What do you think?
Rate this book
Drone Wars
A chilling speculative fiction short story of drone warfare set in the near future.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has ended with Russia’s defeat. Much credit is given to Ukraine’s secretive AI technology for managing drone swarms.
Ukraine’s swarm management tech hides a secret known only to a notorious band of anonymous video gamers, The Lords of the New Church. The Lords have sworn themselves to self-imposed vows of secrecy. A reporter suspects there’s more to the story and seeks the truth.
Meticulously researched, Drone Wars offers an unflinching look at autonomous drone warfare, AI, propaganda, the horrors of war, Russia’s genocide against the Ukrainian people, and the difficulty of facing uncomfortable truths.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has ended with Russia’s defeat. Much credit is given to Ukraine’s secretive AI technology for managing drone swarms.
Ukraine’s swarm management tech hides a secret known only to a notorious band of anonymous video gamers, The Lords of the New Church. The Lords have sworn themselves to self-imposed vows of secrecy. A reporter suspects there’s more to the story and seeks the truth.
Meticulously researched, Drone Wars offers an unflinching look at autonomous drone warfare, AI, propaganda, the horrors of war, Russia’s genocide against the Ukrainian people, and the difficulty of facing uncomfortable truths.
- GenresAmazon
37 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2025
About the author
Mark Coker
13 books77 followersWriter of short science fiction. Also gardener, husband, founder of Smashwords, patent-holding inventor, and Chief Strategy Officer and board member of Draft2Digital, the leading distributor of indie ebooks.
Author of:
Science Fiction Shorts:
Drone Wars
- the future of drone warfare; the urge to look away
The Fish of Terran 19
- mmm...fish
The Conclave
- mmm...chicken
La Petite Mort (novella)
- learn french
Long Fiction:
Boob Tube
- novel of the behind-the-scenes of daytime Hollywood soap operas back in the day.
Non-fiction:
The Smashwords Style Guide (how to create and format an ebook); The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide (how to market any book); The 10-Minute PR Checklist (how to implement a strategic PR program)
Author of:
Science Fiction Shorts:
Drone Wars
- the future of drone warfare; the urge to look away
The Fish of Terran 19
- mmm...fish
The Conclave
- mmm...chicken
La Petite Mort (novella)
- learn french
Long Fiction:
Boob Tube
- novel of the behind-the-scenes of daytime Hollywood soap operas back in the day.
Non-fiction:
The Smashwords Style Guide (how to create and format an ebook); The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide (how to market any book); The 10-Minute PR Checklist (how to implement a strategic PR program)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 19, 2026
The Ukraine War with drones
Going to war against Russia using drones and AI the Drone Army helps to take the war to the Russians. AI images show the results in the form of a game. The Ukraine needs a win to survive and that’s what this story is about. Recommended for those who are interested in AI warfare or simply a different war story.
Going to war against Russia using drones and AI the Drone Army helps to take the war to the Russians. AI images show the results in the form of a game. The Ukraine needs a win to survive and that’s what this story is about. Recommended for those who are interested in AI warfare or simply a different war story.
June 9, 2026
A fun short story that maybe dragged on a few paragraphs too long in the middle but then ended way too abruptly. It was an interesting idea, just could've used more development for sure.
January 22, 2026
This was a novella that could have been taken right out of the news. I follow the Russian War pretty closely and this book is very detailed and describes the state of the war on the frontlines, focusing on the use of drones. I recognized all of the weapons described as the ones I have heard about in the news. While it is a fictionalized account, including a fictionalized end to the conflict, it is very possible that that part is accurate, as well. I certainly hope so!
This was a quick and easy read.
This was a quick and easy read.
January 19, 2026
😲Captivating.
Two months had passed since the last live-streamed mission of the video game "Drone Wars."
It had been a success, drawing a quarter of a million viewers...
*****
The creator and coordinator of a group of 50 "Drone Wars" players is summoned by a journalist. She has many questions for him.
The man is overcome with doubt. What if, in the end, this game wasn't really a game at all?...
A captivating and mysterious "horror/new technology" novella to discover!
Two months had passed since the last live-streamed mission of the video game "Drone Wars."
It had been a success, drawing a quarter of a million viewers...
*****
The creator and coordinator of a group of 50 "Drone Wars" players is summoned by a journalist. She has many questions for him.
The man is overcome with doubt. What if, in the end, this game wasn't really a game at all?...
A captivating and mysterious "horror/new technology" novella to discover!
February 20, 2026
war.
I gave it 4 because I don't to Video games or drones . I also knew where story was going almost from the start. This was a free read and yes I think the Ukraine is getting a bum deal and needs support.
I gave it 4 because I don't to Video games or drones . I also knew where story was going almost from the start. This was a free read and yes I think the Ukraine is getting a bum deal and needs support.
November 20, 2025
A chilling account of warfare that hits so close to reality it will leave you breathless with paranoia.
April 24, 2026
Kindle Unlimited book read with Alexa audio app..Kindle Unlimited book read with Alexa audio app.
Short
Book about a redirected game efforts to win a war.
Short
Book about a redirected game efforts to win a war.
May 5, 2026
Highschool creative writing level
The plot was beyond blatant and telegraphed from the first page. No connection to the protagonist of the story. Stank of AI Generated writing
The plot was beyond blatant and telegraphed from the first page. No connection to the protagonist of the story. Stank of AI Generated writing
January 29, 2026
To the Heroes
A short story that is much closer to the truth than anyone might like to admit. Even if this isn't happening, the premise a layered down Enders Game situation is looming. With the right packaging 12 year-olds with the right gore filters could be controlling deadly machines in the guise of an online video game...
A short story that is much closer to the truth than anyone might like to admit. Even if this isn't happening, the premise a layered down Enders Game situation is looming. With the right packaging 12 year-olds with the right gore filters could be controlling deadly machines in the guise of an online video game...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews