For some time now I have been introducing Indian science fiction lovers to the current literature of the genre in the west and emerging promising writers. Meet Robert Plant, who writes intriguing short stories about the impact of technology on our lives. He has penned a collection of thought-provoking Sf that explore the mysteries of the universe and our existence within it.
'Dark Matter' is his recent captivating anthology of short stories that may change your perception of reality and existence. Each story, meticulously crafted, draws you into the shadowy recesses of the mind, leaving you in awe of the unseen mysteries that pervade our tiny corner of the cosmos. With each narrative, you'll find yourself on the precipice of an event horizon, teetering between the known and the unknown.
Dark Matter is a continuing work with visually rich and engaging episode being released periodically.Here are the synopsis of the some stories which I liked most.
The Perfect Match: A young man down on his luck with women finds the perfect match on a dating app. A glimpse into how our technology tracks us could end up putting him in a tough situation on his first date. This original short story in the "Dark Matter" series will give you Ex-Machina vibes.
Swarm: A family moves into their new vacation home only to be attacked by a massive swarm of wasps. Going off the grid could prove deadly for this family. This short story from the "Dark Matter" series will leave you sweating and give you Cujo and Black Mirror (3.6) vibes.
The Chair: A gameshow host sits on his pedestal as he forces bad people to confess to their crimes while being tortured in the game's virtual reality chair. The tables will turn on the host, but is he now a part of his show or is it real life? This story from the "Dark Matter" series will give you Black Mirror (1.2 & 3.2) vibes.
Demi: A young woman creates a SIM video game called "Worlds" where players can create and manage their own world. While she gains fame through her work, she remains locked inside her apartment bored with the bland world around her. She's in jeopardy of losing her game, and the stakes are a lot higher than you might think. This story in the "Dark Matter" series will give you Ready Player One and Black Mirror (4.1) vibes.
If you'd like to read these and more stories, please visit:
Dark Matter on Kindle Vella
Robert Plant Writes Website
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Arvind Mishra
