The Rift: The Rift, Book 1

The Rift #1

by Douglas E. Richards, Adam James Conner (Narrator), Joshua T. Calvert

A coming interdimensional war. A race against time. A thrill ride like no other.

Multimillion-copy bestselling authors Douglas E. Richards and Joshua T. Calvert team up for the first time to deliver an explosive, high-stakes science-fiction thriller, one that will leave you breathless.

Deep in Antarctica, two researchers find an enigmatic black sphere suspended in the heart of a huge crater. Neither man is ever seen again.

Decades later, reality fractures. A Manhattan skyscraper vanishes into thin air. An airplane crashes in the Sahara Desert—its existence defying logic. Across the globe, breathtaking technology and mysterious artifacts appear, all leading to one chilling a parallel Earth is breaching the boundary between realities. And with every artifact that crosses over, the fabric of existence tears further apart.

Enter Dr. James Barron, a man haunted by his past who is thrust into a fight he didn't choose. As secret organizations and shadowy forces battle to control the growing breach, Barron becomes humanity's reluctant champion. Can he stop an invasion from a world bent on conquest? Or will the widening rift doom both Earths to annihilation?

The Rift is the electrifying first entry in a trilogy of epic science-fiction thrillers.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Thriller

Audible Audio

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Write to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.

Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.

Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.

Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.

A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.

Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.

SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

SERIES

WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

STANDALONE NOVELS

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)

TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD

DEVIL'S SWORD

Reviews

[Aristotle · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was bad when the building disappeared but now Wonder Woman's invisible helicopter...no...this is just too dumb.

The main character survived shootings, kidnapping, bombs, evil men, even more eviler men, a car crash, an EMP, a second car crash, kidnapped a second time, the desert heat, terrorist, more terrorists, bad CIA guys, bad FBI guys, another shoot out, kidnapped a third time by good guys then escaped in an invisible helicopter

I was hoping for a Stargate type of book but this is just too silly to go on.

It was a Goodreads giveaway but still...no mas!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

No sci-fi in this book. Kept thinking it was gonna get better but didn’t. Just a bunch of men chasing each other around with guns. Boring

[david corley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm annoyed that I wasted part of my life reading this jumble of words.

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

Violates most of the rules of good storytelling!

I was highly disappointed by this book. It claims to be a science-fiction thriller, but very little of the extra-worldly phenomena that occur are explained in science or other terms. The characters are not well-developed. The first half of the book reads as an action movie with “Chase” descriptions. The reader is pretty much kept in the dark throughout the book as to who the bad guys are. The authors string the reader along with possibilities and suppositions on the part of the protagonist. This alone violates a chief rule of good story telling, in that you have to give the reader something to invest in or commit to. The book’s plot elements rely heavily on brief references to other sci-fi cultural icons, from “Wonder Woman” to “STARGATE SG-1”, to “Star Wars”. I am not hanging around to waste my time on the soon to be released 2nd and 3rd installments of this aimless trilogy, and suggest that you don’t either.

[Leslie C. Kurz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful

Sure, for a science fiction thriller one has to suspend disbelief. But this went way beyond. The plot was pointless. I have no desire to find out what happens in the next two books.

[Bill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sweet mother I should have payed closer attention to the reviews. I generally don’t expect much from a book, but man… the writing was extraordinarily basic and the plot… blerg. It read like something I would have written…. In grade school.

[Mark Lipton · Rating 1 out of 5]

ridiculous

I gave up reading it, just too unbelievable.
The only thing missing was Santa Claus scooping down and then escaping in his sleigh.

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you Grok?

Douglas E. Richards continually blows my mind. He's been writing speculative and Science Fiction for many years and still produces books like The Rift that are so far over the cutting edge that they are bleeding new concepts.


For years now, I have been entertained and challenged by his books based on quantum physics. Not only is Richards handy with new technology, but he is also a master storyteller.


The Rift, a collaborative work with several authors, makes you love or hate each character from the first page. By the third chapter, you've become invested in those "on your side", even if you aren't entirely clear where the lines of the sides are drawn.


The haunting premise behind the Anomaly, which I'm not going to tell you, is revealed piece by piece. Each glimpse into its dark potential leaves your blood chilled and your skin pebbled.


As you fall deeper into love with your favorite characters, and as the enormity of the impact the Anomaly will have on Planet Earth dawns on you, despair creeps further into your soul as you realize there is no way to prevent events from unfolding.


Sunk in this apathy and lack of hope, our Master storytellers bring us to the point at which most people give up. Our characters decide to give it one more chance. And the book ends. Hee hee hee. I love Science Fiction writers. And, yes, there is another book coming.

[Allan Segal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am angered when authors utilize fighting scenes to pad the number of words within a novel: these scenes were interminable. Another Issue that I have is not being informed ( by Kindle ) that there was already a sequel in place. This book was Part One . I would prefer to know that I am dealing with a series. My own preference is for standalone novels.

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Such a stupid and poorly written story. It reminded me of another book I read that was horrible and also DNF. Turns out it was the same author. The author can’t keep a coherent focused story going. He makes it utterly incoherent and also with completely unrealistic relationships and juvenile dialogue.

[Mr. Carmickle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish - read about 20%
I couldn’t get around the writing. It’s very.. basic? The suspension of disbelief for this book isn’t required for the mysterious portal, but rather for the basic elements of the story’s plot.

[Steven Gelb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truly Awful

This collaboration with Joshua Calvert has produced a novel worse than the really terrible novels Douglas Richards creates on his own.

[Andy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

[Matt Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Science Fiction Thriller" doesn't do it justice!

The Rift is a high octane novel above and beyond what one might expect from a science fiction thriller. Its engaging, speculative in a way enjoyable to those with and without a science background. James Barron and Hannah Walker are stand out characters, multidimensional, flawed and entirely believable. The quality of the characters and the way they use dialog elevates The Rift head and shoulders above other entries in the genre! That's not to downplay the pacing, action and secondary characters, everything about this book exceeds expectations! The book is an exceptional collaboration which leaves the reader counting down the days until book 2, which will be a long wait, despite the short amount of time to wait. I'll go as far as saying the next book is the one I've looked for more than anything else this year! 5/5 stars. Highly recommended for any audience about about 12 or over!

[Gary Greig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all of Richards books and have thrived in all sorts of ways thanks to his brilliance - but of them all, this one (which is a collaboration) left me confused and frustrated. Not being able to fully understand the anomalies in play and the swift changes in alliances between key characters (mostly seeking absolute power for unknown reasons) left me disappointed. While collaboration makes sense, it can sometimes change the reading dynamic and subdue the voice of one of my favourite authors.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exciting plot line, terrible writing

It's hard to believe that it took two people to write this book. The story itself is OK -- mediocre, but exciting in a Hollywood movie kind of way. But the writing is awful, the depiction of female characters demeaning, and in general the story lacks depth.

[Josh Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and fast read with some great twists, and looking forward to the next two in the series.

[Desmond Shepherd · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a lot I can say but I'll leave it at this: Sometimes you have to read poorly written books so you can better appreciate the well written ones.

[Patty Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ends on a cliffhanger with absolutely nothing resolved. Will not be reading part 2.

[Joseph Diehl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made it to about 85% of the way into this story, and it was so full of pointless action scenes and leaps of logic, while trickling any information necessary to understand the plot, that I was left both bored and confused and often had to go back a chapter or two or three to keep up with the ridiculous twists and turns taking place. The overuse of similes also got distracting. I'm still uncertain of what James' background allegedly is, and there's barely any hints sprinkled throughout the story. All of the events that unfold seem so random. The protagonists are always having to improvise, and what little actual plans they do make gets quickly undermined, so they have to make new improvised plans or adjust the old ones, and with the mostly nameless and faceless bad guys whose plans are ambiguous, it's hard to get invested. I really gave a solid effort to get into this book, but with how much time I've invested and still feeling somewhat confused or left in the dark, I just can't get myself to finish the story in this book. I definitely won't bother with its sequels. It's OK for the most part. Suffers from too many plot devices, plot holes, and plot conveniences. Although there is enough characterization made for the main protagonists, there's still a lot lacking to
get fully invested in them. Being constantly reminded of James having some mysterious past, and never really getting much info or hints to what it could be, felt more annoying than intriguing. There's quite a bit of info dumping and unnecessary details peppered throughout. There's one scene where we're treated to a laundry list of character names and their positions inside a fictional presidential cabinet. None of which was necessary as almost all who were named didn't play any significant part in that scene or played any part at all. Some things which needed more explanation never got it, and other things which didn't need to be explained get overexplained to the point of feeling like not only is my hand being held, but I'm being condescended to at the same time. The fictional president makes a comment about feeling like Tantalus regarding the current situation our heroes are in which proceeds to our protagonists having a brief discussion about the Greek myth of Tantalus being punished by the gods to stand in a pool of water with an unquenchable thirst only for the water to recede whenever he stoops to drink from it, and ends on the president also adding that this character's name is where the root for the word "tantalize" comes from. What these characters said, is a paraphrase of the first paragraph of Google's AI overview when looking up the name "Tantalus." It was an awkward back and forth between three characters all adding a piece to that little bit of trivia regarding that ancient Greek myth, and felt just as unnatural as it felt mostly unnecessary. Given how it was a paraphrase of an AI overview, I wouldn't be surprised if parts of the book were written by AI. There's quite a few examples like that which aren't so fresh at the top of my head to remember, but they're obvious when they pop up. The whole book seems to be following the J.J. Abrams "mystery box" style of storytelling where there's more questions than answers, and a style that should have ended with the final abysmally disappointing episode of the LOST television series when that style first rose to prominence. I'd give it a 2.5 star rating but rounding down to 2 since I didn't feel compelled enough to finish the whole book despite getting close to the end. Life's to short to finish every book I start reading and I've got plenty more to read than this one.

[Adrian Durlester · Rating 3 out of 5]

UPDATE: I've finished "book" 2 and my review is posted. It confirms what I write here.] I didn't want to write this review. I've stuck with you, Douglas E. Richards. "Wired" and "Amped" (which I both read when they were brand new) were truly excellent reads. The Nick Hall series was a fun read, though it signified your descent into way too much info-dumping, a trend I've quibbled about before in my reviews and comments. I've read almost all of your other series and stand-alone books. I do enjoy them, but it's time to really be honest about genre. While they often involve science, they're not really scifi, not even speculative fiction anymore. Yes, they have scifi and speculative elements which are intriguing, and even a touch of moral and ethical questions of import. At the same time they've become simple formulaic action/adventure/thriller books, far too often revolving around stereotypic characters, almost a form of modern commedia with such clearly identifiable characters. And there are the inevitable male and female hero tropes (and I sometimes wonder how female readers find some of your characters and if they find them even more cringeworthy than I do.) To be honest, it's become a bit tiresome. Some authors are able to write formulaically and with lots of typical tropes, and still manage to keep it just different enough to make it work But at least, for me, the formula and tropes are wearing thin. Then, to top it all off, you go and commit the cardinal sin for your readers by putting out a book (with a co-author, no less) that is NOT a complete book. This book was a bait and switch. Yes, I will now read the sequel, because I'm invested in the story. So your marketing strategy worked. But I'm not happy about that. As a reader and consumer, I really feel ripped off. I always thought you were a step above that particular breed of crass consumerism mass-market scifi writers that just chop their books into pieces and sell the pieces as whole books. I don't mind a series. Starting as a kid in the 1960s, I have voraciously read through plenty of scifi series (or books set in the same universe.) I continue to do so today. Today there are those who have taken the notion of a series to extremes (I'm looking at you, Vaughn Heppner and "The Lost...", and even you Barry Hutichinson-though Space Team continues to entertain, yet for both of those and for other extensive series. at least each book is a complete story unto itself.) I'm, sorry, but book 1 of the Rift series is NOT a complete story in any way, shape, or form. Very disappointed in you for that. Yes, like in most, if not all of your books, there is some great speculative notions and concepts, and some reasonable science in The Rift. Not as fleshed out as it could be, though perhaps that will appear in the subsequent sequels which really should just be part of this book so it has a denoument and resolution. I don't mind a good cliffhanger, if the book itself is satisfying. I wish could say that about The Rift, but I can't. It left me very unsatisfied. Both "Wired" and "Amped" left me with higher expectations for your future books, and as much as I hate to say it, for me it's been pretty uneven since those two. Your recent books have served me more as relaxing diversions between consuming the headier and artful works of today's masters like Tchailovsky, Stephenson, Wells, Chambers and a few others which is why getting to the end of The Rift "book" 1 was particularly annoying, because now I'm going to have to wait until I've waded through another brain-taxing tome before I get to the rest of your incomplete story for some lighter fare. Sadder still, because when I read "Wired" I was expecting you to join that pantheon of current masters. I feel so let down. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure which parts of the book were more representative of Calvert. It all felt very "Richards-ian to me (but I've read more of your books than I have Joshua's.) I may come back and update this after I complete reading the story arc and see if I feel differently. But for now, three stars is the best I can give "The Rift."

[Hassan Clemons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another banger from Douglas E. Richards

I don't often read multi author collabs because I tend to fall in love with a certain author's point of view, style of writing... Like a chef that has a certain flavor profile that is unmistakable. This book has not changed my mind and I'll tell you why.

I can clearly feel Douglas E. Richard's fingerprints all over this one. That is a GOOD thing, the story pacing, the twists and turns, the jaw dropping moments that make you feel like he wrote the book just for you. I love it.

The nitty gritty details, the military details... I can see that being Mr. Calvert. The action has been punched up and the technical details of fights... Very "John Wick" in their brutality. I saw those scenes in my mind, very visceral.

All in all a very great collaborative experience, I immediately jumped into book two and I can feel the difference in writing style, in the world building, etc. Starting book 2 was jarring, but I think I can hang with Mr. Calvert's style. More brawler than scientist, more Wolverine than Daredevil.

Kudos guys. Thanks for a great time.

[Kaye Nutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

impressive Sci-Fi thriller with energy and excitement

From the first page starting in Antarctica, I was drawn along by the stylish writing of these two co-conspirators, Douglas E. Richards and Joshua T. Calvert. You’d never know it was two writers though it shows in the quality and many presumably correct, though creatively licensed ‘facts’ about the FBI, Whitehouse and other entities involved (which I as an Aussie don’t know much about) in this spectacularly gripping first story in the series. The first evening I read until 2am and had to force myself out of its grip. This is the kind of book you can’t put down. Some events are hard to explain, starting with the disappearing woman in Africa, building in revelations hinting at a former career for our hero, Dr. James Barron. Follow this with vanishing buildings, Area 51 and invisibility and you have all the makings of an extraordinary SciFi thriller. Coupled with rounded characters you become invested in, this forces you to pick up the next book - which I already have!

[Sean Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Pulse-pounding all the way through, and I don't remember a decent Englishman in any of Doug's earlier novels to compare with James.

Interestingly, we see some of the technology already toyed-with, portals, strange substances etc, but from a viewpoint closer to us than to the slightly near future where EHO and wearable AIs are naturalised. On the one hand it felt like this work was more grounded in our reality, but perhaps a little of the magic of a typical Doug work is missing without any of that too.

That said, there's 2 more books to go and we're just being set up here. it's unusual to chew through political figures so quickly - I can't help but wonder how much more satisfying that would've been if they'd used the current incumbent of the White House for that purpose...

Exciting, thrillride fiction, with real glimmerings of episodic TV within the pages. Enjoyable stuff.

[A.J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros:
Interesting sci-fi plot
Suspenseful
Fast-paced
Page-turner
Not sure how the collaboration was done between the authors, but the book does a good job of keeping a consistent tone and feeling throughout. You won't be able to tell two authors wrote it.

Cons:
Poor character development. Flat MC.
Lack of emotional connection and depth
The end-of-the-world level threat was constantly repeated yet poorly developed. The reader felt the threat towards the beginning of the book but not so much later on. Too much mystery.
Really poorly written jokes between the characters
Weak dialogue in many places, also preachy and overly expository in some place
Lots of stark typos, beyond just printing errors. Their editor should be fired.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the beginnings, I thought it was irrelevant, but I realized later I was wrong. The book blurb mislead me. It said that it all started in an icy setting, and the book starts and continues in the desert. Once I figured out the blurb was just entirely misleading, I was able to really enjoy the book. A few of the scenes were a stretch, such as the airplane explosion, but all the scenes added to action. Now I’m going to move on to the middle book to see how many more main characters get killed, and if that really matters. I loved that the whole series was released in just two months instead of having to wait a year or more. Great start to a series.

[Vincent Veritas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Douglas as an author. So I was excited about his new collaboration.
As my score reflects, I was disappointed. The story is stagnant, the writing is weak and the plot is not very smart (which is quite unlike his other books which are so clever). Three-quarter in the book I considered not finishing but I found the strength to finish it.

That was a mistake.

Because after I read the book #2 to check whether it would get better, it didn't. And then I made another mistake, I started book #3. At this point the story is beyond ridiculous and I'm really struggling hard to finish it.

I guess I prefer Douglas when he writes solo.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read other books by Douglas and have enjoyed them. I got lost on this one though. It was talking about an event that happened at the White House and I was wondering, what event? It didn't talk about it in present tense but as a flashback. Also, I missed who Linus was. Did he come back from the sphere?

I was listening on my Kindle as I was driving. Maybe I missed those parts as my mind wandered, but after reading some of the other reviews, maybe it wasn't me. Either way, I'm going to download the second book as it passes the time as I drive and I am curious as to what happens next.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly Awful.
Impish grins every few pages. Wry smiles on almost every page. Smiling wryly. Numerous descriptions of the same character on the same page - the huge German - his German friend - the massive German - the hulking German - jesus christ.. not sure why I kept reading this drivel... Douglas has interesting exciting sci fi story ideas but my word, his writing is repetitive, corny, cheesy, vomit inducing utter shit. The lead characters in every book may as well be the same people. Cant be bothered to write any more.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rift is a sci-fi thriller that does not disappoint. Lots of twists and turns, plenty of action, and a plot that will affect the world. The boo starts with the main character suffering a major loss and at the same time discovering something beyond belief. From there we race to Washington DC to avoid a disaster of epic proportions. Things get twisted from here as the realm of impossible is explored. The events that take place from there bring us to a point in the book where the very fabric of reality is tested. I highly recommend this book.