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. – Goodreads.com

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.