Crash Code

by Quinn Parker (Editor), Aaron Thomas Milstead, K. Trap Jones

The pinnacle of technology meets the depths of depravity…

We build new technology—artificial limbs, neural interfaces, artificially intelligent sex dolls—and what do we get? 

Glitches.

Malfunctions.

Corruption.

Crash Code is an anthology of cyberpunk horror, exploring 27 stories where human life depends on every single line of code running perfectly. 

A virtual reality game that refuses to be shut off. A time travel drug that drives its users mad. New tech that lets you look like anyone—even your neighbors. End-of-life care that lets its users live their best days on loop and much more.

We are excited to see the return of several Blood Bound Books authors for this project as well as a great mix of new writers: 

Kristopher Triana - "The Deepest Fake" - Dean H. Wild - "God Finger" - K. Trap Jones - Respawn Inc - Aaron Thomas Milstead - "A Silent Auction" - Daniel I. Russell – "Mechanism" - T. Fox Dunham - "The Children’s Crusade" - Sean Eads & Josh Viola - "Eunuch's Code" - KJ Moore - "The Blue Schnooklybob" - Luciano Marano - "The Fate You Are" - Alex Franco - "Mr. Companion" - Nathan Batchelor - "Recursion by Nashville Moonlight" - Eric Lewis - "Cold Calculations" - Odin Oxthorn - "The Weight of the Lotus" - David Shultz - "Nervana" - Christopher Wilson - "Grinder" - John Pedersen - "Control Vipectus" - Matt Thompson - "Purity" - Damascus Mincemeyer - "Time Share" - Patrick Meegan - "A Leg Up" - Melanie Rees - "Attrition of the Soul" - Rachel Nussbaum - "Bleed Over" - Addison Smith - "Hard Memory" - Hannah Trusty - "Auto" - Morgan Chalfant - "Little Neon" - Sebastian Hetman - "First to Fight" - Neil Hudson - "One Survivor"

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Anthologies

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contained within these pages are a nullified of fascinating stories written by talented authors. You’ll find scifi thrillers, postmodern and futuristic horror, as well as speculative fiction.

I couldn’t get enough of this collection, and while I was familiar with some of the authors already, I was so pleased to find a number of new ones as well.

Pick up this anthology and you won’t be disappointed, within, you’ll attend auctions for the rights to known words- want to be the only person who remembers the word “book”? Well you’d better have the money to buy it!
You’ll chase after strange alien creatures in a world terraformed with living buildings and humans living as bottoms dwellers.
Get trapped in a VR game as it starts to leak into the real world and causes chaos.
Witness human evolution as implants and genetic tampering in children change the future of our race.
See the results of body modifications that turn people into killing machines or allow others to live through them and commit terrible crimes.
Flip through pages of rogue AI, feral robots, tortured lab grown brains, and so much more. Honestly if this was Book 1 in a Cyberpunk series of anthologies I would grab the next books in a heartbeat! If you enjoy the Black Mirror tv series you’ll definitely like this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, editor, and publisher for a copy!

[Nikki Noir · Rating 4 out of 5]

The future is here. And it's horrifying!

Don’t let contributing authors like Kristopher Triana and John McNee scare you into thinking this is an extreme horror anthology. Yes, Crash Code is infused with a healthy dose of horror elements, but at its core it’s cyberpunk, stories exploring the depths of the depravity we’re willing to let technology drag us into.

Anthologies can be very hit or miss for me. I start a ton and usually give up after three dud stories in a row--sometimes four if I know the author or press and am trying to like it. With limited word counts, it take a strong writer to make an effective short story. The authors of Crash Code were able to build engaging worlds of new technology in just a few pages, as well as dynamic characters I cared about. There were only one or two that left unsatisfied. And each story gave my something to contemplate long after it was done. Of course, there’s futuristic sex dolls and self-driving cars, which are par for any sci-fi book, but there are also disturbing new themes like deep fake technology, advances in medicine that come at a price, loss of privacy online, the dangers of legalizing certain drugs. Unlike most horror stories which I figure can't possibly happen to me, science fiction is unfolding around me every day, when I'm tempted to go more digital, turn over more of myself to the grid, and I have to be prepared to handle the repercussions of these choices.

I realized that perhaps this anthology isn’t set as far int the future as one might think. We live in a world of increased connectivity and yet still face a problem with isolation and fear of true human interaction. We’re only a step away from the dystopian societies portrayed in the book, and I’m scared we could wake up tomorrow and find ourselves living in the fall of humanity. The worst of all is the type of media technology they have. Do you understand how crazy things can get? If you think Fake News is bad now, just wait. A situation like Orson Wells' War of the Worlds could be faked again, but this time, with special effects available, how would you know it's wasn't real unless you had contact with the part of the world where said events happened. The dark Illuminati powers could work together and convince everyone that something has happened even when it hasn’t. Like that Robert De Niro movie, Wag the Dog. There is so much fake news and propaganda how can anyone really know…?

In an anthology like this, it’s hard to pick favorites. But a few that stood out for their uniqueness to me were: "A silent Auction"; Aaron Thomas Milstead had a short but powerful concept on the futuristic practice of ‘owning words’. "Little Neon" by Morgan Cheflant is a beautiful piece of flash fiction. And "Mr. Companion" is a cool love-doll concept.

K. Trap Jones, Daniel I. Russell, Luciano Murano, and Dean H. Wild all brought in notable dark pieces and are all authors I have enjoyed other books from too. Rather than try to break down individual stories, I will just say that overall, I give Crash Code 4.5 stars out of 5! With 27 stories, there will always be one or two you don’t connect with—luckily, that’s about all there was for me—but the bulk will be a blast for science fiction and horror fans alike.

[Kimberly C. Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection!

Each story is unique and brought you in quickly. I would love to see some of these made into Black Mirror episode's or something similar. Something for everyone in this grouping.

[Mona Kabbani · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤖The pinnacle of technology meets the depths of depravity... We build new technology - artificial limbs, neural interfaces, artificial intelligent sex dolls - and what do we get? Glitches. Malfunctions. Corruption.⚡️

I am pleasantly surprised with this book. Not just that - blown away. I’m not much of an anthology person but I can’t imagine a better way to be injected with 27 different realms of future tech that results in cyberpunk horror. I have this eerie feeling creeping over me even now as I write this review over all the different levels of human corruption catalyzed by robotics. This book is Black Mirror on steroids - quick doses of futuristic horror that leaves you thinking about your own morality WHICH IS MY FAVORITE THING EVER. Absolutely clicks with what I look for in written works. (As suggesting in my handle.)

I cannot suggest this book enough. Definitely one to save in my library and revisit. But keep in mind, it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s very strange and weird, everything you’d expect the future to be. Abandon all you know about sci-fi horror, these are some strange, strange worlds you’re about to dive into.

I have a few favorites I’d love to share but don’t want to spoil for anyone who will be venturing into this book soon. So, if you do or have read this, let me know what your favorite stories are from this cyberpunk anthology!

[Neon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Crash Code by various authors is a science-fiction thriller horror book of short stories that has a fantastic linking theme of artificial intelligence and the advancement of humanity and how and why it can go wrong. Out of the 27 stories I enjoyed at least 23 of them. A couple I couldn't even finish. But 23 out of 27 is pretty good. When I listen to a whole album from a music artist I usually only enjoy 2 to 3 songs out of at least 12.

The range of stories and levels of goriness was vast and I found myself really looking forward to picking it up again; I was reading a story everytime I put another book down and it was really refreshing There was a story where a guy had an a.i. ball sack, a game that bleeds into reality once you use it, a gauntlet that steals pain from it's patient, and a guy who comes back in time to kill himself. Those were the my favourites and all stories had great twists and characters.

Even though I didn't give it five stars (simply for the stories I didn't like or finish), I would recommend this group of stories to my friends and followers.

Great writing with very little editing issues which is amazing and doesn't happen often with ARCs. Either way, I would read this book of stories again.

[B P · Rating 4 out of 5]

If sci-fi says "the future is here and we must be careful" then cyberpunk goes "the future is here and it is shit". These 27 stories, while varied and distinct, all tell the same story. For better or worse, humanity doesn't change no matter how much the tech does.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun piece of literature that has a multitude of stories to choose from. The common thread between each tale is technology, and how despite the endless options or benefits, there exists a horror lurking within, and by giving in, it very well could be too good to be true. It also discusses how tech. may improve one's life, but how you choose to use beyond its capability may surface consequences beyond imagination or understanding.

Per usual, a few stories for review:

A.U.T.O., by Hannah Trusty

Don't think I can get online these days without seeing some new ad for a cyber truck, with all it's fancy new gadgets and options, and let's not forget the self-driving capability, which is what the story of A.U.TO. is centered around. Instead of a synopsis, ask yourself instead: how would you react if the self driving vehicle you're sitting in just malfunctioned, and cannot be slowed down or stopped? A runaway metal object with four wheels; a pinball by another name traveling down the 66.

Bleed Over, by Rachel Nussbaum, is another with a fascinating concept. What happens in the video game happens to you in real life. How much would you be willing to sacrifice to beat your favorite game?


The Children's Crusade, by T. Fox Dunham is a dystopian tale that asks us what kind of world we would like to leave for those that will come after us. It also discusses the impediment of the existing generation, or those currently in power - in all their hubris, to think they've kept up with the changing times and should stay in power.

Besides the few above, the rest of the stories captured the creativity of each author, vis-a-vis the social commentary that was woven into each tale as a result of the technology present. For example, The Deepest Fake by Kristopher Triana is essentially about digital plastic surgery. If one could borrow someone else's face through technology, and wear it even briefly, what impact would that have on one's mental health?

Great collection here, and amazing work again by each writer. Many thanks to NetGalley, Blood Bound Books, and all the authors, for this opportunity to read and review a free ARC.

[Emma Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first foray into the works of Blood Bound Books, and I have to say that I was impressed.

An anthology is, in many ways, like a blind box of fiction, and to borrow a phrase, you never know what you’re gonna to get. Crash Code did not disappoint. I felt the book finished as strong as it started, which is a compliment to the many authors who contributed a story. I enjoyed each and every one, but Bleed Over, by Rachel Nussbaum, Attrition of the Soul, by Melanie Rees, and Grinder, by Christopher Wilson, were some of my favorites, with an honorable mention to The God Finger, by Dean H Wild.

Check this book out if you like your horror with a dash of tech, or your tech with a dash of horror.

[Jamie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I cannot be the only person who felt like they were reading the episode line up for Black Mirror when reading through these stories! Much like the show does, Crash Code has an array of short stories that focus on ideas of technology advancing in one way or another and the result being horrific.

Crash Code has 27 meaty stories that put you in a world of cyberpunk, AI, VR, robots, medical advancements, aliens, smart cars, and the like. There is also an added element of darkness in a psychological or horror sense. I liked quite a few of them and I also think a few of them were harder to get through.

I always like to mention a few favorites when I’m reviewing an anthology. Here we go!

👨 Mr. Companion by Alex Robert Franco
We do already live in a reality where there are robots filled with AI that resemble humans. With enough advances, eventually you can choose your perfect companion. Maybe you choose this type of companion as you know they will submit to you. Or at least that is what happens in this story. The companions cannot feel pain, right? Right?!

🐦 The Blue Schnooklybob by K.J. Moore
In this world, the world as we know now is completely underground. The only non-advanced humans left live deep within the center of the earth. Join a couple of guys from the new world who let an important creature escape from the hatchery and the adventure takes them into the depths of the old world. This story made me laugh, it was fun.

⚙️ Mechanisms by Daniel I. Russell
There is a lot of debate on the death penalty across the world. But there isn’t always a debate on how people feel child killers and molesters should exit from this world. Those intrusive thoughts of torture coming into your head? What if you could punish them virtually? Is it worth it to torture or is it better they just die the old fashioned way? This story may help you decide.

Thank you to Blood Bound Books and NetGalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review. Happy reading. 📖

[Krystelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Please note this is a 4.5.

This was a very solid anthology book, with a lot of thought and heart put into the stories that were chosen to be included. There was a fantastic focus on speculative fiction in this collection, and there were some real standouts. The cyber car and video game stories were really strong, and there were others in here that were enough of note that I had to tell my husband about them. I don't often feel this way about a collection of stories, so this was a particularly strong set.

There is a lot to be said for our future, and not all of it is good. Some realities are far closer than others, and there is such a spectacular focus on these possible futures in this book. I thought it was a really strong compilation, and look forward to more. It's so hard to comment on short stories without completely ruining them, but rest assured that this book is well worth the time spent!

[eiei · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging exploration of the intersection between technology and human experience. The anthology features a diverse range of stories that delve into the implications of our increasingly digital lives, showcasing both imaginative narratives and thought-provoking themes. One of the standout aspects is the quality of the writing; each contributor brings a unique voice that keeps the reader invested.
However, I did notice that some stories felt a bit rushed, leaving me wanting more depth in character development and plot resolution. Despite this, the overall pacing of the collection kept me turning pages, and the insightful commentary on modern society was a highlight.
While not every story hit the mark for me, the anthology as a whole is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the future of technology and its impact on our lives.

[Pontus Doverstav · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very strong collection of short stories! Many of the stories are (unsurprisingly) dark and contain heavy and/or uncomfortable themes, but it's all written in a way that makes it digestible. I decided to read this anthology in one stretch, which made it feel a bit long and heavy towards the end, but I think that's self inflected and not a fault of the book itself.

Since the overall quality was so high there are many highlights, here are some that stood out to me, in order of appearance: Cold calculation, Deepest Fake, Grinder, Control Vipectus, One survivor, Recursion by Nashville Moonlight, A.U.T.O., The Weight of the Lotus, Mechanisms.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredible collection of short stories, ranging from horror to to science fiction. Each offers and incredible experience for the reader that is sure to be sucked into each story.

The stories all carry a theme of future tech- some of which already fills our lives. It's a solid anthology, with only a few not keeping my full attention.

This would be really great for a casual reader who doesn't' want to dedicate themselves to a full novel. Any fan of Black Mirror would be a fan of this anthology.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a science fiction short story collection by a variety of authors exploring the theme of humanity. Each story deals with the idea of how human you can be when parts of you aren't human(i.e. robotic or AI). Some of the stories are really amazing and some of the stories missed a little bit for me. Overall, I thought that the stories were really good and fit the theme of the collection.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good collection of cyber tales

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this title, I kept thinking of codes used in hospitals and ER's, like Code Blue and so forth. So I had to slightly adjust my perception, to consider programming code instead. This is a Cyberpunk Anthology of 27 stories. Some of these stories are EYE-OPENERS, you know that "Wow" emoticon feeling; some made me despair for the future of Humanity; others reminded me of the perception of malecentric Science Fiction which I've always had while reading "Classic SF" of the 1940's and 1950's. [You know, That Era in History when Women SF writers had to publish under masculine pseudonyms; before Anticolonial Science Fiction by authors of
Color was even acknowledged.] Don't worry, readers will find a wide variety here, and impetus to seek out further work by these authors. In conclusion, I want to give a shoutout to my favorite tale [although my second favorite two were "Mr. Companion" (take THAT, arrogant Humanity) and the eye-opener "Deepest Fake"] is "Cold Calculation," which I thought "had it all" and resulted in a stunning and unforgettable conclusion.

[Lauren Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT. I could easily see myself picking stories to re-read or even re-reading the entire anthology. Gave me a lot of authors to look more into!