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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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 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.
July 6, 2026
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.
March 20, 2026
I went into Collapse Years expecting a standard post-apocalyptic read, but what stood out most was the author’s control over tone and atmosphere. The writing has a quiet confidence to it, never overly dramatic, but consistently tense in a way that keeps you leaning forward.
What I appreciated most is how the prose doesn’t try too hard. It’s clean, grounded, and lets the situation carry the weight instead of relying on exaggerated descriptions. There’s a strong sense of restraint in the writing, which actually makes the darker moments land harder. The dialogue, in particular, feels purposeful, characters reveal just enough to create unease without overexplaining.
The structure also works well for this kind of story. Scenes unfold with a kind of steady inevitability, and the pacing allows tension to build naturally rather than forcing it. You can tell the author understands how to guide a reader through uncertainty and discomfort without losing clarity.
There’s also an interesting balance between personal perspective and larger societal collapse. The narrative doesn’t just focus on chaos, but on how individuals process it, which gives the story a more thoughtful edge.
What I appreciated most is how the prose doesn’t try too hard. It’s clean, grounded, and lets the situation carry the weight instead of relying on exaggerated descriptions. There’s a strong sense of restraint in the writing, which actually makes the darker moments land harder. The dialogue, in particular, feels purposeful, characters reveal just enough to create unease without overexplaining.
The structure also works well for this kind of story. Scenes unfold with a kind of steady inevitability, and the pacing allows tension to build naturally rather than forcing it. You can tell the author understands how to guide a reader through uncertainty and discomfort without losing clarity.
There’s also an interesting balance between personal perspective and larger societal collapse. The narrative doesn’t just focus on chaos, but on how individuals process it, which gives the story a more thoughtful edge.
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.
February 9, 2026
Collapse Years is a thought‑provoking and unsettling read that captures the emotional and societal strain of a world in decline. Damir Salkovic’s writing is vivid and immersive, making the themes feel uncomfortably real and timely. While a few sections felt slow or could have used tighter pacing, the overall message and atmosphere stayed with me long after finishing. A compelling read for fans of dystopian and reflective fiction.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
February 22, 2026
The Collapse Years is an engaging collection of short stories about various societal injustices and struggles. Each tale is told from a different perspective enhancing the reader’s depth of reflection.
Hantu: Arjani’s island is on the verge of being swallowed by the raising ocean. Crops are failing causing food shortages and illness, but the people are unsure if the help being provided by outsiders can be trusted.
Carriers: Journalist, Myung-soo, is looking to cash in on the scoop of a lifetime. A cure for the super-flu is being developed and tested on the infected, but the whole operation is under quarantine. Once Myung-soo is able to make his way into the confined area, he discovers a story much bigger than mere medical advancement.
Spook: Hired for an extraction op, Tranh must retrieve Lu Huiyin, an intellectual asset being detained against her will. But what seems like a straightforward grab’n’go, ends up turned on its head by the first step of the plan.
Freehold: When tired, starving immigrants arrive at the freeholders farm in need of rest and sustenance, a great divide splits the community between empathizers and sceptics. Some want to help, but others fear that being charitable could backfire causing catastrophe for them all.
Line of Duty: Illegal drug clinics have become havens for the addicted, and it’s Haldane’s responsibility to root them out and shut them down. It’s a grim job and often hard to reconcile, but it’s necessary for the betterment of society. At least that’s what Haldane’s tells himself in order to get the job done.
Beached: A large cargo shipment of food intended for hurricane relief turns into a battle for rations between vying groups. Young Nasser just wants his share for himself and his family, but he has to risk everything to get it.
On Rails: Brody’s curiosity exceeds his pay grade, but he can’t stop thinking about the train. Something about it just doesn’t add up, and he must figure out what really happens to its passengers.
Hantu: Arjani’s island is on the verge of being swallowed by the raising ocean. Crops are failing causing food shortages and illness, but the people are unsure if the help being provided by outsiders can be trusted.
Carriers: Journalist, Myung-soo, is looking to cash in on the scoop of a lifetime. A cure for the super-flu is being developed and tested on the infected, but the whole operation is under quarantine. Once Myung-soo is able to make his way into the confined area, he discovers a story much bigger than mere medical advancement.
Spook: Hired for an extraction op, Tranh must retrieve Lu Huiyin, an intellectual asset being detained against her will. But what seems like a straightforward grab’n’go, ends up turned on its head by the first step of the plan.
Freehold: When tired, starving immigrants arrive at the freeholders farm in need of rest and sustenance, a great divide splits the community between empathizers and sceptics. Some want to help, but others fear that being charitable could backfire causing catastrophe for them all.
Line of Duty: Illegal drug clinics have become havens for the addicted, and it’s Haldane’s responsibility to root them out and shut them down. It’s a grim job and often hard to reconcile, but it’s necessary for the betterment of society. At least that’s what Haldane’s tells himself in order to get the job done.
Beached: A large cargo shipment of food intended for hurricane relief turns into a battle for rations between vying groups. Young Nasser just wants his share for himself and his family, but he has to risk everything to get it.
On Rails: Brody’s curiosity exceeds his pay grade, but he can’t stop thinking about the train. Something about it just doesn’t add up, and he must figure out what really happens to its passengers.
May 29, 2026
The worlds built in this collection are genuinely ambitious. Each story drops the reader into a richly imagined dystopian future — corporate colonialism disguised as humanitarian aid, pandemic containment camps turned into death cults, bioengineered spies navigating a fractured geopolitical landscape, and communities fighting to preserve their last piece of fertile land. The themes are urgent and relevant, and there are moments where the atmosphere is striking enough to stay with you.
The problem is format. These are novel-sized ideas compressed into short stories, and the compression shows. Characters who deserve pages of development appear and disappear before we can care about them. World-building details that should anchor the narrative from the first paragraph are dropped in as afterthoughts. Tension builds and then dissipates under the weight of too much information arriving at the wrong moment.
The prose also works against itself at times. Metaphors that aim for poetry occasionally land closer to melodrama, and point-of-view shifts within scenes create a dissonance that pulls the reader out of the story just when immersion matters most.
This is a writer with real imaginative power and something genuine to say. But these stories feel like outlines for the novels they should become. Readers who enjoy dense, idea-driven speculative fiction may find enough here to appreciate. Those looking for the emotional payoff that comes from fully developed narrative will likely finish each story wanting more — and not in the way the author intended.
Three stars: strong concepts, uneven execution.
The problem is format. These are novel-sized ideas compressed into short stories, and the compression shows. Characters who deserve pages of development appear and disappear before we can care about them. World-building details that should anchor the narrative from the first paragraph are dropped in as afterthoughts. Tension builds and then dissipates under the weight of too much information arriving at the wrong moment.
The prose also works against itself at times. Metaphors that aim for poetry occasionally land closer to melodrama, and point-of-view shifts within scenes create a dissonance that pulls the reader out of the story just when immersion matters most.
This is a writer with real imaginative power and something genuine to say. But these stories feel like outlines for the novels they should become. Readers who enjoy dense, idea-driven speculative fiction may find enough here to appreciate. Those looking for the emotional payoff that comes from fully developed narrative will likely finish each story wanting more — and not in the way the author intended.
Three stars: strong concepts, uneven execution.
March 16, 2026
This author has become one of the few writers I trust to deliver stories that are lean, unsentimental, and built with real intention. This collection continues that streak. Each story stands on its own, but together they form a mosaic of worlds shaped by power, scarcity, and the machinery that grinds people down. The writing is tight, the pacing is confident, and the atmosphere in every piece is thick enough to taste.
What impressed me most is the range. One story drops you into corporate militarism, another into a drowned coastline, another into a future where enforcement and survival blur together. The settings change, but the author’s control never wavers. The characters feel lived in, flawed, and painfully human. The worldbuilding is efficient and never overexplained. The tension builds quietly until it snaps.
There is no cheap sentiment here. No easy heroes. No moral lectures. Just clear, unflinching storytelling that trusts the reader to keep up. Even when I realized I had been misled about the length, the quality more than made up for it. The author knows exactly how much to show and when to cut away, and that restraint gives the stories their punch.
If you like speculative fiction that is gritty without being grimdark, intelligent without being pretentious, and emotionally honest without melodrama, this is absolutely worth your time. I will keep reading whatever this author puts out.
What impressed me most is the range. One story drops you into corporate militarism, another into a drowned coastline, another into a future where enforcement and survival blur together. The settings change, but the author’s control never wavers. The characters feel lived in, flawed, and painfully human. The worldbuilding is efficient and never overexplained. The tension builds quietly until it snaps.
There is no cheap sentiment here. No easy heroes. No moral lectures. Just clear, unflinching storytelling that trusts the reader to keep up. Even when I realized I had been misled about the length, the quality more than made up for it. The author knows exactly how much to show and when to cut away, and that restraint gives the stories their punch.
If you like speculative fiction that is gritty without being grimdark, intelligent without being pretentious, and emotionally honest without melodrama, this is absolutely worth your time. I will keep reading whatever this author puts out.
January 31, 2026
Collapse Years is one of the most gripping and emotionally resonant post‑apocalyptic collections I’ve read in a long time. Damir Salkovic doesn’t just imagine the end of the world — he dissects it with empathy, precision, and a rare sense of honesty. Each story drops you into a different corner of a collapsing society, and every one of them feels lived‑in, urgent, and painfully believable.
What really stands out is the depth of the characters. These aren’t just survivors; they’re people wrestling with identity, morality, and the question of what it means to stay human when everything familiar is falling apart. The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming, and the prose is polished, immersive, and quietly powerful.
The themes hit hard: climate catastrophe, political fracture, corporate overreach, and the unintended consequences of unchecked technology. Yet even in the bleakest moments, there’s a thread of humanity that keeps you turning the pages. Some stories ache, some shock, and some linger long after you finish — but none of them feel forgettable.
If you enjoy post‑apocalyptic fiction with real emotional weight, diverse perspectives, and thoughtful social commentary, Collapse Years is absolutely worth your time. It’s grim, yes — but it’s also deeply meaningful, beautifully written, and impossible to put down. A standout collection.
What really stands out is the depth of the characters. These aren’t just survivors; they’re people wrestling with identity, morality, and the question of what it means to stay human when everything familiar is falling apart. The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming, and the prose is polished, immersive, and quietly powerful.
The themes hit hard: climate catastrophe, political fracture, corporate overreach, and the unintended consequences of unchecked technology. Yet even in the bleakest moments, there’s a thread of humanity that keeps you turning the pages. Some stories ache, some shock, and some linger long after you finish — but none of them feel forgettable.
If you enjoy post‑apocalyptic fiction with real emotional weight, diverse perspectives, and thoughtful social commentary, Collapse Years is absolutely worth your time. It’s grim, yes — but it’s also deeply meaningful, beautifully written, and impossible to put down. A standout collection.
March 4, 2026
Seven short stories, all set in the same collapsing near-future. Climate disaster, pandemics, corporate control, refugee camps, failed states. Sounds bleak, and it is, but its fascinating because Salkovic writes about ordinary people caught in the middle of it rather than heroes trying to fix things. A girl in an Indonesian refugee camp watching pharmaceutical companies pick over the survivors. A journalist riding a train into a plague zone chasing the scoop of his career. Kids scavenging flooded ruins while snipers take potshots from the occupied district.
Each story stands on its own with a different setting and cast, but they share a world and you start to piece together how bad things have gotten from different angles. The writing is confident and atmospheric. Salkovic is good at dropping you into a place and making you feel the heat, the mud, the desperation without over-explaining the politics or the technology.
A couple of the stories were stand outs for me. The farming commune one has a slow-burn reveal that completely reframes everything before it. And the last story, On Rails, has an ending that's genuinely chilling.
Fair warning though, every story is open-ended. If you need things neatly wrapped up, that'll frustrate you. Personally I thought this was one of its strengths and it suited the tone. Nothing in this world gets resolved cleanly either!
Each story stands on its own with a different setting and cast, but they share a world and you start to piece together how bad things have gotten from different angles. The writing is confident and atmospheric. Salkovic is good at dropping you into a place and making you feel the heat, the mud, the desperation without over-explaining the politics or the technology.
A couple of the stories were stand outs for me. The farming commune one has a slow-burn reveal that completely reframes everything before it. And the last story, On Rails, has an ending that's genuinely chilling.
Fair warning though, every story is open-ended. If you need things neatly wrapped up, that'll frustrate you. Personally I thought this was one of its strengths and it suited the tone. Nothing in this world gets resolved cleanly either!
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.
March 7, 2026
The Collapse Years" is a brutal and necessary anthology that dissects the erosion of empathy in the near future. The strength of the collection lies in its diverse perspectives: from the islands of Hantu, doomed by sterile harvests and encroaching tides, to the ambiguous management of outbreaks in Carriers.
Each story explores the thin line between institutional duty and social betrayal. In Line of Duty, Haldane’s investigation into illegal clinics raises unsettling questions about the morality of control, while in Beached, the illusion of a miracle from the sky clashes with the cold cynicism of warring factions. This sense of dread reaches its peak in On Rails, where the journey toward a supposed civilization hides shadows that the Corporation would prefer to keep buried.
The prose is visceral, making the reader physically sense the heat of the mud and the aseptic smell of quarantine zones. Despite the brevity of the chapters, the psychological impact on characters like Nasser or Brody is profound, leaving us with a haunting realization: the true disaster is not technological, but human.
Each story explores the thin line between institutional duty and social betrayal. In Line of Duty, Haldane’s investigation into illegal clinics raises unsettling questions about the morality of control, while in Beached, the illusion of a miracle from the sky clashes with the cold cynicism of warring factions. This sense of dread reaches its peak in On Rails, where the journey toward a supposed civilization hides shadows that the Corporation would prefer to keep buried.
The prose is visceral, making the reader physically sense the heat of the mud and the aseptic smell of quarantine zones. Despite the brevity of the chapters, the psychological impact on characters like Nasser or Brody is profound, leaving us with a haunting realization: the true disaster is not technological, but human.
May 28, 2026
Damir Salkovic’s book asserts itself within the dystopian fiction landscape through its extraordinary expressive power, offering a lucid and ruthless look at the progressive ruin of our future. The text's fluidity lies in the choral structure of this collection of stories, which successfully weaves natural disasters, social polarization, and the rise of corporate totalitarianism into a bleak yet coherent framework. The prose adopts a polished, dark, and deeply introspective style, making it ideal for exploring the struggle for survival in a world transformed into a wasteland. I highly valued the richness and diversity of the characters, whose personal journeys resonate long after reading, prompting deep reflection on the very meaning of being human in the face of unchecked technologies. This reading deeply enriches fans of sociological science fiction because it moves beyond portraying suffering, choosing instead to analyze the political and environmental drifts toward which our own world is venturing. It represents an excellent choice for those seeking a thought provoking, intense, and psychologically deep narrative capable of holding attention from the very first page.
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