This novella was a Hugo and Nebula nominee twenty years ago. I lost both to Charles Sheffield -- whom I married five years later. Life sometimes really is just as strange as fiction.

***A Wattpad Featured Collection of Short Sci-Fi Stories*** Strange sentinels, forgotten Gods, regenerated aliens, frozen predators, tele- kinetic chess sets - all this and more in this collection of short SciFi stories. Each tale carries a devilish little twist at its end. Like a box of chocolates some are sweet ,some sour and some dark. All perhaps little allegories on the vagaries of human nature... From Readers on various stories- "WOW! I know its my second comment but it's the forth time I have visited it." "It's very sad to see this end, all be it an extraordinary end." "Bravo for such an uplifting, optimistic Finale" "This was awesome! I thoroughly enjoyed it, didn't want it to end." "Great twist, from a sinister beginning to a cheerful ending. It echoes the style of HG Wells." "Dude... just holy... !"

Hey, Wattpad! I"M GIVING AWAY 10 DAYS OF TRUE BORN! Since you are the reason True Born has gone from a tiny novella to a full-length novel in a trilogy, it seems only fitting that I give back to you with a special sneak peak! True Born is hitting stores May 3rd, but I wanted to give you all a chance to see how the material has evolved during the publication process. (The first chapter in particular is a bit different - and there is at least one important scene in the novel that has changed - you'll just have to keep reading to see what!) And so: without further ado! Every day (April 21 - April 30, 2016) for the next 10 days I will be posting a new chapter of True Born. That's right - you heard me - 10 chapters over 10 days! And if you'd like to read a little more about the reasons I'm doing this, feel free to check out my #LovelettertoWattpad on my website: www.le-sterling.com. With special thanks to my publishers, Entangled Teen, who are letting me do this crazy thing! L. E. Sterling ---- After the great Plague descended, the world population was decimated...and their genetics damaged beyond repair. The Lasters wait hopelessly for their genes to self-destruct. The Splicers pay for expensive treatments that might prolong their life. The plague-resistant True Borns are as mysterious as they are feared... And then there's Lucy Fox and her identical twin sister, Margot. After endless tests, no one wants to reveal what they are. When Margot disappears, a desperate Lucy has no choice but to put her faith in the True Borns, led by the charismatic Nolan Storm and the beautiful but deadly Jared Price. As Lucy and the True Borns set out to rescue her sister, they stumble upon a vast conspiracy stretching from Dominion's street preachers to shady Russian tycoons. But why target the Fox sisters? As they say in Dominion, it's in the blood.

Daughter4254 used to think life in a community where art, music and names are outlawed would suffocate her creative spirit. Now that she’s rotting in a prison cell, she’s not sure her dying mother made the right choice when she entrusted her with the secrets of rebellion. Prison has given her plenty of time to relive every mistake and lose all hope. Her next stop is the MindWipe. Then she meets Thomas, a fellow inmate, who tells her stories of the mythical mountain colonies where people have names and the arts thrive. Together they plot an escape, knowing if they fail, they will die. Or worse, their consciousness will be taken by the MindWipe, leaving their bodies free for the government to use. When nothing goes as planned, Daughter4254 must choose between using her mother's secret to better the world she hates, or following Thomas to the quiet life of freedom she has always craved.