CATACLYSM

by Scott Conditt

Only the footage remains. Everything else was erased.

CATACLYSM is a found-footage-style speculative thriller told through classified transcripts, surveillance footage, recovered drone logs, and intercepted communications. When a top-secret government experiment fractures the veil between dimensions, reality begins to unravel across isolated regions of the American Southwest. The story unfolds through fragmented POVs—from special forces operators and hunters to black site analysts and civilians—each capturing a piece of the incursion as it escalates from anomaly to existential threat.

As interdimensional phenomena intensify and human responses fail, Cataclysm fuses the tension of Annihilation with the creeping dread of The Blair Witch Project and the procedural paranoia of The X-Files. What emerges is not just a chronicle of collapse - but a record of what it means to observe, survive, or vanish when something incomprehensible tears through the world.

Genres: Amazon

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2025

Reviews

[Huckle Buck411 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's bio states that Scott Conditt writes science fiction and tactical thrillers combining authenticity with cinematic storytelling. That describes the essence of Cataclysm, a science fiction horror story with plenty of action and gore (if you are sensitive to animal abuse, you might pass on this one). The story involves an 'Arbiter' or 'Ref' working for an agency called the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) housed deep under the Pentagon. An Arbiter's job is to observe, report and advise with a high degree of outcome probability accuracy for the "controllers" of the world. The subject matter observed involves strange, shocking and anomalous events that take place around the world, and, for the most part, SCIF provides mundane explanations for the public or covers up the events completely. The story unwinds as the Arbiter views video footage from many sources what took place within and outside the Advanced Research and Development Site DD1525 built deep within an abandoned copper mine 15 miles outside the town of Springerville, AZ. The town itself is a long-forgotten mining town, almost turned ghost town after the collapse of the local copper mine in the 1980s. Only a few hundred residents still reside in the town, surviving on government handouts due to the cover the town provides the nearby secret facility. Through the video footage the horror of a top-secret DOD project gone wrong is told. This tale could definitely be turned into a movie.

[thomas parrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, innovative story

I would recommend this story to any sci-fi fan. This story starts in an uncommon way and progresses to an unexpected finish. Wonderful.

[Johann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Insane!!

This starts with a slow burn but then erupts into a fast-moving fireball of action that doesn't even give you time to breathe.

Told by a secret government official through many cameras and audio that have been meticulously pieced together like some deranged puzzle that ultimately creates a very large and disturbing picture.

Like I said before.. this was insane!!

[Chance · Rating 3 out of 5]

wonder if they recorded Elvis death

The found footage nomire was abit miss leading has this was a self contained link of events all by the same people. Do the shadow government angle was good you went way to far into the conspiracy angle that I just had to mind blank thouse parts into enjoy the story.

[Mailmanr5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-1/2 stars. Wow. Even though I sensed correctly how this would end, the ride to get there is great reading. Superb action. Realistic dialogue and decent characters. I'd be interested in knowing if there is a sequel. Have to check it out.