Ted Kosmatka's "The Ascendant" (novelette, anarchy, free): A less interesting variation of Heinlein's "Coventry"

Ruthless anarchy prevails in "prison", a part of the "world" cut off from civilized parts. This is the story of two children born in prison who survive to grow to their teen years & are tough enough to fight their way back through the gates to civilization.

"World" itself is an immense tower - part of many such in what must once have been a city. But that is ancient history - no one here has been through the bottom floors which are charred, let alone to ground.

Civilization is in upper floors where they grow food & have some sort of semi-tribal society. Below that are "prison" levels - a one-way street for convicts of civilization, convictions themselves apparently of an utterly degenerate society.

Fact sheet.

First published: Subterranean Online, Spring 2009.
Rating: B.
Download full text from publisher's site.
Related: Stories of Ted Kosmatka.