What We Talk About When We Talk About the Apocalypse: Collected Short Stories Written and Illustrated by E. S. O. Martin (ePub)

The End is Never Truly the End. But a Doorway to New Beginnings…

In the title story, "What We Talk About When We Talk About the Apocalypse," two contrasting couples confront issues of love, loyalty, and economic hardship in an isolated snowbound cabin in the woods.

In "Angel Man," a woman's chance encounter with a real-life angel offers a surreal romance that challenges her perceptions of love and healing.

In "Inheritance," a woman confronts the ghost of her abusive father in a battle for her childhood home.

In "Prince of Birds," a father confronts toxic masculinity as he seeks to parent his sensitive son through a hostile world.

In "The Awakening," a boy's thoughtless cruelty towards a bird transforms into a poignant metaphor for humanity's realization and regret over environmental harm.

In "Library of Unfinished Projects," an elderly man's process of downsizing his home reveals a renewal of spirit that propels him toward a future filled with travel and rekindled relationships.

This captivating short story collection explores a myriad of apocalypses-be it personal, societal, or global. These tales of transformation traverse a spectrum of genres, from mainstream contemporary to romantic fantasy to gothic horror. These stories are about moments of seismic change, where the old reality has ended and the new reality has yet to begin.

CONTENT WARNING: This collection contains some heavy pieces that deal with issues of child abuse, animal abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence, sexuality, aging, death, the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, and environmental degradation.

These short stories are illustrated by the author.