ChatGPT Writes The Great Gatsby Set in a Zombie Apocalypse

In case you didn’t already know, Open AI recently released ChatGPT, a new model that interacts in a conversational way.

However, I don’t care much about chatbots and instead wanted to see its fiction writing capabilities.

Here was my prompt:

Write the opening scene of The Great Gatsby set during a zombie apocalypse

From there, I continue the story by using the AI’s generated text as the next prompt and add “Chapter 2:”, “Chapter 3:”, and so on, to the ends of the prompt to tell the AI to continue the story.

Here is what it came up with…

The Great Gatsby & Zombies

Chapter 1

The sky was a sickly shade of green and the air was thick with the stench of decay. The once-lush fields and forests had been reduced to a barren wasteland, and the only sound was the shuffling of countless feet.

The zombies lumbered across the land, their bodies twisted and contorted by the ravages of the virus that had turned them into mindless killing machines. They were driven by an unending hunger, and they would stop at nothing to feed their insatiable appetites.

In the midst of this chaos, a lone figure stood atop a hill, gazing out over the destruction with a look of detached amusement. He was Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic millionaire who had risen from humble beginnings to become the most powerful man in the land.

Gatsby was not like the other survivors. He had not been driven to desperation by the apocalypse, but had instead embraced it as a new opportunity to acquire even more wealth and power.

He had used his cunning and ruthlessness to build a small empire, using the zombies as a means to eliminate his rivals and assert his dominance over the remaining pockets of humanity.

And now, as he stood on the hill, he knew that he was untouchable. He was the master of this new world, and nothing could stand in his way.

But even as Gatsby basked in his own greatness, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. He had everything he could ever want, but he was still not truly happy.

For deep down, Gatsby knew that true happiness could only be found in the love of another person. And in this world of death and destruction, that love seemed like an impossible dream.

But still, Gatsby held onto that dream, knowing that one day, he would find the love that had eluded him for so long. And until then, he would continue to rule over this new, terrifying world with an iron fist.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, walking towards Gatsby with a determined stride. It was Daisy, Gatsby's long-lost love, and she had come to find him in this desolate wasteland.

Gatsby's heart raced with excitement as he saw her, and for a moment, he forgot all about the zombies and the chaos of the apocalypse. All that mattered was that Daisy was here, and she was finally within his grasp.

Daisy ran towards Gatsby, her eyes shining with love and determination. She threw herself into his arms, and they held each other tightly, finally reunited after so many years apart.

In that moment, all of Gatsby's doubts and fears melted away, and he knew that he had finally found the happiness that had eluded him for so long. He and Daisy were together again, and nothing, not even the zombies, could tear them apart.

And as they stood there, embracing in the midst of the apocalypse, Gatsby knew that he had finally achieved the one thing he had always wanted: true love.

But just as Gatsby and Daisy were lost in their moment of happiness, they heard a sudden roar from behind them. They turned to see a massive horde of zombies closing in on them, their eyes glowing with hunger and rage.

Gatsby and Daisy knew they had to act fast if they were going to survive. They grabbed each other's hands and ran towards a nearby abandoned building, hoping to find shelter and safety inside.

As they ran, Gatsby could hear the zombies gaining on them, their moans and growls growing louder and more menacing with each passing second. He knew they had to move faster, but his body was starting to feel heavy and exhausted from their long journey.

Despite his fatigue, Gatsby pushed himself harder, refusing to let go of Daisy's hand. He knew that if they could just make it to the building, they would have a chance to fight back against the zombies and defend their newfound happiness.

Finally, they reached the building and burst through the doors, slamming them shut behind them. They leaned against the doors, panting and sweating, their hearts pounding in their chests.

But they knew the fight was far from over. The zombies were still outside, clawing at the doors and windows, trying to break through and get to them. Gatsby and Daisy steeled themselves for the battle that was sure to come, knowing that they would do whatever it took to protect their love and survive the apocalypse.

Chapter 2:

Gatsby and Daisy looked around the abandoned building, trying to figure out their next move. The building was dark and musty, and it was clear that it hadn't been used in a long time.

"We need to find some weapons," Gatsby said, his voice low and urgent. "Something we can use to defend ourselves against the zombies."

Daisy nodded, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of a weapon. She spotted a broken chair leg in the corner and picked it up, testing its weight in her hand.

"This will do," she said, her voice determined. "We can use this to fend off the zombies if they break through the doors."

Gatsby nodded, impressed by Daisy's resourcefulness. He looked around the room again and spotted a small closet in the corner.

"I'm going to check in there," he said, gesturing towards the closet. "Maybe we can find some more weapons or supplies."

Daisy nodded and watched as Gatsby walked over to the closet and opened the door. Inside, he found a small cache of weapons and supplies, including a few knives, a baseball bat, and some cans of food.

Gatsby grinned as he grabbed the weapons and brought them back to Daisy.

"Looks like we're not completely defenseless," he said, handing her a knife. "Let's make sure we're ready for anything."

Daisy nodded and took the knife, her grip steady and confident. Together, they stood at the door, ready to face whatever dangers the zombie apocalypse threw their way.

They didn't have to wait long. A few minutes later, they heard a loud crash from outside, followed by the sound of the zombies pounding on the door.

"They're here," Gatsby said, his voice tight with fear. "We need to hold them off as long as we can."

Daisy nodded, her heart racing with fear and adrenaline. She stood next to Gatsby, ready to fight alongside him.

As the zombies started to break through the door, Gatsby and Daisy sprang into action. They used their weapons to fend off the zombies, striking them with precision and ferocity.

But despite their best efforts, the zombies kept coming, overwhelming them with sheer numbers. Gatsby and Daisy fought valiantly, but they were quickly being pushed back.

Just when it seemed like all was lost, a loud siren pierced the air, followed by the sound of gunfire. Gatsby and Daisy looked up in amazement to see a group of soldiers storming the building, taking out the zombies with ease.

The soldiers quickly secured the building and rescued Gatsby and Daisy. As they were being led to safety, Gatsby couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and gratitude.

"Thank you," he said to the soldiers, his voice choked with emotion. "You saved our lives."

"It's our job," one of the soldiers replied. "We're here to protect the remaining survivors of the apocalypse."

He knew that as long as they had people like the soldiers on their side, they had a chance to survive and rebuild in this new world. And with Daisy by his side, Gatsby was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

But as they were being escorted to safety, Gatsby couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He looked at Daisy, and he could see the same fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

"What is it?" Gatsby asked, his voice low and urgent. "Do you feel it too?"

Daisy nodded, her face pale with fear. "I think the soldiers are hiding something from us," she said. "They're not who they say they are."

Gatsby's heart sank as he realized that Daisy was right. The soldiers had rescued them, but they seemed too organized and well-equipped to be mere survivors like them.

"We need to be careful," Gatsby said, his grip on Daisy's hand tightening. "We can't trust them completely. We need to find out what they're really after."

Daisy nodded, and together, they followed the soldiers, determined to uncover the truth and protect each other from whatever dangers lay ahead.

Chapter 3:

As Gatsby and Daisy followed the soldiers, they quickly realized that something was off about the group. The soldiers were heavily armed and seemed to be on a mission, but they refused to answer any of Gatsby and Daisy's questions.

"Where are you taking us?" Gatsby asked one of the soldiers, his voice tense with suspicion. "What are your plans for us?"

The soldier just stared at him, his expression cold and unfeeling. "It's not your concern," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Just follow us and do as you're told."

Gatsby exchanged a worried look with Daisy. He could tell that she was just as uneasy as he was, and he knew they needed to find a way to escape from the soldiers and get to safety.

But as they continued to follow the soldiers, they soon found themselves in a large, fortified compound. The soldiers led them inside, and Gatsby could see that the compound was filled with other survivors, all of them looking scared and confused.

"This is where you'll be staying," one of the soldiers said, his voice gruff and unfriendly. "You'll be given food and shelter, but in return, you'll be expected to follow our rules and obey our commands. Any disobedience will not be tolerated."

Gatsby and Daisy looked at each other, their hearts sinking. They knew that they were trapped in this compound, and they would have to find a way to escape before it was too late.

As they explored the compound, Gatsby and Daisy quickly realized that the soldiers were using the survivors as a source of labor and resources. The soldiers were in charge of everything, and they treated the survivors with cold, ruthless efficiency.

Gatsby and Daisy knew they had to find a way out, but the compound was heavily guarded and escape seemed impossible. They decided to lay low and gather information, trying to find out more about the soldiers and their plans.

They quickly made friends with some of the other survivors, and they learned that the soldiers were part of a larger organization known as the New Order. The New Order was a group of ruthless, power-hungry individuals who had seized control of the compound and were using the survivors to further their own goals.

Gatsby and Daisy were horrified by what they heard, and they knew they had to do something to stop the New Order and free the survivors from their tyranny.

But as they plotted and planned, they also grew closer to each other, finding solace and comfort in each other's company. Gatsby realized that he was falling in love with Daisy all over again, and he knew that he would do anything to protect her and keep her safe.

Finally, they came up with a plan to escape the compound and take down the New Order. It was risky and dangerous, but they were determined to make it work.

Chapter 4:

The night of their escape arrived, and Gatsby and Daisy made their way to the compound's perimeter, trying to avoid the guards and stay hidden. They had managed to gather some weapons and supplies, but they knew they were vastly outnumbered and outgunned.

They reached the perimeter and started to cut through the fence, trying to create a small opening that they could slip through. But just as they were about to finish, they heard a loud alarm blaring through the compound.

"They've discovered our escape plan," Gatsby said, his voice tense with fear. "We need to move quickly."

Daisy nodded, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of the guards. She could hear their footsteps getting closer, and she knew they had to act fast if they wanted to get away.

Together, Gatsby and Daisy finished cutting through the fence and squeezed through the small opening. They ran into the darkness, their hearts pounding with fear and adrenaline.

They could hear the guards behind them, shouting and giving chase. Gatsby and Daisy ran as fast as they could, trying to put as much distance between them and the guards as possible.

But just as they thought they had made it to safety, they stumbled upon a group of zombies. The zombies snarled and lunged at them, and Gatsby and Daisy knew they were in trouble.

They fought off the zombies with their weapons, but they were outnumbered and quickly overwhelmed. Just when it seemed like all was lost, a loud roar echoed through the night, and a massive bear emerged from the darkness, attacking the zombies and saving Gatsby and Daisy.

Gatsby and Daisy looked at each other in amazement, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. They knew that they had been saved by a miracle, and they were determined to make the most of their second chance.

They thanked the bear and continued on their journey, determined to take down the New Order and free the survivors from their tyranny.

Thoughts on ChatGPT’s Output

…uhhh so I don’t know where the hell that bear came from, but other than that weird plot point, this was pretty damn amazing!

The model generated completely natural sounding prose in a consistent writing voice all throughout the piece. I was thinking it was going to start making mistakes with the weapons and technology available during the time period (Gatsby is set in the 1920’s). However, to my surprise, it never created any inconsistencies.

I don’t know about you, but I would totally watch a B-horror film with this exact plot 🤤

What do you think about ChatGPT’s output? Want me to get the AI to continue the story so you can learn what happens to Daisy and Gatsby in the end? Let me know in the comments below!