Deborah Mistina

Imber — A Dystopian Sci-Fi Novel

A science fiction thriller about courage, resistance, and hope, Imber follows four strangers as they uncover hidden truths about humanity’s future.

Set in a world shaped by environmental collapse, Imber has been described as “captivating,” “evocative,” and “a heart-pumping quest that will take you to the edge and back.”

2025 IAN Book of the Year Winner – Science Fiction/Dystopia 2025 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal – Conspiracy Thriller

Imber is available on Amazon, including Kindle Unlimited.

No reason to celebrate

“You know the worst thing about this?” she whispered dolefully to the moon. “It’s that leaving Earth isn’t a reason to celebrate at all.”

— Imber

Self-Publishing Review’s Praise for Imber

I’m grateful to Self-Publishing Review for their recent reflections on my novel Imber. Here’s an excerpt:

“Creative, timely, and ultimately optimistic, this is a piece of visionary fiction that stands out from the field of speculative dystopian sci-fi.” 

—Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★★

I’m grateful for these recent recognitions for my debut novel, Imber:

• 2025 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards – 2nd Place (Science Fiction/Fantasy)

• 2025 Reader Views Literary Awards – Classics Division Bronze Medal (Science Fiction)

• 2026 Feathered Quill Book Awards – Finalist (Science Fiction)

Thank you to every reader who has spent time with my story!

Learn more:

The Meaning of the Title Imber

I’ve been asked in interviews about the title of my novel, Imber — not only what the word means, but also why it needed to be that particular word rather than something safer or more self-explanatory.

I think titles do more than label a book. They can evoke emotion and set subtle expectations for how a reader is meant to move through the story. Some titles explain everything up front. Others invite curiosity.

I’ve always been drawn to words with layered meanings. Imber is that kind of word — one that quietly echoes the themes of the story itself. It’s a title that doesn’t rush to explain and doesn’t ask the reader to rush either.

—

About the book Imber is an award-winning dystopian science fiction thriller about survival, secrets, and the price of hope. When the government conceals critical truths about humanity’s future, four strangers with an unexpected connection come together to expose the conspiracy.

Love stories aren’t always romantic.

Some are about what we choose to protect.

Imber is a dystopian sci-fi thriller about fighting for truth and justice in a broken world — and the fragile connections that make that fight possible.

It isn’t a romance. But it is a story about fidelity and hope.