal for fans of classic literature, psychological fiction, and philosophical allegory.

One Man’s Poison by Robert Sheckley is a witty and suspenseful science fiction short story from the early 1950s that explores alien life and survival with a darkly comedic twist.