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Divided We Fall: One Possible Future
Political upheavals can be a very dangerous time, especially when ideologies are as far apart as they are now. Divided we Fall presents one possible future, one where powerful forces act behind the scenes to effect the change they've wished to create for decades, and have largely been held back. What happens when a nation is sharply divided, anarchistic forces allowed to run wild, and the police are held at bay or even defunded? Add in a presidential assassination, and you have all the potential for a world changing situation. In this world, Divided we Fall.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2020
64 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Brad R. Torgersen
80 books75 followersWho is Brad?
Brad R. Torgersen is a full-time healthcare tech geek by day, and United States Army Reserve Warrant Officer on weekends. He is a Writers of the Future winner, as well as a contributing author for Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, and Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine—the latter awarding him the “AnLab” readers’ choice prize for best novelette, 2010. Presently, Torgersen is a Campbell nominee for Best New Science Fiction writer, Hugo nominee, for his novelette, “Ray of Light,” and also a Nebula nominee, for the same novelette. Married, with one daughter, Brad is back home in the Rocky Mountain West, after spending fourteen years living and working in various places around the Puget Sound.
Brad R. Torgersen is a full-time healthcare tech geek by day, and United States Army Reserve Warrant Officer on weekends. He is a Writers of the Future winner, as well as a contributing author for Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, and Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine—the latter awarding him the “AnLab” readers’ choice prize for best novelette, 2010. Presently, Torgersen is a Campbell nominee for Best New Science Fiction writer, Hugo nominee, for his novelette, “Ray of Light,” and also a Nebula nominee, for the same novelette. Married, with one daughter, Brad is back home in the Rocky Mountain West, after spending fourteen years living and working in various places around the Puget Sound.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 23, 2025
This is an interesting collection of short stories by different authors about the near future as it looked in late 2020. They were written in that covid-lockdown, BLM-riot year after Joe Biden supposedly got 81 million votes to take the election, but while Trump was still in office for his first term. The stories range from good to very good, except for one poor entry by Lea Valencia Noring. Reading it in August 2025, I notice that in many cases truth proved stranger than fiction, but two things the book got right were Trump assassination attempts and Joe Biden “suffering from dementia”.
November 27, 2020
Be afraid
I hope and pray that this book isn't prophetic about the near future of the United States. The authors paint a very dark picture of what could all too easily happen. As a military lifer I was especially appalled by the portrayal of how spineless too many military people were.
I hope and pray that this book isn't prophetic about the near future of the United States. The authors paint a very dark picture of what could all too easily happen. As a military lifer I was especially appalled by the portrayal of how spineless too many military people were.
November 27, 2020
Great read
This book is scary but probable, if the left side does what it usually does then all Americans are in trouble.this give us all a taste of 2022!
This book is scary but probable, if the left side does what it usually does then all Americans are in trouble.this give us all a taste of 2022!
January 24, 2021
Will history repeat itself?
Prescient? Some, at least up to the 2020 election but, Lord, I hope not about the year(s) after.
Excellent story tellers - many with a science fiction and/or military background - outline a dystopia that reads like the news from tomorrow if the French and Russian revolutions are repeated in the post-2020 election period.
And if the "Resistance" from the Right not only becomes necessary but finds the courage to stands against chaos.
It's happened before.
Am I going to disappear for having read and liked this book?
Prescient? Some, at least up to the 2020 election but, Lord, I hope not about the year(s) after.
Excellent story tellers - many with a science fiction and/or military background - outline a dystopia that reads like the news from tomorrow if the French and Russian revolutions are repeated in the post-2020 election period.
And if the "Resistance" from the Right not only becomes necessary but finds the courage to stands against chaos.
It's happened before.
Am I going to disappear for having read and liked this book?
March 2, 2021
Well I didn't get to sleep until after
The sun came up this morning. I was just going to read one. What is the phrase -plausible reality? Alternative history -I hope and pray. Short stories but bound together by a common set of beliefs. Well written, thought provoking. Reminds me of the old saying, it will be ok in the end, and if its not ok its not over yet. Or something like that.
The sun came up this morning. I was just going to read one. What is the phrase -plausible reality? Alternative history -I hope and pray. Short stories but bound together by a common set of beliefs. Well written, thought provoking. Reminds me of the old saying, it will be ok in the end, and if its not ok its not over yet. Or something like that.
June 7, 2021
Scary look at a possible future
Trump was not only defeated, he was torn limb from limb by the mob. America is now very Progressive and no longer free. The are multiple tales of of the dystopian future caused by the rejection of American values and the adoption of a Progressive Federal government.
Remember, keep that patch of Old Glory, America is an idea. The nation will be Free once again!
Trump was not only defeated, he was torn limb from limb by the mob. America is now very Progressive and no longer free. The are multiple tales of of the dystopian future caused by the rejection of American values and the adoption of a Progressive Federal government.
Remember, keep that patch of Old Glory, America is an idea. The nation will be Free once again!
December 7, 2020
Short shelf life
This one will quickly become alternate history or a living nightmare. Reality has already gone a bit different than the stories told here. May it continue to go a different path.
This is a collection of short stories. Some are meh, most were rather good, some made tears come to my eyes.
This one will quickly become alternate history or a living nightmare. Reality has already gone a bit different than the stories told here. May it continue to go a different path.
This is a collection of short stories. Some are meh, most were rather good, some made tears come to my eyes.
March 17, 2021
Depressing, Prophetic, Frightening with a Ray of Light
This is one doozy of an anthology. If it doesn’t scare the bejeesus out of you, you are brain dead. The authors here don’t hold anything back. They tell it as it is. The stories left me hopeless, angry, motivated and, strangely, entertained.
This is one doozy of an anthology. If it doesn’t scare the bejeesus out of you, you are brain dead. The authors here don’t hold anything back. They tell it as it is. The stories left me hopeless, angry, motivated and, strangely, entertained.
January 28, 2021
We need to think about what has happened and what can be done about it.
I want people who might not pick this up to know that it's worth it. I may be too far gone to take direct action, but there's the Duchess to consider.
I want people who might not pick this up to know that it's worth it. I may be too far gone to take direct action, but there's the Duchess to consider.
April 7, 2021
Interesting!
Maybe a touch overdone but I certainly don't see any of the scenarios as implausible.
You guys are all going to shell! I'll drive, it should be a fun ride.
As they used to say "The Hobgoblins (Woke Police) will get you if you don't watch out!"
Maybe a touch overdone but I certainly don't see any of the scenarios as implausible.
You guys are all going to shell! I'll drive, it should be a fun ride.
As they used to say "The Hobgoblins (Woke Police) will get you if you don't watch out!"
Read
April 10, 2022This is one possible future that can become very real.
Good read and if we don't take our schools and colleges back and start teaching civics, the Constitution and how/why socialism/ communism doesn't work EVER.
Good read and if we don't take our schools and colleges back and start teaching civics, the Constitution and how/why socialism/ communism doesn't work EVER.
January 24, 2021
Terrifying
The start of the first story was so spot on I had to check the publication date. It came out before the election.
Good writing, but an emotionally hard read.
The start of the first story was so spot on I had to check the publication date. It came out before the election.
Good writing, but an emotionally hard read.
February 24, 2021
Enjoyable stories
I truly enjoyed this collection of short stories. They have a lot to say about where we're headed and what lead us to this point.
I truly enjoyed this collection of short stories. They have a lot to say about where we're headed and what lead us to this point.
March 13, 2021
Read it.
Maybe, just maybe, we won't have to live through it. But I have my doubts. Be ready.
Get started now.
Maybe, just maybe, we won't have to live through it. But I have my doubts. Be ready.
Get started now.
May 6, 2021
Surprisingly excellent reading
Very well done. A series of short stories that are along the same lines. What a creative way to look at the big picture. Highly recommend this book
Very well done. A series of short stories that are along the same lines. What a creative way to look at the big picture. Highly recommend this book
May 6, 2021
Echo chamber much?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews