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"Short Stories for Long Discussions."
After Dinner Conversation - "Best Of 2025" is a collection of the best philosophy ethics short story fiction published in After Dinner Conversation's monthly magazine in 2024. Short stories span all genres; science-fiction, near-future, dystopia, spiritual, fantasy, urban fantasy, AI, historical fiction, contemporary women, political, horror, thriller, and children's stories. The important thing is that the story is compelling, and that it asks a specific ethical or moral question. Imagine the "trolley problem" in short story form.
Short Stories By (in appearance order): Laura Mullen, A.J. Parker, Joseph S. Klapach, Vickie Fang, Peter Mare, A.M. Howcroft, Afsane Pourazar, D. H. Parish, Terry Pilling, K.P. Sullivan, Morgan Parker, Anton I. Botha, Veronica Zora Kirin, Martin Riemer, George J. Osol, Tiffany Harris, Charlie Kondek, Babette Gallard, Levi Homstad, Sharon Frame Gay
Reader Reviews
"...a terrific collection of short stories (for teaching) courses on civics, ethics, or contemporary social problems, in high school or junior college." Philosophy Professor at Chapel Hill, Luc Bovens
"Tears Your Heart. Heart breaking discussions fueled by this book." Amazon Reviewer MariaJ
"...these stories as a whole so far, have been haunting, staying with me long past finishing." Amazon Reviewer Andrea L. Stoeckel
Complete List of Philosophy Ethics Short Stories
On Ice: A woman's ex-boyfriend asks to use the embryos they froze together years earlier with his new love interest. (January, 2025)
The Apath: Finn has purchased, and consumed, so many emotions he has lost the ability to create his own. (March, 2025)
One Out of Four: Molly turns eighteen and decides to undergo medically induced weight loss with a one-in-four chance of death. (March, 2025)
The Survival Artist: In a fantasy society built around finding glitter-stones for all your needs, a stranger somehow lives on the beach with none. (April, 2025)
Eleven Things I Have Left Now That My Daughter Is Gone: Promise leaves her drug-addicted prostitute mother behind so she can go to college. (May, 2025)
One More Day: A depressed man convinces a woman about to jump off a bridge life is worth living. (June, 2025)
Dangerous Ideas: A government employee shows up to capture, and destroy, the world's first foolproof "Are we living in a simulation" test machine. (June, 2025)
Wilderness Survival with Bozo: Two young boys embark on a winter wilderness survival trip. (July, 2025)
You Make the Call: A judge with "complete information" has the heavy burden of passing judgment. (July, 2025)
Think of the Children: The genetically engineered children on an isolated utopian island rebel. (August, 2025)
At Age Four: A new drug that promises to align transgender individuals' sexual identity with their birth sex. (September, 2025)
The Dinner: A journalist known for her ethical stance on industrial meat production is invited to try biofabricated options. (October, 2025)
The Wife: The second "Mrs. Roberts" strives to fulfill her role as wife with unwavering dedication before being returned. (October, 2025)
Ground Control: Artificial intelligence shares the mind of Thomas, a violent patient in a psychiatric facility. (October, 2025)
The Sanctity of Self: A former philosophy professor awakens after a severe accident to find himself a living disembodied head. (November, 2025)
State of Oregon v. Lark Gold: Lark Gold is arrested for finding refuge in an unoccupied vacation home. (November, 2025)
Polish Paul: A devoutly Catholic mob enforcer struggles to navigate the brutal demands of his “work” while adhering to his religious beliefs. (November, 2025)
Soul Mate: A grieving programmer creates an AI companion from her dead best friend’s data, and creates a product for the world. (December, 2025)
There’s a Riot in the Produce Drawer: A lonely man’s vegetables come to life and stage a democratic coup in his apartment, demanding political and territorial representation. (December, 2025)
The Covenant: Two siblings have a decades-old suicide pact, forcing them to decide each year if life is finally worth living. (December, 2025)
* After purchase you will be emailed a .zip file containing a .pdf, .epub, and .mobi version of Best of , suitable for printing, reading on your Kindle, iPad, or other digital device.