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21 Futures: Financial Fallout Paperback – March 10, 2025
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And then, when we have nothing left to lose, we turn on those who rigged the game. We stand and fight.
These 21 stories portray unfortunate yet brilliant heroes fighting the powers that triggered financial fallout.
Money is broken, but hope is not lost.
Quotes
“Each author has some new take on something meaningful. Don't miss it!” - Paul Rosenberg, Author of A Lodging of Wayfaring Men.“A glimpse into a wide range of possible futures, each one a thought-provoking commentary on the world we live in today.” - Max Hillebrand, CEO ZkSnacks
- Print length247 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMarch 10, 2025
- Dimensions5.59 x 0.62 x 8.03 inches
- ISBN-109916749329
- ISBN-13978-9916749326
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more
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From the Publisher

Explore the 21 Futures Universe
21 Futures Was Just the Beginning… Now, the Revolution Expands.
Two volumes. 42 stories. Infinite possibilities.
The system is rigged. Will you comply—or will you fight?

Dive into 42 gripping stories of economic collapse, resistance, and rebellion in a world where financial dystopia is no longer fiction. From underground cash networks to AI-controlled economies, these anthologies reveal the dark—and sometimes hopeful—futures shaped by the fight for monetary freedom.

A rogue debt collector attempts to save her family while sticking to her principles.
Edition 2 - First Prize
Infinite Debt by Graeme Shimmin
More Stories
The Big Slash by D.J. Bodden:
Every transaction is tracked, so that every good deed could be rewarded, every sin punished. Then, one day, the looting starts.
Yourself My E-Self by Chris Griffiths:
Corporate cutbacks leads to humans being cast out of the boardroom to be replaced with something far more efficient.
Crushing by K.T. Morley:
A well-prepared citizen watches as markets tumble and the world burns.
Product details
- Publisher : 21 Futures
- Publication date : March 10, 2025
- Language : English
- Print length : 247 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9916749329
- ISBN-13 : 978-9916749326
- Item Weight : 13.1 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.59 x 0.62 x 8.03 inches
- Book 2 of 2 : 21 Futures
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,507 in Science Fiction Anthologies (Books)
- #2,755 in Science Fiction Short Stories
- #4,793 in Short Stories Anthologies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Joseph Sidari (www.josephsidari.com) is a member of the SFWA and writes short and long fiction from outside of Boston. His short fiction has been published in numerous anthologies (Third Flatiron’s "Brain Games" and “Monstrosities;” Emerald Bay Books “Horror for Hire: Second Shift;” Dragon Soul Press's "Surge;” and “Casting Call: Season 6” by Havok Press) and also online in The Arcanist and Daily Science Fiction, among others. His latest short story, “It Isn’t Easy Being Green” is available in February 2023 in SPACEPORTS AND SPIDERSILK magazine. He is a member of Grub Street of Boston and the SpaceCrafts Writers’ Group. As a practicing physician, he works hard at caring for his patients while trying to kill off his protagonists.
Follow him on Twitter @JNSidari
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21 Futures belongs on every Bitcoiner's bookshelf
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 202521 Futures: Financial Fallout is a collection that doesn’t just speculate on the future—it drags you by the collar through encrypted alleyways, desolate wastelands, and digital citadels, forcing you to confront what might happen when technology collides with power, freedom, and human ambition. This is not your standard sci-fi anthology; it is a blistering, unapologetic deep-dive into a world where the cypherpunk ethos is not just a philosophy but a means of survival.
A Diverse Yet Unified Vision of the Future
Each story presents a unique take on sovereignty, surveillance, financial collapse, artificial intelligence, and human autonomy, yet they all feel like they exist in the same thematic universe. Whether it’s the neon-soaked underworld of hacker mercenaries, the eerily bureaucratic nightmare of a future where monetary control is absolute, or the wild frontier of intergalactic trade in a lawless economy, these stories challenge the reader to ask: what happens when the system finally turns against us?
Standout Stories & Themes
“Confisco” is one of the book’s most chilling stories—a slow-burn descent into the authoritarian grip of financial surveillance. The protagonist’s journey from quiet skepticism to outright paranoia is disturbingly believable. The scene of him reading the newspaper outside the Monetary Order building, where the government’s confiscation policies are unfolding in real-time, is one of the most haunting moments in the book.
“Supplying the Slugs” is an absolute standout, blending satirical absurdity with hard-edged sci-fi realism. The idea of armless, bioluminescent slugs engaging in guerrilla warfare with AK-47s should not work—yet, somehow, it does. The slug characters are bizarrely compelling, and the alien economy built around them feels strangely plausible.
“Beneath the Fall” delivers a heart-pounding mix of corporate espionage, hacker warfare, and desperate survival. The Fixer, frantically rewriting corporate firmware as security enforcers close in, embodies the one mistake and you’re dead tension that defines the best cyberpunk fiction. The imagery of glowing digital overlays, a sweating hacker pushing his system to its limits, and a dying executive hooked up to failing implants makes this story a visceral experience.
“Last Node” feels less like a story and more like a prophecy—a gut-wrenching look at what happens when identity, autonomy, and cryptographic trust are pushed to their breaking points. The loneliness of the protagonist, navigating an abandoned network where the last traces of human resistance still flicker, stays with you long after you finish the final page.
A Warning, Not Just Entertainment
This book doesn’t pull punches. It doesn’t romanticize dystopia the way much of modern cyberpunk does. Instead, it presents the logical, brutal outcomes of a world where those in control refuse to let go—and where the only hope lies in those who dare to resist. It speaks directly to the cypherpunks, the Bitcoiners, the dissidents, and the free thinkers who understand that code is law, privacy is freedom, and centralization is death.
If you’re looking for safe, mainstream sci-fi that merely plays with cyberpunk aesthetics while reinforcing establishment narratives—this book is not for you. But if you want something that challenges you, that forces you to think, that sometimes makes you uncomfortable but always keeps you engaged, then 21 Futures Vol. 2 is an essential read.
Final Verdict: 5/5 - A Bold, Uncompromising, and Brilliantly Executed Vision of the Future.
This is what cyberpunk should be—not just neon lights and cool tech, but a warning, a call to arms, and a glimpse into the consequences of the choices we make today. Buy it, read it, and then ask yourself: how much time do we have left before this becomes reality?
- Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2025Great short stories. I love this book!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2025I'm always a sucker for grounded, dystopian stories so gave this book a go on a whim and was very pleased with it as it's chock-full of them.
In some ways though, it may not be for the faint-hearted as the horrors described across the stories are ones we seem perilously close to manifesting. You might find yourself even more unnerved by various world news after reading Financial Fallout, but to me that made it even better. The tone shifts between stories (as expected from a collection like this) which helps keep each one feel fresh, though the book is structured in such a way all the stories still feel strongly connected.
I do not have much experience with bitcoin and such but still thoroughly liked all the stories and would say my ignorance on the topic didn't hinder my enjoyment but that deeper knowledge on the topic would enhance it.
As a final note, the art in the book is also excellent, which helps really bring the text to life.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2025For a topic as dystopian as Financial Fallout, a short story anthology format is the best way to consume stories of hope from things that have gone awry.
Editor Philip Charter does it again in Volume 2, pulling together 21 different authors from around the globe out of over 100 who submitted a story to his 21 Futures Contest. Concise delivery of each story speaks to Alex Boast's editing.
I was particularly moved by "Infinite Debt," "Proxy - Temet Nosce," and "Self-Immolation to Self-Custody" by Schoellkopf. To hear these stories about a debt problem that becomes a life problem. Identity theft with only a shell of yourself remaining. And a father who's pushed to the brink of lighting himself on fire, in vivid detail that makes your own hair on the back of your neck stand straight up, gives complete escapism in just a few pages each.
Love is not a luxury. If anything, Financial Fallout is a call to action - why we choose to read, and more importantly, why we take human action after being inspired by the stories we've read.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 202521 Futures: Financial Fallout is a must read! It's a gripping collection of dystopian sci-fi that dives deep into the dark side of a broken financial system. Each of the 21 stories, which are written by both fresh voices and established authors, paints a vivid, often chilling picture of a world where money, privacy, and freedom are under siege. Truly a must-read for anyone interested in the future of finance, tech, and humanity at large, and for those that are interested in blockchain and Bitcoin too! Ps. if you haven't yet, the previous book 21 Futures: Tales from the Timechain should also be on your "want to read" list.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2025The 21 Futures anthologies are getting better and better. These stories seem tighter than the previous Tales From The Timechain book of last year. Many returning authors and some new ones writing with more ease, allowing some stories to break the very moorings of reason. The narratives are like rickety rollercoasters, hold on and have fun because you might not make it off this ride. Financial Fallout is the perfect time capsule for this moment in Bitcoin - lots of unknown dangers yet optimistic possibilities for those that keep the faith. Highly recommend.
5.0 out of 5 starsThe 21 Futures anthologies are getting better and better. These stories seem tighter than the previous Tales From The Timechain book of last year. Many returning authors and some new ones writing with more ease, allowing some stories to break the very moorings of reason. The narratives are like rickety rollercoasters, hold on and have fun because you might not make it off this ride. Financial Fallout is the perfect time capsule for this moment in Bitcoin - lots of unknown dangers yet optimistic possibilities for those that keep the faith. Highly recommend.21 Futures belongs on every Bitcoiner's bookshelf
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2025
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2025I was immediately hooked. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in the intersection of sci-fi, finance, and technological futurism, especially those following the 'crypto' space. The authors build compelling worlds that keep you engaged. If you're also following Wall Street and current events, you'll find this book particularly relevant. Awesome book!
Top reviews from other countries
- Nina WoodcockReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Excellent stories. A great read.
- ArthurReviewed in France on March 17, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I was impressed by the quality of the book and the stories. This is a must-read for anyone interested in sci-fi, finance, and technological futurism
You get on compelling worlds that keep you engaged. Awesome book!
- Sharon MaidmentReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars One of a kind short story collection
This is a beautiful book with gorgeous artwork, incredible stories and a chilling message. Sci-fi dystopia is more relevant than ever and this collection proves it. Everyone - whatever their interest or knowledge level - could benefit from reading this, and I devoured it in a well-spent afternoon.
- MaxReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping read
Really gripping read! Loved it. Basically the Black Mirror of our distopian monetary future. Makes you think a lot!