The Future, Imperfect: Six Dystopian Short Stories [Kindle Edition]

Ruth Nestvold (Author)

Book Description

The Future, Imperfect is a collection of near future, dystopian short stories by Ruth Nestvold. Environmental changes -- slow in some regions, catastrophic in others -- have had a major effect on our world, not for the better. While water wars and pandemics have devastated the Mediterranean region, and a major earthquake and the resulting destruction of nuclear power plants and sensitive research facilities have made much of California a wasteland, corporate-sponsored enclaves defend themselves from the have-nots. What can any one individual do to make a difference is such a world? These are the stories both of those who tried and those who failed.

Five of the short stories in this collection were previously published in such venues as Asimov's and Futurismic. "Exit Without Saving" also appeared in Rich Horton's Science Fiction 2007: The Best of the Year. "Killfile" is an original publication.

"The Future, Imperfect," is a story collection of approximately 40,000 words.

Product Details

• File Size: 454 KB
• Print Length: 123 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007JBG84U
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,695 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #48 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Cyberpunk

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Near Future Dystopia July 9, 2012

By Amanda Makepeace

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Future, Imperfect is a superb collection of short stories set in a dark and all too possible future. I don't recall now how I stumbled upon this ebook, but it's one of the best dystopian collections I've read this year. Each story takes place in the same future world, one ravaged by environmental problems, advances in technology (that are not necessarily for the best), and a massive gap between the privileged and under-privileged. Corporations control everything. If you aren't with them, you're against them. Some of the Nestvold's characters have made their choice; while other's are confronted by conflicts which steer their ultimate decision. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the author decides to publish more stories, or even a novel, set in the world. If you need a break from the zombie apocalypse, if you need a touch of cyberpunk, The Future, Imperfect will not disappoint.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Science Fiction May 8, 2013

By Pete Aldin

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Very much enjoyed these stories set in the same dystopian near future.

Ms Nestvold's writing here is exactly what I love about great sf: well-developed worldbuilding, human interest, an exploration of possibilities. Definitely worth the cover price.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I wish there were more March 4, 2013

By Spiff

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Even though I approached these knowing they were short stories, I was so interested in them that I wish there was more. Each story could be expanded into it's own book, but did not read as if anything was left out.

More About the Author

Since about the age six, Ruth Nestvold wanted to be a writer (besides wanting to be a singer and an actress and President of the United States), but for too many years she put practical pursuits first and writing fiction second. After completing a Ph.D. in literature and working as lecturer and assistant professor at the University of Stuttgart and the University of Freiburg, she took time off from academic pursuits to attend the Clarion West Writers Workshop, a six week "boot camp" for writers of science fiction and fantasy. She learned more there than she could have dreamed possible, changed her priorities, and gave up theory for imagination. Two years later, she sold her first short story to the acclaimed science fiction magazine, Asimov's. Since then, she has sold over forty pieces of short fiction to a variety of markets, including Baen's Universe, Strange Horizons, Scifiction, F&SF, Realms of Fantasy, and several year's best anthologies. She has been nominated for the Nebula, the Sturgeon, and the Tiptree awards. In 2007, the Italian translation of her novella "Looking Through Lace" won the "Premio Italia" for best international work. Her novel Yseult appeared in German translation as Flamme und Harfe with Random House Germany and has since been translated into Dutch and Italian. It is now available as an ebook in the original English. It was followed in June 2012 by the second book in the Pendragon Chronicles, "Shadow of Stone" (http://pendragonchronicles.wordpress.com). She taught creative writing for a semester at the University of Stuttgart, participates regularly in online writing workshops, and founded the Villa Diodati workshop for English-speaking writers of speculative fiction in Europe. She maintains a web site at www.ruthnestvold.com.