A collection of eight stories, Digital Extremities shines a spotlight on ordinary people in a callous yet hopeful future. Set across small towns and remote islands, where neon flickers against old buildings and oaks, this collection paints a unique view of a traditionally cyberpunk setting. In 2089, a woman miscarries and seeks a way to find peace amidst overwhelming grief. Years later, a young man must find a way to pay rent outside of his job at the glassblowing studio. A pair of students, excited to go to college, install new hardware that promises to improve their cognitive functions. A private investigator searches for a missing child who has a reputation for embarking on risky adventures. Each tale is shaped by love, loss, and perseverance, weaving a vision of life outside of the megacities. “‘Touching’ and ‘cyberpunk’ might not often intersect, but they do with Digital Extremities. It swings from moving to haunting in an instant, searching for our humanity in an increasingly dim future. Bassett both honours the legacy of the genre while keeping one fixed firmly on new horizons with a collection which spans the world.” —Timothy Hickson of Hello Future Me, author of A Catalogue for the End of Humanity and On Writing and Worldbuilding Vol. I-III. “Digital Extremities is a beautifully written collection that explores the intersection of technology and everyday life. Highlighting the narratives of ordinary people navigating a future where tech has become an inseparable part of physical bodies, these are elegant, poignant stories told with organic heart.” —Suzan Palumbo, author of Countess and Skin Thief: Stories. “Adam Bassett displays a clear talent for world-building and a keen eye for character.” —T.R. Napper, author of Neon Leviathan, 36 Streets, and Aliens: Bishop.

A piece of experimental fiction, The Dictionary of Disillusionment follows the writings of a nameless protagonist’s memories and rambles in an attempt to understand herself better through entries written on post-it notes and index cards. All she ever wanted was control; control over her feelings, control over her life. In her senior year of college, she attempts to categorize her thoughts by ascribing them labels from the dictionary and then from vocabulary in her psychology textbook. But the more she writes, trying to control her feelings and pinpoint all of the underlying stress that comes with fast-approaching graduation and the subtle changes in her relationship dynamics, the less control she finds she has. Soon, all of the small tensions build until they boil over, and she's forced to reconsider what she should focus on in her life.