A secret program in the United States seeks to replace human militaries with artificial intelligence-driven machines, but the machines aren't so willing to play along. *** Picture a world where humans no longer fight wars. No more families missing loved ones. No more veterans with lifelong mental and physical scars. No more conscription. For the super-secret End of War Project inside the United States government, such a reality is already here. The project models out how artificial intelligence can overcome dangerous and morally sensitive war scenarios with algorithms and automation. The centerpieces are "autonomous combat machines," or ACMs, that look like humans but function like supercomputers. After a string of brilliant successes in the field of combat, the End of War Project is preparing to reveal itself to the public, but something unusual stands in the way. Against their programming, the ACMs start exhibiting all-too-human signs of apprehension, guilt and compassion as they're pushed to perform ever more extreme tasks. The human leaders of the End of War Project race to find who "hacked" the ACMs, but what they find is even more startling--and revealing--than they could ever imagine. ***2019 Watty Award Winner - Science Fiction***

WATTY 2019 WINNER Hale, a state of the art android, can do nearly anything a human can. He cooks meals, cleans and organizes the house, repairs broken appliances, and runs errands. He can even provide for the more carnal needs of his owner. None of these tasks should present any challenge for Hale, and they don't-until he meets his next door neighbour, Rayner. Rayner seems like an unassuming gardener, but he asks Hale a lot of questions. Does Hale wish he could smell or taste food? What would he look like if his appearance hadn't been chosen for him? From the moment they meet, Hale runs into errors in otherwise simple tasks. He experiences bizarre sensations that none of his diagnostic tools can explain, and struggles to appease the people in his owner's social circle. As the errors in his programming begin to wear on his owner's patience, Hale faces the most difficult decision yet. If he can't evolve to meet her needs, he'll be returned and recycled into parts for future androids. If he does evolve, is he still just an android? Or something more? In all this, Rayner is the only man who can help him, and Rayner only has one question left for Hale. What does he want? Hale wasn't designed to want anything, but perhaps he can find the answer in the man with all the questions. TOP RANKINGS #1 in #freethelgbt #1 in #android - UPDATES WEDNESDAYS Story and artwork by Alistair Reeves This story is edited by Lyra Evans; she has amazing books on Amazon, so check her out if you like fantasy and mxm romance! I always love hearing from readers! Your time, votes, reviews and comments keep me constantly motivated. If you're interested in supporting this story even more than you already do by reading, please check out my Patreon (linked from my profile)! You can find me @kataraqui on Twitter/IG/Tumblr - Content warning for emotional/sexual abuse (not between MC and LI). Sexual abuse at the end of chapter 2 if you want to skip it.

A young archeologist is launched on the adventure of her life when she joins a mixed crew of humans and aliens on a mission to atone for the failings of Earth. *** The Terra Prospect Mission offered humanity a chance at space travel, technological advancement, and enlightenment courtesy of its alien benefactors who made first contact thirty years ago. Daran Chree brought that mission to a fiery end when he crashed the Terra Prospect spaceship into Gate Delta Eleven. Now, it's humanity's second and final chance to prove they're ready to journey into the stars. Nineteen-year-old studying archeologist Sofeta Prenares finds herself not only drawn to the mission, but on a collision course with the fate of the galaxy. 2019 Watty Awards Winner For Sci-Fi! Content warning: This story contains reference to self harm and intense combat scenes.

🍌🍌🍌Think Netflix's SEX EDUCATION, but without the accents, and instead of pictures and sound, I put the words on the screen, and you paint the pictures with your mind.🥒🥒🥒 *** Some guys are showers. Some guys are growers. Then there's Peter. He's got a big secret about a little problem (in his pants). But one day, that secret gets out, and Peter's life is ruined. The guys at his high school mock Peter without mercy. The girls giggle at the idea of dating Peter. But the situation isn't entirely without hope. Peter's best friend Elroy is a wannabe teenage business prodigy who sees Peter's predicament as an opportunity to develop a product that will help him "tap into the bajillion dollar market for addressing male insecurity." Meanwhile, a mysterious art student named Audrey seems to like-like Peter, despite his, ahem, little problem. Which is weird, because the rumor around school is that Audrey is a size queen. Why else would she be collecting so many dick pics? Peter's Little Peter is a story about the truth behind the myths of male sexuality, the awkwardness of teenage romance, surviving high school, and the bumpy road to self-acceptance.

*2019 WATTY AWARD WINNER: YOUNG ADULT* Madiera-Jade has no money, no luck, and absolutely no sense. Atticus has no interest and no patience, especially not for Jade. When Madiera-Jade enters Atticus' life (invades, really) she takes him by storm. On the run from a quarterback hell-bent on revenge, she attempts to steal from Atticus, the latest bad decision in a long line of bad decisions. Atticus, a perpetual grouch who is already a semi-established video game designer at 19, has no idea what's about to hit him when he agrees to his Aunt and brother's request to take her in.

***2019 Watty Award Winner - Science Fiction*** Charlie has always been the one left behind. It isn't because there's something special about him; in fact, there is nothing special about him at all. As one of the few unlucky members of Terran society to be born without powers, Charlie's luck has never looked worse. After a visit to his brother's school ends in an international disaster, Charlie finds himself stranded on an alien planet with no idea where he is, how he got there, or why he is even awake. Why did his captors let him go? How will Charlie get home? And more importantly, what in the world is Trial 017? [Book One of the Scion series]

In the future, everyone who's bitten by a zombie turns into one... until Diane doesn't. Seven days later, she's facing consequences she never imagined. * * * * * As civilization collapses under a relentless wave of zombies, Diane and her friends take shelter in a military base. However, while she's rescuing another survivor, Diane gets bitten by one of the monsters. She hides it and runs away, knowing she only has days left to live. But she soon discovers she isn't turning into a zombie - she's turning into something else. --------- Excerpt: I looked up and stared. My reflection looked back at me in the mirror of the dark room. My eyes were literally glowing, there was no mistaking it. It was not a reflection of light, or any of the other excuses I had used or others had assumed. They were glowing a light sapphire blue color. It was not a bright glow, but it was definitely a glow. Glowing eyes were not normal. Okay, at this point I had to admit it, I was no longer normal. What was I then? For that, I had no answer [[Word count: 495,000]] Copyright August 2016. All Rights Reserved. Readers may not copy, alter, or steal this story. Fanfictions are allowed to use my *world* and *zombie rules* as long as credit is given. Cover was lovingly made by JimenaVivancoo.