A Time To Die, by Jeff Goldat

In 2070, death is no longer a tragedy—it’s an appointment.

In a world managed by an all-seeing Artificial Intelligence, the randomness of the past is gone. There are no untimely illnesses or accidental deaths—only a clinical “perfect destiny” where every life ends on schedule, calculated by usefulness. For decades, humanity has accepted the trade: certainty in place of freedom, order in place of choice.

Christopher is the system’s only error. Born off the grid and raised in isolation, he exists in no database and triggers no alarms. When he surfaces in a high-tech United States, he finds a society where every breath is tracked—except his. But when a single question leads to a violent consequence, it becomes clear: invisibility doesn’t make him safe. It makes him dangerous.

And in a world built on control, a single flaw can bring everything down.