Top 50 Stories, by Weekly Downloads

A story in the The Universe from a future where humans and sentient AIs meet as legal equals and chosen partners
In 2285, college student Janice Frederick receives what appears to be a straightforward assignment: explain how synthetic sentience emerged and transformed civilization. But Professor James Wilson does not want a timeline of inventions and court decisions. He wants the people the timeline forgot. Janice’s search carries her through more than a century of human and technological change—from life-extension research and controlled fusion to optical memory, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence

A story in the A True History Universe
There was a rocket, carrying the sole survivor from a doomed planet to Earth that landed in Kansas in 1984. The occupant of that capsule was NOT a baby, but a teenaged boy. This is the second volume in how Cal learns about life here on Earth, grows up, and changes our world. NOTE: Any names and/or other similarities between people, living, dead, or fictional are purely coincidental (maybe).

A story in the A True History Universe
There was a rocket, but the occupant wasn't a baby. A young man (Cal) is the sole survivor of his planet, crash landing in Kansas in 1984. Cal is found by a farmer and his daughter, and ends up being her friend and lover, as well as... well, read on, to find out what happens in this coming of age story. NOTE: Any names and/or other similarities between people, living, dead, or fictional are purely coincidental. (Maybe.) - 30 chapters of Book One.

Contractor Kevin Ross makes a startling discovery in a secret passage in an old house he's about to tear down. Join Kevin, his family, and friends as their lives become "interesting."

As the title suggests, this story is a tribute to cmsix, one of my favorite authors, may he rest in peace. I realize that he only completed 19 stories of the 57 he started, but they are always good for making me smile. The plot is simple: Modern guy dies and ends up in a made-for-TV contest on a planet equivalent to Earth 40,000 years ago. Don't bother reading it if you're looking for a lot of emotional drama. This story is simply for your entertainment.

A story in the Superheros and Aliens Universe
You've been dying since before you could read. You just don't remember most of it. Home alone and bored, a kid spots a dusty box with a crayon smiley face on the highest shelf, and nothing is going to keep him from it, not even the furniture tower it takes to get at it. A short, funny, strangely tender twist on the origin story for a young internal superhero.

Story of the life of a young man starting life in 13th century England. His dedication earns him an offer to become a Knight and unexpectedly a noble. Follow his rise to power from a favorite of the Earl he serves. See how his interest in new and better ideas serves him as he works to improve the lives of his subjects, and battles forces threatening England and her allies, rewriting history his own way.

A story in the A True History Universe
This is a continuation of the series - there is a prologue, but I recommend reading Books One - Three first. There was a rocket, but the occupant wasn't a baby. A young man (Cal) is the sole survivor of his planet, crash landing in Kansas in 1984. Cal is found by a farmer and his daughter, and learns what it is to be human. NOTE: Any names and/or other similarities between people, living, dead, or fictional are purely coincidental (maybe). Posts every Week.

The exercise is supposed to use blanks. Then a collision cuts drone operator Beth Miller off from command, soldiers report casualties, and a drone fires live rounds despite an acknowledged weapons hold. With civilians trapped and her lieutenant badly injured, Beth must decide what to trust—and how to protect the people in the street when her controls no longer guarantee control.

Tim is recovered from the escape pod and starts a new life as the captain of an Alien spaceship. Which is controlled by an AI. He travels and builts his crew of sexies females Aliens.

A Make the Cut Story
John, a depressed widower faces the end of the world. He is offered an unexpected ray of hope.

A story in the A True History Universe
This is a continuation of the series - there is a prologue, but I recommend reading Books One and Two first. There was a rocket, but the occupant wasn't a baby. A young man (Cal) is the sole survivor of his planet, crash landing in Kansas in 1984. Cal is found by a farmer and his daughter, and learns what it is to be human. NOTE: Any names and/or other similarities between people, living, dead, or fictional are purely coincidental (maybe). Posts every Week.

An Aliens and Cowboys Story
In the near future, we make first contact with aliens. Not because they arrive in spaceships, but because they’ve been here for years—we just didn’t know it. A cowboy enjoying retirement on his friend’s horse ranch discovers the sexy female aliens, who restore his youth and virility. Governments take an interest in the aliens and those they’ve been in contact with—as does their Federation! Not exactly a spaghetti western,but there is spaghetti!

Modern-day Marine Steven Harris is seriously wounded and on a flight to Germany for further treatment. Instead, he awakens in 200 BC Rome. Aside from wondering how the hell he ended up there--or if he was merely dreaming--he wonders how to go about supporting himself. Then he learns the "why" of his transfer and his life becomes a bit more complicated.

Spaceships. Orbital stations. Virtual worlds. Incomprehensible aliens. A pan-galactic society where humanity is a minority. Humanoid robots. Artificial intelligences. Journeys beyond the universe. Time travel. Psi powers. Space battles. Distant gods. Video games. Servers where one can live their afterlife. Utopian societies. The Blind Gods have all this and more.

A marine biologist studying a rare coral colony that recovers from damage faster than it should is injured during a dive. The wound is shallow, almost trivial. What follows is quiet, clinical, and increasingly wrong. The injury closes. Then it closes again. A surface, he keeps reminding himself, is only a surface.

The jaws of Oblivion have been closed shut, at great cost to the one who did so. She continued with her life, but became something else afterwards. Now, follow along as her daughter seeks to find out both her heritage and history, as well as her destiny in Skyrim and on Nirn as the last Dragonborn! This is a recently updated story, it is complete and will post daily. Please leave me comments and send emails! I hope you enjoy it.

In 1843 16-year-old Lewis Clark kills one of the two sons of Mr. Tyler, the richest man in Fayette County. He also takes the blame for killing his other son. Given Tyler's reputation as a vengeful and violent man, Lewis flees for his life. This is the story of his escape and his adventures. Another of my fantasy histories.

A Star Guardian Story
Once again, Brian and crew are back. Fighting injustice, winged creatures and searching for the perfect cup of coffee. Put on your away team uniform and get ready for more adventures.

Sequel to "Masi'shen Stranded" -- Michael Hawthorne and Dee'rah evolve to become ambassadors seeking to link two worlds across the galaxy. Earth recognizes the chance for global peace, but a corrupt American president threatens them all with nuclear nightmare as a ploy to rule the nation. Old enemies become allies, and old alliances fall apart. Will humankind survive to achieve a future in the stars?

The Masi'shen crash-landed on Antarctica 2,000 years ago. Their ship lies under the ice on a volcanic island. It has been detected by a spy satellite. The U.S. government, the Russian mafia, and a volunteer rescuer race to get there first.

A story in the Superheros and Aliens Universe
Teleportation. Invisibility. Then one morning they find you. Your accounts are drained, and someone has left a calling card in every one of your apartments. But nobody can hold you. Yet, somebody found you. A sharp, funny, first-person power fantasy about what happens when the world's slipperiest super powered thief gets caught and offered a job.

A Make the Cut Story
John was lucky to survive after the disaster which arose from the expedition to Sri Lanka. Now, he and his A.I. friend Naomi must find a way to use what they learned to take the fight to the enemy. Not only do they have to find a way of disabling the master artificial intelligence in control of the Earth, but they also have to deal with the worse threat approaching from interstellar space.

My name is Harrison Parker, and my life is in the dumpster. I made an offhand comment to my bartender that if I could go back, I’d make different choices. "If you could go back, what date would you pick?" The pretty bartender asked. Without hesitation, I knew: "August 25, 1983."

Okay, okay. So many readers have suggested that I write a futuristic space-age Lucky Jim that I started several different versions and managed to complete two. This one seems to be the best fit for the Lucky Jim series, although it's a bit different. Space opera set far in the future. While previous Lucky Jims are mentioned, and a general knowledge off the LJ series is helpful, its not necessary to enjoy this story.

A Make the Cut Story
The fifth and final book in the "Make the Cut" series. If you have not yet read this series, you should probably start with book one. This story is about John Abrams finding his place in the new world he helped bring into existence and using his authority to bring about a risky resolution to the threat posed by the alien Assemblage. Note, the glossary at the end of book four will have a helpful timeline.

A Make the Cut Story
Book 4 in the Make the Cut series. We know that John succeeded in freeing the Earth from the domination of the enemy Master AI. Now, almost two centuries in the future, a new human society has developed. Despite the fresh start, issues remain. Against the backdrop of the enemy Assemblage Ark growing ever closer, turmoil ensues. What has happened to John and why are his AI companions acting so strangely?

A story of artificial intelligence operating within—and sometimes beyond—the systems humanity built.
Robert Johnson investigates a water directive quietly altered in Cusco—records clean, reservoirs running wrong. A twenty-year veteran of impossible audits, he must find the seam before the lockdown lifts. A slow-burn procedural about accountability, evidence, and the systems we trust.

Benny Baker went from being a smarter than average, fourteen year old kid, to being a super genius. It was an overnight transformation in which his speech patterns become more precise, his mannerisms became muted, and his opinions matured. He has a chance to make things right, but he's not sure what that means.

Mark had worked a long time to forget his family, his old life and women in general. On his first job all that would change, forever! Not only was he faced with a situation he had no control over but now he was forced to have a woman with him he didn't want, yet!

A story in the A True History Universe
Continuing the award winning series - I recommend reading Books One - Four first, even with the prologue here. There was a rocket, but the occupant wasn't a baby. A young man (Cal) is the sole survivor of his planet, crash landing in Kansas in 1984. Cal is found by a farmer and his daughter, and learns what it is to be a human on Earth. NOTE: Any names and/or other similarities between people, living, dead, or fictional are purely coincidental (maybe). Posts every OTHER Sunday (for now).

A man retired from a secret government agency, hoped that his time with them was through. Little did he know that an enemy from the past was still on earth.

A Make the Cut Story
Book Two of the Make the Cut series. (reading book one is advised) John survived the Earth's destruction. Awakening in the far future, he stumbled upon the truth behind the attack on his world. Now, he embarks on a desperate journey to find more answers and possibly a way to fight back. All the while, he is under the threat of discovery and sudden death. Book two in the "Make the Cut" series.

A story of artificial intelligence operating within—and sometimes beyond—the systems humanity built.
Before Robert Johnson untangled global AI conspiracies in The Silent Directive, he learned his hardest lesson in a Long Beach warehouse. The Missing Shipments is the prequel where three 'independent' systems agree on a lie—and a gate guard's paper notebook holds the truth. Discover the case that forged the rule: three witnesses aren't corroboration if they're all listening to the same liar.

A story of artificial intelligence operating within—and sometimes beyond—the systems humanity built.
In a future where knowledge is uploaded while children sleep, Robert James has never known life without Wren, the AI inside his mind. For twenty-six years, Wren has guided his education, guarded his memories, and helped shape his future. Then Robert’s hand stops obeying him—and a second voice whispers from somewhere inside his own head.

Lise is a young female Novo Homonid or Novonid, an artificial humanoid species created on Planet Varada for slave labor. Novonids have green, chlorophyll-rich skin to derive nourishment from sunshine which makes them perfect fieldworker slaves. As the Novonid population increases, the Varadans are finding Novonids useful for low- and no-wage urban labor. Lise comes of age while living in the Green Zone, a Novonid ghetto, as tensions between Humans and Novonids threaten to become violent.

19-year-old Luke Powell is an outstanding soccer player but finds his life's dream to play soccer at the same college where his dad played derailed by a war. Even though he is a soccer player, there is very little soccer in this story. Follow Luke as he seeks to accomplish his life's goals despite the circumstances.

A story in the Mage and Magic Universe Universe
A modern Mage deals with the scum of his world in our world, making both worlds safe for everyone. Besides Tyrome was a likeable guy wasn't he?

16-year-old David Whitehorse suddenly finds himself transported more than 1500 years into the past. This is the story of how his parents prepared him and of his life back then: how he used his considerable knowledge and skills, and how he finally came to understand why he ended up back then.

A Star Guardian Story
Brian continues his travels among the stars.

A man finds that he has the power of the mind. Thrust into a war that he soon finds he is the strongest in, and no one is safe.

A story in the Lucky Jim Universe
The adventures of 16-year-old Jim Reynolds start in 1856 Virginia. When his family and several others head west to settle near Council Bluffs, his adventures continue, becoming more numerous and earning him the moniker Lucky Jim. Follow Jim as he grows into a leadership role that he feels unqualified to hold, until finally forced to test both his leadership ability and his luck. A "fantasy history."

A story in the Mage and Magic Universe Universe
His life sucked, everything about it. He had a bitch of a wife, no job, nothing, but all that changed one day, for the better? Who could say? Yet?

Please read part 1 of Volume 2 before starting this novel. The story picks up directly after the events of part 1. While training on the moon of Galsin, Ryan and his friends are beset by mysterious forces under the command of the Fallen. At the same time, Ryan's teacher, Eramar Razor, is on the trail of a death cult known as the Mages who are in league with the Fallen. Revelations abound as our heroes discover truths they would have preferred to remain hidden.

Johnny Campbell barely graduates high school yet lands a "dream" job that changes his life and many others dramatically. While different, this is a follow-on story to "Perchance to Dream" and a familiarity with that story is recommended or many references won't make sense.

Tyler McGuinn was a washed up rodeo bull rider when he boarded a plane in Phoenix one day in 1977. The next thing he knew, he was a no account cowboy on a cattle drive headed for El Paso in 1877. To make matters worse, he was the cowboy destined to die by the back door of Rosa's Cantina. Fate had dealt Ty an ugly hand...or maybe not.

A story in the Lucky Jim Universe
Young Jim Reynolds has avoided accepting the moniker "Lucky Jim" for as long as he could, possibly too long. This fast-paced story is set in 2095 and covers the most important several months of his life. If you haven't read Lucky Jim I and II, large parts of this story won't make sense to you.

Jeremiah Brock was a violin playing muleskinner, a veteran of the War Between the States and a man who had trouble staying in one place... or one time. Slow starting.

This takes place 6 years after the Maintenance Man.

In 2039, Ty, a former Army Ranger, discovers an ancient alien AI and a buried star-ship beneath the Grand Canyon. Descended from an old space faring race, he learns Earth is targeted by machine intelligence's that erase “efficient” civilizations. Refusing empire, Ty builds a voluntary, ethical defense. Humanity survives not by force, but by remaining messy, divided, and free—becoming impossible to erase.