Within One's Shadow

kiltsi | psychological | Complete

A short story about isolation, empire, and the shadows that exist when no one else is around.

4.70 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:50

Inheritors of Eschaton

TMarkos | action | Complete

The tear in reality led to a new world, one that promised fortune, prestige and a deeper understanding of the universe. Those that entered found only death. Four survivors are stranded in a strange and hostile world, at the mercy of forces they cannot understand. Their only path forward is to travel among the ashes of a broken and dying land searching for a way to survive, to endure - and to make their way back home. Cover art by Harry Rowland.

168.11 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 18:24

Kid Amnesia

Maiku_Senpai | tragedy | Complete

Just a short Radiohead story I made about the Kid A and Amnesiac universe...

0.32 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:50

Entangled Fates Book 1 - Quantum Beginnings

Joe Kuster | sci_fi | Complete

"By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it." Eliezer Yudkowsky Hey all, we're moving over to book 2. This content is in a state of transition. The book is now availble on Amazon (includes extra chapters): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W1534R8/ Artificial intelligence was nearly mankind's last invention. AI took off like a rocket, then when it racked up an impressive death toll, it crashed before it could blossom and took most high-tech industries with it. Resistance and fears became deep-set. Two decades after the infamous Rev. 4.6 incidents, humanity hasn't quit dreaming of the wealth and power that could be at their fingertips. A new generation of mega-corporations rose from the ashes. When one melds a quantum computer to a barely functional mental patient as a PR move, there are those who seek to profit, those who want to destroy it, and Alex. Alex Sage is a typical college student trying to keep up his grades and maybe find a meaningful connection with the fairer sex. Then, an automated semi crashes into his home, killing his family and turning his head into a pin cushion in the process. Alex awakens to find most of his memories gone and an illegal AI hidden in his brain implant. Now the pet project of a tech billionaire and heavily in debt, Alex struggles to stay valuable enough to be kept online. Still grappling with the repercussions of his injuries, and threats from a dangerous anti-augmentation political movement, there are no easy answers and threats loom around every corner. Alex must use whatever resources he can to escape from under the thumb of a ruthless corporation, while keeping those he comes to love safe. Chapters will stay up on RRL until Aug 10. It'll go up on Kindle Unlimited after that. How do you get those extra chapters I didn't have planned for RR? If you want them, they'll be in the published book. Book 2 will still make sense without them - I made sure of that. But... isn't $3 a lot for extra chapters? Think of it as tipping me for a good job and you'd also be getting my eternal thanks. If you enjoyed it so much that the idea of missing out a few chapters haunts you, I did my job as an author and made an engaging story. What's in those extra chapters? Resolving a few issues, set up for the cybernetic revolution, a rather intense sex scene with a new partner, revelations of who's really pulling strings, and a bit of set up for book 2. Complaints that people missed out on itwhen it was published here won't help (sorry!). I posted this for the folks who helped me shape the book, which is you all! (Again, yay!) But... Why! Why not keep it all on RR forever? My editor likes being paid for one. For two, I'd like the ability to get broader readership. If I break even on editor costs, I'll be incredibly happy. What about book 2? Drafts for Book 2 will go up around Sept 10. My draft of Book 2 is done, and it will be handed to the editor once Book 1 is published. Feedback has been even more positive. Beta readers devoured it and wanted more. I'll add a link to Book 2 once it's up on RR. I'm more or less, using you all for Beta Readers, so you get it before it's "canon" and edited. I invite active and meaningful feedback during this process. In return, you get early access to chapters. That does mean that the book content or plot might be adjusted before it gets published as I refine it. Sex Y/N? Yes. I heard the feedback, 90% wanted it explicit. You all will get the "full" experience. Will I dump all of book 2 here? Honestly, I'm not sure yet. At a minimum, it'll be up to the 75% mark as we collect feedback, much like what I did with book 1. It really depends on how good the feedback is and how nice people are. Lots of support + meaningful feedback to make it better =higherlikelihood you get all the book. Will be it up here indefinitely? No, it'll probably go up on KU at some point, but I'll make sure there's enough time for a large readership to grab it here. Then we move to book 3 which already is around 60K words already. What about other adventures in the same universe/characters? Yep. Absolutely. Nothing ready to share yet though. I plan to keep those side chapters and more slice of life stories as RR exclusive. Since I'm carving this off in book-sized segments, I'll have to figure out where those disconnected story arcs belong. I'm open to suggestions.

7.36 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:19

Transition and Restart, book one: Arrivals

StenDuring | romance | Complete

Ulf Hammargren transits from one world to another, from Sweden to Japan and from the peak of his career to his high school body. He must rebuild his life and live with memories that never were. He must find himself again, find friends again and maybe dare to find love again. PG13 Observe that this is the first book in a series with book seven currently ongoing. The slice of life tag is there for a reason. The story is slow, and the characters unfold as the story is told. If you're looking for an action packed quick fix, then you have come to the wrong place.

38.03 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 12:16

CALLSIGN: BLOODBATH FPS

TJ Lombardi | contemporary | Complete

In a world full of assassins, there are those who choose stealth and there are those who arrive violently and leave only a trail of blood. Awakened to excruciating pain and torment, Trevor Brinkworth discovers he is an agent of Scalpel LP. The only problem, he has no memory of ever joining them, nor the multiple missions he conducted as their assassin. A neurochip implanted in his brain provides him with super soldier abilities, but with the blank spot in his memory also comes the discovery of having to start back at Novice - Level 1. Trevor quickly realizes there is only one path to take, level up his skills and get back to doing what he did best. The long road of intensive training is ahead of him but when an old love interest reemerges, he dedicates himself towards being a better man and a better agent. No matter how hard Trevor tries to prove his past won't define his future, he cannot shake the dark reputation which still looms over him. Trever soon realizes the best way to survive in his new reality and get back to the love of his life is, shoot first, ask questions later. For every mission he is given, it always ends with bloodshed. Marvel's Punisher + John Wick = CALLSIGN: BLOODBATH

71.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:11

A Brief Account of the American Invasion to Mordor

Urikson | satire | Complete

I just found a silly little thing I wrote in 2010 about the year 2022. Thought I'd share it here :)

0.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:15

Memory Lane

L. A. Sirius | mystery | Complete

Five child prodigies are invited to an elusive tech CEO's private island. Surrounded by enigmatic geniuses, Daniel is forced to face his past through everlasting, haunting, memories. Unravel the mysteries of the island along with the characters inside, but try not to get killed. How does one move on? Must you forget about your past to truly overcome it? If this is going to be the future, why live in the present? Complete

22.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:58

Other-Terrestrial Episode 6 - "Diplomatic Maneuvers"

NolanConrey | horror | Complete

A small group of aliens have begged the Sapient Union for aid, and the Union will answer. Faced with imminent destruction at the hand of a vicious warlord who has sworn to destroy them to the last being, Captain Brooks must maneuver carefully. While he is empowered to negotiate and seek peace, the Craton alone cannot hope to match the enemy's overwhelming numbers. But peace - and the lives of the beings in jeopardy - hang by a hair. And if the mad warlord decides to strike, it may mean a total war that could lead to the deaths of trillions.

38.04 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 11:52

Shades of the Moon

Trikki | action | Complete

I'm rewriting this story! I have taken down Arc 2 and Arc 3 already to avoid spoiling my new novel. The only reason I'm keeping the first 10 chapters is nostalgia; the writing is awkward and the story is not plotted out properly, but it's here if anyone wants to compare it to the new one. If you'd like to read a more professionally written version of this story, I highly suggest checking out my Synergy. Synopsis version too-many-to-count: "I see," Kiona said. "But . . . you're changing once again, aren't you?" The entity considered her question, lifting a clawed hand towards the night sky. They observed the back of their hand idly, watching the glowing orange veins pulse alongside their pitch-black exoskeleton. The wind picked up right then, and Kiona shiveredjust as much from the cold as from the savage grin on the creature's face. "That's right," the entity said, clenching their hand slowly into a fist. They let out a quiet laugh, staring defiantly at the Moon as it rose from behind the clouds. "We are shades, yet not exactly. Not like the others. Here, in this world, we've become something more. We are the Shades of the Moon." There was a heartbeat of silence, during which Kiona joined the entity in their skygazing. The light-green Moon loomed over the city, shining like the entity's eyes. It promised otherworldly knowledge and terrible secrets. It promised progress. It promised change. In that moment, Kiona couldn't have imagined anything more beautiful. "Shades of the Moon, huh?" she said, smiling a bit. It had a nice ring to it.

43.81 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 14:55

Jinsei: Resonate (Volume 1)

LAHIN | mystery | Complete

The value in our encounters, the ones around us and the foundation for our dreams.Matsumoto Isamu, a high school junior, is obsessed with his ambition to be remembered. To become someone great or doing something of significant impact. With strengths that he can't use properly and weaknesses that bind him, he lives his life constantly in doubt. He has also been troubled due to a mysterious silhouette appearing in the park near his home at times.What will happen when he unravels the silhouette's identity?Told mostly through dialogue and comedy, this is a story of a group of individuals, each on their own journey, and how much they influence each other without realizing it.Do humans really resonate? Or is it just fiction?

14.17 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 13:26

A Dance of Wyverns

Erien | historical | Complete

A young Scot gets dragged into the wyvern gladiatorial fights of London, and brings down the entire organization in the process.

33.26 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:46

This Story Writes Itself [a chain writing game]

Evelyn Adelberg | one_shot | Complete

Each page is a new beginning. Quite literary when it comes to this compilation of flash fiction written by a myriad of authors. Each one only has a paragraph and a list of characters to work off, to continue the main story. Let's see where this takes us! This story is brought to you by : DT_Reunion nerdy_asian27 Gasmaskbro One_Chance skitta Space Pickle Little Racoon Rhea Bring ringe The Cabbage Preacher

16.99 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 16:23

Gillik Brothers Bonus Practice

Fay Voss | psychological | Complete

Bonus scenes for the Gillik brothers, mostly based on prompts or challenges. The one about the tortoise is canon.

0.68 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:46

Birth of an AI (completed)

LoneLeaf | drama | Complete

On the fringes of human controlled space in the distant future, a weathered scientist carries out the thankless task of creating complex artificial entities— AI. Humanity needs and fears their greatest creations in equal measure, because without AI they will never travel the stars again. A team of Mercenaries, led by a demolitions expert calling herself Princess, has been tasked with bringing critical components, along with themselves, to a space station secreted within a debris field left over from a galaxy spanning war, The Synthetic Revolution. When the job's darker nature surfaces, the team will have to contend with killer robots, an unhappy client and the lingering scars of wars both recent and long past in order to finish their contract with their lives and their pay.

60.73 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 15:38

Deep Mettle Epilogue: "Doors"

Jay Campbell | mystery | Complete

Epilogue to Deep Mettle Ten years before the story of Florian Flint . . . On the edge of the Rivan Gulf stands Fallstone Bastion, home of the Celestri. In the wake of Naemia's fall, its doors will close to the world forever. Below the bluffs, the harbour is silent but for two tall figures walking the grey stone.

0.56 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:37

Kaleidoscope Book 1: Night has Fallen

Minasharpwrites | mystery | Complete

Marie was spending her time researching a magic circle when a case falls into her kitchen. As a Guardian, she can't pass this up, especially since this involves vampires, the largest group within her territory. Taking this case on might provide her with valuable information as long as she doesn't end up revealing her own secrets. Can she save Mark, a young vampire framed for murder, or will her mutual distrust with his Master cause their demise?

30.44 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 12:03

Dancing with Fire

Mad Sadie | one_shot | Complete

Everyone learns how to create and control fireballs in school. But is it possible to befriend the fire? A short.

0.85 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 19:02

Reaper of Cantrips

WinnieSallow | horror | Complete

On the alien planet of Scaldigir, where the people are grey, there are average individuals, and then, there are arcanes. Every arcane gets one power, except for the reapers. They can take as many powers as they want, so long as they lift them from the bodies of the dead and the dying. It's a useful power that could preserve the best abilities among the arcanes  in theory. Thus far, every reaper has been too impatient to wait for the deaths of their comrades. Murder and neglect; the words are synonymous with reaper. That's how everyone else sees it. Pan, the last of the reapers, doesn't think she's that bad. She hides among the arcanes as a ghost seer. She's content, with being the one and only reaper, not to mention a secret, until she meets a special ghost. Updates Monday, Wednesday, Friday Revisions completed in April 2021

283.82 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 12:13

Daughter of the Wind

Matt Munro | psychological | Complete

"She steadied her breathing and stood up. It was time to keep moving. The Tormentor would find her again, but she needed distance from what she had done. The bargain had been struck; the curse had been placed. Her fate was sealed with every step she took towards the south."The Kingdom of Svaleta stands on a precipice. War is on brewing in the north, with the elven Aliri Empire funding bandit raids across the border. To the south, the ancient forest of Narandir is stirring. Strange beasts are lurking, the body count is rising, and fear is spreading. The king sits in his palace demanding apathy.In the midst of this gathering storm, Belkai Androva is smuggled across the north-eastern border. The young mage harbours a dark secret as she makes her way through the countryside, but people are starting to notice the trail of bodies left in her wake.The world is changing, and this mysterious figure may hold the key to Svaleta's survival.*This story is also posted on Wattpad under the same title.

40.58 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:28