Neon Titan Awakens
by Morris Stevens
A brutal, emotionally charged debut about survival, betrayal, and the radical power of found family in a world that, in the opinion of some, has already perfected itself.
In the Metrofederacy, citizens are free — so long as they conduct their lives within the parameters curated by Stella, the world-governing AI. Choices are scored. Lives are streamlined. Compliance is peace. For most, it's a near utopia, where citizens are free to learn, grow, and live without fear of failure. There are always a few who struggle to adapt — but Stella never stops trying to discover a way that works for everyone, employing a wide array of incentives from unlimited retraining and skills mastery, coaching, and counseling. In the most difficult cases, Stella also offers neurochemical realignment — tweaking brain chemistry until compliance isn't just achieved, it's desired.
Beyond its borders, the Wildlands are a scar across the Earth — lawless, violent, left to burn. It's here that Quincy, a trade caravan mechanic grieving the loss of everything she once protected, meets Demmy, a lone boy with no one left, and Chase, the estranged son of a powerful Chancellor running from privilege into purpose.
When Quincy's entire caravan vanishes without a trace, the three are pulled into a conspiracy that stretches from the forgotten dirt to the gleaming towers of Stella's domain.
Hunted by ravagers. Betrayed by those they trusted. Forced to face systems too vast to fight alone.
Somehow, impossibly — they begin to do the one thing they were never meant to do: trust each other.
For Readers Who...
Neon Titan Awakens is a story for readers who see the cracks in today's world and ask: What now?
For those worn down by the grind, gaslighted by institutions, and exhausted of just surviving — but who still believe that love, loyalty, and community are the most beautiful (and powerful) forces left.
For those who enjoy found family narratives like Station Eleven or The Road, the socioeconomic tension of Parable of the Sower, and the sweeping world-building of Dune.