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Spectrum
The human brain decodes only 0.0035% of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. A tiny fraction which our eyes recognise as 'visible light'.
BioLuminary Enterprises conduct early clinical trials and breakthrough medical research for pharmaceutical companies. Pushing the boundaries of science, they have developed a controversial new study and are actively seeking volunteers.
As far as the eye can see...
BioLuminary Enterprises conduct early clinical trials and breakthrough medical research for pharmaceutical companies. Pushing the boundaries of science, they have developed a controversial new study and are actively seeking volunteers.
As far as the eye can see...
35 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2016
17 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Aidan J. Reid
18 books116 followersAIDAN J. REID is a thriller author originally from Northern Ireland.
He is the author of four novels - Pathfinders (scifi), the Tom Regan thrillers (Sigil and Yage), and Raising Lazarus (suspense).
He is also the creator of the ROT collection and several short stories. All free to download from Amazon or his site.
He is the author of four novels - Pathfinders (scifi), the Tom Regan thrillers (Sigil and Yage), and Raising Lazarus (suspense).
He is also the creator of the ROT collection and several short stories. All free to download from Amazon or his site.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 7, 2017
Short stories are notoriously difficult to write. Reid made a stellar effort but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
I think the plot was set up well and the story was reasonably unique but it kind of fell short at the end. Plus, this being a short story, it was hard to get a grasp on the characters enough to build up our emotions to what was happening to them.
Please note: I received this novel free with the sign up of Reid's newsletter.
I think the plot was set up well and the story was reasonably unique but it kind of fell short at the end. Plus, this being a short story, it was hard to get a grasp on the characters enough to build up our emotions to what was happening to them.
Please note: I received this novel free with the sign up of Reid's newsletter.
May 9, 2019
This is a not-very-pleasant tale of an antiheroine who, sleeping rough, gets accepted onto an experimental medical course of treatment. She and some other impoverished folks, who don't seem to do well on their doses.
Anything involving surgery on eyes makes me skip pages so others may enjoy this short story more than I did. As a friend remarked, he should have realised that all the staff at the laser eye centre wore glasses.
I downloaded an ARC from Instafreebie. This is an unbiased review.
Anything involving surgery on eyes makes me skip pages so others may enjoy this short story more than I did. As a friend remarked, he should have realised that all the staff at the laser eye centre wore glasses.
I downloaded an ARC from Instafreebie. This is an unbiased review.
June 21, 2016
5 star!! Very quick, hard to put down: I read it straight through in one sitting: 8500 words. Compact tight book about a young homeless woman invited off the streets to participate in a medical trial, while housed in a facility. Nice balance of structure to the opening and ending. The needy main character is tough-talking and almost masculine in her ruminations; but coming from her hard past and her mental state, she is quite well drawn and there are layers to her, as you will discover when you read!
June 22, 2016
A clever short story. It concerns a down-and-out young woman who enrolls in medical research, the characters around her, and the results of that research. The characters are very well developed for a short story and the plot is interesting and contains a few turns.
The plot could actually be the basis of a full length novel or series. We see a lot of series these days -- too many. It is refreshing to read an author who can finish what he's started.
I highly recommend this for adults of any age, and probably young adults would like it too.
The plot could actually be the basis of a full length novel or series. We see a lot of series these days -- too many. It is refreshing to read an author who can finish what he's started.
I highly recommend this for adults of any age, and probably young adults would like it too.
June 3, 2018
I couldn’t stop reading this! It’s quick paced and entertaining! The characters were all believable and interesting. I loved the creative twist at the end! Great story!
September 13, 2018
Spectrum - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Spectrum, by the outstanding author Aidan J Reid, may be short, but it's out of sight of 'sweet'; it will take your breath away and almost stop your heart in its intensity, as you learn of the fate of the anonymous MC, who's down on their luck and is forced to live in a community of others in similar dire circumstances.
When a stranger offering money in return for subjects to be guinea-pigs for a variety of innocuous-seeming medical and cosmetic procedural innovations comes visiting, the MC and others are quick to accept, seeing a way out of their various troubles, other than through the bottom of a bottle, or needle.
Initially things don't go too badly and the group selected make friends and compare notes at the facility. Some even stay on for further procedures, happy to have the free accommodation and sustenance offered, plus the promised financial benefits can change their lives back for good.
What happens when things don't quite go according to plan, or in this case the subject doesn't follow orders brings a shocking revelation - only exceeded by the facility leader's inhuman response to the event.
You'd be mad to miss this - and all other novels by Aidan J Reid - so run to your nearest bookstore and grab them all today...they're out of this world...or are they?
Spectrum, by the outstanding author Aidan J Reid, may be short, but it's out of sight of 'sweet'; it will take your breath away and almost stop your heart in its intensity, as you learn of the fate of the anonymous MC, who's down on their luck and is forced to live in a community of others in similar dire circumstances.
When a stranger offering money in return for subjects to be guinea-pigs for a variety of innocuous-seeming medical and cosmetic procedural innovations comes visiting, the MC and others are quick to accept, seeing a way out of their various troubles, other than through the bottom of a bottle, or needle.
Initially things don't go too badly and the group selected make friends and compare notes at the facility. Some even stay on for further procedures, happy to have the free accommodation and sustenance offered, plus the promised financial benefits can change their lives back for good.
What happens when things don't quite go according to plan, or in this case the subject doesn't follow orders brings a shocking revelation - only exceeded by the facility leader's inhuman response to the event.
You'd be mad to miss this - and all other novels by Aidan J Reid - so run to your nearest bookstore and grab them all today...they're out of this world...or are they?
July 19, 2016
Review is also available on my blog The Shameful Narcissist Speaks.
I discovered this story on the author's own blog, and added it accordingly. Briefly...it's phenomenal. I was hooked by the opening line. To say too much would be to give the story away, but the main character is an unnamed young woman with a slew of problems (drugs, alcohol, and homelessness more than likely due to the prior) is offered an opportunity by a medical research company. She takes it and the story is a record of her experiences.
Reid flawlessly shows us how certain people are considered expendable, which is especially evinced by an extremely chilling section at the end. The limited point of view forces the reader to look outside of what the narrator can see (if you read the story, you'll understand the meta in this description) and realize just how much she's being taken advantage of as a marginalized member of society. Even though she's been living on the streets and comes off a bit rough around the edges, she has an almost childlike trust of what this company's representatives are telling her. The end is an absolute gut punch made more brutal by how quickly the drop occurs.
At 35 pages Spectrum was an incredibly quick read, which was facilitated by my inability to put it down. It is a brief but powerful commentary on bioethics, and it forces us to question what may very well be going on right now.
I've added Mr. Reid's other books, Pathfinder and Sigil to my to-read list, and if Spectrum is any indication, I will thoroughly enjoy both reads.
I discovered this story on the author's own blog, and added it accordingly. Briefly...it's phenomenal. I was hooked by the opening line. To say too much would be to give the story away, but the main character is an unnamed young woman with a slew of problems (drugs, alcohol, and homelessness more than likely due to the prior) is offered an opportunity by a medical research company. She takes it and the story is a record of her experiences.
Reid flawlessly shows us how certain people are considered expendable, which is especially evinced by an extremely chilling section at the end. The limited point of view forces the reader to look outside of what the narrator can see (if you read the story, you'll understand the meta in this description) and realize just how much she's being taken advantage of as a marginalized member of society. Even though she's been living on the streets and comes off a bit rough around the edges, she has an almost childlike trust of what this company's representatives are telling her. The end is an absolute gut punch made more brutal by how quickly the drop occurs.
At 35 pages Spectrum was an incredibly quick read, which was facilitated by my inability to put it down. It is a brief but powerful commentary on bioethics, and it forces us to question what may very well be going on right now.
I've added Mr. Reid's other books, Pathfinder and Sigil to my to-read list, and if Spectrum is any indication, I will thoroughly enjoy both reads.
February 1, 2017
I received this short story from the author, through InstaFreebie, in exchange for an honest review: my thanks to both of them for this opportunity.
There are some vibes in this short story that somehow reminded me of “Flowers for Algernon”, but with a much sinister twist to it: BioLuminary is a corporation that tests new drugs and medical procedures on volunteers, and that’s nothing out of the ordinary, but their manner of finding subjects for the trials is what instantly sounds alarm bells in the reader, because they search among society’s rejects – the homeless, the drifters, the people living at the margins of society. People who will not be missed if something goes wrong.
The main character, a young woman who remains unnamed, tells the story in diary form (that’s where the Algernon resonance comes from, I believe): a drug and alcohol addict, she’s recruited off the street to test a new procedure for restoring 20/20 eyesight, with the promise of a substantial amount of money as compensation – money she already intends spending indulging her vices once she’s out. During the course of her stay in a medical center that seems more a correctional facility than anything else, she seems to accept the strange, often alarming reactions of her fellow volunteers to the various procedures tried on them: she appears removed from it all – probably due to her wasted, mindless existence – even when her own trial shows weirdly troublesome effects.
The abrupt ending leaves several questions on the table, especially concerning BioLuminary – not so much about their purpose, which seems all too clear, but rather about who and what they really are. And the only fleeting clue is quite chilling….
Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
There are some vibes in this short story that somehow reminded me of “Flowers for Algernon”, but with a much sinister twist to it: BioLuminary is a corporation that tests new drugs and medical procedures on volunteers, and that’s nothing out of the ordinary, but their manner of finding subjects for the trials is what instantly sounds alarm bells in the reader, because they search among society’s rejects – the homeless, the drifters, the people living at the margins of society. People who will not be missed if something goes wrong.
The main character, a young woman who remains unnamed, tells the story in diary form (that’s where the Algernon resonance comes from, I believe): a drug and alcohol addict, she’s recruited off the street to test a new procedure for restoring 20/20 eyesight, with the promise of a substantial amount of money as compensation – money she already intends spending indulging her vices once she’s out. During the course of her stay in a medical center that seems more a correctional facility than anything else, she seems to accept the strange, often alarming reactions of her fellow volunteers to the various procedures tried on them: she appears removed from it all – probably due to her wasted, mindless existence – even when her own trial shows weirdly troublesome effects.
The abrupt ending leaves several questions on the table, especially concerning BioLuminary – not so much about their purpose, which seems all too clear, but rather about who and what they really are. And the only fleeting clue is quite chilling….
Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
January 23, 2017
I received a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review. This review or a version of it is posted on Amazon, Goodreads, and my Wordpress blog, TheCeaselessReaderWrites.
"Spectrum" is a quick and somewhat frightening read, an epistolary short story told entirely through a series of journal entries written by the protagonist to describe her experience while participating in a pharmaceutical study followed by a corporate medical report analyzing the results of the study.
Although I enjoyed "Spectrum", there are a couple of things I take issue with. I think the main idea of the story, that Big Pharma is dangerous, perhaps in a sinister, unethical, and even illegal way, is a topic worthy of a much larger work, either a collection of thematically related short stories about numerous test subjects or as a novel.
My major complaint is about Mr. Reid’s use of character in the story. Every character in the story is a flat stock character, and the reader isn’t given enough information about any of them to have grounds for caring about their plight. The protagonist, whose name we are never given, is an unlikable, unsympathetic, unreliable narrator, so it is difficult to care about her or what happens to her.
None of the above, though, renders the story unworthy of being read. It is compelling and, technically speaking, fairly well-written; I only found one or two spelling and grammatical errors. And as I said, the main idea is important and worthy of a fuller treatment.
Mr. Reid, if you see this review, I’d be happy to offer more detailed editorial comments & suggestions. I’m on Goodreads, and you and I are followers of each other’s blogs, so if you’re interested, drop me a line.
"Spectrum" is a quick and somewhat frightening read, an epistolary short story told entirely through a series of journal entries written by the protagonist to describe her experience while participating in a pharmaceutical study followed by a corporate medical report analyzing the results of the study.
Although I enjoyed "Spectrum", there are a couple of things I take issue with. I think the main idea of the story, that Big Pharma is dangerous, perhaps in a sinister, unethical, and even illegal way, is a topic worthy of a much larger work, either a collection of thematically related short stories about numerous test subjects or as a novel.
My major complaint is about Mr. Reid’s use of character in the story. Every character in the story is a flat stock character, and the reader isn’t given enough information about any of them to have grounds for caring about their plight. The protagonist, whose name we are never given, is an unlikable, unsympathetic, unreliable narrator, so it is difficult to care about her or what happens to her.
None of the above, though, renders the story unworthy of being read. It is compelling and, technically speaking, fairly well-written; I only found one or two spelling and grammatical errors. And as I said, the main idea is important and worthy of a fuller treatment.
Mr. Reid, if you see this review, I’d be happy to offer more detailed editorial comments & suggestions. I’m on Goodreads, and you and I are followers of each other’s blogs, so if you’re interested, drop me a line.
January 10, 2019
A woman in her mid 20s volunteers for a program by BioLuminary Enterprise in exchange for money. It's a log of her two weeks at the facility where others who are in the same condition as her live. They are given enough freedom to not feel like prisoners but are not allowed to leave the facility. As the days go by, we get to know about different experiments that are being conducted and how the patients (volunteers) were approached.
Soon her sessions also start. She is to have an eye correction surgery. Her experience before and after the surgery is described which made me think she might end up with laser eyes (like Cyclops) or IMPROVED vision. But nothing like that happened. No enhanced humans.
The company sees that she is progressing and offers her a job. But we soon see that their experiment failed.
After reading the Medical Report I felt sad and angry that they are going to continue with their research and file this as just a failure.
It's a great short read. Worth it.
Soon her sessions also start. She is to have an eye correction surgery. Her experience before and after the surgery is described which made me think she might end up with laser eyes (like Cyclops) or IMPROVED vision. But nothing like that happened. No enhanced humans.
The company sees that she is progressing and offers her a job. But we soon see that their experiment failed.
After reading the Medical Report I felt sad and angry that they are going to continue with their research and file this as just a failure.
It's a great short read. Worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2016
Thanks to Aidan J. Reid for the arc download of Spectrum! This interesting and tragic thriller is a short tale that takes place in a set of clinical trials. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop until I was finished. This short story has made me interested enough to want to read Aidan J. Reid's other books, Pathfinders and Sigil.
May 13, 2018
So I really liked Spectrum, as short as it was.
I found myself compelled to keep reading, like when you sneak a peek at your sisters diary growing up, only the stuff inside is much more interesting than an update on favorite cartoons.
My only downside, and this is completely 100% a my problem thing, I wish it was longer. I'd love to see how this story unfolds with more meat to it.
I found myself compelled to keep reading, like when you sneak a peek at your sisters diary growing up, only the stuff inside is much more interesting than an update on favorite cartoons.
My only downside, and this is completely 100% a my problem thing, I wish it was longer. I'd love to see how this story unfolds with more meat to it.
August 20, 2017
In order to make easy money a young woman agrees to be a volunteer for medical experiments on her eyes. This is a diary in which she tells her experiences.
A science-fiction short story which gave me some goose-bumps.
A science-fiction short story which gave me some goose-bumps.
July 6, 2016
The story was good- I only wish the author would have explained if what she saw was actually real (aka the drug was exceeding expectations).
I got this book free on story cartel.
I got this book free on story cartel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2017
"Eye of the beholder."
Medical research volunteers recruited from the homeless and other drop outs of society form the background protagonists of this short story. Written as if it is diary entries by one of the subjects undergoing test procedures at a pharmaceutical company, then followed by a brief medical 'report', this is a story which would have been improved by being ¿¿¿¿?¿given full novel status in order to better get to know the diary keeper (whose name is never revealed) and the other women following different medical trials .It takes real skill to encapsulate all that is to be said in a short and, although this is a valiant attempt, sadly it fails to develop a rapport between reader and main protagonist, and the descriptions of the living quarters and others staying there become simply annoying glimpses rather than enhancing the tensions and misery of the treatments.
There were also areas which were hard to understand at first reading, not because of medical terminology but simple, clunky writing. Nevertheless, Spectrum remains a good basic idea which still has impact.
Medical research volunteers recruited from the homeless and other drop outs of society form the background protagonists of this short story. Written as if it is diary entries by one of the subjects undergoing test procedures at a pharmaceutical company, then followed by a brief medical 'report', this is a story which would have been improved by being ¿¿¿¿?¿given full novel status in order to better get to know the diary keeper (whose name is never revealed) and the other women following different medical trials .It takes real skill to encapsulate all that is to be said in a short and, although this is a valiant attempt, sadly it fails to develop a rapport between reader and main protagonist, and the descriptions of the living quarters and others staying there become simply annoying glimpses rather than enhancing the tensions and misery of the treatments.
There were also areas which were hard to understand at first reading, not because of medical terminology but simple, clunky writing. Nevertheless, Spectrum remains a good basic idea which still has impact.
May 6, 2018
A clever use of the journal style telling a story of a young woman drawn into clinical trials of something she's happy not to know the details of. She makes for an interesting unreliable narrator.
While it's a well-written and engaging short story, I felt the ending fell flat by not really explaining what happened. I wanted to understand more of what had occurred and why.
-I received a free copy of this short story from the author's newsletter-
While it's a well-written and engaging short story, I felt the ending fell flat by not really explaining what happened. I wanted to understand more of what had occurred and why.
-I received a free copy of this short story from the author's newsletter-
June 1, 2022
Fast moving sci-fi short story
This is the time I have read anything by this author and even though science fiction isn't one of the genres I read I really enjoyed this short story. A new wonder treatment is being developed by a bio-research company and they need volunteers. A young woman decides to get the treatment because she needs the money, not aware of how it would change her. I will read more by this author.
This is the time I have read anything by this author and even though science fiction isn't one of the genres I read I really enjoyed this short story. A new wonder treatment is being developed by a bio-research company and they need volunteers. A young woman decides to get the treatment because she needs the money, not aware of how it would change her. I will read more by this author.
March 1, 2018
I thought this was a great short story. It left me asking questions which is what I would expect. Just wish it was a little bit longer, or a follow up as I'd like to know what actually happened. And what happened to some of the other test subjects. All in all a great little read, plus it was free on my kindle 😊
December 22, 2018
This is an excellent novella/short story that I read on Kindle. It is a thought-provoking, interesting read. Reid's books are some of my favorites. I have just finished Raising Lazarus, to me, his best yet. Action-packed, fast moving and fascinating are three words I would use to describe Lazarus. For a detailed review go to powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com
May 3, 2019
A nice, quick sci-fi read, that's written as if it was a secret diary. Having said this, do not expect this to be the next Shakespeare. The writing style is appropriate to the layout of this short story, so lots of colloquialism, and we can find in all the characters, the personification of desperation.
Really liked the idea behind this story.
Really liked the idea behind this story.
November 12, 2016
An interesting little read with a surprising ending which was a stark contrast ti how the rest of the story was written. A sudden ending which seemed quite abrupt but fit the tone nicely. Well worth a read.
March 14, 2019
Interesting
This is a comment on human medical trials which was quite interesting. I suppose as a short story, it works, but I am wondering how this would end as a full length novel. I am left wanting more. A sign of a good writer.
This is a comment on human medical trials which was quite interesting. I suppose as a short story, it works, but I am wondering how this would end as a full length novel. I am left wanting more. A sign of a good writer.
July 30, 2018
It started off pretty well, but quickly nosedived with the inconsistent tenses used, and the abrupt and unsatisfying ending. Good thing it was short...
June 27, 2019
Will make goosebumps erupt in all the right places! You will definitely think twice before signing up for that new drug test!
January 2, 2019
This story reminded me of episodes from The Outer Limits and The Twilight zone.
March 21, 2022
Spectrum is a short Sci Fi Thriller written by Aidan J. Reid. This is a story about a young woman who was living rough and was taken off the street with the promise of financial payment for contracting herself to a laboratory that experimented with new products and procedures.
I really liked the concept the author created, and I was drawn into the story quickly. I enjoyed his writing style which made the story way to short. He created a world that felt real, and I can imagine this kind of place could actually exist.
If you have some spare time, but not enough to get into a full blown novel this short story is worth a look. It has a twist at the end that was unexpected. This book I would recommend to mature readers as it has some adult themes that I feel would not be suited to young readers.
I was gifted this story by the author, Aidan J. Reid.
I really liked the concept the author created, and I was drawn into the story quickly. I enjoyed his writing style which made the story way to short. He created a world that felt real, and I can imagine this kind of place could actually exist.
If you have some spare time, but not enough to get into a full blown novel this short story is worth a look. It has a twist at the end that was unexpected. This book I would recommend to mature readers as it has some adult themes that I feel would not be suited to young readers.
I was gifted this story by the author, Aidan J. Reid.
July 16, 2016
The story didn't feel complete. Granted, short stories are one of the hardest things to do well. Most people underestimate the difficulty of crafting a true short story, not just cutting off a longer tale or haphazardly throwing together an incomplete story. This one didn't feel quite so haphazard. The characters were well developed and there was a strong potential, but the story felt only partially told.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews