Pestilence by Stephen Simpson is a science fiction book set in a post-apocalyptic Britain, following a group of rebels who have destroyed a government data centre.

The story centres on Lydia, her injured friend Liam, and their companion Shaun as they navigate a world where the population has been forcibly barcoded with neural chips.

Following the destruction of the central servers, these chips have malfunctioned, turning the majority of citizens into violent or catatonic drones.

The protagonists seek refuge in the village of Alton Stine while evading a murderous pursuer named Jodie.

S.C.I., a shadowy elite organization led by the Spider Queen, orchestrated the barcoding to achieve totalitarian control.

As the rebels plan a resistance, they discover that the chips were designed as a neural leash to suppress dissent.

This dystopian tale explores themes of individual freedom versus systematic integration amidst a societal collapse.