The Culling

by David Klein

In dystopian America, a barbaric constitutional amendment has resulted in a lottery that culls a percentage of the population each year—all in the name of ensuring equality and mutual sacrifice. Maren, a director at a charitable organization, still has immunity from when her husband volunteered for the lottery. But when Maren is the lone witness to a possible act of treason by the country’s first lady, her immunity is suddenly invalidated and she is selected in the lottery. She is determined to escape her death sentence.

Ven is a mercenary who hunts citizens that refuse to comply with a lottery notification. He needs just a few more points to retire with permanent immunity. He earns the assignment to capture Maren, only to realize she is the woman he recently met and has been fantasizing about. Instead of hunting Maren, he teams up with her. They race to reach Canada while being relentlessly pursued by other mercenaries and federal agents. Relying on skills, wits, and luck, they’ll make their escape together—or be destroyed in the process.

Shirley Jackson’s iconic short story “The Lottery” meets Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” in this dark thriller that asks whether the human spirit can still prevail.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2022

About the author

I am the author of the novels STASH and CLEAN BREAK, published by Broadway Books, the novels IN FLIGHT and THE SUITOR, and the exclusive eBook THE CULLING.

I like to write, and read, stories about people who find themselves, often due to their own character flaws, in extraordinary and difficult circumstances that test their moral courage.

Visit my web site: http://www.bydavidklein.com.

Reviews

[David Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, exciting, meaningful! Five stars because I'm the author!