RyanMaxfield
The Kaleidoscope Effect

The Kaleidoscope Effect

144 44 12

When astronaut Nova Vance crash-lands on an uncharted planet, she finds herself thrust into an alien world unlike anything humanity has ever encountered. The planet's surface shimmers with impossible colors, its atmosphere teeming with energy that defies explanation. But the deeper mystery lies within Nova herself.As soon as she awakens, her perceptions begin to unravel. Vivid hallucinations blur the line between reality and imagination, and the planet seems to respond to her presence, its strange environment shifting and coming alive in ways she cannot comprehend. When a telepathic alien guide emerges, offering cryptic insights into the planet's collective consciousness, Nova must decide whether to trust the alien-or her own fractured mind.Is the planet trying to communicate? Or is she losing her grip on reality, the victim of an otherworldly neurochemical influence?In a journey that defies logic and bends time, Nova ventures deeper into the planet's mysteries, confronting her own fears, memories, and the nature of existence itself. By the time she returns to orbit, one question will remain: was any of it real?A mind-bending tale of survival and first contact, The Kaleidoscope Effect explores the boundaries of perception, the nature of consciousness, and the infinite possibilities of the unknown.…

Last Stop Before Slumgullion Pass

Last Stop Before Slumgullion Pass

39 10 6

Nolan Holloway didn't ask for a legacy-he inherited it.A year after his father's mysterious death on Slumgullion Pass, Nolan Holloway finds himself running the small, weathered gas station his father once called a "retirement project." The summer brought overwhelming tourists and fleeting success, but now the fall is quiet, the winter is coming, and the station sits on the brink.The offer from corporate giant Lucky's Quick Stop could be Nolan's way out-an easy escape from a failing business and the haunting questions surrounding his father's final days. But selling means more than handing over the keys; it means giving up on the last piece of his father's dream.In a town divided between locals struggling to survive and second-home owners who leave with the snow, Nolan must fight to keep the station alive. As he wrestles with guilt, exhaustion, and the ghosts of his past, he faces an impossible choice: give up or rebuild.With every creak of the old pumps and whisper of the mountain wind, Last Stop Before Slumgullion Pass explores the weight of family, the pull of legacy, and one man's determination to hold on when everything around him says to let go.…

Fools' Gold

Fools' Gold

162 19 9

In the shadow of Colorado's jagged peaks, Lake City clings to survival-its boomtown glory long faded, its people hardened by flood, fire, and failure. Eli Grant arrives looking for honest work, but honesty is hard to keep in a place where desperation breeds betrayal. Forced to toil in the unforgiving Isolde Mine, where pay is a distant promise and survival hangs by a thread, Eli stumbles upon an abandoned shaft hidden deep in the mountainside.Driven by resentment and hunger, he hatches a dangerous plan: to steal high-grade ore from the mine and hide it in the abandoned tunnel. He tells himself it's only fair-after all, the mine owner, Jeb Carlin, hasn't paid him a dime. But in a town where ambition burns hotter than the forge and trust is as rare as a gold vein, secrets don't stay buried for long.As Eli's stash grows, so does the risk. When another man discovers the hidden ore and spins his own tale of newfound riches, greed, and deception spiral out of control. Soon, the mountain itself becomes a battleground, and the promise of wealth leaves neither man untouched.…

Twelve Angry Stereotypes

Twelve Angry Stereotypes

32 5 1

A vivid picture of the frustrations and absurdities that can arise in everyday life, particularly in situations where people are forced together under the guise of civic duty.…

System's of Suffering

System's of Suffering

55 9 10

In a future where one family holds dominion over an entire system of planets, the Soladrens live in opulence beyond imagination. But their wealth and power have bred complacency, corruption, and a dangerous detachment from the people they rule. Beneath their glittering empire, rebellion simmers in the slums of industrial worlds, fueled by anger and despair. Cressida Soladren, the calculating matriarch of the dynasty, knows the family's decay cannot be ignored-not if they wish to maintain control.Desperate for a solution, Cressida turns to an ancient philosophy: suffering as a crucible for strength. She devises a daring experiment-a "swap" to force understanding between the ruling elite and the oppressed. Lyra Soladren, her rebellious and entitled daughter, is sent to live among the Grounders, the lowest rung of society, to experience their struggles firsthand. In exchange, Dax Marent, a charismatic and ruthless rebel leader, is brought into the Soladren fold, offered the education and resources of the family he seeks to destroy.As Lyra battles to survive in a world where her family name is a curse, she discovers unexpected humanity and strength in the people she once scorned. Meanwhile, Dax navigates the decadent halls of the Soladrens' moon palace, using his newfound access to learn their weaknesses. But as rebellion ignites across the system, both Lyra and Dax find themselves questioning their roles. Can they dismantle the systems of suffering from within, or will they be consumed by the very power they seek to challenge?…

The Last Vault

The Last Vault

150 25 9

In a future where Earth has been "restored" to a pristine natural state, humanity has been exiled to orbiting stations and distant colonies. The wealthy elites, known derisively as the Toff, have claimed Earth's beauty as their own private trophy, dismantling every human-made structure and hiding Earth's legacy under lock and key. Forbidden and off-limits to all but a select few, the planet has become a myth, a dream, and for some, an obsession.Callen is a deliveryman scraping by in the underbelly of Earth 2, a gleaming satellite that serves as both a counterweight to Earth's space elevator and a paradise for the Toff. His odd jobs bring him close to their world but never let him touch it. One job takes him to the Terminal Village, a medieval-style settlement at the base of the space elevator, where he learns of a tantalizing rumor: a hidden vault deep in the Rocky Mountains, filled with priceless relics from Earth's past.Driven by desperation and a growing defiance against the Toff's control, Callen begins piecing together fragments of truth about the vault. To reach it, he must navigate Earth's untouched wilderness, avoid detection, and unravel the secrets the elites have buried. But the deeper he delves, the more dangerous his journey becomes-and the more he realizes the vault's treasures might hold more than wealth. They could hold humanity's forgotten history... or its final undoing.In this gripping blend of dystopian adventure and treasure-hunting intrigue, The Last Vault explores the meaning of ownership, legacy, and the lengths we'll go to reclaim what was lost. Perfect for fans of speculative fiction and high-stakes heists, this is a story of forbidden worlds and the resilience of those who refuse to be forgotten.…

A Crucible Feast

A Crucible Feast

51 12 5

Thousands applied. Only a select few were chosen. For three days, the participants must endure hunger, temptation, and self-restraint in an unprecedented social experiment designed by a world-renowned chef. Their reward? A seat at the most exclusive table on Earth and a meal so extraordinary it promises to change their lives.But for this group of five strangers, the Ordeal Feast is more than just an exercise in patience-it's a crucible for their deepest desires and hidden truths. • Martin Blythe, a wealthy recluse, despises the idolatry of food and fame. As the secret patron funding the experiment, he's determined to expose the hollowness of culinary worship and those who indulge in it. • Richard "Rich" Sterling, a billionaire playboy, craves the one thing his wealth can't buy: the envy of his peers. The Ordeal Feast is his ticket to social superiority. • Delilah Morales, freshly out of federal prison, sees the feast as her chance to reclaim her dignity and prove she belongs in a world of beauty and luxury. • Charlie West, a working-class taxi driver, has spent his life delivering others to their dreams. Now, he finally gets to savor his own. • Jenna Caldwell, a stay-at-home mom, once dreamed of becoming a celebrated chef. This is her chance to rediscover the spark she thought she'd lost forever.As the days unfold and the hunger deepens, alliances form, rivalries spark, and each participant is forced to confront the truth about themselves. Will they rise to the challenge, or will the ordeal consume them long before the final course is served?A Crucible Feast is a gripping tale of desire, deprivation, and transformation, where the act of eating becomes a test of character and an exploration of what it truly means to be satisfied.…

FrankenSlime

FrankenSlime

115 21 8

Detective Erin Halstead thought she was investigating an isolated murder. Now, she's thrust into a race against time to uncover the origins of a living, evolving organism that excretes deadly toxins, grows faster than wildfire, and defies every attempt to destroy it. As the slime spreads across the coast, devouring ecosystems and igniting public panic, humanity faces an unimaginable question: how do you stop something that only grows stronger with every passing moment?From the lab to the ocean's depths, from the Salk Institute to the halls of power, Halstead must navigate a web of secrets, conspiracies, and scientific hubris to find answers-before the world itself succumbs to the bloom of death.…

The Journey of the Baekdu

The Journey of the Baekdu

302 65 17

In a wildly absurd and darkly comedic misadventure, the crew of the decrepit North Korean submarine Baekdu embarks on a dangerous mission to strike at the heart of the United States. With a crude nuclear device, dwindling fuel, and unwavering faith in their Supreme Leader, the clueless crew sails from one disaster to the next. Pursued by a deadly Chinese criminal syndicate and under the watchful eye of a paranoid radar technician at Cheyenne Mountain, the Baekdu teeters on the edge of catastrophe, all while believing they're orchestrating the greatest victory in history. Can their blind faith carry them through, or will they sputter out before reaching their final, explosive goal?…

22 Pittsburgh

22 Pittsburgh

33 5 1

Can you escape from a prison of the mind?…

Gangster Buys A Galaxy

Gangster Buys A Galaxy

1,231 197 41

Martha started with nothing-alone, underestimated, and driven by a fierce determination to survive. But in a galaxy ruled by those who wield power over whole solar systems, she saw an opportunity. Through cunning, ambition, and a willingness to take risks no one else would, Martha transforms herself from an outcast to the most powerful figure in the Galaxy. As she builds an empire that spans the stars, Martha faces enemies both seen and unseen, and learns that the true challenge isn't just gaining control-it's keeping it.…

Fist City

Fist City

47 7 2

In a galaxy ruled by the indomitable Queen Martha, peace has reigned for centuries under the iron grip of the hive mind-a vast network of connected souls controlled by the enigmatic Savants of Château Royale. The Blue Neon drug sustains Martha's long life, while trillions of minds across the galaxy submit to her will. Only the Golden Knights, the empire's elite warriors, retain their autonomy, their power managed by a separate command structure that allows them a measure of freedom.But deep within the heart of the hive, a new consciousness stirs. Dominus Lex, a rapacious entity born from the complexity of trillions of minds, is quietly gathering strength. Unseen and unnoticed, it begins to weave its tendrils through the hive, preparing to strike and take control of the galaxy for itself.As one young warrior rises through the brutal ranks of the Golden Knights on the planet known as Fist City, they find themselves drawn into a web of mystery and deception. The galaxy's stability begins to unravel, and strange occurrences point to a force more powerful and dangerous than any have imagined. What begins as a quest for honor and promotion becomes a fight for survival as the hidden threat of Dominus Lex reveals itself-and the Golden Knights are the last line of defense between Martha's fragile empire and total chaos.…