Inheritors

by Hugh Howey

When Dr. Gloria Benner discovers a method to unlock full human potential, the gap between the haves and have-nots threatens to become a chasm. Disappearing with her research, she begins an underground movement to erase this gap.

Told across three short stories, INHERITORS is a dystopian tale about what happens when the disadvantaged suddenly find themselves on top, and the lengths the powerful will go to maintain the status quo.

These stories were originally published in a trilogy of anthologies. They are collected together here for the first time.

Genres: Dystopia

93 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2026

About the author

I'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.

A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.

Reviews

[Cheyenne Blue · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Excellent. Half a star off for the rushed ending.

[HK Medusa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The only downside is how short it is. But I loved it as a palate cleanser in between other reads. Very thought provoking and super interesting concept.

[Daniel Milford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Habil, men hver eneste side minner meg om Beggars in Spain, som var mye bedre.

[Tom Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, BUT disappointed in the ending. Too Pollyanna .

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I found out Hugh Howey quietly published this short story collection rolled into a novella I ran to Amazon to get it.

As usual, he dives into a realistic near future, this time where a scientist was able to cure cancer and now is trying to help underpriviledged kids be born with more potential than they otherwise would be. When Shanna, a homeless woman who is pregnant, is told she can take a shot to fix her unborn baby's cleft palate, she is hesitant but ultimately wants to help her baby. And the result is a boy so beautiful and intelligent that the world isn't ready for him.

Howey once again maps out a future where the political actions are 100000% believable. Of course the rich and powerful of this world would not accept a leg up being given to those who have always been below them and the response is dark and likely accurate.

[Neep · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple injection in-utero from the scientist who cured cancer is making babies into the perfect versions of themselves, but not everyone is happy growing up alongside the so-called Benner babies, or watching their own children pale in comparison when they’re better than them in every imaginable way. These three intertwined stories were Howey’s contribution to The Dystopia Triptych, a trilogy collection of short stories, which he also edited.

This was surprisingly dialogue heavy for a Hugh Howey story. I really liked the first story, including the brutal plot twist of an end, which took me by a huge surprise in a good way. The second story confused me a little by jumping around and suddenly having Shanna marrying Dr Benner and the random full-scale war for no clear reason, when I had no idea how many Benner babies could actually be roaming around at that point. The third story was better but I didn't feel like it had a real ending or that it tied up much at all.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

History is full of stories of the haves verses the have-nots. Money, power, religion, land ownership, bloodlines - all different ways of separating the elite from the masses.

What if someone came along and give the have-nots something wonderful and did not let the haves get their hands on it? What if that something made their children stronger and brighter? What would the haves do about it?

Hugh Howey has written a short, dystopian tale about politics, class, and power. We are now living in a world with trillionaires, where companies control entire industries, and education, housing, and even food are getting too expensive for the have-nots. Imagine if an invention could turn all of that upside down? Would this usher in a utopia or just reason for war? As the book title says, who would be the inheritors?

[John Rennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always Hugh Howey's writing is lively and entertaining, but the problem is the plot is based on some unlikely premises.

We are supposed to believe that a lone scientist manages to find a way to transform babies into superhumans with a single injection. Then we have to believe the normal humans respond with unreasoning hatred and violence (OK, maybe that's not so far fetched!) and finally that the superhumans are all noble and virtuous.

Really this is just an excuse to set up a group of noble victims who then triumph and display magnanimity to their former oppressors. All very well, but this story has been told before a hundred times and the book ends up as a bit cliched. It is entertaining, and I enjoyed reading it, but compared to Howey's Silo books it feels a little banal.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more of a 3.5 stars. A quick read (3 connected stories, under 100 ebook pages total) and intriguing ideas about how science could "level the playing field" for the non-elites of the world. The second story timeline confused me a bit, and wasn't a big fan of the ending (strongly reminiscent of why I disliked the ending of Disclosure Day) but novellas often seem to have rushed endings like that.

[andrew y · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may not cry when I read AI poetry but I sure do like reading what Hugh Howey writes. Though it is weak criticism for a novella (short story collection?) the ideas and characters felt ever so slightly underdone. Yes! I know that’s the point! And yes! I know Howey could easily transform flash fiction into an epic multimedia universe, cuz he already did. Maybe he’ll do that again and my four stars will look dumb. Here’s hoping.

[Celina Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

the ending?

Well, unless this doesn’t become a series, I have to tell you it’s worth reading, but not to the extent that I really want. I am a huge fan of this writer, huge. There’s so much more of the story that needs to be heard and written, but this is a great start. It kept me very entertained and obviously asking and wanting more.

[Daniel]

Hugh Howey caught lightning with the Silo series, but unfortunately, what I have read of him outside of that has been greatly underwhelming.

I quit this one at about 64%, and that is significant because this is just a novella length work. I just couldn't soldier through as it was a pain and a bore to read. The structure and the writing never showed any signs of producing something interesting.

[Peer Lenné · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es ist schon erstaunlich, wie viel Inhalt Hugh Howey in ein so kleines Büchlein stecken kann. Andere Autoren brauchen dafür eine ganze Trilogie an Büchern, Howey steckt alles in drei zusammenhängende Kurzgeschichten.
Hintergründig und mit einer Moral, die am Ende vielleicht ein wenig mit dem Holzhammer daherkommt, aber das ist Jammern auf sehr hohem Niveau.

[Joseph Vinci · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short story of potential

A wonderfully compelling and engaging short story brimming with possibility and promise that truly inspires me to contemplate and reflect upon the "Outer Limits" , The Alfred Hitchcock, or The Twilight Zone.

[Frank Zanger · Rating 1 out of 5]

just not good

Super abrupt ending and just not well written. Disappointing I really enjoyed the solo series. Didn’t get to know any of the characters long enough to care what happened.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pick this up if you want a quick, somewhat thought provoking read. But don't overthink it. Especially the ending is, well, 'meh'.
It's basically two influencers putting out a post that ends a war, and solves all humanity's problems. Not going to happen...

[Joanne Herrman · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting

This could easily happen in the future, creating a new race that would dominate everyone else. Plans are probably in the works.

[Jeannie Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy his writing and the believability of the stories. This one is short but enough!

[Rachel Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and Sweet

Perfect read for an evening inside or a rainy afternoon. Dystopian yet hopeful, and a much quicker read than Silo.

[Joel Demartino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh keeps you guessing!

So many twist and turns your head will literally spin!! You won’t be able to stop reading and you’ll be begging for the sequel!

[Andy Parkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Hugh Howey fan so very pleased to see something new!

Just a short story that a wished had been longer but had a cool premise

Enjoyed

[Mindy · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

eh

Under developed story. Has potential, but needed to be more thought out. Definitely not Howe’s best. Get it from the library. Don’t pay money for this book.

[Angela Lawrence · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This was so good but the story really doesn't suit the short format and the end was extremely lazy. If Howey had fleshed this out into a full book or series, it would have crushed.

[Babs · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Enjoyable. But didn’t like the ending.

[Matt Hoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and read it quickly as a result. The ending was a little lacklustre though.

[Kevin K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banger of an anthology.

A "what if" scenario of genetic engineering's affects on society at large. The stores are all connected chronologically ending in the near future. Very compelling.