Living in an Eldritch Neighborhood [Book One Complete]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Every week like clockwork, a man named Fulcrum is drawn into a recreation of his neighborhood, frozen in time. His only companion in this mysterious silent world, whose origin is unknown to either of them, is a telepathic alien who tries to communicate with him.

When a new creature appears in Serenity, things begin to spiral into chaos. It soon becomes clear that Fulcrum’s companion is not the only alien interested in Earth. And the others are coming to invade Earth with less than friendly intentions…

Unbeknownst to the invaders, the Neighborhood Watch is here to stop them at all costs. Fulcrum’s home town is sealed off, keeping the military out. But all is not as it seems, as the alien invasion has been here all along and Fulcrum is at the center of it all. Unaware of the chaos happening around him, Fulcrum will have to choose his destiny and with that, the world’s.

[Completed the April 2024 Royal Road Writathon challenge]

Book One published to Amazon! If you like the story and would like to support me as an author consider buying the ebook, paperback, or hardcover version over there! Link:Living in an Eldritch Neighborhood

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Regolith42

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 136
Views: 76,197

Chapters(113 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(6)

Nick11179 (Nick Timm)Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Living in an Eldritch Neighborhood
Overall - A really cool twist on an old concept. The story is punchy and fast paced - I'm usually a slowburn guy, but this is a really fun read, so no issues there. This is as if Lovecraft decided to tone back the enormous Cthulu style creatures and put their kids out to play. The take is good and leads your mind to interesting places as you explore the world the writer has crafted which is filled with eldritch horrors.
Grammar - Very few spelling / syntax issues 5/5 because the few that do exist don't detract from the flow.
Style - I don't comment on style. Each writer has their own flow and this fiction is no less an example than another. The message is conveyed in a succinct, fun manner - 5/5 for this.
Character - The fictions goes through a few POV's... Including a rather well written squirrel POV! I loved how the author melded that together and made is seem entirely natural.
This is a promising first foray into writing. It's obvious there is a lot of care put into the prose and flow - so, I look forward to mlre soon! Favorited and followed!
-Nick11179
One Way JusticeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Story:
Quite an original premise—there’s a parallel plane called Serenity (spoiler territory if I say more, so I won’t), and the protagonist of course winds up there, along with some particularly avoid-at-all-times–type creatures. There’s a lot of mystery and scary desolation; the vibe is right from the start, and by right I mean eerily unsettling. There is room for mental battles as well—the protagonist is the introspective kind, so all the layers of their psyche are explored as well.
Characters:
The protagonist is attempting to cope on a practical as well as mental level—the world of Serenity simply requires that kind of readiness. Often, their patterns of thought delve into the domain of philosophical inquiry, which may buttress them against psychic attacks. In all, the protagonist feels like a realistic depiction of a heroic human character put in these difficult circumstances.
Style: The author paints a believable picture of an in-essence absurd world, both by vivid descriptions of the surroundings and creatures, but also by weaving in the philosophical discourse. It’s not a typical ‘numbers go up’ story, but rather one that makes you think. The pacing is consistent and not troublesome (not too fast/slow).
Grammar: Well-edited text. Nothing much to remark on.
zoog1157Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: Crafting a vivid tapestry of Serenity's absurdity, the narrative seamlessly blends rich descriptions of its surroundings and inhabitants with profound philosophical reflections. The pacing remains consistently engaging, immersing readers in an unsettling yet thought-provoking atmosphere that is distinctly unconventional.
Story: The novel unfolds deliberately, peeling back layers of Fulcrum's experiences in Serenity and the real world. The narrative skillfully interweaves these dual realms, creating an air of suspense surrounding Fulcrum's purpose and the unfolding mysteries that envelop him. Overall, the story is engaging and dynamic which left me enjoying it.
Characters: Fulcrum emerges as a relatable and heroic figure, navigating the challenges of Serenity with adaptability and strategic prowess. While character descriptions are somewhat sparse, Fulcrum's personality shines through, drawing readers into his journey. The supporting cast, including non-hostile aliens and mysterious human adversaries, adds complexity to the evolving storyline.
Grammar: A polished and well-edited text, though there are the occasional mistakes.
Conclusion: In sum, “Living In an Eldritch Neighborhood” stands as a compelling and thought-provoking work, offering a distinct perspective on parallel dimensions, otherworldly encounters, and the complexities of the human psyche. It is a really interesting action, and it is clear that the author has a lot of passion for it. Keep up the great work!
AvergeJoeRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
The novel unfolds at a slow pace, following the protagonist as he navigates encounters with non-hostile aliens and hostile aliens in Serenity, the fictional world, and contends with mysterious individuals attempting to harm or abduct him in the real world.
Style - The novel is easily understandable, presenting the world, creatures, and their motives clearly. The writing emphasizes action over dialogue, which may appeal to readers who enjoy a more action-oriented narrative.
Story - The uniqueness of the story lies in Fulcrum's encounters with aliens in Serenity. Some, like Ally, are non-hostile, while others, like Enemy, are determined to kill him. The end goal of the story remains unknown, possibly to be unveiled in future chapters.
Grammar - I didn't notice much across any spelling or grammar mistakes during my read and the author knows how to depict actions very well.
Character -I believe the weakest aspect of this novel is the limited character descriptions. However, Fulcrum's personality stands out; he appears to be plan-oriented and adaptable when it doesn't work.
Overall, the book exhibits considerable potential, with captivating mysteries surrounding the protagonist's presence in Serenity, his past with Officer Smith, and the unfolding narrative of how he will navigate encounters with future aliens, and discover the ultimate purpose behind these intriguing elements.
HA-GreeneRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Style: Its fairly easy to dive into the world being laid out here. A lot of thought is put into the concept of Serenity, and how it affects the world around it. The mystery of who is behind the Enemy and the seeming human cyberattack at the hospital has yet to be deciphered, but I'm curious about both. The action scene that took place was quite well put together.
Story: Our protagonist, Mr Fulcrum, experiences regular encounters with an alien entity known to him as Ally. All seems to go well for many years, before an unknown Enemy appears and throws Fulcrum's life into uncertain chaos.
Grammar: Pretty solid overall, just a few errors here and there and uncertainty on scene breaks.
Characters: Fulcrum opens as a bit of a blank slate, with no name and no discernible features to speak of. He's grown used to his encounters by now and even plans out how to keep them going smoothly, and when things go south for him, he adapts as well as he can. Having his persona hijacked by the Seed to defend it was a little unsettling. The officers were also on the confusing side -- the one who has a problem with Fulcrum exploding on him took me aback, and then the calmer one ignoring him when he gets out of the hospital and passing out those cards left me somewhat confused as to what was going on with him.
In all, this is a fascinating setting and I'd like to see more and the answers to why Fulcrum himself is such a mystery, why he was chosen to have this Seed at his dwelling, who is involved on the human side of things. Keep up the good writing!
Space AtlasRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Style: I love the way the world is written. I got sucked in and couldn't stop, I needed to know what happened. The climatic scenes are well put together and entertaining.
Story: The story is odd. It starts with odd supernatural stuff then gets even weirder and I absolutely love it! The weirdness of it all makes it so difficult to put down because I need to know what happens next. It starts to get more confusing with the addition of many POVs.
Grammar: There are no grammar mistakes that have pulled me from the story. I have only found a few mistakes but nothing crazy.
Character: The characters are the real drawback for me. I feel like I don't really know them. I would love to see more character development. When all the POVs are added in I had to try to remember who was how so maybe with a few more distinguishing features this would be easier.
Overall I love it! The only thing that I would love to see more of would be character development but other than that it is an amazingly engaging story. I cannot wait to see what happens next in this very odd town.