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Collapse Years
“If you’re looking for a well-written post apocalypse with a wonderful collection of diverse characters and stories with depth, definitely come experience the fall of civilization with Collapse Years!” — Joshua Grant #1 bestselling author, Diabolic Shrimp CEO
“Damir Salkovic’s polished prose [drew] me into a dark and desperate world that I couldn’t put down.” — Scott Coon, author of Lost Helix
“A collection of stories about an agonizing dying world. Collapse Years has everything—compelling worlds, rich characters, pain and suffering. Damir Salkovic has poured his soul into this powerful book.” — Costi Gurgu, author of Green Corrosion
“A thought-provoking read that will expand your mind about the journey our own world is venturing [toward]. This is a grim setting, but these stories are ones that will resonate with you for a long time.” — FanFiAddict
Extreme weather, natural disasters, and violence have turned much of the world into a wasteland. The fabric of society is fraying with rampant polarization, the crumbling of democratic institutions, and the rise of corporate-driven totalitarianism. Unchecked technologies are deepening existing rifts and opening up new arenas of exploitation. Yet life goes on. The stories in Collapse Years examine the struggle for survival and the meaning of being human in an increasingly hostile reality.
Collapse Years is our future, in progressive ruin.
“Damir Salkovic’s polished prose [drew] me into a dark and desperate world that I couldn’t put down.” — Scott Coon, author of Lost Helix
“A collection of stories about an agonizing dying world. Collapse Years has everything—compelling worlds, rich characters, pain and suffering. Damir Salkovic has poured his soul into this powerful book.” — Costi Gurgu, author of Green Corrosion
“A thought-provoking read that will expand your mind about the journey our own world is venturing [toward]. This is a grim setting, but these stories are ones that will resonate with you for a long time.” — FanFiAddict
Extreme weather, natural disasters, and violence have turned much of the world into a wasteland. The fabric of society is fraying with rampant polarization, the crumbling of democratic institutions, and the rise of corporate-driven totalitarianism. Unchecked technologies are deepening existing rifts and opening up new arenas of exploitation. Yet life goes on. The stories in Collapse Years examine the struggle for survival and the meaning of being human in an increasingly hostile reality.
Collapse Years is our future, in progressive ruin.
- GenresDystopiaScience Fiction
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2024
3 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 17, 2024
I enjoyed that Salkovic placed stories of characters that had they been in the same place would have been antagonists on the same footing, they're all just cogs trapped in "the machine", as are we.
The imagery was pretty good especially for someone who enjoys the juxtaposition of high tech and infrastructure decay.
My favorite story was Carriers, I don't think it will surprise anyone when I say it featured a virus and a whole lot of bleakness. It was also significantly less sci-fi oriented than most of the other stories.
Overall, I wish the stories had been longer. Especially since there wasn't a lot of them, and that we had gotten a little more about the characters, something to make them a little more memorable, there were only 2 stories where I feel that I got enough about the characters to be actually invested in them, Freehold and Line of Duty.
Disclosure: I received an eARC of this title through Netgalley.
The imagery was pretty good especially for someone who enjoys the juxtaposition of high tech and infrastructure decay.
My favorite story was Carriers, I don't think it will surprise anyone when I say it featured a virus and a whole lot of bleakness. It was also significantly less sci-fi oriented than most of the other stories.
Overall, I wish the stories had been longer. Especially since there wasn't a lot of them, and that we had gotten a little more about the characters, something to make them a little more memorable, there were only 2 stories where I feel that I got enough about the characters to be actually invested in them, Freehold and Line of Duty.
Disclosure: I received an eARC of this title through Netgalley.
December 12, 2024
A tour of our ongoing global collapse presented from unique and diverse perspectives, taking us deep into the darkest of humanity's possible near-futures. This story collection is (loosely) set in the same world as the author's novel Kill Zone, which I also heartily recommend. Collapse Years is quieter, subtler, and more poignant. But it's still a brutal, cruel, unforgiving place, and while the violence may be less present, it explodes off the page in a spray of blood and bullets.
The author plays to his strengths - worldbuilding, description, and visceral scenes of death and destruction. Like in Kill Zone, the action sequences are impeccably crafted, drawing you in with vivid, gritty detail and resonance. Whether it’s a desperate melee over a stray humanitarian aid drop, or a sleek, high-tech battle between corporate enforcers, each scene feels 100% high-octane and authentic.
If you're looking for positivism, or at least a glimmer of hope, don't open this book. If you're into examining "the struggle for survival and the meaning of being human in an increasingly hostile reality", Collapse Years might just be the thing for you.
The author plays to his strengths - worldbuilding, description, and visceral scenes of death and destruction. Like in Kill Zone, the action sequences are impeccably crafted, drawing you in with vivid, gritty detail and resonance. Whether it’s a desperate melee over a stray humanitarian aid drop, or a sleek, high-tech battle between corporate enforcers, each scene feels 100% high-octane and authentic.
If you're looking for positivism, or at least a glimmer of hope, don't open this book. If you're into examining "the struggle for survival and the meaning of being human in an increasingly hostile reality", Collapse Years might just be the thing for you.
June 25, 2024
This was really great! A well written, post apocalyptic adventure, with great pace, I felt as if I was living the story. It also has good energy levels & a well developed storyline. Pretty much everything you want with this type of book! I will definitely look for more by this writer & do strongly recommend!
March 24, 2024
Collapse Years is a collection of short stories by Damir Salkovic revolving around the struggle for survival and the meaning of being human in an increasingly hostile reality and I was impressed by how immersed I was in these works.
Extreme weather, natural disasters, and violence have turned much of the world into a wasteland. The fabric of society is fraying with rampant polarization, the crumbling of democratic institutions, and the rise of corporate-driven totalitarianism. Unchecked technologies are deepening existing rifts and opening new arenas of exploitation. Yet life goes on.
Dystopian novels are amongst the most varied in setting, however it's normally a landscape of brutality and survival. It can be hard to find something new in the genre without feeling like it has been done before. With Collapse Years, Damir Salkovic has kept the familiar backdrop of a post-apocalyptic land set with barren views and characters and provided the basis of lasting life in a hopeless world.
I was impressed by the easiness of this read. Salkovic has an elegant way of writing descriptions that guide your imagination in being present with these characters. The grittiness and boldness that Salkovic unravels through these seemingly normal stories really shows the brutality of its setting. I was reminded of Cormac McCarthy's The Road where everyone is trying to survive and will do whatever they can but there is a hope that there is still good in this world. The exploitation and consumerism are rife with some of these characters and Salkovic showcases the inner turmoil of these.
This is a thought-provoking read that will expand your mind about the journey our own world is venturing on. This is a grim setting, but these stories are ones that will resonate with you for a long time.
Extreme weather, natural disasters, and violence have turned much of the world into a wasteland. The fabric of society is fraying with rampant polarization, the crumbling of democratic institutions, and the rise of corporate-driven totalitarianism. Unchecked technologies are deepening existing rifts and opening new arenas of exploitation. Yet life goes on.
Dystopian novels are amongst the most varied in setting, however it's normally a landscape of brutality and survival. It can be hard to find something new in the genre without feeling like it has been done before. With Collapse Years, Damir Salkovic has kept the familiar backdrop of a post-apocalyptic land set with barren views and characters and provided the basis of lasting life in a hopeless world.
I was impressed by the easiness of this read. Salkovic has an elegant way of writing descriptions that guide your imagination in being present with these characters. The grittiness and boldness that Salkovic unravels through these seemingly normal stories really shows the brutality of its setting. I was reminded of Cormac McCarthy's The Road where everyone is trying to survive and will do whatever they can but there is a hope that there is still good in this world. The exploitation and consumerism are rife with some of these characters and Salkovic showcases the inner turmoil of these.
This is a thought-provoking read that will expand your mind about the journey our own world is venturing on. This is a grim setting, but these stories are ones that will resonate with you for a long time.
September 30, 2024
Collapse Years is a collection of short stories set in a dystopian close future. They could be happening in the same setting or slightly different ones but they feel connected.
The stories all deal with the aftermath of a climate change apocalypse where governments fell and the world is run by capitalist business conglomerates. It also mostly happens in what feeks like the global South.
Overall the stories were all pretty good, I think the strongest were the ones dealing with pandemic or illnesses issues and the least interesting to me was the one about the corporate hitman.
There's a good array of main characters some being good and or/innocents while some are actively working for terrible people and yet they never feel like stereotypes.
I think the first story is a great opener and tiptoes the line between magical realism and scifi perfectly. It really gives a good idea of what the rest of the collection will be.
All of the stories are open ended so beware if you do not enjoy that plot device.
All in all I enjoyed this book, the stories are entertaining and interesting even if nothing was truly groundbreaking. The stories are a perfect length and there's not too many of them so that's great editing.
I would just like to add that most, if not all, of the stories take place in the global South with POC main characters, but the author is white. I am white myself so cannot comment on the appropriateness of the representation but I thought it was a relevant point to highlight.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
The stories all deal with the aftermath of a climate change apocalypse where governments fell and the world is run by capitalist business conglomerates. It also mostly happens in what feeks like the global South.
Overall the stories were all pretty good, I think the strongest were the ones dealing with pandemic or illnesses issues and the least interesting to me was the one about the corporate hitman.
There's a good array of main characters some being good and or/innocents while some are actively working for terrible people and yet they never feel like stereotypes.
I think the first story is a great opener and tiptoes the line between magical realism and scifi perfectly. It really gives a good idea of what the rest of the collection will be.
All of the stories are open ended so beware if you do not enjoy that plot device.
All in all I enjoyed this book, the stories are entertaining and interesting even if nothing was truly groundbreaking. The stories are a perfect length and there's not too many of them so that's great editing.
I would just like to add that most, if not all, of the stories take place in the global South with POC main characters, but the author is white. I am white myself so cannot comment on the appropriateness of the representation but I thought it was a relevant point to highlight.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
October 30, 2024
Thank you to The Mad Duck Coalition, Damir Salkovic, and BookSirens for allowing me to preview this title.
This book is a collection of short stories all based around the concept of the world ending, either through social and political collapse, global warming, and overall corruption. These stories felt incomplete and rushed. I didn't resonate with any of the characters and when the story ended I either felt unsatisfied or, honestly, i simply didn't care. The reader was often dropped into a situation with no pretext or even real clues as to what happened to land us in the situation, and being a short story, there wasn't enough time to get us caught up before jumping into the action. But this action was often confusing, or lacked depth, bc we were dropped into a situation… and so on. I gave this 3 stars bc the writing was good and you could tell that a lot of work went into crafting these stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is a collection of short stories all based around the concept of the world ending, either through social and political collapse, global warming, and overall corruption. These stories felt incomplete and rushed. I didn't resonate with any of the characters and when the story ended I either felt unsatisfied or, honestly, i simply didn't care. The reader was often dropped into a situation with no pretext or even real clues as to what happened to land us in the situation, and being a short story, there wasn't enough time to get us caught up before jumping into the action. But this action was often confusing, or lacked depth, bc we were dropped into a situation… and so on. I gave this 3 stars bc the writing was good and you could tell that a lot of work went into crafting these stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 16, 2024
I loved, loved! this collection of (eventually I worked out) linked stories that are set in our (potential) future: climate change has ravaged the world, sea levels have risen, and the corps run everything that matters. (The book’s blurb is excellent, because that’s exactly what it delivers.) Salkovic sets these stories in unnamed countries around the world, which is truly wonderful because too much of this kind of SF is entirely focused on the US.
So, the stories. Hantu is the disturbing story of a Big Pharma refugee-turned-concentration camp hidden away in the jungle, and includes folkloristic elements (the hantu of the title). Carriers is an actual nightmare about a pandemic and again, a concentration camp—completely plausible after (we’re not even really after yet, are we) COVID. It’s also a bit of a zombie story. Spook feels like the logical next step in corporate espionage, and features an arcology, an exciting chase, and the chilling Tranh, who’s a spook with a modified face. I’ve never read a story quite like the chilling and excellent Freehold, where Big Agric is in deadly competition with farming co-operatives in the US’s heartland. Line of Duty takes things from the perspective of a corporate security officer who completely believes in and takes the side of the corps. The heartbreaking Beached depicts the impact on the poor of this corporatised world, where the scramble for resources—food!—is about who gets there first, and where corporate control means corps will destroy food so as to profiteer. And, finally, On Rails takes the opposite view of Line of Duty, with corporate security learning what’s really going on with the indigenous people who live in the jungle where they’re stationed.
This is such a thoughtful and well laid out collection. I commend the author for their fully realised world with its logical conclusions about corporatisation, and its international, planet-spanning scope. It’s a warning for anyone who’s listening, and feels really prescient about our future; even if we’re going to do nothing about it, prophets like Salkovic must and will speak. And so, although this will fall into the genre of speculative fiction, it’s really a voice from the future.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial/the Mad Duck Coalition and NetGalley for access to a DRC.
So, the stories. Hantu is the disturbing story of a Big Pharma refugee-turned-concentration camp hidden away in the jungle, and includes folkloristic elements (the hantu of the title). Carriers is an actual nightmare about a pandemic and again, a concentration camp—completely plausible after (we’re not even really after yet, are we) COVID. It’s also a bit of a zombie story. Spook feels like the logical next step in corporate espionage, and features an arcology, an exciting chase, and the chilling Tranh, who’s a spook with a modified face. I’ve never read a story quite like the chilling and excellent Freehold, where Big Agric is in deadly competition with farming co-operatives in the US’s heartland. Line of Duty takes things from the perspective of a corporate security officer who completely believes in and takes the side of the corps. The heartbreaking Beached depicts the impact on the poor of this corporatised world, where the scramble for resources—food!—is about who gets there first, and where corporate control means corps will destroy food so as to profiteer. And, finally, On Rails takes the opposite view of Line of Duty, with corporate security learning what’s really going on with the indigenous people who live in the jungle where they’re stationed.
This is such a thoughtful and well laid out collection. I commend the author for their fully realised world with its logical conclusions about corporatisation, and its international, planet-spanning scope. It’s a warning for anyone who’s listening, and feels really prescient about our future; even if we’re going to do nothing about it, prophets like Salkovic must and will speak. And so, although this will fall into the genre of speculative fiction, it’s really a voice from the future.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial/the Mad Duck Coalition and NetGalley for access to a DRC.
July 20, 2024
I received a review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Very competently written collection of seven stories set in a speculative future world. I found two a little difficult to follow, as in one the continuity was rather confusing and in the other the setting of a downed spaceship was hard to imagine, however for the most part the descriptions and narrative are good. The characters are well drawn and believable and the various locations are quite vivid with colloquial language used creating atmosphere. A glossary would have been useful as I had to look up meanings/translations but it didn't spoil my reading experience. Not my usual type of reading material and I dipped in and out as the subject matter becomes quite depressing if thought about too deeply. An at times chilling and thought provoking read.
Very competently written collection of seven stories set in a speculative future world. I found two a little difficult to follow, as in one the continuity was rather confusing and in the other the setting of a downed spaceship was hard to imagine, however for the most part the descriptions and narrative are good. The characters are well drawn and believable and the various locations are quite vivid with colloquial language used creating atmosphere. A glossary would have been useful as I had to look up meanings/translations but it didn't spoil my reading experience. Not my usual type of reading material and I dipped in and out as the subject matter becomes quite depressing if thought about too deeply. An at times chilling and thought provoking read.
July 24, 2024
"Collapse Years" by Damir Salkovic is a gripping collection of post-apocalyptic stories that plunge readers into a world where civilization has crumbled. Salkovic's polished prose and richly developed characters bring to life a series of dark and desperate scenarios that are as compelling as they are haunting. The opening note sets the stage for a deeply personal and thought-provoking exploration of truth and survival.
Praise from notable authors like Joshua Grant and Scott Coon highlights the book's ability to draw readers into its bleak yet fascinating world. "Collapse Years" is not just a collection of dystopian tales; it is a profound commentary on human resilience and the thin veneer of civilization. This collection is a must-read for fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and those who appreciate stories with depth and emotional resonance.
Praise from notable authors like Joshua Grant and Scott Coon highlights the book's ability to draw readers into its bleak yet fascinating world. "Collapse Years" is not just a collection of dystopian tales; it is a profound commentary on human resilience and the thin veneer of civilization. This collection is a must-read for fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and those who appreciate stories with depth and emotional resonance.
May 21, 2025
After reading the author’s previous work “Kill Zone”, I was pondering on what Damir would come up with next; maybe a sequel or a prequel but to come up with a short stories collection with the same theme in mind was ingenious.
All of the stories take place in the future where the world has become a despicable place to live in and where survival is paramount. Each story delivers a punch as it has its fair share of impeccable action, twists and some humor added in.
The imagery is well defined as we feel the post-apocalyptic environment and it seems we are living in it.
There is good character development considering that they are short stories. Though the writing is flowery for the average reader, the stories are well depicted.
Highly recommend this collection.
All of the stories take place in the future where the world has become a despicable place to live in and where survival is paramount. Each story delivers a punch as it has its fair share of impeccable action, twists and some humor added in.
The imagery is well defined as we feel the post-apocalyptic environment and it seems we are living in it.
There is good character development considering that they are short stories. Though the writing is flowery for the average reader, the stories are well depicted.
Highly recommend this collection.
July 4, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I got it as ARC and was intrigued because I like dystopian and eco horror. This one felt interesting and fresh, and didn’t hit you over the head with its worldbuilding.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 17, 2025
I'm not very good at reviews and only leave them if I think it is 5 stars because I dont want to trash another artists artistic vision. But it took me about half way through the book to get into the writing style. The verbosity was on the verge of being daunting and with all of the descriptions it began to drag for me. It wasn't until after I finished the book that I felt like the style of writing added to the mundane hopelessness vibe. The book is realistic in terms of humanities future not being very bright. It was like every line of the story was curated and the author poured over it until everything was completely polished. I've been reading a lot of post modern minimalism and this reminded me of when I was a child and would read a lot of b fantasy books. The themes and plot beats were all overdone but I loved them anyways. I think this author has a lot of potential to write a great story when a great idea comes to them. I don't like short stories and was looking for a more cyberpunkesk deal. This book suffers from the same bane as all short stories, for me, that it is hard to care about the characters because of lake of time. This book is all craft and ambience and I think it will connect with a lot of readers. So that is why I am giving it 5 stars because I recommend buying it if you are into the genre. Nothing revolutionary here but you can kind of zone out and contemplate the futility of existence. But you can tell this guy is a professional writer. I also was thinking the stories would connect in some kind of meta way where it would actually be a coherent novel and not just a series of short stories. I liked the vibe of the world, there is a lot of world building in each story. I might check out his other books
December 20, 2025
On the Human Condition in Progressive Ruin
Collapse Years by Damir Salkovic presents not a single catastrophic event, but a meticulous autopsy of a world in gradual decay. The book's power lies in its rejection of apocalypse as spectacle, choosing instead to chart the slow erosion of democratic institutions, the rise of corporate totalitarianism, and the normalization of extreme weather. Society frays at the seams, yet life, in all its stubbornness, persists.
The collection operates as a series of intimate human studies within this grand unraveling. Salkovic's polished prose focuses on the quiet, desperate choices of individuals clinging to identity and connection. The narratives ask what constitutes a self when the surrounding structures that once defined it have crumbled. The characters are not heroes fighting the collapse, but witnesses and survivors navigating its inexorable logic.
This is a work of grim speculation rooted in observable tensions. Its dystopia feels less like a distant fantasy and more like an acute diagnosis of contemporary anxieties pushed to their logical end. The result is a deeply resonant and unsettling exploration. The book posits that the true collapse is not of infrastructure, but of meaning, and it is within that vacuum that its stories find their profound and haunting gravity.
Collapse Years by Damir Salkovic presents not a single catastrophic event, but a meticulous autopsy of a world in gradual decay. The book's power lies in its rejection of apocalypse as spectacle, choosing instead to chart the slow erosion of democratic institutions, the rise of corporate totalitarianism, and the normalization of extreme weather. Society frays at the seams, yet life, in all its stubbornness, persists.
The collection operates as a series of intimate human studies within this grand unraveling. Salkovic's polished prose focuses on the quiet, desperate choices of individuals clinging to identity and connection. The narratives ask what constitutes a self when the surrounding structures that once defined it have crumbled. The characters are not heroes fighting the collapse, but witnesses and survivors navigating its inexorable logic.
This is a work of grim speculation rooted in observable tensions. Its dystopia feels less like a distant fantasy and more like an acute diagnosis of contemporary anxieties pushed to their logical end. The result is a deeply resonant and unsettling exploration. The book posits that the true collapse is not of infrastructure, but of meaning, and it is within that vacuum that its stories find their profound and haunting gravity.
December 21, 2025
“Collapse Years” is a collection of bleak near-future stories: climate, politics, technology, and ordinary people caught between. The prose is solid and thought-provoking, but some pieces feel rushed, with abrupt openings. Best read in small doses. For fans of dystopian vignettes with a philosophical edge. Little hope, yet humanity glimmers.
December 16, 2025
A very direct and confronting series of vignettes that illustrate what our world could look like in a century or so if the climate crisis and the socioeconomic system that creates and perpetuates it aren’t dealt with. From the perspectives of both critics and unwitting collaborators.
I particularly liked the vocabulary and cultural references meant to paint a picture of specific places and cultural contexts for each vignette. I wish it had been worked into a more unified narrative, though. Would have been more affective, I think.
I particularly liked the vocabulary and cultural references meant to paint a picture of specific places and cultural contexts for each vignette. I wish it had been worked into a more unified narrative, though. Would have been more affective, I think.
December 17, 2025
Really engaging and unsettling in the best way. The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is heavy without being overdone, and the stories feel uncomfortably close to real life. I liked how it blends folklore, tech, and social collapse without spelling everything out. Definitely recommend if you enjoy thoughtful, darker sci-fi.
December 27, 2025
The second story was definitely my favorite
December 9, 2025
These short stories offer a raw and bleak picture of the future, a place where average people like you and I are trapped in a system without faith, hope, or love. The snapshots come from different perspectives and locations, urging the reader to deeply think, carefully imagine, and even viscerally feel everything that is taking place.
I recommend this collection for deep thinkers and trailblazers. I’ll definitely be looking up other works by this author.
I recommend this collection for deep thinkers and trailblazers. I’ll definitely be looking up other works by this author.
November 25, 2025
Collapse Years offers a stark look at a future shaped by climate disaster, political decay, and runaway technology. What makes it stand out is the focus on ordinary people trying to hold on to their humanity as the world unravels. A few stories feel a bit abrupt, but the collection is engaging and leaves you thinking long after you’re done. Dark, yes—but worth the read.
October 7, 2025
Collapse Years is a book I would recommend for anyone who is looking for a good quality short stories. It exceeds my expectation, I like all the tales and how they are presented.
Touching deep and mature subjects, the stories are well-written, but the strongest factor of all is how every tale is presented through the lens of characters who experience it directly. It gives closeness, attachment, and readers are able to read along as if they are there.
The tales are dark and heavy, but they’re right up my alley. I also like that it explores various places and cultures. There are some minor nitpicks, like the first story is based on Indonesian culture, but chopstick is not the common utensil, especially not used to eat goreng, which is a term to describe how the food is prepared instead of the food. Komang is also a Balinese name, an area that has a very defined culture. It refers to the third child, while it’s not the case in the story, and usually, they would use the same way of naming for the first child as well. It can be important since there are a plethora of ghost types in the country, and Bali has its own, which doesn’t seem to be the type told in the story.
Almost every story ends on the right note. I can imagine this would make a good anthology for a TV series, similar to Black Mirror, but more realistic and sociological.
Touching deep and mature subjects, the stories are well-written, but the strongest factor of all is how every tale is presented through the lens of characters who experience it directly. It gives closeness, attachment, and readers are able to read along as if they are there.
The tales are dark and heavy, but they’re right up my alley. I also like that it explores various places and cultures. There are some minor nitpicks, like the first story is based on Indonesian culture, but chopstick is not the common utensil, especially not used to eat goreng, which is a term to describe how the food is prepared instead of the food. Komang is also a Balinese name, an area that has a very defined culture. It refers to the third child, while it’s not the case in the story, and usually, they would use the same way of naming for the first child as well. It can be important since there are a plethora of ghost types in the country, and Bali has its own, which doesn’t seem to be the type told in the story.
Almost every story ends on the right note. I can imagine this would make a good anthology for a TV series, similar to Black Mirror, but more realistic and sociological.
June 30, 2024
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Collpase Years is a series of short stories set in a future not unlike the one we're currently hurdling towards. In a world where sickness, corruption, and survival are the tenants of life, each story focuses on a different character and their fight to thrive.
This was a really interesting read. At its core, it felt like a commentary, touching on human development, greed, and selfishness. There was genuinely an eerie feeling to it, wondering if this was the way we would be seeing our world turn out within the next 50-100 years.
It was a good post apocalyptic book, and I really enjoyed the short story format with the overarching setting. It lent itself to the fact that the world was really complicated, and allowed us to explore multiple layers within the collection of people who were still alive. It was a really creative and effective way to explore the world building - which I absolutely love. Each story connected to the other via the world rather than the characters, keeping me immersed in the non-linear story, never guessing about what was going on, and yet still intrigued by every different POV we got.
The character building was a bit weak, but it's to be expected when you're looking at stories that are maybe 20-30 pages in length. However, it was hard in places to connect with the characters, and left me feeling like a secondary bystander, rooting for no one and not really caring about the outcomes of each story. In a way, I think this was intentional: we didn't need to care about the character or their arc, we needed to understand the world, how they contributed to it, and why they had been integrated into the story in the way they were. Each character felt like a part of the setting to further our understanding, rather than a person with free will.
The book is definitely aimed towards fans of worldbuilding and commentary on human development, rather than those looking for a fulfilling or connected story.
That's not to say this is bad - I really enjoyed it! But it's got a very specific audience, and if you're not it, it might not be the most interesting read for you.
Collpase Years is a series of short stories set in a future not unlike the one we're currently hurdling towards. In a world where sickness, corruption, and survival are the tenants of life, each story focuses on a different character and their fight to thrive.
This was a really interesting read. At its core, it felt like a commentary, touching on human development, greed, and selfishness. There was genuinely an eerie feeling to it, wondering if this was the way we would be seeing our world turn out within the next 50-100 years.
It was a good post apocalyptic book, and I really enjoyed the short story format with the overarching setting. It lent itself to the fact that the world was really complicated, and allowed us to explore multiple layers within the collection of people who were still alive. It was a really creative and effective way to explore the world building - which I absolutely love. Each story connected to the other via the world rather than the characters, keeping me immersed in the non-linear story, never guessing about what was going on, and yet still intrigued by every different POV we got.
The character building was a bit weak, but it's to be expected when you're looking at stories that are maybe 20-30 pages in length. However, it was hard in places to connect with the characters, and left me feeling like a secondary bystander, rooting for no one and not really caring about the outcomes of each story. In a way, I think this was intentional: we didn't need to care about the character or their arc, we needed to understand the world, how they contributed to it, and why they had been integrated into the story in the way they were. Each character felt like a part of the setting to further our understanding, rather than a person with free will.
The book is definitely aimed towards fans of worldbuilding and commentary on human development, rather than those looking for a fulfilling or connected story.
That's not to say this is bad - I really enjoyed it! But it's got a very specific audience, and if you're not it, it might not be the most interesting read for you.
July 26, 2024
I am really confused about what to say about this book, corporations are evil, that is the general conclusion in all stories, and I do agree with that in these stories, people are treated as test tubes, commodities for the corporation or soldiers to do their bidding… but in the whole book I only liked 2 stories, carriers and free-hold, and I wish we had more about the characters in these stories and a bit more of story to develop… the two last stories in this book I really didn’t like and didn’t care much for it…
I really took my time to read it… more like I procrastinate, I usually really like short stories because its small bites, but I felt all book took place in same world, a bit like how high we go in the dark, but more disconnected… so I didn’t really care to continue reading from one to other… or better when I finished a story besides the two that I have talked before, I would take way more than a couple of days going from one to the other… that being said, its not because I didn’t like it, that you wont, maybe you’ll love it way more than what I did, or maybe I was in the wrong time to read this book and 6 months from now I will love it…
Thank you BookSirens for the free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
I really took my time to read it… more like I procrastinate, I usually really like short stories because its small bites, but I felt all book took place in same world, a bit like how high we go in the dark, but more disconnected… so I didn’t really care to continue reading from one to other… or better when I finished a story besides the two that I have talked before, I would take way more than a couple of days going from one to the other… that being said, its not because I didn’t like it, that you wont, maybe you’ll love it way more than what I did, or maybe I was in the wrong time to read this book and 6 months from now I will love it…
Thank you BookSirens for the free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
September 30, 2025
Collapse Years is a powerful mix of climate fiction and near-future sci-fi that feels both unsettlingly real and eerily mythic. Through interconnected stories—from a refugee camp haunted by “ghosts” that might be holograms, to a journalist uncovering the truth inside a viral quarantine zone—the book paints a world where disaster isn’t just environmental, but social and psychological too.
The characters are vivid and human, especially Arjani, a young girl caught between folklore, hunger, and corporate manipulation. The writing is rich and immersive, full of sensory detail—rain, mud, spoiled rice, holographic specters—that pulls you deep into each scene. At times, the pacing slows with heavy description, but the atmosphere and emotional weight make up for it.
What stands out most is how the book blends folklore and technology, showing how myths and ghosts linger even in a world dominated by corporations and collapse. It’s unsettling, thought-provoking, and lingers long after you close the pages.
A grim, fascinating, and memorable read.
The characters are vivid and human, especially Arjani, a young girl caught between folklore, hunger, and corporate manipulation. The writing is rich and immersive, full of sensory detail—rain, mud, spoiled rice, holographic specters—that pulls you deep into each scene. At times, the pacing slows with heavy description, but the atmosphere and emotional weight make up for it.
What stands out most is how the book blends folklore and technology, showing how myths and ghosts linger even in a world dominated by corporations and collapse. It’s unsettling, thought-provoking, and lingers long after you close the pages.
A grim, fascinating, and memorable read.
October 3, 2025
Collapse Years by Damir Salkovic is a striking collection of short stories exploring the end of the world through climate disaster, political collapse, and social decay. The writing is sharp and imaginative, and the author’s ability to craft unsettling scenarios feels both timely and thought-provoking. Some stories resonate deeply, offering glimpses of humanity’s struggle amid chaos, while others feel a bit rushed or underdeveloped, leaving little time to connect with the characters or understand how events unfolded. Still, the range of themes—from democratic collapse to environmental ruin—creates a chillingly believable vision of our possible future. Though uneven at times, the collection is worth reading for fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction seeking fresh, provocative takes on civilization’s downfall.
I was between 4 and 5, so if I would like to be more precise I would give it a 4.3 something.
I was between 4 and 5, so if I would like to be more precise I would give it a 4.3 something.
September 16, 2025
Damir Salkovic’s “Collapse Years” is a series of short stories that chronicle the “polarization, crumbling of democratic institutions, and rise of corporate-driven totalitarianism” in a world that has been turned into a wasteland by “extreme weather, natural disasters, and violence.” It is a look at humanity’s struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
“Collapse Years” is reasonably well-written and imaginative. However, several of the individual stories beg for greater character and plot development.
Like other books of the post-apocalyptic genre, this book may not be for everyone. But for die-hard sci-fi fans, this book should satisfy cravings for dystopian prognostication.
“Collapse Years” is reasonably well-written and imaginative. However, several of the individual stories beg for greater character and plot development.
Like other books of the post-apocalyptic genre, this book may not be for everyone. But for die-hard sci-fi fans, this book should satisfy cravings for dystopian prognostication.
December 25, 2024
I loved this collection of linked stories set in a future world ravaged by climate change and controlled by corporations. The stories take place in various countries around the world, offering a refreshing break from the typical focus on the US. Each story explores different aspects of this dystopian world, from concentration camps to corporate espionage to the impact of corporate control on the poor. The author creates a fully realized world with logical consequences of corporatization, delivering a warning that feels eerily prescient about our own future. It's a powerful and thought-provoking read that serves as a voice from the future, urging us to take action before it's too late.
August 15, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
3.25
Damir Salkovic's Collapse Years presents a thought-provoking and immersive experience that grapples with the complexities of time, identity, and societal decay. Set in an apocalyptic universe, we get seven stories of different people experiencing the same suffering and helplessness. I wish there was more to each story, or a connecting piece that would bring all these characters together. It was written in a way where you as the reader would also feel jarred and panicked just as the characters are trying to survive.
3.25
Damir Salkovic's Collapse Years presents a thought-provoking and immersive experience that grapples with the complexities of time, identity, and societal decay. Set in an apocalyptic universe, we get seven stories of different people experiencing the same suffering and helplessness. I wish there was more to each story, or a connecting piece that would bring all these characters together. It was written in a way where you as the reader would also feel jarred and panicked just as the characters are trying to survive.
October 1, 2025
Collapse Years is a short story collection by Damir Salkovic that explores post-apocalyptic themes. Through interconnected stories, it tackles subjects such as social collapse, climate disasters, corporate domination, corruption, and the struggle for survival. With its dark dystopian world-building, strong emotional impact, and gripping action scenes, it is a truly memorable work. I believe this is a powerful and thought-provoking read, especially for those who enjoy dark post-apocalyptic short story collections.
December 23, 2025
I picked this book up from a book exchange shelf at a hotel while on vacation. It has an interesting but extremely bleak subject matter in terms of doomsday themes. I recommend it as a good scifi read. Each story has a different reason for which the world has ended. So it is dark, but also heart-pounding. Some of the stories are in fact a little abrupt and the characters could be better developed in some cases, but overall a solid and gripping read. If you enjoy short stories in general, I think you'll like these.
July 9, 2024
Each short story takes about 20 minutes to read, so can binge the lot or read one to fill in a few minutes. They were well written, the story flowed nicely. A common theme was anti-capitalism, especially the widening gulf between the "haves" and "have-nots". The corporations take over when the governments collapse, to the detriment of all, especially the large pharmaceuticals.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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