Top 50 Stories, by Weekly Downloads

Aladdin's Lamp sends me back to my teenage years. Will I make the same mistakes, or new ones, and can I reclaim my life?

I like to honor unsung heroes. This year, it’s the WACs. Their badge is Athene Pallas, the goddess of war and wisdom. The WACs were all of that. They were volunteers in an era when most of their male counterparts were drafted. But they were women in this man’s Army. So, they never got the credit they’d earned and deserve. The other day, I ran across a yard sign that said, “Land of the Free, BECAUSE of the Brave.” That’s who I’m talking about here.

Every 4th of July, I post a tribute to those who’ve served. The main character evolves from childhood to adulthood. That happens when you take the oath. I try to highlight lesser-known contributors so they are also memorialized, and this year’s story certainly fits that bill. Before researching this, my only knowledge of the 442nd RCT came courtesy of Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, which is unfortunate, since those were real-life heroes and this is their true story. Please enjoy...

Ed discovers he can see and hear ghosts. After that everything changes. He helps ghosts or helps others with help from ghosts.

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.

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.

A Knox Family Story
Part of the Enfield Undrowned universe
Your mother is a kick-ass black-belt karate instructor and English teacher. Your father? A combat veteran Army Airborne Ranger paramedic with a penchant for saving lives on and off-duty. So, what are you going to do with your life? Something unexpected, that’s what, and you’re not going to take any shit, either…

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.

Graham Reaper is a young boy growing up in West Georgia. Follow him as he grows up, finds love, and becomes a man. He earns his nickname and more. Caategories and tags will be added as the story progresses.

A Rivers Region Story
A retired soldier's farm is attacked. When his weapon is damaged the 11 year-old son is told to take is almost 2 year-old sister and escape out the hidden exit after promising to care for his sister until she can care for herself. Their parents are killed while they travel down the tunnel, so he sets off the final defences as the enemy moves in, and kills more of the attackers. He's faithful to his promise as they live through 'interesting times' while his sister learns to care for herself.

A Knox Family Story
Part of the Enfield Undrowned universe
Will you be content to drift from situation to situation, to sail the course charted for you by others, or will you take charge of your life and chart your own course? For Jeff Knox, a teenager about to start high school in Enfield, Massachusetts, choosing to take charge of his life will affect more lives than just his own.

Tim and his father, James McKenzie, have just been through a year of heartache. Together they decide that there's no better way to move forward than to embark on an epic journey of discovery, growth, reconciliation and healing. Join them as they find that life goes on, that broken relationships can be mended and that a lost love can be rekindled.

Paul McAllister wants nothing more than to put the wars, cancer, and death of his wife behind him as he numbly glides into his final years doing the only thing he still enjoys - selling weapons and his services as a gunsmith on the gun show circuit of the American southwest. Driving down the road in the Mesilla Valley of southern New Mexico Paul loses consciousness while returning home from a gun show. An hour later, he awakens, finding himself swept away on the tides of time.

When, in the course of human events, a Government of a Nation has forgotten that it is founded and predicated upon the singular sentiment, We the People, it becomes necessary for Men and Women of good conscience to stand tall and remind those who govern on behalf, by forbearance, and at the will, of We the People; that the law of the land is specified in the Constitution of these United States.

Friends, Football, and Finding a New Path. In 2024, Blake Sims died, but that was not the end of his story. It's the beginning of a new version of his life when fourteen-year-old Blake wakes up in 1994 with the memory of a vivid dream. A dream of living a whole life filled with disappointment that went bad in high school when his father died. Armed with memories of the future, Blake tries to change what was into what could have been and make a new life for himself.

a renamed story, once was called salmon falls.

A Knox Family Story
Part of the Enfield Undrowned universe
Terrorist rage pierces the heart of the United States in a shocking and brutal attack. The attack jolts the country from its naïveté in one, horrifying instant; Jeff Knox, his family, friends, and neighbors are shaken from their comfortable lives in that same moment. How does a nation of three hundred million respond, and how does it change one man? The sequel to “A Charmed Life.”

A young man struggles to with morals and staying alive in a post war shelter.

When the prettiest girl in the high school surprises one of the school's biggest nerds with a kiss at a random coffee shop, the world around them changes for the better.

“Do you really think James Bond was born James Bond? Or was he actually born Joey Numbnuts and then changed it after he became Double-Oh-Seven? How do you get to be James Bond? Where do you start? And how do you leave? How does James Bond retire? What happens when he runs out of spies to catch? Does he go back to being Joey Numbnuts?”

A story set in the Post Sickness world of Phoenicia
It has finally happened: Terrorists have unleashed an unstoppable virus upon the world. Only a very small percentage of humanity has survived. Gavin Thompson, unsatisfied with the prospect of just surviving makes plans to restore civilization as quickly as possible. This is his story. (This version is a bit longer and slightly modified from the version on SOL)

Long trips, new attacks, growing pains, spies in their ranks, and increasing violence between anti-slavery and pro-slavery groups, stretch Paul and Anna's resources in every direction and at every turn. With the help of their family and friends, new and old, they race against time to complete their plans before the incessant drum beats of war begin in the east.

David works in a cubicle. His greatest adventure? Surviving data entry and passive-aggressive memos. That is, until a mysterious lamp transports him to Elyria—a realm of dark queens, elves, and sorcery. Now, armed with nothing but sarcasm and a stapler, David must navigate a world where rebellion brews, magic is weaponized, and the key to saving both realms might just be found in a curio shop. And the Dark Queen is watching...

This is the most frequently downloaded of all my stories, so I thought I would post it here. It is the first of four in a series. I am posting the second one along with it. I'll add the other two if you like these. I consider myself the poet-laureate of the nerd world. And I want my stories to have a lot of twists and turns. That's what I am giving you here. I hope that you enjoy this as much as I did writing it.

A story in the Lucky Jim Universe
Despite his family's insistence that he is the next incarnation of Lucky Jim, Jim Reynolds, sixth great-grandson of his namesake, isn't so sure and isn't sure he wants to be. Each time he thinks that he just might be, something happens to make him sure that he's not. While this is a stand-alone story, numerous references will make more sense after reading "Lucky Jim 1." This story also adds bits of new information about the original Lucky Jim. When he finally accepts the moniker, his life veers

A Story in the The Trilogy and More Western Universe
A young man is forced to leave home to escape the ravages of war.

A Story in the The Trilogy and More Western Universe
The strange saga of James Randal begins

Science is killing magic. The last of the magical beings decide that it is time for the return of a Merlin-like person to bring back the magic. The job requirements are: he's got to be an unlikely hero type that is lucky; he's got to own silver and be willing to trade it for a gift of magic; and he's got to be a horny guy with a bad fashion sense. / (Reviews)

An Australian schoolboy discovers he can move small objects with his mind. His family moves to Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA and he uses his special skill to 'win' money at casinos. His exceptional skills at winning bring him some unwanted attention from some people, including the Department of Homeland Security. He objects to their actions and soon a state of war exists between his family and the DHS (and the people behind them). The odds are heavily in favour of one side - but which side?

This is the second in my Tugboat Man series. This time, Tug is in the race of his life against some very bad...well... not quite people. The title tells the tale. No, it has nothing to do with the Da Vinci code. But it's in the ballpark. The wife is from Atlantis, so there are some unavoidable sci-fi aspects. But this is actually nothing more than pure romantic adventure. I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. D.T.

A man scarred by injustice, a lost love, and wounds of combat, finds himself volunteered as a foster father, a protector, and a combatant in a lethal struggle against a past bully and a vengeful cartel lord.

He was an Irish cop from the toughest part of Manhattan. She was a Cheyenne maiden from the Montana High Country. He rescued her from some very bad men. In return, she mended his broken heart. The whole improbable story plays out against the panorama of the Civil War and America's relentless movement West. There's a bit of a twist at the end. But who doesn't like surprises?

A Rivers Region Story
They say the Chinese have a curse - May you live in interesting times. A 15 year old boy has a major change of lifestyle forced on him. We follow along while he adjusts to the changes. However, he lives in interesting times and he must deal with them as well as rising to the challengers presented to him. Through all this his true nature shows and he changes the lives of many others in the city of Rivers, and elsewhere. Set in Australia.

The Grim Reaper is now medically retired and trying to become a consultant. How will that work out? There're more than a few bumps on the road. You'll want to read The Grim Reaper and Adventures in Southern Law Enforcement first.

A Mountain Man Story
The further adventures of Matt Reynolds. Still having problems with those pesky trespassers.

If happiness was measured in money there would be very few millionaires. This is a story about Dan Parker, a young man who starts his life as an adult with the odds stacked against him. Follow his journey of self discovery as he tries to achieve happiness. His story might make you wonder if you live next door to a millionaire. {Edit cleaned and reposted by TeNderLoin}

Evolution
The only hope humanity has to meet the Aliens, on an even footing, is with US resources, so Scotty must win the Presidency. Preparing for Aliens aren't the only challenge the host/Companion cadre face. Robert Branch (AKA Abdul Ali Hassan) is loose in the world, and he is inhabited by a Demon, the antithesis of Companions. Branch and his Demon escaped to Syria in 2012, and began organizing groups of Saddam Hussein's officers and fighters. The power behind the throne of ISIS is evil incarnate.

After his wife divorced him for being poor and beneath her status, he became the subject of public ridicule. Rumors spread that he had been unfaithful, claiming he was involved with other women—but none of it was true. Left completely alone, his only remaining possession is a diamond pendant, the last gift from his late mother. Yet behind his quiet suffering lies a mysterious man—an unparalleled medical genius, a master martial artist, and someone with a hidden past no one dares to uncover.

A bounty hunter rescues a girl kidnapped by outlaws. He gets more than he counted on. This story tells of their adventures on the way home.

Mike lives through "interesting times" that follow when terrorists bring the 'War On Terror' to the United States. "This was what he was fighting to preserve — mothers taking their children to the park where they could play without fearing for their lives. {[I hate the fact that I can find no way to deal honorably with dishonorable people. I find it disgusting that in order to save what I value most, I must lower myself to their level.]}"

Keep in mind this story may be dated, err maybe not though. There is still a bit of a 'sticky wicket' between the Middle East and others.

Damsels In Distress
On Earth, Sid is a college student who has a very odd uncle. When his uncle dies and leaves him his house, Sid learns that he has inherited more than a home. In the closet of the study is a portal to the planet Crossroads and his caretaker, Sally. From Crossroads is a portal to Chaos, a planet with Damsels in Distress. It is up to Sid to rescue the poor Damsels in Distress and claim his heroic rewards. / (Reviews)

A Jade Force of Misera Story
The International Federation of Nations just had to do it. A committee on War Crimes declared Pen Sada a war criminal. When Jade Force and the nation of Misera won't turn her over for trial, there's only one thing the IFN can do, and that is to declare war on Misera.

The novel follows the adventures of a young protagonist living near Sable Island.

A The French and Indian Wars Story
A Story of the Great French and Indian War

Young Tom comes of age in post war america. Peace time comes with new problems.

Jeff Tovette was the low man on the totem pole in the T'Sharan's geology department, and the only man. The outlook on the decade-long survey mission in the Beta Quadrant was good, but he didn't have any friends on board the ship yet. He just had seven of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen working with him in geology. And they were all senior to him.

A Story in the Enfield Undrowned Universe
Civil engineer Todd Rook feels he has little to show for his time on the planet other than a good job and a few possessions. It will take a former friend from his past to make him understand what he has, and what he still needs.

Jaelyn Bench runs from an abusive relationship with only one thing on her mind: find her brother’s old army buddy, Ace Wilder. Former Delta Force Commander Ace Wilder is back home. Now his days are filled with overseeing his family’s ranch, known as Wilder Ranch. With a case of PTSD, he needs something more, he needs a mission. When his old buddy’s little sister winds up in his barn beaten half to death, Ace has his new mission. Protect Jaelyn Bench at all costs.

A coming of age story with a twist. Addle-brained Tommy works down at the feed store, stacking Purina and sweeping the floor. A Vietcong rocket scrambled his brains so thoroughly that was all he was capable of... or was it?