Model Collapse

by Matthew Kressel

A government agent and his mentee are sent into a remote town on a mysterious and dangerous project…

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction

23 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2025

About the author

The short:

I’m a software developer and speculative fiction writer with three Nebula Award nominations, a World Fantasy Award nomination, and a Eugie Award nomination. I am the co-host of the Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series in New York City. And I created the Moksha submissions system, in use by some of the largest publishers in speculative fiction today.

The long:

I’m a software developer and writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. My fiction has been nominated three times for a Nebula Award and once for a Eugie Foster Memorial Award. And I’ve also been nominated for a World Fantasy Award for my former editorial and publishing work. My fiction has been translated into many languages, including Japanese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, Czech, Polish, and Farsi.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved hearing and telling stories. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, and I would entertain myself by creating entire worlds in my head and inhabiting them fully (sometimes to the chagrin of my parents and teachers). This world-building continued well into my adulthood, when, after a particularly vivid dream, I decided to write my stories down. Once I began writing seriously, I’ve never stopped.

My fiction tends to explore themes of loss, death, mourning and rebirth, but also hope and possibility. I consider myself a mindful optimist, even though my fiction can sometimes be very dark. I believe humanity is capable of great feats, but what we often lack is will, imagination, or foresight. Sometimes I tend my fiction to inspire. Sometimes I write cautionary tales. Sometimes I just follow my dream-id where it leads. I’m always surprised by what my subconscious brings up.

I work incredibly hard at my writing, and my only wish is that you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoy creating it.

My short story “The Last Novelist” was a 2017 Nebula Award finalist as well a 2018 Eugie Award finalist. My short story “The Meeker and the All-Seeing Eye” was a 2014 Nebula Award finalist. And my short story “The Sounds of Old Earth” was a 2013 Nebula Award finalist. My work has also appeared in several year’s best anthologies and received numerous honorable mentions.

My many short stories have appeared in such publications as Lightspeed, Nightmare, Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Analog, io9.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Interzone, Electric Velocipede, Apex Magazine, and the anthologies Mad Hatters and March Hares, Cyber World, After,The People of the Book, and many other places.

My debut novel, King of Shards, was hailed as “Majestic, resonant, reality-twisting madness,” from NPR Books. I have a novella forthcoming in 2026 from Tordotcom / Reactor titled The Rainseekers. And a novel, Space Trucker Jess, coming in 2025 from Fairwood Press.

Every second Wednesday, I co-host the Fantastic Fiction reading series at the famous KGB Bar alongside veteran speculative-fiction editor Ellen Datlow.

In 2011 I was nominated for World Fantasy Award in the category of Special Award, Non-Professional for my work editing Sybil’s Garage. The magazine’s website has been archived here.

In 2003 I started the speculative fiction magazine Sybil’s Garage, and the stories and poetry therein have received multiple honorable mentions in the Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror. Under the rubric of Senses Five Press, I published Paper Cities, which won the 2009 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology.

I have been a long-time member of Altered Fluid, a Manhattan-based writing group which has many successful past and present members, including N.K. Jemisin, Sam J. Miller, Alaya Dawn Johnson, E.C. Myers, Mercurio D. Rivera, and many others. I am also obsessed with Blade Runner (both films).

When I’m not writing, I design websites and write software. I am probably best known for the Moksha submissions system, which I created, and which is currently used by some of the largest SF markets including The Magazine of Fantasy

Reviews

[Rakib Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read from this author was quite an interesting one. In such a small space the author has created a unique story that is part science fiction and part horror, and the story flowed like a breeze keeping focused and ended with a neat twist.

Much cannot be expressed about the story without spoiling it, so I will just say that it keeps mysterious all throughout, keeping the reader guessing what is really happening and where the story is actually going.

I would have liked a bit more explanation regarding the setting as many things are left unclear and the potential for further expansion of the premise is rather minimal due to the ending.

Overall score - 3.5 out of 5 stars.

For more reviews and stuff check out my blog -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com/

[Alex Sarll]

This started out mildly eerie but thoroughly familiar – Night Vale meets that game with the weird hitchhikers, or the Laundry minus the sitcom DNA. It lost additional points for a hoards/hordes error and the line "But she soon realised his rigid behaviors weren't autism but bulwarks against the abyss, shields against the darkness, a darkness she had yet to glimpse." Mate, word from the inside: those are the same picture. However, once it played its hand – one I should really have seen coming, given the title – I realised there was a very topical horror story lurking inside all that borrowed garb. Just a shame it's a warning that's already too late, but ain't that always the way lately?

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Model Collapse by Matthew Kressel is Tor original short. You can read this story for free on the Tor.com site https://reactormag.com/model-collapse...

A government agent and his mentee are sent into a remote town on a mysterious and dangerous project.

My ongoing quest to get current with the Tor short stories.

A scary take on AI. Engaging read.

4 Stars

[rebekka · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first, a good plot is wasted. The ending has a cliffhanger with a yummy twist. It's a dystopian storytelling of future ai innovations. The beginning was confusing at first. As the story developed, it started to become more interesting. The ending was good, but it lacked that shift in pov and needed a finishing touch. In conclusion, it was better than I'd anticipated for a short story.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This near-future sci-fi story, while short, was very powerful — I literally had goosebumps reading the final paragraph. Highly recommended, but I won't say more because I feel that even mild spoilers would dull its impact. It can be read for free on reactormag.com.

[Thia Reads A Lot]

4.0*

A mentor and mentee go to a remote town where weird stuff is happening. M the mentor explains that it's because of personal AIs who collapsed once too much stuff was AI-generated. L the mentee is one of those suffering from it, although she keeps forgetting.

[Per · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/model-collapse...

[Radwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look as AT and the future of humanity if AI controlled our lives more. I would say, I didn't expect the turn the events took, and it was surprising and chiling.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one. Reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror. I gasped!

[MH · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grim apparently Lovecraftian tale, whch reads like a DELTA GREEN mission, until its not.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sci-fi short that reads like the set-up for a Twilight Zone or Black Mirror episode. Atmospheric and interesting, but the ending in particular was rushed for the ideas it wanted to convey - even considering it is a short story.