Threadplay

An adult science-fantasy novel complete at 90k words.

Woulie is tired of stacking crates for beer. But that’s all he has since erasing himself from “the realm”, a metaphysical network where users script machines, hijack identities, and build states. A lucrative play-fighting gig in a military spectacle could be his chance to buy a better life abroad. Instead, he’s spotted by his surrogate sister and producer, Reyna. She never forgave Woulie for abandoning her after their realm experiments killed Reyna’s husband—Woulie’s best friend. However, while Woulie fell into an alcoholic spiral, Reyna cut a deal with the alien, deep-realm entities that destroyed their lives.

Rehearsals devolve into a series of deadly riots that force Woulie from the background. Resolving to uncover the forces sabotaging the play, he partners with blind archaeologist Lila. They trigger a lethal trap during their investigation. With Lila about to be crushed, Woulie transmits himself through the realm to save her. The forbidden technique exposes his mind to the entities that have been hunting him for five years.

Woulie could slink back into apathy before his mind gets taken. But to reclaim his past, he will need to decide his future: help Reyna resurrect their family through a dark sacrificial bargain, or protect Lila and his new crew, even if that means exposing the lies that keep him alive.

Threadplay is ready to share and open to agent/publisher offers. Contact me for the full manuscript.

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N.B.: The complete work is unpublished in print and online. All text is written by Thomas Sandow Hearne without the use of AI.