The Doomsday Chronicles

by Crystal Watanabe (Editor), Samuel Peralta (Foreword), Ken Liu

Doomsday. The end of the world as we know it. Some say it will end in fire, some say in ice. Some say it will end with a bang, some with a whimper.

In this title in the acclaimed Future Chronicles series of speculative fiction anthologies created by award-winning author Samuel Peralta, fifteen authors confront the Apocalypse, the end of days, the undiscovered country from which no traveler returns.

The Doomsday Chronicles features stories by Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy award-winning and bestselling authors Ken Liu (the Dandelion Dynasty series), Seanan McGuire (the InCryptid series), plus thirteen more of today's top authors in speculative and science fiction.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Post Apocalyptic, Anthologies, Fiction, Ebooks, Dystopia

438 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2016

About the author

A freelance indie editor since 2014, I've edited more than 125 short stories and 30 novels. With an interest in science fiction and fantasy, middle-grade fiction, and young adult, I'm proud to assist my authors in fine-tuning their stories and helping them share them with the world.

Reviews

[jenn *mother of dragon & snake* · Rating 5 out of 5]

So... There are quite a few 'Mini Stories' within this particular book. So I'll review them one at a time.

'A Mother So Beautiful **3 Stars**
Okay... I'm going to give it to you straight. This little booklet just creeped me the hell out. I don't know how the hell this was even thought of and I don't want to know how this particular story could've ended up being if made into a full novel. I give it three stars because damn if this wasn't a freaking all around original - I've never read anything like it - book.

I do not want to know. I mean who thinks up things like this? A woman who basically just abandoned her daughter due to instances of when she was in Fifth Grade. And said daughter turns into a stalker just like her father and starts basically harassing and downright perv stalking her mom. For love?

What?


Good God I feel bad for the mother. The father was a SOB from hell. AND WHY WAS HE STILL ABLE TO BE AROUND HIS DAUGHTER AFTER WHAT HE FREAKING DID!?!?!?

I'm glad he's dead. Bastard.

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"The Voices That We Keep" **4 stars**
I liked this one way more. Though I would love it if this was a entire novel. I would love to see what happened 15 years ago before this little piece came to be.
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"Dragonflies" **5 Stars**
First off... This was a good one. Really short but still really good.
However... Spiders...

The size of Pitt Bulls...

AND BIGGER!? Hell to the MF NAWW!

That can decapitate you with one effing SNAP of their pincer fangs!?
And... AND Mosquitos the SIZE OF DINNER PLATES!?!

How is this alright!?

How the hell am I going to sleep tonight????? *shudder*
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"Lockdown" **5 Stars**

Jesus. I need to put this down. That gave me the damn heebees man.*shudder*
Flipping zombie kids. No. Thank. You.
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"At Depth's Door" **5 Stars**
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"The Slip" **5 Stars**
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"GOAT" ** 5 Stars**
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"Remembering Hannah" ** 5 Stars**
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"Red Rain" ** 5 Stars**
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"The Peralta Protocol" ** 5 Stars**
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"The Journal" ** 5 Stars**
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"Power Outage" ** 5 Stars**
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"The Last Siege of Olympus" ** 5 Stars**
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"Mia+Vegan Cannibals" ** 5 Stars**

I think this had to be my favorite of all of them. The sass. This one was just downright totally me. I love S. Elliot Brandis.



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"Staying Behind" ** 5 Stars**
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[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read post apocalyptic books and this collection was a wonderful treat.The standouts for me were A Mother So Beautiful by Ann Christy.All I can say is WOW....this story is amazing and is worth the price just for this story alone.Lockdown by Saul Tanpepper was really interesting and had such a unexpected ending.Mia + Vegan Cannibals by S Elliot Brandis was quirky, snarky fun and made me laugh all the way to the end.Staying Behind by Ken Liu was really intriguing and makes me want to read more about the world he created.I really like reading anthologies,I love being able to immerse myself in each authors unique view on the subject.I received a copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review.

[Angie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced readers copy of The Doomsday Chronicles in exchange for an honest review. And I'm so glad I have the chance to share my thoughts.

If you love dystopian, science fiction, fantasy based apocalypses, psychological thrillers, or anything of the above set in a futuristic world, than you'll love The Doomsday Chronicles.

This collection of short stories featuring above mentioned settings is a fabulous read by a large group of authors, which includes a couple of authors whose writing I was familiar with before reading this book, and now includes a bunch of authors I can't wait to read more from.

Each short story stands out on its own as representing a singular story that readers will want to become immersed in. The worlds presented in each story are exciting, terrifying, and both beautiful and ugly in such a way that made me forget the real world around me.

The Doomsday Chronicles is a great read!!

[PJ Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

Another outstanding chronicle. A vast array of wonderful stories, from the humorous to the intensely creepy, with everything in between. It is, as ever, impossible to choose a favourite, though there are always some I enjoy more than others. I would recommend every single one of these books for the standard of writing and the imagination put in.

[Eccentric Editions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazin anthology. Loved it and am eaxcited for more! Had varieties which kept me hooked and breeze through chapeters.

Foreword The Way the World Ends by Samuel Peralta
Always amazing as usual, loved it! I always look forward for Mr. Peralta's foreword.
For all the worth they are, when you are gone.

A Mother So Beautiful by Ann Christy
Woaw, how one person can be cause for doom. The reason and the plot had me hooked. In beginning to know what is going on and when I caught up why. Liked it!

The Voices That We Keep by Aaron Hubble
I've mixed feelings for this. I liked the concept but would have been better if there was a background detail how earth was destroyed. It is told because of what it got destroyed but not how. But okay I guess.

Dragonflies by Seanan McGuire
Liked it! How the world is the world is going to end and you find a solution and everything looks like things will be okay and the solution which is set in motion leads towards doom and surviving is the only way. The reason to survive are diffierent.

Lockdown by Saul Tanpepper
Enjoyed this very much. It kept me anticipating and hooked. I knew how it would end but that's what made me breeze through it. A z-apoc which spreads through just touch. They just have to touch you and you are doomed.

At Depth’s Door by James Knapp
Sometimes doom is what you want cuz you don't know other than that. Hooked till the end. Don't expect HEA's as they are all about doom and gloom.

The Slip by E.R. Arroyo
Loved it! The story hooked me. I liked Dean, he was not a hero but he became one under the circumstance. And the concept of human hijacking sounds scary.

GOAT by Matthew Alan Thyer
Sometimes luck is not by your side. Poor Scout, everything gets snatched away from him. I'm going to assume he gets clear of the charges. It is upto us....

Remembering Hannah by K. J. Colt
This was amazing and beautiful! Loved it! My fav till now.
The virus is spreading, it will make you loose your memories but humans always want to hold on to them because that's what makes them. It's a tale of an old guy trying to fight it and a little girl whose family gets taken away. How in the end they save each other.
And I've been fan of K.J. Kolt Tasty Dragons Meat. I loved it as well.

Red Rain by Monica Enderle Pierce
I liked the paranormal aspect of the doom here, kind of refreshing. It has religion but not a particular one. I loved the author's note on what she wanted to convey.

The Peralta Protocol by Daniel Arthur Smith
Oh fish! That's what I thought when the story ended. Loved it!! It was action packed and how the plot took turn in the end, amazing! It had all the elements I love and enjoy very much so it's another fav.

The Journal by Terry R. Hill
Wow, the ups and down in the story kept me hooked and also it written in a kid's POV. Little different and how a child would perceive what's going on. Liked it!

Power Outage by Holly Heisey
This was awesome!! Another fav in the anthology. The supernatural asspect was cool. Right up my alley story. Loved it!

The Last Siege of Olympus by Therin Knite
Loved it! Different and intriguing. Wish the end was different but it won't hold any meaning and attachment to me.

Mia + Vegan Cannibals by S. Elliot Brandi
From the title you can guess it to be humorous. It was, I liked it with the creepiness of our protagonist.

Staying Behind by Ken Liu
Great end to the anthology cuz there are some stories that will stay behind in my mind which I'll re-read again and agin.

Got an ecopy in exchange of an honest review.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC of The Doomsday Chronicles in exchange for an honest review*

Oh man. Another GREAT anthology from the future chronicles. These futures are mostly bleak, because Doomsday, but I enjoyed every minute. I want to cover a few of my favorite stories, because I could probably talk about all the talent here for hours if you let me.

A Mother So Beautiful by Ann Christy
I had the pleasure of reading this story in it’s early stages. I was excited to read it again! I didn’t know that it was going to be included in this anthology when I agreed to read an ARC, but it fits SO well as the first thing you read. This story is from a daughter’s perspective who is stalking her mother. The end of the world happens and this woman is the only one who things the world of her mother. I loved every creepy minute of it.

Dragonflies by Seanan McGuire
Oh man. THAT OPENING. It’s perfect. I didn’t know what was happening at first and then BAM, my heart beat definitely picked up quickly as the story progressed. Pretty sure this particular “end of the word” scenario would be one of the worst for me. I am only happy that they didn’t mention bees or wasps at all. I don’t know if I could handle that as well!

Lockdown by Saul Tanpepper
Pretty sure I had several heart attacks while reading this story. The author probably will take that as a compliment (as he should). I could feel my anxiety building with the main character’s as she worried about the gap underneath her door. It’s like you know something is going to happen, but stay in denial while things get worse and worse. I think I’m going to start hyperventilating again as I think about this one! (Really good, though)

The Slip by E.R. Arroyo
This was a very unique take on the end of humanity. It combines a controlling/abusive relationship and also an unknown force that is controlling people on another level that sends them to their doom. It’s true though, that even if you were in a terrible relationship, just because the world was ending doesn’t mean they would change their ways and treat you better. Thank God that some people have great families to back them up in bad times (apocalyptic or not)!

Mia + Vegan Cannibals by S. Elliot Brandis
This one was hilarious/gross. In true Fight Club fashion, some people just want to watch the world burn. Is it because they hate people or are just bored? Or maybe they just don’t care? Regardless of why certain people decide to end the world in their own way, this story puts a hilarious/psychotic twist on the apocalyptic genre. I ate it right up (too much?).

I could go on and on about these stories, but I think you should check it out for yourself.

[Kristin]

Samuel does it again! This is a fantastic addition to The Future Chronicles. Doomsday fits right in perfectly. To read so many different points of views from being part of a apocalypse is exceptional how very different each story is written. I've read from many of these authors before and I have to say this book is just brilliant. This very well could be my favorite of The Future Chronicles. Heck the apocalypse could've happened while I was reading this book and I probably wouldn't have noticed lol.

First while I loved every story in this. Huge props to Remembering Hannah. Just WOW. If I had to recommend just one story to read in this it would be this one. It tugs at you hard. There are so many other great stories in this as well that I loved. Also there's Dragonflies ummm...yeah HUGE insects that's all I'm saying about that. Pretty sure that's what nightmares are made of in that story ; )

What more can I say but this is a great anthology with some great authors in it. I honestly loved each one for one reason or another. There wasn't a story I didn't enjoy. Each one was so different and unique it was great. I love all the side notes after each story as well which explains just a tad what angle they were going for and such or why.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a fine time reading this excellent collection. There’s far more variety in these stories than I expected to find, given the flood of apocalyptic fiction published in the last few years. Doomsday is interpreted in interesting ways by the authors. I found all of the stories intriguing and fun to read.

Although I can usually call one or two stories favorites in most anthologies, I can’t point to any single selection in this book and say I liked that one best. But I did find these tales to be especially memorable: A Mother So Beautiful; Dragonflies; Lockdown; Remembering Hannah; The Journal; and The Peralta Protocol.

Of those, only Lockdown is part of a series that I’m following. Even so, I was halfway through it before I realized I was watching the Flense spread. Nicely done, Saul.

Individually, I’d give all but a couple of the stories five stars. It’s a stellar collection of great reading. I certainly enjoyed it.

[Natira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es gab von den thematisch und stilistisch unterschiedlichen Stories im Grunde nur eine, mit der ich nicht zurecht kam: "Mia + Vegan Cannibals". Hier gefiel weder der Stil noch die Geschichte besonders.

Zwei Geschichten waren nicht so ganz mein Fall: "The voices that we keep" empfand ich fast etwas konventionell (in Ermangelung eines anderen Wortes) und in "The Peralta Protocol" gab es für meinen persönlichen Geschmack zu viel militärische Action.

Aber selbst diese beiden letztgenannten Stories zeichneten sich, ebenso wie übrigen (mit Ausnahme von Mia) durch trotz der Kürze gut und stimmig gezeichneten Charakteren aus und interessanten Prämissen bzw. Konsequenzen (z.B. "Dragonflies" oder "At Depth's Door"). Besonders intensiv empfand ich übrigens "A mother so beautiful", "Lockdown" und "The Slip".

[Julian White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bit of a cheat, this review, as it refers only to Saul Tanpepper's pitch-perfect short story 'Lockdown' which records the Flense breakout and the end of Life As We Know It as seen by a school classroom teacher trapped in her (?detached/mobile?) classroom with two children when the 'shelter-in-place' security lockdown is implemented. There is a growing sense of dread through the 27 pages as the teacher is cut off from news - even the school communications systems fail and personal phones run out of battery charge. The climax is inevitable but no less heart-breaking for that.

This taste makes me even more impatient for further installments of the Flense/Bunker 12 series!

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another awesome chronicle under the watchful eye of Mr. Samuel Peralta. I have loved everyone I have read and gained so many new authors to read by reading these, it has been so wonderful, I am not sure who gets more out of these the authors or me.
Saul Tanpepper is my newest great find out of this book with his short "Lockdown" being one of my favorites. Also E.R. Arroyo is awesome with her story, oh heck I would just sit here and name them all because they are all so great. Just check out the book for yourself you'll love it if your into the doomsday stories.

[Baron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection is full of gems! "Dragonflies," "At Depth's Door" and "Staying Behind" are among my personal favorites, but I think the absolute best is Ann Christy's "A Mother so Beautiful." That one haunted me for days.

This is my favorite of the Future Chronicle series so far (out of what I've read). Only a couple of the stories are what I'd consider 'weak.' If you're going to read any of the chronicles, it should be this.

One great thing about these anthologies is that they're a good way to discover new authors. I'm definitely checking out more of Ann Christy.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great apocalyptic/doomsday anthology

I admittedly bought The Doomsday Chronicles: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction because of two reasons. 1. It had a story by my favorite author, Seanan McGuire, in it. And 2, I happen to love doomsday, apocalyptic type fiction. This one was pretty good. Of course “Dragonflies” by Seanan McGuire was obviously my ultimate favorite, but I was pleased to find other hidden gems. These are my other favorites... "Mia + Vegan Cannibals” by S. Elliot Brandis, "Remembering Hannah" by K.J. Kolt,“A Mother So Beautiful” by Ann Christy and “Staying Behind” by Ken Liu.
I recommend this to
anyone who likes a great science fiction story where the human race has royally screwed itself over... Or if you just like reading about the end of the human race as we know it. You should definitely read this.
Overall, good anthology. 👍👍

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something about apocalyptic stories that draw me. As I read about the state of the world today, a book about the human race reaping what they sow is timely. Most of the stories were entertaining but three of them were standouts.
A Mother so Beautiful-a horrific crime is committed against a child and years later the world feels her revenge.
Dragonfly-insects the size of dogs? As someone who is sent into hysterics by flying roaches, I wouldn't make it in this world.
Mia+Vegan Cannibals-Okay this was ridiculously funny from start to finish. I love the snark and sarcasm. Seriously this should be a movie. I'm definitely checking out more of this author's work.

[Jim Kratzok · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the idea of the world ending...

You'll love these stories. They were well written and thoughtful but not altogether my cup of tea. Some held a bit of wonder in them but a few were just downright depressing. I think the collection merits less than 4 stars but I always learned to round up to the next highest number...

[Raymond St. Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Snooze

I don't know why people have praise to these combined stories they were boring. Each one, those I could tolerate, dragging onward making me wonder 'is there a plot?' Prior my skipping pages to see if there was one. AVOID THIS BOOK SAVE YOURSELF THE FRUSTRATION TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK!

[Mary Duhamel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense and a Bit Frightening

This is the first Chronicles book that had stories I found to be very intense and frightening. The stories were unique and extremely well written and left me thinking and pondering. I also looked up additional works of many of the authors.

[Cory R. Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of apocalyptic short stories was compiled spectacularly.

[Jessicat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these stories were really good and some were just OK. My favorites are Dragonflies, Lockdown, Remembering Hannah and The Peralta Protocol.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - just wow. So many fascinating stories in one book. So many different takes on the doomsday theme. This is a sci-fi/dystopian/apocalyptic fan's dream wrapped up with a big bow on top - just waiting to be unwrapped. Some were delightfully dark and creepy, others heart-wrenching or even humorous, but a few of my favs were:

Lockdown by Saul Tanpepper: I'll never be caught without hand sanitizer again. You just know how this story will end, but that didn't keep me from telling these people not to open the doors. Hooked me from the first page.

Remembering Hannah by K.J. Colt: This bittersweet tale pulls at the heartstrings a little, but with as good an ending as could be expected. It's disturbing to know that the very real disease of Alzheimer's has affected so many and could be in any of our futures.

The Peralta Protocol by Daniel Arthur Smith: No babies born in the past ten years? Just thinking about the impact that would have on society makes my head spin. Action-packed with a haunting ending.

The Last Siege of Olympus by Therin Knite: Mysterious and creative, this one contains shades of the movie Inception and the premise is gradually revealed. A story I was still thinking about hours after I finished it.

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Teri Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doomsday is here.
How many ways can the apocalypse end the world? You will just have to read this awesome book in order to find out. The end isn't always with nuclear bombs or a reign of fire. All of the stories are thought provoking. I laughed, I cried, I was scared, I always wanted to continue reading. Some of them, you follow the story to an obvious ending, some of them, hit you with a surprising gut punched ending. All of them will leave you wanting more stories from these very talented authors.

Thank you, Samuel Peralta for, The Doomsday Chronicles (The Future Chronicles) with some very talented authors, Ann Christy, Aaron Hubble, Seanan McGuire, Saul Tanpepper, James Knapp, E.R. Arroyo, Matthew Alan Thyer, K.J. Colt, Monica Enderle Pierce, Daniel Arthur Smith, Terry R. Hill, Holly Heisey, Therin Knite, S. Elliott Brandis, Ken Liu.

[Tommy Muncie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I will write a more in-depth review later; this is the bitesize version)

This is a good anthology that offers stories with lots of different writing styles between them. Unlike the last one of these I read (The Cyborg Chronicles) there's some YA fiction in this one, which I don't usually read but I can appreciate what makes it good, and it does make a quick read (let's face it, adult sci-fi does sometimes feel a little heavy on the brain, and having the YA is a good idea for easing the brain between the more complex stories.)

Looking at the stories individually, I wouldn't award any of them a five star review, but there's nothing I didn't like here either, so it's all 3s and 4s. I didn't get the same excitement I got from the Cyborg Chronicles, but as doomsday goes, the stories here are pleasingly dystopian and offered a nice amount of tension.

[D.K. Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Will the World End?

When I think of a doomsday scenario I imagine a nuclear bomb, an asteroid, or a deadly virus. After reading this phenomenal volume of stories, I realized how limited my idea of doomsday was.

Each of these talented writers creates scenarios that include: obsession, insect overlords, viruses, vengeance, lost love, moral questions, and much more.

The stories are heartbreaking, frightening, funny (yes funny), bittersweet, and thought provoking. This is not a feel good anthology, but one that will present 15 original ideas about doomsday.

I enjoyed some stories more than others, but every story is a masterpiece with nuances and twists that will keep you entertained, and stay in your thoughts for days.

[Kaleena Rheeya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my first excursion with the Future Chronicles Anthologies helmed by Samuel Peralta. Every time I finish one of these anthologies I feel hungry to dive deeper into the genres/subjects covered. Each story is masterfully crafted with rich, deeply developed characters and storylines.

Each author has a unique voice which finds its own way to standout and envelop the reader. The theme of Doomsday is also shined in a diverse light. From personal doom premises to multiple world destruction, from Sci Fi to Superheroes to horror, there is truly something for everyone.

Dive into this anthology today!

*I was provided an ARC in exchange for a review.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome read. With storytellers like Seanan McGuire and Monica Emderle Pierce, can I say that I think I love Monica, how could you go wrong! And also For me Daniel Arthur Smith and Saul Tanpepper and K.J. Colt and Holly Heisey all knocked one out of the park!
So get the book, but beware of large wolf spiders!

[Seamus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing continuation of the Future Chronicles series and theirs no dropping of the standards to be seen yet! This time it's looking quite Doomed for the participants!!

All of these short stories are top notch, but my favorites were those by Ann Christy, Daniel Arthur Smith S. Elliot Brandis & the terribly sad Staying Behind from Ken Liu.

[Carly Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection. So many new authors to check out! Well worth the price and I'm definitely interested in checking out more Future Chronicles books

[Linda]

A nice collection of stories. The entries from Ken Liu and Aaron Hubble were my favorites - worth the price of the entire collection just for these. I appreciate the anthologies as a way to introduce new-to-me authors.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some excellent stories and some okay stories, as is typical for a collection. Overall very enjoyable.

[Janet O'dell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection

I enjoyed all these stories but one. It is fascinating to read the wide variety of stories based on this this one theme.