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?

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The story of a courageous camel driver and his loyal beasts brings adventure, humor, and frontier life to the Arizona desert. Facing harsh landscapes, unexpected challenges, and colorful companions, their journey celebrates bravery, friendship, and the spirit of the Old West.

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.

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.]}"

Country Roads
After spending his young life traveling with his musician father, Charlie Nelson has roots for the first time. Living with his mother in a small Appalachian town in western North Carolina, Charlie struggles to find his place in this new world, which isn't without challenges. Living in poverty, dealing with bullies, and having no friends, Charlie's new life is anything but a fairytale. If it were up to Charlie, he'd stay at home and play his guitar... but life doesn't always give us what we want

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}

Sometimes, even when times are hard, an opportunity arises. Sometimes such an opportunity can lead to adventure and give up mysteries that beg to be solved. Sometimes the solving of those mysteries can bring riches, adventure and sometimes even more mystery. Sometimes we find romance in such adventures. Sometime we find answers to questions that we never asked. Meet Joe and let the adventure begin.

The story follows Mike, a boy living near the Louisiana swamps, who discovers and befriends a young wildcat he names Tom.

It started with a botched robbery in which Sonny Daniels was shot. All that his family wanted was for the robbers to get put in jail, but they were in Los Angeles and things work a little differently there than in the country. When cultures collide, the potential for misunderstanding is huge.

a renamed story, once was called salmon falls.

A Destiny Saga Story
Caspian Grey's life was already pretty weird, and then he started high school. He must cope with the bizarre changes in his life while trying to find the family he always wanted. A sci-fi coming of age story. (A note, there is a slow build here. Sci-Fi elements don't show up till around chapter 20)

New roles, new challenges, new, more subtle, dangers. But dead is still dead.

A story in the Lucky Jim Universe
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.

Pudgy, out of shape, divorced, and laid-off; Colin thought he had hit rock-bottom. Then came the landslide that almost sent him to his grave. In the depths of despair, miles from nowhere, he searches for a way to get back to civilization and finds that his service is required in a totally unexpected role - as the person who will save the human race from destruction. / (Reviews)

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)

A Survivor Story
Pat has survived life on the ranch and high school, but it's now time to go to university. He has lots of plans and intentions when he leaves home, but life and events change some of them for him. Life away from the ranch exposes Pat to a lot of different problems and dangers which he must steer a safe course through. It's time for him to move on with his life, and he does. - 51,500 words of adventure.

Each year, I post a tribute to honor service. The aim is to highlight groups that might not otherwise be recognized. This year, I took it a step further. The Dickin Medal reminds us that humans are not the only species capable of honor and commitment. It has been awarded 74 times to animals for “acts of conspicuous gallantry and heroism in war.” That is the case with the subject of this story. He epitomizes valor and selfless devotion to duty, and that is why I’ve chosen to tell his story.

I post a story every July to honor the folks who've served. I try to focus on obscure people in each, not the heroes. This one is about the Women Air Service Pilots—the WASPs. Those brave women were true American patriots. But their story was hidden from all of us for over thirty years. The plot is a coming-of-age tale for children of the Greatest Generation… sort of a latter-day Pilgrim's Progress—and most of the characters are real. Please enjoy…

Will was just an average guy until a terrorist's bomb stripped away everything that he loved in life. When he came across the ad for volunteers for a super-soldier experiment, he figured he had nothing to lose, and if it all worked out, maybe he'd be able to get revenge. Little did he or the people running the program realize just how it would turn out. (Note: If you read this on SOL, you'll find this version to be a bit different)

The story follows a young boy named Jim who, along with his family, is traveling westward in a wagon train.

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.

He's a hard headed County Sheriff with one failed marriage. She's a beautiful and mysterious lady with a past that doesn't make sense. It might sound crazy. But he is beginning to suspect that the woman he is falling in love with is the victim of an eighty-year-old murder.

A The Young Trailers Series
A Story of the Great War Trail in Early Kentucky.

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 The Young Trailers Series
A STORY OF EARLY KENTUCKY

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 Wizard - A love story Story
You think you know what's real but you don't believe in Wizards? Maybe your definition of Wizard needs adjusting! Meet Sean David Kilpatrick on the day he's born. Imagine raising a young Wizard that can talk to animals and control the weather. Or a young enchantress that can talk to animals and the earth shakes when she gets mad. Let's see what you believe when you're through reading.

A flawless AI ledger hides a deadly water-system betrayal.

An adventurous tale of courage and intrigue set upon the high seas. Amid perilous voyages, hidden treasures, and fierce battles, determination and loyalty guide heroes through danger, revealing the strength and spirit that thrive in the face of adventure.

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?”

Country Roads
Everything is going Charlie's way. He's survived his first year at public high school, has made lifelong friends, and has a brand new record deal that will, hopefully, launch his music career for real. As always seems the case, misfortune strikes whenever things are going too well. Charlie’s life is turned upside down and his future plans are put in to jeopardy when a problem from his past returns. Can Charlie keep his life together or will it all come falling down around him?

Miss Powers is fifteen years old. Dr. Danny Markem is one of the richest and most powerful men in the country. He will grant an interview to a news service only if an intern, specifically Miss Powers, does the interviewing. What does he want with her?

A man is killed by religious militants while protecting his fellow workers. He unexpectedly wakes up to find he's been abducted by aliens and they have an offer for him. He accepts the offer to be placed in an environment like Earth was 35,000 to 40,000 years ago, complete with animals and humans of that time. But there's a catch, it's a one-way trip and he's a star in their version of a reality broadcast show. They supply some gear to help him survive, and now it's up to him to do so.

A story of artificial intelligence operating within—and sometimes beyond—the systems humanity built.
A failed writer builds a fortune by letting machines tell stories for him. Then one impossible phrase begins appearing where it shouldn't, and a routine audit becomes a reckoning. As the line between creator and creation disappears, Daniel learns that every algorithm eventually traces its source. A chilling tale of technology, ambition, and poetic justice.

A Story in the Anthony Carter, Family & Friends Universe
Anthony Carter is back! Now a senior captain and married to Harriet, he faces challenges in his professional and private live, encountering Caribbean pirates, arrogant colonial officers, Irish traitors, French soldiers, a lunatic admiral, and a pitched naval battle in the Bay of Biscay. In all this, he and Harriet must realise that married life is no endless honeymoon. Rough waters indeed. Book 2 (of 3) in the Anthony Carter Sea Adventures covers the years 1806 to 1810 in Tony's life.

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?

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 Jade Force of Misera Story
The world has lots of water with ships transporting goods from one place to another. With so much shipping piracy can easily become a major international problem. Cartoom has become home to a major nest of pirates. Jade Force is called upon to end the problem.

A Jade Force of Misera Story
Two Colonels meet weekly for lunch at a restaurant to discuss the history of war, the sad state of the current Vam War, and to speculate on how things could be done. It's all just idle speculation to pass the time, or is it?

A Rivers Region Story
A two hundred year old Australian building is destroyed by fire when a jet taking off from the local airport is shot down. This is how the owner turns a fire gutted building of five sandstone walls back into the elegant building it once was, despite not having much cash to do it with and having to fight the state bureaucrats. It also talks about his important personal and family events during the reconstruction. The fire is very much a life changing event for the owner and his family.

Every one in the bar got quiet waiting for the confrontation.

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.”