Set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned — but there are ways to get around the rule.

Posted in Dystopian on Jul 12, 2024

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✍️ 25 stories

“WHISPERS OF MORTALITY” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #259

In the world of Euthenica, the concept of death is not just taboo. Death does not exist. Centuries of scientific advancement have eradicated disease, aging, and crime. Under the omnipotent oversight of the Coalition of Continuance, a governing body that emerged from the most brilliant minds of the past, the utopian society has engineered a perfect existence. Genetic modification ensures that every individual is born without the capacity for malice, greed, or violence. People live for hundreds of years, their bodies perpetually rejuvenated b...

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“The Greener Grass” by Daniel Allen

Submitted to Contest #259

Ralf stepped off the boat, dropped to his knees, and pressed his hands to the ground. Lush, green grass rubbed against his palms. His fingernails dug into rich black soil. This was good land. Fertile land. So different from the arid dustbowl of home. He could live a true life here, not a meagre existence. ‘Is it everything you dreamed of, friend?’ Ralf snapped his head up to find a bearded man smiling down at him. The man looked old. Older than anyone else Ralf had ever met. He might even have been 50 or 60. ‘It’s amazing,’ Ralf said. ...

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“That Good Night ” by Patrick Druid

Submitted to Contest #259

That Good Night.In the year, 3647, mankind had already ventured out into space, built colonies on Mars, Enceladus and even space stations near Neptune. Probes had already been sent to other solar systems and had found rocky planets but none that would sustain humans life. As a result, humanity remained within the confines of Sol, with most of mankind still within the bustling planet of Earth.The surface of the Earth had become unhabitable over a thousand years prior and man had built a shell underneath the surface and had found a way to surv...

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“Soup” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #259

“Course, machine 5 was down, so we had to run 7, and you know what 7’s like. You might as well do the whole thing manually, it’s so slow. Anyway, Foreman Stokes got extra hands in, and we finished the batch just about on time – well, a little late, if the truth be told, but we got it done, thank Brother, and that’s the important thing, right? John?”“Sorry, what?”“I said, that’s the important … you haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying, have you?”“Sure! Something about your machine being down. That’s too bad.”“No, I … ah, never mind. Where ha...

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“The Tea” by James Scott

Submitted to Contest #259

Malcolm stared at the roiling kettle and it’s billowing clouds of steam evaporating into the air of the room. He just needed a minute. It was arduous…exhausting to feel this level of anxiety, but pausing the conversation for too long would cause suspicion and heighten the danger; he had to get back. He took his hands from the kitchen bench, stood up straight, consciously withheld a sigh and grabbed a teaspoon.The return journey to Alice who was patiently waiting in the lounge felt like a gauntlet these days. His eyes tracked the four little ...

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“Naked Angel ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #259

“If you take your own life that God gave you then you will suffer greatly with the eternal flames of Hell.” Sister Dominique said soberly to the sixth grade class in front of her during Religious Instruction which was scheduled after lunch. What I heard as these words came from her lips was, “You mother is suffering right now in those eternal flames of Hell.” We never talk about it at home. There is guilt and shame and I am told not to mention it. It would upset my father is what I am told by Marsha. Marsha is h...

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“Namkind” by Heather Congrove

Submitted to Contest #259

No books. That's what her mother told her specifically. No books on the family trip. She has no patience for her shenanigans and will treat any infraction with dire consequences. Most parents would be happy to see their child reading, some make it a drudgery chore. But Lilly is not your archetypical child, in fact, she is quite extraordinary. When she reads, she occasionally teleports herself upon the pages, slipping in between the words and into the story.Lilly remembers the day clearly. She was so excited about starting her new book, she p...

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“"A Boys Tale, A Ghost Tale"” by Stephvon Dames

Submitted to Contest #259

A sense of unease lurked beneath the surface in the picturesque town of Whispering Oaks, Rhode Island, tucked away among the rolling hills and charming streets. The city was once a place where retirees and young families escaped city life to spend time together. Despite the town's tranquility, rumors of a vengeful spirit, Mark Tomson, cast a shadow over it.Tomson is a 10-year-old boy who has never seemed scared at home or school. Several people suspected he was hiding something, but no one dared ask. Rumors divided the town, with some believ...

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“Mandated Vacation” by Sarah Martyn

Submitted to Contest #259

Consent. Cooperation. Compliance. Coercion. Force. The F word. It’s the odd one out, the hard line (and you can’t talk about it).They say, “we’re here for you” but they really mean “you’ll lose your livelihood if you don’t obey.”It’s the heaviness we carry lately with fake smiles and dwindling bank accounts as we go to work, dreading a conversation that isn’t supposed to happen but still might. Over a year ago, many were sick and even dying from this new disease. Now, less are dying but it’s more viral. It’s how diseases typically work: over...

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“You haven't aged a day!” by Daniel P

Submitted to Contest #259

Asher let out a familiar sigh, admitting she was cutting it close enough. The last 20 minutes in bed had been a routine escape, indulging in memories of what life used to mean for her. It was soothing yet artificial. This morning's escape was a simple but effective one, an early morning walk with her dog Norman. The fact that she sometimes treated that as a trivial errand brought up tight feelings of painful regret. What she would give for this simple pleasure that was now a world away…literally. It's not that she cared about running l...

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“A Case of the Mondays” by Ian Patterson

Submitted to Contest #259

Coming back from the weekends was when it was the worst. The beauty of two days spent under a boundless sky, to then be replaced by yellow lights, stained ceiling tiles, and the dull clicking of keyboards. Not that I did much on those days, sometimes I just stared at that infinite expanse from my window and counted the minutes until my temporary freedom was over. Or, if I felt productive, I did all the household things I didn’t have time for during the week. I hear feet approaching my gray cubicle across the thin, beige office carpet, and br...

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“Don't trigger the boats” by Shahnaz T.M

Submitted to Contest #259

Everyone knew who Farid Tarini was. A mysterious 41-year-old who had arrived out of nowhere, seemingly sent from the heavens to deliver them from the disease of war, famine, and hardship. Every man, woman, child, and dog knew of this fresh-faced stranger who had saved them from an early extinction. Everyone also knew that he was a robot. But we didn't talk about that. It was the elephant in the room. Except the elephants had gone extinct too. We didn't talk about that either. In a world where death had become commonplace, conversation ...

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“Unearthed” by Andrea Krist

Submitted to Contest #259

Valli deposited the bag of refuse in the bin then closed the lid. A second later she could hear the motor whir as the garbage was whisked away. It tumbled down a series of chutes that led to the collection site outside of the habitat her family lived in. Every complex within the protective dome operated the same way making things simple and easy--a stark contrast from the way things had been before. Even from their seventh story apartment window, Valli could not see over the wall that separated the dumpsite from the habitable space. Clean a...

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“The Future is Numb” by Meghan Gattignolo

Submitted to Contest #259

As she left her house for work, Emily checked her makeup, checked that her wrist device was charged, and one last time checked in the mirror that her hair looked hot. It did. Outside, Emily put her hand up and twisted her wrist. A small cab rolled up all the way to her door. She got in. “How are you today, Tony?” “Eh. Same as yesterday.” “Anything special planned…. You know, for tonight?” “Maybe. Wife hasn’t decided yet.” “Understandable.” The car stopped. “Well, it’s been swell, Em.” Emi...

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“The Right to Read” by Bekah Wren

Submitted to Contest #259

The lamb stew. All you have to do is ask for the Hungry Lamb Stew. Evie’s eyes flitted around the corners of the quiet street. A few mothers were grumbling about the growing prices of eggs as they hurried home to cook dinner for their families. An overworked university student buried his nose in a notebook at a café table, silently reciting chemistry formulas for an upcoming exam. No sign of the police, Evie thought. Evie glanced over her shoulder and opened the door to Camille’s Classic Bistro. Tinkling bells signaled her arrival among the ...

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Set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned — but there are ways to get around the rule.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 25 stories

“WHISPERS OF MORTALITY” by Darvico Ulmeli

“The Greener Grass” by Daniel Allen

“That Good Night ” by Patrick Druid

“Soup” by PJ Town

“The Tea” by James Scott

“Naked Angel ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

“Namkind” by Heather Congrove

“"A Boys Tale, A Ghost Tale"” by Stephvon Dames

“Mandated Vacation” by Sarah Martyn

“You haven't aged a day!” by Daniel P

“A Case of the Mondays” by Ian Patterson

“Don't trigger the boats” by Shahnaz T.M

“Unearthed” by Andrea Krist

“The Future is Numb” by Meghan Gattignolo

“The Right to Read” by Bekah Wren

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about two people who aren't admitting their true feelings for one another, despite it being obvious to outsiders.

Place your characters in a tough situation, where nobody wants to acknowledge the reality of what's happening.

Write a story that includes the line, "Is nobody going to say it?".

In a small town, a powerful family have a dark secret that nobody wants to discuss. One day, an outsider arrives, who's not happy to simply drop it.

Contest #259

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

295

Contest entries

143

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

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