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The Conclave
The year is 2360. Elysium Biodome V, an isolated poultry farming colony on Mars, has discovered the secret to human harmony.
The community gathers for its 280th annual Conclave, a celebration of love, community, and chickens.
Short story.
The community gathers for its 280th annual Conclave, a celebration of love, community, and chickens.
Short story.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2025
3 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Mark Coker
14 books73 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
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 22, 2026
Deliciously dark
This deliciously dark tale contains all the ingredients I enjoy in a story. It's science fiction that gradually morphs into horror as the story develops. The twist at the end is one I started to suspect about two-thirds of the way through the read, and the ending did not disappoint. Also, there are chickens, and I do adore my little feathered friends.
I recommend you give this one a read. It's well worth the while, and for the price, you have nothing to lose!
This deliciously dark tale contains all the ingredients I enjoy in a story. It's science fiction that gradually morphs into horror as the story develops. The twist at the end is one I started to suspect about two-thirds of the way through the read, and the ending did not disappoint. Also, there are chickens, and I do adore my little feathered friends.
I recommend you give this one a read. It's well worth the while, and for the price, you have nothing to lose!
Displaying 1 of 1 review