Creative Futures

by Allen Stroud

Genres: Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Science Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

I am Assistant Professor (Research) Defence and Security Futures in the Centre for Peace and Security at Coventry University.

I was Chair of the British Science Fiction Association between 2019 and 2025.

In 2017, I completed my Ph. D. in "Worldbuilding Techniques and Writing Structures in Science Fiction and Fantasy".

My Official Elite: Dangerous novel, Elite: Lave Revolution was published in May 2014. I am also the official novelist for Julian Gollop's new game 'Chaos Reborn', released in 2016. I also wrote 'The Last Tank Commander', which was first published by Newcon Press and went on to be included in 'The Year's Best Military SF and Adventure Stories 2016' by Baen Books.

In 2017, Luna Press published my novel, 'The Forever Man', a weird fiction/urban fantasy. In 2018, I was featured in the Clarke Award/Newcon Press anthology celebrating 100 years since the birth of Arthur C. Clarke.

I was also the co-lead writer for the computer game, Phoenix Point which was published in 2019. You can find a collection of the short stories here - https://phoenixpoint.info/archives/

In 2020, Flame Tree Press published my Science Fiction novel, Fearless.

“Stroud raises fascinating questions about the politics of space exploration.”- Publisher’s Weekly

“Rigorous hard SF with a powerful but flawed protagonist and a fascinating historical background, Fearless is a treat for just about any Analog reader.” AnalogSF

“Fast-paced, gripping hard SF with death in hard vacuum waiting at every turn.” Adrian Tchaikovsky

After Fearless, we have the sequel, Resilient (2022) then the episodes: Europa (2023), Ceres (2023) Lagrange Point (2023), Terra (2023), Luna (2024) and Jezero (2024). Also, the third novel, Vigilance came out in 2024.

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average rating: 3.0/5 🌟

Individual ratings:

5 🌟 Timeline by Allen Stroud

3 🌟 Lay Down Your Burdens by Allen Stroud

5 🌟 Walls by Gavin Smith

1 🌟 Asteroid Mining by Allen Stroud

3 🌟 A New Family by Allen Stroud

5 🌟 Prescience by Kieran Currie Rones

4 🌟 100kg of Platinum in London by Stewart Hotston

1 🌟 The Letter by Allen Stroud

3 🌟 One Damn Fish at a Time by Emma Newman

3 🌟 Fake by Stephen Oram

3 🌟 The Motherlode by Tiffani Angus

3 🌟 Cold Turkey by Allen Stroud

1 🌟 The Recording Angel by Adrian Tchaikovsky

3 🌟 Down the Lonely Road by Adeola Eze

2 🌟 Call Centre by Allen Stroud

1 🌟 The Gaslight War by Adrian Tchaikovsky

4 🌟 Humans & Computers by Allen Stroud

4 🌟 The New Weird by Adrian Tchaikovsky

5 🌟 Apprehension Sands by Gareth L. Powell

3 🌟 AI Execution by Allen Stroud

4 🌟 Quack by Stark Holborn

1 🌟 Gigi by Sophia McDougall

[Sofia-May · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collection brings together a strong mix of authors, and I liked how each story takes a slightly different angle on what “the future” might look like. Some lean more toward sci fi, some feel more supernatural or mysterious, and a few blend genres in a way that feels fresh. Even though the stories all cover big ideas, they’re written in a way that’s easy to follow and still very character focused.
What makes this anthology stand out is that it’s inspired by the Creative Futures Research Project, which brings together creative storytelling and real-world future planning. You can feel that influence as you read. The stories aren’t just “what if” for fun — they explore the consequences of decisions, how people might adapt, and what future generations might inherit from us. It gives the whole book a grounded feeling while still letting the authors be imaginative.
I also really liked the range of voices in the collection. There’s a good mix of styles, tones and perspectives, which kept it from feeling repetitive. Some stories are hopeful, some are unsettling, and some sit somewhere in between, but they all fit the overall theme really well.
And on a more surface level — the physical book is beautiful. Flame Tree always makes stunning editions, but the foil and printed edges on this one make it feel extra special.
Overall, Creative Futures is a thoughtful and engaging read. If you enjoy speculative fiction that mixes imagination with real-world questions, this anthology is definitely worth picking up. I’m glad Flame Tree sent it my way.

[Rebecca Thomason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the thought behind this book. They created a possible future timeline then wrote stories, letters, scenarios, etc. based off of this possible future. I don't know if Stroud has made more like this, but I am looking that up once I finish typing here. Enjoyable read.