"Best of" Philosophy Ethics Short Story Fiction - 2025
Best Philosophy Ethics Short Story Fiction
Each year we ask our subscribers to pick their favorite new stories we published for the year and release them as an anthology book of 20 stories.
This year, we are proud to announce the following stories will be released on February 1st as part of our digital/print "Best Of" anthology of 2025. https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/digital-downloads/best-of
Listed In Order of Magazine Appearance
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)
Short stories by: 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
Mission Statement - After Dinner Conversation® is an award-winning independent nonprofit publisher. We believe in fostering meaningful discussions among friends, family, and students to enhance humanity through truth-seeking, reflection, and respectful debate. To achieve this, we publish philosophical and ethical short story fiction accompanied by discussion questions.
Value Statement - We value curiosity, reflection, and respectful dialogue. Our stories are chosen not only for their literary quality but for their ability to challenge assumptions, raise ethical questions, and spark conversation that makes people think more deeply about themselves and the world.
