The Grinder

by Michael Dillon

2030 is a turning year—a year when the world turns its back on humanity and embraces the easy addiction of greed. With the nearly bankrupt NFL teetering on collapse and prison populations swelling to the breaking point, a new system is created merging the two institutions. The idea is a simple one—pit hardened criminals against military grade Decimaters and show the ensuing carnage on television. The lucky few that survive and win the season ending Championship are granted the ultimate prize—their freedom. To get to the Championship, players will have to face the never tiring Decimaters. Ryder Hunter, Indiana University’s All Star quarterback, doesn’t know it but his life is about to descend to the depths of hell. In a single night, his hedonistic lifestyle crashes down around him when his girlfriend is brutally murdered. Overwhelming evidence points to the once invincible athlete and Ryder is quickly convicted of murder in the first degree. Given a choice between life in prison or the chance to earn his freedom playing in the DXL, Ryder chooses the DXL. On the field, Ryder must avoid the horrific Decimaters trying to destroy him while trusting the same class of machines manning his offensive line—to protect him. A stray coding defect that made the massive machines unsuitable for use in military applications, makes the unpredictable machines perfect for the league. Off the field, a relentless psychopath with a score to settle seeks revenge against the newest inmate. To stay alive, Ryder must form uneasy alliances with hardened criminals and sociopaths. Nothing is what it seems in THE GRINDER, and no one can be trusted. Under the bright lights of the mammoth DXL stadiums, worlds collide in an epic climax where a righteous few risk everything to bring down the powerful league.

766 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2012

About the author

This is the disambiguation profile for otherwise undifferentiated authors publishing as Michael Dillon