An accident or an act of sabotage? What these strangers find on the other side of the travel gates is a crueler fate than they could have dreamed.... more>>

Sick of the small life imposed on her, sixteen year old Angharad is seeking escape. When she wakes up on the other side of the Gate what she gets instead is a tighter prison than she's ever known. With no way out and no way to find her mysterious jailer, she finds herself relying on the people trapped with her: Tsuyoshi, an angry Canadian art student, well-meaning Josephine, the secretive Dr Yeoh, and Jin, a child soldier. But not everyone is who they seem, and even Angharad lives a lie.

Tests from their mysterious overlord lead to new encounters and strange bedfellows. For Jin and Angharad, their quest to find the truth may risk everything.

And when things take a darker and more desperate turn, not everyone they know will survive. <<less

WELCOME TO THE RETROFUTURE!... more>>

The Future That Never Was features an alternate space age where the Soviets colonized the belt before David Bowie sang Life on Mars; where rogue AIs took over the web; where pizza came in cans. Humankind couldn’t dream of a more exciting future. Yet, as foolishness eventually turned Earth into a nuclear wasteland, shadows began to conspire from the heart of the Moon to beyond the mysterious Planet Nine…

The book series is an extended universe which includes numerous R-rated titles. All of them will be uploaded on Scribblehun and Royal Road. Check the Index below for the main stories.

🐈  KITTY KITTY
Join sassy space cat Lee and his Desert Eagle-toting, soda-swigging human partner, Ali, in a future stuck in the late 80s/early 90s. Board the dynamic duo’s ship, the mythical Kitty, as they bounty-hunt their way through a dystopian solar system—so lock and load, and shout Cowabunga! because it’s crime-fightin’ time! 

🪐  PACHINKO BLUES
Amid the chaos of the Rings Civil War, a disgraced pilot called Miles finds itself tangled in a vast vendetta involving a megacorporation, android mercenaries and data-cartels. From Saturn’s Plastic Fields to the fringes of Kuiper, Miles’ violent redemption is an 80s-esthetic space western filled with tears, blood and... ducks?

Other stories related to the first arc of The Future That Never Was:
• RADIO FREAK - Standalone biopunk short story featuring Ali Koviràn, the Data Maiden and Bill Murray
• STELLAR PATRIOTS - Special episodes with Braun Kamirov, linking KITTY KITTY to the upcoming DATA dilogy and CYBER MACHO
• DATA ONE & DATA ZERO - 2023
• CYBER MACHO - TBA

Do you want to support our work or simply read in better condition? Visit our amazon shop and Patreon! <<less

Bare walls, steel bars and not a lot else. If she had to read ONE more strategy book she was going to puke. After ten boring years, something had to give and it sure as hell wasn't going to be her. ... more>>

Kidnapped and turned into an experimental soldier from a young age, Leliana's finally managed to get herself clear of all the stuffy laboratory equipment and is making up for a lost childhood. Unfortunately for her, the lead scientist who'd spent so many years beating her into shape isn't quite ready to call it a loss, and has unleashed an accidental catastrophe into the world to get her back. <<less

As human worlds fight a losing battle against the affini, one ambitious human will fight with words rather than ships. But is all the struggle for power really worth it or will they find more happiness as a pet? ... more>>

A story in the Human Domestication Guide setting:
Other works in the shared universe can be found here: https://readonlymind.com/search/?q=%23Human_Domestication_Guide

HDG discord: https://discord.humandomestication.guide/

CW: 18+, Mind control, pet play, medical play, drug play, dubious consent, depression, violence. <<less

~Cover art by Joeydrawss~
CONTENT WARNINGS: Gore, Self-harm, Attempted Suicide
Brian Alexson, going by his artist name Hex. He is the lead vocalist and does a lot of the work in his Dark Electro/Industrial band. Hex is an eighteen year old musician. He’s a smoker, a drinker, and a druggie, such a bad lifestyle! Hex is just getting over a bad breakup, when a girl shows up at his doorstep, the manager, and his friend and roommate Owen, are going to get an earful! They don’t know that their lives are going to change forever, and it doesn’t have much to do with Din showing up at Hex’s door. Who would have thought a little... more>> jewelry box with weird markings could cause so much trouble? Who is the mysterious woman knocking on Hex’s door to return something Hex bought at a flea market? That little demon girl, who is she? And why does she seem so smitten with Hex? What is an Angel of Acid, really? Just Hex’s band name, or something more?

This is book 1 of the Zoriyan Legacy series, and is a prequel to The Light Maiden's Mark <<less

On a ravaged Earth, Kayla survives by using her uncanny ability to locate tradable artifacts in the rubble. But when someone starts hunting her, she'll be forced to team up with her biggest rival...... more>>

A riveting dystopian adventure with a supernatural twist!

* * *

Some secrets are better left buried...

Kayla is a scavenger, driven to search the ruins of abandoned cities for artifacts in exchange for critical life-saving supplies. But, the rarest artifacts are found in the most dangerous ruins-those under control by the OmniLab traders.

Carl is one of those traders-and Kayla's invaded his district. He's determined to stop her and the best way to do that is to recruit her. The only problem?

Kayla hates traders.

When a powerful man intent on revenge starts hunting her, Kayla realizes the only way to save herself may be to accept Carl's offer. But that would mean surrendering to OmniLab and giving up everything she knows.

Only everything isn't quite what it seems.

Including OmniLab.

And Kayla's in a lot of trouble. <<less

New Adult | Dystopia | Speculative | Slipstream | Science Fiction... more>>

Kyla has finally broken into the Worker class of Skycross. But when she is cast aside by society and witnesses the plight of the Abandoned, she must make a choice between her own future, and the wellbeing of thousands, before she loses her grip on reality.

Author's Note: Serial Novel, new parts to release every Wednesday -- I'm writing this as I post, so I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on where the story might lead! I have a vague plan in mind but I'm excited to try out this process of posting as I go :) <<less

Ti Lepus, is a planet in turmoil, who can save it? Deadly forces scheme to break with the Empire and its Sovereign, spreading lies and... more>> committing act of vandalism. Some stand against the terrorists while others seek to master them and bend them to their evil design.
Rentap Dressiler and Trem De Markus are friends who resist these forces; one will be destroyed along with his family in the fight against murderous forces who would lead the planet to its destruction. The other may save it …
Leja Leves; the councillor who cunningly hides his leadership in the campaign against the Empire orchestrated by Nikie and Kirkrup Di Frim who are his unwitting dupes. He would die before admitting defeat …
And...
Cami sis Nep; an innocent fourteen year old girl who is caught in a fight between powerful competing forces but who may bring great change to her planet, even as she risks loosening it as well as her life…,
But … The wild card …
The Dark Lord, Supreme Ruler of the Empire, an entity with strange powers and skills who is working behind the scenes to effect change before it is too late …. Will he succeed? <<less

They said that the end of the world would be long and painful, with plenty of signs and disaster. Well, there were none. Everything was gone in less than a second.... more>>

A sudden unknown electromagnetic wave swept the Earth, mutating ninety percent of humanity into fast and strong zombies. Dr William Toh should have been one of them, except he retained his mental capacity and gained a unique physiology instead.

And he was not alone.

The dangers of this new world lurk in every corner as he embarks on his journey to reverse the mutation wave. Will he succeed? Or will he succumb to the deadly politics and war that could potentially wipe out what's left of humanity instead?

Side Note:

This is my very first story written over the course of a year, so please be understanding if I make some rookie mistakes here and there!
Nevertheless, I try to write to the best of my ability so do feel free to leave a comment and vote if you liked my chapter.

And with that, I hope you enjoy the story! <<less

In a remote corner of Unova, a Pokémon village hides from the omnipresent, mysterious humanity. Through cooperation, they flourish despite their small size, rising above the uncaring brutality of the natural order. Which works remarkably well...... more>>

...until a half dead girl shows up on their doorstep.

Will this hidden pocket of Pokémon civilization remain a secret once humans come looking? Are its denizens prepared to learn just who this unwelcome stranger is, and what impact they’ve already left on their village?

Drama-focused mystery thriller focusing heavily on humanity being “the other”, trauma, and trust. <<less

In the city of Kholakel, the highlight of the year for the upper classes is the annual monster pacification of the misty woods. Ostensibly it's a culling of the monster population to prevent them encroaching on urban areas, but it's an open secret that it's actually treated as more of a blood sport, the participants competing to score the most kills. After all, why else would the politicians and elites of the city bother to attend personally?... more>>

Given the intense competition and high-tech weapons and gear in use, one might wonder how the forest has not yet been completely depopulated. As this year's culling approaches, a group of unfortunate children are about to discover the answer first-hand, but thanks to an unexpected twist of fate, one of them will score the chance to play the role of the hunter instead of the prey.

Posted here and RoyalRoad <<less

Losing her parents and turned into a lab rat by scientists, Natalie, now burdened with the powers of the divine interveners, sets off into this bleak and ever-changing world to get revenge; this quest for vendetta, however, soon grows bigger than herself, when she crosses horns with a powerful and foreboding man who holds the same powers of divinity she was given. ... more>>

With defeat still fresh in her mind, Natalie and her childhood friend Andrew uncover a breadcrumb trail of clues that lead them to believe that there targets next move will be to destroy one of the safest villagers in the world.

As they make heist to the village, however, run into another crisis and are forced to make a choice; either stand by and help the people before them. Or prioritise their original goal, knowing that acting too slow to save one might doom them both.

Being a victim of similar a choice made in negligence, Natalie strives to do what’s best for all involved.

But will this be enough to save everyone? <<less

They designed him to be the ultimate infiltration model and he was. The perfect imitation of life. Including, they realized too late, free will. ... more>>

Chan Yi has been hiding in Dock City for seven years, always within sight of the lab where he lost his lover.

Wu DaQi is a man without a memory because of a sensory augmentation gone wrong. He's trying to piece together his life.

When their paths cross unexpectedly, neither is prepared for the truth that will be revealed. Will they survive it together? Or will they end up back in the lab where it all started?

An M/M cyberpunk story about lost loves and saving the world. <<less

The girl who has it all finds the thing she'd secretly always wanted.

Cami, a Girl and a Planet. Synopsis
On TI LEPUS, a planet in a galaxy called Markers Star, one of many galaxies and planets that... more>> are part of an Empire ruled by The DARK LORD, thirteen year old CAMI SIS NEP takes a lunch to her mother where she is working. While there, CAMI is surprised to be asked to carry out a simple duty, one which she does not realise is actually a test. After leaving her mother, CAMI worries about what happened and thinks over her life. This leads her to the decision that she will do whatever she needs to do to better herself and resolves to let nothing get in her way.
The surprise test results in CAMI being offered a contract in a salon called the Trigon Club located in LEPUS MAL the capital of TI LEPUS. These salons are a way for young girls to enter houses of people of high status or gaining other contracts. After she turns fourteen CAMI moves to the capital where she works at the club and meets CHEAINE DRESSILER, the wife of RENTAP DRESSILER. CHEAINE takes an option on CAMIS contract and returns the next day with her husband. They accept CAMIS contract and she becomes part of their family.
Life is good for CAMI and it seems that she has obtained the first of her goals, that is bettering herself, but there are other forces at work. Unrest, fostered by professional agitators NIKIE and KIRKRUP DI FRIM, is becoming dangerous. The two work undercover for Councillor LEJA LEVES who is the actual leader of the agitation and is hungry for power. NIKIE, who knows and hates CHEAINE, has another idea, to create and train a group of suicide assassins.
The DARK LORD has sensed all this and returns to Tihab, the administrative center of the empire. With him are some of the LADIES OF THE CIRCLE who are his closest advisors. In a bid to reduce the tension and unrest he sends six of the LADIES as his ambassadors to Ti Lepus. Before they can arrive, the DRESSILERS and LORENA MAKAPET, Rentaps mistress are murdered in an act of terror inspired by NIKIE DI FRIM. CAMI SIS NEP escapes and go’s on the run. She makes her way to NETHER WEST where the underclass, who are workers of the lowest status live. ILARI NE PATOR, one of the leaders of the underclass tries to help CAMI but she is stabbed in an attack. The DARK LORD arrives, heals CAMI using his powers and then returns to his palace on Tihab taking CAMI with him.
While CAMI is convalescing in the palace, the Ambassadors arrive at Ti Lepus to try to negotiate with LEVES. Meetings between the ambassadors and LEJA LEVES, now Chief Minister, are unsuccessful and a deadline is imposed. Before the deadline expires, the DARK LORD arrives and speaks with other leaders of the planet who are opposed to LEJA LEVES. These include TREM DE MARKUS who has organised a group of the planets leaders as they realise that LEVES will also murder them. The DARK LORD also brings CAMI SIS NEP who speaks to all the planets population explaining what happened and revealing who ordered the murders of the DRESSILARS as well as speaking against all their societies’ unfair rules. She is so effective that her speech sparks a revolt against the many problems that plague their society. TREM DE MARKUS and his supporters begin the process of reforming the planets society. The DARK LORD gives them one thousand years to complete the process and hides the planet behind a story that he destroyed it.
CAMI leaves TI LEPUS with the DARK LORD as she realises that if she stays she would become the focus of resentment and a focal point for the forces that will be resisting change to rally against. The DARK LORD sends her, her two sisters and two of her brothers who he has collected along with some others to another planet in another galaxy. There she finishes growing up and finds love. <<less

An amnesiac hunter and a rebellious healer are tied together to set off the strings of fate.... more>>

(Second Tale in Songs of the Ancients) <<less

Mocha is the Lavender Kunoichi. She is on a mission to infiltrate Omega, the last city in the world, to rescue and lead refugees on... more>> an exodus through the wastelands prowled by beasts. <<less

A good-hearted yet deeply troubled criminal attempts to protect himself and his chosen family of outlaws in a backwards society plagued by a devastating... more>> disease What was intended to be the creation of a new medicine drug that rejuvenated youth and revitalised the spirits, ended up leading to an accident that caused the old to die and the young to lose any sense they once had. Thus a society of disease and violence was formed. One where anyone will do anything for a cure or a chance to survive a day longer. <<less

Ceit is a young girl working on her family’s dairy farm, trying to get her to find her path forward after a traumatic experience.

Daniel thought his life had ended until he was offered a unique opportunity, a chance to make history.
It all started harmlessly enough but quickly... more>> got out of hand. Soon Daniel would find himself birthing new life. <<less

Earth was overtaken by the Calumnia ten years ago and if it weren't for the alien Occisio race who saved the remnants of humanity, Indi's race would have gone extinct. Now, at the age of sixteen, Indi and the other surviving children are about to complete their training and return to Earth to kill the monster that destroyed their world and killed their parents.
However, the children on the Occisio's spaceship have been dismissed one by one in training tests and only a few of them remain. Will Indi prove himself skilled enough to become a soldier? Or will he fail humanity as his parents did? ... more>>

This short story (in 13 parts) is a love letter to fans of Ender's Game and Maze Runner. (I may eventually turn this into a novel but for now, I hope you enjoy this 10,000 word story about hope and overcoming one's weakness.)
[This story will appear on other websites as well, such as Wattpad and Royal Road.] <<less

The galaxy is a dark and deadly place, run by vicious corporate empires. Only Central, a nation that rose three hundred years ago after violent insurrection, remains as a beacon of hope and equity to all who reside in their borders.... more>>

Dia, a young mech pilot from Central, has infiltrated the upper echelons of the Fomorian Armory, an empire that prizes themselves on their exceptional pilots and otherworldly weapons. It's a dangerous game she must play—especially after becoming an unlikely ally with the imperial princess, a woman hellbent on gaining her own freedom. Fates will intertwine in this fast-action mecha romance! <<less

Sym is just a normal girl until her Grandmother’s vice catches up with her family.

“Does this unit have a soul?” Kai is a military veteran that served during the American Civil War of 2024. Finding life bleak and pointless,... more>> he seeks solace in the embrace of an artificial intelligence named Domina, a virtual siren previously deemed too volatile for companionship. Together they traverse the dystopian landscape of the New World under the watchful eye of Sovereign. <<less

What happened to us? Us humans? How did we let things get this out of hand? Tether.001.001 is a look at three particular humans who... more>> find themselves in the 2050s after the great calamities of the Dark Sun Decade, a period of mass floods, rapid temperature rise and the most devastating solar flare humanity had ever faced. It is an Earth that feels almost too real and yet so distant. Join the Tether Project and add your voice to the discussion. <<less