Alan Lennox and the Temp Job of Doom

The Future Next Door #1

by Brian Olsen

Alan Lennox has been assigned yet another soul-crushing temp job, keeping him from his first loves – drinking, playing video games, and looking for a boyfriend. But Alan’s new job proves to be anything but boring when his co-workers start turning up dead. The mysterious megacorporation Amalgamated Synergy has taken a deadly interest in Alan and his three roommates, and the hapless quartet are woefully unequipped to deal with the psychotic secretaries, murderous middle managers, and villainous vice-presidents hunting them down.

Their investigation leads them deep into Amalgamated Synergy’s headquarters, but can Alan and his friends stay alive long enough to discover who – or what – waits for them on the top floor?

Alan Lennox and the Temp Job of Doom is the first book in "The Future Next Door" series.

Genres: Mystery, Science Fiction, M M Romance, Fantasy, Romance, LGBT, Fiction

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2013

About the author

I’m a writer living in New York City. I primarily write science fiction with a sense of humor, though I veer into fantasy and the paranormal from time to time. I believe strongly that fiction shapes reality through its influences on and engagement with readers, and as such I’m a proponent of diverse representation – all of my works feature a broad array of queer and POC lead characters.

I’m the author of The Future Next Door, a contemporary urban science fiction comedic thriller series in four parts, Multiverse Mashup, an ongoing genre-bending adventure series, and Yesterday's Magic, a young adult contemporary fantasy series. I’ve also written a couple of shorts and a number of plays, sketches and monologues for the stage.

I’ve been a theater person for most of my life, as a playwright, actor, director and producer. I got my MFA from the Actors Studio, so if you need someone to cry on cue, hit me up.

Reviews

[Judelon Ingram · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really liked the title. 3 weeks and only 30% into it, and I still like the title.

[David Teachout · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am astounded by the positive reviews. The editing is atrocious, the characters gross stereotypes without consequent little depth and the plot moves along like zombies: you see it and blink then it's far ahead. The plot "twist" is a scifi groan, frankly, that has little build-up and nothing in the way of explanation beyond the need to make the plot more interesting.

[Glenn Conley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Temp workers suck. Everyone knows this. Every big company has a big mainframe computer which is perfectly aware at how much the temp workers suck. Because, all temp workers do is fuck around all day. They check facebook. They play stupid fucking video games, instead of actually doing any work.

This book is about one such mainframe computer which has had enough of its stupid goddamn temp workers. So it starts mind-controlling its long-term employees, making them kill off those useless fucking temps.

Sounds like an interesting premise, right? Well, not so much. See, most of this book is stupid bullshit temp worker horseshit. People fucking around, not doing any work, and just being boring little shits. And going to the fucking bar with their friends, chatting about how stupid and useless they are.

Sure, there are several murders, here and there. But, nobody really knows why. All they know, for the first 80% of this book, is that people at this huge corporation are going slightly insane. They're not themselves. We don't find out that they're mindless drones, controlled by the evil mainframe, until the last 20% of the book.

And then, like a fucking Scoobie-Doo episode, the evil mainframe finally reveals herself, through one of her trusted drones. She corners the fucking useless temp cunts in an office, and spews her whole goddamn evil plan. Along with the standard "And I would have gotten away with it too, if not for you useless fucking temp workers!"

It was actually an interesting story, in the end. But it wasn't a 312 page story. It was maybe worth 100 pages, at best. Because there's just too much bullshit filler, with stupid 20-something cunts partying it up and wasting everyone's fucking time.

[Kate Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I spend a lot of time on writing forums defending diversity for diversity's sake, encouraging authors to include characters from a variety of sub-cultures, etc., and often when there's pushback people say things like "I want to write characters, not tokens. I don't want to have my book written based on a checklist" or things like that and I'm always bewildered. Who's saying you have to write tokens? Who's saying you need to have a checklist?

And then I read this book, and... well. It really did feel like there was a checklist of diversity involved. And I don't think it was the checklist ITSELF that kept me from really bonding with the characters, but I felt like we didn't really get much else. I'm a total suck and cry at the drop of a hat, but if one of the main characters in this had been killed (as many secondary characters were) it wouldn't have affected me at all. No tears. It just never felt... well, obviously it wasn't meant to feel real; it's just a fun little romp. But there are ways to write fun romps and still have deep characterization, I think?

I don't know. This wasn't terrible - I finished it, after all. But I didn't love it.

[Giddy Girlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to describe this book without talking about the actual plot, which is hard without giving anything away. Sorry about that. I don't want to spoil anything, but this book was super fun. I thought the characters were very "real" and their reactions to the craziness surrounding them were very true to life. The whole story was really fast-paced with a lot of excellently written action sequences. Action isn't usually my "thing" but I found myself effortlessly following along and cheering on our heroes.

The crux of the story revolves around 4 friends who all end up being employed by the same mega-corporation, and they are trying to determine if it's coincidence or something more sinister. I won't give away details, but it suffices to say that I won't be linking my video game apps to my Facebook account. ;)

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely off my usual beaten paths of reading, and could probably be described as quirky. There's something about how the author asked readers to suspend disbelief for the more elaborate mind-control portions of the story while employing a kind of tone that acknowledged just how much of the plot was in jest, or didn't take itself too seriously. At the same time, there was a way in which even the tiniest details were continually sewn up and resolved as it moved to its conclusion - a methodical approach - which spoke to the thought an intelligence behind the writing. It's weird. I'm still shaking my head at the fact that I finished and kinda liked it, while muttering the entire time, "This isn't really my cup of tea." How insidious that mind control!

[Dev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess I get some of the low ratings for this book, but at the same time if you pick up a book with "the Temp Job of Doom" in the title you should probably be ready for something ridiculous and fun and expect high literature. Yeah the plot was pretty cliched, but that's to be expected in my opinion and I really liked all the characters and thought they were both relatable and funny. It's not brilliant by any means but I enjoyed it enough to read it in about a day and considering I've been DNFing about 4 out of every 5 books I try to start recently, that speaks volumes for me. I will probably be checking out the next book in the series next time I need something light and fun.

[Sydney Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, taking it as an intentional, over-the-top satire. That said, Pete's ultimate fate was kind of off-putting. I didn't realize at first that it was an ensemble cast, so felt the title was somewhat misleading -- For a titular character Alan didn't get any more POV time than the rest of the ensemble.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

July 2025
Kindle edition

I don't know where this one came from. I was bored and scrolled deep into the kindle TBR. It was alright. The LGBT bit was minor romance wise. Four roomates/friends each getting on with their jobs or job struggles. Alan the bored temp who wanted to play games. Caitlin the actress doing shady auditions. Mark the gym trainer picking up danger. Dakota the workaholic. Add in conspiracy, murder, mind control and an AI deciding work sucks. Felt like an episode of goosebumps or black mirror. HFN. Poor Pete.

[P.A. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual read, and frankly it took a while for me to get into it. From page one, it intrigued me, but I was trying too hard to figure things out. When I decided to go along for the ride, I was hooked.

Alan is bored. The temp work gets that way fast for him and he has a habit of running out on the job. Things are different when he realizes that there's something weird going on. A series of coincidences pique his interest and suddenly he's reeled into the trap.

An addictive video game and a huge corporation have too many things in common for Alan and his roommates to ignore.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read with a bunch of raving lunatics.

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has a good sense of humor at some points, but the characters are all typecast and the twist was unsatisfying.

[otter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so...I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately I didn't find much to like outside of the rare poignant line and some solid diversity. Even within this relatively diverse cast, most of the characters fell into predictable, stereotypical boxes. There were points that made me physically cringe away from my Kindle, which made me feel horrible; I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community, of course I wanted to like the cast.
Olsen was incapable of showing rather than telling, particularly toward the end of the book. To be honest, the spoken exposition in the last few chapters was so clumsy and unnatural that I was temped to drop it. I've never dropped a book once I've gotten more than halfway through, but this one came damn close. During the climax, the point at which the reader should be the most invested.
I should also mention that there were several noticeable typos that changed the meanings of sentences entirely, and it made me wonder how many people the author had proofreading and/or editing for him. How could they have missed so many?
Overall, I'm glad to have gotten to meet a few more LGBT characters, but this story missed the mark. I'm almost sad that this is the novel I started my year with.

[Simo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this group of friends and the intricacies of the story.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking a book, totally on a whim, can have it's drawbacks. Often times, especially if it's a book you haven't really heard of before, a synopsis can sound promising, but the book itself leaves you cold. You end up kicking yourself in the ass for even giving it a try, and swear with your last breath, you will never be so reckless is choosing your next read.

Then there are those rare times that the whim pays off, and pays off in spades. I'm not even sure how I ended up spotting Alan Lennox and the Temp Job of Doom, but it's not something I would normally give a second glance to. I've had mixed results with urban fantasy, so I tend to stay clear of it, unless it's series or author I'm already familiar with. There was something about this cover, and yes, I'm going to blame the cover, that just grabbed me. It also helps that the book was free at the time, so I figured what the hell, it won't be like I'm out any money. So I downloaded the book, started to read, and didn't put it down until I flicked past the last page.

The book opens with a classic horror scene. A single, lonely individual, stuck at work in her Tokyo office building, long past the time when her coworkers have left for the day, is staring at her computer screen. Naturally she's not working, rather playing a game that simulates working at an office job. What's better than being an office drone, than playing a game as an office drone? When she finally shuts off the computer, ready to go home, she is startled to see the reflection of her manager in the dark screen. Next thing she knows, she is being chased through the building by her murderous boss with a baseball bat, and I'm pretty sure you can figure out the rest. From Tokyo, the scene shifts to New York City, where the rest of the action takes place.

Alan, the hero of this book, has just stormed out of another boring temp job, and insists on meeting his roommates for a drink at their favorite lesbian bar. This scene sets up the group dynamic, though we have already met them separately. Dakota Bell is the ambitious girl, plugging away at her first job out of college, working for Amalgamated Synergy. She's been there for months, but has never been given a task to do. Mark Park is a personal trainer, more concerned with picking up women and setting up Alan with a hot client, than he is anything else. By the way, Amalgamated Synergy is at work in his life too. The gym he works at is owned by them, the hot chick he picks up is a VP for the company, and the client he sets Alan up with, is lawyer involved in a lawsuit on behalf of a certain game developer. You know, the game the office drone in Tokyo was playing, right before her brains were bashed in, the game every single character in this book is playing. Then there is Caitlin Ross, the struggling actress, hellbent on finding the next big gig. She gets suckered into working for Amalgamated too, as a voice actress. No reason is given, the director of the shoot has not clue why they are doing it, neither does the corporate exec who shows up to supervise. And that's sets the scene, though I'm leaving a whole bunch of details out.

What follows is a hilariously gruesome, workplace killing spree. It takes a satirical look at the modern workplace, poking fun at the size of global corporations, and the hive like mentality they instill in their employees. Alan Lennox and the Temp Job of Doom, also plays with the precepts of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. It blends the genres together, breaking all the rules, and has a ton of fun at the same time. In that regard, it reminds me of Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix, poking fun at not only modern society, but the genre(s) the book is being written in.

I'm hoping the remaining three books of the series, each one features a roommate as the main character, are half as good as this one. From what I can tell, though the nightmarish situations change, each book will find the roommates fighting for their lives, surrounded by satire and gore. I can't wait to dive into them. This was definitely a whim that paid off.

[Crystal Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve all heard (and probably read) books classified as Urban Fantasy. Well, this is Urban Science Fiction and it fits this genre perfectly. To misuse the Bard, There’s something rotten in the corporation of Amalgamated Synergy. People are murdered, for seemingly no reason. Others have become mindless drones. When Alan Lennox and his roommates are brought to AmSyn, they have no idea what they are in for. Murder, lies, and a fight to get up to the top to face the CEO. Only when they reach the top, nothing is what they expected.

There is so much I can’t say, because to say it would be to give away what is at the base of AmSyn’s troubles. But let me just say, I was impressed. This was a nicely thought out plot with twenty-somethings who are not sure of what they want…only they quickly realize they don’t want to be dead, video games, several points of view, and a unique antagonist.

The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5, was it felt like it ended too soon. It felt like something was missing. Otherwise, I do think this was a great start to an interesting series. Plus, who doesn’t love the phrase Urban Science Fiction?

Reviewed by a-nony-mouse for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy BOUGHT for review*

[Erin Korbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read, but definitely wasn't what I expected!!

A definite page turner for someone who likes finding out what's going on at the climax of a book!! Once I got going I couldn't put it down! Was shocked at the direction the ending went to! I absolutely did NOT see that coming!! Can't wait to pick up another book by Brian Olsen!!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. Not brilliant, but fun. The plot was silly and light, but mostly maintained its internal logic, so it was easy to forgive. I liked the characters well enough, though some were better-developed than others (I do see that later books are named for other characters, so I'll assume they get more fleshing out). All in all, a nice distraction for a few hours.

[Afshaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fresh, quick read. It's contemporary and is relatable to all Millennials. The story moves along at a quick pace but with enough character development to develop feelings, one way or another, for them; well, most of them.

The plot is unique and there is no way you can figure out the suspense.

It was an enjoyable read and has certainly sparked my interest in the other books in the series.

[Lillian Francis]

DNF'D 9% chap 4.
Boring.

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read for anyone who's ever temped, likes New York, or gay lifestyles. Not a book to shout about but pleasant none the less, with a few genuine surprises and great scenes.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Spoilers ahead**

The book Alan Lennox and the Temp Job of Doom for me is just meh. It isn't great but it isn't horrible either. There are a lot of good things going for it such as the characters are unique in both their situations and their personalities. I enjoyed the play on race/sexual orientation/sexual identity as it is very diverse and I also like how the conversations and attitudes between characters are realistic (saying and thinking things the typical young adult does) and not stereotypical. As a matter of fact, most of the characters are exactly opposite their stereotype, which is refreshing. This is accompanied by great bits of dialogue throughout that made me care about the characters and finally gave me the boost to finish the book.

Plotwise, the story is interesting and as far as I know, original in its own respect. But this is where it falls short of being a great book.

First, the individual stories of the main characters are often dragged out to the point that I began to forget that there is something malevolent going on. I truly believe I remember and understand more about Alan's actual job (or lack thereof), his hobbies, and his love life than I do about his role in taking down the evil AmSyn Corporation. The only person really focused on and working toward this goal is his roommate, Dakota.

Next, I have to admit that I am a bit underwhelmed by the storytelling aspect. I don’t feel there is near enough suspense or action and the death scenes can be way more graphic, especially for a book such as this, where it is expected. For example, just as someone dies, there is always a final line that reads somewhat dispassionately, like so - “And then he died.” It makes the whole chase, fight, and death the character undergoes seem very anticlimactic.

After reading the blurb, I was hoping for/expecting a book where all the main characters are trapped inside the AmSyn building and are trying to escape from a demented computer and it’s brainwashed staffers, but instead, I’ve got the main characters roaming freely about NYC, perfectly able to get help from any police force or find more powerful weapons to defend themselves - because not everyone works for AmSyn. Not the best writing here.

Finally, the plot takes a strange turn when we learn who is actually responsible for all the technological espionage and brainwashing. Pickle. And then it's not Pickle, but the computer (AmSyn)controlling her. And yet, it isn’t clear on exactly how. We are told that somehow, at a company retreat the computer is somehow “newly born” and is able to spread the word/loyalty of its company by brainwashing its employees through neurons. Yeah, it doesn’t make sense and it’s not explained enough to bear significance beyond "I'm the bad guy!"

As I read, I believe that each temp worker is being murdered because they are goofing off at work and playing games, but I later find out that it’s the complete opposite. It’s later revealed that this whole plot revolves around videogames and AmSyn's determination to win, even if it has to kill for it. The plot in this way is misleading. This is where the title character Alan finally stands out, but yet again, it's completely underwhelming!! Right when we are sort-of told who the antagonist is and the not-so-fantastic 4 main characters are nearly beaten, the heroic Alan Lennox swoops in and fires everyone, somehow breaking AmSyn's control over their minds and saving the day. Oh dear.

But, just to top off the pointless, Brian Olsen decides to give us a final unnecessary chapter at the very end where the main characters sit in a bedroom and make no decisions about their lives beyond that moment. They simply make each other feel better and then - nothing. We don't see them taking initiative in their lives and we don't get to see what happens to the company beyond what Pickle says may happen. The one good thing that came out of this last chapter is the line, “We’re in our twenties. This is not the time to abandon your dreams. That’s what your thirties are for.”

Overall, the book is just OK.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where I like a lot of things and dislike some, and have a couple of questions once I've finished reading. Overall, I'd say it's good. When I started, I wasn't sure what to expect since I had no idea about the sci-fi elements, which made for an interesting first couple of chapters. Either way, it's not a romance book. Don't make the mistake of thinking that. I mean, it has flirting and kissing and romance, but the plot is clearly the important part. Fortunately, I'm all for that.

Unfortunately, the plot was pretty slow going, at least at the start. It wasn't helped by the many POVs, since it meant that a lot of the information was repeated (sometimes more than twice) and several scenes taking place roughly at the same time. I won't say much about the conclusion because, well, what annoyed me the most — the pointlessness of the murders — was actually the whole point. It was supposed to be frustrating. But that didn't make me any less frustrated. I also have a couple of questions about how not surprised some of the characters were over certain things, but I doubt I'll ever get those answered.

As for the characters, they were... interesting. I liked the fact that all of them had bad sides, some that they were aware of and others they weren't, but sometimes it felt like the bad overshadowed the good. I couldn't say that I liked all of them, certainly not all of the time, but I don't hate them, either. That's not a requirement, I'm just trying to explain that I wouldn't begrudge anyone who didn't enjoy these characters. They did, occasionally, act really weird (and then I mean the four main characters) but I think that might have been somewhat failed attempts at humour rather than bad characterisation.

As for the representation, I'm sort of on the fence. On the one side, it's good that the main characters were both of different sexual orientations and skin colours, but, on the other, I'm not nearly informed enough to say if it was GOOD representation. If anyone was racist, they got called out on it, in the joking way friends would, and the white characters made fun of their whiteness more than once. So it's difficult to say, really? I'd say Olsen is at least more aware than most authors and I will give kudos for trying.

In the end, I did like it enough to want to keep going. At some point, when I have the time, I'll give the second book a try.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT kindle unlimited {got it on a freebie day}

Alan Lennox has been assigned yet another soul-crushing temp job, keeping him from his first loves – drinking, playing video games, and looking for a boyfriend. But Alan’s new job proves to be anything but boring when his co-workers start turning up dead. The mysterious megacorporation Amalgamated Synergy has taken a deadly interest in Alan and his three roommates, and the hapless quartet are woefully unequipped to deal with the psychotic secretaries, murderous middle managers, and villainous vice-presidents hunting them down.Their investigation leads them deep into Amalgamated Synergy’s headquarters, but can Alan and his friends stay alive long enough to discover who – or what – waits for them on the top floor?


Book One: Alan Lennox and the Temp Job of Doom
Book Two: Caitlin Ross and the Commute from Hell
Book Three: Mark Park and the Flume of Destiny
Book Four: Dakota Bell and the Wastes of Time

The Dystopia Spell (Multiverse Mashup Book 1)
Night of the Living Date (Multiverse Mashup Book 2)
The Case of the Empty Throne (Multiverse Mashup Book 3)

[Emesskay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooo...take some cyberpunk, a few pinches of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, add in a group of "meddling kids" (meddling twenty-somethings, actually), a tablespoon of snark, and stir...and you get Alan Lennox and the Temp Job of Doom. I have no idea how to categorize this book - it is a mystery, but not in the traditional sense. It reminds of me of the mysteries Buffy and her friends would sometimes solve (like in the episode "Band Candy"), though no demons or vampires (hope that is not considered a spoiler). I found the characters likeable and realistic. Once I started reading this story, I was quickly pulled in as the mystery deepened.

The book is about 4 friends/roommates who share an apartment in NY. They all have different aspirations and goals, but similar problems (money, romance, lack of job opportunities). And then there is the company Amalgamated Synergy, which starts appearing in their lives more and more often, until they can no longer believe it is a coincidence.

The tale also has a very important message, one I can completely get behind - use complex passwords and don't re-use them! Different passwords for all your accounts, please! :-)

[Joseph Molinaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't say the story is "good", but it's definitely "fun" and easy to read. The main characters all have unique quirks and personalities, and share a close friendship with each other that makes rooting for them easy. It brings a light tone to the book that makes reading it easy to breeze through. Lapsed readers (like myself) overwhelmed with heavy and descriptive prose will definitely benefit from the "cozy" writing style and brisk pacing.

That being said, the story is absurd. Especially if you're invested in the mystery, you're going to be frustrated at the absolutely insane and illogical reveal at the novel's climax.

This is a "turn your brain off and have fun" kind of book. If you're the kind of person who feels like B-Stories are insulting to your intelligence, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for vibes that are equivalent to having a night out with good friends, you'll find a lot to enjoy here.

[Paul Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. You think you know where it's going and then suddenly realise you don't. What crafty alien plot is afoot,is where it seems to be going or is it, so read it and find out if it is or isn't. A page turner, as it draws you into a tale of 4 friends in the world of work. For Alan, he doesn't know what he wants to do with his life or anything he really wants to achieve. When too many coincident start piling up what does it mean for him and his friends.

The body count just rises and rises and to be honest some of them are rather gory. Not in a truly gratuitous way, so maybe not for the very very fainthearted. The death will make sense by the end of the book, honest. The book fits inside the Sci-Fi genre but it is so much more.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this book. It had interesting characters, good pacing, and the mystery was clever in a stupid kind of way. Elements of horror and comedy make up the greater part of the mix, but there are also sci fi, mystery and romance elements in the book . For those expecting solely a M/M romance, you will be disappointed, as the romance is a very small part and doesn't have a HEA. If you are looking for a funny/scary sci fi/thriller with a diverse cast of characters and a clever plot, this is the book for you.

[Ken Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but confusing

Four midtwenties roommates in New York City casting for purpose in life. With 4 POV and a few side characters, the plot jumped around and zombpid killer crowds manifested. Too twisted for this reader.

As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
 

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Title Got Me to Buy It

Such a ridiculous and funny title caught my eye, the summary intrigued me enough to buy the book. This is book 1 in a 4 part series but this story ends in a way that doesn't have a cliffhanger where you need to read the next book.

This story is told from multiple POVs, more than just the four roommates too. I enjoyed the plot and the twists and trying to figure out what the check was going on.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! It has relatable characters, an intriguing plot, believable dialogue, minimal scene description (I prefer to imagine stuff myself), and a great futuristic world setting that is 100% realistic, almost as if it's taking place only a few decades from now. I'll be buying the other three books in the series.