Dark Place: A dystopian novelette

by Christopher Kell

Overview

'Dark Place stands as a thoughtful addition to contemporary dystopian literature...raises profound questions..' Book-shelfie (4.5/5 stars)

"Loved it...a strong premise and a satisfying twist that inspires thought and discussion about the world we live in today..." Reedsy Discovery (4/5 stars)

Set in a near-future world ravaged by resource depletion, society is controlled by the Authority that has imposed a strict citizen scoring system. Everyone must maintain a Citizen Score or face banishment to the mysterious "Dark Place." The narrative follows Ros, Femke, and Domhnal - brilliant university students who discover that parts of Earth have been hidden from the privileged population of what they call the "Light Place." Through clandestine research using backdoor access to restricted networks, they uncover evidence suggesting that the Authority is using the social credit system to cull the population.

The three idealistic students are determined to denounce the Authority, but first, they must become 'dispossessed'. When they find themselves stranded in the Dark Place they discover it has a different purpose with profound consequences for the future of society.

"Dark Place" is an examination of humanity's resilience and capacity for adaptation in the face of existential challenges.

More review comments:

'... haunting and intellectually stimulating...'

'Kell skilfully builds tension...excels at character development throughout...'

'...invites readers to continue the conversation beyond the final page.'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798230432906
Publisher:	Christopher Kell
Publication date:	07/19/2025
Pages:	84
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.17(d)

About the Author

Christopher Kell lives in South West England. He has enjoyed writing short stories for most of his adult life and has seen them published in the US and the UK. His writing genres are a mix of sci-fi and contemporary. In recent years, he has committed to expanding his writing, resulting in the dystopian novelette "Dark Place".

His first published story was "Larrs' Ghost" about a scientist who enters his computer-generated world and won't return. This was written at a time when Kell was teaching students about an amazing new technology called the 'microprocessor' (yes, he really was around then, he simply time-travelled from that era to now) and it was before the term 'virtual reality' became widely known. The story was published in 1980 in a computing magazine! Re-published in the US and now included in "Mrs. Dunkley's War Letters - and other short stories."

He was also published in Astronomy & Space edited by renowned astronomer Sir Patrick Moore.

His other writing strands have included stage plays (winning writing and production awards) and nonfiction such as textbooks and technical articles in various magazines.

Editorial Reviews

What makes Dark Place particularly effective is how it systematically subverts reader expectations. What initially appears to be a straightforward dystopian tale about exposing government oppression gradually transforms into something more nuanced and philosophically thought-provoking...Kell excels at character development throughout...The writing style of the novella is economical yet evocative...The dialogue effectively communicates the themes of the story while remaining gripping. Beyond its narrative strengths, Dark Place raises profound questions about sustainability, technology dependence, and what truly constitutes progress. Is advanced technology always beneficial, or can it lead to our downfall? Is the comfort of modern civilization worth its environmental cost? Can humanity survive without fundamentally changing how we live? ...In sum, Dark Place stands as a thoughtful addition to contemporary dystopian literature—one that avoids both nihilistic despair and unrealistic optimism in favor of a more nuanced examination of humanity's resilience and capacity for adaptation in the face of existential challenges.

Book-shelfie (4.5/5 stars) - Maria Ashford