The End Is Now

Agents: John thanks his agent Seth Fishman, who supported this experiment and provided feedback and counsel whenever he needed it, and also to his former agent Joe Monti (now a book editor who he plans to sell lots of anthologies to), who was very enthusiastic about this idea when it first occurred to him, and encouraged John to pursue his idea to self-publish it. Hugh likewise thanks his agent Kristin Nelson for all of her support and for constantly playing out his leash.

Art/Design: Thanks to Julian Aguilar Faylona for providing wonderful cover art for all three volumes of The Apocalypse Triptych, and to Jason Gurley for adding in all the most excellent design elements that took the artwork from being mere images and transformed them into books. These volumes would not be the same without them.

Proofreaders: Thanks to Rachael Jones, Kevin McNeil, Tiffany Hughes, Mandy M. Earles, and Andy Sima.

Narrators/Producers: Thanks to Jack Kincaid for producing (and narrating some of) the audiobook version of this anthology, and to narrators Tina Connolly, Anaea Lay, Kate Baker, Mur Lafferty, Rajan Khanna, Lex Wilson, Norm Sherman, Folly Blaine, Scott Sigler, Stefan Rudnicki, Windy Bowlsby, and Stephanie Grossman for lending their vocal talents to the production.

Family: John sends thanks to his wife, Christie, his mom, Marianne, and his sister, Becky, for all their love and support, and their endless enthusiasm for all his new projects. He also wanted to thank his sister-in-law Kate and stepdaughter Grace who had to listen to him blab incessantly about this project as it was coming together, ruining many a dinner. Hugh thanks his wife Amber, who co-edits this wonderful life they have together. His chapters would be boring and lonely without her.

Readers: Thanks to all the readers and reviewers of this anthology, and also all the readers and reviewers who loved Hugh’s novels and John’s other anthologies, making it possible for this book to happen in the first place.

Writers: And last, but certainly not least: a big thanks to all of the authors who appear in this anthology. It has been an honor and a privilege. As fans, we look forward to whatever you come up with next.

About The Editors

John Joseph Adams is the series editor of Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He is also the bestselling editor of many other anthologies, such as The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Domination, Armored, Brave New Worlds, Wastelands, and The Living Dead. Called “the reigning king of the anthology world” by Barnes & Noble, John is a winner of the Hugo Award (for which he has been nominated eight times) and is a six-time World Fantasy Award finalist. John is also the editor and publisher of the digital magazines Lightspeed and Nightmare, and is a producer for Wired.com’s The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast. Find him on Twitter @johnjosephadams.

Hugh Howey is the author of the acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel Wool, which became a sudden success in 2011. Originally self-published as a series of novelettes, the Wool omnibus is frequently the #1 bestselling book on Amazon.com and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller. The book was also optioned for film by Ridley Scott, and is now available in print from major publishers all over the world. Hugh’s other books include Shift, Dust, Sand, the Molly Fyde series, The Hurricane, Half Way Home, The Plagiarist, and I, Zombie. Hugh lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife Amber and his dog Bella. Find him on Twitter @hughhowey.

Copyright

© 2014 by ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THE END IS NOW

© 2014 by John Joseph Adams & Hugh Howey

INTRODUCTION

© 2014 by John Joseph Adams

HERD IMMUNITY

© 2014 by Tananarive Due

THE SIXTH DAY OF DEER CAMP

© 2014 by Scott Sigler

GOODNIGHT STARS

© 2014 by Annie Bellet

ROCK MANNING CAN’T HEAR YOU

© 2014 by Charlie Jane Anders

FRUITING BODIES

© 2014 by Seanan McGuire

BLACK MONDAY

© 2014 by Sarah Langan

ANGELS OF THE APOCALYPSE

© 2014 by Nancy Kress

AGENT ISOLATED

© 2014 by David Wellington

THE GODS WILL NOT BE SLAIN

© 2014 by Ken Liu

YOU’VE NEVER SEEN EVERYTHING

© 2014 by Elizabeth Bear

BRING THEM DOWN

© 2014 by Ben H. Winters

TWILIGHT OF THE MUSIC MACHINES

© 2014 by Megan Arkenberg

SUNSET HOLLOW

© 2014 by Jonathan Maberry

PENANCE

© 2014 by Jake Kerr

AVTOMAT

© 2014 by Daniel H. Wilson

DANCING WITH BATGIRL IN THE LAND OF NOD

© 2014 by Will McIntosh

BY THE HAIR OF THE MOON

© 2014 by Jamie Ford

TO WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD

© 2014 by Desirina Boskovich

IN THE MOUNTAIN

© 2014 by Hugh Howey

DEAR JOHN

© 2014 by Robin Wasserman

Cover Art by Julian Aguilar Faylona.