Tag: near-future fiction

The Children Who Didn’t Log Off – A Free Halloween Short Story by Jon Cronshaw

Celebrate Halloween with a chilling new short story from Jon Cronshaw. The Children Who Didn’t Log Off is a dark speculative tale about technology, control, and what happens when the system won’t let go. Read it free on Patreon.

Happy Halloween!

I’ve just released a brand-new short story called The Children Who Didn’t Log Off, and you can read it right now — completely free — on my Patreon.

It’s a dark speculative tale set in a near future where education has gone entirely digital… and one mother realises something isn’t right when her son doesn’t return from his online classroom.

I won’t spoil anything, but if you enjoy stories that blend technology, bureaucracy, and quiet horror, this one’s for you.

You can read the full story here:
👉 Read The Children Who Didn’t Log Off on Patreon

It’s a public post, so you don’t need to be a member to enjoy it. Feel free to leave a comment, share it around, or just settle in with a warm drink and let the story unsettle you a little.

Stay safe, keep your devices charged, and have a very happy Halloween.

Best wishes,
Jon

To Grip the Bright White Chains (A Dystopian Tale of Desperation and Hope)

In this episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw invites us into a bleak near-future where hope seems all but extinguished.

“To Grip the Bright White Chains” follows Elsie, an elderly woman navigating a harsh world of addiction, poverty, and environmental decay. When we first meet her, she appears to be engaging in a dubious transaction with a desperate young addict. But as Cronshaw gradually reveals Elsie’s true intentions, we discover her quiet act of resistance against the desolation surrounding her.

Themes & Topics

• Finding hope in dystopian circumstances

• The importance of creating safe spaces

• Memory and nostalgia as motivating forces

• The power of simple pleasures

• Intergenerational connection

• Environmental deterioration

• The cycle of addiction

Listener Discretion

This episode contains references to drug addiction and child poverty that some listeners may find affecting.

About the Author

Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that finds light in the darkest of futures. His stories often focus on characters who maintain their humanity and compassion despite overwhelming societal collapse, offering glimmers of hope in otherwise bleak landscapes.

Support the Show

If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit ⁠patreon.com/joncronshawauthor⁠ to learn more.