A Victim of My Own Design

A haunting yet darkly humorous exploration of a world teetering on the edge of collapse.

With stories that pulse with both the familiar and the uncanny, O’Neil’s characters struggle to survive in a reality rife with violence, climate catastrophe, and the crushing weight of modern life. From the threat of police brutality to the absurdity of predatory healthcare, his sharp observations of societal decay leave a lasting impact. Yet, in the midst of the turmoil, his signature wit emerges--offering moments of levity that deepen the poignancy of the human condition. Blending short stories, poetry, and micro-fiction, O’Neil’s stream-of-consciousness style and inventive sentence structures draw the reader into a mesmerizing rhythm, making this collection as thought-provoking as it is unforgettable. Fans of his previous work A Creature Wanting Form will find a continuation of his unique voice, while new readers will be captivated by his unflinching portrayal of survival in a world gone awry.

Luke O’Neil has written for Esquire, New York Magazine, The Guardian, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Playboy, Slate, Vice, and many other publications. He is the author of Welcome to Hell World: Dispatches from the American Dystopia.