Hello friends. Today, I would like to share a brief excerpt from the novel I’ve been working on. It is a cyberpunk thriller, here is the pitch:
Our world is a half step away from a cyberpunk dystopia. This book is that half step.
Against the backdrop of a far-right party rising to power, a twisted corporate scientist develops a cybernetic program that secretly convinces his subjects that he is, in fact, God on Earth. Two siblings slowly uncover the truth as they navigate the new world order, but can they stop him?
I am nowhere near finishing it and everything I post here is subject to change, but I thought you might enjoy it. Plus, I need to post more spooky stuff while it is still spooky season.
Just a few quick updates before we get to the main event:
First, for top secret reasons that have nothing to do with Baldur’s Gate 3, I will be posting on Thursdays instead of Wednesdays moving forward. Don’t bother asking why, a magician (or in this case Bard) never reveals their secrets.
Second, you may have noticed that I dropped the writing prompt schtick. Turns out, I prefer to just write stuff, so that is what I will be doing going forward.
Third, in the coming weeks we will be re-launching this little blog with a new name and some intensely awesome designs from the super cool and ultra talented
who I happen to be married to and love very much. I can’t wait for the big reveal, it is going to look so awesome. You can check out some of Amanda’s UX design work at amandafreeland.com.Alright, housekeeping over. On with the show.
The hall was empty. Sparkling white, devoid of the smallest speck of dust. Nothing out of place. Nothing taking up space. Nothing.
Pristine, he thought as he entered the operating room. All was as it should be.
Dr. Isen was alone as he prepped for the procedure. He had made sure of that. The top three levels of the laboratory were his domain, and he wielded his authority absolutely. His sources had assured him that the Board of Medicine would soon be filled with the highest caliber of ineffectual strawmen, but until then certain precautions must be taken, even within the confines of the Company. All personnel were under strict orders to remain off-premises while he “recalibrated highly sensitive instrumentation.”
Accurate, in a way.
He double checked the security cameras. He saw no movement, and confirmed that all footage was being routed to his restricted terminal. No record of the evening’s activities would touch the central server. Satisfied, Isen grinned and turned to the task at hand. No one would miss the subject.
He caressed his instruments lovingly, as a master would a pet. The tools of his dominion gleamed sharply under the blinding light of the OR. The anesthesia had not yet taken effect, and the subject - his subject - protested against the restraints. Isen increased the dosage. Smiling serenely, he selected a scalpel and raised his arms, readying his sermon. His subject’s eyes widened briefly before fluttering shut.
"Rest child, and let us begin."