Trapped in a cold case, burned out detective Harlan hits on a curious lead—the severed head of an android. But this particular android head cries out in the voice of his dead wife. It has her personality, all her memories, but is it … Elsie?
Welcome to a near-future Nebraska, brightly lit with neon promises and broken dreams. Heavy on the body augmentations and self interest, low on morale.
Interconnected tales present a lay of the land: Javier, a henchman head over heels in love with his violent boss’ niece, as well as Lucian Lucky, an prizefighter with a serious augmentation addiction facing the tough decision of if the cost of victory is worth the size of the purse.
Freaks, fighters, fixers and fuck-ups: fortune favors the corrupt in Midwestern Chrome.
Why we’re excited about this book:
When it comes to mixing horror, science-fiction, and crime, Michael Bettendorf is fast becoming the go-to writer. The author of Trve Cvlt and the forthcoming Help, I Can’t Stop Shitting Snakes, Bettendorf’s short fiction can be found in such publications as Rock and a Hard Place, Slugger, Drabblecast, Intrepidus Ink, Cosmic Horror Monthly, PseudoPod, and Brave New Weird: The Best New Weird Horror, Volume 3, among others. With his latest, Bettendorf shows us a near-future dystopian Nebraska, and the nefarious people fueling the nightmares. Koji A. Dae (Casual) says Midwestern Chrome is “Punk and poignant. Break-neck and heartbreaking.” Sean Doolittle (Device Free Weekend) says: “Does what only the finest dystopian Sci-Fi Noir can: shows us ourselves in the reflection of a cohesive, all-too-plausible future. Highly recommended.”, and Michael Moreci (Barbaric, Wasted Space) says: “An unmissable genre mashup that brings to mind the best of Philip K. Dick.”
Releasing from Tenebrous Press 11 August 2026, Midwestern Chrome by Michael Bettendorf is available for pre-order now.
BOB PASTORELLA