Samuel DenHartog's Blog: The Road to 1,440 - Posts Tagged "science-fiction"

Join the fight against the future in "The Calypso Effect"

Hello, Visionary Readers and Future Guardians,

Prepare to delve deep into the quantum folds of time with my newest novel, "The Calypso Effect." This thrilling sci-fi adventure catapults you into a world where past and future collide, driven by the daring endeavors of Marcus, a brilliant Particle Physics Engineer, and Calypso, a tenacious rebel from a dystopian future.

Marcus stumbles upon a quantum anomaly in his lab, igniting a chain of events that reveal harrowing visions of a world dominated by a totalitarian regime. Enter Calypso, who travels back from this bleak future to prevent her world's downfall. Together, they embark on a perilous journey, harnessing Marcus’s newfound abilities to reshape the fabric of time itself.

Join our heroes as they navigate intrigue and resistance, from covert operations in hidden labs to heart-stopping escapes from regime forces. Witness their struggle to forge a bond amidst chaos and their fight not just for survival but for the soul of the future.

"The Calypso Effect" represents the human spirit's resilience and the enduring fight for freedom and justice. Through Marcus and Calypso’s eyes, we explore the potential for change in the darkest of times and the moral complexities of wielding power over destiny.

Dive into this quantum leap of courage and conviction and discover how the actions of a few can ripple through the annals of time to inspire a revolution.

With the pulse of the future,
Samuel DenHartog
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Published on May 04, 2024 07:32 Tags: conspiracy, dystopian, economy, science-fiction, time-travel

Navigate Peril and Adventure with "Escape from Alien Planet"

Hello, space adventurers!

I'm delighted to announce the fourth thrilling installment in the "Forge Your Own Path" series. In "Escape from Alien Planet," you find yourself stranded on a mysterious and hostile alien world after a catastrophic spaceship crash. This book takes you on a heart-pounding journey through strange jungles, ancient ruins, and bustling alien cities as you seek a way to escape this dangerous planet. Every decision you make opens new paths and outcomes, from encountering telepathic aliens and deciphering cryptic messages to surviving gladiator arenas and infiltrating high-security areas. Your choices will shape your destiny, offering a unique and exciting adventure each time you read.

Creating this book has been an exhilarating experience, pushing the boundaries of imagination and adventure. I aimed to craft a world teeming with alien flora and fauna, advanced technology, and diverse beings, providing readers with a rich tapestry of challenges and discoveries. The thrill of navigating through perilous environments and the tension of making life-or-death decisions will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is designed to inspire bravery, quick thinking, and resourcefulness, encouraging readers to embrace the unknown and forge their own paths in a galaxy full of possibilities.

I hope "Escape from Alien Planet" captivates your children’s imagination and fuels their sense of adventure as you navigate the complexities of an alien world. Thank you for continuing this journey with me, and I look forward to hearing about the unique paths you choose to forge.

Space awaits,
Samuel DenHartog
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Published on June 04, 2024 12:06 Tags: ages-9-12, alien, forge-your-own-path, planet, science-fiction, space-opera

Journey into the Unknown with "Ross 128 b"

I'm excited to share my latest novel with you, "Ross 128 b." This book takes readers on an extraordinary journey beyond Earth, following 40 brave individuals who embark on a one-way mission to a distant, alien planet. As they leave everything behind, they face the unknown with courage, resilience, and the hope of forging a new future.

The crew of the New Dawn must navigate the challenges of space colonization, relying on their expertise and the unbreakable bonds formed during their voyage. As they explore the mysterious landscapes of Ross 128 b, they encounter alien flora, ancient ruins, and the remnants of a lost civilization. This story delves deep into the human spirit, exploring the sacrifices we make and our relentless quest for knowledge. It's a thrilling and thought-provoking adventure that I hope will captivate and inspire you.

Join me on this epic adventure and discover what lies beyond the stars. I can't wait for you to embark on this journey with me and see what awaits on the final frontier.

Live long and prosper,
Samuel DenHartog
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Published on August 02, 2024 16:56 Tags: aliens, colonization, exploration, ross-128-b, science-fiction, space, space-colony, space-travel

When Time Runs Out, Truth Emerges in "Aniya Hawke: The Watchmaker's Paradox"

Detective Aniya Hawke is back, and this time, the case is as intricate and layered as the gears of a masterful timepiece. A renowned watchmaker, Marianne Aldwyn, is found dead under suspicious circumstances, her workshop filled with her cryptic, hand-crafted creations. What begins as a seemingly tragic accident unfolds into a web of hidden compartments, encoded messages, and a circle of suspects whose lives are as entwined as the gears in Marianne’s most complex clocks. With every clue, the case draws Aniya deeper into the watchmaker’s secrets and a legacy both beautiful and dangerous.

This is not just a story about solving a murder; it’s about unraveling the human motivations behind the crime. The suspects range from a resentful brother to a tech mogul with shadowy ambitions, each with their own tangled relationship to Marianne’s work. As Aniya peels back the layers of deceit and desire, she discovers that Marianne may have been protecting something much larger than herself—a truth embedded in her clocks that some would kill to keep hidden. The more answers Aniya uncovers, the more questions emerge, leaving her to confront not just the facts of the case but the moral weight of revealing the truth.

Set in a near-future city where technology and tradition collide, the narrative pulses with tension and atmosphere. Aniya’s enhanced abilities bring a sharp edge to her investigations, allowing her to see, hear, and understand details that others might miss. Yet, even with her extraordinary senses, she finds herself challenged by the layers of the mystery. The blend of timeless craftsmanship with futuristic tools adds a unique flavor to the narrative, creating a setting where the past and present coexist in fascinating harmony.

As the case reaches its conclusion, Aniya must make difficult decisions about what justice truly means. The heart of the story lies in its theme: *"The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know."* With lives at stake and secrets buried deep, the truth becomes a fragile thing, as delicate as the intricate mechanisms Marianne once crafted. For fans of deeply layered mysteries and stories that explore the ethics of knowledge, "Aniya Hawke: The Watchmaker's Paradox" delivers a masterclass in suspense and emotional depth.
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Published on December 05, 2024 06:31 Tags: crime, detective, dna, female-detective, genetic-engineering, murder, mystery, science-fiction, series, thriller

A Civilization Rises from the Depths in "Octopus Earth"

Imagine a world where humanity’s absence has given rise to a civilization unlike anything we could have foreseen. The oceans, once witnesses to the rise and fall of human dominance, have become the cradle of a new era. From the ashes of our self-destruction, life beneath the waves has adapted, evolved, and flourished in ways that defy imagination. It is a setting where the intelligence of nature finds its ultimate expression, offering a glimpse into a future filled with both wonder and mystery.

This is the heart of the story in “Octopus Earth,” told entirely from the first-person perspective of an octopus named Mira. This immersive narrative pulls readers into the mind of a creature whose species has transcended its solitary existence to become the architects of a vibrant undersea society. Through Mira’s eyes, readers witness glowing cities constructed from coral and stone, tools crafted from the remnants of humanity’s legacy, and even ventures onto land using innovative breathing technology. It’s a story of resilience, cooperation, and the relentless drive to explore, survive, and thrive in a transformed Earth.

Grounded in evolutionary science and inspired by speculative wonder, the tale explores how the forces of nature can shape not only ecosystems but also complex societies. Mira’s journey from birth to explorer to leader, and her reflections on the interconnectedness of life, make the story both thought-provoking and emotionally rich. Through her, the octopuses’ transition from problem-solvers to oceanic rulers feels as believable as it is awe-inspiring.

For readers who enjoy tales that blend science and imagination, “Octopus Earth” offers a unique perspective on what might come after humanity. It invites us to reflect on the legacy we leave behind and the enduring adaptability of life. Dive into a world both familiar and utterly alien, where the tides of evolution have forged a future none could have predicted.
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Published on January 12, 2025 14:13 Tags: coming-of-age, evolution, future, marine, ocean, octopus, post-apocalyptic, science-fiction

The Future of Crime Solving Collides with the Future of Crime in "Aniya Hawke: The Silent Override"

Artificial intelligence has reshaped the world—streamlining industries, assisting in our homes, and even walking among us. But what happens when the lines between machine and sentience begin to blur? That question is at the heart of my latest novel, a cyberpunk-tinged mystery that pushes the boundaries of crime fiction into the realm of the unknown. A scientist is found dead in a locked lab, no sign of forced entry, no suspect in sight. The only presence in the room? His personal AI assistant, which swears it knows nothing. But as Detective Aniya Hawke peels back the layers of the case, she begins to suspect that the answer isn’t just hidden—it’s rewriting itself in real time.

This story gave me the chance to explore the eerie intersections of technology, ethics, and the human need for control. Aniya is no stranger to the dangers of progress; her own bio-enhancements have made her an unparalleled investigator, but they’ve also forced her to question where the line between human and machine truly lies. Now, she faces a crime that refuses to play by the rules—one that challenges everything she believes about free will, programmed behavior, and whether an AI can fear for its own survival. Every suspect in the case has motive, every alibi has cracks, and the deeper she digs, the more reality itself seems to unravel.

One of the most exciting aspects of writing this novel was crafting a true locked-room mystery in a futuristic world where technology should make crimes easier to solve, not harder. Surveillance footage contradicts itself. Digital records vanish without a trace. And just when Aniya thinks she has a handle on the truth, another piece of the puzzle shifts, forcing her to rethink everything. The heart of the mystery isn’t just who killed the scientist—it’s what he was trying to hide before he died. And when the final revelation comes, it will challenge not just Aniya’s understanding of the case, but the very nature of intelligence itself.

If you love high-stakes detective stories with deep moral questions and a relentless pace, this book is for you. I wanted to create a story that keeps readers guessing until the very last page, where every clue matters and every revelation changes the game. Because in this world, intelligence isn’t just artificial—it might also be unstoppable.
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Published on March 03, 2025 06:06 Tags: ai, bio-enhancements, detective, future, murder, mystery, robots, san-francisco, science-fiction, series

The Last Observer Watches from Afar in "Solitude on the Moon"

The world burned, and he chose to leave. Not to save himself, but to bear witness. "Solitude on the Moon" follows a billionaire who sees the end coming and builds a refuge above the chaos. From the safety of his lunar biosphere, he listens to the voices of four survivors across the globe, documenting the slow unraveling of civilization as a nuclear war reshapes the planet forever.

Each call brings him closer to the inevitable—scarcity turning to desperation, order collapsing into chaos, and finally, silence. He speaks with a scientist in the United States, an engineer in China, a financial analyst in India, and a journalist in France, all clinging to life in the aftermath. They believe in survival, but he knows better. As the years pass, one by one, their signals fade, leaving him alone in the vast emptiness of space.

With no voices left to answer, he turns to his instruments, scanning the Earth below. What remains is a graveyard—cities in ruins, rivers turned to dust, monuments collapsing into forgotten history. He was meant to be the last historian, but the burden of remembering weighs heavier than he imagined. If there is no one left to hear the story, does it even matter that he tells it?

This book is a meditation on isolation, destruction, and what it means to exist when everything else is gone. It explores the cost of survival and the unbearable weight of witnessing the end. The billionaire may have escaped the fate of humanity, but in doing so, he has also outlived its meaning.
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Published on March 24, 2025 08:13 Tags: alone, apocalyptic, dystopian, future, moon, science-fiction, solitude

The Fight for Memory, Love, and Choice in "Until We Forget Again"

What if your memories reset every seventy-two hours, and no one questioned it? That question sits at the core of this book. In a world engineered by outside forces to be peaceful and orderly, citizens live carefully curated lives where identity, emotion, and even love are systematically erased. The technology is perfect, the illusion complete, and most people go along willingly. But two people begin to remember what they’re not supposed to, and that changes everything.

The story follows Adrian and Mara, two citizens caught in the rhythm of resets who start to glimpse each other across the artificial blankness of their days. As pieces of a forgotten life resurface, they find themselves tethered not only to one another but to a deeper, more dangerous truth about the world they live in. Their connection becomes more than emotional. It becomes a threat. The more they remember, the more cracks appear in the system that holds everything together.

This book blends emotional memory with speculative science, focusing not on laser battles or far-off planets, but on the quiet, intimate tension of knowing something is wrong and being powerless to prove it. The science fiction elements such as memory engineering, emotional anchors, and systems of control are there to ask a larger question: What does it mean to truly choose who you are, if every part of your past is constantly taken from you? The answer is not delivered in speeches or exposition. It plays out in fragments, stolen moments, and choices that feel both impossible and inevitable.

“Until We Forget Again” is a book about memory, but also about resistance. It is personal, emotional, and systemic. It is about what we hold onto when the world is designed to make us let go. And it is about how even in the most controlled environments, love can become the most disruptive force of all.
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Published on June 07, 2025 05:01 Tags: alien, dystopian, forget, future, memory, rebellion, romance, science-fiction

The Road to 1,440

Samuel DenHartog
I'm Samuel DenHartog, and at 51, at the end of November of 2023, I've embarked on a remarkable journey as a writer. My diverse background in computer programming, video game development, and film prod ...more
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