mburkhol's Reading List
21 stories
CRONUS by sj_shaw
CRONUS
sj_shaw
  • Reads 1,210
  • Votes 227
  • Parts 15
[5X FEATURED] After discovering she's been turned into a cyborg assassin by her government, Ray Lovas - a sixteen-year-old fighter with impulsive anger problems - must survive in the enemy country, The Mhinto Empire, to save her family and keep the technology safe or risk sparking the next global war. It's 2582 and tensions are at an all-time high between the country of Cronus and The Mhinto Empire. In an evil plot to defeat Mhinto, Cronus secretly develops a cyborg technology that will force every soldier to comply with every command, without hesitation. When Ray becomes the first successful patient for the cyborg assassination team, she must flee the country to save her family to the only place she can't be followed - The Mhinto Empire. Now, Ray must survive in the enemy country, teaming up with a group of refugees while trying to keep her secret. Struggling to keep herself unattached to the handsome Jesse Wu and the other refugees, she risks everything to keep her cyborg technology safe and protect the ones she loves. *** FEATURED @TeenFiction "Between Worlds" FEATURED @SpeculativeFiction "Breaking the Space Time Continuum" FEATURED @dystopianapocalypse "Rebellion: Against the System" FEATURED @StoriesUndiscovered - April 2022 FEATURED @NewlyWrittenBooks "To Infinity and Beyond | Science Fiction" Recognition! 1st Place: The Sinne Awards Judge's Favorite: The Sinne Awards Hidden Gem: The Sinne Awards Highest ranks #1 - biopunk 12/16/21 #1 - dystopianfiction 12/19/21 #1 - highstakes 1/1/22 #2 - cyborg 4/1/22 #3 - international 12/17/21 #14 - futuristic 12/19/21 #20 - speculative 3/30/22 #23 - cyberpunk 1/8/22 #46 - ontherun 12/18/21
The 10th Circle - Abyss [Complete] by taivaan_sininen
The 10th Circle - Abyss [Complete]
taivaan_sininen
  • Reads 17,315
  • Votes 2,556
  • Parts 96
Every prototype technology has its risks. After an accident involving a novel robotic suit, Keres cadet Sky begins to have recurring lucid nightmares where she finds herself in a prison called Tartaros. Soon, one thing becomes clear: Tartaros is more than just a dream, and as the lines between reality and her subconscious begin to blur, Sky is forced to question her own perception of the world. Meanwhile, more and more mysterious accidents shake the city of Pharos to the core, threatening the safety and security of the last surviving humans on earth. Through her own accident, Sky finds herself drawn into the investigation of an enigmatic task force. The prototype technology, her dreams, a dubious doctor, a missing part of her medical files and a dark secret from her past all seem to be connected, but how? Form here on out, there's only one direction left to go: Down. _______________ Featured on Wattpad's UndiscoveredBooks profile on their "Need to Read" reading list Highest Rankings: #1 in Philosophy [17.01.2019] #8 in Mind [17.01.2019] #8 in Science [13.03.2019] #10 in Psychology [28.02.2019] #24 in Science-Fantasy [17.01.2019] #39 in Dreams [17.01.2019] The 10th Circle centers around questions about the human mind: what is it, what happens with it when we sleep and dream, what happens with it when we die, and what does it mean to be human and to have a mind in the first place. This story is my personal love letter to my two greatest passions: science and art. Warning: There is mention of mental disorders/potential triggers in this story. To avoid spoilers, there will be no trigger warnings at the beginning of chapters. If you are unsure about content that could potentially upset you being present in this story, feel free to message me and I will be happy to give you a heads-up where to be careful. I hope this is an adequate solution for everyone who wants to read this story.
Against the Tide - A New Elysium Story [Complete] by taivaan_sininen
Against the Tide - A New Elysium Story [Complete]
taivaan_sininen
  • Reads 26,909
  • Votes 3,523
  • Parts 65
Augments - digital implants and robotic prostheses - can enhance abilities, bestow entirely new ones, or replace parts of the body that have been broken or injured. At least they used to, before they were declared illegal during the Purge. But augments were never meant to replace parts of the human brain. So when her brain got damaged beyond organic repair, she was fixed using other parts of machines. And they ended up saving more of her than just her physical body, as one day, she found herself no longer alone inside the expanse of her own mind. Amy Larsson is many things. A covert augment. An escaped slave. An infamous space pirate. A spy for New Elysium. A terrorist. An overall badass bitch to be reckoned with - rumor has it she can hot-wire anything with just a rubber band and a bobby pin. But what not even the android crew of her ship, the Blackstar, is aware of, is the fact that Amy Larsson is even more than that: she is two people, in one body. And they are planning to commit the most audacious heist of the galaxy. _______________ Featured on Wattpad Beyond Sol's "Sunflower Space Opera" reading list First Place in the The Chaos Awards 4 (Science Fiction) [2018-07-21] Third Place in The Rebel Awards 2018 (Science Fiction) [2018-09-16] Highest Rankings: #2 in SpaceTravel [28.02.2019] #8 in SpaceOpera [28.02.2019] #9 in Cyborg [28.02.2019] #14 in Mind [28.02.2019] #15 in Space [28.02.2019] #42 in FemaleProtagonist [28.02.2019] #54 in Science Fiction [07.05.2018] Spin-off story / prequel to @Red_Leasia 's "New Elysium": https://www.wattpad.com/story/106699395-new-elysium We're co-writing the sequel "New Elysium 2 - Weapons of War" on our shared profile @New_Elysium
Moebius 2157 | ONC2019 Short List [Complete] by taivaan_sininen
Moebius 2157 | ONC2019 Short List [Complete]
taivaan_sininen
  • Reads 6,261
  • Votes 821
  • Parts 17
Special Agent Alyssa Caine has been tasked with the most important mission of her life: the assassination of the man who would bring about the end of the world. The only problem? He is already dead. A minor issue that is resolved in the year 2157 when a renegade group of scientists develops a device that allows to jump through time. They recruit the former special agent to send her back fifty years, to take just one man out of the equation, a minimal change with a predicted maximal effect on the fate of the world, and prevent a devastating war that has driven the last surviving humans to live in decrepit underground bunkers. Every action has a consequence. Alyssa is humanity's last hope, and her actions will determine the fate of the whole world. She is willing to sacrifice everything for a better future. But she soon realizes that the impact of her actions might be beyond her control, and beyond all predictions. _____ Highest Rankings: #16 in Science [06.02.2019] #36 in Dystopia [06.02.2019] #65 in FemaleProtagonist [01.02.2019] #71 in TimeTravel [06.02.2019] #1 in Paradox [28.02.2019] #1 in ONC2019 [01.02.2019] #3 in OpenNovellaContest2019 [28.02.2019] This is my entry for the ONC 2019! At first I thought I'd pick something a bit out of my comfort zone (so.... NOT SciFi for once...) to expand my horizon, but when I saw a prompt about time travel I was immediately inspired. Please keep in mind, all of this is WIP! The title, cover, and some of the content might change at any time... I have an outline and I worked hard to come up with a compelling and consistent story line, but due to the nature of the story (timey whimey stuff!) I might have to revise things a few times as I write. I'm grateful for any feedback and I hope you enjoy :)
The Mouse Who Sang for Paradise by wdhenning
The Mouse Who Sang for Paradise
wdhenning
  • Reads 5,127
  • Votes 611
  • Parts 21
They called her 'Mouse'. Kie Loren just wanted to be left alone to study the music she loved. But now she was teamed up on a biological survey project with Ben Finn, the son of Mora and Gan Finn, the heroes credited with saving this newly terraformed world called 'Paradise'. It didn't help that Ben was handsome and irresistibly charming. The most infuriating part was that he knew it. Oh, and he also had chocolate... But Ben was the least of her problems. An alien civilization had begun terraforming this world long before humans arrived. And now they wanted it back.
Paradise Blight by wdhenning
Paradise Blight
wdhenning
  • Reads 16,726
  • Votes 1,249
  • Parts 22
The first terraformed world, Tau Ceti Four, was now ready for colonization. Some called it Paradise, and it seemed a fitting name. The initial conditions before the terraforming began were perfect, too perfect for botanist Mora Torr. Something was not right. Engineer Gan Finn came over with the other colonists on the Ark Hope ship. He, like Mora, was as much running away from an anguished past as seeking Paradise. But twelve light-years distance itself does not cure broken hearts. "So, are there any alien jubjub birds, bandersnatches, or jabberwocks around here I should be worried about?" Laughter rolled from her mouth at the Alice in Wonderland reference. "Oh, nothing like that. It's not the big scary creatures we should worry about, besides other humans that is, but the tiny ones. History has shown us that things like bacteria, virus, and small parasites are the real killers. The deadliest creature in all the human history is a mosquito with a pathogen." ** Re-edited ** ** Open Novella II - Short List and Ambassador Pick ** ** Wattpad Editor's Choice (January 2020) **
The Phobos Transit Quilters Guild by wdhenning
The Phobos Transit Quilters Guild
wdhenning
  • Reads 1,978
  • Votes 343
  • Parts 13
Three women. Three tangled lives orbiting Mars aboard the Phobos Transit Space Station. Val loses her station operation engineer job under false pretenses, Exo-biologist Cassy is blackballed for doing the right thing, and ex-marine Kate suffers a broken heart. Fortunately, Mavis, the owner of the Starlight Tavern and rescuer of lost souls, is there to help, recruiting the women into her Quilters Guild. But when hostile forces invade the station, the stakes become far greater, and the Guild finds themselves embroiled in a multi-world conspiracy. And they are not about to just stand by and let it happen. Redemption comes stitch by stitch. *** Open Novella Contest Round Two Ambassador Pick *** *** Open Novella Contest Winner - Third Place ***
The Line of the Sol Empress by wdhenning
The Line of the Sol Empress
wdhenning
  • Reads 13,880
  • Votes 2,477
  • Parts 103
For over a millennia, the Line of the Sol Empress had reigned over the scattered planets of the Sol Commonwealth, exerting her constitutional authority and influence for the betterment of all humanity. In a brazen nuclear attack, she and her daughters were murdered. Priestess Celeste Ciel went on the run, with her the last hope for a new Empress. Alone and labeled a terrorist, Celeste stowed away on the cargo starship belonging to a man nicknamed 'Moon', a loner and cynical ex-military engineer who would rather be left alone. Powerful corrupt forces feared the precious package she carried and spared no expense or atrocity to hunt her down. United by reluctant circumstance, Celeste and Moon fled across the galaxy in a desperate quest to restore the Line of the Empress. Previously titled "Children of the Sun and Moon". Highest category rankings: #1 in scifi-romance #8 in spaceopera *** Second Place, "Punk Rock Awards", February 2021 *** *** Second Place, "The Carnival Awards", June 2021 *** *** Third Place, "The Dream Awards", August 2021 *** *** Third Place, "Winter Solstice Awards", December 2021 *** *** Third Place, "Time Turner Awards", December 2021 *** *** Second Place, "Jam Board Awards", November 2022 *** *** Top Pick, 2023 Amby Awards ***
Cognitive Deviance by JaCrispy_Jamaine
Cognitive Deviance
JaCrispy_Jamaine
  • Reads 346,121
  • Votes 16,492
  • Parts 89
In 2045, Psychwatch treats the mentally ill or cages them. Margo wants to bring empathy to every patient but a killer pushes her, and the system, to the limits ***** In a dark future, more than a third of the United States population suffers from mental illness and violent crime is on the rise. In response, Psychwatch is formed - an organization intended to combine mental healthcare and law enforcement - creating monitored areas and neglected ones known as the Psycho Slums. Margo Sandoval is the latest recruit to Psychwatch, bringing a new level of empathy to the controversial agency known for its unforgiving methods. Margo spends her days as an Empath treating everyone possible, until the arrival of a new serial killer upends her life and forces her to confront the evils of the human mind and the system that claims to be the solution.
Bright Lights & Dark Secrets: A Sci-Fi Anthology by JaCrispy_Jamaine
Bright Lights & Dark Secrets: A Sci-Fi Anthology
JaCrispy_Jamaine
  • Reads 840
  • Votes 55
  • Parts 11
Six stories. Six situations. Six dark secrets. Colorful casts. Captivating worlds. Crazy conclusions. Humanity rises and falls. Some folks set the world on fire, others burn, many don't care what they do as long as something more powerful tells them what's right or wrong. The question is whether it is in our nature to defy our nature, whether it is a good thing, or whether we should know when to stop... Available stories include: * DUPES: Clones vs. cannibals: who will win?! * THE DEUS ISLANDS: A prison ship on its way to a penal colony is jeopardized by the presence of a sinister supernatural entity. * SEEKING SENSATION (ONGOING): A young woman searching for her missing sister becomes acquainted with (and suspicious of) the charismatic employee of a social media platform that allows users to relive other people's memories. If you are a fan of dark sci-fi anthologies such as Black Mirror and Love Death + Robots, then this is the book for you!